I find it ironic for the power yacht that’s sat beside the launch ramp for as long as I can remember but culminating for our story. Finally, the launch ramp is in our sights. Can you spot Rediviva? She gazes upon her destiny. I yearn for the day I can capture the spectacle of her bow parting the sea.

But for today … we take her back to wood. In order to fare her hull after the seam compound was added Garrett basically had to sand away the primer and most of the preservative. It’s kind of nice getting one last glimpse of her beautiful planking:

It was still well worth preserving and priming before caulking while we were still in the woods; especially after that freak termite swarm we were thankful we did!

Once she gets a good sanding on every seam above the chine we’ll have to coat with the green preservative again and then a couple coats of primer before finish paint. A few more steps than you thought should always be expected when dealing in boats, I guess. This also proves the decision to carve in the waterline was a good one or else we would’ve sanded away oodles of work.

 It’s so dark down below (inside) now that every seam is filled. I’d say it’s about time we get some ports!

It’s crazy when you’re up close; head-on Rediviva looks sharp and narrow but standing further back she actually appears quite beamy:

It took Garrett about two full days to sand the starboard side. I think he’s going to add the preservative, maybe even the primer, before moving onto the port side to protect the hull and keep it from drying out and ruining the seams we just did.

There’s a rhythm to each day. Garrett’s typically involves the boatyard sprinkled with small material runs from time to time. A few days are dedicated to research or hunting for the next stage of the project; researching different drive shafts or hunting down a crucial bronze bolt things like that. Mine are a little less repetitive but none the less rhythmic. Divided between blog posts and episode editing, whatever the day job of the week is, and putting time in at the boatyard filming and getting my hands in some tar; every day is full. Today’s task: get this post out to you guys and finish episode 28 (which may be a tall order.) Tomorrow: cooking for the Culinary Institute of America. Day after that: I’ll get yard-tarded with Garrett, slap on some gloves, and help turn the boat green.

Every plank front and back eventually gets covered in the green preservative: copper naphthenate

When Rediviva was first unveiled we had to give her a full green makeover to protect her hull from the outside world.

Long story short it’s another beautiful day in the office!