Welcome to the latest edition of the Classic Yacht Restorations' website. We hope you like the obvious improvements and the new features such as this blog page. In the coming months, I intend to publish features on this blog page for all boatowners to enjoy. Check back every so often to see what's new!
As the weather grows warmer, the pace quickens around the boatyards, reaching a near frantic crescendo in the month of May. This is the season, short as it may be, to use our boats and, just as importantly, work through the various projects from our action plan for improvements and repairs on our boats. And here in southern New England, we are blessed with reasonably decent weather from April through October. However, the water is still damn cold this time of year so I reserve the spring months for projects, not sailing.
Yesterday, April 20, 2010, was a momentous occasion. Northern Light was splashed for the first time under her new ownership. The 32' Danish sloop built in 1961 was trucked down from Vermont a few weeks back and almost immediately, work commenced to get her launched post haste. A woodenboat complains bitterly when out of her element; she gets payback on launching day and there is only so much good underwater seam compound accomplishes! When launching day finally arrives, it pays to have more than one large capacity pump available, particularly if she is not allowed to sit in the slings for any period of time. She will drown her engine if allowed - that's payback! It is always amusing to observe the owner's "look of concern" as water pours in from below. But a day later, things usually quiet down and, one by one, the pumps can be removed.
She now sits in her slip alive again to the movement of a protected cove. No more ladders to negotiate, just other boats and the waterfront. Granted stationary machines are a hike and a half away but, often, hand tools and portable power tools serve just as well. The major hurdle of launch day is behind us and the boat looks "right" sitting in her element. Now the major projects will begin including building a new galley, installing a rebuilt head, and plumbing a new domestic water system, to name a few. Pictures of the progress will follow soon.
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