13 May 23:
Skipper spotted this teardrop shaped scraper at our local Picker's Market, it had a tag on it that said "Shipwright's Tool." So of course we had to buy it, great marketing!
The tool has seen some use but whoever owned it last left a nice edge on it. The shape of the blade will be handy for getting into remote corners and concave surfaces. Or maybe the dugout canoe if we can ever find a decent cedar log :)
05 May 23:
ANNA's gelcoat is very oxidized. Red is one of hardest colors to bring back, but we'll give it a shot. We wet sanded a small spot with 1200 grit and then buffed with 3M Fiberglass Restorer and Wax, using our new DeWALT 20V 7" variable speed rotary polisher and a soft bonnet. The results were fair, the question is can we do the whole deck without sanding through the gelcoat?
05 May 23:
We made a little bench out of cypress for the Granddaughter to go with her playhouse. Today was the day for a sealer coat of TotalBoat Gleam Gloss Marine Varnish. There are a few spots where we need to seal up cracks and knots with epoxy, to prevent water from collecting in those areas.
Video: https://youtu.be/u2OZkHHIJJc
05 May 23:
Spotted some Mountain Laurel on the local trail today. Very pretty, we might see if we can get it to grow in our backyard park's shady area.
04 May 23:
We tried a little experiment of leaving EXCUSE ME outside for a few months without a cover, under the roof of the Sunfish Shack, during pollen season(s). As we might have expected, she was coated with a fair amount of dust and pollens, and picked up a few leaves. So she got a bath as well.
04 May 23:
Our 1971 O'Day Day Sailer II CYANE has been guarding the back porch for about a year as we get settled, so it was time to rinse of some dirt and pollen that had accumulated on the foredeck. We used a Greenworks electric pressure washer and a little bit of TILEX. Most of the grime came loose with just water, but the hull required a light wipe with a damp cloth before the final rinse. The mast and exposed lines got sprayed off as well.
04 May 23:
Our friend Steve is a retired Coastie and has spent most of his life on the water in small craft. With an engineering background and years of repairing small engines, he has a few go-to products that he uses all of the time.
Green Grease holds is a synthetic polymer grease that holds up well in the hostile marine environment. Steve tells us that it is the only true waterproof grease that he has worked with, he uses it to coat metal parts that are exposed to water and high heat. Also handy to coat trailer hitch components.
04 May 23:
We are announcing the creation of the Small Boat Advanced Development Program (SBADP). Informally known as Squirrel Works, the SBADP team is responsible for new small boat design, highly classified R&D programs and exotic watercraft platforms.
We have been given approval to formally declassify our punt SCUPPERS, a stealth, low-observable, littoral platform developed for small combat teams...
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| (Not to scale, shape or sail plan) |
That's all we can say for now, we could tell you more, but then we'd have to kill you, and we don't want to have to do that, too much work required.
Stand by for more information...or not.
Cheers,
Skipper and Clark
Disclaimer: This program is in no way associated with Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, and even if it was, and we're not saying it is, we couldn't tell you.
12 May 23:
We have found that this product comes in handy out in the boatyard to defend against air raids...
06 May 23:
Skipper tested out the new lawn mower hitch, it passed the Functional Test Tow (FTT) by towing our finishing dolly from the back 40 up to the driveway. Skipper took off so fast that I didn't have time to get my camera out and get a video of her towing the dolly across our arched bridge! She's pretty proud of herself.
Donut Dolly video: https://youtu.be/QTAmTvaXV70
These donuts were performed by a professional, don't try this at home. Lessons are available.