Spring is springing

  The weather here is finally starting to warm, West Marine has been getting busier by the day, and the lake level is slowly rising. I should be able to launch my boat for the summer pretty soon, but I have a few projects on the list in preparation for the end of the season and, hopefully, a trip southwards.
The number one priority is wiring up a masthead antenna, as mine spent the last few years bolted to the stern-rail with an old lifesling bracket that has since given up on life. Among many other projects on the list for the summer are: shortening the bimini for use under sail, new backing plates for bow and stern pulpits, LED lights throughout, a bookshelf, shelving in the hanging locker, positive latches on everything, gelcoat patches, reinstalling the water tank, and many more besides. There are also some needs/wants I have to think though more before implementing, such as: bow roller and anchor, a second reef in the main, possibly one in the jib, dodger, thicker sleeping cushions.
 I've got all but one cabin light switched over to LED. While I was working on that I removed the old 12V car fan Cassie came with and sewed up a vent scoop for the forward hatch instead. I bought replacement bulbs for my nav lights only to find out this afternoon that all my fixtures except one use a different bulb, so I'll be rethinking what to do about that this week. I've got a Simrad TP10 autopilot waiting to be installed as well.

Hope, skin-on-frame.

  On the home front, the newest addition to my fleet, Hope, is almost ready to see her first bit of water. Hope is a little hard dinghy I originally designed in college to be built skin-on-frame from scrap wood in the scene shop. I really liked her lines, but couldn't get the canvas skin right. Her ribs sat stacked in the shed for the past few years, but when I started thinking about a trip south I realized I might need something a little more portable than Adra. Now Hope is built, stitch-and-glue from lauan and pine, and provided she behaves well, I look forward to putting her into service.

Hope, just being glued up.