Day 108 The end is in sight--depending who you talk to.

The end is in sight.  Maybe.  Early today, Brion Toss--rigger--told us that he was planning on re-stepping the mast next Tuesday.  YEAH!!!  We told our electrician--Jack.  He said that was impossible as it needed to be rewired and two of his electricians were out sick plus the woodworker that is redoing the teak at the bow is out sick and that project isn't done.  Off he went to talk to the big bosses.  Came back later and said the mast would be rewired on Monday.  He just didn't have to do it.  We were still on track for Tuesday.  Then Brion came back and said it was Wednesday since the mast and boom needed to be repainted and the paint wouldn't be cured enough to be handled by Tuesday.  Brion came back later in the day and said there was a problem with getting the crane to raise the mast.  The two men that are certified to raise it were going on vacation for two weeks starting on--you guessed it--Wednesday!!!  Now we are set for a date of September 4!!!  The reservations  are in for the crane so it can be done as soon as they return from vacation.  They think one of the operators may be back sooner and if so, we will have it raised sooner(insert "fell off turnip truck" here).

In all actuality, this may work out ok.  The transmission is still on order and not due in for about ten days from now and installation will take a few days.  We talked to Jack--the electrician as he was leaving for the weekend as to how far he was on getting poor Zephyr rewired.  On a 1 to 100 with one just starting and 100 all done.  He said we were at 75-80 on that scale.  Of course, we have no lights, no electronics, virtually nothing that runs on battery power.  We are into the stage of the wiring is just about done, now the mop up begins with connecting all the circuits.  It's about the best news we had all week.

The bad thing is that after Jack is done with the wiring, we still have the SSB radio--for global communications--to be installed.  He thinks that will probably take another week.  

If everything falls into place, everything will should finish up at about the same time.  Two more weeks on the electrical and SSB.  Three days to install the transmission.  A few more for the mast and rigging and there you go--September 4th.  In these situation, one must be an optimist.   If not, you cry a lot.   I forgot to mention that there is a big Wooden Boat Festival starting on the 5th so no slips will be available to put Zephyr into after we get her all rigged and ready.  It goes from the 5th to the 7th.

Even after Zephyr is back in the water, there is an adjustment time for her hull and systems.  Once in the water, the hull will reconfigure itself back to where it was when we were pulled out since water will be compressing the hull.  The cracks will close and the rigging will need to be adjusted.  You can't do that when she is out of the water as the hull isn't in it regular configuration.   All systems have to be checked and rechecked to make sure they work properly--not only the rigging, but all the electronic and battery systems.  With all the work that has been done to Zephyr, we figure it will take about a week to go thru everything.  We will be out sailing and trying everything.

Tracy started washing down the hull this afternoon so we can start polishing her tomorrow if the weather is cooler.  We have the rubbing compound and the electric buffer so it will take a lot less time. 

There is a convention of Island Packet sailors this weekend here at Point Hudson.  Now Island Packets aren't your normal boats.  These are built for deep water cruising, not just your occasional weekend sail.  They are big and made to take the punishment that comes with blue water sailing.  We wandered the docks talking to many of the owners this evening.  Very nice people.  A nice change from the Latitudes & Attitudes folks of last weekend.  While they were nice people, they are best described as "bikers on boats".  Tomorrow, I figure we will tour the docks some more and meet more of them and swap stories. 

With the weather supposed to be cooling off over the next few days,  we will be able to get more work done on Zephyr.  It's been quite hot and very sunny.  I have the best tan I've had in years.  Of course, since I've already had a bout with skin cancer, that's not necessarily a good thing.