Built in Oregon in the ’90s of Fir and Black Locust with no bedding compounds or antifungal agents, she had a leaky deck that let in rainwater carrying fungal spores leading to her demise. Thinking I might rebuild her in a year, I brought her to the South Park Yard.
Tearing into her stem and replacing the structural members, I next tore out the sternpost and all the large hunks replacing them all with oak, locust, and gum. Forty amidship oak frames were replaced by sliding them in from the keel. The ceiling was replaced where needed and backed with molds to bend the frames against, then stringers were installed. All the planking was replaced with 1.5″ thick Ak. yellow cedar slathered with linseed oil soup and bedded well, using a belt sander to back them out in way of the frames.
Working 6 months a year counting fish on a tight budget, I lived aboard working by myself for eleven years. A year of us sewing the sails rounded it out. By the launching, I gained a Harley, a wife, a small ranch, and a full-time job counting fish with a beautiful daughter soon to follow! We’ve sailed most every summer to Desolation Sound and have never been happier!