Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
Portola - "Head up my boat"
The build out of the Portola is coming along nicely, although at times it is incredibly frustrating. With all the stuff I've done and then "re-done" because I thought of a better way, I'd have two boats by now!! This past week of building has been a "grind" - I'm doing the tedious work of framing the decking. I'm measuring three times cutting once and hoping I don't think of a better way tomorrow. Actually, I love the process and the challenge and I'm falling in love with this Portola !!
Late yesterday afternoon I needed to crawl into the bulk head at the back of the boat and reach around the corner to draw the outline of my side hatch lids...
Even though I have "buttoned up" a lot of the framing, I left myself access to the bulk head via the "removable" back seat (it will be the last thing I secure back there). So I remove the seat and squeezed my torso through the little rabbit hole and curl around the corner to barely reach the underside of the lid with my outstretched arm - magic marker in hand.
I trace the outline and try to shimmy out the way I came in - and I can't make that move. I twisted, I turned and the more I moved, the more I became "wedged" in the tight space of the bulk head. Yikes. "Stuck"!!! Now what. Can't move - cramping leg - not supposed to move that direction - wife not home - CRAP!!! How do I send an SOS from a boat in the garage... someone call 911
Yes - I need help
"What's the problem sir."
Well, I'm stuck in my boat and I need help please
"What body of water and what's your approximate location?"
uhhhh - I'm in my garage - wedged inside my boat and I can't get out
"Hmmmm - Ok - what's your street address we'll send someone right over with a saw...."
How embarrassing is this - I haven't even gotten a chance to tear it up on the river and I'm tearing it up in the garage!!! This is not good.
I finally got out - probably because I was drenched in sweat which allowed me to slither back out through the little opening. Sure am glad I mounted video cameras in the garage-shop so I could document the building of the Portola in HD - had I perished, the video would've documented my demise. As it ended up, I simply documented that I had my head too far up my boat... literally.
GH
Views: 704
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on
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That is a great story Greg.
Just for giggles here is the sister hull with Sanderson clamping down the back plywood deck. We let this sit overnight to help when we attach it tomorrow.
I also cut hatches in the back and seat bottom that were not in the original Suzie Too. I really want to be able to get to the bottom when I'm on the river.
For those that didn't hear I almost holed a bottom in this boat when lining down Fish Ladder on the Rogue in Southern Oregon. Skinny water, lots of momentum, and a heavy boat are a combination that is looking for trouble, which I have a way of finding.
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Permalink Reply by John Greenleaf on
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Good stuff - nearly did it to myself working on/under the front porch the other weekend. Pretty un-nerving - much more fun reading about "the other guy" doing it. Boat is looking great. JG
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Permalink Reply by Greg Hatten on
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Thanks John!!
GH
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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on
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Greg, I will have to remember this one for the next Wooden Boat Festival! I guess you don't have every tool yet for working on your boat, maybe a self-rescue kit is needed!
Rick Newman
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Oh mannnn..... this is gonna leave a mark!!
GH
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Permalink Reply by Brad Dimock on
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And I thought the Betty Boop was an insane boat and deck design. Wow, these things look intense. Great story. I roll Betty up in the next day or so and try to do the same thing--mark strange hatch bits and fasten them in awkward places. Does anyone have a midget I can borrow?
Here's a shot of the framing on Betty's decks. It is all fastened and all the hatch landings are guttered. Now it's just a matter of affixing twelve quick simple deck boards and five easy hatch lids. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha....
Many more images and stories of the Boop on
fretwaterlines.blogspot.com
Caution: irreverent things are said one done on this site.
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Wow... Now THAT is some deck work!!! Very cool. I like the irreverent things on your blog as well. Can't wait to see the Boop on the water Brad !!
GH
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Permalink Reply by Darrell Lyons on
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Greg
So glad you were able to extract yourself.....next time you might want to "grease up"!
Hope we can do a trip on Umpqua after the first!
Have a Joyous Holiday and may the New Year be good to you!
Merry Fishmas
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