Earlier I promised a better explanation of how I raise and lower Taz’ mizzen mast singlehanded. The secret weapon here is an ordinary come-along or portable hand-operated wire winch. It’s a very controllable tool — with a little dexterity and caution you can use it not only to haul a load in one direction, but also to let it gently out in the opposite direction. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s Chapter II of the mizzen sail revival story. The rebuilt sail bundle is carried to the boat, handbombed aboard, and there follows a lot of messing about with string eventually the lifts are sorted out, parrels more or less taut, and the sail hoists (a very happy day). One or two minor surprises remain, but nothing major; Taz looks like a whole boat again, no longer a bird with one broken wing. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m catching up, months late, with the story of Taz’ 2009 refit activity. Friends of the boat will recall that the mizzen mast was lost in 2005. In 2009, with much encouragement and help from my partner Jon, the mizzen sail was completely rebuilt. Only the original sail (a superior grade of polytarp) was preserved. The old battens, yard, rigging and broken mast were all cut up for firewood and ritually burnt This entry documents the new mizzen batten design and sail bundle assembly; the next one will show the rebuilt sail being bent on and hoisted. Read the rest of this entry »

This post is out of order — it should have been preceded by a couple of entries about the rebuilding of the mizzen sail, new battens, rigging, and so on. However, the pictures are too good and the urge to brag on my revived boat is irresistible. On Jun 21 ’09, Taz went on her first little cruise since the dismasting in Aug ’05. With my friend and partner Jon Knowles generously acting as crew, deckhand, and experienced local pilot, I took her down to Silva Bay.

The following day there was a light SEly breeze and we took the opportunity to get some pictures of Taz fooling around off the SW corner of Gabriola Island with all her laundry flying — all 1100 sf of it! Jon bravely cast himself off in one of the kayaks with a camera while I sailed circles around him in the light air. The camera was being a bit cranky and the wind was (to say the least) unreliable — but we got some good shots nevertheless. [BTW, the little yellow smudge near the stern is me in a light rainjacket, at the helm.] Just looking at them makes me grin with pride and relief; after 4 years of delays, minor disasters, and frustrations, my beloved boat is a marina queen no more she actually sails (and not badly at that), and I’ve got the snapshots to prove it… Read the rest of this entry »

So… the legendary Isuzu from Klassen did finally arrive (last year — this blog is so far behind it can tie ribbons on its own tail), and here’s the story and some pictures. Taz is moving under her own steam as of March 09, and moving with some alacrity as of June. At last… what a long and frustrating process for the newbie boat owner! Read the rest of this entry »

Catching up on long-overdue Taz news here … here are some snaps of the raising of the spiffy Kevlar-reinforced mizzen mast in the summer of 2008. Read the rest of this entry »