WHAT?

Key West has a large population of artists, and some have used their vehicle as their canvas. I wanted to share a few of the rolling art pieces. These are not digitized graphics, they have been brushed on... or glued on. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

Over kill! They keep adding to it every week!

Boom box? I'm not sure.

Must like fish.

Floral design.

This is my favorite, it truly looks like a painting.

And the work is signed.

The wheels are painted too.

BACK ON THE BUILD

I haven't done a lot of work on the boat lately, but that has changed.

The rudder and leeboard needed weight. Chuck has this little electric pot that worked very well. He even donated a few fishing weights.

The leeboard guards are being made this week. Hopefully the weather will hold out for the next week. It's been very windy with a shower here and there.

FANTASY FEST 2015

Remember when you were a kid, you went on Spring Break, got crazy, went home... and thought nobody would ever know? With a camera in every hand, and the internet posts... you can't rely on that  now.

We went to the Fantasy Fest Parade last night. When some of these people walked by, my first thought was, "Before you walked out the door, did you look in the mirror and say to yourself "I LOOK GOOD!" My second thought was, "What would your mother think!" There were some that had well thought-out costumes that were really cool. There were some that just threw on a mask. There were many, like me, that didn't dress in a costume.

This year, the parade was taped and uploaded to YouTube. I could have just stayed home and watched! lol

PIECES AND PARTS...

I am currently working on the leeboard, rudder, leeboard guards and mast partner.

The upper leeboard guard is ready for the slot to be cut to accommodate the leeboard. I want a good fit, so I need to finish the leeboard to get an exact measurement, because I will be glassing it. I want to pour the lead in the leeboard and rudder at the same time. It's been one of those, "before I can do this, I have to do that".

Well, I just this week cut out the rudder. Okay, let me correct that. I had started shaping a rudder. I stood back one day to admire it, when all the sudden, I realized I had beveled the wrong edge. I felt really stupid and went on to build something else. The time has come that I must re-make the rudder.



Next came the smelting lead for the weight. Chuck has made 5 lb fishing weights, and has this little handy dandy smelting pot. We pulled it down, dusted it off and plugged it in. It works! It's been several years since I've done this, but it I had no trouble, and was expecting the same experience this time. Boy was I wrong. I'm not sure what the difference is, but I had a frustrating afternoon.

After three attempts, I decided to go down the road to the beach and get me some sand. Then I put a layer of aluminum foil down, laid the rudder on top of this. The sand formed to the shape of the rudder, so there was no leaks. I was concerned that the pot was not big enough to hold the amount needed to fill the hole. There was lead to spare. I will have to do measuring and math to make sure the pot will hold enough lead for the leeboard.

Tomorrow I will tackle the leeboard.

IF IT WAS EASY....

EVERYBODY WOULD LIVE IN KEY WEST!

I've been asked to let everyone know what it's like to live in Key West, Florida. First thing that comes to mind, it's very expensive. As far as housing, you either have at least one roommate, or two jobs, or both.

When I first landed here, I was shocked at the price of rental property. The last house I rented in Texas, was a four bedroom, 2 bath home with a double car garage and carport... and I paid $995 a month. In Key West, I had to settle for a "room" with kitchen privileges for $800 a month. Two years later, a room will run you $900-$1000 a month. Location, location, location.

"If you have a waiting list for your extra bedroom, you live in Conch Country."

Shopping is not easy, Key West is geared for tourist... with tourist prices. Some shops do give locals a discount, and that helps. Most people I know do all their shopping online. Amazon is great for finding just about everything. In a couple weeks, I will be traveling to Lubbock, Texas to visit family. I have already started a list of things I want to get while I am there.

And don't even get me started on the cost of airfare from here to Lubbock, TX. I tried to get a flight for December, and the price when up $300 while I was on the phone trying to book the flight. I settled for going this month. I will be changing planes twice, and it will take me about 10 hours.

There are sacrifices to living in Key West, but the pros far outweigh the cons!

YOU HAVE TO TAKE CHANCES....

FOR THE THINGS YOU CARE ABOUT.

For about a year now, Chuck has been after me to go into business for myself. The canvas and cushion business. My head knows that there is a lot of business out here, but I have a problem letting go of security. Security of knowing I have a paycheck next, and every wednesday direct deposited into my checking account. Do I like sitting behind a computer, calling people to pay their bill, relieving cashiers at the register, stocking shelves when I run out of things to do in the accounting department? NO.

Chuck travels a lot, and would like for me to go with him. At the present, I can't take off on a whim and fly to Costa Rica... yes, he is gone to Costa Rica and I was invited. But, this employee couldn't leave the country on a whim. Damn it!

Here is my dilemma; take a chance and go into business for myself and have the freedom to travel and go on sailing adventures ... or be stuck in an office and put in requests for vacations. I am only four years away from early retirement. I want to take two weeks off next June for the Texas 200,  go to Oklahoma next October... I want to enjoy life, have fun.

I say all this after consuming half a bottle of wine. My son says, "In Vino Veritas"... In wine there is truth. I just watched a movie, and one of the lines, " You have to take chances for the things you care about." Is this an omen? LOL I do so wish I was in Costa Rica right now!  Security, or Freedom? What would you choose?

THE SAIL

I loved the yellow sail I had on iDuck, the Puddle Duck I built. I ordered the yellow polytarp to build the sail from. This is 3.3 oz polytarp, which was good in light winds. I will probably build another out of something heavier for those days with more wind.

I am going with yellow because it is very different than all the white sails I see on the water. I will stand out, and be easily recognized from afar.

Here are a few more pictures I took today. The decks are glued on and the back deck has been glassed (I didn't get a pic of it today).

Decided on a deck plate for the bow for easy access when I install running lights.