The Beginning

To begin with, I should introduce myself. My name is Dayna and I am the one that got us into this mess. Both Ted and I grew up sailing and come from sailing families, so really, I suppose we could blame our families, and also the friend that introduced us.

Ted started sailing IODs the year before he purchased Restless. He loved the design and he was made an offer he could not refuse. He may have also been been prone to suggestion by a very shady character, who promised to help him repair an old wooden boat. That shady character's name may have begun with a D and ended in an A, but that is besides the point!

When we first saw Restless, her name was O2, she was white with a black and yellow waterline and had baby blue decks. She was pretty in her own way, but we wanted to make her our own and ensure she stood out in our local IOD fleet in Chester. So the first decision to be made was the colour of the hull, and I have to give full credit to Ted. He chose the green and really went out on a limb. He was not sure if the colour was going to come out as he imagined. He was thinking of the Chester C, Whim, that resides in Halifax. He knew he wanted a similar type of colour but not a copy. After Restless was sanded, primed, sanded again, and the first coat of green went on we knew she was going to look good.

After we sanded the hull down (I only started taking photos after we sanded her down)

Putting on the primer. In the background you can see the IOD La Diva. We had a rib race with her owner the next year!

That face! I was so tired and only had a tiny roller!

Ted acquired Restless in the winter and we were not able to work on her until the Spring. We have been very fortunate to work on her in an indoor shed. I think after every weekend the yard owner comes in and shakes his head thinking, 'what have they gotten themselves into this time!' What we are doing would not be possible without this help.

That spring was not just a new paint job. Buying the boat we knew there was some rot in the transom. But we did not know at the time that the entire transom would have to be replaced. We also replaced the two top starboard planks adjoining the stern. (These are just small issues in our 33' boat). Ted's friend Peter came down and helped out with those.

This was the moment of truth. Ted did not speak when I painted the first side. It was only after he saw the entire side and we both stepped back that we knew the colour was right

I would receive these cryptic texts from Ted during work. I would normally just tell him to stop what he was doing and wait till I got there. Typically he did not listen. 

Ted graduated law school in April and lucky for him he had an entire month off between graduating and starting his articles. Also lucky for him, my father is a boat builder and has been a fountain of knowledge and has been there to hold our hands throughout this project...every year... also shaking his head... knowing exactly what we have gotten ourselves into

Jamie and Ted had removed the transom to use as a template for the new one. They decided that it also deserved a beer at our local pub! 

I would be remiss if I do not mention our good friend Jamie that comes down to help out, brings his drills, and if he is in a really good mood brings us timbits! Jamie and Ted worked very hard to replace that Transom. He is a regular fixture on the boat, not just fixing but also sailing. With his fun and lighthearted outlook, he also helps bring us perspective when the boat gets frustrating.

Working on Restless in the winter is a battle, both physically and mentally. Every year we take on new and more challenging projects. Last year, we replaced and sistered 12 frames, and also reshaped one mast floor and built a new one. Now we are onto the planks. We are not in a heated building and it is a battle to stay warm in the winter. We usually have two space heaters running (which I will talk about in a later blog). Whenever Ted and I disagree on the best approach to a boat project, Jamie will talk sense into one of us or come up with an entirely new idea!

The new plywood transom that my dad taught us how to do. It is laminated plywood with slits in it because we need bigger curve then the old transom told us. 

Meanwhile, I was working. I like my job - but I start early in the morning and when I was having to go to the boat in the evenings to sand and paint... and answer various about questions boat plugs and glue... (my dad is a boat builder, I have worked on boats pretty much my whole life, but only recently started working in the trade, so I have some knowledge about somethings). I eventually reached a breaking point - the first of many! I swear sometimes Restless hates when Ted and I work on her; demon boat. Maybe it is just me, I am the only one that cries, as far as I know. But my mother always told me that boat building is mainly blood and tears.

 The first year we worked on the boat Ted took some photos. I think this one is my favourite. I can't remember what I was writing/drawing but I am sure it was important. We had also just painted the first coat of bottom paint and it is hard to see but the waterline is also on. We worked from the bottom up because of time restrictions. 

I should mention that this transom, if anyone buys the boat sometime in the future, will never come out. I think we emptied an entire tube of 5200 back there. If you see black you have found it! 

So I think I may have fallen asleep. Did I mention how tired I was! 

 I was doing a lot of boat work at this time and turned into Hercules Unchained. If you want to have killer arms like First Lady Michelle Obama, I suggest painting boats for a living. It was also getting very hot, it was May, and we were watching the planks dry out. 

Just before we took the painters tape off. I think we launched the boat for the first time a day or two later. 

 I cannot lie. I don't think last years paint job was as good as this one. The paint was newer and there was less humidity and I think the tears mixed with the paint and thinner made it shine like this.

When we finally went to sail her home, Ted forgot to bring the tiller with him so we had to improvise! As most of the people who sail with him know it is not the first time something like this has happened. For everyone else I am sure you are wondering where the tiller was. It was 40 minutes away safely sitting in our apartment. 

This photo is very special. The white boat in the background is the original IOD Aileen built in 1936. The owner of the boat is also the reason we were able to get Restless and it seems fitting that they get to spend the majority of their summers moored next to one another. However, I think one does not have half a plank missing out of the side of her at the moment. 

Stay tuned for the plank blog!