Bristol Channel Cutter Elizabeth

The question I get asked at the yard most often is, “how old is that wooden boat?”. In her current state she looks old indeed. And yeah there’s alot of wood on this boat! I think it’s as close to owning a wooden boat as you can get with out actually owning a wooden boat.

After a few days or reseach and talking to many wonderfully helpful folks about techiniques and procedures for various repairs, I feel like I have just enough knowledge to get in there and really “screw things up”. I have succeeded at opening quite a few projects, now it’s time to begin closing some… and actually start getting Elizabeth ready for the water, rather then for the endless “yard period” which she has grown so used to over the past 10 years. Did I mention, she hasn’t been sailed since 1997? Steven, her previous owner embarked on a long voyage of repairs, and upgrades - but never was able to get out sailing as a result. I’m going sailing in July.

Here’s some pics of the latest from Danvers, MA. The Max Prop gears, windlass removal and some epoxy filling in the core! You can see all the pics here.

I finally got up the courage to drill a hole in my deck today - to hopefully find the outer limits of the rot extension. After I subdued my intrinsic belief that all holes in boats are bad, it was real easy to drill a few more and to even get a little drill happy! After talkin with Roger Olsen about this, I learned I probably should have drilled larger holes… 1/2″ instead of 1/4″. But never the less, it looks like the rot extends fairly far out, farther than I will be able to pick out, and then fill with epoxy from the narrow tunnel between the two layers of fiberglass. I’m afraid the Skill Saw might have to come out and play soon.

I was able to remove the vinyl letters from the whale strake using a hair dryer. It’s one of those non-essential tasks that was high on my priority list. Removing the old name really does alot for me. Crystal Swan II or as we affectionately had been calling her - Kristal Shit Dos - is no more.

I’m working on a few projects concurrently - the only way an ADD victim can make it thru the day. It’s an occupational hazard I do believe… computers make me crazy. Anyway, what was I talking about? Hey, how about baking some cookies. The bulwarks, which I plan to paint with a 2 part Linear Polyurethane, need to be stripped, and prepped. This is one of the cosmetic jobs I think needs to get done before she goes in the water. It’s a sizable task… but I enjoy every second of it. Nothing beats the feeling of a sharp scraper removing years and years of old paint. Found a small spot of rot in the bulwark near a bolt, I’m sure I’ll find more spots as I keep uncovering bare wood… another good reason to multi-task… nice to find these little list additions sooner rather than later.

How many weeks late, I can’t remember now…but she’s here. And she needs love. Charlie and his girlfriend Lori (I think that’s her name) pulled in around 2100 on Tuesday May 13th. We all (Rosie came with me to see her arrival) went to grab a bite to eat in Beverly MA at an Italian joint, run by Greeks. The suspension on Rosie’s 1990 VW Golf got a work out… reckon we packed a solid 1/4 ton into his back seat… tires met wheel well on numerous occasions during that short trip… isn’t there a Winnie The Pooh character named after such events?

Next day, I arrived at 0730 for the off-load… but was informed that the travel lift was booked solid until about noon… so we waited. I had called every day for the three days proceeding to keep the yard up to date on the fore casted arrival time… but… oh well. No biggie for me. But Charlie needed to get to MD for his next pickup. Charlie hinted that the trucking company charged a “delay fee” if the truck is delayed more then 2 hrs…. I immediately called them to see what that was all about. Hard for them to charge me for 2 hrs, when I’ve been waiting patiently for over 2 weeks (more like 3+). Of course, there was no fee when they spoke to me directly.

So noon rolled around and we got the boat off the trailer, and situated in her new home at Danversport Yacht Club for the next month or two, where I will get her ready for the water. I hope to launch at the end of June. There certainly are alot of things to do… I need a yard manager.

Elizabeth has left the building…

She’s on the truck, so they tell me. Is it for real? I sure hope so… hard to believe she’s finally on her way. The truck driver Charlie called me to say she was loaded yesterday (Friday 9th). He had some concerns about the dinghy getting loose, but thought my lashings were pretty good. He said he’d keep an eye on it. Also, he removed the wood section of the boom gallows, it was about 6″ over height. I had measured only to the ends of the gallows, neglecting to account for the rise of the gallows in the center. He was able to leave the stainless posts intact, thank goodness.

Evidently, he’s not allowed to strap the dinghy down, because of the potential for damage to the boat, IE the bulwarks and other wood on deck. I had to sign a responsibility waiver about items stowed on deck… hope the dink doesn’t blow off and cause a 20 car pile up — who would be responsible then?

Estimated arrival is Monday night, and off-load on Tuesday… hope the dinghy makes it too. When she arrives I pay the balance on the trucking fee $3800 (Total cost of transport is $5400). This and off-loading the boat and blocking her will bring my grand total thus far to approx. $10,000 - just to see the boat, perform survey, haulout, storage, de-mast, prep and transport to MA. I can’t believe it… I didn’t even think I made that much money! So much for simple, economical living…

Steven took pics for me of the truck loading, however his hardrive sank on him, so no pics yet.

This is going to be a nuts and bolts post, which I plan to do more of…not 100% sure how to organize these yet… I’m re-rigging Elizabeth. Here are the specs I’m working with:

STANDING RIGGING
(center eye to 2/3 open)
316 SS 1×19

1/4″
Upper shroud, port & stbd: 37′ 9″
Intermediate shroud, port & stbd: 26′ 7 1/2″
Lower fwd, port & stbd: 15′4″
Lower aft, port & stbd: 15′ 8 1/2″
Whisker stay port & stbd: 14′ 00 1/2″

9/32″
Headstay: 40′ 2 3/4″
Backstay: 42′ 5″
Staysail stay: 26′ 6″

3/8″
Bob stay: 8′ 00 1/2″

5/16″
Boomkin stay, port & stbd: 3′ 10″

I’m looking at a few options. I like the idea of spliced rigging. I’d like to splice each wire myself, and ideally I’d like to do it with 1×19. I’m also getting quotes on swaged uppers and mechanical lowers. Quotes are as follows and will be updated as received.

Rigging-Only (Fairhaven, MA):
316 wire, Swaged uppers, Mechanical lowers (self-installed): $2332
316 wire, Mechanicals Top and Bottom (Self Installed): $2797

Myles Thurlow (traditional rigger on Martha’s Vineyard):
316 Wire: $800
Thimbles: $250 (SS) $700 (bronze)
32 splices: $1280
$2280 Total