The Heat is On

Late May 2021

What various things have happened! - it taxes the mind (as my dad would say) to even begin to describe this long strange trip.  Some weird combination of government subsidies, native frugality, the determination of one rapidly growing 'too old' to do what he has too long only meant to do, the love and support of lifelong friends, and the reflection gained from performing COVID-related charity work has manifested all of this - and more - into a degree of progress as-yet unforeseen in the history of this (very protracted) project.  And we have the support of several very gracious donors to the cause to thank as well.

And, so, here we are.

Funnily, Diana has never been physically closer to the water since she was moved up from the NJ Shore to begin this very long, extensive, rather expensive, and impassioned restoration operation.  In this picture from 14 May 2021 she is sitting just to the other side of Brian's Chapparal and across about 40 feet of picnic area from the Delaware River, a hundred yards from where her predecessor (my dad's Hunter 25 'Cacciatrice', whose hull was barely 4-5 weeks newer) was launched in spring 1974.  Diana remains the inheritor of that legacy (even bearing Cacciatrice's original stainless-steel mainsheet blocks) even while she is very much something very different entirely - essentially 90-95% an all-new boat.

I keep having to explain to boatyard skeptics that this isn't boat-polishing, which most boat owners consider of paramount importance around here.  It's boat-building, which is an entirely different thing, which most of them, sadly, do not comprehend.  

 

The wealth of components acquired since June 2020 reads almost like a whole bill of materials for building a boat from scratch:

• Topside paint, detail paint, bottom paint, boottop paint, interior paint, nonskid paint, epoxy, fiberglass resin, cushions, plywood, timber (mostly mahogany), varnish, sealer, sealants and bedding compounds, aluminum tubing, fasteners, much yacht hardware;
  
• TWO fiberglass dinghies (one of which shall be listed for sale after some minor repairs);
• Custom-ordered mainsail, new 135 genoa, small inner staysail to be flown from pole lift on foredeck, plus a never-used 1973 genoa - from an Essex 26! (perfect as a 150 genny for this boat);
• GPS, depthfinder, stereo and speakers, cabin fans, many lights and components with which to restore the original ones, marine wire, heat-shrink wire ends, LED bulbs for nearly everything;
• Remote-control kit for outboard motor;
• SS folding boarding ladder, customized for transom;
  
• Flexible water tanks, inline particle filters, galley faucet (completely custom), fresh-water hose;
• Evacuation pump for holding tank (replacing earlier one which was good only as bilge pump);
• Custom lifeline stanchions (8);
• Components for fabricating custom masthead tricolor light and custom-fitting steaming light;
  
• Much sailboat and deck hardware including several more (used, period-correct) chrome Lewmar winches;
  
• Genuine 1980s new-old-stock Simpson-Lawrence (NOT Lewmar!) Delta 14-lb primary anchor, two forward anchor rodes, each with over 20 ft of chain and 200 ft of 8-plait line;
• Half a dozen of what will be a wardrobe of about 18 flags, for various purposes, carried in flag locker.
  

 

Detailed blog entries will highlight each of these; but the following are all major developments since she went under Shrinkwrap in December 2018:

• Boat moved from the most expensive marina on the Delaware River to Burlington NJ, June 2020;
• Shrinkwrap peeled off, water-saturation damage identified and remedied, hull repainted;
• Motor sent out for rebuilding;
• Mast repainted, rebuilt with new hardware, halyards reeved through spar(s);
• Replacement cabin windows (properly called 'deadlights') installed using Life Seal, resolving matter of leaks;
• Port and starboard anchor-rode lockers constructed under V-berth (far aft and down low for seaworthy weight distribution);
  
• Much electrical wiring, components and circuitry installed and/or revamped;
• Much custom splicing of cordage including control lines, mainsheet and traveler, backstay adjuster;
  
• Much paint applied to topsides (hull), deck, cockpit, interior; 
• Unbelievable amount of mahogany cabinetry and trim varnished or revarnished, inside and out;
  
