I have a lot to learn too. The rigging will be different on the Black Pearl. It uses a lateen sail rather than a spanker. The BP also has a more complex rigging plan. So far, I’ve only crossed lines once. And I haven’t cut any lines accidentally.
A friend picked up a present for me while he was on vacation in Mobile, Alabama. It’s called a rope serving hammer. I don’t think it’s quite to scale for my Connie. 
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Vic, I appreciate the offer but think me and the admiral will take ashot at it. Like you guys it's kind of cool to be able to work on it together.
I agree.
Attaching gaff to the pole with thread sewn through holes drilled in the jaws of the gaff. 
Sewing on the loops (hanks?).
All fastened down 
Three more mizzenmast sails to go!
Kurt Konrath
Kurt Konrath
The Serving Hammer can still be used for other tasks requiring a good beating!
Not that we ever use the wrong tool for a job not intended for!
Not that we ever use the wrong tool for a job not intended for!
The Admiral thinks I could use one occasionally.
I have found that when I start tying up my haliards from the top, by the time I get to the belaying pins below, it’s difficult to keep my lines taut because of the play in the lines I need to tie the lines off. So I started doing the lines from the bottom up. It works better. The only problem I had here was the pin at the end was too close to the bit, and I couldn’t get the line to go between the pin and the bit. I guess it was the BITter end! I wound up tying the line around the rail and belaying it. I hope no one notices. Oops! Too late!
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Now that I’ve seen the hoops magnified, I think I’ll have to go back and close them up a bit. I wish I hadn’t taken a close up picture of them.
I’ve had some issues with looping the lines to the bottoms of the belaying pins. I’ve tried using a dab of white glue to temporarily hold a loop in the line long enough to hook a loop onto the bottom protuberance of the pin. If I keep pressure on the line, I can then belay it with more ease. Now when the admiral says, “Belay that, Mister!” I can do so more handily. 
Now that I’m done belaying the haliards, it’s time to add the blocks for them on the mast and the yards. Wouldn’t you know it! I don’t have enough blocks! I either lost them in the carpet or Billing Boats didn’t send me enough. I’ll have to make them. I don’t want to wait several days or weeks to order them. I have some sticks left over from the Black Pearl’s scaffolding that I didn’t use. I’ll try using my trusty Dremel to create a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. 
Kurt Konrath
Kurt Konrath
As long as the Admiral doesn't use it on you or the ship models!
Now a walnut is a different story!
Kurt Konrath
Kurt Konrath
What was it that Clint Eastwood's charter said in Heartbreak Ridge "Improvise, adapt and overcome!"
Happy rebellion of the colonies day!
I’m starting on the boats The directions tell me to cover the top with black fabric. I don’t recall seeing black tarps for lifeboats—maybe gray?
Now it’s starting to shape up with sails billowing a bit in the evening breeze. Now I wish I had started out with more complex rigging, but I can’t start from scratch at this time, and most of my friends won’t notice. I will, though.
I built a tiny 2 mm double block. They come in a package of 10 blocks and are created by gluing together 5 batches of 10 and cutting them apart. It’s really tiny so I have to use the smallest thread I have. I’ll use the light thread as upper braces.
Sailing into the sunset. 
Faired the boats, 
added tarp, and laid first plank.
added tarp, and laid first plank.