Like so many neighbors, we were wading through too much bad news in October. Santa Rosa firestorm came within 1.5miles of our house just after we finished the $150k+ insurance repair. We were spared but so many friends and acquaintances lost their homes. Living through large insurance claims is a surreal thing that many people never have to experience. Not fun :(. So it was especially relieving to hear from Geico last week that Ravenswing’s dismasting insurance claim settlement has been approved. We’re in process of spec’ing out the new carbon fiber mast build. More info to come once that contract is finalized. 

The boat has not been weighed yet, and that figure is needed to finalize the mast fiber layup schedule. We know the boat buoyancy figures can exert over 108,000 lb ft of pressure, but knowing the weight helps verify the necessary strength calculations. We also got approved to do the topsides repairs with the boat hauled out, because I can see some paint damage down at the waterline where the mast was rubbing against the hull for the hour before we got everything out of the water (on the breakage day). We were cleared to use the KKMI yard just a mile away from our marina, but the MOD70′ racing tri Orion was hauled before us using a special, very expensive rental crane. Orion has usurped the yard and the manager said last week, “it’ll be here through the winter so we will get to you in the spring”  Crap, need to find another solution and we’re too wide for any of the Bay Area travelifts. Big thanks to KKMI owner Ken Keefe for recommending Spaulding Boat Works in Sausalito because they have a big old fixed base crane.  We went to their office on Thursday and got an appointment for Monday! Scheduling gods decided to smile on us. We’re supposed to lift the boat at 10:30am Nov6, for any locals who want to watch RW swing through the sky. 

While the yard does the insurance repair work, we can tackle jobs including shimming out the dagger board case for a tighter fit, changing the orientation of the escape hatch, changing the boot stripe, motor maintenance, and hopefully getting some raven graphics onto the float hull topsides. 

This weekend we’re finally back to systems improvement projects. First up is moving the grey water plumbing tank and some water line rerouting. Then we’ll get the parts on order for controlling the lithium ion battery pack. I know some readers are anxious for those details, but I’m not there yet. Soon…