Introducing Rita

[Lew Barrett]

I've posted a handful of times, without much response, but hopefully without being too annoying. Really enjoyable forum. After a couple of lame trys, I have come to think the best way to introduce myself is to provide a link to an album of my boat. I still can't figure our how you guys get images onto the boards, so the link will have to do.

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2116140841&idx=6

Rita is a 1938 50 foot Monk built in Seattle at Lake Union Dry Dock by Ed White. We've been owned by her for 12 years. She did Coast Guard service during the war, like all of the old boats, and still has gray bilges in honor of that. We're trying to do our best by her.

Glad to be here, hope you like the photos, I can get some more up by and by, as well as a lot I have of the old boat fleet here in the Northwest. Rita's been a regular girl at CWB for various events, Victoria, the sort of thing you do with an old boat. Of course, we cruise her and use her as much as we can.
Nice to be here, I've learned a lot just lurking and hope I can add something too....
Lew

[L.W. Baxter]

Howdy, Lew.

Oh, she's nice!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid197/p0173699b649a59062ff115c26177d7aa/f10d3048.jpg

[Lew Barrett]

Thanks LW! And thanks for making it a thread.....and with the picture added! Gotta learn that one.
Lew

[L.W. Baxter]

My pleasure, Lew.

As for picture linking, no time like the present.

Go to your album, click on a picture to get the "picture view" screen. Then click on the image again (don't go to "original image", it may be too large), this should bring up a menu box, click on "properties". You'll see a bunch of letters ending in "jpg", highlight that mess of letters, then hit control and c simultaneously. Come back to this thread, and when you go to post reply, click on the little rectangle under "instant UBB Code" that says "image". Move your cursor into the box that comes up, depress control and v, and voila, your image will appear.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid197/p34263a9e7838cf6a2b458082f3b32e4a/f10d3017.jpg

[Concordia..41]

Wow! That'll get folks' attention :cool:

[pipefitter]

Beautiful boat. They dont get much cleaner than that.

[Lew Barrett]

Thanks all....And now to bed!

[AlanL]

:D

Nice deriare

Alan

[Garrett Lowell]

Beautiful! Welcome to the forum.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid197/p0ec89b1d701f44e4a0290242102e8589/f10d306e.jpg

[Norske3]

Nice home away from home. smile.gif

[Ken Hutchins]

Absolutely beautiful, smile.gif welcome to the forum.

[cedar savage]

Wow! That's a beauty!

[Dave Lesser]

Very Nice. Thanks for posting. Do you have any interior photos?

[ron ll]

Hi neighbor. Glad you posted the access to "Rita" photos. I certainly have seen her around and she is indeed a beauty. I assume you keep her under cover on Lake Union? Maybe we'll see you in a harbor somewhere and I'll row over to say hi in person. Watch for "Snoose".

(www.ronlloyd.com/oddstuff/profile.jpg)

[ 12-15-2005, 11:25 AM: Message edited by: ron ll ]

[WindHawk]

:cool: :cool: :cool:

Sometimes, you need to use a snappy title, but pictures of a beauty like that will get plenty of attention!

[Lew Barrett]

Fair question Dave! I don't have anything I can easily post to the forum this morning (nothing digital) but I know where I can get em, which I've been meaning to do anyway! I'll grab a couple of difital snaps after work tonight to post here or in the album.
By way of description, the interior is very "west coast," meaning (to my tastes) clean, traditional and straight forward, but more simply executed by comparison to what the east coast yacht yards (ACF, Dawn, Lawley, etc) were turning out in the late twenties and early thirties. This is probably due as much to the fact that she was built in the late 30s (I think styles were changing) as to anything else. Except, that is, for certain details like the wheel; the old man really went to town on that. I'll grab a shot of that too.
Regarding the interior restoration (which was in many respects harder than the exterior to accomplish, I think), we restored her as built with a minimum of concessions to modern practice. She's very traditionally appointed. There were a number of changes, certainly. For example she has domestic water pumps, a shower for the ladies, modern refrigeration, that sort of thing.
I repowered with twin Cats in 2004, and that changed the look of the helm (I'll post that too) as far as the instruments are concerned, not necessarily in a way I find more charming, but it had to be done. I saved the beautiful old engine turned panels with the thought that I'd figure out some way to re-incorporate them during my second lifetime, but for now she uses the Cat supplied panels because I wanted to get her back in the water!
She was very used up when we got her, but beautiful and original and it's been a long, and sometimes discouraging process but in the last several years as things have started to all pull together, she's become a joy.
I think in our damp, chilly, she's the best place to be now, (and in summer too!) but 10 years ago I wondered what I'd gotten myself into.
Stand by...
Lew

