Git Her Done Continues

 

The Worlds Only(?) Skidder Powered Travel Lift

 The wind blew westerly today which on the southern Flathead portends poor weather ahead. But with clearing skies it was enough to be working on the boat. I need to ensure we're at least able to go sailing this weekend if not aesthetically perfect. This means that the leeboard guard needs to be reattached. I also wanted to redo my peak and gaff halyards. So to work. 

The night before I glued up my leeboard guard. Mixed it to a peanut butter like consistency and clamped and screwed it. Set it in the utility room to cure overnight. I was overjoyed to see that it had done exactly as it should and was solid as could be. Almost like it never broke. I was very pleased with this development. Then it was into the truck with a quick check this time to make sure I had the tools and supplies I needed and it was north. 

 Thankfully the work went quick. Because we had taken both parts home it was a simple matter of setting the bolts back into the guard. Then a bit of work getting the board back in and just like that the boat was whole again. According to my friend Carl I'm a Class 2 Boat Builder now which means I can use epoxy without fear. And that has made jobs like this so much easier. It's not pretty but it's functional. So with the guard on it was time for the next set of projects. I should note so far less then a half an hour has passed and I had budgeted three hours for projects. On top of that I am planning on coming up later in the week to finish what I don't get done here. This is why this is a blog and not a vlog. There isn't enough moving content to make it interesting. 

It's nice to have a chandlery just a click away

 I could stare at the line set up of Katie M. for hours. There is so much detail that I can use it's amazing. And it set me on a course to change my line setup for my running rigging. On the starboard side of the boat at least. That includes four lines: Throat Halyard, Peak Halyard, Leech Line, and First Reef. The halyard blocks are in a rather awkward position forwards and in a case of It Came Thatwayitis it's never been changed. But it's time. I ordered new bronze deck blocks to replace the Ronstan Jib Blocks that were in place for my halyards. This is directly from the Katie M. and it should work a bit better. The blocks went in quickly with all new stainless steel hardware and were bedded with butyl tape. The interior of the boat means that the original plan of giant fender washers in the 1/2" deck wasn't possible but I'll be VERY surprised if the blocks go anywhere. Since the bronze jam cleats I picked up are shorter in profile my plan is to elevate them with a nice piece of wood to make them easier to use.

This layout needs updating

 In the process of getting the blocks to a place where they will work I found all the lines forward need to change. I also need to remove a bunch of hardware that is now superfluous and fill all the holes, sand and paint. The cabin roof presents challenges in directing lines aft. I think I'm going to move to a fixed leech line and eliminate it's run aft. That just leaves the forward first reef line. More staring is needed. I also added the new quarter boards from Matt Cline of Salvation Navy fame. They are just in place with wood screws for the time being but they look so much better now.

A good overview of the work completed today

 Five days remains until the official launch for 2023. The goal is a functioning boat and continuous work throughout the next few months. Having the boat on the hard and not at home is a game changer when it comes to working on the vessel. This means afternoons can be devoted to projects that distractions at home always seem to put off. If all goes well we'll take the boat home better then when it came up and do it again next year.

Yard Work Begins

Kat Boat at rest

  The time has finally come for Kat Boat to live somewhere else during the summer. I sail out of of and around the Dayton Yacht Harbor and after a few summers decided it was time to bring the boat up for the season. And there is work to be done! We had our first underway of the year this last Sunday. Just a out for about an hour but everything seemed to work well. The Typesetter and I took the forestay off for the cruise and the boat didn't seem the worse for wear. 

Obligatory sail shot with two burgees and the ensign.

 

  Upon returning the leeboard guard was ripped from the vessel during a disembarking. It happens. So that will need to be fixed before the 24th of the month and the opening of the club season. It's actually quite a list.

• Fix leeboard guard
• Replace and reposition gaff and peak halyard blocks using deck blocks
• Replace current halyard cleats with brass jam cleats
• Touch up the paint where able
• Rebond the rudder plys for the season. 
  
• Add rubrails to cabin top and bow
• Intstall trail boards

 Should be able to punch it out over the weekend. The Lady is off to family gathering so I'll be left to my own devices. The plan is to make a list of what I need, bring up and get it done over on or two mornings before the heat chases me off. Should be easy enough. Famous last words I know. But time will tell.  

