REALIZING  THE 
                   DREAM:

rigging the new Sailing Vessel Wings of Dawn

   
 
Fresh off the big truck...no bottom paint yet...      This is the shoal draft version -- draws 4'5", 
                                                                                    and has over 6,000 lbs of lead.

 
OK... so where do I paint the name on this funny-         The bottom got painted: an epoxy barrier
looking stern?                                                               coat, then antifouling paint, then saltwater

 
 The first mate -- illustrating fine                         Ahh... I found the mast!  Stays and shrouds
 helmsmanship while awaiting the arrival            are attached, and halyards are run.
 of a few missing pieces.

 
The masthead... so easy to work on now!           There is gonna be some roller furling on this rig...
Windex, VHF whip, static discharger, light,
and wind instrument (not yet plugged in).
Backstay insulator is hanging down.
  
Lining up the mast with the hole in the cabin.           A smooth job with the help of the crane
Greg looks really strong, hefting that mast!               operator.  Note forestay and shrouds lashed
                                                                                  to the mast.

 
Only six inches or so to go!                           Great coordination between the guys in the cabin,
                                                                       Greg on the deck, and the crane operator.

    
The mast foot bedded on the cabin sole.         A rubber boot seals the mast to the
  (leather covering pleases first mate)             cabin top.  Then shrouds were run.
                                                                         Then a few lines and blocks!

  
A compass and instrument pods are added           Under the cockpit floor, steel cables and
                 to the helm station                                pulleys connect the helm to the rudder post.

  
All lines lead to the cockpit -- or will eventually.      The main has a clew, but does the crew??

 
Under the portside settee, a space prepared for           Radar and GPS receiver cables are run
Marine AIRRRRR...  (air conditioner/heater).             down helm tubes, under deck, then up
                                                                                      the white pipe to the antennas. 

 
Pop the cover on a Raytheon radome, and you see        Radome and GPS antennas -- ready to
the rotating microwave "cooker" (actually, a                  dance on their Waltz Mount.
rotating phased array of antenna elements).

 
Back on the hard -- to paint on the name,          Ray Chambliss,  Sign Painter Extraordinaire!
mount Dynaplates, and adjust prop
pitch.  Oh... so close to being done!

 
Her name goes on the side, home port on the stern.      A 15-inch Maxi-Prop features adjustable
Note addition of bimini and other canvas stuff.            pitch and complete feathering under sail.

STAY  TUNED  FOR  MORE  UPDATES!