"No nonsense" headsail roller furling system from Alado

I've ordered a headsail roller furling system from a small Brazilian company called Alado. The Alado system seems like a very reasonably priced no nonsense product. Head over to www.alado.com for more information.

Apparently the Alado A2 kit fits the Ballad assuming it has the original rigging - like everything else on Obelix (including cushions, sadly) the rigging is original. I was accurately looking at a Harken MKIV but the price (18.000 DKK or roughly 3.300 USD) seems a bit high. The Alado on the other hand was only 1220 USD (roughly 6700 DKK) including shipping and import duties.

Practical sailor did a review of the Alado back in 2009 which can be found here: http://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/35_2/features/Alado-Jib-Furler_5735-1.html

Assembly Instructions (written instructions): http://www.alado.com/manual.htm
Assembly Instructions (video): http://vimeo.com/4847741

Once it's mounted and I have had a chance to test it I'll be sure to post a review. I'm even considering doing a video documenting the installation.

Fun with plywood - final test-fitting

Due to the unseasonal warm weather in november I had time to do a final test fitting of the new plywood. With the exception of a few places everything went together fairly easy. Unbelievable fulfilling - a huge morale boost!

Bolts that secure bulkhead to deck, missing backing

A fellow member (Peter, www.mostlyaboutboats.ca) of the balladexchange forum (http://balladklubben.se/balladexchange) commented that I should check the backing of the three bolts that secure the large bulkhead to the deck. In his boat Albin Marina had placed the backing (plywood) too far forward and there was no backing to support the bolts. I checked and my boat had the same issue. If you look at the drawings the backing is clearly supposed to be there (link).

I used a 40 mm hole saw to cut out three sections of fiberglass and then used the same hole saw to cut three pieces of Okoume plywood. I used the hole from the hole saw to line up the pieces of plywood and then applied generous amount of WEST System's Six10. The next day I sanded the area and painted it.

Painting, done!

I'm finally done painting the interior of Obelix (my Albin Ballad). I ended up using Hempel Multicoat in a pure white. If it turns out to be too white I do have the option of lightly sanding the entire surface and applying a topcoat of Hempel Brilliant Gloss (which has more shades of white to choose from). So far I'm very pleased with the result :)

Fun with plywood - the beginning.

Finally the plywood arrived! Soon I will be done painting and then the "real" fun can begin. I'm looking very much forward to start the rebuild.

To save some money I have chosen to use non-marine-grade plywood. Instead I will be using "normal" Okoume B/BB (WBP) plywood. Please note that I'm reusing the old bulkheads - none of the new plywood is going to be a part of the structural support.

Easiest way to remove butyl tape?

I need to remove butyl tape from a lot of bolts. So what is easiest way to remove butyl tape?

Turns out mineral spirits dissolves butyl tape real easy. I added mineral spirits to a small jar with three bolts in it. Shook it for 30 seconds. As by magic all the butyl tape dissolved.

Before

Mineral spirits

After shaking the jar for 30 seconds 

After

Why progress is slow (herniated disc)

Herniated disc

Thought I would do a quick post and explain once for all why progress on the restoration is moving so slowly.

One year ago I slipped and fell down a flight of stairs. This resulted in a herniated disc between L4 and L5 (see the red box in the picture). In december (2012) I got an operation to remove the nucleus pulposus (the stuff protruding from the disc). The last year I've been seeing a physical therapist two times a week. Unfortunately I still have pains, loss of feeling and slight loss of function. Apparently it's highly unlikely it is going to get better. That would have happened by now according to the doctors.

Luckily some of my friends and my parents have been kind enough to help with the boat. I wouldn't have been able to get this far on my own with my back/leg the way it is today. It's very demoralizing not being able to use my body like I was before the accident.

In short: progress may be slow but it's not due to loss of interest. The boat will be seaworthy again; if not next year then the year after. Slow and steady wins the race :)