From December 1st onwards, we worked at getting the boat shed built. Virtually everyday we welded or nailed or measuered trying to get the building up in time for the spring painting of the Columbia III. We finally got the masts off, the roof fabric on and the ship slipped under cover. Phew! And the VERY NEXT DAY, as planned last fall, Steve arrived on his sailboat to begin the annual refit.

“Wow! The shed looks great! How long has the boat been under cover?”

“Oh, about 12 hours.”

We got done exactly on schedule though perhaps with a few more grey hairs.

Below are a few painting shots. It was very busy and I didn’t seem to take that many photos. I had thought that it would be a sunny spring after the boat was under cover, but no, we had 3-4 people sanding and painting the boat from early April into May and it rained every day but 3! The shed was awesome. Since we had the masts off we stripped them and this year we painted literally every inch of the exterior of the Columbia III from the top of the mast to the bottom of the keel. And boy does she look good now.

We had the masts off for hinging and overhaul but that left a lot of wires hanging from the rafters. Speakers, running lights, floodlights and airlines for the horn. It looked pretty chaotic for a while. Note the new mast hinge in place. We welded these up and shipped them to Vancouver to be hot-dipped galvanized.

Our son, Tavish, at work.

Family friend, ace kayak guide and blossoming bright work specialist, Steve Schellenberg

After years of planning and saving and working, we finally slipped the COLUMBIA III into her new home!!!!!!!

Two days ago after our delay with the shipyard haulout, we were eager to get back to work. The fabric was stretched out . . .

. . . the ends were laced tight . . .

. . . the masts were removed for future hinging . . .

. . . and lowered onto a workfloat for modification and overhaul . . .

. .. and then we gently pulled her into place!

Then it was time for photos. As I said to Tavish, “This has been an insanely big project for our small team.”

I don’t usually put in a plug for another company, but Coverstar Structures Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C. certainly provided detailed and consistent design and support for me and their product and service has exceeded my expectations. Thanks to Dale in Engineering and Raymond in Sales!!

Each spring it is one of our “traditions” to run the mothership 12 hours south to the nearest marine haulout for our annual inspection and painting of the hull. Here Peter, the yard foreman greets us early in the morning on the high tide and helps us get positioned correctly on the cradle

Here we are just starting up the railway tracks as the winch pulls us out of the water.

While the crews were working below the waterline, Tavish and I were working on the roof. We unstepped the forward mast in preparation for installing hinges. We need to be able to lower the masts to get the boat into the new boat shed.

Here are a few shipyard shots.

A clean bottom is always a good thing.

Good for another year!

Every five years our insurance company requires a complete survey by an independent surveyor. Gord Morrow, came again this year and it is his 3rd inspection of the COLUMBIA III (2001, 2005, 2010/11). We all appreciated his written evaluation,

“This vessel continues to receive the highest level of maintenance available and is in better condition than when surveyed in 2005 and 2001.”

Just what I like to hear. I sleep better this way!