Originally posted by Dave Lesser:
Very Nice. Thanks for posting. Do you have any interior photos?;) ;)

[Lew Barrett]

Dave,
Here is the link to an album of interior shots (with comments no less). I'm still having trouble getting my browser (or technique) organized for dragging photos to the forum, but I've got specific instructions from L.W. (my initials, by the way are curiously also: L.W.B.) so I will get it organized eventually.

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2116078709

[ 12-16-2005, 02:38 AM: Message edited by: Lew Barrett ]

[Lew Barrett]

Ron,
I'll keep an eye peeled. If you're around the Portage Bay area sometime, ping me off line and I'd be tickled to show you around the boat, and love to see Snoose too!
Lew

Originally posted by ron ll:
Hi neighbor. Glad you posted the access to "Rita" photos. I certainly have seen her around and she is indeed a beauty. I assume you keep her under cover on Lake Union? Maybe we'll see you in a harbor somewhere and I'll row over to say hi in person. Watch for "Snoose".

(www.ronlloyd.com/oddstuff/profile.jpg)

[Phil Heffernan]

That is one beautful boat, and she's lucky to have found you...What her power set-up?

[Lew Barrett]

In winter of 2003-2004 we put in two Cat 3056 naturally aspirated Diesels, 125 HP each. These are 6 liter 6 cylinder units, pretty basic, but marvels of technology compared to my old stuff. ZF Hirth gears, 2.4:1 serve 4 bladed bronze wheels 22x24. This lot replaced a pair of Nordberg Tarpons (think Hercules M block) with Paragon gears and an evil/possessed Bendix vacuum assisted shifting system, regarding which I may be the sole surviving expert in the known universe. The old panels and engine controls were, however, a shame to lose. I still have them for paperweights.
We used an isolated drive set up (Python Drives, local outfit) to minimize vibration and to allow for soft mounts. We had to build in the support for the thrust bearings for those. Much electrical work, replaced everything needy under the engines wood-wise that hadn't seen light for fifty years. I have some pictures, of course, it was ugly.....
There's more to say about this epic, sound isolation, electrical stuff, keel bolts, garboards, what I learned; it's a long list. Great heaping thanks to Dennis Feragan of Viking Marine for this one,
Delta for selflessly accomodating our weird duck in the back of their paint shed. I got added moral and engineering support as required by Malcolm Munsey. Also, a "corker" of a job by Tim Regan. It was a hoot, but I wouldn't want to go through it again.
Performance: top speed 13.7 Knots, but much nicer below 11. 9.1 is a great place to run for distance.
Best thing is the 2.5 GPH at 8.2 knts, and it gets a bit better if you are willing to slow below that, which I am.
Lew

Originally posted by Phil Heffernan:
That is one beautful boat, and she's lucky to have found you...What her power set-up?

[outofthenorm]

Hi Lew - That is one beautiful vessel. I was impressed by the exterior, and flat blown away by the interior. Every sightline is gorgeous. I love the curvy bulkheads, and the dinette looks like a great place to spend a rainy afternoon. Thanks for posting.

- Norm

[Alan D. Hyde]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid197/pf6949eaa0c3d697bb198fb09671d5af1/f10a54d5.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid197/pc7af279642ce487c7ebbc6f84ed597ba/f10a5468.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid197/pa47e4c65deac51b91d13ba5c1127b015/f10a5f0b.jpg

A beauty, Lew.

Well done!

Plenty of good work there, and some continuing mental & fiscal fortitude to bring it all together over the years... :D

Alan

[ron ll]

Good grief that is gorgeous!

