I got a “B”
Taken from www.boatsmithfl.com
Yesterday Jeff and I took the bus to Isla Morada and the Wharram meet that was being held there. I finally got to meet up with David, a professional Wharram builder , who had his Tiki 30 up on the beach. What a piece of art! Lots of people think that Wharrams are dark, narrow, and cramped with no comfort. His Tiki, though, had a huge open center cockpit with oodles of red cushions. The interior was white and clean with more comfortable beds in the same bright red. I was really enjoying myself until David mentioned coming to see our boat on Sunday. Ouch.
I’ll have to admit, once I developed my allergies to epoxy, I just slapped my fillets in the corners (or had the girls do them) and didn’t bother sanding them smooth. We also have this little problem with putting a finish on part of the boat, and then undertaking a project that gets epoxy, paint, or some other evil substance on the pretty part. And so it stays since it seems rather futile to fix it again if we’ll only undertake another project in the future. So today, I told Jeff that I was going to tell the pro that he couldn’t come. I was just too embarrassed. When the phone rang, I steeled myself, only to be told that David was already in Marathon! Just go ahead and shoot me and get it over with. My life was over.
Jeff gave the nickel tour, while I hid out on shore. So what was the conclusion? Well, we got a “B”. But at least he said that the boat wasn’t going to fall apart, which I guess was what I really needed to hear. Now I’m going to get to work fixing this puppy up. Just wait until fall, David, when there’s that Wharram meet on Florida’s East Coast.
Oct-Dec 2008
Jan-April 2009
May-Aug 2009
Sept 2009
Oct 2009
Nov 2009
Dec 2009
Jan 2010
Feb 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010
August 2010
Hey I like your boat. Wouldn’t hesitate to head of to the South Pacific or even the West Coast of North America with it…not that I’m hinting at anything.
Hello Sue,
I have nothing but admiration and respect for what you and Jeff and your daughters have done.
Thank you very much for permitting me to visit your boat. I enjoyed meeting you both and am envious of what you have done.
You guys built this huge cruising boat/home in a remarkably short time and she works.
OK so there is room for some cosmetic improvement, so what. My bride is still waiting for me to finish the house she lives in. My building permit is 13 years old. It’s a good thing I was the cubmaster for the building inspectors two sons.
Thank you for the compliments about our boat. Keep in mind that we work daily on multi million dollar yachts and this boat was built as a demo boat and the boat that we represent ourselves with when we go to boat shows.
As a further thought I would much rather sail in the boat you built than you would like me to remove your appendix
I will look forward to seeing yawl again. Get out your paintbrush and go to it Cheers David
David, Thank you for your kind comments. We appreciated them. From the very start we knew we did not have time to make our boat pretty, and are just trying to make it safe. Since you did not find anything that you thought you should report to the coastguard we are content.
JB. Everything in the Pacific sounds good. Getting togeether with you all would be great.
Hi Jeff and Sue,
I was the other guy with David when he came to check out your boat. I was very impressed with what your family has accomplished. You are truly living the cruising dream, and it will no doubt be the stuff of fondest memories for you and your daughters for the rest of your lives.
I’ve worked with David a lot over the years and helped build his demo Tiki 30, and I’m also building my own Tiki 26 (http://tiki26element2.blogspot.com)
Your Tiki 46 is an impressive vessel and a huge undertaking for anyone to begin, much less finish and actually get out sailing and living aboard. I’ll be following your posts here with interest and envy and wish you fair winds and all the best.