Sona's launch

Back in January I set a target date for rebuilding and launching the Jaguar 23, Sona, on Good Friday, the 3rd of April. Well the day came and went and the crane launched most of the other boats at Dunbar Harbour. I wasn't ready but after an awful lot of work over the Easter weekend, Sona was finally launched on Monday 6th.

First thing was to move it to the slip where it would be launched. Some good friends and a little tractor and off she goes.

Then for the next three days I was up early as the sun started to warm the harbour and kept busy all day, painting, sawing, drilling, fabricating and generally fixing up the boat. Friends and passers-by came along to offer advice watch the progress and generally chat amongst themselves (and enjoy a cold beer) in the hot sunshine. 

Lots of little boxes of collected useful things; and they did come in very handy as I rebuilt the rudder, outboard bracket, rigging, wiring, and engine.

The outboard bracket got a whole new lump of mahogany ply laminated up, then cut varnished and drilled to fit.

The mast foot was re-attached with monel rivets,  and all the hallyards were sorted to fit the blocks and exit for the best runs to the cockpit jammers and winches. Then, whilst there were a few willing helpers, the mast was hauled up into position and I had a minor panic when I couldn't find locating pin for the foot. Fortunately I had a suitable pin in one of my wee boxes!

Monday morning saw a quick coat of antifoul, fitting of the engine, fuel tank and anchor, then at high tide Sona was launched. Harbour resident Kenny took these photos as I scrambled around on board and wound the keel down. Stuart had drawn the short straw and was in the water.

Everything worked!! no leaks and I was soon onto my new mooring.

 

It has been a lot of work but its worth it when I look at these photos. There's still a lot of fettling and learning to come but she's in the water and only three days late. I'm well chuffed.

So I bought another yacht.....

Well I've finally got around to the first post of the new year! I've not been out any distance on the LHT partly due to the poor weather, but mostly through apathy. During the working week I'm really busy, putting in extra hours at work in preparation for an audit and then studying at night. So what I probably need is a break at the weekend, de-stressing, getting some exercise. Instead I've just massively increased the stress and bought a bigger yacht.

Some may remember that I had been looking at another boat last summer. That was an E-Boat which unfortunately was bought before I was able to view it. I've kept looking and finally a friends Jaguar 23, Sona, came up for sale, and on Saturday morning we shook hands on the deal.
 

The Sona needs quite a bit of work; It was dismasted during a storm last year and some standing rigging needs replacing. The mast foot was also torn off, so I'll have some fun drilling, tapping, and riveting the alloy. The wiring seems shot and there is a lot of cleaning to be done. A rudder gudgeon needs some aluminium welding and the engine doesn't seem too keen on running..... I could go on.

 

 But it is a fast cruiser/racer with a lot of potential. There are a couple of suits of sails and the hull, deck and keel are in good shape.

The view from the deck is pretty good too.

I need to do some work on the Heron and then it will be up for sale at a cheap price! Meantime I'm goin to try to get some cycling in, but there are probably also going to be quite a few posts following the re-building and launch of the Sona. The target date is 4th of April, the Easter weekend!