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The Mast Step

I was starting to get worried~~The mast step, which the main mast will sit on, had been laying about since I’ve been on site. I had carved the hole in the forward mast step more than a month earlier and kept looking at the main mast step knowing the hole would need to be carved in it at some point too. But, with all that was going on, I left it be. However, after it had been installed and as the planking began to rise, I saw a problem.

We were running out of room!

So, I asked John L if it would be a good idea to cut the hole now before it was too late and he agreed. It wasn’t easy trying to find room for my big body among the ribs to do it but after nearly three hours I’d dug a fairly uniform hole in the live oak seat. Hopefully naval authorities will approve it~

Hole nearly done and the tools of the trade~

Hole nearly done and the tools of the trade~

My trademark orange shorts and leg~

My trademark orange shorts and leg~

Hole dug~~Now what to do? Ah! Look for a mast! (or make one!)

Hole dug~~Now what to do? Ah! Look for a mast! (or make one!)