How Garrett and I even got this massive barn-door of a rudder into the boat is beyond me. The thing is made out of old growth fir that weighs a ton, two layers of 2×10’s sandwiched together. The height of the rudder is as tall as the boat since it will hang off the back and the tiller will come over the transom. To get it into the boat for transport we had to lift it up, just the two of us, probably 15 feet on rickety scaffolding to reach the deck. Then down into the boat, which doesn’t have companion way stairs yet, and over the engine to be secured inside. But down is easier than up.

Once we got the rudder up onto the deck it was all downhill from there.

Still about 15 feet down to the ground but with a decent ladder to slide the rudder on Garrett tied lines to support it from falling too fast or skidding right off the ladder all together.

I held one line while Garrett held the other. We lifted the rudder onto the top of the ladder tilting it slowly for the descent. It was a bit heavy but we were being cautious not to move too quickly. When, at the perfect timing!, Reid (Garrett’s brother) showed up:

Reid held the base of the rudder and helped ease some of the load and proceeded down the ladder with the rudder guiding it to the ground.

!Teamwork!

The rudder is the very last thing to come out of the boat since the move. We were half putting it off because it’s so heavy but also because there really wasn’t a need to get it out yet anyway.

The reason we’re getting it out today is because we met with a local follower of Salt&Tar that owns a machine shop near by who’ll be helping us make the pintles and gudgeons to hang the rudder. He’s offered the use of his shop and to teach us the welding trade. Garrett’s really excited to learn some welding tricks. It’s kind of one of the last frontiers, so to speak, of the boating world for him. He started with fiberglass boats then moved onto wooden boats out of the love for the material passed down from his dad, although his dad never sailed wood working is a passion they share. We’ve always had to fix our own vessels so throughout our sailing life Garrett’s learned plumbing, mechanical, electrical, rigging, and anything else that comes up. I guess besides steel it’d be ferro cement and that doesn’t really require a special skill, like welding, as just a different understanding of the material. We’ve talked about also constructing the fuel and water tanks for Rediviva, the drive shaft for the engine, and various bits like the mast head and/or the dead eye rings. This is the beginning of beautiful relationship!

It’s so great to be near friends and family again. Not only for their helping hands, and sometimes their impeccable timing, but knowing we’re not alone in this endeavor. To all of you reading, you too help motivate and encourage us. It is something special to now be in an area where we can connect with both. This last week 4 out of the 7 days Garrett had YouTube followers stop by. Two offered up tools and access to their shop, one brought beer, and another is willing to teach. What an amazing world. Truly thank you to everyone’s positive attitude. Feeling grateful and blessed today!

Taking advantage of the break in the weather we were finally able to prime the port side.

This is my element. I love painting. It’s been a bit weird up to this point only being able to help Garrett in small ways. Bedding something in tar or brushing on preservative and let’s not forget the important part of handing him things. That’s really what’s been so great about filming and creating the episodes; it gives me a bigger purpose.

I really get excited standing back and envisioning her finish paint. I have thoughts that almost feel like memories of freshly stroking her name onto her hull for the first time. Garrett and I have been messing about in boats for nearly the whole time we’ve known each other. The 6 boats that came before Rediviva were all projects except for maybe the last one, Scout. We worked out the perfect team. Broken down simply Garrett worked the decks and I kept down below in order. The first order of business when we acquired a boat would be clean and organize. Garrett clearing the decks figuring out what to keep, what to toss, and what needed to be fixed. I, pretty much the same list, figured out what was usable down below, what needed to get off the boat, and what needed painting. I think through that process is how the boat and I got to know each other. I walk her floor boards (sometimes after hours of cleaning to get to them) open every door, cabinet, and dark space to give her air. Then we begin a relationship, it sounds silly but the love I feel when the paint supplies come out is real.

Second Coat

Second Coat on the Port Side

This is only 3 coats of primer so it doesn’t fully count as it’s still prep work but once the roller saturated in her topcoat color hits her sides I’ll be truly in love.

We’ve been taking our time to get to know one another so it’ll be a lasting relationship….until Garrett gets another bright idea 😉

I’ve been with this guy for a long time. I can’t believe it’s been this long building Rediviva. Time is such a funny thing. We were just talking about our trip to Mexico (the very first crazy idea) and how is it that 4 and a half months can feel like a life time and now these last 3 years can feel like a blink of an eye?