This is not ideal.

Well that's not right.

Seattle and Port Townsend 2023

 The first week in June we headed west as we are want to do every other year. The goal as always was to pack as much as we could in just a few days. A few repeat experiences and some new ones. Dan was along for the trip and we left super early. Seven hours later found us in Issaquah, Washington and the Cougar Mountain Zoo. After a quick trip to see the animals we checked into our hotel, Comfort Inn SeaTac and took the light rail into town. We had a schooner to catch. 

 Readers of the blog will remember last time we sailed in Seattle the SV Obsession was fired upon by a schooner in Elliot Bay. This time we took the schooner, Bay Lady out for a cruise. It was my first time on a schooner and was everything I hopped it would be. Here is that story in pictures.

Bay Lady in Bell Harbor Marina

Helping haul the mainsail

Deckhand

At the Helm

 

Down the deck

Raising the head sails

 Bay Lady was custom built for charter sailing in 1989 and runs 85' in length. Her hull and rig are steel with wooden spars. On our sailing day both head sails, fore and main sails were used. It was an amazing feeling standing next the the helm, hands behind my back and looking down the sweep of the vessel. I understand a bit more now about standing an officers watch in my Napoleonic naval fiction books. We also spent a bit of time examining the gaff rig and how we can improve our own. The captain was kind enough to offer some advice on that as well. Seattle's Tall Ship is most certainly worth a trip. We may well go again next time we are in the area and sight seeing.

 The next day it was up early and on to Port Townsend. But first I wanted to stop at the US Undersea Museum in Portsbo, something I've been meaning to do. It was awesome and we'll have to go back to get it all. Wonderfully done. 

USS Montana License Plate

"Damn it Bill! Slow Down!" DSRV Mystic

"Target Subaru Impreza! Speed 0! Range 75 Yards! Angle on the bow 20! Match sonar bearings and shoot!"

 We had a day sail planned with Left Coast Charters, something we've done in the past. I never pass up an opportunity to sail a catboat. Certainly not a wooden one built where it sails. Katie M. is a Crosby inspired cruising catboat, ~23' in length depending on what measurement you want. She was built at the wooden boat building school in Port Haddock, WA and was purchased after only a few times out. Eric Brown and Alyce Flanagan rebuilt the boat and now sail it on a charter basis out of the Point Hudson Marina. She's a cool boat with a custom electric drive and fresh flowers on board. Eric called us and let us know the winds were due up and if wanted to move our sail back a few hours. We did and it was well worth it. There is nothing like an almost hull speed sail on a well reefed cat. I would know.

Alyce and Eric with my CBA Burgee

Heading for the bell buoy

Dan and Kat enjoying the ride

Triple reefed new sail and logo

 

 All to soon we were reaching back into town. Eric gave us a quick waterfront sail by and then it was down with the rig. The electric motor brought us smoothly back to the dock and with a slick docking maneuver it was over. I can't speak highly enough of the whole operation. A true class act in every way. The best way to see a Victorian sea port is in a Victorian era working boat and Left Coast Charters will let you do just that.

 The next day we woke up early to ensure a spot in line for breakfast at the Point Hudson Cafe. I had the same meal I had the first time I wandered in back in 2019, Raisin French Toast and eggs. 

 

Food art

 

 After breakfast we needed some help with our Bobcat sail from The Artful Sailor. To work with a master sail maker was a joy and a pleasure and Salty Sue is wonderful. Sadly our schedule meant leaving the sail and we look forward to seeing the finished project. Worth a stop for sure.

Emiliano and Kat

 After a day of sightseeing in Port Townsend it was another night at the Fort Worden campground and then back to Seattle. In Seattle we stopped by the Center for Wooden Boats and I took some photos there.

Dan and a schooner

Chewbacco?

Kitten Bow

Kitten at rest

 All in all it was a wonderful trip. The sailing was excellent and was good to be near the salt water again. Right now we are planning a return trip in 2024 for the Pocket Yacht Palooza and Crooza. But more on that later.