Done like a dinghy

Finished now. Building it was the easy bit! Painting and varnishing took ages because of the drying times between coats but all's well.

I spliced Shemara's old spinnaker halyard to act as a painter. The sponsor's old man is a rigger at Port of Napier and taught me how to splice three strand rope this year.

The little bronze fitting on the stem that looks like a bottle opener came among the random bits of bronze that Andy the marina caretaker gave to me when he cleared out his shed. It's holding a little snubbing line which hopefully will act to keep her riding over the waves when in tow.

The little copper tube I used to line the painter's hole at the stem head came from Milan, who found it in front of his house and sat it on his work bench until a use was found for it.

I haven't attached the oarlocks yet, but that will happen this evening.

Launch party this Saturday at the shed. From 2pm for a 4pm launch.

BIG thanks to Nigel for the loan of the battens, table saw and the band saw; and Mikey for the million clamps.

Time now to twiddle thumbs.