Been Busy....

Ok ok ok, first off my apologies for not posting something more recently. I have been rather busy with work b/c apparently for no apparent reason the beer industry gets quite busy this time of year. I have absolutely no idea why. The other reason for a lack of blog posts recently is that there has not been much progress on the boat worthy of any pictures. This is not to say there hasn't been progress but still. As you can see by the photo above I have taken the time to cut out most of the bulkheads including the most complicated one you see above. I also have the cradle constructed and I am just about ready to begin assembling the hull. Then the real pictorial progress will begin! Sadly, after this weekend I will be even more busy with work. But the upside is my busy weekends will involve Octoberfests in Boston and Vermont. (read: lots of work buts lots of drinking) and some extra pay for working the festivals. Oh darn.

Other than that not much else exciting going on in my life. At least nothing more than having money extorted from me, but that's a story for when I care enough to bitch about it more. I should probably care about that one more but nothing that people do surprises me anymore. I suppose it's a good thing to be cynical sometimes. At least you're never disappointed in people when you're expectations are already at the bottom of the barrel.

I need a drink.

I Think I Might Have Lead Poisoning

So, I have accomplished quite a bit recently. Including casting the lead ingot into the centerboard and ballast into the keel. I sourced my lead by visiting the shadier (i.e. non-corporate) tire dealers in the local area. The funny thing is I didn't have to pay for it at all! Of course I did barter for it, but beer is a powerful bartering tool ;) Oh beer, what can't you do?

So, used my tiny but uber-powerful backpacking stove and a small old pan with a spout to melt down the lead, and a slotted spoon to remove the steel clips from the tire weights once melted. A pretty simple process actually. That backpacker stove melted the lead in a matter of a couple minutes! It also smoked profusely whilst burning off all the dirt and such, and I'm sure it smelled bad (I couldn't smell it seeing as I had a respirator on) But it does make me slightly concerned seeing as that I have several neighbors in close proximity to my house (think in terms of feet) and they all seem to be old people or small children. Whatever, I'll chalk it up to having slight sociopathic tendencies.

The other part of melted lead which caused me concern was that I decided I ought to learn what the potential symptoms of lead poisoning are just in case I notice myself acting strange. I have listed them below for your convenience:

Behavioral symptoms in adults

• Irritability
• Unexplained changes in mood or personality
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Inability to concentrate
• Memory loss

Neurological symptoms (caused by effects of lead on the nervous system)

• Poor coordination
• Weakness in hands and feet
• Headaches
• Seizures
• Paralysis
• Coma

So now I know. The problem is that each and every one of these symptoms can quite readily be found in my normal course of life anyway. (Ok, maybe not the last three... but if I ever experience those symptoms I'm kinda fucked regardless) As for the rest, based on my current social life and my propensity to consume large quantities of alcohol... I may already have lead poisoning. I'll let you know if I experience any of those final three symptoms... if I can. ;) (Or worse, you will see an abrupt end to this blog if any of my neighbors have these symptoms, oops)

Anyway, back to the boat. The centerboard ingot was cast and I have begun glassing it. And finally, you can see almost the entire keel assembled. (It looks like part of a boat at least, right?) It's only missing the aft lead ballast and the keelson. Hopefully I can get that finished by the time I head to NYC for Labor Daybor... After the weekend it's on to the big time, I have to build the cradle and start scarfing the hull panels together. Then the boat will really begin to take shape!