Countdown - 1 Day

Today, I loaded the boat up for the trip to Port Townsend.  Tommorrow, I go.

Days until Wooden Boat Festival in Pt. Townsend: 1

Countdown - 2 Days

Well, the big victories today were getting the boom gallows roughed out and mounted and getting the outboard motor mount installed.

The outboard motor mount.

Got the registration number on too.

Gallows isn't finished yet, but it's fit on the boat.

YIKES. I forgot something:

Yep, launched her today. My dad and I had a great evening of sailing in perfect conditions.  Full report coming as soon as I have the time to write one.

Days until Wooden Boat Festival in Pt. Townsend: 2

Countdown - 3 Days

Candy first...




Ready to sail away (almost)

Yep, she's red. With the exception of the leads for the jib furler line, the outboard motor bracket, a couple of miscellaneous bits and pieces, and the boom gallows (such as it will be at the time), she's ready to go. 

Here's what happened today:

After finishing up installing the Vetus portlights this morning, it was time at last to leave the garage

Paused at about this point of fit the trailer to the boat.

Time to rig!

Slowly sorting the mess out.

I've been so busy trying to get the boat done that I haven't had a haircut in a while...it's starting to look Art Garfunkel-esque.

I also whipped up some temporary dropboards.  The real, pretty ones will come,. you guessed it, after the show.

I was looking at the week ahead, and thinking that I really would easily have enough time to finish up what needs to be done.  But, due to the holiday today, I thinking that tomorrow was Monday, instead Tuesday.  Welcome to Time Crunch City.....YIKES!

Days until Wooden Boat Festival in Pt. Townsend: 3

Countdown - 4 Days

Lots of hardware went into the boat today, lots more to go.  I'd done a lot of careful pre-kitting on fasteners, kitting them in labelled Ziplock bags ("Mast," "Boom," "Portlights," "Rudder," etc.) so that this would go smoothly, but a couple of broken bolts and some nuts that were just the wrong size threw us off rhythm a bit.  The boat is still in the garage.

The dropboards and boom gallows will still be unfinished wood when (if?) they travel to Port Townsend.

Gotta get the boat on the trailer and get rigged pronto.  There's still tons of work to do.  YIKES!

Days until Wooden Boat Festival in Pt. Townsend: 4

Countdown - 5 Days

First, I've been getting behind in posting pictures, so here's a quick recap:

Installing the coaming around the companionway.

My tabernacle will be removable.  I didn't like that all of the load on the sides of the tabernacle had to be reacted through the screws/epoxy into the back of the tabernacle, and thence through the bolts into the front cabin bulkhead.  So, I decided to install what I'm calling "load reactors"  to the hull to help create an additional load path.

A blurry view of the "load reactors" by themselves.

Sealing the spars with epoxy

Gratuitous Mt. Rainier picture

Priming the topsides.

The trailer!

1st coat of varnish on the spars

Varnishing other brightwork

Topside painting complete.



Keel box on the trailer.

Today, we got the keel box built and attached to the trailer.  The bow eye also went into the boat, and the grabrails and dropboard retainers were installed.  The companionway hood 'n hatch have been sanded down, the hood installed, and a coat of varnish applied to both. They probably will need more varnish in the long run than they'll get before the show, but its now off the critical path.  The boom gallows and the dropboards are now the critical path items.  They'll get some attention tomorrow, but mostly tomorrow will be installing hardware and maybe even getting the boat on the trailer and starting rigging.

Grabrails

Dropboard retainers and sea hood installed

 I just realized that I haven't done the big reveal on the hull color yet.  I don't want to keep you in suspense, but I'd like to wait until I can get a good picture so that I can reveal it properly.

Five days?   Yikes!

Days until Wooden Boat Festival in Pt. Townsend: 5

Countdown - 6 Days

More progress today.  I found my camera, so I should get some new pictures up tomorrow.

Painting is now done, as is varnishing on the rubrails and transom.  Some of the other brightwork is still a coat or two off, as are the spars.  I'm beginning to dislike brightwork.  ;-)  The companionway hood and dropboard retainers don't have any varnish on them yet, and I don't know what I'm going to do about that....those are now the critical path.   

I also got the boat licensed today, so I now have a WN number and a Hull ID number!

Tomorrow, my dad is come up to help.  We'll start installing the hull hardware, modify the trailer, and, of course, do more varnishing! 

They say you have to hate a boat to finish it.  I passed that point a few days ago.  It's really not so much hatred as an overwhelming sense of "I want this boat to be done NOW."

I'm also starting a list of pickup items...things that will have to be done, or redone...for after the festival.  Yikes!

Days until Wooden Boat Festival in Pt. Townsend: 6

Countdown - 7 Days

This one's going to be close.  I am putting in long and hard hours trying to get my boat done in time for the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsed in a week.  Time is so tight right now that I've misplaced my official PocketShip camera and haven't had time to look for it, so no pictures this post.

Here's roughly where I am:

• One coat of paint to go on the topsides...primer and several topcoats are done.
• Varnishing of rubrails and transom are under way.  1-2 more coats to go.
• Varnishing of spars is started, but only one coat on so far.
• Tiller, tabernacle and grabrails have a coat of varnish on them.
• Dropboard retainers have been cut out, one coat of epoxy on so far.
• Fiberglassing of the companionway hatch and hood is done.  Sanding and finishing await.
• Trailer has been purchased.  Modifications for PocketShip coming soon.
• Installation of hull hardware and rigging awaits.
• Boom gallows...something must be done about that!
• Would be nice to launch and have a shakedown cruise before heading to Port Townsend.
• Wiring will probably mostly be done during the Festival.

I've drawn up a Gnatt diagram of everything that must be done to get the boat on the water in time.  Right now, I have about a 2 day, well really 2 evening, buffer.  There are a number of things I know won't be done in time, mostly extra coats of varnish and work inside the cabin.  The boom gallows will be a sticky wicket in particular. I've accepted that I'll be taking some parts of the boat apart again after Port Townsend to finish those up. 


YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Days until Wooden Boat Festival in Pt. Townsend: 7