S/V Queequeg

New salon floor

2012-02-27T09:41:00.000-05:00

Well...I know it's been a while since we updated here on our progress with the refit. There just hasn't been much in the way of new pictures. But today we finally have something to share. While Bev was in California visiting her grandson, I tore out the old salon floor (a umpteen layers) and built a whole new floor. I built a whole grid over and alongside to original floor joists, topped that with 3/4" play and some wood-grain vinyl. I still have to run new moldings around the edge, but I think it's starting to look quite good.

Walkure for sale!

2012-02-23T15:54:00.000-05:00

It is with deeply mixed emotions that Bev and I have come to the decision that Walkure must find a new home. We have tried for a year to get someone in the family to take over our beloved AS-29 but alas, no one is able to do it.
We love this boat, and she has been good to us. She has seen us safely through over 7,000 miles of cruising from the Great Lakes to the Florida Keys and just about everywhere in between. She is the perfect boat for the Great Loop and has served us well in that capacity, but the time has come to move on.
Our "new" boat, Queequeg, is larger and faster and a bit more ocean capable. We have nearly completed the refit of Queequeg and will be cruising her this summer. Meanwhile, Walkure sits on the hard and will soon be in need of some attention. A loving owner will have no trouble bringing her into cruising trim quite quickly. As of now, she needs some cleaning, some new batteries, perhaps a new line or two, some fresh varnish on her brightwork and she'll be ready to go.
We will be away from Marathon for about 6 months starting in late April or early May and we dread the thought of her lying here without us to care for her for so long. Also, it is just too expensive for us to continue to maintain and store two boats.
If you are interested in taking possession of a truly unique and remarkable boat, please leave a comment on this blog. Reasonable offers will be entertained, but we are not giving her away, she means too much to us.

It's been a while...

2011-11-27T08:59:00.000-05:00

Since I updated this blog. Sorry, I've been really, really busy!
The boat is coming along - slowly. There's not much that is "ready for prime time," so I don't have any new pictures of the boat. What's been done so far is not visible; rewiring, some engine work, some plumbing, etc. Next week a major plumbing job in on tap as I will be installed a new, heavier, larger holding tank. A filthy job, but absolutely necessary.
We've also been very busy with the new play at the Marathon Community Theater. The play is "Sleeping Indoors" by Jim Holt. We actually got to meet the author Friday night when he came to see the show.

Sleeping Indoors is a small play, just four characters, so all the parts are big. I'm actually on stage in every scene and have a lot of dialog. It's about a New England family that takes in a homeless man for Christmas. He doesn't stay long, but he has a huge impact on their lives. It's funny, it's sad, it's thought provoking.
The first week in November, Bev and I went to Key West for 5 days to see "Meeting of The Minds" (MOTM), the annual parrothead convention. This was the 20th anniversary of the convention, which is held every year to have fun, hear some great music and raise money for charity. The event this year raised over $30,000 for local charities.
Among the musicians we heard: Jimmy Buffett, The Coral Reefer Band (Jimmy's band - better without him!), The Boat Drunks, Jim Morris and the Big Bamboo Band, Sunny Jim White, Kelly McGuire, Brent Burns, Latitude, Jimmy and the Parrots, Jerry Diaz and Hanna's Reef, Howard Livingston and more. The whole island was taken over by Trop Rock music. What a time!
Kelly McGuire's song "Redfish Island" was one of the things that inspired me to leave the crazy world behind and go cruising. I finally got to meet him.
And finally, after all these years, we got to see Jimmy Buffett in person.

Bev, me & Kelly McGuire

The Boat Drunks


Jimmy Buffett

Groups test

2011-04-06T14:46:00.002-04:00

Just testing

The play closes

2011-04-06T14:00:00.000-04:00

Well, last Saturday was the last show, and we struck the set immediately after the show. This allows the crew of the next show to start building their set.
It was kind of sad watching the set come down. It makes it seem so final. Yep, the "world premier" production of "Act Now" is now over. But I have some great memories and bragging rights that come with being in the original cast.
So now it's back to work on Queequeg. This week it is sorting out the low water flow from the engine. The impeller is fine, the intake screen is clean, the strainer is clean so what's causing the problem? Either the seacock is clogged or something inside the engine is restricting the flow of water. Oh, well, what can one expect from a free boat?
Next week we tackle the holding tank...

