Cedar stripped tables

We've spent most of our time working on the outside of the boat.  That work is just about done so it's time to start work on the inside.  I've been slowly doing little things.  Back in the day when this boat was made Formica was the choice for counter tops.   It was a durable product that every kitchen had.  Someone thought it would be good for boats too so this boat had all the flat surfaces cover in the stuff.  I work with cedar strips building canoes and other boats from the strips so it was a natural extension to do cedar stripped tops in the boat.  Since the dinette table was missing I made that first.  One inch thick cedar strips glued and fiberglassed.   After the table I made a motor cover.  Then came the little table that hangs down from the sink area.  The last item is the shelf that holds all the nicknack things your bring aboard.
I tried to refinish the teak floor but it is badly stained and I don't think it's going to clean up.  That's another story.

 Dinette table.  Not sure that the design location is ideal but that's where the hooks for it were so I just made   the table to fit.  Not good if you have to hit the head fast!

    My inspiration for the tables came from the cover/cutting board for the stove top.  The sink area is going       to be a wintertime project.

                                                                      Nicknack table on top of the icebox.

                                                                Motor cover.

Another fine sailing day

Another great day on the water. Wind was about 15 from the south.  We close reached all the way to the Chester river.

The knot meter was bouncing between 5-9 and 6.3

I actually got to test my hiking seat.  It passed with flying colors. I have an adjustable hiking stick attached to the tiller. I'm taking orders!!i

Pullman sink update

I've been futzing with this sink for some time.  I got a bowl from Home Goods, got the pump from the junk bin at Bacons and a chunk of roofing rubber from Ace Hardware.  I got a 5 gallon flexible water tank from Walmart.  I hooked everything up and the pump didn't work. Hence the reason it was in the junk bin.   I ordered a rebuild kit from Imtra, an internet marine store.  That solved the problem.  Now you can wash you hands!

First sail

We got out today for our first sail of the season.  SE winds 10k.  We sailed out of the Magothy and over to the mouth of the Chester river.   Close reach all the way.   The boat handled extremely well  We made 4.5-5 knots all the way.  We sailed about half of the way back then used the diesel   I'm impressed with that too.  With the clean bottom we made 7+ knots wide open and about 6 knots with just minimal throttle.  This was a far cry from when we bought the boat down from Baltimore last year.

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Fired up

I mentioned a few posts ago that I had to replace both batteries.  I got two new batteries this past March and put them in the boat.  I did not hook them up until it was time to start the motor.  After we launched I attached the cables and appeared to have power.  The radio worked, the lights worked etc.  I tried the motor but all I got was a solenoid sound.  No cranking power.  I figured the bats need a charge so I put my charger on them for a day.  Tried again, nothing.   I took a close look at the terminals and found the + side was completely wasted.   I hack sawed off the terminals and put new ones on.  Things went well after that.

Also figured we needed an annoying video to go along with that.

               

In the water

The marina dropped us overboard this morning.  Scary thing is the marina owner was driving the travel lift.  I think finding good help in this industry is hard to come by.  The other thing is on the service shop door their is a sign that says absolutely no free advice.   I think that's why the owner drives the truck.

I replaced both batteries in the boat a few months ago.  At the end of last season I overcharged the deep cycle battery and it broke the case.  Then on top of that I dropped the starting battery and broke the case.    I tried to start the motor and both new bats were dead flat.    Here comes the battery charger...

BTW..  That wood looking thing sticking out of the dock is the finger pier the owner put in.

Bottom paint/finger pier

Looks like we are ready to splash.  Shane took the pix.   Still haven't dealt with the stuffing box.  Had one guy say he would do it but never showed up.  Won't answer his phone or email.  Fired him.  Second guy is supposed to do it after we drop in.   We'll see.  Just might get a bigger bilge pump!


The owner of the marina promised us a finger pier so we could get on the boat a little better.  They don't have floating piers here so at times it becomes hard to manage.  I posted a pix earlier of the slip that he promised.  This is what he actually delivered.  I'm not a happy camper.