She's Wet Again

[Concordia...41]

I'm borrowing the title from one of my favorite threads - when Rich Van Valkenburg re-launched SONJA - but SARAH is indeed wet again :)

Per the instructions in the other thread, I got 95% of the errant gold leaf off with Aqua Buff (and a very light touch).

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd33b3127cceb6a58fbab04900000026108BYtG7lsxbq

No close up shots of my gold leafing. Let's just say it'll pass the 10' test, but just barely... :(

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd33b3127cceb6a58fd1311200000026108BYtG7lsxbq

As the travel lift made it's way around, most of the folks in the yard (St. Augustine Marine Center) stopped to cheer her on. I was stressed out of my brain, but it was really cool.

The weather was a bit better than the initial launch :eek:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd33b3127cceb6a58ff3313000000026108BYtG7lsxbq

[S/V Laura Ellen]

Congrats Margo.... Job well done....Sarah looks great.

[John Boone]

Congratulations Margo! Sarah looks real sharp and I know you are relieved to have her back in the water.

From recent experience I know it is a ton of work but as you have shown us once again, it sure is worth it.

Best Regards,

John

[J. Dillon]

Congratulations and well done. Soon we'll be seeing some sailing images ?;)

JD

[JimConlin]

Hooray!

[Dave Gray]

You're going to get that fine piece of furniture wet?

:D Congratulations on a job well done!

[CharlieCobra]

Nice.

[Ken Hutchins]

Congratulations Margo!:):):):):):)

[StevenBauer]

If we're this excited here about masts going in and how fantastic she's looking I can't imagine how excited you must be. I'll say it for Shane, fanbloodytastic! Or is that Aweflaminsome!


Steven

[Concordia...41]

You're going to get that fine piece of furniture wet?


Thanks :o

After the launch when I went around to thank some of the folks that pitched in to grab lines, a moment, destined to be one of the highlights of my life, occurred when some folks from Cove Landing Marina favorably compared SARAH to Concordia #102 ABACO.

For those of you that don't know, there are several beautiful well-kept Concordias, but ABACO's care sets a gold, if not platinum, standard.

Some more pictures:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd33b3127cceb6a58cf671ac00000026108BYtG7lsxbq

If this shot looks a little asymmetrical, we were running short of time and the one screw I had holding the starboard handrail held, but the port handrail slid off (landed on deck). There's also not a lot of hardware - actually no hardware - on the hatches, but that was remedied while I was waiting for the current to slack. :rolleyes:

By the end of the day I had the lifelines back on and some of the hardware back in place.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd33b3127cceb6a582b8f0d500000026108BYtG7lsxbq

And yes, the folks doing her canvas are making SARAH some fleece fender covers...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd33b3127cceb6a582c3719e00000026108BYtG7lsxbq

I like this last shot because the HC50, which I've had the pleasure of working and crewing on, is just visible through SARAH's bow pulpit. :) That's another thing I never thought would occur: SARAH and HUNTER'S CHILD II in the same stretch of water...

Tomorrow we step the masts...

[Bill R]

Beautiful!

[Concordia...41]

Congratulations Margo!:):):):):):)

Ken - Thanks for the 6-image salute. SARAH and I both appreciate it. Sorry I'm not going to make it to the Maine BBS. It has been on my list of things to do for a while. Enjoy!

- M

[abe]

Margo, You should be happy.

The topsides look terrific (90% prep work, 10% paint). Love that second photo, a transom like that can only be a Concordia.

Congratulations.

andy a.

[JimJ]

Margo, Congratulations - Looks great.

[Bark]

Margo:

It would be pretty much impossible for you to post too many pics of Sarah.

Ben

[Dale Genther]

Margo, she is truely a work of art. Can't wait to see her with the"sticks" in place. Tomorrow our boat, Radiance, joins Sarah. We're dropping her in at lunchtime. She'll spend the night in the slings, and hopefully off to her slip on Sat.

BTW I'm still interested in details of the Bristol over varnish thing.

[Dan McCosh]

Looks great. I was wondering, however--what happened to the leaks?

[G. Schollmeier]

:D!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Noah]

Wow! Looks great - you did a very good job.

[Concordia...41]

Looks great. I was wondering, however--what happened to the leaks?