The play is the thing...

2011-03-18T13:53:00.000-04:00

which has pretty much eaten up most of my time these last few weeks.
As of this posting, those who have previously subscribed to the Walkure list will now get updates via email from this blog. (Once I remembered how to do it, it was easier than having each of you re-subscribe.)

This week, Bev's two sisters, Gayle and Chris, are visiting from MA. It's nice to have the extra room so we can have four people on board and not feel cramped. They are all going to the show on Sat night.
Speaking of the show, here are a couple of pictures from "Press Night." (Our last dress rehearsal before opening.)

"Director Dave" coaching two actors during improvisations.

My big solo "Ask Around."

"Dave" explains to "Bethany" how he creates his vision for how the show should be.

The lovely and talented Rebekah Reilly as "Bethany"

"David, you may kiss your bride!"

It's getting close

2011-02-28T11:30:00.000-05:00

Well...this Thursday is opening night for "Act Now!" the musical. The show is starting gel and the whole cast is getting fired up to do it in front of a real audience.
If there is any way you can get down to the Keys between now and April 2, be sure to get tickets for "Act Now!"

The play, the floor and other things

2011-02-25T13:24:00.000-05:00

The play is starting to shape up nicely. I've learned my lines and have most of the singing down pat...now if I could just get those dance steps down...
The cast is great and they've really made me feel welcome. As you know I'm a newcomer. They've been rehearsing this show since November and I only joined the cast a few weeks ago.
I especially want to mention 3 really fine actors that I work most closely with: Marty Dillis who plays "Steve," my best friend, Marilyn Tempest who plays "Cassandra," and of course Rebekah Reilly who plays "Bethany," my girlfriend.
Last night was "Press Night," a dress rehearsal to which the press are invited. We had about 30 people in the audience and they laughed at all the right places. I guess we're doing something right.
As for Queequeg, progress continues but slowly. Bev's 2 sisters are coming to visit in March, so I had to hurry and get the V-berth functional. The main problems we the leaky overhead hatch and the rotten floor. Both have now been fixed and the berth is now functional. Not yet pretty, but at least usable.

Here are a few pictures.
Bev just got back from San Diego where she was visiting her oldest son, Ben and his girlfirend Sarah who just had a baby boy!

Life in the Keys

2011-01-28T08:32:00.000-05:00

Progress on "updating" Queequeg continues, but slowly.
Every time we fix one thing, something else goes wrong. We've put the heat exchanger problem on hold for a while, pending money to get a new one. Meanwhile, the engine runs fine on salt water.
We've developed a little leak in the pressure water system, so I'm busy tracking that down.
We've also discover MANY leaks in the portholes and deck hatches. I've been busy tracking them down and repairing them, but every time it rains we find a new one - or two - or three...you get the picture.
On a happier note, I will be starring in the upcoming production of "Act Now!" a new musical being produced - for the first time ever - at the Marathon Community Theater. The play is about auditions at a small community theater and I will be playing "Dave," the director.
If you are planning to be in the Keys this March, be sure to get tickets!

A setback

2011-01-03T16:24:00.000-05:00

Well, we took Queequeg out for a half-day shakedown on Sunday. It was a beautiful day, ESE winds at about 10, lots of sun, etc. We had a great time sailing under jib alone with Bev quickly learning to handle the jib sheets. We came back to the mooring and picked up the ball easily. All was wonderful BUT...
Upon checking the engine afterward I found that the fresh water coolant had all leaked out. Investigating this today I discovered that the heat exchanger was bad. Yuck! I had no idea these little gizmos were so expensive! First of all the manufacturer, "Sen-Dure," no longer stocks this particular model. They very graciously said they could make one (they still have the specs on file) but it will cost $650 plus shipping. This is WAY out of our budget. So it looks like we sill be stuck in the harbor until 1) a rich relative neither of us knows about dies and leaves us money OR 2) we save up the bucks to buy it OR 3) some kind person reading this blog hits the "Donate" button and helps us out.
Our only real hope of a timely, reasonable cost solution will be if the local radiator shop can repair the unit. That will be tomorrow's project. Wish us luck.


