1930 Schooner MISTRESS

It is June 23, 2006, Skip has moved on to all things electronic and electrical.  Here we see the cockpit electronics are in place.  Additionally, the wheel is now installed.  While the lazarette hatch has been made, it is drying and will be installed soon enough.

While there are a few things non-electrical that still need attention, Skip will spend most of his time this month installing and hooking up all the electronics and electrical items. 

This pictures from today's MEMORY MONDAY I took on June 23, 2006, one month before launch day.

These are the spreaders made from Sitka spruce.  This particular wood is 55 rings to the inch, which means that the tree it came from is about 450 years old.  While it is very strong, it is also very light there by making it a great wood for the spreaders.  Skip really hated painting this beautiful wood.

Skip never met a wooden block he didn’t like, subsequently, each and every time he sold a boat all wooden blocks on board were removed first and stored away.  Each have been sanded and will get as many coats of varnish as Skip can get on them in the next few weeks, before MISTRESS leaves our back yard.

The engine room is finished and MISTRESS has gotten her first start up inspection.  Everything went very well.  In this picture, we can see the steps leading into the engine room.  Skip made this from scratch using, aluminum angle he cut, bended, and welded; he then added the nonskid.  In time, Skip will remake the V-shaped cabin sole piece just aft of the engine with clear Plexi glass.  This will make it easy to see the stuffing box while underway.  There is plenty of room here to work and for storage.

To the left of this picture we see the intake valves for the water tanks, at the top of this picture, we see the valves to access each tank.  One of the neatest features in this picture involves the cedar.  Put your finger into that hole and lift out the drop board and you will discover a cedar lined, vented laundry hamper that can hold up to four or five loads of laundry.  It may seem like a small thing to get excited about, but it really is nice to have the laundry in an out of the way place and am happy Skip thought to do this.  Sometimes it’s the small stuff that really makes a difference when you are a live aboard. 

On July 6, 2006, the boat shed came down for the last time.  I am finally able to take pictures of her without too much interference.  Tim’s room, which has housed much of MISTRESS’s equipment while he was away at college, is quickly empting allowing me to see the floor once again.  Each evening, Skip carries more parts and pieces up to MISTRESS and the following day’s sets out to install everything on his work list.  MISTRESSS will leave the back yard and head to the boatyard in just a few days. 

Additionally, the little shed that housed most of the heavier equipment; chain, windlass, winches, and the like have been emptied.  The shed will go to the river property and will house those things we wish to save from the house but not need on MISTRESS while we cruise.  Once she arrives in the boatyard, it will be all about her new rig. 

The companionway steps are in.  The bottom three steps are one piece, and are so light you can easily remove them with just two or three fingers.  Under the steps are two of our four AGM 8D batteries and spare line.    At the bottom of the steps is a grate.  I will use this grate to sweep dirt into, and then remove the pan below to clean it out.  There is another one of these grates in the galley.  It does make it easier to keep her clean. 

On July 10, the night before MISTRESS leaves our home there is a full moon.  In reality, the moon was so much larger than it shows in this picture.  It was awesome.  After being in our backyard for six years and two months, she is ready enough to head to the boat yard for an additional ten days worth of work.  The gallows Skip sent off to the powder coater and we hope to have it back by launch day, so on the following day we can take her out for our first sail with her.

Thanks to everyone who showed up to hoist the main mast to MISTRESS’s deck.  

She heads to the boatyard.  What a sight this was seeing her traveling down the highway.  This picture was taken by, Skip’s Mom, Shirley.  Thanks!

Ten 10 minutes later, she arrives at Xnidies Boatyard

MISTRESS will spend about 10 days here before launch day.  For Skip, it is all about the rigging now.