Winter Boat Projects and Freya USA 19

So, it's a Monday and I'm off work. Well, technically it's an on or off site work day, so I'm working off site. It's not raining, Annika isn't sick and in school, Cassandra is at work, I did the dishes, did the laundry, paid the bills... it's 8:30 am. Now what? Boat projects? The cabin hatch cracked one day when Kurt decided in a mad rush to use it as a stepping stone to the bow and cracked it... at least he told me he did it. No big deal, nothing a little epoxy and some clamps can't fix.

This problem, again? There is nothing bracing the wood and the gap between it and the combing is too great for any pressure applied just so... and it would seem that pressure has been applied... again. I tell you, my crew are animals!

Other side on the winch too. No biggie, nothing a little epoxy can't fix. I let a few of these little projects build up until I can fully utilize a batch of epoxy without wasting any. I let the bilge pump handle issue go on long enough too. Where the handle sticks into the pump had cracked and broken away making the handle loose and when not handled just right it would slip out mid pump and I or anyone else using it would usually end up with bloodied knuckles. I found some pvc pipe and shaped it to fit in where the handle goes... all I need now is a little epoxy. There's a theme developing here.

Ah yes, the goose neck track. The Achilles' heel of the Nordic Folkboat. This is my 3rd broken one in 6 years. Then again, I've never had a brand new one. They are hard to come by around here. I guess when you load up the vang downwind or jibe hard in 30 knots the pressure goes right to this point. I'm always checking this spot and wished I were a welder. But I suppose if you beefed up this point the next failure point would be the track itself or the wood the thing is screwed into. Which is worse? A broken track or a splintered mast?

This light doesn't give this away, but this side is cracked all the way too. I knew this was coming a long time ago. It was just a matter of time before it broke completely. When the screw sheared off toward to end of the season and I had to do an emergency epoxy treatment of the area. I clamped it down with hose clamps to give it added support and make it though the season. Ugly, but affective. I also thought of this last Spring when I was hauled out and was spending ridiculous money on an assortment of other boat parts. There was one track fitting left in stock at Svendsen's, but I couldn't justify buying it with all the other stuff I needed more. So I hid it. I stashed it under an empty box on the top shelf where only I could see it... being tall has it's rewards. I wonder if it's still there? I mixed my batch of epoxy, got my clamps and tape ready, lined up my projects and set everything in motion. Why is it the second you mix up a batch of epoxy, someone wants to talk or your cell phone goes off? Set everything in place and headed over to the yard.

Pulled into the lot and saw this boat... Looks like Freya. But Freya was abandoned and left for dead at the harbormaster's office... 2 years ago. I wrote a little bit about how she was in the "penalty box" but figured she was so far gone that no one would want to take on this restoration project.

Well, she got painted. No boards replaced, nothing fared out... and the paint had sagging issues.

It's nice to see someone trying, but I hope they aren't putting too much money into this. To be realistic, the boat was thrashed.

Looks like it is Freya.

Yup, definitely Freya. I seem to remember being involved in the infamous "Potato Chip Incident" with this boat being the receiving end of a T-bone collision in which Jerry and I unwitingly orchestrated a mating dance of the folkboats one blustery day. That was when I held Evie Ashcroft in a higher regard as a highly qualified skipper. With a hole as big as my head in the hull, she sailed it into the West end harbor on one tack and saved her from certain sinking.

Do you think the owner knows how expensive and necessary this life ring is? I totally need one like this.... no, I didn't steal it. Thought about it, but didn't.

Should someone tell him the CF numbers are too small and in the wrong location? Coast Guard can just pull this guy over anytime now.

The toe rails look good and the paint on the metal bow protector can be scraped off... hey what's this?

The deck is... holy moly! IT's YELLOW!!!

It was a good job, but yellow? What is so wrong with white? Or the color of the hull? I guess I don't have a leg to stand on, mine is avocado green.

The cabin and hatch can be worked on in the harbor, so I can see why that's not being worked on.

I guess the goal is to get her sailing, then worry about the details? So... To the guy or girl taking on this boat, good luck. May the force be with you, always. Oh, and when you're done with this I know a few guys in Europe who want to bring over some quality used boats. Let me know if you want one.

I pop in the chandlry and to see if my plan worked. I ran into Adrian Burns and had a great conversation about folkboats and it would seem that Adrian will be rejoining us racing again this next season... 20 boats on the line is getting closer and closer to a reality...

I went back to Folkboat parts storage closet, which has been completely depleted of relevant parts and grab the last goose neck fitting tack I stashed and few other tid bits and got out before my scandalous behavior was discovered. I'll probably ask Peter Jeal to spot weld the broken one up and keep it as a spare, but I hate asking him for stuff, he's always so busy and he has already done so much for me and the fleet. I hate to be burden.

I went down and warned Soren that I'll probably have some mast repair work for him soon as that is the next of the big winter repair projects soon to begin. The others are secrets. I usually put the boat away in the winter and try not to think about this stuff until the spring, but it never ceases to amaze me how true my dad's words are and how foolishly committed I am to winning... "The racing season beings in the boat yard." I'd like to add the words of John Wooden, "Failing to prepare, is preparing to fail." Besides, it was truly rewarding to see the look on my dad's face when I dedicated the Wednesday Evening Series win to him. Next year, the Season Championship.