One Step Closer To Moving Aboard

[Wildernesstech]

Hey David & Brenda,

That is GREAT news!!! We will be rooting for both of you and of course your boat!

Excited along with you,

David & Brenda

[redbopeep]

Finally! We've launched. Busy now running back and forth from the boatyard to the boat. Computer is at the boatyard...

The boat is happy to be back in the water for sure! Masts will be stepped in a couple weeks and then she'll be really pretty with her bowsprit and spars all in place. Here's a pic of her in the water. David and a friend standing next to her:

link to larger pic here

[Lighthouse]

She is MAGNIFICIENT! And, she floats!

Well done - we are all excited for you.

However, that photo is classified as Boat Porn and I don't think it is allowed to be posted here.

[Istioploos]

Bravo!

She looks most elegant.

[MMNETSEA]

Originally Posted by redbopeep

Finally! We've launched.

The boat is happy to be back in the water for sure! Masts will be stepped in a couple weeks and then she'll be really pretty with her bowsprit and spars all in place.

David and Brenda -- CONGRATS -- what a milestone !!

Richard

[JeanneP]

All that hard work sure paid off! *Beautiful.

(green with envy)

Jeanne

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by JeanneP

All that hard work sure paid off! Beautiful.

(green with envy)

Jeanne

Oh, man, limp, limp, limp....the hard work continues....I can hardly walk. We've carried all kinds of things all over the boatyard making space for continuing our spar work and making space for another 65' boat that is supposed to arrive in "our spot" any day now.

We were so lucky that for the last couple days, our friend Chris (Cruiser Log member Dobrodaddy) visited and helped David with some of the last minute heavy stuff!

We had a few little glitches that were interesting--since Kobelt hasn't sent back out throttle control head yet, we were actually stuck using the bare push-pull cables to shift into and out of gear as well as to control the throttle.

link to larger pic of the bare control cables



As we left the launch dock for a nearby workdock slip, hubby David was steering AND running the two control cables himself. I was onboard as well as friends John and Chris; John's wife, Pam, was walking the dock and would be waiting to catch a line. With a hefty side wind and tight quarters pushing us about, and the full keel behaving as full keels do... it was amazing that we didn't squash any of the nearby boats or a pier as we got out of the tight quarters. We were very thankful that the 10 ft bowsprit was NOT yet installed on the 54' boat.

Click on link for larger image of the bowsprit (in the boatyard on the boat)



The only "oops" was when David thought he was putting the boat in reverse and applying throttle to stop us and use the prop walk to spin us more parallel to the work dock...instead he put us in forward and...rammed the work dock. Lucky us, as John pointed out, our hugely thick bobstay iron is much, much stronger than the dock. A few splinters in the dock but the boat wasn't scratched

The bobstay iron in this pic--click on link for larger image --



Unusual for San Diego in that it was quite windy. The winds were up enough that we just spent the night at the work dock and moved the boat to the assigned slip at daybreak. The winds had died down about 1 am but we don't yet have the rig up--with the associated navigation lights--and David wouldn't move the boat after dark without the required nav lights. With no wind, it was a simple task to get her into the slip. Though, we must admit it is a bit unnerving to be putting your boat into a slip that is only two feet wider than your beam and when you can't see the finger piers on each side you just have to trust that the extra foot on each side is really there It was...

As a wood boat, we have to wait to see how she "takes up" water. She's weeping at the seams and the oak keel and the primary bilge pump (a Rule 3700) is kicking in every few minutes to spit out some water. We're thinking she's taking on about 20 gallons/hr. All of it through tiny weeps all over the place that should seal up nicely as her planking swells and the oak keel does as well.

Yesterday, I lugged as many tools and heavy things as I could to the very front of the boat as she's sitting bow high by about 4 or 5 inches. The stern is about 1" lower in the water than it should be--which means that some of the topside paint on the overhanging countertimber is in the water. We'll bring some of her lead ballast onboard over the weekend and put a few hundred pounds of it on deck right at the stem and that should level her enought to get all the topsides out of the water. Once the masts are stepped, she should sit very level as the foremast is about halfway between the center of mass (at the main mast) and the stem.

I'm uploading more pics to Flickr right now...I'll post a link when they're there. Now I'm off to pick up the cat at the vet's where he's been boarded for two days. He'll be glad to be back on the boat, I'm sure.

A few pics below with links to larger images--

link 1



link 2

[redbopeep]

Oh, now the fun is really underway...

