more delays

I was expecting to get my sails in the next couple of days but it seems the loft made the wrong sails. They made a set for the BRS 15 and my boat is a BRS 17. Hopefully I can get a full set in 4 weeks instead of 6. And, the designer is going to try to come up with a sail for me to use until I can get a full set. This will at least get me on the water and in the mean time I can fix a few minor things and do stuff like finish off my oars.

Out into the sun, masts stepped, exciting!!

It was very exciting to see the boat out in the open with the masts stepped. You can see that the foremast is raked and the aftermast appears not to be. They both should be. Both masts also have some curve to them (unintentional). Another issue was the boat trailer. My friend Ashley and I raised the front of the boat on the trailer and made some other adjustments and hopefully the boat will go on and off without hitting the fenders. Still more work to be done but getting closer to launch every day.

Countdown to launch . . .

My sails SHOULD be arriving in the next couple of days along with a couple more pieces of hardware. I have finished painting the boat and started installing the hardware. I hope I can finish the hardware tonight.

My cleats you can see port and starboard on the stern and centered on the foredeck. I think they look nice unpainted on the turquoise.

So far I installed the gudgeons for the rudder, the cleats and the seat hatches and hinges.

I also installed the oarlock sockets but one of the screws on the port one broke off inside the gunnel so I had to take it off and clean the bedding compound from it so it before it cured. I still have to get the broken screw out which won't be any fun.

Not your typical gay bar

A human interest note:

Some local characters at the marine railway and old fish house.
















They are just buddies from what I understand.

interior white finished, first coat of turquoise/teal

Foredeck and thwarts installed

Bottom finished, boat turned and put on trailer, and oars roughly shaped.

The boat has been progressing pretty well this month. I managed to get 3 coats of paint on the bottom and I am happy with the finish. You can see imperfections clearly, but I had always intended on a "work boat finish."




I got some help from my friend Jacob, his dad Larry, and Larry's buddy Richard. Richard is about 4 feet 31/2 inches tall and Larry about 7 feet tall, and neither is very strong.

First we lifted the boat inside the shop, turned it up on it's side, and carried it out to the grass, with much moaning and groaning. Jacob was yelling at his dad, "Man up!" "Grab it and growl!"

Once we got it to the grass I took a minute to admire my work. I think it looks damn good with the paint on it.







Next we picked up my second hand boat trailer, turned it sideways and carried it through the shop door. The reason I'm going through all this trouble is: 1. I want to set the boat down on something that is not going to mar the paint; 2. I need to adjust the trailer to fit the boat and doing this inside the shop keeps me away from the gnats; and 3. I didn't really think it would be that difficult with 4 people.





Finally we carried the boat back into the shop and set it down on the trailer. Well, ole Sasquatch decided to give Willow the side that needed to come up the highest. So, we ended up rubbing the topsides on the steel fender of the boat trailer. So, I have some nice scratches to touch up.

It's not a big deal really because I am painting the interior the same color and have to touch up the transom and stem later anyhow.




I'm getting anxious to launch the boat.

































Here are some photos of the 8' spoon blade oars I made from cypress. The pictures don't show them very well. I'm not going to finish them completely until I launch the boat, that way I can make any necessary adjustments.