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!