New crew member and the to-do list

I have not added anything to this blog for a long time but not because of lack of interest or things to write about. In fact for the last six months, nearly, I have been preoccupied with raising the new crew member, Marc, and keeping up with my work, mostly from home, while Tuulia has been working hard at our clinic.

Despite this preoccupation I have had time to turn ideas over in my head and occasionally remind myself of the to-do list, which I hope to complete before Little Grace goes in the water, and the need to complete the blog items related to Little Grace's refurbishment.

The to-do list

• Shorten forestay
• Improve the Windex so it does not get stuck
• Connect the GPS to the VHF/DSC (Radio)
• Mount the GPS on a board that folds back so it can run off the battery, be permanently connected to the VHF/DSC and allow fee access through the companionway without having to duck under it.
• Connect the existing metal gas pipe to the gas bottle in the new gas bottle locker and the cooker. This is so the gas bottle does not have to stand in the cockpit to be connected to the cooker by a standard 1m flexible hose - not done - here's why
• Separate the starboard cockpit locker from the bilge with independent drainage through skin fitting. I have contemplated this one a lot and I keep coming back to the fact that I can't achieve it and maintain convenient stowage for the boat hooks and paddles. It looks like I am going to have to find a compromise I am prepared to live with.
• Replace the plastic cap at the end of one of the spreaders (it pinged off when the mast was removed) - done.
• Add a new cleat for jib downhaul and cleat guards to prevent unwanted cleating for it and the pole downhaul.
• Create food storage area under companionway - not done because the water bottles were not relocated.
• Relocate water storage to above keels - not done, there is no better position than the one they have.
• Invert bow light so it is suspended under the pulpit.
• Strengthen aft locker catches - Proved to be unnecessary.
• Replace washers for mast bolts - done.
• Either manually input 92 waypoints into the backup GPS or replace it with one that can be uploaded from the computer.

There is plenty of time!