Marginalia

Rudder hardware installed on Aeon

(to start of project)

Got all the hardware done this week. You would think doing something already made, that you just attach with screws, would be simple, but you’d be wrong. This is why I’m so bad at estimating when I’ll be done – nothing is really that hard, just a lot more complicated than it seems.

Every piece of hardware is unique, The screw holes are all in different places on each cleat, for instance; the holes on one don’t line up with the holes on any other. You have to label each part, its location and its orientation, before marking where to drill the pilot holes in the boats, then make sure you put each piece back in exactly the same place to screw them in.

Continue reading “Hardware Finished and Installed”

Rudder Shoe installed

(to start of project)

Had one last brass piece to make for each boat, though I’m not sure what to call it. Rudder Shoe? Rudder Slipper? Basically, it’s a Rudder “Weed/Crab Pot/Eel Grass/Sawgrass/Gunk Preventer” based on a brilliant idea from Roger Rodibaugh, Grand Poobah of the Crawford Melonheads.

Continue reading “Hardware the Hard Way Part 5 – Brass Rudder Shoes”

Whew! Yesterday finished the big move. Everything from the old site – photos, videos, text, comments, links, yadda-yadda-yadda – it’s all here now.

If you arrived by a boomerang redirect from the old site, you’ll want to update your bookmarks and RSS feeds. The old site will continue to redirect people here for several months, but at some point will disappear into the black hole of the digital never was.

I’m thinking posting a photo live, from the first sail on these boats, could be pretty cool.

I do miss the clean, simple look of the old site, and it’s been a challenge trying to balance convenience with clutter on the new one. Like everything digital, simple things are often the most difficult, and control over how things look is not as easy as it was, but it’s close enough for now. It also seems a little slower, which feels like going backwards.

That said, there are some functions available now that will come in handy, things that were not possible before. For instance, I can add a new post with photos or video from my phone while traveling. I’m thinking posting a photo live, from the first sail on these boats could be pretty cool. Also, for the first time I will actually know when someone posts a comment, so a timely reply is more likely. Galleries of many photos can be included now, too, whereas before I was limited to about 15 images per post. Pictures are good.

Here’s to progress.

 Caesura gets her tail

(phone cam from the shop)

Pre-drilling and setting screws tonight. The rudders and hardware fit and work. Whew! They can waggle their tails now.

Continue reading “Hardware the Hard Way Part 4 – Fitting”

Aeons’ Rudder propped in place

(to start of project)

Though I know of people who’ve done it, casting bronze is beyond my skill and determination; but brass is relatively easy to find and work with hand tools, and perfectly suitable for boats that sleep on trailers when not in use, instead of in the water (it breaks down in salt water if submerged constantly).

Continue reading “Hardware the Hard Way – Part 2”