Cockpit Sole Extraction - Check and Mate

The weather was stunning yesterday, and with no other pressing commitments/errands to attend to, I was able to get stuck into some more work on Sentina.

Firstly, with the bow now properly supported, I got right up into the fore cabin and commenced cleaning it out. Then I vacuumed up all of the bits of debris, working form stern to stem. She still needs a good scrub down, but that fun will come soon enough.

Then I turned my attention to the cockpit sole again. This has to be removed, so I can get the engine and stern gear out. After unsuccessfully hacking at the silicone goop around the edges of the sole for quite a while (man, that stuff is strong!), I decided to get a bit more aggressive. 

Plan B struck me as elegantly simple. Just slide the brace into the hole, stand across each seat and a gentle tug should surely see the floor lifted with ease. 

Unfortunately, whilst getting my stance nice and comfortable before the lift, I made the mistake of letting go of the rope. My 'ingenious-cockpit-sole-extraction-device' immediately fell down into the mysterious, dark recesses of the bilge, and absolutely stuck fast. No amount of jiggling, coaxing, swearing or dark, filthy looks helped. It was there for ever. 

Hmm, I thought......so its going to be like that, is it? Righto then, time for Plan C. 

This time I opted for something a bit stronger, and I was careful to keep a tight rein on it.

Then I tried to get a bit creative in setting up maximum force application, taking into consideration potential directional loading upon the system (sound smart, don't I?). 

Not wanting to give fate any ammunition at all, I also decided to utilise the port sheet winch for applying the tension. This sucker was coming up, one way or the other. 

After some messing around and minor tweaking, I was able to get some significant tension on the rig. But the sole would only come up a couple of millimetres. It was back to slicing and chopping at the white goop again, whilst keeping the tension on. 

I battled away for over another hour like that. I was about to give up and start on Plan D, when I tried cranking on even more pressure just one more time. With visions of deck fittings suddenly tearing loose and entering my temporal lobes at great velocity, I continued straining against the winch handle until I was finally rewarded by the sound of the sole slowly tearing free. 

At last I could look straight down onto the stern gear and aft end of the engine. Success sure tastes sweet, especially after a battle. 

I've read accounts of the deep, comfortable cockpits on these boats, and now I can understand the truth of them. Sitting on the seat and resting my feet on the flange from the original sole, I was surprised by just how natural and comfy the original set up is. I'll definitely be reinstating the proper level later.  

My next mission will be to remove the rudder, closely followed by the prop, shaft and then the engine. Then I can start on the water tanks.