What AM I angrily shaking my fist at?

One of my navy mentors once remarked something to the effect of "young people should be tired." Work hard, play hard sort of thing. Well, even after sleeping for 9 hours last night I am still tired from the weekend, and moving around like I've got some sort of spinal/muscular disease. Need to shake out that reef - I'd go for a run but it's pouring rain now. And I don't think I'd make it. But I digest.

This weekend we had a mass convergence on the Dockyard, with the goal of stripping and refinishing the Monomoy's oars, thwarts, platforms, stretchers and bilge boards. Those of you who've been out to working weekends know that as the weekend progresses, and various complications arise and are overcome, I get more and more crotchety. This seems to coordinate with teams near completion of their projects and start goofing around a bit, their mood lightening - which means that the more I growl and shake my fists at people, the more apt they are to laugh it off. Looking back on it, it's always kind of funny.

Saturday was the largest showing, with members from as far north as Washington DC and west as Danville VA came out to help. In and amongst the important statistics I should report - the Dockyard crew polished off 14 pots of coffee and 16 two-liter bottles of Coca Cola. Definately worth reporting. Maybe we should get some sort of hook-up from Coke or Juan Valdez, hmm.

Anyway, back on topic. I'm tired and only on my fourth cup of coffee. Focus.

BT

One thing about yesterday that was interesting was the oar refinishing. I got a last minute tip from John Collamore of the Colonial Seaport Foundation to coat the oars in epoxy before varnishing. We had some extra West System goo that the Spar Team didn't need, so that's what we did. Turned out great, so thanks for the tip, John. But I have to say that having people walking back and forth across the yard from the back forty where they were stripped to the framing bay where they were expoxied, then on to the lofting bay where they were set up for varnishing was like watching an accident waiting to happen - I kept waiting for someone to come running around a corner and get clotheslined by an oar. Fighting the constant battle of where to sand and where to varnish (leeward and windward respectively) was my biggest challenge.

But it was good to see so much activity. And thanks to all those who came out to support operations. Sorry, no photos yet, but we had to rush and cover everything at the last minute due to the onset of darkness and rain yesterday. End result, the woodwork is varnished, oars are just about ready for leathering, and we actually hoisted sail for the first time on Saturday. We just have rigging and the racing stripe left - then we get to see our work pay off a bit - or at least put it to the ultimate test... sea trials.

Two weeks until the 'gruelling test sail'. I need to think of something else to shake fists about, 'cause I'm pretty damned satisfied with the work done so far. Thanks, everyone!

Will

NNNN

One milestone met, three to go.

Yesterday the product of the great mast-a-thon successfully passed testing - with flying colors - and was stepped in the Monomoy. The step needed a little shimming - it was 3/32" too far aft - but that was easily remedied. A busy but productive week is over, and a critical milestone met. Congratulations to the spar team - you guys rocked out this week and you've already seen some of the fruits of that labor.

But don't rest now, folks, we still have three more to go. A summary of the work, and the schedule to do it on, is as follows:

Power cleaning of the non-skid deck (in prep for painting) is scheduled for March 20.

MILESTONE #2: Re-finishing. All 11 oars (including the steering oar) and the thwarts need to be totally stripped, varnished, the oars re-leathered and the woodwork and hull attachments caulked. The bulk of this work will occur weekday evenings at the dockyard and next weekend. Completion date March 26.

MILESTONE #3: Interior Painting. The entire interior of the Monomoy needs to be prepped and painted spar and blue-gray. This work will occur the weekend of March 27-28. Completion date (allowing for touch-ups) March 31.

First launch of the season, April 2. Sailing rig not required. April 3, at Nauticus for the conclusion of the Real Pirates exhibit. SIDE NOTE: I realize this is Easter weekend - actually we just realized that this past weekend. Consequently, we will wrap up operations on Saturday no later than 1600.

MILESTONE #4: Rigging. Cutting, set up and fine-tuning of the Monomoy rigging, including all redundant equipment (mast fish and wouldings, emergency rigging, etc).

Painting of the "racing stripes" (navy blue and yellow-gold gunwale stripes) will take place on April 10.

Shakedown sail and training for crossing the Chesapeake will take place on April 24.

Busy times ahead - keep the noses to the grindstone and before you know it, we'll be on the beach in Kiptopeke.

Will

Them aren't OARS they're me wife and me daughters!

In preparation for the coming season, the Monomoy's oars, 10 in all, are neatly laid out in the framing bay beside the 24-foot Launch. Yesterday, I stripped their leathers and gave each a cursory sanding. A few have a rather interesting problem, easily solved.

The ash oars each weigh between 14 and 17 pounds, and are 12-feet long. The looms, where they pass through the oarlocks, are all different sizes. A few of them don't fit too well through the jaws of the oarlock. This is a job for - da, dada DA - trusty block plane. I plan on shaving the big ones down a bit tonight before I start prepping them for paint. The thing I find interesting about all this is the variation from piece to piece. It's a direct result of being hand made AND mass-produced. And while it may be impossible to determine who made them and when (they could be as old as the boat, dating to 1951) it is interesting to think of a time when these were in such demand that they were churned out. It wasn't that long ago.

So a shave for some of them, then some primer, and we get to start the paint relay. Thin coats for durability, many many times over for a thick barrier to protect the aging ash from the effects of sea and weather. Then re-leathering - an interesting process. Those who have crewed the Monomoy will remember the subtle tendency of the old leathers to creep milimeter by millimeter up the loom. We'll fix that. And with the shave some will get, I expect no more cursing after "TOSS!"

BT

On a final note this morning, word is passing down that we can expect an updated schedule soon - including weekly training sessions and new events in April. I'll post more about that as soon as it's official.

Will