Launch Date = September 22, 2007

[Concordia...41]

a/k/a Oh Happy Day Oh Happy Day :D

By posting about sailing plans in one thread and moving out of the warehouse in another, I was hoping to divert attention (and any ensuing jinx), but lots of you connected the dots. :)

As someone pointed out, setting a date pretty goes a long way toward making it happen

Soooo....

That being said...

We are moving Sarah out of the warehouse September 22nd and it is my intent to go straight to the water. May God have mercy on my soul...

The list of things to get done is as long as my arm, but the high points are:

Install engine
Finish bottom
Pay deck seams
Repair cockpit floor under fuel tank
Install fuel tank
Install enough electric to run bilge pumps

Over the years several folks have offered to come down and help with the project. If you want to and are able, now is the time. All my previous offers are still in effect.

Lots of folks have talked about coming down for the launch. IF YOU CAN, BY ALL MEANS DO. If you can't because of the relatively short notice (and I know folks like Mike and Sue have higher priorities right now) don't worry. I'm thinking next spring when we have the rigging and everything else set, we'll have a real re-christening party. :D

Everyone here has been so wonderful. Over the years when I had a good interaction with someone, I would put their contact information into a mailing list spreadsheet. Currently there are greater than 300 names on the spreadsheet, but right now it's just about getting the boat out of the warehouse and hopefully into the water (and hopefully floating). There's no time to order invitations much less do the massive mailing I had planned. :(

Also lots of folks have offered general help and here's something I need:

I need to be able to ask questions.

I'm heading back now with the camera so I can post pictures with a couple of specific questions.

I also have general questions that I just don't have time to research. That is where I could use help. Please don't bash me if the same question was asked a couple of weeks ago, I swing through several times a day and scan what posts I can and that's about it. Just point me to the thread. Thanks!

Forty-five days and counting :eek::eek::eek:

[Hwyl]

Here's your music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qRX_Y4J-BA&mode=related&search=

This might outrank the Lefty EBS

[J. Dillon]

Keep your fingers crossed. ;)

JD

[R.I.Singer30]

Best of luck.I have a tight schedule but you never know.DanL

[rbgarr]

9/22 is my sister's 60th birthday party but I'll be secretly thinking of Margo and SARAH and looking forward to seeing the pics posted here. Don't let me down, now! ;)

[Concordia...41]

Gareth - :D

Minus musical and artistic talent, that is very much like my life... :rolleyes:

[Ken Hutchins]

Hmmm!:):):):) Great news.:):):):)

[Kim Whitmyre]

Floating is good!:cool:

[Suprcargo]

I've been following along with your progress, and have also been in that countdown to launch day crunch situation. You stated things that you need to do: Install engine, Finish bottom, Pay deck seams,Repair cockpit floor under fuel tank, Install fuel tank, Install enough electric to run bilge pumps.
If I may be so bold, might I suggest you first focus on the items required to get her in the water and floating like, Finish bottom, install enough electric to run bilge pumps. Completing these items may reduce your launching anxiety. Sure, It would be nice to have everything done, but some things can be done while she's in the water, some can't. Perhaps you've already considered this ... Best of luck. John

[mmd]

Margo, here's my contribution to the effort (sorry it can't be more, but there's that distance thing...):

Prepare a launch checklist.

I know that you have a huge "to-do" list, but a launch checklist focuses on just the launch. Create a chceklist of things to be done just for the launch, and make it anal and pedantic. It will be very hectic on the big day, with friends and workers pulling you every which way. A well -organized checklist will ensure that you don't do silly things like launch Sarah with her seacocks left open. Maybe your list will look like this:

First thing in the morning:
1. Confirm travellift booking
2. Pick up rental pump
3. ...
Last hour before lift...
1. Check that all seacocks are closed.
2. Lay out mooring lines.
3. ...
First hour afloat
1. Check bilges every 15 minutes. 1st check ____ 2nd ____ 3rd ____ 4th ____
2. Check mooring lines.
3. ...

Good luck. I'm with you in spirit!