We moved the lead "inside" ballast from the boat yard to the boat late last night. Mainly to get the bow down and the stern up so my topside paint won't be in the water and getting growth on it (and peeling...) So...after moving 300 lbs of misc tools inside the boat from the main saloon to the forecastle...we then moved 1400 lbs of lead from the boatyard to the foredeck just aft of the stem. The boat is now sitting 2" above the waterline in the bow and the stern has come up a tiny bit so that it is only maybe 1/2" below the waterline. That's better than the way it started with 4-5 inches bow high and an inch stern low. We also just picked up the anchors from our storage unit--a total of 320 lbs extra on the foredeck should help matters

Once the masts are stepped, things will be more even but I'm beginning to think we'll be about 1" low all around once the 2000 lbs of mast and rigging is in place . Guess I'll order a 3" vinyl bootstripe to install so I'll have something to scrub the barnacles off of besides my topside paint

Lovely day today, too. After a couple days of overcast it is bright and sunny. Perfect for getting a morning coat of varnish onto the steering box and companion way hatch before moving all that stuff! Well, this afternoon's task here at the boatyard is to do final measurements on a few more bits of rigging so I can put my wire order in on Monday or Tuesday. Hubby David is taking apart ladders and re-arranging piles of scaffold too. We've put all the scaffold bits for sale on Craigs List...hope it is sold soon.

I hope everyone is having a great day today!

[Lighthouse]

After cruising for a couple of years we eventually raised our "waterline" by about 5 inches. Worked a treat!

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by Lighthouse

After cruising for a couple of years we eventually raised our "waterline" by about 5 inches. Worked a treat!

You know...for some reason that information is not heartening...

I purposefully did not bother with the bootstripe because I knew that we'd be off a bit on the waterline. However, the boat is EMPTY--lots of furniture is not even built in yet...we have one 63 gallon water tank (empty) and we're supposed to have another 63 gallon one plus a 75 gallon one that we've not yet installed...there are thousands of pounds of stuff that isn't on the boat yet and we're already gonna be low??? I'd thought we'd be "off" by being a couple inches HIGH for now and when we did our first haul out (in about 1 year) we'd do the "real" waterline and we'd likely copper flash the waterline (a couple inches above it and a couple inches below it) at that time if the waterline really needed to move anyway and we were up to the task. Guess we'll have to be up to the task.

I guess it doesn't matter if the paint gets bubbly at the waterline as long as we don't end up with gribble due to no antifoulding there...

[redbopeep]

Well...back at the boat yard today. Sold the scaffold today (yes!) and got rid of some scrap lumber. Moved the masts apart on the elephant sawhorses they've been sitting on. Prepping for David to cut into the main mast and do a major repair. Keeping our fingers crossed that it doesn't end up to be a bigger project than expected. Verified my pricing on rigging wire and will be putting in my order for wire, fittings, and all kinds of stuff in the next few days. Managed to lose track of the extra leatherwork supplies I bought for finishing up leathering the foremast hoops. I've only done 5 hoops and I need 17 before we can step the masts. Didn't lose the extra Latigo leather (kinda hard to misplace half a cow hide...) but just don't know where the needles and waxed poly thead are hiding Cleaned out the car (not there), scoped out the boat (not there) and the boat shed (not there)...I think I'm gonna have to go back and buy more of the same. Boy that feels silly.

[redbopeep]

Well, life goes on, even without one's extra needles and poly thread.

We are working on spars and the masts and expect to step the masts sometime between the 8th and the 15th of May. Keeping our fingers crossed that everything goes well with it.

Here's a nice picture of hubby, David, and our kitty cat, Beamer, relaxing after a long day working on the boat. Click on this link for a larger image of the same.

[Trim50]

What is that???a minx?

[Lighthouse]

I thought it looked like a Lynx. Pretty anyway!

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by Lighthouse

I thought it looked like a Lynx. Pretty anyway!

He's, Beamer, a 15 year old Maine Coon Cat. A shy fellow with strangers, but with a loving nature for those he knows.

His colors are the traditional colors for that breed of cat. They have ear tufts which make them look like a wild cat and lots of fur sticking out between the toes and on the pads of the feet which is more like wild cats in cold climates, too. His size, at about 23 lbs, is average for a male Maine Coon Cat. We had two Maine Coon Cats and one Norwegian Forest Cat (very similar breed but from Europe) for many years, but Zerelda (Beamer's mom) passed away a few years ago at age 18 and Skog (the NFC) passed away in the fall of 2006 at age 17.

