April 28, 2007

I spent Saturday removing the winter wrappings and am left with a Defiance that looks like this. If cash flow was better and time permitted this feature could be attractive as well. Now I will see how easy it is to operate like this as the height of the aft screen (lifeline) at 42" is a 2007 Coast Guard requirement. The large windows on the dodger aft wall provide a good view aft.

I have just finished oil change and all seems in order with Growler. Next step is bleed the steering then off the dock. There is a bit of a change as I plan a late summer haul out in the I am going to leave the temporary dodger structure in place. Inside I am refinishing the salon table and most of the trim.

• New flooring down in helm and aft cabin
• I will leave the temporary winter superstructure on for the summer
• It provides an excellent work shop space and shelter for the aft deck under way or while at anchor.
• It can be removed in an afternoon, but for what I see in the immediate future it serves my purpose.

On the roof I put some more glass down on the wings and tidied up the temporary dodger structure as I will leave it for now.The international orange make Defiance easy to spot from the air. There is the routine chasing, grinding and refinishing of winter chips and so it goes, but in reality less time than most spend polishing their fiberglass boats.

The car top carrier normally sits tucked back in the starboard niche in front of the dodger where it provides excellent life jacket stowage. To port is the cradle for the dinghy (also empty). If the dodger looks square it is because you do not see the tender and the life jacket storage on the cabin roof. Once Defiance is loaded up it fits visually together. See below for dinghy up and overall rendering.

The picture to the left is exactly as Defiance looks April 27, 2007. I can operate the boat without removing the boom tent if I wish as line handling is done from the side decks and the lazarette.

Sunday, April 29

The footrests drop in two positions.

Saturday, April 28

This is pretty much the end for the delightfull pumpkin as I have named the Banker Dory. It will probably be later this week before I can deliver it as I am still waiting on the new oarlocks and keep picking away at final details when I am around working on my own stuff. The foot rests should work well and require no securing hardware.

Tuesday, April 25

It is paint time for this wonderful little craft with 3 coats of paint now finished and drying being the primary component of the work schedulo. All being equal we still plan a first week of May delivery. Long term I wish they would have used something other than pine which has a fairly short lifespan as I truly like he craft.

Tuesday, April 20

Wednesday, April 18

Everything went well yesterday with the exception that things are tasking forever to dry. I contacted the orange paint manufacturer and was told it could take weeks to dry if the weather stays this cold so I will run heat for at least the first 8 hours after painting. I am waiting for the clients approval on the grand pumpkin which I call the Chinese Orange and in fact hope he likes it, and it suits a working craft.

To the left are the primed hull and the first coat of green. to right is the outside of the plank I added a epoxy patch to inside and one of the knots that you can see the epoxy sealing dripping through, which is good.

Today I got a coat of primer on the entire exterior and the first coat of green on the parts for the foot rest. With a little luck the heat will have the primer dry enough for me to continue tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 17

This was very much crunch day as I have to be summarily finished by the weekend, although I could have to wait to the next weekend for the paint to dry. After next monday I have taken a construction gig rather than get too involved in boat repair as Rick has a bee in his bonnet and I have no wish to make him mad if I am not going to go full out in the repair business. Like it or not I am going to have to settle down to a couple more years of regular income before I can leave, unless...

• Install the new port side gunwale
• Epoxy composite mat/roving patch to questionable plank at bow
• Hand sand and prep interior #2
• Devise and fabricate adjustable footrest for rower
• Begin primer coat of the pumpkin

Attempting to mask the old orange proved tricky due to bleed through so an orange was called for. THis is a ICI Chinese Orange. The green I have chosen is somewhat lighter than the current trim as I try to brighten the boat up. Sitting in the shop it seems bright but on the water it will show up extremely well and hopefully keep the high speed boys from running you over.