Progress Report

Here is a picture from the yard that is working on Swirl.




As you can see, this is a serious and extensive bit of work. This is only the beginning. The chalked X's below the portlights mark planks that will also have to be replaced. And, then there's the starboard side. I'm nagging them to get her ready for launch early in July, but there are no guarantees.

They won't be doing anything to the keel bolts this haul out. They're having trouble removing the bolts. They're going to have to cut off the nut on the lower end of the bolt (the part in the keel) and then try to pull it out from inside the cabin. If that doesn't work and they've cut off the lower nut, they'll have to drop the keel, remove the bolts and replace them before she can sail again. If they don't do anything they assure me (as do a number of other folks who should know) that her keel is in no danger of falling off for as long as I will be sailing her. So anyway, the long and short of it is, no keel bolt check this haul out. In addition, the plank repairs are going to cost enough that I don't think I could afford to do anything with the keel bolts right now.

So that's the sad, bad news about Swirl.

I'll be going up there to see how things are coming along next week -- probably Thursday. Will post more info then.