The leak(s) coming down from the stem were due to my not having enough cotton in the seams. :( James remedied that, and there is a little trickle, but nothing I don't think will take up in the the next few days.

The leak in the horn timber - which I thought was a gaping break and / or crack turned out to be a joint, which would normally have been drawn tight with bolts or drifts, but which had a section repaired and said vertical scarf kept the horizontal joint from being drawn tight.

One maybe two Forumites advised against caulking the joint, but because of the complexity of any potential solution, we drove cotton and then puttied the joint. Even leaned over the side of the engine with a flashlight in one's teeth, the spot is not visible from the interior, but there doesn't appear to be any water coming in now.

My theory on starting with cotton and putty is that if it doesn't solve the problem, we can always haul and try the next step - probably splining the joint.

And yes Dale, I promise an essay on the Bristol Finish over Epifanes, but in the outside chance that I don't get to it...

I am 100% pleased with Bristol Finish. I bought a quart kit and used it on some test pieces at the warehouse. Pleased with the results - application, flow, leveling, etc. I used it on the toe rails and hatches. It passed all of those tests - and the ability to reapply after an hour - thus potentially making something a two-day job - made me spring for a gallon kit.

I've used the quart and maybe 1-2 cups out of the gallon and have the recommended 6 coats on the tiller, companionway boards, cabin trim, hatches, and toe rail. On those items I had bare wood, CPES, and at least 2 coats of Epifanes prior to starting the Bristol program. Actually, the eyebrow trim around the cabin has CPES and just Bristol, but I can tell it's not original so it's not a fair comparison in color / texture.

Their directions (from memory) say to build 4-6 coats, let cure 36+ hours, level and apply a final coat. Actually, you can and probably should build more, but I was running out of time. Surprise :rolleyes:

As to longevity, only time will tell, but the product applies and looks as advertised. As it was likely physically and personally impossible for me to keep the toe rail varnished - 2+ hours of taping, multiple hours of prep, multiple coats of traditional varnish over a couple of weeks, at which point the tape calcifies to the boat, and then the process restarts, just wasn't going to get it.

Bristol Finish - 1 to 10 scale (10 being highest)

Good instructions=9
Ease of application = 9
Gloss=10
Flow=9 (could of been I had the mix off a touch that batch)
Skims over quick so dust doesn't set = 9
Toxicity of fumes = 11 :eek: (this is some bad $hit!)

[CGrant]

Sarah looks like even she, is proud of herself! Truly lovely, Margo. :)

[David G]

Margo - I've been following your posts since I joined the forum a short time ago. What a project. And what a lovely result. More fotos, please?

"Order is the shape upon which beauty depends" -- Pearl S. Buck

[Hwyl]

She looks good, I can't see much protection on the travelift straps, did the paint creep, certainly does not look like it. Not meant as a negative not by the way. Here's a serenade Sara (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BTomqsanSM)h.

Edit, I went back and looked, I see there's plenty of it, sort of camoflages itself, there's so much.

[The Bigfella]

Congratulations Margo. A job well done.:):):):):):)

[Concordia...41]

Thanks Gareth. It's playing now. :)

And yes, the black things on the straps were like furniture moving pads that went around the straps with Velcro.

[willmarsh3]

Looking fantastic. :) What a wonderful feeling to have her back in the water.

[nedL]

Congratulations Margo!!!!!!!! :):):) Now Please, when you are ready will you just wander over yonder (as you said, to beyond Sarah's pulpit) and remind John & Warren how it's supposed to be done! :D:D:D (I bet they really would like to se her.) Sarah looks FANTASTIC!!

[wdnbt]

Margo, Congratulations - She looks absolutely beautiful!

[Vince Brennan]

I'm still wondering what happened to that piece of equipment I was supposed to work on. Didja find "OEM" parts?

No matter... she looks scrump-diddily-icious.

Kudos on so much work so well done. It's been a real pleasure to follow the progress of this excellent restoration and I hope you have tons of hours of lovely sailing!

[Syed]

Congratulations!
Margo,
I would love to see something like that 'hovering plane pose' again.
Best wishes,
Syed

[MiddleAgesMan]

Based on that photo of Hunter's Child II and on the assumption it is docked at Luhr's it would appear your marina is on the very same site where I kept my schooner while living in St. Augustine back in the early '90s.

