Windows

Finally. Finally. We've installed the new pilothouse windows--after much ado, with the glass not fitting, having to order more, it not fitting. And at 3/4", one can't exactly whittle it down, though Michael did a lot of grinding on the fiberglass surrounds to get them installed.

We're also putting in new portlights in the aft cabin--lovely bronze things from New Found Metals. Hope to have pictures soon.

Views from aloft

While Jason was up the mast helping his dad put on the new sail track, he took some great photos of the Delta area--and one of himself squinting so he looks like CA Gov. Arnold--just better looking.

More mast track pictures

Here are a few more pictures. I'll try to get ones of the finished track up soon.

Strong Track installation

We've removed the old sail track on the main mast and replaced it with a Strong Track, which allows the sail to slide up and down as if it's greased. All that's left is the mizzen track, which we hope will be simpler as we've learned a few things in the process!

Progress is SLOW!

Michael's been working every night and most weekends on the galley, but it's been very slow. Not only because he's had to make space for the generator, build up the flooring under it, set up the plumbing and wiring, then haul in and install the heavy monster, but also because he's had to make all the cupboards fit around existing furniture and against a curved hull. Anyway, we finally have a photo of the new laminate countertops. Next will be the drawers and doors.

Please ignore the water spots from the lens and look beyond the things that yet need to happen. The counter will have a lovely teak fiddle, tongue-and-groove siding to match the walls. It's going to be gorgeous, plus very functional.

A Sistership's New Owner

If you go down several posts to the one of me looking up into the pilothouse, you'll note how pristine that boat is. As I mentioned in the comments below it--several posts below (I was just learning how to do this)--you'll notice I mention that it's a sister ship. She is called Suete Deern and she's getting a grand overhaul by her new owners. Very exciting to hear from them.

What's going on

On one of the few non-drizzly days when M. actually got to the boat, he took more sunset photos. They'll give you something to look at while you're waiting for updates on boat work. I just wish the boat were ready to live on so we could see these things every night!




It's been a while since I've posted anything because there hasn't been much progress to report. Michael's been trapped at work, 59 hours one week, 76 the next, three Saturdays in a row. We hope that's coming to an end. He plans to bring the kitchen cabinet walls (see earlier post) home this weekend to add the Wilsonart (Formica-type) to the sides. We're going with a glossy white. I think it will be beautiful behind the mahogony drawers and doors.

The counter top was going to be a Corian product we bought when we still planned to redo the galley in the pilothouse. It goes wonderfully with my new moss green cushion covers (no, it's not green), but not so well with the lovely fabric on the new lower salon cushions. So, it gets relegated to the counters we will retain in the pilot house--above the refrigerator and at the base of the companionway stairs, above the freezer. We'll also use it to replace some not very lovely marble in the two heads. In the new galley, we're going with a rather high end Wilsonart--quite glamorous really--called Deepstar Bronze. I'll try to get M. to take a photograph (my camera isn't behaving itself) when he and the camera get home. Or you can check it out at wilsonart.com.

Photos: DC, Sleepy Creek, Delta Bay

This is DC by night. Michael took it (he takes most of them) in December of 2004 when we spent Christmas with my mother.

The view from our home at Sleepy Creek in North Carolina.


This and the next two were taken from the cockpit of Sea Venture December 2005 as she sat in her slip in Delta Bay Marina, Isleton, CA

Sunrise on the Sea of Cortez

These were taken after a night of heaving to so we could enter La Paz by daylight. As you can see, the water's still a little fiesty. It got downright nasty during the night, and I was awfully glad we only had the mizzen and backed working jib, which kept things quiet and stable as the wind kicked up. After things quieted down toward dawn, I heard fascinating noises, which turned out to be dolphins blowing air and chatting among themselves. You can see photos of some of them on our website. They lept and danced around us as we plowed on toward our destination once Michael got the engine going again. We would have liked to sail more. but with transmission problems, the goal was to keep that iron genny going long enough to tie up at Marina de la Paz.

View from aloft in San Carlos

Here we are, anchored off San Carlos, Mexico, July 2004. As you see, we're still working on rigging issues--or maybe Michael (or Joshua--I don't remember whether Josh and Andrew hoisted Michael or Michael and Andrew hoisted Josh for this one!) was putting up the fuzz ball in case we ran into one of those chubascos (summer storms) when crossing the Sea. On top of the pilot house, you can see a package containing the new solar panels, which Michael installed later that week. (Wonderful things--work like a charm.)

Found Photos of Mexico

I recently found these photos that we didn't include in the website so I thought I'd post them here--all taken in 2004 between July and August.

Hudson Layout as originally designed. Ours will be remodeled to work better for us. Michael spent months doing the design work on his CAD program before he began executing any of it! 

Looking down the steps from the pilothouse. At the bottom left you'll note wires all over the place. M. is also rewiring the whole boat! 

Here is the new roughed-in counter. M. angled that sharp 90 degree corner so it all matches. Wait until you see it finished! 

Old port side salon. Where you see the desk, we're installing the stove. 

Sea Venture's sailplan 

The Hudson pilothouse with galley design on starboard side--much too low for someone like me! 

Big Boat! Right before we bought Sea Venture

Sea Venture at various stages of refit.

Work on Galley and Photo intro

Here are some photos of Sea Venture as we work on her. Included is one of Michael standing beside the BIG boat when he first saw her in San Carlos, Mexico. The pilothouse photo is of a sister ship that was for sale in Sausalito. As you can see, the galley was built for tiny people. It's low, exposed--imagine working there as the seas beat around you--and has little storage. So, we're moving it to the lower salon. The port side of the lower salon wasn't particularly useful as designed (at least for us)--a small settee, a desk too far away from the navigation instruments, not comfortable for computer work. With the new galley, we'll have a place for the generator, plus lots of storage and countertop area and a new 10" deep double sink. The u-shape will hold me in when the going gets rough. We'll keep the refrigerator and freezer in the pilothouse (rebuilding both), and a 5' settee will go where the stove and sink were. Michael is also installing a new Lewmar hatch above the stove area, with 12-volt track lighting above the sink and the stove.

Sea Venture at Still Water Cove near Pebble Beach Golf Course on her way to the CA Delta.  

Work on Sea Venture

Just learning this blog thing as I search for an easy way to post photos of the boat's progress without having to republish the website everytime I add something. We're still in CA, with Michael spending nights and weekends rebuilding the galley, along with all the other jobs he's decided to tackle. To learn more about our boat and our vision, visit www.seaventure.us. I'll try to post whenever M. updates the files.