Lotus progress

Took a few pics of the progress on Lotus this past weekend. She’s almost ready for the varnish and paint shop.
No sailing this weekend but the Bay is still open. Had a fire and tea both days. Finished another chapter in the Tillman book; check out the chart of the Calvo glacier. Rough country.

Lotus
Note the size of the centerboard trunk.

Spanish Cedar seat
New Spanish Cedar cockpit seats. Light and hopefully strong enough.

Tools
Random tools. Check out the custom scraper blade handle.

Calvo Pass
Finally, here’s a snap of the area in Patagonia H. W. Tillman and his climbing party explored.

Last sail of 2005

Went out with Tom Beaton for the last sail of 2005. Also some late Christmas pics.

Sjogin
Ready to go, stove drawing well, waiting for Tom. Wind was ENE about 4 to 6, 34 degrees with an occasional spritz of drizzle.

Beaton's astern
You’re looking at David Beaton and Sons, West Mantoloking.

Tom Beaton
Here’s Tom Beaton, David’s grandson, watching Sjogin take care of herself as the family boat yard is framed in the open hatch.

Tree
Our Christmas tree this year. Use by date of January 1st.

Party elf
“OK, her eyes are covered, let’s PARTY!” Inspired decorating by my son.

Saturday Morning, December 3rd

A quick visit this morning as we have a wedding to attend this afternoon. Clear and cold about 30 or so. Strong WNW winds 15 to 22 kts. Enough time for a brew-up and a bit of toasted sausage and provolone bread along with another chapter in Mischief in Patagonia

Tea 12.03.05
Tilman, tea and a quick fire.

Sjogin in slip 12.03.05
Sjogin in her slip. Too much wind and too little time for a sail today.

Lotus cabin beams
The just faired cedar cabin beams on Lotus. The cabin decking will be two layers of glued 4mm pyl with carbon fiber stiffening.

Saturday Morning, November 26th

Still cold, about 30 or so when I left at 9:30, wind SW 4 to 8. High clouds, mackerel sky. SAWMC. (Sky associated with major change.) Mostly hove to on St’bd E of Swan Point, then beat over to First Creek and HT on Port. Kept the hatch and drop board in place which helped the draw. No real puffbacks today.

Ran down to MYC and gybed over to Port for the reach home and a firm landing. Pics follow:

Myth
The catboat Myth, replicated by John Brady of the Independence Maritime Museum Boatshop in Philadelphia. The original was built in the 30’s and is the municipal symbol of Bay Head.

Myth off Swan Point Myth off Swan Point.

Bound Tiller
A new technique for binding the tiller when hove to.

Iced tea
Iced tea anyone?

Post Thanksgiving Morning at Beaton’s

Here are some snaps from today. First seriously cold morning on Sjogin. Cranky fire and just enough wood smoke to season the cabin air.

11.25.05 Tea and fire
A good draw, wind out of the WSW about 15 to 22. Note the ships hatchet on the chopping block to the left. Shop scraps and split fire wood cut into 3″ chunks feeds the Sardine.

Today’s reading
Another H. W. Tilman book, Mischief in Patagonia. I’ve been working through his books over the last few years. Classic self deprecating, tongue in cheek, slogging on through the bergy bits Brit style. Great stuff.

Lotus
Lotus, one of the original 1920’s A-Cats, currently entering the finishing stages of her weight loss program. Lotus has lost about 800 pounds, mostly due to the use of ply web frames and spruce and cedar framing. She was restored by Beaton’s in 1984 to original design. The slow tweaking of the A-Class fleet over the years has left her relatively heavier than her competitors and in need of her present transformation.

Lotus forward
Note the lightening holes in the floors and the ply web frames. The only structural wood left over from her 1926 construction are her sheer and bilge clamps.