[S.V. Airlie]

I'm thrilled Margo. I know I wrote a previous message in jest re: Airlie and Sarah are in a race.. but.. um, you might win. Airlie has a slight leak so been pulled out for a few days ( rumor ). May be a few months for all I know. I think I'm gonna apply for residency here in NS.
Anyway.. Whoopee!!!! All the best..
jamj and C'dog!

[Claudia]

I am pleased to say that I will be there. Once again I will follow behind Sarah to her new home, pat Margo's arm and tell her that all will be fine 478 times and no doubt shed a few tears along with her. It will be a great day.

[Concordia...41]

Claudia - I believe you forgot "hand Margo a handful of tranquilizers" ;)

[Mrleft8]

Man.... I hope I can be there.....

[Rich VanValkenburg]

I agree about the crucial 'floating condition' list of things to do, but there's also that stuff on your list that is much easier to do on the hard. Like the engine etc. You never know where or when you might have to move her once she's floating. Also, anything that needs to be fastened on deck that you don't want to lose overboard by doing it in the water should be thought out.
It was tough for me to continue with the repair list the last several days. It's been a bilge watch and not much else. If you did a good job on the bottom, then you won't have much to worry about there.

Most of all, try and relax. This is the fun part. :)

Rich

[Claudia]

Claudia - I believe you forgot "hand Margo a handful of tranquilizers" ;)

I figured if we start drinking the champagne as early as we did when Sarah was last moved that we would be pretty darn calm and happy!:D:D

[Russ Manheimer]

Margo,

How are you going to swell the hull? Will she be able to sit in the slings for several days? I imagine the planks have shrunk quite a bit during her dry years.

In any event the day is on my calendar for a toast to a successful launch.

Best,

Russ

[Wild Dingo]

I am pleased to say that I will be there... pat Margo's bum...

EGAD AN GADZOOKS CLAUDIA!!! :eek::eek: strike me fla... oooh my bad you said arm eh? :o:D

Bluey you an Sarah are never far from this wee tubby fellas mind so to hear this just gives me goosebumps all over... oooh Im fair to blushin! :o :p Seriously? oh if I must :rolleyes:

Well done and wish to heck I could be there... but well... like Michael says its a distance thing :( BUT!! I AM there in spirit and heart... mind you please have a bottle or two of beer for me will you? oh right bit far to drink it eh? Okay I WILL have a few coldies at the ready to cheer her down the ways :cool:

[nedL]

Margo. Best of luck to you and Sarah!!!!!!!! I'm sure you will both do just fine! :D:D:D

[Thad]

We will all be there in spirit if not in body. Sounds good!

[Concordia...41]

Russ - At a WBS seminar years back Giffy Full suggested draping plastic from the toe rail to the ground and putting a couple of humidifiers under the boat for a few days prior to launch.

At the caulking seminar at this year's WBS, Roger Whalen suggested the same thing prior to recaulking. He suggested a humidifier and/or a baby pool of water under the hull. We used one humidifier and a half dozen plastic tubs I had sitting around. I am happy to say the results were amazing.

I bought a 100' x 10' roll of 4 mil plastic at Home Depot and used all of that and a couple of tarps. We had elaborate plans for this and that but just ended up cutting the roll of plastic in about 12' lengths, draping the sheets vertically with a little overlap, and using the tarps when I ran short on the plastic. I tried taping the edges of the plastic together, but that was an exercise in futility and we ended up just holding the edges together with small clamps.

I suggested carefully measuring seam widths in random spots, noting the measurements on the hull, checking them every few hours, etc. (overkill??? who me???? :rolleyes:). James talked me out of that and suggested sticking popsicle sticks in the seams.

We stuck a half dozen in to the seams just far enough to keep the popsicle stick from falling out. After 10 hours (7:30 pm - 5:30 am) there was little to no progress :(, but by the second morning - say 36 hours, the seams had closed enough that it took a definite tug to get the sticks out and a couple had to be pulled out with pliers.

For launching I'll work the logistics so that the boat can be draped for about 5 days prior to the launch - say from the 17th forward. I'll also do a lot better job of securing the edges of the plastic together and weighting the bottom edges. This last round was kind of an experiment and I didn't put a lot of effort into making it perfect.

