This Is Way Overdue! I Have No Excuse!!

It has been just over a year since I last updated this blog and I figured it was about time to get back to it. I want to get back to some sense of normalcy because it brings me back to simpler times. Back to a time when my main stress was from exploding engines and the voracious appetite of the bottomless pit that is boat restoration.

This isn’t going to as brilliantly crafted as the rest of my posts. I’m going for speed and not quality with this one.

The summer of 2025 was fun. We didn’t get out much. Had engine issues that had to be resolved but we were still able to enjoy being at the marina.

It was hot. The AC wasn’t working.

Didn’t get much done as far as work on the boat but I was able to fix the port and starboard windows so I am much closer to solving the leaks. Once I am sure I fixed the problem I will be able to finish the interior of the salon.

Here is a very quick synopsis of 2025 and I will end with what I’m working on this weekend. Planning on making a trip to Penetang(ushine) in May to install a lot of what we have ready. I want the cockpit to be done! As in completely done … by the time the boat hits the water in late May or early June. It has been a very cold winter so it might take a bit longer for the ice to clear out.

My nephew Tyler came to Penetang to help me replace a defective heat exchanger. Not sure if anyone is aware of this but boat parts are expensive. I still have the old one and plan on getting it repaired so I can keep it as a spare. He refused to take any money for doing this but I will get him back. I have time…

Here I am picking it up from the CAT dealer. You can’t tell from the photo but my wallet was a lot lighter.

I also had one of the D-rings come off the dinghy as I was trying to lift it onto the platform.

Luckily there is a store in Penetang that sells replacements but I had to take the dinghy out of the water to fix it. It needs to be away from moisture in order for the adhesive to cure. I would also need to do a lot of cleaning using acetone so I put it in one of the large work sheds at the marina.

When I bought the replacement ring the salesman asked me how long was it on. I said around 6 years. He said that was pretty good.

… within 4 weeks the other one came off. Need to get that done soon.

Donald and Leanne came to visit.

Jason, Kerrin, and the boys joined us as well.

Of course Jason can’t NOT work when he at the boat!

John and Gail came too.

Met a new boat friend. Mark and his wife bought this beautiful boat and took it back to Michigan.

We got out on the dinghy several times.

I fixed the windows up again and reset them. I still need to trim the sealant. I will clean around the window and repair the gelcoat. Maybe this year I can spend a bit more time on the exterior.

These are the pieces in the cockpit I am working on now. By the end of May I’m hoping everything is done.

Port side panel.

Here it is now … in my shop. I have one layer of glass on it. The next step is to finish the edges of the plywood with fibrous putty. I will be gelcoating the exposed edges and plywood isn’t structurally sound enough not to crack the finish. By using the putty with fiberglass strands it will make not stable substrate for the gelcoat. This according to the world wide web.

I can’t possibly get this done without Donald and Dennis. In this photo Dennis is doing a rough cut of the compartment openings with a jigsaw.

He made a jig to finish it off with a router.

Same for the cabinet that will mounted on this wall panel.

My dock box is on the left.

Here is the panel for the starboard side. I won’t finish this one until later. I still have to do a final fitting.

We miss being on the water. I know it will be here soon enough.