Sanding the Bahamas Dinghy

 02 Nov 25:

We sanded the interior primer today, to knock down the fuzzy bits that that popped up when we applied primer over bare wood. 

I say "we"....Skipper Skippervised from the deck chair. I kept telling her that there was plenty of sanding to go around, don't be shy. Lots of nooks and crannies too. She didn't fall for it.

Found remnants of a broken screw and vise gripped it out of the frame.

We used 120 grit discs on a DeWALT 20V random orbital sander when we could get to big spots, and hooked up a dust collection system (Dust Deputy and ShopVac).

Since the planks are so dry we have some gaps. There is caulk in the gap, and on the inside seam we will put in some sealant to protect the backside of the cotton. The planks would swell if we left the boat in the water for several days, and the sealant remains soft enough to get squeezed out. 

We got about 2/3 of the inside seams filled, and we cooked dinner...I say "we"...Skipper cooked it and I ate it :)

Log of HENNING.

Bahamas Dinghy HENNING Fiberglass Removal

05 Nov 23:

Skipper wanted to try a little section to see if the fiberglass was going to come off easily.

Video: https://youtu.be/7k1TABdlETw?si=-Mq0e0eH3spWcVtg

The transom cooperated, the fiberglass basically fell off.

Caulked transom seam.

Four hours later. 

We used a combination of prybar, oscillating multitool, putty knife, tiger paw and an awl to encourage the fiberglass to move along.

The fiberglass along with excellent storage acted as a great covering to preserve the boat. So have the multiple layers of paint.

Video: https://youtu.be/QjSuou1e308?si=bsoB_IFMG-9p8_4m

And I finally figured out that HENNING is not 12 feet :)

Log of HENNING.

There We Were...

 01 Nov 23:

There we were, minding our own business, when an email came in from a new friend telling us she had a 10 foot dinghy that we might be interested in looking at. So off we went.

Skipper's all time favorite photo of herself, checking out crusty boats. Mine too. 

She was built in the Bahamas 1937-1941 timeframe, and has been messing about in Hampton, VA since then. She's ready for the next adventure.

Log of HENNING.

Bahmas Dinghy SV HENNING Change of Command

04 Nov 23:

What an amazing an wonderful day. We took a road trip across the James River Bridge to gather the little Bahamas dinghy from her current steward. Skipper and Helen did the double secret handshake while I was playing with lines and a dolly. 

We used Sunfish mainsheets to rig a hoist, released the supports and lowered HENNING down to the dolly upside down. Once on the dolly it was easy to turn the dinghy over for her exit stage right. A little bush needed to be trimmed for dolly clearance.

Ready to rumble, over the river and through the woods and over another river and through more woods...

For some reason I had 12 feet in my brain even though Helen had told us 10. You think it would have dawned on me at this point, to question why a 12 foot boat didn't fill up a 12 foot trailer...but it didn't...Skipper had figured it out though and was waiting to see how long it would take her Marine to come to the realization. She had to wait a day.

Safely at her new homeport, Southside.

HENNING brought a lot of parts with her, 3 masts, a boom, a boat hook, paddle and a push pole. 

HENNING got a bath to release some dirt and loose topcoat. A 2000 psi bath. We found one chink in the fiberglass coat, and suspect more.

The aft floorboards came along but the forward floorboards may be hiding with the oars somewhere.

HENNING has two mast thwarts, the aft thwart appears to have been added at a later time, since it overlaps the seat a bit and the materials/construction method differ from other parts of the boat.

Forward mast step.

She's got some sweet lines. 

TETRIS Alert: The Sunfish ANNA moved out to the Sunfish Shack, HENNING checked in to the Carriage House. 

EXCUSE ME swapping sea stories with HENNING. HENNING might have a few more to tell...

Log of HENNING.