Test haul-up of the main sail

It's a boat!

2010-12-26T13:15:00.000-05:00

Our tree.

First output from the oven.

Pete, Carol, Bev and Mike at Christmas dinner.

Yes, folks, Queequeg is once again a boat.
We launched her almost two weeks ago and have been busy moving all our gear from Walkure to Queequeg. It's a long and difficult chore and not quite complete. It is amazing how much stuff we had accumulated on that little boat!
When we launched, we noted that the bilge pump ran every few minutes. A leak! It turned out to be the speedometer transducer that was never properly bedded. Someone had used plumbers putty to bed an underwater fitting. We had to haul out (briefly), pull the fitting, clean it and re-bed it. Now we're dry. Whew! dodged a bullet again.
Last Wednesday (my birthday) Bev had to work, so our friends Carol and Peter from Crazy Cat served as crew for the delivery cruise. The wind was just about non-existent so we motored all the way. The boat did 5.5 knots on 2,000 rpm from the old Yanmar diesel. This is way better performance than the previous owner had claimed. I think changing the cutlass bearing made a big difference.
The diesel has been running a bit hot, so I changed out the impeller on the fresh water pump and now she runs cool as a cucumber.
It's a bit of an adjustment settling in to this big boat. We've not quite got all our systems and routines ironed out, but we are making progress. Case in point is the cake Bev made for my birthday (a couple of days late, but that was unavoidable.) With a little help from me getting the oven working, we managed to turn out a beautiful looking, great smelling and even better tasting Pineapple upside-down cake, complete with maraschino cherries!
Yesterday, in between calls to family for holiday wishes, we went to the club house for a fantastic Christmas dinner. Richard Tanner, the harbor master, and his wife put on a huge spread for all the boaters in the harbor. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, the whole shootin' match. Thanks, Richard!
Right now we're hunkered down waiting out the latest cold front. The wind is howling outside, about 25 knots or so and the whole harbor is white caps. We had planned to go to the movies, but a dinghy ride today is a risk to life and limb and a movie just isn't worth the risk. So, with the solar panels providing the electrical juice, we're sitting here updating the blog.

Sporting new bottom paint, Queequeg goes flying!

Kissing the water.

A boat, at last!

A champagne toast to a successful lanuch!

More progress

2010-12-11T14:58:00.000-05:00

We're almost ready to launch.
The bottom has been sanded, the new cutlass bearing installed, new zinc put on the shaft, etc. We're just waiting for a fresh coat of bottom paint and..."SPLASH!"
The interior repairs are going well. The new floor is installed in the aft stateroom, the galley and the "office" (nav station.)
Bev has painted the interior of all 16 drawers. The unfinished wood was just too stained to leave as is, and we just couldn't see ourselves putting our clothing and other items in them. She also painted the lower portions of the galley. This will brighten the space and save us a lot of refinishing. While she had the paint going, she painted the fold-away seat in the office.
We installed a temporary floor in the salon (dining room.) The sub floor there is very damaged and will have to be completely rebuilt. That will take a lot of time, so it will have to wait. There are more pressing projects, most especially tracking down and stopping several leaks on deck and around the port lights. There's still some rewiring that needs to be done, etc. So we will have to put up with a plain plywood floor in the salon for a while. The forward stateroom/V-Berth has become a lumber yard, storing all of our construction materials. Bev and I will sleep in the aft stateroom until repairs are farther along.
So now, without further ado, here are some much awaited photos of the progress so far.

New galley floor

More new galley floor

Nav station floor (note fresh paint on seat frame.)

New stateroom floor

The galley "freshened"

The prop polished, new bearing and zinc installed.

Bottom sanded and ready for paint.

Progress

2010-12-05T14:11:00.000-05:00

Well I finally remembered to bring the camera one day this week, so here are a couple of pictures.
So far, we've done a lot of cleaning and some rewiring, so there's not a lot to see in terms of pictures. We've torn out the old floor from the companionway to the end of the galley. We've built the new floor in the aft stateroom and rebuilt the subfloor in the galley. Bev has been doing some painting in the galley, and I've installed some beadboard to replace the old plywood around the deadlights. The beadboard around all the windows will be painted "Country Dairy," an off-white color that closely matches the color of the fiberglass portions of the interior.
By the end of this week, the aft stateroom and the galley will be done. This will give us enough "living room" to start moving on board.

