I finished the boat today. After six years, the boat is done. I am no longer building a boat.
I had my last sessions of anxiously studing the manual, calling CLC for final questions on a few remaining tasks, making one last trip to the hardware store for one bolt with a matching nut, and then doing the last tasks.
Rudder: Julia bought a replacement for the cleat I lost, and I installed that on the rudder. I installed the rudder in the rudder casing (backwards, at first, because that's how I roll), and attached the tiller to the yoke.
Rigging: I installed the cleats on the mast.
I installed the halyard (pulling the sail up), and downhaul (keeping
the boom down).
I installed the mainsheet block on the boom (here it is not
completely installed).
I attached the tiller to the yoke.
Julia finished the lettering.
And it's done!
We took the boat outside for its first photoshoot, and I posed with
my official Floating Point Memo hat.
A few words from your host.