Sailing Olivia

This morning over Lady’s Island Marina. I love mornings like this.
On weekends I will go to Olivia at this time and sit about a half hour before getting to work on her and the dolphins usually are out chasing their morning breakfast.
Have the best day everyone.

We took a three day trip to Florida to look for boat parts, mostly a hatch for the bow of Olivia but anything else we may find. We visited four salvage and surplus marine stores. We did find 5 self tailing winches for $500 that we were super excited to get.
Here’s the link to our video tour. Oh and a new intro part 😁 I’m getting better with learning this program to edit our videos with.

Scavenger hunt for Sailboat parts in Florida We took two days to tour 4 locations in Florida looking for sailboat parts, mainly for a hatch.

While we were rained in from Debby, my husband I swear he can do anything. He worked on our dinghy, Hermes. Preparing a small seat and locker area for the bow of the dinghy. Will share final pics later but is he amazing.

Well first half of this storm is almost over about to see what the second half brings.
The eye wall took quite a bit to pass giving the waters time enough to recede.
We have faired well while others not so much.
Thank you to everyone that reached out and checked on us we’re doing good so far.
Shawn helped a friend cut a big tree that fell. But other than that we have a few branches and a very soaked yard.

As we are prepping for what could be historical flooding, yes we are in the center of the pink area, and have Olivia all secure and also helped our neighbors prep for possible leaking. We are looking for the heavy heavy rains to put the repairs we have done to stop leaks to the test and if there are any that we’ve missed will certainly show us where those are.
We live at such a thoughtful and caring Marina as well, that they thought of something we didn’t, and asked us to move Olivias stern a little more away from the dock, so to prevent her from hopping on the deck due to dock and water rocking. We truly have the best Marina and there are many ways they have showed us and others how they truly care for each boat staying there.
Praying for everyone’s safety and if we can help in anyway we are happy to do so.

Making our way doing the loop in Florida, Clearwater to Dons Salvage, then to Ft Lauderdale to Sailorman and now in Ft Pierce headed to two more salvage places looking mainly for a hatch. Beginning to look like we will have to buy new. But enjoying our time and a mini vacation away from the grind on Olivia.

Chasing water leaks and fixing one at a time. We still had one area that was staying wet and not drying out. Well we found ya, yes we did. New black water cap will be going back on soon. This one has seen better days.
And just to explain for those that don’t know, the top layer is fiberglass and then there is a wood layer and then another layer of fiberglass this is all 1 1/2” thick and makes up the surface of the deck of Olivia. But when the water leaked around that black water cap because the sealant had warn out, over time it rotted the core wood, which is what you are seeing the aftermath of what I dug out which was all mush. Complete mush.

Boats don’t get termites you say, well they sure heck loved our boat at one point.
Starting on the master head (bathroom) rebuild. Mostly tore out but some board pieces were pretty at a glance that were still up but not no more.

Oak slats are stained and sealed and up. I won’t lie I chocked up when I saw them in person.
We went from ripping her guts out, chasing leaks to designing the new space and now it’s coming together. Material for the Headliner has been ordered and some more trim work then pain and stain.
My heart is happy. She’s coming back to life.

~ Jena ~

I spot with my little eyes, our big girls main mast.

Photo is not mine it was taken by Phil Heim

Wood slats are going up. This is just a dry fit, brass colored screws will be going in and trimmed on edges. Still have a few pieces to dry fit in. Then it will get removed and stained and sealed with varnish, then put back up with the proper screws that are also decorative and brass looking. Tops of cabinets and top of bench, sliding doors and drawer fronts will all be stained and varnished as well as trim and then rest will be painted white.
The bulk head has a new skin and will be painted white and trimmed out as well and then new sconces put in.
Will be ready for new ceiling and new real wood floor that will be hand cut and put down. Can’t wait to share final pics.
But it’s coming together.
And yes we know the port appears crooked. The ports were made that way and that is because it is inline with the outside of her hull so it does not appear on the outside lopsided, but inside yes it looks out of line but you can’t lay the the furniture to be level with the port or everything will be rolling and including the bed will be leaning down hill.
Probably would not have been as noticeable if we didn’t do slats but we wanted slats and not some solid piece of something another on the wall.

Oh and the black is insulation on the walls. 😁

Well, trim pieces are on and fiddle edge as well. Drawers need the fronts but have soft close drawer slides with dove tail drawer boxes. What is left of the hull above dresser and seating will get insulated and then oak slats.

