motoring home near sunset

the cabin in disarray, with some of the boards up

The motor panels being fitted in place back in 2006. The small box to the left has the key, the information panel, and the 110v charging socket. The larger panel to the right has the dual charging circuits, and the power control circuits. The charging panel when installed is hidden and further to the right.

The panel for the electrical system. Switches and fuses for the pumps and the lights, just inside the cabin.

ready for pickup last fall

Out on the bay catching the wind. In the bottom left of the photo you can catch a glimpse of the Elco control panel, with the keys in. There is a circular display left of the keys, and to the right of the keys is the covered 110v plug for charging.

At the end of a season, marina getting empty. 2010 kodachrome

Back in the water for another summer. Have a new swim ladder this year, we'll see how well it works. Also the Sunbrella tarp cover is new for this year, the old canvas cover was starting to fall apart.

A shot under the cover before the sail was tied on.

Another shot in the slip.

Sail down, humming around the bay...

Only had one nice day this weekend, and we went out and just motored around for a while. Got a new camera so there will be a flurry of "artsy" shots.

In the slip, have to tie the sails on, tape the mast boot on, etc. Maybe next weekend we will get out on the water.

It seems to always rain on launch day for me. Glad to be back in the water for another year. Here is a photo of Eric and Manuel working to get the boat in the water.

Waiting for real spring to show up. The Marina is open but the weather is not cooperating. No real change in the boat this winter, just painting and maintenance. Alot of the bungs that cover the rivets on the outside of the hull are working loose, so those are going to be replaced. The seam between the deck and the cabin sides needed cleaning out and redoing also.

At rest in the berth. Near dusk, trying to get the reflection in the water, but the low light made it blurry.

No more outboard hanging off the back, and I love just turning a key and pushing the throttle to get instant silent power.

The motor shown test fitted in place, clamps holding the plate. The bilge used to have no paint, and here you can also see the grey paint that was applied.

Made a drastic change this past winter (2005-2006). I had an electric inboard installed. Last summer, my first with the boat, I used a 2hp Honda outboard. It hung off of a nice Spartan bronze removeable bracket. The Honda worked fine, but it was noisy. I also caught the mainsheet on the head of the motor a few times when tacking, so I learned to always watch out for that.

But over the winter, an electric inboard setup from Elco was put in. This is a 1hp setup, belt driven. You can see the motor, the belt, and the 4 (105ah, 12v) batteries in the photo.

This is a space below the cockpit deck, just aft of the centerboard, which you can see tied off to the right. This space used to have 300lbs of lead bricks in it. The boat was always intended to have a little deisel in this space.

I didn't get the boat in the water this year until mid-July, so it was a short season. The motor is working well. The capacity seems plenty for my use. I think the most I used was about 35% in a single day.

This photo is from July 2006, after the boat was put in the water, you can see some water down there in the bottom. Still have some small leaking related to the centerboard case. By the end of the season I left it for two weeks, and the leak only brought in about half of the level where the pump would kick in, so I am not too worried.

The boat preparation should be finished this week. The small electrical system was repaired, new battery, some new connectors, new sockets, new bulbs, and a new switch panel were installed. I'm trying to set a delivery date of May 5 or 6. I should have some new photos when that happens.

And here is the port bow.

The new centerboard

A shot from the back

The new numbers are already on.

The boat has been painted and varnished, and the ceNterboard has been repaired. I'm posting a few photos of the boat almost ready.

Here is some information about the materials and construction of the boat:

Planking: 3/8" marine plywood, mahogany, Brunzeel, Laps bedded in 3m5200, with copper rivets
Frames: White oak
Keel and stem: White oak
Transom: Honduras mahogany
Deck frame: White oak
Decking: 3/8" Marine plywood, fiberglass covered
Vertical staving: White cedar
Cockpit coaming caps: Honduras mahogany
Cabin and coaming sides: White oak, steam bent
Water line with boottop - Copper bottom paint
Spars: Varnished spruce

Just testing a big image. It works!

Another photo of the boat from the original owner. I bought the boat about a month ago. It's up in Cape Cod right now, getting the centerboard fixed.

My first sailboat, and it's a little 16ft wooden catboat built by John D. Little in 1989. I will be sailing out of Flanders Bay on Long Island, NY.

The boat is currently getting painted, varnished, and generally fixed up for the season. I hope to have it in the water in a few weeks!