New subfloor in aft statroom

Beadboard roughed in above galley

Our current plan is to swap boats sometime next week. We'll put "Walkure" on the hard where Queequeg is now and launch Queequeg. The folks at the marina say we can raft the two boats together for a few days while we move stuff. To minimize clutter on Queequeg, some "stuff" will stay on Walkure. It will be a good "triage" experience to find what we really need and what we can do without.

The work continues

2010-11-21T14:33:00.000-05:00

We've been busy since returning from KW.
We've replaced all four "deadlights" (non-opening windows) in the galley, aft cabin and nav station. This will significantly reduce rain water leaks. We've also started stripping out the damaged woodwork around the windows and replacing it with new beadboard. We are going to paint the beadboard an ivory color to match the interior fiberglass on some of the walls. It should help brighten up the interior and make it less "cave like."
We started tacking down some temporary plywood on the floors. This will make the interior more livable so we can move in sometime next month. It's a hassle getting up to Driftwood to work on the boat, and once she's functional we can do the rest of the refit a room at a time while living aboard. Not ideal, but not having to travel 10 miles one way to work will save a lot of time.
There are still a few more details to work on (inverter, some of the lights, more batteries, etc.) but I think Queequeg will be more or less livable by mid December.
I promise to post some pictures as soon as I remember to bring the camera!

It works!

2010-10-30T15:46:00.000-04:00

Well folks, here's the really BIG news:
After two weeks of busted knuckles, scraped shins, bruised knees and long strings of salty language, we finally have Queequeg in reasonably good working order. She's by no means livable yet. There's a lot of cleaning to do and of course the floor still has to be rebuilt but...here's a list of what we know actually WORKS:
Radar
GPS
Refrigerator
Fresh water system (new pump)
Hot water heater
Bilge pump (new pump)
and...drum roll please...after replacing the alternator and the starter, changing the oil several times, bleeding the air out of the fuel system...are you ready? Yes! It's the ENGINE!
Thursday, I hooked up a garden hose to the water intake, gave the engine a few turns by hand to make sure everything moved, I perched myself in a safe spot in the engine "room" (I use the term loosely), told Bev to hit the starter and BOOM! A puff of gray smoke from the tail pipe and a startled yell from Bev and chug, chug, chug the engine started running!
Our one big worry in taking over this boat has been the engine. Remember, it's a 30 year old boat and it sat full of rain water for two years. It was always a big question if the engine would ever run again, but, thankfully, it not only runs, it even sound good. (If I'm any judge of diesel engine sounds.) It idles smoothly at the proper speed and revs up just as smoothly.
So now it's really starting to look like we have a boat.
As soon as we get back from our little excursion to Key West (see update on the Walkure blog) we will put in the work order for the yard to replace the cutlass bearing and paint the bottom. Then we will "splash" the boat and sail her down to Boot Key Harbor. We're still not sure exactly where she'll end up (in the harbor itself or down Sisters' Creek but at least it won't be 10 miles away as it is now. Our trips back and forth between here and Driftwood Boat Yard have involved either taxis or borrowed cars, so having the boat a dinghy ride away will be a relief.
Just to be sure, we tried the engine again on Friday and sure enough, it started right up.
When we get back from Key West and get ready to launch, I'll have some pictures. Up till now we've been too busy concentrating on getting the boat ready for launching. Now that some of the pressure is off, maybe we'll get some photos.
Look for an update in about two weeks.

