95% of the Time Fixing Sailboats, 5% of the time Sailing Them

I had a chance to go sailing Saturday, for the first time this year, and although I couldn’t get out of the fricking channel, because of the direction the wind was blowing, I had fun.  It also made me realize how much I’ve procrastinated in getting the sailboat rigged the way I want it.  Things I plan to do include the following:

1.  Make a topping lift. This requires that I purchase some hardware and some quality rope, for a change.

2.  Get a good halyard.  When I purchased the boat, I was in a hurry to sail it, and I bought some cheap clothesline at Farm and Fleet — stretchy stuff. . . NOT at all good as a halyard.  But for four years, I’ve put off actually purchasing some quality rope.

3.  Replace ALL the blocks.  The blocks suck.  They catch on things and are spaced too close together on the traveller, which means that every time I tack or gybe, things get all caught up on the blocks — meaning I waste valuable time straightening out sheets, such that in a blow, I could easily capsize if I can’t let the mainsheet out.

4.  Install stern cleats.  Just useful.

5.  REMOVE THE FUCKING BROKEN RUBRAIL.  This is something that I’ve put off for four years, because I harbored some kind of notion that I could fix it.  Others have told me that they just removed it.  As it is now, the end snags on EVERYTHING, including my pants!!!!!!!!!  Very dangerous.

6.  Install halyard cleat.  For four years I’ve been tying multiple knots with my stretchy halyard, after hoisting the mainsail.  Also dangerous, as there’s no way to let the main down in the hurry, if I need to, with a sail that cannot be reefed.

7.  Lastly, I’ve been wanting to build a gaff rig for this boat.  I’d like to have sail options, such that it’s not all-or-nothing.  A gaff rig would be easy to hoist and if I make it myself, I can put reef points in the mainsail.