• Motor mount dismantled, rebuilt, reinstalled on transom;
• Boarding ladder installed on transom, not as designed (this involved lots of redesign effort);
• Topsides received final coat of white Brightside;
• Graphics artwork realized as high-quality appliques;
• Hull graphics including waterline stripe painted on, and custom logo appliques applied;
• All standing rigging and spar fixtures finalized;
• Mast stepped, rigging (preliminarily) tuned;
• Lifeline stanchions installed, awaiting final lifeline rigging;
• Traveler mounted with ball-bearing car and Cacciatrice's original 1974 Schaefer fiddle blocks attached;
• Most of the navigation instruments installed;
• Motor rebuild completed, motor sent back in for fitment of remote controls;
• Solar-array rack designed, preliminarily assembled;
• Original ash-mahogany tiller stripped, coated in epoxy, varnished;
• Custom rudder-shaft collar fabricated, installed;
  
• Original motor bracket repaired with welding and new hardware;
  
• Mahogany foredeck hatch repaired after winter(s) storage and revarnished;
• Bunk cushions and backrests custom-shaped, sent off to specialist for completion;
• All contact with regional custom-railing fabricators terminated due to lack of interest on their part, so scavenged pulpit (from another junked boat, since stored in attic) will have to do (actually fits really well);
• US 50-star flag begins being flown of mainmast halyard every day skipper is present, in anticipation of launch within first two weeks of June.

 

Progress continues apace, with a surprisingly little bit of important things left before boat can safely and conveniently go into the water.  What remains:

• Application of additional barrier coat, including sanding off the 'overflow' of white paint under the stripe;
  
• Application of 'final' white and cream deck paint;
• Fitment of winches and cleats (waiting on above); 
• Completion of freshwater-service system, installation of tanks - and one connection in the holding-tank overboard-discharge system;
  
• Fitting and installing of little Dorade boxes at the forward corners of the hatch hood; and the hatch-hood trim that can only be done when the boxes are done (this has been rather annoying for me but they'll look terrific);
• Fabrication of fiberglass shell for mounting GPS screen; 
• Mounting stereo and speakers (mainly stereo, for some reason never got round to it;
• Mounting TV, after making a pretty mahogany frame for it;
• Fabrication of double-leafed cabin table, to include hideaway compartment for laptop computer;
• Molding of fiberglass icebox/refrigerator bin, fitment of drains, completion of surrounding woodwork (I keep forgetting to do this!);
  
• Fitment of mahogany deck handrails (which are just like what my dad designed, not like the simple teak stick Hunter supplied);
• Installation of outboard motor and its associated fuel line, electric wiring, throttle and shift cables, and after that the fuel tank can go back in;
• Mounting of pulpit;
• Fabrication of dodger frame over companionway hatch (this can be covered later, though this is summer now and sooner works fine too!);
  
• Final assembly of solar-array rack, after which lifelines can be cut and installed;
• Riddling-out of dinghy-towing bridle and stern-anchor tackle;
• Cheek blocks, halyard stoppers and winches installed for deck lines;
  
• Acquisition of the rest of the flags, including state courtesy flags, a few necessary code flags, and ordering the custom family-crest and personal-ensign flags;
• Good overall cleaning of everything and application of StarBrite UV-barrier PTEF polish (no compound!);
• Launch, commissioning, shakedowns, christening ceremony and party.
  

 

In related developments, I 'jumped off the bridge' - made a commitment - regarding the apartment, which I shall vacate for good by the end of June 2021, when I will have to have relocated semi-permanently aboard.  Select furniture, books and housewares go into storage; the guitars, family artwork, electronics and my dad's drawings archive shall go into a (to-remain-undisclosed) climate-controlled vault, awaiting some point in future when I may return for that stuff... or not, as events may develop.

 

This blog, originally dedicated to the restoration work, shall continue with detailed information about the boat itself - keep it bookmarked to see further updates of the progressing developments and intimate views of the boat as she shall turn out.

 

As ever, all encouragement, support, and positive vibes are appreciated!

 

 

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