SEA WOLF ADVENTURES

Well we are back on the dock in Poulsbo but the work is still ongoing. Our brilliant engineers Crystal & Keith are rennovating and updating our elevators, Roberto completing his beautiful woodwork and Dianna working on painting the house. Then Keith and I met Mike from Tri-County engine who had picked up our almost 19,000 pounds yes almost 10 tons of engine parts we had in storage. Never having opened the crates it was a wonderful present. Parts from 1945 on were oiled in cosmoline and wrapped with care. Some also were wrapped in old newspapers from the 40′and 50′s, older than me which is getting harder each year to say in many cases.  It was only with great restraint that we kept Mike from diving into and hugging the parts. He as all of us have a reverence for these great old engines. They are the heart of any boat.  Several of us are off to Astoria this weekend to the Fisherman Poets gathering. Poems, tales and songs of the sea for 2 days, a fun respite. Thank you Mike and Keith and the rest of the crew! Hope everyones day was as good as mine. Kimber

Our 3rd week of haul out went well despite weather conditions. As always this group of hardworking and inventive shipwrights found ways to get their work area’s sheltered from the elements so work did not slow. Crew quarters were sanded and painted so now the dungeon is much brighter. Captain quarters are getting a new coat of paint as well. Onto the near end of the planking. In a previous blog we talked about how we destructed the planned planks, doe skinned the pattern, spiled for the new planks, cut the planks, set them in with huge fasteners, bunged the fastener holes, faired the wood to the hull, coated the seams. This week began the finish work of filling in the seams and prepping for paint. This process involves setting cotton down to the inside edges of the planks in a pattern that fills the seam. Then it takes 2 people to use a horsing iron (chisel like) and a beetle (sledge) to pound it in.  The process is then duplicated using Oakum which is a hemp. Once again it is pounded in. This involves considerable strength and skill-actually the whole planking process is an intricate art which requires lots of muscle. Brain plus leveraged muscle and an artistic touch bring new planks to a historic hull. Then seam compound is applied and a coating of seam cement and finally the paint. Name boards have been prepped, and resealed, cabin sides ready for painting and  tens of other projects being worked on. We splash down in the water on Friday, the 19th..whoohoo!