Hattie L is floatng

Well, Hattie L is afloat - but not without some problems.

When she was lowered into the water, the centerboard would not come down so out she was pulled. After about 20 minutes with crowbar and hammer the crew got that rusty chunk of metal to raise and lower.

Then there was the issue of the lower shrouds. They are connected but there is a possiblity they are backwards which means getting a ladder to reverse them.

Finally, the starter rope on the old Honda 7.5 HP kicker broke on the second pull.

Overall, not the best situation! We soothed our battered souls while sitting in the marina's bar and tomorrow we should get the starter mechanism installed and motor over to our own slip.

There will be more and photos and this saga continues.

She does look nice, to us, afloat though.

Water coming soon...

We anticipate getting Hattie L launched this week into the cold waters of Seneca Lake. Just a couple of minor maintenance jobs to finish and then call to schedule the mast-stepping and launching. Let's hope that she floats well!

Mary and I are half-way through the US Power Squadron Seamanship class, the next four sessions on on the water. After that is finished we will begin the US Power Squadron Sail course. Our local Seneca Sail and Power Squadron seems to be quite active and we are glad that we have joined them. Looks like they will be a lot of help when I need it with Hattie L. Many of them have their boats docked at the Seneca Harbor Marina - so the community will have this helpless and hapless sailor to help.

Hattie L back home.

Well, we have finally retrieved Hattie L from my sister's farm and it is again parked alongside the house. Don't know where it came from, we had a canvas over the boat (but it did flap around a lot on top of the hill) but tere is alot of water inside and in the bilges. First, get the water out, then try to find out where it came from. I assume that a lot of the topside hardware needs to be rebedded.

My spare time has now disappeared and She Who Must Be Obeyed (henceforth referred to as the First Mate) is going to be on me to do stuff around the house and not give my full attention to Hattie L.

2009 - Where to from now?

Christmas has passed - a couple of small presents with Hattie L in mind. We will be picking up some accessories/necessities at the closest West Marine (have to go about 90 miles to find one of them) and stop in Ithaca to order new lower shrouds.

Will be picking up the porta-potti (a REAL necessity when you are over 65!), and other little stuff.

Refinishing the interior woodwork continues, much to the dismay of the First Mate who feels time is better spent around the house. Still, the wheel is looking great as is the door between the owners cabin and main salon (lots of room in the Helms 25). Wish I had taken more "before" pictures so I could show off with the "after" ph0tos.

Just a recommendation for others who will rehab a boat - take lots of "before" photos.

Mary suggested a name for the boat and I concurred. We had this long list of possible names, many related to the Navy but her suggestion was inspired. The new name of our Helms 25 is:
It is named for my mother who passed away this year and we feel it is a tribute to her as she was the last of our parents still living during the past 13 years.

So, now I can refer to the boat with a name and have to work at getting the name on the boat -

Fair winds and following seas to the Hattie L.

Forward Looking Plans for Helms 25

I have created my to-do list - some of this can be completed during the winter, others must wait until Spring and later. Here is what I have so far (in no particular order but items that I feel must be done prior to launching in the spring are in blue font - those completed in a green font):

Purchase marine battery
Name Boat - "Hattie L"
Purchase boat hook
Pickup renovated outboard motor
Purchase gas tank & fuel line
Install shelves rather than hanger in locker
Dye or replace V-Berth covers
Repair one dinette cushion with open seams
Replace weather stripping on hatches and cockpit access
Standing rigging replacement - ordered
Contact Merrill Sproul - ABC Course (needed to become a member of local Sail and Power Squadron - now need to take the class and exam on 4/18/2009))
Get trailer weighed (currently licensed at 6,000 pounds empty, can't be true!)
Get trailer brakes serviced
Purchase new Porta-Potti
Create mounting for porta-potti
Replace cabin lights with LEDs
Get compass (either bulkhead or pedestal
Anchor chain
Inside/outside carpet for cabin sole with non-skid rug underlayment
Refinish interior woodwork (brightwork) - pulled and in house for winter project
Refinish exterior wood (brightwork)
Shore power - need power line, connection, battery charger, timer (so regulate charging) and inverter as well as wiring and outlets, etc.
Purchase GPS
Get Seneca Lake Charts
Patch little holes on deck and in cabin
Rebed deck hardware
Purchase handheld marine VHF radio
We have a slip at the Village Marina in Watkins Glen - Slip 411
Purchase PFDs - 2 Adult type III and I throwable Type IV
Consider drawer under sink
Insulate icebox
Bed battery box stand
Move centerboard mechanism back to cabin from cockpit

This is definitely an ambitious list, but I have lots of time - sailability is first concern, then the livability items and finally cosmetic items.

Getting ready to layup totally for winter

Here in New York, cold weather comes soon. So, it is time to take the Helms 25 to my sister's farm where it will languish under tarp until spring brings warmer weather (at least it always has).

I have removed almost all of the wooden trim from inside the cabin and will refinish it over the winter. Had I had more time, I would have removed the topside teak and done the same, but Mother Nature is not to be fooled with up here.


Here is Mary standing beside the boat for the first major attempt to tow with the Jeep - some folks say the Jeep won't tow this approximately 5000 lb. load, but it is rated for that weight and we found out that it does a good job towing to the top of one of the higher hills in the Chemung County, New York.

Just can't wait until next spring.