She’s 35 years old this year. Like an aging movie star, it is time to take a short sabbatical for a little nip, tuck, and polish. For the next month or so, Archimedes has checked in to Native Brightworks on Lake Union for some desperately needed brightwork work.
As you can see from the following “before” photos, it is definitely time. This is what most of the cap rail looks like.
Some people love teak decks, some people hate them. We are firmly in the first group. To me, real, seaworthy boats have teak decks. But I understand why others, faced with a significant cost of repair, choose to pull the decks off and go with non-skid fiberglass. Lower cost, and lower maintenance in the years to come. I’ll admit that could be us in a few years.
It started small. Like most repair projects. A few open seams in the deck caulking, a few exposed screw heads. With winter approaching, it seemed prudent to address these little issues now. We just need to fix this little spot here, that little spot there. And like most projects, it grew. And then grew some more. In the end, we just about did it all. I suppose I should correct that last statement. We (Kim and I) didn’t actually do any of it. Mike Thomas of Thomas Marine Interiors did all the real work.
Thirty four years ago, the Ideal Windlass Company manufactured a nice little windlass. Serial number 937. Since that time, that little windlass has been dutifully serving it’s masters on the bow of our boat. Last month, it finally decided to go on strike and refused to do the job it had been conscripted to do. It would pay out chain nicely when anchoring, but was just too tired to pull it all back in again.
Ideal claims that parts are available for 99% of their products manufactured since 1940. (I doubt most companies could make that claim about their products.) An email exchange with Ideal proved them right — at least for the part we needed. A quick call to Ideal when we got back from our trip and the exact replacement motor for our 34 year old windlass was on it’s way to us.
Archimedes came to us with fluorescent overhead lighting. The fixtures are about 12 inches long and built into recesses in the ceiling. Each fixture holds one ten watt tube. Sadly, they don’t produce much light. In fact, a previous owner went so far as to line the insides of the recesses with aluminum foil in the hope that would reflect a bit more light. I don’t think that was terribly effective. The tubes just don’t put out much light.
We have seven of these fixtures. Four in the main salon, one in the aft stateroom, and one in each head.
Wouldn’t you know it? THE nicest weather of the year and Seafair weekend to boot. Where are we? Lounging on the deck in the sun with a big hat and a drinks with little umbrellas? Nope. How about squeezed into the flybridge combing re-wiring all the electronics. Yup.
This weekend was devoted to fixing things and general work around the boat. Too bad. Saturday was a fantastic day for boating. Perfect weather. Low 80’s. Dead calm. Lots of people out on Lake Union. Boats just drifting in the sun. Not me. I glanced occasionally at people enjoying themselves while I tried to get as many of the little projects done as I could.
New registration numbers from boatnumberplate.com.
Archimedes came to us with a 12 foot inflatable and an 8 horse outboard. Not bad, but the little motor won’t get the boat up on plane very well. It would get there … barely, but not with two people on board.
I feel the need. The need for speed. Or … at least more speed than before.
Kim. Out for a test drive on Lake Union.
Steve Guyer, from Guyer Boatworks replaced the outboard with a 20 horse Tohatsu. Electric start. Electric trim. That’s right. She’ll plane nicely now. He also added a St. Croix seat and steering. Very comfy.