SPLASH!!!!!

The wind has been blowing like snot for the last two weeks! But today, it calmed down and s/v IDRIS got wet.

Bert and Sheri, my former co-workers, wanted to witness this momentous occasion, so they joined me for the shakedown cruise.

She performed beautifully. Coming out of the local ramp, it is surrounded by mangroves blocking the wind. Luckily, there is a current that was running down wind and in the direction we wanted to travel. We only had to push off and take a few paddles to get in the canal, and we were on our way. The water is very skinny coming out of there, but since it was 3/4 high tide and she doesn't draw much, we only bumped a couple times.

Once in the wind, she took off. She performed well with three aboard, and Bert supplied us with champagne to toast the occasion.

I'm also pleased with the sail. I used a 3.3 oz tarp from Tarps Direct. I plan to build one from heavier material for stronger winds. She sailed close to the wind, and was easy with a jibe and tack... no problems at all. I guess I had her balanced.

I had both hands full most of the time, so Sheri took most of the pictures and video. However, her phone is not sharing those pictures at the moment. It doesn't feel like turning on right now. So, I put together a video taken with my GoPro.  You can see it here: Maiden voyage

Love that water!

FL2282RC

Today, my boat received her title and registration. She is official! I wasn't sure how difficult it would be to get these documents, but it was simple. I just filled out one form and within 15 minutes the transaction was complete.

SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL BOAT BUILD: PART THREE

By Saturday, all 18 sheets of plywood have two coats of epoxy. Patterns for all the bulkheads were  made and then transferred to the coated plywood. The Saturday Night Special is built on strongbacks, and right-side up.

John Goodman checking a part against the plans.

Christine DeMerchant flew in from Canada to help with the build. She thought it was hot in the shop today... I think it was mid-70s.

Christine was able to get both centerboard cases together today. She is so organized, she brought her own safety gear and metric tape measure. She is about the only one that doesn't curse the metric measurements on the plans.

Tillers

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The transom and two of the bulkheads are cut and ready for the framing to be glued on.

John Allison, John and Rosa Goodman made it down yesterday and put in a full day today. Charlie Jones was here a few days this week, as was Mark Bugyi from Austin. Ray Deming has been at the shop everyday.

Every day a feast is spread for the hard working volunteers. We don't go hungry.

Back at the cottage, John Allison cooked up a delisious meal.

It has been four days at Farley's Boat Works, tomorrow we rest. Everyone helping has been wonderful. John Allison, John and Rosa Goodman made it down yesterday and put in a full day today. Charlie Jones was here a few days this week, as was Mark Bugyi from Austin. Ray Deming has been at the shop everyday.

MY TRIP TO PORT ARANSAS: PART TWO

Thursday, March 24th, 2016

Sunrise over the Gulf this morning.

I have spent the last two days spreading epoxy, tomorrow will be the last... on the plywood.

We stacked the wet plywood because we have 18 sheets and need to get two coats on both sides and don't have a lot of room.

Christine is lofting templates. Since we are building two boats, this is faster.

These two strongbacks are ready for construction. We should be able to start cutting in a couple days.

MY TRIP TO PORT ARANSAS: Part One

For my new followers, I am traveling to Farley's Boat Works in Port Aransas, Texas to help build a couple of loaner boats for the 2016 Texas 200. 

Like most of my travels lately, this one too has been an adventure. I wanted to use my Southwest Rapid Rewards that have been piling up for the last three years. But in order to do that, I would have to book a flight out of Ft. Lauderdale, a city nearly four hours from Key West. I thought it would be worth the savings, so I booked my flight. When the total airfare came to $11.20, I was ecstatic. I thought this is going to be a cheap trip. Okay, but how am I going to get to Ft. Lauderdale? There is a shuttle that runs from Key West to the airports in both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. That would be simple and i heard they are cheap. NOT. $100 each way, and my outgoing flight leaves too early to get there on time by shuttle. I had a coupon for discounted car rental with Budget: $43.00. I thought that was a good deal, until I went to pick up the car and my charge was $43 PLUS this and that, which brought it over $100. Crap, this is not looking like a very cheap trip after all.

My flight leaves at 6 am, so I left my house at 11:30 pm to give me plenty of time for the four hour drive and delays along the way. Thirty minutes from home and a sheriff’s car pulls in behind me and turns on those dreaded blinky lights of his. Apparently I’m not accustomed to cars with new fandangled knobs, because my tails lights were not on. The headlights came on, so I assumed the tail lights did also. I was unaware that there is a knob you have to turn on the tail lights too. Well, that’s just stupid, and the policeman probably thought that about me. That was my first hiccup.

Another couple hours down the road, and a dump truck comes barreling up behind me on a one lane road. He’s right on my bumper and I’m getting concerned. All the sudden he gets even closer, pulls the left like he is going to pass me, but there is not enough room between me and the divider. At that moment I’m thinking it’s a good thing I went a head and bought their insurance, because this truck is about to flatten this Ford Focus. Pulling back, he waits for another mile or so for the second lane, and then passes me. That was my second hiccup.

A little farther down the road, on the Florida Turnpike, a car comes roaring up in the lane to the right of me. When he gets just past me, he slows down then drops back behind me. He does this three more times. Now I’m thinking that $100 shuttle wasn’t such a bad idea. I could let someone else do the driving, drop me off at the airport door, and I wouldn’t have all these “hiccups”. 

Well, I did want more adventures this year, and so far.. it has been.

NOT ORANGE...

It's Copper Kettle, because I don't like orange. Anyway, I got the first coat on the hull.

The trailer still needs a little work, but all work is put on hold for the next two weeks. Because I will be in Port Aransas, Texas helping build the Saturday Night Specials that will sail in this year's Texas 200. I am excited!

TO REPAIR, OR NOT TO REPAIR...

THAT IS THE QUESTION.

Last week I finally took my vehicle to get new tires. I was running on three bald and one with a little tread left. It was time. After they were installed, I was informed that the alignment could not be done because the front end needed parts: ball joints, tie rod... and something else. The quote I was given was $1476. After I picked myself up off the floor, I paid the $520 tire bill and headed straight to my mechanic, Shifting Gears. They were able to get me in two days later, fixed my problems and saved me $500.

I was feeling pretty good about my Explorer. The feeling that I might get stranded with a flat tire, and the horrific squeak was gone. A couple days later I pulled into the boatyard where I work, proceeded to pull around behind the work truck to park... and the boatyard employee started to backup and slammed into me. Obscenities were loudly shouted (by me) and I jumped out to find a deep gouge in my driver side rear quarter panel. My vehicle is far from new and it does have a lot of character, but it didn't have dents, until now. And I wanted it FIXED, so the boatyard manager told me to go get a couple repair quotes.

Bodywork is expensive. The next day I received a phone call from boatyard letting me know they had a check for me and could I pick it up before 5:00. When I got the check, I looked at the dent and thought to myself, "it doesn't look THAT bad". Okay, do I spend all that money on getting the dent fixed and being without a car for 5 to 7 days, or do I just pocket that money that would more than reimburse me for the tires and front end repair?  I've decided to pocket the money and do the repair myself. I'll pound out the dent as much as possible and then the paint job will be unique. I just haven't decided what to paint on it. Flower? No. Maybe a fish... a swordfish! Maybe.