Port A (not Bella, not Potty, not Prince, not Thority)

Again, thanks to Ken for his comment. as you probably know, Ken is the more vocal of the two readers of this Blog. Apparently he doesn't like the color (Martian!!!). A home built boat is the extension of the personality of the builders. I look at other Wharram catamarans and decided that I wanted a single color boat. No graphics, and, for god sakes, no stripes. I ain't into no fancies. The two boats that stood out for me were "Razzle Dazzle" and "Pumpkin". Both distinctive colors. Neal's color is OK, but way too tasteful .I'll have you know that pink
was a strong contender. Sometimes one has to rattle the cage he built for himself. As you figured out by now by reading this iconoclastic but practical blog, I do things my way. Rick Nelsen said it "you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself".  I like the color, I only wish it were brighter. As to being pleased, you have to remember that I also built a house. After completing a project, I've come to the habit of looking at it and simply saying "Next!". Time to pat myself on the back later. We were mired in the mundane for so long that strong visual progress is a bit of a treat to you two followers of this blog. We continue smashing through life. So, bloglodites, we press on!

Sunday we sprayed on the final coat of paint. It was perfect! Then the Texas wind blew the plastic masking up into the wet paint in one area. We had to hold it down taping, then stapling the plastic together. Then, while we were doing this, I bumped the wet paint with my hair (God laughs). Then we started peeling the masked areas.

Budge sprayed the motor wells with the last dregs of paint in the sprayer.

While we were removing the masking, Ben tossed an 8" 2X4 off the hull. It hit the ground on an end then bounced back into the hull and put another nick into the paint. Good one, God. Ben took the rudders and as we were taking the second rudder down...................

The first rudder fell off the table and........................................

Put a few dings in the paint. Why me, God???????

Monday, with the heat again in the middle 90's, Ben sanded the beam troughs. Budge and I installed the eight ports in the hull sides.

First, Budge applied a strip of paper backed butyl rubber to the frame edge.

Then he peeeeeeled back the paper and handed it to me inside the hull. I put it in place.

I pushed the bolts through.

He aligned the trim ring, removed it, and ran a bead of silicone around the outside frame.

Then put the trim ring back on and we bolted the frames in. Budge holding the acorn nut on the outside.

And me screwing the bolt from the inside.

I tapped the edge with a block to make sure the butyl sealed properly. We got a good squeeze out on both sides! We then had to trim off the squeeze out.

Why are so many things in boating named "port"?

Cleaning up the squeeze out.

Happy happy Ben sanding in the 90° heat!

Well waddayahknow, strong visual progress two weeks in a row!

Ben sanding the beam troughs!

Budge sanding the foredecks. We decided to break the decks into four areas - between each beam being an area - and finish each section completely before we do the next one.

Budge and Ben then glassed the # 1 beam troughs on each hull.

Then came Thursday. Ben and I decided that we would attend the second annual Ply Wooden Boat festival In Port Aransas, TX, Port A to the local villagers who are simple fishermen, if you consider a huge sport fishing industry simple.

Sticking to my hardheaded ways, I decided to take both boats. Ben and I played the two stooges trying to figure out how to accomplish this. We loaded and unloaded the Mirror dinghy a couple times until Budge stepped in to save the day. We ditched the camper top and Budge strapped down the dinghy so we could tow the Potter. Ben kept humming the theme from the Beverly Hillbillies!

I had a board of pictures illustrating the progress of the rebuild and recited the great saga if the rescue and refurbishment of the Mirror. Some people were actually interested, most merely polite.

 There was a family boatbuilding course where they build boats in three days! Wow, people actually happy building boats! Three days?!?!?!

There were puddle ducks, skiffs, green boats, blue boats, yellow boats, a boat of many colors, a proa, trimarans, catamarans, and the Mirror morons (us)!

You can't be too careful with all those unicycle thieves out there!

Good gas mileage! So, Saturday they gave out the awards for best boats. We were hoping for the "Awwww, Bless Your Little Heart"  award, but they didn't have one! I did get an award: Second Place in the rowing contest. Ben got first (grrrrrrrrrrrr).

Meanwhilst, Budge trudged on, completing the front section of both hulls! Maybe Ben and I are merely in his way!

So that's it for last week. Hopefully this week will match it......sorry for the delay.

The Music♫: Pupkulies & Rebecca, "Burning Boats"

Ben's pick this week, and a good one. One of this year's best along with that "Rainbow Connection" post.