Curious about how the access panel below the wheel opens, I have to remodel a similar situation. Does the panel lift out?

[wyndham]

That is one very pretty boat. Congratulations.

[Rick Clark]

Lew Barrett
Mighty fine looking boat!!!! Very fine work, thanks for the pic's Rick

[brian.cunningham]

:cool:

[ssor]

Sure glad the coasties didn't paint it grey. That is as pretty as a mansion.
Welcome to the forum.
I was stationed for a couple of years in Condon,Or. and there was talk of building a dam across the columbia just below the John Day river. Can't recall where Hillsboro is from Condon.

[Donn]

Lovely Rita!
:cool:

[igatenby]

Beautiful! Well done Lew. I've got a 1937 50' cruiser and am following a few years behind you. I've only been owned by Grantala for six years. Keep up the good work. Can I ask what engine revs you are doing when at full speed (13.7k)? I'm looking to re-prop at the moment and have had 24 x 19 recommended.

Ian

[Lew Barrett]

I rebuilt the panel using the existing teak hardwood margins, but new plywood for the panel, (had a bunch bagged up at Foss Furniture using marine ply and ribbon cut veneers) and modified the existing arrangement because it used to fall out underway.

I press fit two locating pins (brass rod) in the bottom interior frame of the panel, then installed two ball bearing/spring loaded catches (ABI I think, available at Fisheries Supply, don't know exactly what you call 'em) that are attached to the panel with matching nipples that are mounted on the frame.
In use, you slip the whole panel up under the wheel, then drop the bottom of the panel (with the pins facing down) into the mating holes you drilled in the frame. The top is wiggled and fitted by feel and pressed....gently...into the latches. You press on the margins of the frame to drive the nipples into the spring loaded parts in the console. It sounds more complicated than it is, both to fabricate and to use.
I'll take a picture in the next day or two. Parts are available in town. As you're local, I can show you. It was easy once the latches presented themselves.
Lew

[ 12-17-2005, 11:01 PM: Message edited by: Lew Barrett ]

[Lew Barrett]

Thanks so much. I'm beaming from you guys. I had a ton of fantastic help, but I'm happy to take all the credit!

Here is some stuff regarding my prop choices. First, as an aside; the 22" diameter of my wheels was dictated by the available clearance, my shaft angle and exit in other words. Based on the inferences I got from people who know better than I do, I might have preffered a slightly greater diameter (these are a little oversquare) but that wasn't an option. It's very possibly all to the good you have room for bigger wheels, but I'm not "the man" on this issue.
The Cats turn 2600 RPM at WFO throttle, which is what they are governed to. To be precise, if I believe my tachs, the port engine turns a needle width below the 2600 RPM tick, maybe due to the reverse gear. This is the engine speed that gives 13.7 Kts. 2300 RPM, which is the maximum allowed continuous, is a bit over 12 Knts. I very rarely do that when cruising but once in a while will do so to put a good load on the motors. I'm told it's a sight.
The story on picking the pitch (the diameter being a given in my case) was that a trusted marine architect ran the numbers and suggested 22x26. The guy who sold me the wheels (American Propellor, 4 blade bronze) ran the numbers and suggested 22x22. A riddle, then. In conversation between everybody, we decided 22x24 was the best first compromise, as we could pitch up or down 2 inches from there. It's turned out fine as installed; she runs well. As an 8-10 Knot guy, I'm happy with the speed and economy, and with the new wheels (and other stuff), the boat's as smooth as you'd like.
If your situation is like mine, everybody you ask that has the program and credentials may come up with a different answer and you'll be more befuddled than when you started.
I wonder sometimes if she could pull an extra 2 inches. No punning on this allowed......My trusted friends tell me to fahgetaboutit and leave well enough alone.
Lew


Originally posted by igatenby:
Beautiful! Well done Lew. I've got a 1937 50' cruiser and am following a few years behind you. I've only been owned by Grantala for six years. Keep up the good work. Can I ask what engine revs you are doing when at full speed (13.7k)? I'm looking to re-prop at the moment and have had 24 x 19 recommended.