For anyone reading this and thinking about doing it, you can still work under the boat and unlike the sweat box / sauna I thought it would be, it was actually 5+ degrees cooler because the fans in the humidifiers kept the air circulating and blowing moisture upward. :) Under the boat was the best place to be. :)

If the boat is in a boatyard or outside and unprotected, it's going to be a challenge to keep the plastic from being blown about by the wind. The fans we have in the warehouse were enough to blow the plastic around, so the wind would have to be reckoned with.

I believe it is well worth doing pre-caulking, pre-launching, or any time there is a sensitive fit issue on an overly dry hull. It's not going to swell it 100%, but whether it's a 30% improvement or a 70% improvement, it's way better.

And Russ as to the second part of your question, this is scheduled for a Saturday morning so that I can hang in the slings over the weekend.

[Jim Ledger]

I bet you won't have to hang in the slings at all. New-caulked boat, you'll be giving champagne rides up and down the river all Sat. afternoon.:D

[Russ Manheimer]

Thanks Margo. Sounds like a good plan.

Russ

[S.V. Airlie]

off topic since I have responded to the original thread..
Met a man whose son bought and umm rebuilt a 1930 vintage boat in St. Aug. Plans to sail around the world. Is a shipwright. I don't know his name.. father's is Fred. Anyway, you must know him or visa versa.
Only thng he did wrong with his boat is ...he fibreglassed her.. Yippes!!!! Ouch!!!! basphemy!!!!
Anyway, just thought I would pass this along.
Again..good luck..God speed and may Sarah float and sail for 100 more years

[Russ Manheimer]

Margo,

Any progress pics? Take a deep breath or three and let us know how you're holding up.

Thanks,

Russ

[Concordia...41]

Sorry all - most of the time I've been too busy to post and all of this week was spent moving my mother from North Alabama to a retirement community here. I know, good timing....

Now I'm working on selling myself into indentured servitude to pay for the engine and minor things like thru-hull fittings and a transmission....
:rolleyes:

I promise pictures as soon as there's anything noteworthy. :)

[The Bigfella]

We are all looking forward to this Margo

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Hey maybe Ill come down and help. Where do I need to fly into ?

[Gary Bergman]

We're heading back south, but won't be there in time enough to help..I would have liked to install your engine with my crew (young, strong, able..)

[Mrleft8]

Hey maybe Ill come down and help. Where do I need to fly into ?
JAX

[Concordia...41]

This week's lesson learned:

If you ever want things to go drastically wrong, just set a launch date. :(

[Hwyl]

Mere speedbumps. Keep those loins girded and soldier on. 'courage" (said in my best French accent).

Much better as others (possibly more pragmatic than me) that these things happen before launching.

[Ian McColgin]

Especially if Joe shows up, but others can do it, we shall expect what amounts to a live-action-webcam on these pages as events unfold. Especially a camera aimed at the depths of the bilge to see how much she takes up.

G'luck

[Lew Barrett]

Good luck Margo. It will go fine. Oh, for keeping the plastic on the ground; bricks. Put one every five or ten feet.

[jack grebe]

The end justifies all Margo........gonna do my best to be out there for the launching;).

[Concordia...41]

........gonna do my best to be out there for the launching;).

Ah...don't make any travel plans yet...I was obviously out of my mind and must have been having a psychotic episode when I started this thread.

Seriously, we are now looking at October 27th... :(

(Editing thread title accordingly... :()

[S/V Laura Ellen]

Ah...don't make any travel plans yet...I was obviously out of my mind and must have been having a psychotic episode when I started this thread.

Seriously, we are now looking at October 27th... :(

(Editing thread title accordingly... :()


When will you ever learn.....

When asked for a launch date, the correct reply is.....

When it's ready (give or take a few months)!:D:D:D

I learned the hard way and it took me a few times to see the error of my ways.:eek: So ask me when Laura Ellen will be launched.:D

[Hwyl]

Ah this thread

[Steve Lansdowne]

Really, Margo, changing the date just to keep us all in suspense for a few more weeks is really rather mean, don't you think?