She is a beaut, Margo. Very well done and good on ya.

[Concordia...41]

MAM - Both boats are at St. Augustine Marine. It's just one big honking place. :eek:

This picture is several years old and doesn't show the new docks where the 50 is (or the Quonset hut where we spent the last three weeks). The Luhrs / Mainship facility is visible in the upper left.

http://www.yachtworld.com/sayachts/images/e182670.jpg

Maybe someone can pull up that cool site that had the great aerial shots of the marinas. There's some shots on there that do it more justice.

Ned - JL was down on the docks when we were getting things sorted out. I was remiss in not complementing him on the work his yard has done, and even more remiss in not relaying your regards - as you asked me to do 4+ years ago.

Vince - long story. Basically, I got busy with the launch, forgot about the piece, stumbled across it a few weeks ago, and have it on the floor of the office behind me awaiting a box. BUT it doesn't look like we're going to be using it. It actually hasn't been used in a while - the holes on the deck have been filled in (prior to our getting her 7+ years ago). The next few weeks as we get the rigging sorted out will tell if I want to reattach it. If not, I've got another idea for your talents. ;)

I'm off to the office for a bit and then to step the mast... :eek: :eek: Scot can get me a gremlen with crossed fingers about now...

[Russ Manheimer]

Margo,

Sarah is looking very fine; anticipating seeing her rigged. Sailing next week?

See you in three weeks,

Russ

[Concordia...41]

Sailing by the time you and Julia get here. :);) You two might even be in on SARAH's first official sail. :D

[S.V. Airlie]

Looking good Margo.
Umm, only an observation.. the star appears to be a bit lower than usual..Or just my eyes..:rolleyes:

ps.. Waldo Howland would approve...

[davidagage]

Margo, all I can say is WOW. Sarah is looking so polished. What a beautiful job. Now that things are sort of settling down, we need to get up there (sounds funny, used to be down there!) and drool a bunch.

[Russ Manheimer]

Margo,

As it turns out Bob's sbchedule (and by extension,ours) changed and we'll not be making a trip south this spring. We'll be there in spirit for sure.

Best,

R&J

[Rich VanValkenburg]

Another WOW here. I think I'm jealous, of the boat, the weather, the site....still trying to melt a couple feet of snow here.


Margo, I had to blink a couple times when I saw the thread, and got a good chuckle reading the first lines. Sarah looks great!

[Concordia...41]

Margo,

As it turns out Bob's sbchedule (and by extension,ours) changed and we'll not be making a trip south this spring. We'll be there in spirit for sure.

Best,

R&J

Well that was a quick (and disappointing) change... :(

[Tabitha ( Gaff rig girl )]

CONGRATS Margo...she's beautiful!!!

Joe says "let's get the sticks and sheets in already" ;)

[Bob Perkins]

She looks great - thanks for keeping us up to date. For every reply you get, I'm sure there are 100+ others waiting and watching your updates and progress. I wish I was going to Florida..

[snaiken]

Margo, she looks absolutely fantastic!!! I don't always pipe in but I've been watching the progress as you post. She just looks great!
Sean

[Paul Pless]

Damn she's pretty.
As always, great job!

[John Bertenshaw]

:cool:
I think you should shoot that cannon.

[seayou7]

BANG!!
You Go Gals'

[Banjo]

Here is a good site for snooping :D
http://florida.hometownlocator.com/FL/St.-Johns/Saint-Augustine.cfm

And here is snapshot I saved to show here...
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i288/whc-grassy/Augustine.jpg

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

The boat looks great Margo..:) Thanks for the critique on Bristol... I have been using Epifanes, but always always loookinnggggg..:D

[Paulhen]

So great Margo, That is what wood boats are all about. A fiberglass guy came up to me once while I was replacing a plank, he says, "You ever get to sail that thing?" I answered, "I'd rather be working on my boat than sailing yours." Paul

[pipefitter]

Well done and a stunning boat. It would be hard to sleep nights in anticipation of all of the great things yet to come. What an admirable project this has been. A major entry as one of life's greatest achievements that can never be diminished in any way. At any rate, I am ultimately impressed. Congratulations yet again!