Ian

[ 12-16-2005, 10:46 PM: Message edited by: Lew Barrett ]

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

That's a gorgeous Boat... and a beautiful job restoring her. :cool: :cool: ;)

[ 12-16-2005, 11:07 PM: Message edited by: Peter Malcolm Jardine ]

[Katherine]

Yay, another motorboat. :D

[Lew Barrett]

Ron,
I've been looking at Snoose. Was the picture takin in La Conner? Great boat! Is she a Bristol Bay conversion? Looks bigger than a BB in the photo....
Lew

Originally posted by ron ll:
Hi neighbor. Glad you posted the access to "Rita" photos. I certainly have seen her around and she is indeed a beauty. I assume you keep her under cover on Lake Union? Maybe we'll see you in a harbor somewhere and I'll row over to say hi in person. Watch for "Snoose".

(www.ronlloyd.com/oddstuff/profile.jpg)

[Lew Barrett]

Yup! Great for forcing sailboats into awkward situations. :D
Lew

Originally posted by Katherine:
Yay, another motorboat. :D

[pcford]

Lew,

Do you know if your boat was ever named Haida?

pcf

[Lew Barrett]

Oh...Got it! Macs are different! Yea! Thanks L.W.!
Lew

[QUOTE]Originally posted by L.W. Baxter:
[QB]My pleasure, Lew.

As for picture linking, no time like the present.
G] ] http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid197/pee9da6f49240ca84c7cc6816f296b325/f106c3e5.jpg

[Lew Barrett]

PCF,
I know the Haida, a 52-53 footer. Rita was originally the "Marilyn III" then rechristened "Migrator III" by Raleigh Main, the guy who bought her back from the CG from Doc Freman. We found her in Bellingham 12 years ago. As you may know, Doc sold many of the conscripted boats back to new owners after the war, and had an interesting chandlery that came to a sad end a couple of years ago. We re-christened Rita after my mother, a great lady, who sadly never got to see her namesake.

The Haida lies under cover on Lake Union, just southwest of the I-5 bridge, a short walk along Fairview from my moorage at Thunderbird. I can relate to your comment, as Haida has the doghouse, the "cab forward" tri-cabin look, and many of the Monk lines, but Rita is pre-war. Haida is later, early '50s, so incorporates a number of detail changes, both in line and dimensions. A later sibling, in other words.

Haida is considerably bigger on board due largely to her greater beam, has an extra stateroom, and a different, but very comfortable, layout. "Haida" is an extremely handsome and strong looking boat. We visited her in Canada a few years ago while moored nearby. I believe she's still owned by the same family, but I can't remember their name. I think they're holding on to her for the duration, as I saw a lot of work going on there a couple of years back.
Lew

Do you know if your boat was ever named Haida?

pcf[/QB][/QUOTE]

[pcford]

"Haida" is an extremely handsome and strong looking boat. We visited her in Canada a few years ago while moored nearby. I believe she's still owned by the same family, but I can't remember their name. Regarding Haida: When I knew it...20 or more years ago, it was owned by a guy named Furia. Thereby hangs a tale. Contact me via email if interested.

Regarding Rita's restoration: Well done, most likely a pile of dough. The boatyard workers of Seattle salute you.

Regarding Rita's wheel: Prop sizing is a bit of a dark art. Ask several people. Probably easy to get diameter. Props can be repitched 1-2, if I recall correctly.

[ron ll]

Hi Lew: I was just looking at Rita in one of Ron McClure's books this morning, along with pics of Spindrift. I knew she looked familiar, but I probably also have seen you at some of the classic boat shows around the area.

Also in McClure's book are pics of "Glorybe" before the fire. Interesting to compare them with the restored pics featured in this month's WBM.

Snoose is not a Bristol Bay. She is 37' and a one of a kind built by Art Hoffman on Shaw Island in 1943. There are more pics of her and more info in a thread in the building/repair section at

http://www.woodenboat-ubb.co m/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=012551&p= (http://www.woodenboat-ubb.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=012551&p=)

The pics were taken at Anacortes marina during the survey when I bought her 3 years ago.

