Finally, 15 months later... it's time to start working on the boat!

The ice finally started to melt off of the roof beams on the building which allowed work to safely start up again putting the large sheets of tin down. The poly boat tarps are now going over the side - allowing my first real open access for work. It's taken 15 months to get this far but I think it will all be worth the extra effort in the rebuild. 

The first teak planks are being pulled up in the lower photo to get an idea of the condition of the steel underneath. I am fully expecting to have to pull the entire steel deck up and weld in a new one. The decision is made not to replace the teak which should provide a watertight deck in any sea. Thousands of screw holes holding the last deck down failed so no need to go that route again.

Time to build a large stairway for ease of access, strip the decks, strip the interior overhead and anything else that hints of rot (all of which was caused by the leaking decks). Also this summer I hope to pull the diesel out to begin its restoration next winter.

Getting Ebben on the road...

With the low temps outside Bluesette projects are limited so while I wait for parts on the compressor/sandblaster project Ebben and I rolled his Series II Land Rover into the shop for its overhaul. He is getting his drivers permit in a couple of weeks so we have some time to get this rolling. We have to work the Rover project straight through as Aperios Samofa diesel will be filling the shop after it is removed for rebuilding this summer. All of the other projects will be out the door before the Samofa rolls in.

Thoughts of Maputo bay, Mozambique keep me moving forward. It would make a wonderful rest stop after rounding Cape of Good Hope, and family lives there for guided tours and a shower!

Dig Ebbens new ride.

After 30 years in the barn. All wheels & gears locked up.

Thanks for the pull Jack!

Lots to remember for re-assembly!

Floors cut out to expose frame for welding. New floors and firewall sections going in soon.

Broken frame jacked into place (both sides) and ready for welding. Brakes and floors all ripped out. Radiator at the lower left of photo. Lots of holes like that seen in frame need to be patched.... about 14 spots in all. This rover is clearly in remission of frame cancer.... but there is hope for the future!

Time to hit the trails!

Rebuilding a very old air compressor for sandblasting the hull...

With a long New England winter settled in I was not quite able to get the tin roofing on the building so the restoration phase will have to wait a few more months to begin. Aperios covers were left in place but tucked in a bit tighter for the winter. So it seemed a good time to work on the sandblasting program in the warm shop. One downside of a steel boat is that they need to be sandblasted and painted every 10 years or so. Aperio is well overdue for the full show.

After an email blitz to various town and state surplus agencies I purchased this 1969 air compressor from the Burlington National Guard Air Station. Nobody at the air base knew if it would run. Many hours have been spent freeing stuck valves and seized parts, I installed 2 new pistons, a few new bolts, exhaust valves, gaskets & filters. With a bit of luck that will do the trick and it will handle the entire sandblasting process and then be sold prior to launching the boat. The compressor is a bit small but that might come in handy at times. $200 for the machine and it has a jackhammer too! That and the 300lb sandblasting pot I am about to build may help put some change in Aperios coffer.  

Today I am empowered by the thoughts of visiting Arawa, Papua New Guinea and walking on the beaches where my grandfather landed in WWII. He made it out of there safely... I hope to too!

New pistons, rings and wrist pins.

Two pistons removed and waiting for the new ones in the mail.

Turned the key and nothing. No clicks, bangs or puffs of smoke.
Just plain dead.

Prior to the adoption process. - lonely and neglected.