Kennneee

Here is a great book about the Vendee Globe race around the world. https://www.amazon.com/Godforsaken-Sea-Through-Worlds-Dangerous/dp/0385720009

These work well. You can tip with a foam brush if you want a smoother finish. I also use yellow foam rollers when I want a very smooth finish. https://www.fisheriessupply.com/wooster-epoxy-glide-roller-cover

Electric, nearly silent.

Luanne and I got a late start in life in terms of our marriage. It will be our 19th this year. Knowing we would never match you guys for the number of married years we began celebrating “Lunaversaries” shortly after we were married. So, I think we are heading for 228 next month! Marriage graded on a curve, eh. Ken

Jay- Will your new beauty be at the Messabout? If all goes as planned I hope to be there to meet you and see her. Ken

There are many ways of hinging and securing hatches. I just made these for my Lapwing. I had some stainless carriage bolts and finish washers in my goodie box which make a neat post to secure the bungee. I still need to install them and do some whipping on the bungees to make them look good. The second shot shows the parts I used which includes a plywood donut as a doubler behind the bulkhead. The bulkhead is sandwiched between the nut on the left and the plywood donut. Hope that makes sense. Ken

Ted- You can never have to many boats. A few months after you finish, our senior brains forget how much effort the last one took and off we go….. Enjoy! Ken

Jay- We lived aboard for 7 years and cruised for 3. Spent a lot of time between Northern California and Panama and the Caribbean to Florida. Wonderful time in my life! I think you built the right boat. That said, steel saved our skin but that is another story, arhhh! Ted- Being young and full of dreams gets you through a lot of obstacles. Still a dreamer but a bit less ambitious. Ken

I came across an old album of the “kid” I once was that had more energy than money and common sense. Built a steel sailboat in a pasture with 2 refrigerators for the tools I borrowed to start the build, an electric fence to keep the horses out and a $250 welder from Montgomery Wards. A different wife and a different life. Didn’t know what I didn’t know! Some kids never grow up! Ken

Right color but not expensive enough to be Festool.

Murray- Yes, it does seem to be true that us “old” retired folks are way to busy. Can’t figure out where all the time goes. The extra cuppa in the morning and reading messing-about might be a clue to some of the time leakage. I think the bottom line is we have to change some expectations and check in periodically to be sure we are have maximum enjoyment in what we are doing. Any of us that build boats by definition are goal oriented. For me, the trick is to balance the importance of the goal versus enjoying the ride. You are going to have a beautiful boat soon. If for no other reason then to justify the cool new truck! Why is it our wives shake their heads so frequently???? Enjoy and post pics when you get back in the rhythm of the project. At least do better on the posts than me which should be easy! Cheers, Ken

Don- Thanks for your compliment on Lula. The other part of the post attributed to me was wrong. I think it was a comment by someone else. Cheers, Ken

Hi All- Lula is taking shape slowly. I have started on some rigging and have all of the painting and non skid complete. I wound up using Kiwigrip for the non skid which I have used on my last 2 builds. Very satisfied with the result. Unfortunately I only had a litre on hand which was barely enough. Should apply a second coat at sometime down the road. Still have a lot of varnish to tackle. I noodled a bit on how I would mount the masthead float to the mizzen mast. From the pics you can see what I came up with and I think it will work fine. I also modified the arrangement for holding the mainmast upright in the tabernacle. I used a threaded insert mounted in a block of wood and secured it to the aft side of the forward bulkhead. It will accept the bolt which will be inserted from the bow. Ken

Gorgeous!!!!

I bought an EPropulsion 2 seasons ago for my Spindrift 9’ tender and it has been a great. Love cruising around nearly silent with the water hitting the hull being mostly what you hear. For my use it has plenty of range. Occasionally I have to spray some contact cleaner on the plug that connects the battery to the motor but that is hardly worth mentioning, If you buy one, get the padded cases that they offer. The price is reasonable and it makes storing the motor much easier.

Mike- Your work looks great from the pics. Thanks for posting! Ken

Don- You will have to try harder to offend me. I don’t take opinions about manufactured products personally. It is entirely possible that the van is not up to standards but until the transmission failure it has been one of the most reliable and functional vehicles I have owned. Graham and others have pointed out my mistake and I own it. Read the manual in 2015 and should have remembered to push the button in to keep it out of overdrive. Expensive lesson but the sting is gone and the van is back. Enjoy your travels! Cheers, Ken

Don- Are you sure you have the correct thinner? It is clearly drying to quickly. I am no expert but have done a bit of painting with LP. The hardest thing is not to overwork it when applying. It seems like magic to me if do a light tip and let the brush marks shrink up. Maybe enjoy your trip and try again in the Fall when the temps are cooler.

Ted- Thanks for the compliment. The home stretch always takes longer than we expect and those frustrations you mentioned are certainly there. That said, making the trim pieces are my reward for all of the “sticky” and dusty parts of the build. At this point I am ready to move on from lot’s of epoxy work and getting to fit and shape wood is my happy place. The bandsaw is my friend! Cheers, Ken

Luanne (AKA Lula) “inspecting” her namesake. I cajoled her into helping me install the rub rails and trim yesterday. Sure is easier with another set of hands. I am laminating a Sapele coaming. The upper strake and deck, interior, still need paint, nonskid, etc.

Can’t find the link to that video. Probably staring me in the face. Could you post it? THANKS!

I have been working pretty slowly these days. Lot’s of other things that need doing but still making forward progress. I have the hull painted with System Three Pennant. I rolled and tipped it and am happy with the result. If you look closely you can see some fine brush strokes but they are not objectionable. I rolled and tipped Rosie with Alexseal and it looks like it was sprayed. I am still glad I am using the waterbourne System three. No horrible smell and so easy to clean up. The shear strake will be painted a dark green which will look nice with the cream colored hull and deck. The bottom has been coated with epoxy and graphite. I wanted a black bottom and brought the black coating up around an inch above the designed waterline to create a contrasting stripe when she is in the water. Still need to paint the interior and deck but don’t expect that to take very long. Mahogany ply was not available when Graham and Alan cut out the parts for Lula. Graham was nice enough to send me some mahogany veneer which I was planning to use to cover the Okume transom. Longs story short, I found a WRC board in my stash and resawed and glued on the book matched pieces on to the transom. I like the look. With the help of a couple of friends and Luanne we flipped her right side up, back the trailer on Sunday. A friend with a CNC router cut out the Sapele name and trail boards. I have ripped up the rub and trim rails. They will get installed next week since I am heading over to the San Juan’s on Rosie for a few days. Most of what I have left to do are things that I enjoy. Adding pieces of wood that accentuate the beautiful lines of the boat, rigging, and details, details, details, etc. In the home stretch.

Looks like a nice ride but Jay’s boat would be more fun and certainly more classy.

Jay- Thanks for the heads up. I was going to show up with Rosie and Lula! I then thought about motoring around with Lula in tow and checked the gas prices. I think the best solution would be for you to pick me up with your new sail/electric beauty. Standing by. Ken

So, if somebody from a land far, far away were to make it to this event, what airport would that person fly into? Curious just in case somebody were to ask me.