She sails great!!

A recent outing in fresh winds (20 - 30 kts) was the acid test to see if all of my repairs would hold up in a full sail "power on" setting. With 20 kts apparent wind on a broad reach, boat speed was estimated at 20 kts. This is just an estimate since I have not reinstalled my GPS. Whatever the actual speed was, I knew that this was the fastest  I had ever sailed on this boat in particular, or any other boat for that matter. I must admit I was a little uneasy as she accelerated crisply, listening and half expecting some kind of a "snap crackle pop" event presaging a fold up like a house of cards. As she continued to sail on, my anxiety morphed in to a sense of exhilaration . As the pix above suggests she returned to dock none the worse for wear!!

She Floats!!

The name is now official!!

Almost Launch Time!!

Port float has color

Second time to spray Awlgrip. Came out pretty good if I say so myself. I suspect that, even though the the two quart cans of paint had the same number, the colors don't exactly match. The starboard float is a little bit darker, and the port float brighter. Oh well.

Final Primer Coat Port Float

Port float final primer coat, ready for color.

Weather issues prevented me from putting some color on this puppy today. Tomorrow does not look any better.

Still plenty of other stuff to do even though I would rather paint.

The Main Hull is Blue!

One more float to paint and then it is launch day!

The weather finally cooperated !

Launch day is coming...

Sometimes as one works on a major project it appears as if nothing has changed after a 8 hour day on the job. When there are so many inter related tasks that must be accomplished sometimes the mind plays a trick on you and you see yourself on an endless treadmill working each day with little apparent progress.

There is nothing better than a coat of paint to give you a different perspective.

There is now primer on the main hull and port float. Bottom paint will go on the floats tomorrow. Color will be painted on Monday. So we are getting real close to launch day.

OMG!

Spirit of America has color

The reaction in the boat yard was that it was RED. The starboard float (ama) finally has some color on it. Should have an imposing effect on the water; a blue center hull flanked on each side with red amas, white decks and sails and a star spangled screacher to add a little flash. Enjoy the pictures! More to follow

Starboard ama minus the masking tape

Once the tape comes off you will be able to see the contrast between the red hull and the white decks.

A reflection of myself taking a picture of the hull.