Splashed the Seabreeze Today

[Captain Blast Off]

It's been a month and a half; a ton of work but she's finally back in the water.



Waiting for the lift



Fresh bottom paint





Put her in today; she's settling overnight; tomorrow we take the three hour cruise back to the marina. Been along time and a lot of work but I'm happy with the results.

[prowlersfish]

Boat is looking sharp . I know you glad to get her in the water and her back home .

[larryeddington]

Shades of Mike Nelson (Lloyd Bridges) and Sea Hunt. Great looking boat.

[Stripermann2]

Beautiful! Good luck and enjoy.

[mikeandanne]

Boat looks good, you did a very nice job------what did you mean by ----" the boat is settling overnight"-----Mike

[Stripermann2]

Boat looks good, you did a very nice job------what did you mean by ----" the boat is settling overnight"-----Mike

The boat is wooden. It needs to sit in the water, usually in the slings, to swell-up.

[Allen Sr]

Boat looks great! And btw Stripermann2 is correct!

[Captain Blast Off]

Made the three hour cruise back to my home port. Bilge never kicked on automatically and pumped very little water once back in the slip when I turned it on manually. Weather was between 55 and 60 degrees and the water was like glass. The boat had not been out of the water for three years; it's amazing how different it feels with a totally clean bottom.

I've read and learned a lot on this forum and it sure helped out during this project.

[jblack1036]

Captain Blast Off,

She is a BEAUTY.....I hope I can bring the Whiskey Girl up to those standards..... She's close but man that paint looks awsome......good job....no, excellent job bubba.

Jim

[P-Dogg]

Looks like a functional floating work of art, which of course it is. Excellent work.

[rickalan35]

Hi, couldn't agree more with all the many admirers. Great job, Captain!

I've been down the "woodie" route too and I'm sure that my fingers must be half an inch shorter from all that sanding. Our first boat was a 1955 34' Shepherd cruiser.

But my point here is that there probably aren't many pleasures that will top the feeling of pride and accomplishment one derives from rejuvenating a wooden hull and returning it it's natural element. Nothing in my experience cuts through the water like a wooden hull. They're a little heavier and they can flex a little.

I do love working on the teak in my current tricabin. Our '55 Shepherd (Disocuri) is pictured in the current http://www.Shepherdboats.com website. I had no idea what I was doing back then (probably still don't). That boat featured 331 Chrysler hemi engines set up with v-drives. Did somebody say ""fast?"........... and did somebody say "wood rot?"

Finally, I don't know where I've been but I haven't seen anyone spray a hull like you did. Is there anything special that one should know?

[Captain Blast Off]

Thanks for the comments; this boat is incredible; still running original 312 "Y" block interceptors with carter YH side draft carbs. Had the vinyl on the hardtops replaced last year which really helped the appearance.

The boat will move out but I'm a cruiser. I do have to agree that restoring this boat has been very rewarding; I was lucky and was able to start with a very sound hull. The hull was sprayed with three coats of primer and then had Awl Grip sprayed over that. I wish I could take credit for spraying the boat but I can't; had it sprayed at Delta Marine Works in Stockton CA. There is a guy there that can really lay down a paint job and the best part is they let D.I.Y.'s work on the boat as much as you're comfortable with. I was able to mount a new swim platform; repair trim tabs, remove and polish hardware and they sprayed it. Awl Grip is pretty tricky to spray and is pretty expensive so I didn't feel like learning as I go.

We've been lucky as far as weather goes (nearly 70 degrees) so shes been out cruising. Got some more projects planned for the rest of the winter and she'll be ready for the summer. Hope to take a trip to San Francisco this summer and catch a Giants game.

Like to wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.