Today, as you mark this day with cookouts, family and fireworks... and probably not just a little bit of spirits, take a moment to remember what this day signifies. 4 July 1776 is a date designated to reflect our declaration of independence from what was said to be a tyrannical and monarchical oppression of the people of the 13 colonies. Far from yhe end, this day represents a new beginning for our federal democratic republic. A now 248 year old experiment in self-governance that has stood as a beacon of promise, of hope and of liberty the world over. While we are in a time of great turmoil, I assure you, this time is not unique in our history. From the very beginning factions, fanaticism, and greed of power has pervavde. Our unique system set out to thwart a singular faction from upsetting yhe balance we achieve through a system of checks and balances between our 3 branches of government. The imbalance we see today are factional efforts to upset that balance through the courts, through ai gle branch dominance and through extremism. This too shall pass. While much coverage is given which makes everyday seem like it might be the last, ther is really "nothing new under the sun". I trust that our system has enough people left that will once again find the balance this nation needs to maintain itself for another 248 years and beyond. I hope you join with me today in celebrating the efforts of the founders, of the many goodly politicians who have remembered that our strength lies in balance, and of yhe many women and men who has given their all to help return us balance when the inbalance exceeds diplomatic scope. Be well and be safe and remember, our strength and our liberty reside in our balance and our ability to find a middle path.

Nightstand and bench are in. Trimming is yet to go in and the fiddle edge. Course paint and stain later.

Yesterday we were expecting friends to come by to check out Olivia’s progress and Shawn said to them

“She is a little dirty and not all put together, but you can feel her spirit beginning to build.”

Sweetest words ever and I don’t think he realized just how much that meant to me to us. Olivia from the beginning we felt this connection. I know you’re saying it’s a boat, but to us she is home!!!

I cannot imagine living anywhere but on her and with her and our back yard will be wherever we place her hook.

What time is it 😁 sneak peak time.

Shawn made the new cabinet for his side of the bed. There wasn’t one but he needs one too, right.
It will make sense once it’s in place to see it in its position.
Not finished yet but here is a peak.

Trying to survive the heat, doing boat work. Found a significant issue of where more water leaks were coming from. But guess what, we knocking it out and getting it done. Thankful for a strong man that continues to remind me it’s just wood and fiberglass and elbow work.
And a kind neighbor that bought us a cold beverage over for encouragement, makes it all good too.

Today we finally got great news on our sailboat, Olivia. FINALLY!! We were told by the owner prior to the one we purchased Olivia from that he, Benjamin Riddle, had completely redone all of Olivia’s bottom including paint. Well thank you Benjamin. We had an inspection today of her bottom, meaning everything below the water line, of her bottom paint, rudder and thru-holes and it all passed inspection. Inspector said all in perfect shape not anything concerning and including the paint was in mint shape, thru-holes, rudder, and paint. All in outstanding condition, so he cleaned her bottom and we have not a worry on that. Thank you Benjamin job well done. Costly like thousands and thousands. Less for us to worry about.
We will take the good news.

We now have proper AC flow in our Master Cabin, flow was not correct and it wasn’t hooked up properly. But Shawn got it flowing now and cooled instantly. So now to finish the bed platform and replace some cables and that area will be done!!!!!
Now on to cabinetry.

Sooo what we figured we found out today. Our friend Dave is here to help on Olivia for a few days. So very humbling to have a friend come all the way from Ohio to pitch in. So appreciate his time. But now he’s pulling back trim in galley and boom. A weird piece of wood behind it paper towels stuffed in to stop a leak. Hmmm not very thought out but yep the rot continues. Will be a full gut job on Olivia. Removed a decorative shelving paper below a port (window) as well, and it was all completely rotted. Sigh 😞

So we continue on……

With Just Catamarans – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

Ya’ll check out the chain plate. Wish I had before pics of it. It was covered in old varnish and patches of paint. Chain plate protects the bow of the boat from being beat to death by the chain lifting and lowering the anchor.
Now I know it’s just a chain plate but it represents to me much more. I was cleaning it up and Shawn was like sand it, ammmm that’s going to leave scratches, but I trusted my husband and used a step down in grit and yes it scratched up cleaning but stepping it down in grit took that out and shined it up.
In all our work Shawn and I do on Olivia it’s one more thing of fixing the old and making it new again.
I’ve learned tools that I never before used and or was scared of. He always tells me he’s not gonna give me something out of my capabilities to do. He will often come over inspect and make tweaks to ways I can do it better.
We have worked, sometimes day and night on Olivia and often in silence side by side and we just work unbelievably well together getting it done and handling each task. Often encouraging and pushing each other and agreeing when it’s time for a day off. I cannot imagine doing life without him. He is my rock and he’s my best friend and soul mate and the one my heart so deeply loves.
Here’s to Olivia’s Return. One project at a time.