We’ve got some really great stuff brewing up for this year! I hope y’all are ready for this crazy crew because we are just getting started 😉

Hope you enjoy the new episode!

https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-29-17439183

Yesterday was very exciting. Actually working on phase 2. I’ve sort of got it in my head that we have 3 things to do: Painting (which includes the caulking), Prop Shaft (basically plugging up the shaft log aka big hole in the back of the boat), and Rudder (its made but not finished and we have to hang it on the boat.) So Phase 1 is almost complete:

Inspecting the scribed waterline

1 Coat

3rd and Last Coat

Garrett completed 3 coats of primer on the starboard side Wednesday meaning one side is totally ready for finish paint. The port side and transom still need to be sanded/preserved and then also need 3 coats of primer. That third coat really evened out the hull and eventually that green preservative stopped peaking through. Although a few people think we should paint the topsides minty green…

Phase 2 began with hunting down a prop shaft, cutlass bearing, and stuffing box. We were hoping to find all three of these used. The Napa Boatyard, Kirby, came through for us. They have so many treasures littering their yard he was happy to unload a few things. Kirby sold us the whole set up for $80. We had to buy a new bearing (that goes in the cutlass bearing stern housing, might be a different term for the outer piece but I don’t know it) which was a little pricy at $100 and we’ll have to buy new packing still for the stuffing box which doesn’t cost much. The real work for this phase broke ground yesterday:

Garrett drilled a pilot hole and then with a double nut set up was able to screw in the big bronze bolts that will hold the housing in place.

Garrett passed through a stick with a string attached so we can line up the stuffing box on the inside. The stern housing fit perfectly snug on the outside of the shaft log but the inside end of the shaft log was a little larger so the stuffing box didn’t sit quite so organically.

It went really smooth. The only hiccup was when one of the drill bits for the pilot hole broke off, in the hole! Garrett was so pissed. It took forever to get that dang thing out and we were frustrated that we might have to cut a bigger hole to remove the metal. Garrett persisted and eventually twisted the busted piece free and we were still able to use the hole for the stuffing box bolts.

We got 4 bronze bolts shipped to us from Jamestown Distributors. Garrett wasn’t too stoked with the quality as the threads are a bit ruff but they’ll do the job fine. They were just over $15 each and we got the nuts and washers from the marina store. The 4 nuts were $3.24, the washers were $2.64, and the lock washers were 80 cents apiece. The whole set up including the shaft and two housings and new bearings is going to put us right around $300 so not too bad all in all.

Yesterday was my first day back to the boat since the hospital. I was mainly filming while Garrett did all the real work. “Taking it easy” I think is what they call it. Easier said than done but it was very apparent that I couldn’t do much more. Going up and down the ladder would wind me. I’ve never had limitations like this. Garrett’s usually the one hurting himself. I’m listening to my body and drinking as much water as it can take. Today we’ve decided to go sailing on the bay with our good friends, Jon and Carly, removing the temptation to over exert myself in the yard 😉

But…

Everything is dry fit into place and waiting to be bedded and lock washer tightened down!

I went into the ER this last Thursday for crazy abdominal pain and a high fever. The pain started the Saturday before and the fever began late Tuesday night. By Wednesday my fever peaked at 104.7 and trying to break it myself with our home med kit and ice packs we were able to lower it back to 99 but Thursday morning it was right back up to 102. When Garrett awoke not 10 minutes later and retook my temperature it was 103; I knew then that he, my family, and coworkers were right I had to go to the hospital. Something was wrong. I was terrified, I hate hospitals like people hate the dentist. I was nervous. The doctor on the floor quickly eased my worries with his determination to figure out what this was, it didn’t hurt he was easy on the eyes too. He ordered an ultrasound and a CT right away. Had blood drawn and got me on pain medication. The ultrasound was to look at my gallbladder and if I needed surgery to have it removed. That wasn’t it. The blood tests proved it was an infection but where was it coming from? The urine test gave us the first clue; I had a UTI. The CT scan revealed my kidneys were the ones struggling. My body was trying to fight with an extreme white cell blood count of 27 but it needed help. They got me on an IV and started my first dose of antibiotics. Every single doctor and nurse was kind, efficient, and professional. I’ve never had a health care experience like this. The nurse informed me I would have to remain in the hospital for a few days to load up on fluids and for them to culture my urine to make sure they have me on the right antibiotic to fight this thing. Over the next 4 days I had waves on pain and shakes but Monday the nurse wheeled me outside to catch the last bit of sun where Garrett pulled up the car and we went home. Garrett stayed every night (except for the one night I had a roomie he wasn’t allowed to stay) right by my side helping me to the bathroom, washing my hair, getting me more and less blankets continuously. He slept in a chair. He told me it was a lot like being on-watch at sea. He went to that same state of mind, a calm but assiduous demeanor, light on his toes and alert to any sound. The hours seemed to disappear becoming only landmarks to the last pain pill taken or vitals check. I’m so thankful for my crew, teammate, and husband. Needless to say I’m forced to rest on the bench this week. Garrett will be putting two coats of primer on the starboard side and beginning to sand the port side fare. Before all this hullabaloo he did make it to the boat last Tuesday and finished preserving the whole starboard side. Getting the green preservative, copper-naphthenate, above the waterline and black, Creocoat, below the waterline to the chine.