Isn’t technology wonderful. There was a time I didn’t think so. A time we nearly rejected it entirely. But! It’s brought us to you. It’s given me a reason to write my thoughts. People to share them with. Today, I’m reminiscing because it’s been awhile. A lot has happened and it’s tricky to remember all the things. I’ve taken 6,059 photos since we’ve started the build. The number looks small actually. The last 3 years narrowed down to 4 digits and a comma. Six thousand and fifty nine photographs. 5 words still doesn’t seem to do it justice but there it is. Maybe some of the big things in life truly aren’t that enormous. Building Rediviva is just a chapter after all. The dream, the dreaming, doesn’t stop there. I heard recently someone say, “Once you begin to realize a dream, live it, then it’s no longer a dream is it. The dream then becomes the next thing.” Garrett embraces this as it is what pulls him forward. He is a dreamer. More, more, next, next, dream bigger, dream on, push yourself. I too think of the future but with reflection always on where I’ve been. A dreamer in a different sense. How did we get here? Where could we go? Today is because of yesterday and tomorrow is determined by what’s already happened and my choices today. So bringing it back to my first statement; technology is wonderful. I no longer have to keep everything logged in my head, which is a good thing because Garrett will tell you “logging” especially accurately isn’t something my brain does well, I can have it all neatly organized in files.
My computer holds ruffly 1,000 photos at any given time and 4.5 hours of video footage in iMovie to make an episode. That makes up about 2 months so the last 3 years is held on 2 hard drives, Facebook, YouTube, and here. How wonderful is it to be able to look back on your life! Pictures and videos can make even the worst times somehow beautiful years later. What did today look like a year ago, two years ago? I can do better than tell you, as most of you read about it already years ago,
I can show you my memories:
2015:
Today 3 years ago we were laminating our keelson. We also made all of the keel patterns from the lofting floor and did the second phase of lofting, the half-widths, to get the bevels of our frames.
2016:
Today 2 years ago we were planing down our second stock of planking material. We also put up the first plank of the 8th run on both the starboard and port side. Garrett still stares at his wood to this day…and has a little in his beard.. right now..wait what day is it?
2017:
Today a year ago we were cutting, shaping and installing the cabin ceiling. We had our buddy Hoffa there to help and Swabie to watch our work and catch any mistakes.
Today:
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It’s not over yet! You’ll have to wait and found out what today brings just like everybody else 😉
Seize the day!
~Ruthie
Salt & Tar 
Keep up the great work!
Always so fun to see what you two are up to! I just decorate peoples houses …much easier job ha ha! We sell cowhide rugs….I used to think what I did was hard …I started selling them on the side of the road even when it was 120° ….now when I see what you guys are doing it makes me feel what I did was a breeze before I had air-conditioned retail stores!
Benicia
Sent from my iPhone
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120! No thank you!!! Don’t underplay yourself, dedication is dedication 🙂
Thanks Benicia!
~R
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I agree, technology is awesome! Just think what a mess it would be to have all those photos as 4×6 prints. Keep dreaming, I’m always excited to see the next episode.
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Hi there guys, I am truly impressed with what you are doing, the great progress and the unwavering commitment to your dream.
I’ve been around wooden boats all my life (I’m 54yo!) and they get under your skin for life I can attest!
If I may, and this is by no way any negative feedback, just some observations I have made watching all of your videos. I may have missed some details on the videos, so these things may be irrelevant…
For structural integrity only I raise some thoughts
1. Deck beam to hull frame connection; would you consider a beam shelf running fore and aft? Alternatively add hanging knees and lodging knees. The deck to hull connection is so important, both structural and for water tightness, I’m concerned that the “corkscrew” hull movement you get in sailing can shear the deck to hullside connection. Strength and stiffness here is imperative. Knees can be timber, bronze or galvanized steel
2. When the deck beams were cut open to accept the enlarged cabin (sides) I didn’t see a carlin fitted prior to the plywood sides being affixed? The deck to cabin side connection is also imperative for strength, stiffness and water tightness. You will ship some large seas in your journeys, and the possible tonnes of water can split this joint
3. The bullwark posts were fitted with a single threaded rod thru the ply deck, with no doublers or support blocks fitted on the underside. I know that docking mishaps happen and the loads that may be exerted upon those bulwark stansoins can break the waterproof bond, or at worst break them clean off… Additions possible in these areas? Some sitting knees? Or something more substantial such as wider bullwark posts glued and screwed and bolted?
4. I could not see if there were limber holes cut into the floors at the keel connection…? A small thing but very important
I am really loving what incredible example you are setting for your generation, and the more I delve into YouTube the more young people I see jumping boots and all into trades and skills that my father and grandfather felt were being lost.
I can say that I am feeling really positive about the next generation(s), you and they will leave this world a much better place than when you all entered.
What you are doing gives all of us great hope and genuine affection for the future.
Best of luck, I hope fair winds and a fathom of water under your keel always.
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Hiya Grant,
It’s kind of funny you wrote all this because all lot of what you’ve noticed we are actually addressing now. A few things, the last things we did while still in Washington, were done rushed and just kind of thrown together. Garrett’s not happy or satisfied with the cabin (both strength and appearance) and no there was no carlin… when we re-did the cabin for the second time Garrett was extremely frustrated and it was in the winter time so it kind of got left out but now we’re redoing the cabin (which you’ll hear/read/watch about soon enough 😉 and the bulwarks are getting scrapped eventually probably later when we’re in the water because that can be done while we’re floating. Thank you for following us. You know we don’t always know what we’re doing but we’re always willing to learn and even correct our mistakes if we have to haha Us too felt many skills are fading and that’s a huge issue for Garrett and we’re so incredibly excited to now see more channels documenting their love for wooden boats and keeping history and trade alive!
Many thanks,
Ruth
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