BOATING TIPS - MARCH, 1997
More on the Refurbishing

Joe Coons

In my last column, I promised more news on the refurbishing project on my boat, SKYLARK II.

Well, we're back in the water, and as I write this in mid-February, we are sanding, varnishing, and cleaning. We found some new teak furniture very inexpensively at Dania Furniture in Seattle (after looking all over Whatcom County) and we immediately took it to Dick Tisdale, who has done boat upholstery for years. Dick is also doing new headliners for us, and our new settee cushions.

While working on the boat when it was still out of the water, I decided to check all the below-waterline sea water hoses, and replace the old gate-valve sea cocks with new ball valve units. Thank goodness I did! A pair of hoses lubricating my old shaft packings crumbled in my hand, and I learned I was dangerously close to having a serious water intrusion from corrosion. A few hours later, while checking one of my old Groco sea strainers, I discovered it, too, was held together by only a thread of remaining bronze. So it's lucky the boat hadn't gone under.

Here's the bottom line: Check your fittings often! I have done so in the past, but not enough, it seems!

In my January column, I mentioned how much this re-do is costing. A lot! But I charter my boat to a regular list of repeat customers, to say nothing of the skippered charters Judy and I do. We already have booked over $23,000 of charters for this summer, and it's only February! So most of this once-in-eight-years major refurb will be paid for this year alone. Frankly, it's the only way we could own a boat like this and keep it up the way I want to . . .

Let me stress that chartering will only pay some of a boat's costs, since the season here in the Northwest is relatively short, busy only June-September. But for us, it's made the difference. We've worked to make it successful, and to see to it that our boat gets little abuse. Since 1993, we've grossed over $120,000, and never had a significant problem. At the same time, we've gotten to know some great folks from all over. In fact, several of our best buddies are now charterers from Florida, California, and Oregon. Is chartering for you? I'll tell you more in a future column.

In the meantime, have fun getting ready --- safely --- for Opening Day!

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Last updated 8/20/97 by SCR