The ice modifications started well but all to quickly the challenges and projects started to overwhelm us. One issue was our particularly poor fix:break ratio. I managed to put my knee through the water tank, then Edvin made it larger with his knee then we managed to break a teak bulkhead and soon, along with other acts of involuntary destruction and vandalism, we were days behind schedule.
The construction of a “water tight” impact compartment at the front of the boat quickly grew in complexity. While a great safety feature it soon became our never-ending project. Day after day seemed to vanish in that dark and cramped part of the boat. Hours of grinding, fitting wood, epoxying, glassing, sanding and painting. Nothing worked well. Edvin managed to weld the broken tank but we could do little about the other set backs – paint taking days to dry in the humid weather, epoxy never curing and the lack of appropriate repair materials.
But we persevered and finished the compartment and we are extremely pleased with the results, even though we just realized there is a hidden leak in the water tank. Within a day of finishing that job we completed a series of others: refinishing the windvane; installing the mast top camera and preparing the boat for launch. We are beginning to see the end……but is there really ever an end to boat repair or expedition preparations?
You are making good progress – I like what I’m seeing on your website. Several other NWP boat owners have asked who else is attempting a NWP in 2012.
I know of the following:
S/V TELEPORT – 29′ NoAtlantic – Cambridge Bay to Nome
S/V UPCHUCK – 50′ Nauticat – Seattle to Scotland
Row Boat – web http://www.thelastfirst.com – Tuktoy to Pond Inlet
Who else do you know of? Details please.
Standing by – smooth seas,
Doug