Anonymous wrote:

Good luck!  I hope you launch soon and get back sailing again.

Thanks Annie, as always boat rebuilds generally turn out to be more work than anticipated. The original plan had been to fix what really needed fixing, get sailing, and then do the rest later. However good old mission creep means I'm doing it all straight off.

I've been quiet for a bit, but I'm still in boat repair mode. I expect to be back on the water this year.

Hi Gary, I notice with some keenness that you are embarking on a junk conversion of a TS16. I joined this association when the same conversion took my fancy back in 2016 (I think). I think I was the first ever to convert a TS16 from a bermuda to a junk rig. And I am happy to say I never regretted the decision! And although I went on to sell the Hartley and built my current boat, a Michalak Blobster, I remember the Hartley with fondness.

I am now about to refit my Blobster as a junk rig, which will be not so nearly as difficult because she is already rigged with an unstayed mast and a balanced lug sail.

All the best with your conversion, and if there is anything I might be able to assist you with in your decision making I am only too happy.

Ah, yes.  How fortunate your are to live in the Lucky Country!  Still, on the bright side, you've got rid of ScoMo and that might be enough to drive away the rain!

Gary wrote:

I've started cutting out and epoxy coating the new cabin panels. The big problem is the weather, it just won't stop drizzling rain. Which means with the humidity everything has a thin layer of condensation. In 3 months we've had more than last years annual rainfall!

Hard to push ahead in those conditions when epoxy needs a dry substrate. I guess it is a matter of grabbing any dry spells to get the timber sealed, and then it is easier to glue later. At least that is the benefit of a smaller boat, it just makes the process more manageable. I guess that once you get into the winter months things will dry out. I think Queensland must be getting the rain we should be having because it is still unusually dry in my part of New Zealand.