Now This!

Yesterday it was 72 degrees and sunny. This is what today has brought. The white stuff is ice, not snow, its been sleeting here for last 3 hrs...

I did get the trailer coupler and a few other things taken care of, no fenders yet.

Progress to Report

Had another good progress day on the trailer. At this point I believe she could hold old Sal, upright anyway. I was originally going to have the yard place Sal on the keel support and leave her there in the slings while I made the supports to keep her upright. I decided to go ahead and make the stands before hand. The decision was made after receiving a great drawing and measurements from James Baldwin of www.atomvoyages.com. The supports came out great. As you can probably tell I used old boat stands. I simply cut them up and reused what I needed, not too bad considering I paid $25 per stand! 

Yours Truly welding the support in place

More welding

Using my calibrated eye to ensure all is straight! An eye I got from my uncle and my father. Both of them taught me, from the time I was a child to the the day I left for the Navy at 18, how to use my hands to create and fix things, something that no amount of money or school could replace. I could never repay them for it either; what they instilled in me growing up is priceless. It is because of them I am able and not afraid to do what I do today...Thank you guys! 

"Laying a bead" as they say

As you can see in these pics, most of the trailer mods so far are just temporarily welded in place ('tacked' in welding terms.)

I will transport the trailer out to a friend to use a much larger machine to complete all the welding.

One support finished

Close up of the other side

I am very happy progress has been made. I was able to complete 2 of 6 planned hull supports. I finished the keel supports and cross members. I am working hard to get the trailer finished in the next week or two. I hope to have the boat on the trailer by the end of the month. I am going to purchase fenders tomorrow.
Looks like some foul weather headed our way this week, ice then snow.....so progress may be slowed once again.

Stay Tuned!

Spring is Around the Corner....I Hope

Hello everyone, I am writing today with not much to say about anything. The truth is not much at all is going on. The main reason for this has been the weather. I have lived in Virginia now for 18 years and this is by far the coldest and longest winter I can remember. It has snowed here twice in 2 weeks, first time was 3" and last time was 11". I know it does not sound like much but truth be told, with just one inch of snow here businesses are closed and roads are a mess. This last storm cancelled school for 3 days! When it is not snowing or raining, it has just been cold....highs only in mid 30's and lows in the 20's, teens even. A typical winter for most up north but very unlike any I have experienced here before.

This current weather has put a damper on making progress in getting our boat trailer ready. Its been too cold to sail and really just plain miserable to be outside. I have been down to the docks to pay Sal a weekly visit, but in truth it really isn't enough. She is not looking very well kept, and even seems downright grungy. I am hoping for a break in the weather to at least get her decks washed and her sides scrubbed. That would make me (and her) feel a lot better.

I have been going over the plans of her refit in my head and wondering just how far we want to go. I want to ensure that the project does not get out of control and overwhelming. I am determined to make her a better, safer and more efficient cruiser without getting in over my head. I have watched others become overtaken by such projects, and am determined that this will not happen here. Most important will be cost control, so on long cold days I am often thinking of ways to turn her into a voyager without breaking the bank. All of this thinking is helpful but I find myself getting antsy. I want to get her home and I want to get started.

In staying positive, the winter here usually breaks in 3-4 weeks so I am counting the days until March. 

Come On March!!!

My 66 VW Beetle in our driveway

last Wednesday, Jan 29, 2014

This is how he copes with winter....actually this is how he copes with everything!