And Just Like That, Its JUNE.

Half way through even…

The later months of spring and subsequently the first days of summer are here. We were less prepared that maybe we should have been, but the world also jumped the gun so to speak. I spend my summers attached to a type 3 fire engine deploying all over the US on large wildfires. With the overall mismanagement of the nations forests fire season has turned into fire year. Back in the last days of 2021 I was sent to Colorado’s most destructive fire outside Boulder ending the 2021 fire year and jumping feet first into 2022. Having recently returned form the Calf Canyon fire in NM we are setting our sights on boat projects. But what boat you may ask. Well, we got a boat. It’s a little 12’ Blue Jay from the east coast. Its going to be in need of a few things but the hull is sound, it came with several sets of sails and it will be the perfect learning bed for Hannah and I to work on construction and maintenance as well as teamwork and seamanship.

Hannah has also been busy with changing work life. For the last several years she has been a servant of the public school system. She works long hours for awful pay and worse people. However, this situation allowed her the personal growth to take on any challenge and finish her certification in mental health. All of this means that when she isn’t working on updating her resume and job hunting, she has time for the fun things in life such as dog training, gardening, fishing, and playing down at the lake. Most importantly will be her little boat.

The Blue Jay needs some very simple and easy maintenance. The rigging is all in good shape, but the lines will all need to be replaced, the sails may need a little stitching from age and use but nothing major. The biggest hurdle to putting her back in the water is the mast step needs to be re-glassed to the hull. Not sure what happened to break the block loose, but it will be a relatively easy fix. Hours of watching YouTube have taught us that fiberglass is nothing to be afraid of and a few hours of grinding and prep will make it better than the day it rolled of the shipyard floor. After that minor feat is accomplished, we will need to replace the glassed-in decking blocks in the cockpit area. Again, nothing a good solid workday can’t finish up. Second to last step will be sanding and varnishing the aging woodwork, a task that will accompany us the rest of our lives I’m afraid. The last bit being a good polishing and waxing for the water.

Oh wait, I forgot that the folding centerboard will need to be sanded down and glassed, then painted, the rudder needs a similar treatment, some of the rope cams need to be replaced, cooler mounts installed and maybe even add in some solar phone chargers for practice. Proof positive that boat projects never end where you think they should.

Anyway, its going to be fun. And as the boat is currently parked next to one of my fire stations ill be able to work on it during downtime.