We'd get another cat, but Beamer likes his status as "only cat" right now since he was always getting beat up on by the other two, we figure he deserves to be "only cat" until he passes on.

[MMNETSEA]

Originally Posted by redbopeep

He's, Beamer, a 15 year old Maine Coon Cat.

Brenda, I have heard of 'Coon' dogs - so why a 'Coon' cat ?

Are you sure Beamer is not a Lynx ? (disguised as a Coon Cat ?)

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by MMNETSEA

Brenda, I have heard of 'Coon' dogs - so why a 'Coon' cat ?

Are you sure Beamer is not a Lynx ? (disguised as a Coon Cat ?)

pretty sure he's the real thing--that's what his papers say...

They pretty much all have those tufted ears that make them look like a wild cat ...

Check out some pics here http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/maine.html

From Wikipedia: The Maine Coon is a breed of domestic cat well known for its distinctive physical appearance. It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America, specifically native to the state of Maine, where it is the official State Cat.

Although the Maine Coon's exact origins and date of introduction to the United States are unknown, many theories have been proposed. The breed was popular in cat shows in the late 1800s, but its existence became threatened when long-haired breeds from overseas were introduced in the early 20th century. The Maine Coon has since made a comeback and is now the second most popular cat breed in the world, according to the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA).

The Maine Coon is generally noted for its large bone structure, its rectangular body shape, and a long, flowing coat. The breed can be seen in a variety of colors and are known for their intelligence and gentle personalities.

And, he's definitely very smart (too smart) but a total cupcake in terms of behavior. Looks like a tough guy but acts like a kitten. Conversely, we had another Maine Coon cat for 9 years--he was as tough as he looked and he'd actually chase big dogs (and they'd run in fear somehow knowing that he meant business).

[KevinBarr]

Originally Posted by redbopeep

Conversely, we had another Maine Coon cat for 9 years--he was as tough as he looked and he'd actually chase big dogs (and they'd run in fear somehow knowing that he meant business).

25 lbs of cat that still has all original parts is a lot of cat to deal with. Pound for pound, I would always put my money on the cat. Kind of reminds me of a critter we have around here called a Fisher. Kind of like a small wolverine but with the same attitude and disposition. I have seen them take on brown bears.

[MMNETSEA]

As it is common cause that Coon dogs (Coon hounds) are used to tree RaCoons to enable the brave hunter an easy shot.

Were the early Maine Coon Cats used for the same purpose?

I would certainly have a sign made for the boat , declaring "Beware Coon Cat on Board"

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by MMNETSEA

As it is common cause that Coon dogs (Coon hounds) are used to tree RaCoons to enable the brave hunter an easy shot.

Were the early Maine Coon Cats used for the same purpose?

I would certainly have a sign made for the boat , declaring "Beware Coon Cat on Board"

Our old Maine Coon Cat would have chased anything...so...could be...

No, I think its because in their traditional colors (which Beamer is), from a distance, with their big fluffy tail, they could possibly be confused with a raccoon.

That's just my guess from having a similar cat as a child (in a rural/farming part of Indiana) and fearing for the life of my cat, because people would stop by the road, pull out their gun and shoot at her because she would be in a nearby field and looked like a raccoon with her rounded furry shape and that tail. Lucky for me and my cat that she was quick to hide from them.

The story goes that the Maine Coon Cats were descended from a breed now called the Norwegian Forest Cats who are said to be "the cats that explored the world with the Vikings, protecting the grain stores on land and sea, and which are believed to have left their progeny on the shores of North America as a legacy to the future." Certainly the two breeds are similar with ear tufts and fluffy feet and have similar habits.

Our Norwegian Forest Cat died here in San Diego and we gave him a proper burial at sea--his final resting place several miles offshore in a designated fish sanctuary that we thought he'd like.

Having a cat onboard is very enjoyable for us. Do you have pets traveling with you?

Originally Posted by KevinBarr

25 lbs of cat that still has all original parts is a lot of cat to deal with. Pound for pound, I would always put my money on the cat. Kind of reminds me of a critter we have around here called a Fisher. Kind of like a small wolverine but with the same attitude and disposition. I have seen them take on brown bears.

We know of Fishers, I think they have them in Minnesota where David's Dad lives. I wouldn't want to mess with anything bigger than a Pine Martin