[ 12-17-2005, 05:57 PM: Message edited by: ron ll ]

[sdowney717]

Its really lovely.
Can you share some details on the brightwork. Like what was done and how it was done, cleaning sanding staining dyeing epoxying varnishing waxing, products used or anything that you can share?

[Lew Barrett]

PC,

Furia, that's it.

Yes, a pile. The yard workers of Seattle owe me a salute, at the very least. :D

Agreed about the prop sizing, it's a bit of cut and try. You can pitch up or down 2 inches with a new bronze wheel, which was why I went for the middle ground. I got the props at Northlake, and it's his policy to give one free re-pitch with the purchase, probably exactly because propellor selection is a black art. I won't need to take him up on it; got lucky.

I took this shot this afternoon, good day for a cruise and a cigar....

[QUOTE]Originally posted by pcford:

Regarding Haida: When I knew it...20 or more years ago, it was owned by a guy named Furia. Thereby hangs a tale. Contact me via email if interested.

Regarding Rita's restoration: Well done, most likely a pile of dough. The boatyard workers of Seattle salute you.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid197/p62c7f867f5c6ff1a2e54e78c84bb0f52/f105b957.jpg

[Wild Dingo]

Sometimes... I get this weird feeling when I see something so fine as Rita... sorta breathe stopped heart thundering mind agoggle feeling... and its moments like this that I wonder about finding a nice boat like that and doin it up... :cool:

Then I gather my sanity again realize Im totally un-motor-orientated and so go back to sailboats!! :D

Well done mate truely brilliant! :cool:

[Lew Barrett]

Snoose is fantastic. Great job, and what a beautiful bottom to go with the work above the waterline.

The pictures in Ron's book are older ones, there's been a lot done on Rita since they were taken. I heard he was doing another one, then I heard he was not feeling well. It would be nice to see a third book in the series.

Glory Be is quite a story. I know Betsy, and also the former owner. But then, every boat in that book is some kind of survivor. When you think they were built to last 20 or 30 years, and think about it, it's a miracle. As you mention Spindrift, you should know that she's gone. Burned to the waterline a few years ago while out in the Sound. The news helped to convince my wife that the conversion to Diesels wasn't optional. Small world, huh?

Here are some pictures of the hardware I used for the panel and once you see the bits, the rest gets easy. It's a Fisheries item, as I recall it's made by ABS. I think the pictures do a better job of filling in the blanks than my words. The latches and receivers are at the top of the panel, the pins fit into mating holes drilled into the console. If you need more, e-mail me.

Male "receiver"
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid197/p8bab158dbefd119e06c13b73ab87f468/f105baca.jpg

Ball and Spring Catch
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid197/pf8dabe6aa5939dc7095348944e59dd8d/f1058d93.jpg

Locating pin
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid197/pf6286cb7573f3eeedfc8180d9ce8ab6f/f105b800.jpg

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

I would really like to move up to about 45 to 50 feet if I could, but the big issue down my way is the real lack of covered slips. In my mind, to keep ahead of brightwork and so on, it's a must. I've been trying to work something out with my present marina owner, but so far I'm out in the weather, and it's work.

Oh, and Thanks Lew... We'll be talking. ;)

[ 12-18-2005, 12:14 AM: Message edited by: Peter Malcolm Jardine ]

[Lew Barrett]

I really hope this isn't too over the top.....

I don't know what to tell you that wouldn't be a book, and good books on the subject are already written. smile.gif

Professional painters might be served to move on to another topic, this is for us amateurs.....

Preamble:

Obviously, I do the brightwork frequently. When I'm not doing it, I think about it. It is tedious as everyone knows, but I find it a release in some ways. I would rather ride my motorcycle, but it bothers me if the boat is getting rough. I don't know how many times I've been around the boat. To be perfectly honest, pictures flatter the boat but there's enough varnish on it now that keeping up isn't too bad. Seeing it as a fresh and glossy item really depends on what point in the season you look at the boat, and where you look. There are always things that are out of sorts, pieces that won't hold a finish, or wear faster, or are harder to finish in the first place. I have a hundred places I'd like to do right now. Standing back and looking at the boat from where you can take it all in, it looks great. Get too close, and the flaws show.

