Finally I have time to sit down with a glass of wine and think about the rest of the story! When you work and play in the marine environment this time of year can be a little jammed-packed with everything boat and not necessarily yours. It was very nice to hear from some people asking where the next post was. My answer was always 'next week!' and I really tried, but it is nice to hear that people have been enjoying reading what we have been doing.
Since the last post, Ted and I have been to Nantucket and back again (that is not an innuendo for anything). Once we finished the planks we did not have a lot to do, we were down to the every year maintenance for the most part. I spent most of the last weeks hiding power tools from Ted so that he would stop removing parts from the boat and we could get her in the water. And I can say with confidence that the boat did not make me cry this year! I may have cursed her and her ancestors at certain points but overall we got along... that's me and Restless, I cannot speak to the relationship between Ted and the boat.
In Nantucket sailing in after the last race. After the first day we were in 9th place; we had some kinks to work out. After two more days of racing we managed to tie for first with the top three boats, on a tie breaker we ended up in second! We always have such a great time racing there.
If you ever get the chance to visit Nantucket it is truly a magical place.
But back to our boat! We wanted to put a garboard plug in the boat this year and as luck would have it after hours suspended down in the bilge I felt an indent. In the case of an IOD the bilge giveth and taketh away! Meaning that for all the tools, screw, nuts, washers, and my soul that we have lost down there in the past three years it finally gave us something back! When Ted sanded the bottom we were able to find her old plug that was perfectly inset and then filled over. After a little digging we were able to unscrew the old plug and after a rain storm this was the result.
Ted always wears a respirator when he sands bottom paint but he wasn't wearing any other protection. And all of a sudden appeared on deck looking like a smurf.
So I rummaged through my car and was able to put together a more suitable ensemble. I am sure that he is smiling at me.
Bottom and the water line all sanded. For reference this photo was taken on May 5th. I Also think that was the last time Ted had a hair cut.
To move Restless in and out of the shed we were using this tractor. I was shown how to use it and don't get me wrong I could drive it no problem. But I am the first to admit that I am awful with trailering boats, especially when it is a tight fit between two other boats. Ted, sensing my fear suggested I show him how to shift gears. Ted does not know how to drive a manual... but if you ask him he will tell he can. After driving around the yard with him for awhile he got the hang of it. But I still think he could use a bit more practice before anyone trusts him with a new gear box!
More varnishing... This was on a Sunday and I tried to let Ted know subtly how I felt that day. I think he knew but pretended to be unawares.
We enjoyed that for the last week or two we were surrounded with two other wooden IOD's. La Diva and Ibis.
We also enjoyed our evening entertainment!
As we were finishing up the last work on our classic wooden boat we got to see something a bit more modern! I 100% walked up to Hugo Boss and whispered 'I touched it' as a tentatively put a hand on the deck.
The funny thing is that Ted and I were talking about the launch of Restless and neither of us can remember what weekend it was. It could be because after we launched her we had to take her out again. As some of you may know we have a new fiberglass rudder and a new fitting at the top. When we put that in we thought we had used enough 5200, BUT. apparently in that case an entire tube was the answer! Maybe not that drastic, but the advise that was given to me was to 'gloop the hell out of it' and that is what I did. I will tell you that it does not leak anymore. And if Ted and I out live the boat and someone decides to put another rudder fitting on it they will be cursing me and my ancestors.
I guess most importantly, did the new planks leak? We have been in the water since about the end of May and so far so good! We still have some issues, on starboard tack we have a river running into the boat from the bow. We know what the problem is and we tried to put a bandaid fix on it for the season and it is better then last year but not ideal!
The boat sat for a few weeks without a mast and in that time it tried to sink. I decided to go down and check on her one fateful Sunday to find water up to the floor boards. I moved the water line up this year, because I found when she sat on the mooring she looked she was sinking. So when I saw the water line halfway submerged I knew there was an issue. I don't think I have ever had a more patient tender boy, he drove me out countless times as I tried to solve the problem. The switch had gone in the boat, but I tested everything before looking into the switch! Always check the switch!
Finally leaving! There is nothing like sailing this boat for the first time every year. We left mid June and as you can see Ted was so excited he lost his shirt.
Happy Days!
Just a man and his boat
Ted has a special fondness for this boat
This boat is an ongoing project. We are still doing different tasks, the holes you can see in the companion way are now finished with jam-cleats. We know we have a lot of work in front of us but we are working to maintain this boat. Every year we are able to keep this boat going and if you ever get the opportunity to sail her, don't panic, we probably already know where that leak is or where that broken part is.
