One Boat Back in the Water, One to Go! 

Signs of spring are happening, and by that we mean it’s haulout time, where for a few days the Riggin is pulled out of the water which allows access to the whole hull.  This is the time to inspect the hull; wash and paint the bottom; and change the zincs.  Routine maintenance is also coupled with tending to anything that needs mending or replacing under the water line while we have access to these spots.  The shipyard can be a satisfying time because it really starts to feel as if we truly will be sailing soon.  It’s also a time when stories are made – like the year we shoveled snow off the rail way before hauling in mid-April (and that wasn’t this year!).  And doing projects late into the night by the light of the truck headlights to get off the railway as quickly as possible.  
 
Riggin haul out
The Riggin hauled out on the rail way at North End Shipyard
The Riggin is now back in the water – bottom painted and inspected, hull sanded and partially painted, and a couple of little things taken care of under the water.  Now she waits for a couple of coats of paint and her sails to go on so that she can once again sail Penobscot Bay with all of us. 
 
The Timberwind, our other vessel, is in Belfast not Rockland.  She came out of the water yesterday in a completely different way.  Front Street Shipyard, instead of a railway, uses a large travel lift which picks her up out of the water and transfers her to the yard where she rests with a number of other large vessels.  She is supported “on the hard” with jack stands placed strategically all around her hull.  You’ll see from the photo that the foremast is un-stepped.  We’ll work on the top part of the foremast, an area tough to get to while it’s in place, replace the servings around the shrouds and be ready for the mast to be stepped right after the boat goes back into the water later this week.
 
Timberwind haul out
The Timberwind hauled out at Front Street Shipyard with a travel lift
When both are back in the water, we’ll be that much closer to sailing with you all!
previous post: Heading Over to the Shipyard for Haulout next post: F.A.Q.’s – Do We Get to Help Sail the Riggin?