SEA WOLF ADVENTURES

Wild Ocean Mists 10 Day

Kimber — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:05:31 +0000

Our first adventure of the season and co hosted with Cloud Ridge Naturalists was a wonderful and exciting time. Since the high seas prevented us from making it all the way out to Lituya Bay we explored the West Arm, East and accessible rugged outer coast area’s. Highlights to me were the early arriving acrobatic Humpback whales, our minus tide- intertidal paddle where we saw nudibranchs and other little seen sea creatures, 2 pairs of courting brown bears, newborn mountain goats and of course our majestic mountains and glaciers. I love spring!

New kid on the Rock!

At long last an update from the Sea Wolf

Kimber — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:17:09 +0000

It has been an amazing season and I have a few days off so here I am updating the blog and photo galleries. Yesterday I went with some friends out to Pleasant island for a hike and on a kelp gathering mission. Last night I processed enough for a few cases of pickles and salsa…yummmmmm

I am going to put up a log for each adventure we have had so far so please add your comments and for those who were on the adventure please share your thoughts and experiences.

Christmas in February!

Kimber — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:52:08 +0000

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

Perseverance over weather..Rain-Wind-Lashing rain.

Kimber — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:46:03 +0000

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!

Whiskey plank placed :)

Kimber — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:21:40 +0000

My head was spinning at all the projects dovetailing throughout the week. Thanks to Greg and Josh for setting the rhythm and managing the do-se-do’s. This week Gregg and Martin completed planking and after the whiskey plank was set we all had a toast to the crew and the Sea Wolf. The term “Whiskey Plank” comes from shipwrights of old. When the last plank of a hull is set, alas the most difficult of them all, whiskey is passed around and a toast is made to the completion of the planking work. In concerto Roberto is rebuilding a section of deck, Diana and Kelley are prepping the walls for painting- taping off and priming, and Josh is braising off the bottom zincs while Crystal and Jeff are cementing seams and priming the hull. Let’s not forget Keith and Mike working on engine and mechanical system maintenance. Walt is working on getting our wheelchair lifts in good working order…full crew, lots of laughter and working hard. Click on the individual photo for a complete description. Thanks for visiting! by Kimber

Shipwrights are magic from sanders, painters to plankers.

Kimber — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:19:48 +0000

Week One of our 2010 Annual Haul Out. I thought I would share this haul out so you could see how these massive stout boats are built and maintained. Gregg and Martin removed all the planks that were on the replacement log, cleaned the area and started cutting the new 3″ planks. The planks were cut, placed and fastened. The hull painting crew, Josh, Jeff, Crystal, Diane and Joni gathered supplies, built the stairs and scaffolding and have already sanded out the hull and have her primed. Neal is recovering from surgery but stops by to lend his expertise and support . Diane has a good start on the seemingly miles of paint and varnish to be applied to the deck house. Keith and Mike are bringing the engine and mechanical out of the winter state and into readiness. The Sea Wolf is lucky to have such a dedicated crew.

Crystal sanding the hull in preparation for painting

16" Long 3" thick planks ready to be cut to fit.

Gregg cutting the plank to specs

New Plank in place

Transiting to Port Townsend, WA

Kimber — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:50:06 +0000

Port Townsend, WA: Boat Haven Marina

We are about 3 hours out of Port Townsend where the Sea Wolf goes for her annual repair, maintenance and beautification process. It was a beautiful morning with the haunting call of the Common Loon ushering in the sunrise. Hard to believe it was light at 7 am, amazing what a 1,000 miles further south brings in terms of daylight. Hundreds of seabirds wintering here and many ducks as well- floating on the sound barely ruffled by our passing. Pigeon Guillemots, Common Loons, Double Crested Cormorants, Horned and Western Grebes, Harlequin Ducks, Mergansers, and Buffleheads are stretched across the inlet we just passed through.

Our New Blog!

Kimber — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:29:51 +0000

Hello World, We are live with our first blog thanks to Clyde Lovett of Crestone Creations. I hope all of Sea Wolf Adventures past and current clients participate in this blog. It is a fun way to connect, reconnect, share experiences and ask questions. I am on my way to Port Townsend with the Sea Wolf, Captain Mike at the wheel and KW at the engineer post. Once there we will haul out using the 300 ton travel lift and start our annual R&M and improvement process. And I hear tomorrow night in PT Fred Sharpe an amazing whale biologist will be presenting so i will be there gathering new info.