This is a long time coming and let me start with an apology for taking so long to update you on my progress with the houseboat, Lisa B Good. She is 98% finished. I say that because a boat is never exactly the way we want her to be.
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She is 98% finished. I say that because a boat is never exactly the way we want her to be. |
I could have never accomplished this task without you folks and Duckworks. I remember talking to you a couple of times when I felt overwhelmed with options. Your advice seemed to inspire me to press on with steps I knew had to be done and let the "options" wait until the correct path showed itself. The "kiss" approach worked every time.
In all I have about $2500 in materials and toys into the boat. The Motor, a Mercury pro kicker 9.9 with full controls, cost an additional $3500. The helm was aquired on Ebay as well as an adapter plate for the hub to mate the antique wheel to the new Teleflex no-feedback system. I did not track my hours, but would guess 2 weeks of evenings and weekends to build and sand the hull, and a full weekend to glass it.
| In all I have about $2500 in materials and toys into the boat. The Motor, a Mercury pro kicker 9.9 with full controls, cost an additional $3500. |
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The MarineEpoxy you shipped me was awesome stuff. The pumps never failed to produce a perfect mix. I applied it with a squeegie during a humid summer here in Garner, North Carolina. No problems. I rolled the final coat out with a foam roller. The hull is Home Depot ply and I glassed the fore and aft decks prior to adding the bulwarks (sp?) and rub rails. Did not glass the cabin sole. All joints glued with PL adhesive and deck screws throughout, no stainless. HD porch paint stood up well on the hull after floating for three weeks on the canal in NY state.
My Launching was in Lockport, NY. I then motored to Seneca Falls, back to Lockport, then East again to haul out at Mid Lakes Navigation after 18 days. I logged 320 miles averaging 5 mph on gps. Top speed around 7 with an East bound current of 1+ mph. Fuel economy typically calculated at 14 mpg. WOW. The big boys were getting 1 to 1.5 mpg. Waves are not an issue on the NYS Barge Canal, but the boat took a few (illegal) wakes of 1 to 2 feet without incident. the waves slapped the bow, came down inside the rails, and shipped out the sides without slowing her down too much.
I need to take lots of interior photos as soon as possible to share the finish work with you.
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The lady in the pic is my wife. She had a (great) time and spent ONE night on the boat. |
The lady in the pic is my wife. She had a (great) time and spent ONE night on the boat. I included her pic because it shows the galley behind her. A cheep camp stove from Wal-Mart mated to a "drip cup" replacement for a gas range was all the cooking equipment I needed. A hand pump with 2 6-gallon tanks never ran out. a cooler in the insulated cabinet kept ice forever. I carried one large pot to boil water. That covered laundry, showers, and cooking. I ditched the coffee pot in favor of a lexan press. KISS.
The Freeplay lantern I purchased from you worked flawlessly. I also carried two oil lamps and some rechargeable flashlights, although much of it was overkill. I have a handheld vhs and a Lowrance XOG did not leave me wanting anything "better." Nav lights were battery operated flashlight types, would choose them again.
| Showered on the back deck with a privacy tarp. Laundry was done on the aft deck in a bucket with camp soap and a solar dryer. |
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Shower was a black garden sprayer with a sink sprayer attached. Sorry I did not think to order one from you in time for the trip, although mine did the job. Showered on the back deck with a privacy tarp. Laundry was done on the aft deck in a bucket with camp soap and a solar dryer. Did not need the porta-potty too often as many towns provided free facilities for boaters.
Will save further ramblings for another day,
Duane Hedley
dhedley@nc.rr.com
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