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Here are a few pics from last weekend showing feverish activity in the woodshop. Discovered the fifth of these Colie Rowboats. (Any other name suggestions?) The one with the best cedar is being varnished. I think two are spoken for. Call Tom for yours.

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Check out the semi-planked bottom. I’ll ask just why it’s done that way. Interesting. I think the Shop’s just big enough for five.

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Pick of the litter. Green bottom I hope. The others will be painted in appropriate Kirby colors.

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Pick a date. 1939? 1951? 1969? The years have been kind to photographers at Beaton’s.

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A good view of the way the stern is tucked up. This makes it a delight to row and able to carry a Grandkid on the stern sheets. No adults and no outboards. Though a small electric trolling motor might serve. Hmmmm….

Expect to see them in an advance state of completion this weekend. An early May row perhaps?

Along with Earth Day, April 22nd is the 40th anniversary of Robin Knox-Johnston’s victory in the Golden Globe Singlehanded Round the World Race. In fact he was the only one to finish. This is the same race where Donald Crowhurst went insane and Bernard Moitessier decided to head for French Polynesia after passing Cape Horn, going one and a half times around the world.

Here’s Suhali at sea. A turtle among faster hares but brought RKJ home in 313 days, non-stop, all alone. Magnificent.

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Lots more at the 70.8 Blog and here. Raise a toast today to celebrate what was then a rather remarkable achievement.

Visit today from some of Julia’s family. Obligatory Easter Egg hunt and lots of great food.

The hunt begins…. There’s one!

Temps in the 40’s, wind 12 to 18 out of the NNE. Down in the morning for the usual; good rain sounds on the deck. Leaks tolerable, mostly from the long neglected hatch. Stopped at Joe Leone’s for Easter supplies and the usual breakfast fodder. Joe’s having a festival today in Point Pleasant Beach to raise money for the Italian earthquake victims. See link for details.

Spittin’ rain out off the NNE. Chilly and very damp.

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But warmish below. Read another chapter in Riddle/Sands. Still a good read.

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The rain gives a nice sheen that hides the need for a good spring cleaning. …

Steven Bauer came down Sunday. He and his family are down from Portland, ME, visiting family in NJ. Steven’s been here before and actually got to go sailing.

No sailing Sunday as the continuing westerlies have left the Bay a few quarts short of full. A pleasant watch below and boatyard tour sufficed. Bright sun and temps in the 40’s made for a comfortable day.

Nice sitting in the lee of the shop; protected from the westerlies. Shame the water level was down, as the breeze laid down as the day went on and it would have been nice to go for a sail.

Meeting Ms. Rozinante. Sad story of Bay regulars past their prime.

Sad indeed. Both boats were built by a local family years ago. I helped Tom Beaton put in some new frames in the Rozinante back in the early 90’s. The stories they could tell.

An artifact from our tour. It’s a leather flap that covers the sink discharge while underway.

The day included a beach tour. Beautiful day.

from digital friends Joe and Phil of Cold Spring on Hudson. Both are WoodenBoat Forum members and have been seen in these pages before. Ideally I’d be reporting on a sail to the ice fields of Barnegat Bay but said ice has remained in the basin at Beaton’s.

These days Sjogin looks a bit (in concept only) like Shakleton’s Endurance, beset by thick ice. No fears though; with her slack bilges, Sjogin gets lifted a bit but no real harm.

Phil and Joe. We stopped on the way down and picked up breakfast then squeezed in below to eat by the fire. I think we exceeded some occupancy standard.

From our yard walk: Willow girl. Painted on the transom of the Hankin’s cruiser Willow.

Back porch. A view up the “creek” at Beatons.

Still frozen. The Bay is opening up but the basin ice remains. Nothing to do but feed the stove and dream of open water.

Fun weekend. Go Pittsburgh.

to warm us up on such a bleak January day.

Son David is an instructor for Offshore Sailing School and is now based in the Keys. Here’s a link to his and friend Kathy’s Flickr stream and here are a couple of nice ones:

Dave and new best friend Shooby out for a daysail in one of the Colgate boats.

Dave and Kathy at No Name Bar in Key West.

Jeff and Sasha are leaving tomorrow after an all too short visit. They’re off to a hopefully warmer FLA to see Mom and Brother Dave. Jeff and Dave are both on FaceBook, so folllow along.

Still iced in. Jeff and I had a trip down memory lane today.

On the beach.

All this and Julia too.

Manasquan Inlet from Fisherman’s Cove beach.

No sailing for a while. About four inches of ice in the upper bay. A little open water by the Bridge but that’s about it. Had about three inches of ice in the bilge. Chopped most of it out and then pumped dry. With a fire below it wasn’t too bad.

Looking forward to Jeff’s return with his friend Shasha. He’ll be here for a week, then on to the Keys for a visit with his brother and Mom.

No sailing today! Bubblers working around the pilings.

Plank end from the Quest restoration. Jersey white cedar; perfect kindling.

Friend Paul on a sunny afternoon

Just a dusting, but enough to please.

Afternoon light; starting to notice the later sunsets.

Waiting for friends to come over and sit by the fire and watch the Giants game. Herewith are a few pics from the last couple of weeks.

Ice last weekend. About a half an inch or so, gone by Wednesday. Brisk westerly breezes.

Warm fragrant breezes below. Last Sunday.

Near inventory crisis. Last bit went in the tea.

Sleeping warriors. A few of the A-Cat’s wait for the call to battle, varnish renewed and scars tended to.

Ready for Spring.