Thursday, March 31, 2011

Restoring the Exterior Teak




Restoring the exterior teak. Step one- sand the bajeezes outta the teak to get down to good oily wood and smooth grain (It took a lot of 60 grit and my fingers are so raw that I have no finger prints :) ). The wood looks much better now, though it needs more lovin. I will give it a nice Murphy's oil soap bath and let the sun silver it out. The teak may require some "re-seasoning", will keep an eye on it.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Weekend getaway

Brian and I just got back from a fun weekend with Brian's sister and her Husband. We met out in San Antonio on the riverwalk and then explored the Caverns out near New Braunfels.


Brian in the caves.



There were college marching bands playing music on the boat barges that weave their way around the river walk.



Brian's sis enjoying the river walk boat ride.


Good times :-)

Sunday, March 6, 2011

New curtains!!


^Here is a picture of me making curtains :-) or rather my mum making curtains.


^Brian drilled a pilot hole at each end of the dowels for the brass tack that holds the bungee in place.





^the curtains can cover an open or closed port.


or rolled up out of the way for sunlight.


I made curtains this weekend for Rain Dog! Well actually, Mom made the curtains and I assembled the dowels and bungee to complete the project. Mom has attempted on several occasions to teach me the fine art of sewing but I just don't have the fortitude. As soon as she talks of hems and stitches my eyes glaze over, I get grumpy, and develope a rather negative disposition. So in the spirit of peace and good will towards man my mother made the curtains for Rain Dog. Beautiful! The design is simple. A dowel cut to length for the curtain rod. Upholstery tack at each end of the dowel to secure the bungee cord. Once assembled you simply wrap the bungee around the port so the bungee is around the hinges when port is open, or under the hinges when port is closed (see pics, it is hard to explain). No need to mount anything on the boat.



^OPEN PORT



^CLOSED PORT



^FINISHED

LAKE TRAVIS SAILING









Joe (above) took us sailing out on Lake Travis in Austin. I don't have any shots of the actual sailing because I slept most of the time we were under sail (couple of hours!!). It is funny how relaxing sailing is for me, or really, it feels like the first real sleep since the last time I was under sail.Anyways it was a great time, Joe got to try out his new mainsail, Brian got to sail on his old stomping ground aboard his old boat, and I got to sleep like the dead. :-)