At the Tenth Hour...

Some like to dip a toe and ease their way into the water. Others like a cannonball. Having tried both ways, it's my opinion that there's a time and a place to go gently into the water.  

​But this is neither that time nor that place.  No, it is officially GO time. 

With less than three weeks until the start of the 300-mile unsupported Everglades Challenge adventure race, the schedule says, GET IN THE WATER, Zygote!

As ground control to Major Tom, I have been busy doing my bit, which includes acting Purser, Supply Sergeant, Commissary, Provisions Specialist, and Cheer Captain.  

So many boxes have arrived on our doorstep.

And we have merch!

We have tees, long-sleeve cotton, and some tech shirts. Let's contribute less to the micro-plastic problem, no?  Hit me up by email if you want a shirt. They cost me around $20 each to make.

Muchas gracias to Cindy C. for the tee-shirt press!

Meanwhile, over at the biolab, Zygote's pedal drive is still a work in progress. (pedal-to-propeller! Has potential for use in making a vat of margaritas!).

As you no doubt remember, all means of human propulsion are permitted. So if he so chooses, my favorite skipper can ooch, pump, row, push, swim, pole, or gondola-wise propel the boat. 

The pedal drive is a cool bit of kit, as my British friends might say.

Manufactured by a Canadian firm that was—ahem—reluctant to do biz with south-of-the-border folks like little old us, the kit includes a set of foot pedals and a worm drive-ish thing leading to a two-bladed propeller that can stick out the back of the boat. Many thanks to the [names redacted] 2.4M class for conveying the device to us.

Yes, it does resemble a cartoon invention. 

Yes, I did buy a Lark seat at a thrift store in case the contraption might be rigged thusly. 

Yes, we don't know how much thigh-burning madness this will engender.

Yes, I am referring to the Oysterizer setting of "super frappe" with annoying frequency.

​The centerboard is settled into its trunk, and hurrah! It fits and goes both up and down.

According to guest-laborer Bill B., the process took at least 19 tries to get the centerboard finessed. Evidently also, because of the blackness of the carbon fiber, Jeff had a time of it trying to thread the pin — the black pinhole spot invisible against the carbon fiber centerboard trunk.

And everyone enjoys that part of a build. Thanks for the photos, Bill!

The mast is nearly all rigged, minus a few refinements like the special hook to loop the distal end of the main halyard so it doesn't slip and sag. 

The paint job is close enough for now. Some pinholes and more sanding await future TwoBeers. 

The navigation and safety gear has been tested and dry-fitted.

custom perch for the Garmin InReach.

​The navigation lights are still in original packaging.
Reflective gator-tape is still on the roll.

The boat logo is just waiting for a warm, dust free day to be applied. The storage bags are in a holding pattern, as himself thinks he might have plenty of storage without them. 

We'll see. Fingers are crossing in preparation.