3424Hrs – Lashing It Down

I’m not one to blow my own trumpet but I’ve worked bloody hard today. I’m aching all over but my arms and shoulders take the prize for achyness.

It’s all good though because my work has been fruitful and I have a warm glow of satisfaction to ease the pains in my body. ‘Gleda’ now boasts a full set of lashing strakes.

I cocked up with the section I fixed last night, I used a length that’s needed for the rub rail so I took it off this morning and started afresh.

So today’s tally ran to some 40 metres (131ft) of Iroko oiled, 8 ends shaped and sanded, some 200 holes drilled and countersunk, some 200 screws driven home. It was getting dark by the time I’d finished and lashing down with rain (again). The last strake went on under the light of my headtorch.

The strakes look great and I think I’ve put them on with a fair curve but as I can’t stand back more than a few feet around the outside of the boat I won’t really see how good a job I’ve done until she comes out of the barn, but for now I’m happy.

Rub rails up tomorrow.