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Speeding thru the Yard

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Good Morning!
This week is or was a major turning point for us. Weeks or I should say months, have been spent sanding and painting, sanding and varnishing. You get gritty, you get covered in paint. The crew wonders if there is an end. We just keep reittering the words, be patient, it will be over, we will be sailing soon…..just keep painting! The weather this past week seemed unreal. Temps were in the 60’s! The snow has finally melted and the ice on the lakes have gone. People were out golfing and fishing on the lakes. We took off the cover and launched three boats….signs of winter times are finally gone! By taking off the cover and going for a ride in the yawl boat was the refreshing breeze for our wings to keep us flying thru this busy time of fit out.

From taking off the cover and launching boats on Tuesday, we went right into yard prep. The waterline was prepped and painted and the Mary Day was turned around ready for the early departure to the yard. Early Friday morning we slipped out of Camden Harbor to arrive in Rockland by 9:30. We hauled out on the railway and the crew hit the ground running….bottom pressure washed and scrubbed, centerboard trunk de-musseled, thru- hulls cleaned and regreased, zincs changed, bottom scraped and seams compounded. There was even time to paint the quarter & fore bits! By lamplight we finished the day edging the waterline in prep for spraying paint on Saturday morning. As I write this at 6am, Barry is down there now spraying the boat, hoping to be done for a 11am launching. He said he wanted the “super car wash” method. I think we managed to pull it off!

Have a great day! Do well, be good. Enjoy this beautiful time of Spring!
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Unknown said…
Thanks for the update and the great pictures. It is wonderful to see the schooner with the cover off and getting ready to be rigged. The first sail cannot be far off.

Where Alabama Al and I work we have a goal for safety called "Target Zero." The purpose of our target is to emphasize that every job can be worked safely. All it takes is proper planning, training, and equipment. Over the last two fit-out seasons I've noticed, in the pictures, that using the correct personal protective equipment is an important part of getting the job done. I applaud your commitment to the health and safety of yourselves and your crew.

P.S. Has the time come to unveil the top secret projects?
April 19, 2008 at 6:21 PM
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