Prying off the mast step. In the summer of 2011, after both the main and mizzen masts had been removed from Moontide and deemed irreparable, we did a close inspection of where the main mast was stepped, and found a ‘soft spot’ on the cabin top.
Soft spots are not good things on boats. It has been argued that owners of boats may have a soft spot in their hearts -- or even their heads -- for owning a boat. Certainly, boat owners have soft spots in their wallets because of their boats, but the boat itself should never have soft spots. Ever.
Concerned and curious, Gabrielle and I removed the fiberglass skin from the portion of cabin top at the mast step that felt soft, and discovered a blackened area on the plywood underlay about 20” in diameter. Dry rot. The spot seemed to have a little black tail that trailed off the forward edge of the cabin.
We followed the tail as it expanded, cutting larger and larger pieces of fiberglass from the side of the cabin and then from the deck until day became evening and we couldn’t see to continue.
The next day, I had to go to work. Gabrielle opted to continue ‘exploring’ for dry rot.
“How far should I go?” She asked.
I shrugged. “‘Til it stops.”
Perhaps now is the time to explain how wonderfully tenacious and energetic my wife can be. I sometimes call Gabrielle my little rat terrier, (rest assured it is said with only the greatest affection) because she has the remarkable capacity to sink her teeth into a project, cause, or goal with such vigor that there can be no doubt as to her reaching a successful outcome. She is my inspiration. And I want to be like her when I grow up.
Concerned and curious, Gabrielle and I removed the fiberglass skin from the portion of cabin top at the mast step that felt soft, and discovered a blackened area on the plywood underlay about 20” in diameter. Dry rot. The spot seemed to have a little black tail that trailed off the forward edge of the cabin.
We followed the tail as it expanded, cutting larger and larger pieces of fiberglass from the side of the cabin and then from the deck until day became evening and we couldn’t see to continue.
The next day, I had to go to work. Gabrielle opted to continue ‘exploring’ for dry rot.
“How far should I go?” She asked.
I shrugged. “‘Til it stops.”
Perhaps now is the time to explain how wonderfully tenacious and energetic my wife can be. I sometimes call Gabrielle my little rat terrier, (rest assured it is said with only the greatest affection) because she has the remarkable capacity to sink her teeth into a project, cause, or goal with such vigor that there can be no doubt as to her reaching a successful outcome. She is my inspiration. And I want to be like her when I grow up.
Gabrielle. My Hero.
“Gee. Look what I found!” That said, in retrospect, it might have been wiser to have chosen my parameters more carefully.
I came home from work to find the foredeck and a good portion of the bulwarks gone!
“It just kept going.” Gabs said with an exhausted smile.
Thus began our saga of rebuilding the decks of Moontide, from bow to transom.
I came home from work to find the foredeck and a good portion of the bulwarks gone!
“It just kept going.” Gabs said with an exhausted smile.
Thus began our saga of rebuilding the decks of Moontide, from bow to transom.
Moontide, her whole cockpit removed. After two years, we reached the farthest aft section of the boat built of wood, and removed the rotten wood there.
I told Gabrielle “From this point on, if we find rotten wood, it’s going to have to be on someone else's boat.”
I told Gabrielle “From this point on, if we find rotten wood, it’s going to have to be on someone else's boat.”
New epoxy, and a first coat of primer. As we finish sealing and fiberglassing the cockpit area of Moontide, we look back and are grateful for the experience. Because we have shared this labor of love --tearing apart and rebuilding our boat -- we now know the structure and workings of our boat/home better than many people will ever know their home.
Yes, for all this we are grateful... still, we hope we never have to go through this experience again!
Yes, for all this we are grateful... still, we hope we never have to go through this experience again!
Fair Sailing!
Be Well,
M&G
RSS Feed