C'est la Vie is a 1966 Charlie Morgan 34.

Her home port is Everglades City, FL. Our typical cruising area is Southwest Florida, the Florida Keys, the Southeastern Atlantic Seaboard, and the Bahamas. We are C'est la Vie's third owners and purchased her in 2005. We continue to maintain and update this classic vessel. Please post any questions or comments about C'est la Vie or our travels via the comment links below.


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Musings on the non-linear progression of projects

The past few days have consisted of painting concoctions onto the dinghy only to then sand them back off.  My progress measured by the increasing grit of the paper 80 grit, 120 grit, 220 grit.  Today the dinghy restoration took a  leap forward - Wahoo!


I completed the interior painting and installed the seat (pictured above.)  Anne and I also applied the second coat of primer to the hull (pictured below).


If weather and schedule co-operate we will roll and tip the two top coats on Wednesday and Thursday.

My projects increase in complexity as my patience grows with maturity.  Thus far in my life the complexity to patience ratio appears to be a linear progression.   I wonder if the day will ever arrive that I am accurately able to estimate the the time such projects will consume. My current system is to double the time I initially estimate, but this equation is consistently turning up short on time.  As I age and my projects grow in complexity should I continue to increase the multiplier for time allotted?  Hmm,  If this is true I better go ahead and get the big projects done before I pass a half century.

What of the non linear progression of projects?   One day is devoted to 10 hours of sanding where progress in measured in grit.  The next day progress is a apparent as a face lift on Yoda. Guess it's best to just accept the way of things and celebrate the days where progress is measured in fair hulls and dinghy seats.
    
Posted by Unknown at 19:58
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6 comments:

  1. Tate17 April, 2012 23:08

    I know its probably not encouraging to anyone but the foolhardy, but I measure my projects by how many beers they take to complete. ;)

    The dink is looking mighty fine.

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    Replies
    1. Unknown19 April, 2012 09:06

      Tate,

      For comment & compliment. Does the cost of the beer fall into the project budget? This may be a win / win accounting system. Are you by chance the Tate that is 2.7 years from circumnavigating on SV Sundowner?

      Delete
    2. Tate20 April, 2012 11:30

      Yes sir, that would be me.

      Delete
    3. Unknown21 April, 2012 09:15

      We both enjoy reading the Sundowner blog. Kudos on all the work you have completed on the boat. Please keep posting your progress.

      Delete
  2. Robert Salnick18 April, 2012 10:52

    In the engineering world, the rule of thumb is to double the estimate, and then change to the next larger unit. Thus, a 2 week project becomes a 4 month project.

    bob
    s/v Eolian
    Seattle

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    Replies
    1. Unknown19 April, 2012 09:10

      Bob,

      I've never hear of this system, but looking back on my boat projects it may be the most accurate. Good to hear from you. As ever I am enjoying your site. Hopefully I will be able to contribute some more small boat projects when we get to Beaufort for the summer.

      Jeff

      Delete

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