The Pressure Drops

Barometer's still sliding. 988 and holding steady's a lie — it'll drop again once the front hits proper. Dinghy's tied but the stern spring's new rope on old cleats. Generator's lashed but the exhaust elbow vibrates loose every storm. Porch door hinge still catches. Radio mast insulator's the spare porcelain, taped, not bolted. Too many things I meant to do proper and didn't.

Stern spring's holding — new half-inch three-strand, long splice served with sail twine. Forward cleat's sound. But the mast bracket's still skewed a degree off true; the through-bolts I drove pulled the spruce step slightly. Under load in a chop, that alignment walks. Engine's faint vibration above half throttle will become a hard shake. Shaft's trued, sleeve pressed, prop nut at 35Nm — that much is done. But the bracket needs shimming or the step needs re-bedding, and I've no epoxy left worth a damn. Tub's down to thick residue.

Generator ratchet straps are tight, exhaust elbow solid. Porch door hinge — drove the cedar shim deeper, door seats clean now. Radio mast guys: three of four turnbuckles seized. Worked them free with penetrating oil and adjusted tension. Spare porcelain insulator on the bracket is seated and taped; coax is the old failed run coiled on the porch. No replacement. If the mast comes down, we're blind. Barometer's 988. Wind's backed to northeast in the last hour — that's the shift I woke to at 0200. Front's building offshore. Supply boat's not making this tide. Maybe not the next.