One thing about the boat that was good when we bought her was that the house (exterior) had been wooded and varnished by the former owner. The brightwork on her now is riding over a base that's probably 15 years old. If something goes yellow or cracks, I try to chip it back to a sound spot and build it up locally, rather than to wood down the whole mess. This seems to work for me. About the interior, more anon.
Anyway, it is fair to say the house looks better now (then when we got her) because I sand with a block wherever I can, and I probably have a better brush hand than the last owner, or maybe it's just more important to me. So the exterior is much more fair. I just stay on top of it, and it's something I've gotten better at over the years.

The interior was the hard project. I think the real story of this boat's look is the story of the interiors. Not to say that the exterior looked like it does now, or that it didn't take a lot of money, time and effort, but the real grunt work was on the inside. The insides were used up. I think they hadn't been done since the boat was launched, and I'm not kidding. The interior ended up being stripped out with chemicals. I started with Jasco, but ended up using the kind of stripper they use on airplanes, I forget the name. A heat gun wouldn't work because the scrappers came away with a gooey mess that would cool on the tool and turn to rocks. It was a tiresome job, but delicate in a funny kind of way. Thus, I hired a friend to help me, and a good thing it was. Together we were able to renew the aft cabin across five months. There was a great deal of small stick woodwork too. I went to the boat every weekend and every night, stayed late and my wife and kids and the people at my day job thought I was insane. At least my colleagues were kind enough not to say as much to my face. Not so my family! On the other hand, boat people had no trouble at all relating to any of this.

After 12 years of regular use, raising the kids on the boat in the summer, the dog, putting in the new soles, I'd like to repaint and revarnish the main cabin again to match the condition of the newer areas. One coat would do in most places, two at the most. It would be much easier this time...but I think Lindy (meet the wife) would have a cow. It's possible I could scratch around and fix the parts that offend me most, but in truth, we have other priorities, and she's probably good enough back there.

One can paint the topsides over a long weekend now. Well, nice to have some help....but if you know how to paint, you can usually get other people to help in exchange. It's impossible to do single handed anyway, so exchanging labor on a task like doing the hull makes sense. How I learned was from helping others, who helped me in turn and vice versa. Our paint job this year was great, and after 12 years of painting the boat, I still learned another trick this year about how to read if the roller is loaded properly (when the bubbles stay put and don't drip down). I thought I knew....

About the Finishes:

The boat gets no stain, all the wood is natural and any additional color is from age or the varnish itself. I don't try to match different pieces by staining as I don't mind the natural variations, or even some discolorations. I don't really see them if the finishes are in good order.

If the wood goes bare, I bleach with oxcalic acid, then prime as soon as possible. My usual glop is Epiphanes. I'm comfortable with it but I've tried a number of the available premium products except Bristol. I am going to try Bristol on the hand rails and other fast wearing parts this year and see if I like it. With my usual varnish (or paint) I thin as I go, trying to let the brush feel tell me when it's time for another cap of thinner. After all these years, I've gotten better at knowing how to load the brush, and I remember not to try and paint or varnish with a dry brush. That's really why I prefer brushes to foam; I think it's hard to feel how foam is unloading, and impossible to cut in with a foam brush. Anyway, brushing with a dry tool is a real time waster! I wish my eyes were better, and that the light was better too. :eek:

I roll and tip where I can. I tip vertically on large surfaces to reduce curtains, that includes the hull, which is always tipped out vertically. As I said, I use brushes. I am not particular about them, but use better ones as I approach finish coats. I use the better brushes with paint, but for some reason, varnish forgives cheaper brushes in my experience. I tease the hell out of any new brush I use, then flick the hairs out as I go along. I will hot coat things when I need fast build, but I wasn't always able to do that. Now I'm better at it. I prime with Ship and Shore or thinned varnish. I do square patches on broken pieces. I like varnishing in cooler weather, painting in warm, but not hot weather. I dislike it when the wind blows and I just finished laying down a coat, or really, when it blows at all. That will stop me in my tracks. A hard part is getting everything clean and making nice where pieces meet, and trap dirt. I have all kinds of tricks I've learned from friends, for so many things that have to do with paint and varnish. There's a technique for everything. I've learned it's not funny when you're getting near the end and things go off, but that you're always doing the next to last coat anyway, so you shouldn't get too upset with little mistakes.

