Maintenance tasks on Arwen continue. The rudder has been sanded backed, pre-koted and then painted with two coats of international toplac paint. From a distance of a few metres it looks a very good finish but close up - well there are a few shallow dents which I didn't bother to fill; and there are some odd paint runs and blobs on the edges of the rudder board and stock.
Which makes me wonder a little about whether I have been too lazy, insufficiently perfectionist or caring in my work? Does it really matter if there are odd paint blobs and small runs? Should I have aimed to have done a better job rather than a rushed job? Would I have accepted a recently hung door in the house painted in such a fashion.....probably not.......would I have done lesson planning in this way....definitely not.........so should I have accepted it on Arwen's rudder? Probably not!
Who knows - I'm happy enough. It will do. I can move on to other tasks and get her back on the water sooner.
But somewhere deep down is that niggling doubt...........my father, as an engineer, would have a fit I suspect! And, somewhere, it irritates me slightly that I have allowed myself to do such sloppy work. Hey Ho! Must be this retirement marlarkey creeping in!
Which makes me wonder a little about whether I have been too lazy, insufficiently perfectionist or caring in my work? Does it really matter if there are odd paint blobs and small runs? Should I have aimed to have done a better job rather than a rushed job? Would I have accepted a recently hung door in the house painted in such a fashion.....probably not.......would I have done lesson planning in this way....definitely not.........so should I have accepted it on Arwen's rudder? Probably not!
Who knows - I'm happy enough. It will do. I can move on to other tasks and get her back on the water sooner.
But somewhere deep down is that niggling doubt...........my father, as an engineer, would have a fit I suspect! And, somewhere, it irritates me slightly that I have allowed myself to do such sloppy work. Hey Ho! Must be this retirement marlarkey creeping in!
Hi. The wood is protected and they will work perfectly for sailing. What else matters really?
ReplyDeleteUse the time gained by getting the maps out and dreaming of trips next year!
Merry Christmas Graham. And I agree......start planning the trips and stop worrying about cosmetics. Take care now. Steve
ReplyDeleteGood enough and go sailing - works for me. Boats take plenty of knocks and dings when I,m sailing.
ReplyDeleteHave a good Xmas
you too max. take care
ReplyDeleteRemember the ten inch rule: If you don't see any blemish from ten inches or more away, then it's good enough.
ReplyDeleteEven then, you see some mirror finishes on paintwork and varnishes which do, I admit, look great, but the owners seem to be neurotic and are always worrying about scrapes and dents. That's not what sailing (and boating generally) is about is it?
I don't think you'll enjoy sailing any less for a few cosmetic flaws, do you?
Happy New Year!
Stuart
Hey Stuart - thoroughly agree and happy new year
ReplyDelete