September

We have been missing a spray dodger for the last year since we have been doing some beating against the wind and the cockpit is quite unprotected. The problem on Songerie is that the mainsheet track is very close to the companionway and without moving the track the standard dodgers will not fit. So it was custom designed between the captain and first mate.

My compadre Luis Canovas told me that if I ever make a dodger it must be ridged and strong as it ends up being more of a handhold and support than the original purpose. With the help of the local “organiser of all things” at Tech Marine de Oriente, Patrick, I got SS316 tube and my argon gas bottle filled.

I got the tubes manually rolled and bend at the mechanical workshop P y P (P&P) in the barrio, this place reminded me of the street mechanics in Owambo, north Namibia!

We rented a room in the TMO workshop for three days and made the frame for the dodger there. 

The next step was to get it covered with canvas and see-thru PVC. We got a quote from the “Tapeceria marina” (upholstery). The price was a bit steep (maybe because of the custom design and not like the standard ones) and with the help of Phil and Yvonne from Chaser II we got all the material together.

It was a very difficult time for the marriage while we were taking measurement and discussed how to make the canvas cover for the dodger.

The captain measures in millimeters and think like a sheet metalworker about canvas and the first mate measure in centimetres and think like Carl Lagerfeld.

Imagine the conflict!!!

 Anyway... we got it to our satisfaction with out too much spilled blood in the end.

I did some small welding for another boat “Sonate” and was pleasantly surprised to receive a case of beer and a very good Chilean red! Same as the “dop for work” system that was used in the Cape wine lands for a long time.

Dogs learn how to bake pan cakes.