Spring developments

Following a cold, cold December, there's evidence of the 'blossom' of anti fouling paint, teak oil on gunwhales, painting of centreplate - or at least the exposed bit that I could get to when the boat was moved back off the trailer -  and changes to rigging...
A few images:

In the above image, I backwinched Daisy II so that her bow was resting on the rear keel roller, the rear cradle supporting the hull and the stern on blocks.  This presented quite an interesting exercise in the mechanics of balance: the rear of the trailer also needed supporting on chocks.  However, this was all managed single-handed, which is one of the things that makes these boats so appealing - I don't need an audience, and can potter around (or, as my wife says, 'stroke my boat') without the need for assistance.
The purpose of this exercise was to gain access to the centreplate, checking for wear on its pivot pin, and also presenting an opportunity to paint that part of the centreplate I could reach.  In due course, the whole thing needs regalvanising, but that will hopefully wait until another off season.

In this image, the mizzen is now supported by a home made boom, which is basically the thickest piece of dowelling I could purchase from Homebase, plus other bits of scrap pine forming the open jaws.  These ideas were borrowed from various posts on the Drascombe forum:  

• The mast needed to be raised by about 15cm.  To do this I purchased a short piece of thin stainless steel tubing which, with a bit of chiselling of the mast, could be placed over the top of the current mast, and a spare piece of wooden roller blind tube placed inside, all supported with six stainless steel screws.  I shall probably paint the whole of the top of the mast white.  I've tried to manage this project so that it can, if necessary, be reversed and the old bumpkin can be brought back from retirement.
• Topping lift runs from the end of the boom to an eye at the top of the mast, and then cleated off on the same cleat as the ensign, 
• sheet attached to rear of outboard well via a single block about two thirds of the way along the boom to a cam cleat on the boom
• the whole sail tensioned by a piece of cord attached to the clew, through an eye at the end of the boom and, eventually, tensioned by a cleat on the boom (part on order).

This is very much a first stab - the Mk1 mizzen boom.  I haven't bothered with varnish yet, and will see how it works 'in anger' before making these arrangements more permanent.  However, it very much looks as though I shall join the bumpkin-free zone....

Hopefully launching next weekend for the first of many planned trips this season.