Rainy Northeaster this morning,

Temps in the 40’s, wind 12 to 18 out of the NNE. Down in the morning for the usual; good rain sounds on the deck. Leaks tolerable, mostly from the long neglected hatch. Stopped at Joe Leone’s for Easter supplies and the usual breakfast fodder. Joe’s having a festival today in Point Pleasant Beach to raise money for the Italian earthquake victims. See link for details.

Spittn' rain
Spittin’ rain out off the NNE. Chilly and very damp.

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Comfy
But warmish below. Read another chapter in Riddle/Sands. Still a good read.

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Nice wet sheen
The rain gives a nice sheen that hides the need for a good spring cleaning. …

Weekend pics

We had a visit this weekend from Bob McHugh, in town for our friend Dave’s 60th. Bob just had his 57th Thursday.

McHugh
Birthday boy down below on Sjogin. Enough breeze to stay put and enjoy the bright sun and warm stove.

Number Four started
I guess they’ll keep building them till they run out of shop space. Number Four on the mold. Details and finishing next.

Plank parts ready to go
The planks are cut to a pattern, beveled and steamed to shape. I’m pretty sure about the steamed bit.

Details
Getting to the 100 grit stage. I think this is the one that’s going to be finished bright.

Riveter's Kit
Riveter’s tools. I remember using the one with the tape to rivet Ghost. You can see how the head takes on a copper sheen after a gazillion taps.

Air on!
From Saturday, blowing 30 or so.

Good show
Good show this year, the squill are starting to spread.

Foggy visit to Beaton’s

after work Thursday. Tempted to go out and poke around in the fog but light air and a little too thick o’fog. Opted for a watch below and another chapter in Riddle of the Sands.

Fresh Garvey
Nothing like the sight of the freshly painted yard garvey as a sure sign of Spring.

Re-rigged Lift
The Railway Lift has been re-built with new motor bits. It acts like a train with a very very shot set of tracks to run on. The straps raise and lower to haul and launch boats. Built by Tom’s Grandfather David in the 50’s? I’ll have to ask Tom. Early version of the now ubiquitous Travel Lift.

Motor bits
Motor bits. Rebuilt by the staff in the off season. It’ll see heavy use this launching season.

Thick o' Fog
Thickish. And showers imminent.

The Trap
The trap. This is where Dollman leaves Davies to his own devices. The lee’est shore imaginable.

Skiff progress at Beaton’s

The crew at Beaton’s has started on the third of the new rowing skiffs. Classic yacht quality construction. Hope to have a row in one when done. Put your order in soon, I think the first two have been spoken for.
Third skiff
Third one is underway. All of the bits have had patterns made to make it easy to duplicate parts. Looks a little factory like in the Wood Shop.
Factory floor
Plenty of room for skiff building. Tom hopes to use these skiffs as fill in work when major projects allow.
Riveted breast-hook
Note the rivet through the breasthook. Nice attention to detail.
The adventure continues
Continuing with Riddle of the Sands. Perfect small boat reading. On line copy available here.
Comfort on a raw day
I imagine Schlei Fiord in October would be comfortable with a Sardine stove at your elbow. One of my daydreams is to follow in the Dulcibella’s wake in Sjogin. Let’s see…ship her to Flensburg, a tour of the Baltic and then on to the Frisian Islands….Hmmmm. Next life perhaps.

First sail of 2009 today

Broke my barnacles visible rule and sounded my way out and in. Touched for a bit where I half-expected on the way in. Hung my not inconsiderable mass off the lee side and reduced the draft enough to tack an sail up to the dock. Was able to use the tiller line to steer while hanging to leeward. Kind of like reverse hiking. Video later.

First sail of 2009
First sail of 2009. Reaching up to Swan Point.

Happy Skipper
Well at least we got out of the basin. About three and a half feet inside, five where I’m at in the pic.

Back safely
Back after having a semi-grounding. The judicious use of my mass hanging from the lee shrouds and the use of the tiller line saved the day.

Steward!
Steward! Breakfast stuff waiting for the next watch.

al fresco
Breakfast as fresco. First breath of Spring. Clocks advance tonight. Ahhhh… post work sails.

New rowboat abuilding
New boat project at Beaton’s. They’ve taken the lines off a rowboat built by David Beaton for Mrs. Colie and plan to start selling a few.
Glowing Hazlenut
Photo by Julia. Our Henry Lauder’s Walking Stick (Contorted Hazelnut) being full of it’s bad self in fresh snow last Monday morning.

February is exiting and still no sailing.

Perhaps the water in the Bay will return in March. Down today for a check-up and a cuppa and the barnacles were still showing. They usually need to be covered to have enough water in the basin for sailing in and out of the slip.

It was almost high enough today but falling on brisk breezes from the west. Big front coming through with the promise of snow tomorrow.

Still in the slip
Here’s hoping March will be a little kinder and bless us with gentle southerlies.

Speedwell
That’s my Phil Clarke Duckboat Speedwell viewed through the lumber shed. She was built in 1951 and the last boat Clarke built before selling the plans and patterns to David Beaton, Tom’s grandfather.

There’s a great story in the new issue of WoodenBoat about the resurgence of the Duckboat fleet on Barnegat Bay. Thanks Mr. Kellogg.

B-10
Photo by Suzanne Beaton of Tom and Meghan Beaton on the way to the starting line in B-10.

Still no 2009 sailing yet

We’ve had the wind out of the west for a while now and the Bay is lower then last weekend, down about two feet. Breeze backed into the SW this afternoon so hope springs eternal.

More water please.
More water please. About another eighteen inches would do it. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.


Of course the lack of a sail didn’t stop me from the usual weekend ritual.

Happy Skipper
Enjoying the warmth and wafting smells of breakfast at the sizzle.


Quest is finished (for now). She’s been moved out of the shop and awaits a few minor details before launching. Hope to snag a sail this Spring and report accordingly.

A visit from one of our WoodenBoat friends Sunday.

Steven Bauer came down Sunday. He and his family are down from Portland, ME, visiting family in NJ. Steven’s been here before and actually got to go sailing.

No sailing Sunday as the continuing westerlies have left the Bay a few quarts short of full. A pleasant watch below and boatyard tour sufficed. Bright sun and temps in the 40’s made for a comfortable day.

Steven Bauer
Nice sitting in the lee of the shop; protected from the westerlies. Shame the water level was down, as the breeze laid down as the day went on and it would have been nice to go for a sail.

Hi Ms. Rozinante
Meeting Ms. Rozinante. Sad story of Bay regulars past their prime.


Sad indeed. Both boats were built by a local family years ago. I helped Tom Beaton put in some new frames in the Rozinante back in the early 90’s. The stories they could tell.

Flapper
An artifact from our tour. It’s a leather flap that covers the sink discharge while underway.

Behind me Spain
The day included a beach tour. Beautiful day.