Laying on coatings is really about getting organized, and deciding in what order things are to happen. Sanding, surface prep and taping are the real hard work, and there are things to say about that too. Later. Laying on the varnish is a reward.

Pulling tape off paint is tricky business. I know how to do it, but it's still annoying. I have tricks for making varnish meet paint, how I brush over the tape and not under it. I'll start at the tape when I'm tipping off or laying down material so I don't push the coating under it. I pull the tape fairly often, which is a great annoyance as well.

There are many excellent boat painters and brightwork specialists in Seattle, any of whom I'd be happy to have do my boat, but some of the best work I've seen was by Christine Green who used to own Native Brightworks. We kept our 28 foot cruiser in the back of her boathouse for a while, and she was great to watch, and her boats beautiful to behold.

I hope that was useful or at least interesting for you. If you have any specific questions, I'll try to answer them. I have definitly developed my own approach and combination of habits regarding this thing, but almost all of it, as usual, was taught to me by people who do it better than I do.
Lew

Originally posted by sdowney717:
Its really lovely.
Can you share some details on the brightwork. Like what was done and how it was done, cleaning sanding staining dyeing epoxying varnishing waxing, products used or anything that you can share?

[ 12-18-2005, 05:40 AM: Message edited by: Lew Barrett ]

[Lew Barrett]

Thanks Wild Dingo! There's a photo of "Tioga" in the front of the boathouse. You know the one; the view is of the stern. She's heeled over, lee rail down, and a bunch of people in very white clothing (they must not deal with motors, or much of anything in fact) are hanging around back there. It's what you see from Rita's helm when you're parked up.
Lew

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Wild Dingo:
Then I gather my sanity again realize Im totally un-motor-orientated and so go back to sailboats!! :D

[Lew Barrett]

We got lucky when we got the boat; by chance (always the best way) I met a guy who had a boathouse for rent on Lake Union. These things just don't come up. We couldn't have done without it, and the rent was reasonable, sort of.
Maybe a more talented person with more time could keep something like this ahead of the sun and the weather, but there's no way I could. It's hard enough inside. I have no idea how we'd have done without the situation developing as it did. You are right to want cover.
It's one reason we don't have a sailboat, but there are a couple of others tongue.gif
Lew

Originally posted by Peter Malcolm Jardine:
[ In my mind, to keep ahead of brightwork and so on, it's a must. I've been trying to work something out with my present marina owner, but so far I'm out in the weather, and it's work.

Oh, and Thanks Lew... We'll be talking. ;) [/QB]

[Nanoose]

Bump! Just discovered this thread, and there is a wealth of practical wisdom here. Thought it was worth another look see. Enjoy, everyone!

[Dave Fleming]

Sahweeet!

:D :D :D :D

[Lew Barrett]

It's nice to see this thread again. I'm a regular around here these days, but was still green behind the ears when I first started it.
I saw Christine Green at the Center for Wooden Boats show again today; she was giving lessons, for free, about all sorts of things, her techniques, how to pay/caulk a perfectly straight and consistent line (it was fantastic, as always, to watch her work). I learned so much from her (I don't pretend to hold a candle to her) but it goes to show about technique that there is sometimes more than one way to skin a cat. She frequently tips off horizontally, and she doesn't make curtains.
Brian Johnson, who worked on Rita with Tim Regan and also stopped by Saturday at CWB, so it's been very much a Rita Revival weekend, though of course in a very personal way; the CWB event is really a series of smaller intimate occurances for those of us participating. I'm beaming again.
It's just as nice to be here now as it was when I started reading this community's messages seven months ago, now with many friends around the country...and the world. What's different is now I know everybody's political opinions, but that makes no difference when we stick to talking about boats:D
Lew