Ship's Log
(Nov 7, 2004 Houston Texas)
Yesterday, on a Saturday, had my first opportunity to go up
the mast of La Trucha. Problem was we had to free up a couple of
sheaves, or pulleys. Went up with a harness for safety, with the
motley crew below tending the lines. Fortunately, La Trucha has a
great ladder system up her mast, which makes it easy to scamper right up her
60 foot mast. Problem we were working was freeing up one of the
four pulleys; and as it turned out it was not the pulley at all, it was the
diameter of the line.
After determining that all the pulleys were free and turning
OK, and applying some WD-40 just for good measure, we left her for the next
day. Next day, Sunday at that, I went up the mast again this time
armed with a lead weight and string. Had a lot of difficulty getting
the lead weight over the pulley and to drop down inside the mast, but after
Jim changed out the lead weights with a smaller diameter, they went right
down the aluminum mast. They were then attached to a bigger 5/8"
Dacron line, which was tied to the string then fed through the mast.
Had difficulty with this line too.
Whereby in the final analysis, problem was the size of the
line. Rolling on opposite pulleys one line was able to rub the other.
Solution: smaller line all around.
Additionally, we're still working on the diesel generator.
We pulled it yesterday, Saturday, and got it ready for a drive into Houston,
for the diesel professor to take a look, and give us some guidance.
The water maker is still outstanding too. Looks like the skipper is
leaning toward getting a new membrane.
This Sunday afternoon I played hooky and let the motley
crew, Jim Sr. and Jr. install the stove. Of course this was after
climbing the mast, hoisting main sail and unfurling the jib for inspection
and stretching and cleaning. Hunkered down now in the apartment below,
watching Houston and Denver battle it out, while typing away.
Stainless Steel Plate for La Trucha's Mast, which we'll probably
install on the trip, goes underneath the mast.
As seen from above the work on the mast's step - at least
that's what I call it - finally got finished. Jimmy went into Houston
a few days before to pick it up from his brother Rick, who fortunately is a
mechanical engineer and able to supervisor such work. Bottom line, the
plate is here and all we need to do is find either a crane or a bridge, then
we can haul her up with block and tackle to lift the mast, then let her down
on her new resting spot.
Two thirds of the motley Crew, on the left Jim Jr. on the right Jim Sr.
(Skipper)
Crew decided to pose for the camera above, the guy behind
the camera is yours truly. Look for me at
www.geocities.com/bethelrunners/index.html listed as Ben. A bit
thinner there, as it's a running journal, or a chronicle of our good times
at the Kiawah Marathon.
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