Mast steps fabrication. Inspired by Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_hD4dJGUgM , I decided to make steps in my house. As stock I used 6063-T52 0.1875x1.25x12" aluminum bar. I found it on Xometry site for https://supplies.xometry.com/6063-aluminum-bar-rectangleom-18084-12-0.html $1.44 per piece. Originally, I planned to bend bar in vise but when i did the bend i figured there too much stress on 90 degree bend if you do it over sharp corner, vise jaws marks hard to do middle bands as well, due to vise screw appears on the stock way. So, i would need to have bender to do radius bend. Buying bender for one-time-use I decided too much. I built one from pieces of metal i had in my garage. Pats used: Steel angle 1.5" - ~10" length Steel bar 1.5x0.25x16" - two bars for turn lever 3 x 1/2" bolts with nuts and washers. 4 ball bearings ID 1/2 Drilled holes , cut a little with angle grinder, than screw all together. Screw to the workbench. Bende...
Refitting and restoring a 47-year-old Irwin Citation 34 sailboat. Originally, this blog was created to motivate myself to continue this challenging project. It documents the DIY work step by step, done almost entirely single-handed. My goal is to make the boat seaworthy again, return her to salt water and sail. Sail more and sail seas.