Getting started

2010-10-24T12:33:00.000-04:00

The adventure begins...well at least the "fix the boat" part.
We arrived in Marathon two weeks ago tomorrow. The first week was spent dodging heavy rains and generally getting settled in. Last week we started working on Queequeg.
We were a bit dismayed to find that there was water in the boat again. Not nearly as much as before; just barely to the floor boards. We have now installed one solar panel, a new battery and a new bilge pump so that won't happen any more. We will have our work cut out for us in finding all the ways water gets in the boat on dry land. at least we know none of it leaks back out through the hull!
I've also installed a new battery monitoring system and an automatic charge relay. I removed the old AC battery charger as it had turned to a mass of rust. I now have extra room in the engine compartment so I won't be busting quite so many knuckles working on the engine. Those old chargers were HUGE!
Part of the week was spent tracing and replacing some of the wiring. What a tangled mess! Some of the systems were wired up directly to the batteries, bypassing the breaker panel. Not a good idea. Some of those wires had been destroyed by the water and had to be replaced anyway, so I rerouted them to the panel. We now have lights, refrigeration and navigation instruments all functioning.
Bev has been hard at work giving the boat thorough cleaning. After a week, she's barely done with the forward stateroom. Between the flood and the bugs, the boat is quite a mess. We're still not sure, but hope that we can salvage the cushions as there is no money in the budget for new upholstery.
The bimini and the dodger needed a little sewing, but they are now up and functional.
This next week will be devoted to getting the old Yanmar diesel engine started. When last I left it, it could turn, but I didn't get the fuel cleaned out or the starter motor working. This week I'll clean the fuel system, install the new alternator, test and/or replace the starter, change the oil - again - and then see if the old kicker will start.
There is a "T" connection on the water intake that will allow a garden hose to be hooked up while the boat is on the hard. That should allow water to pass through the engine while test starting it before the launch.
Stay tuned for more updates as the work progresses.

Ted Irwin update

2010-09-01T07:12:00.000-04:00

I just heard that Ted got out of the hospital on Friday. He is talking about new boat designs, so that is an encouraging sign. He still has a long recovery ahead, physical therapy, etc.
Glad to hear you're on the mend, Ted.

What's it worth?

2010-08-25T15:38:00.001-04:00

Getting a free boat is sometimes more trouble than it's worth, but I think in this case it will be well worth the time, effort and money to fix it up. Take a look at this 1980 Irwin Citation (again just reverse the interior and it's a 40 MK II) and look at what it's selling for:

Irwin for Sale

Yes, it will be a lot of work to restore, but in the end we'll have a real asset.

Whew!

2010-08-22T18:22:00.000-04:00

Now here's a little something to think about. An Irwin Citation 39 (identical to Queequeg except for interior layout) sailed from Connecticut to Australia!
Not that I'm quite that ambitious, but it does prove what the boat can do.
When he started out, he passed some of the same places (Dismal Swamp, Elizabeth City, etc.) where Bev and I have been with Walkure.
Here's the link to the story:

USA to Australia!

Ted Irwin update

2010-08-05T17:22:00.002-04:00

The latest on Ted Irwin:

"Dear Friends of Ted,

I was updated about Ted Wednesday at the hospital. He was alert, joking with the company of his daughter and close friend Peggy, and he talked about the accident as best he could remember. Ted was on his yacht in Key West with his son Trey, and son-in-law on the hook, they had been diving for lobsters. One of his guests was arriving on the docks around midnight and Ted got in his dingy with a flash light and headed for shore. He noted a power boat heading at him and tried to warn them with his flashlight, but due to the angle of the bow of the powerboat, they did not see him and smashed into him throwing him across the dingy, but fortunately not overboard. He was knocked out and laying in the dingy. The crew of the powerboat did attend to him and towed him to the docks where emergency crews were waiting.
He was eventually flown to St. Petersburg Bay Front Medical Center where he was attended to. He suffered a fractured pelvis which required four hours of surgery, broken ribs and some internal bleeding. The surgery was successful and Ted was told he would have a few weeks ahead for therapy and rehab. A bit black and blue and some tubes in and out. He is good spirit and for all of us who know Ted, I will tell you he still has that great boyish grin and smile, and it was a welcome site today. Meanwhile, those who would like to send a card and best wish’s:

Michael Theodore Irwin
Room 532
Bayfront Medical Center
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

Please no phone calls at this time, maybe in a week.

Thanks to all who kept Ted in their thoughts and prayers

Regards from Gene"

Ted Irwin in hospital

2010-08-04T07:23:00.000-04:00

Ted Irwin, designer of Queequeg, is in the hospital after being run over by a power boat! Here's an email I received from Gene Gammon, Ted's old partner:

"I was just informed that Ted Irwin is in ICU at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.

I can find no details in any Florida news but a friend, Tom Casey of Blue Water Sailing mag., was informed by Charlie Morgan this morning and was confirmed.

Apparently he was run over by a powerboat in Kew West at night while going ashore in his dinghy. He was airlifted to Bayfront from the Keys.

Please pray for Ted and hope for the a good and speedy recovery.

Will update all as I learn more.

Regards,

Gene Gammon
www.irwinyachts.com

Please be careful on the water!"

More progress

2010-07-24T17:46:00.003-04:00

The official title arrived in the mail yesterday! Wahoo! Queequeg is officially ours, the State of Florida says so!
Also arriving recently are the new Xantrex LinkLite battery monitoring system, some new battery cables, solar panels, Morningstar regulator, starter and alternator. Walküre will be a bit heavy sailing back to Marathon carrying all the items we've purchased, but when I find a bargain, I jump on it.
Stay tuned for more exciting news about Queequeg.

Upgrades, repairs and plans

2010-07-20T17:18:00.002-04:00

So here I am in New Port Richey, staying with some friends and helping fix up their boat while Queequeg sits in Marathon waiting out the hurricane season.
When I return to Marathon I will have a lot of work to do. I need to get the engine running first. I have already purchased a new starter and a new alternator to replace the ones damaged in the flood. The boat will need new bottom paint and we're planning on adding a barrier coat to the old fiberglass while we're at it.
Once that's done we can probably launch and bring the boat over to Boot Key Harbor, about 10 miles away by water. Then it's time to repair the water damage to the interior and start on the upgrades needed for comfortable cruising. The one thing that amazed me about the boat is that it has no "alternative" energy production systems on board. If you want electricity you either have to run the engine or plug in to shore power. Neither option suits us so we will be installing two 75 watt solar panels right away. I've purchased the panels and the Morningstar regulator so all that will be needed is to build a frame over the transom to mount the panels and wire them up. Depending on what we decide to do with our current boat we might move the wind turbine over to Queequeg. There's no inverter on the boat, so I'm shopping for a pure sine wave inverter.
Once we have some electricity available, I will start on the interior remodeling. The floor is completely shot and will have to be replaced along with most of the sub floor. The cabinets and bulkheads are badly water stained to about knee level, so all that teak will have to be cleaned and refinished.
I also know that there are some leaks around some of the port holes and a bit of water damage from those leaks. The ports will probably need to be removed and re-caulked. Then the water damage will have to be repaired. It's not nearly as extensive as the damage farther down.
Then it's just a matter of cleaning and making sure all the boat's systems work.
The sails seem in good shape, except the working jib which might need to be replaced. I've budgeted the money for a Sailrite Kit.
All in, I am currently estimating about $6000 for the whole project, but where else can you get a 40 foot yacht for that kind of money?

Queequeg

2010-07-14T07:55:00.004-04:00

As the old song says "This could be the start of something big."
My lady friend, Bev, and I have been living and cruising aboard our sailboat, Walküre, for just over 4 years now. You can see an extensive blog of our adventures here:

Walküre Voyages

Walküre has been good to us, and we have had many great adventures aboard this great little boat, but there are things she just can't do and places she just can't go. This past spring we were offered a chance to acquire "Queequeg," a 1982 Irwin 40 MK II which had been damaged by water flooding her cabin. The previous owner had left her on the hard in Marathon, FL and left on a business trip to Turkey, planning to return. He never did come back and the boat just sat in the yard for two years. Last fall, he tried to sell the boat but could find no buyers because of the damage. With yard fees mounting, he decided to give the boat away to someone who would fix her up and use her. Since Walküre is a boat that I had built myself, I figured that I could repair any damage that Queequeg had suffered.

I posted some of Queequeg's story on Walküre's blog. Here are the links.

Such A Deal

Update

The engine isn't seized.

After some cleanup.

Summer break.

I am spending the summer in New Port Richie helping a friend rebuild his boat. We'll return to Marathon in September and get Queequeg refit and ready for the water. I've purchased a new starter and alternator for the engine, some solar panels and solar controller and a few other upgrade items. Upon our return, I'll get the bottom painted and get the engine running. Then we'll splash the boat and take her over to Boot Key Harbor for the rest of the refit.

Wish us luck!