Launching in sunshine

Work done this time: small area of rot in the bottom plate of the bulwarks forward, timber replaced; one board in the bulwarks port side in way of wheelhouse door replaced; wheelhouse door rebuilt; rot in transom belting, timber replaced; all upper works prepared and painted; prop speed; metal stem band to protect stem and forefoot from flotsam damage; anti-fouling paint.

Hauling in the rain (again)

Chuck, Vlad, Sue

How do we choose these wet and windy days to haul? A SE gale with rain in it, cold and grey! Still, she might as well be in a shed being painted, because it's hardly boating weather.

No problem getting over the cradle, sitting nice and upright, and a gentle drive and push back into the shed. Dave's mast hinged down in about 10 minutes.

Small job, big improvement

Eyebrow, October 2019

Sue has long maintained that Orion would look better with an eyebrow over the wheelhouse windows. Not to mention the practical thing of keeping the rain off and creating a bit of shade for the helmsperson. Expertly implemented by Roger of Sounds Shipwrights we're really pleased with the result. 

Smart as paint

Job done

Moving to the ramp

Back in the water

Back on the berth, showing off

The purpose of painting a wooden boat is to protect her from the elements. But the wonderful spin-off is that she looks great too, and you feel great about her. Thanks to Lloyd and Roger at Sounds Shipwright Services, Orion is looking fantastic: cabin roof, deck, topsides, boot topping, and hull. There's a new mast too, seen here in the lowered position for coming out of the shed.

Getting trolleyed

Fine day

Pressure wash

Ready to roll

In the yard

In the shed

In New Zealand you can get all four seasons in a day. There is no good time of year - it's either too cold, too wet, too windy, or too hot. That we can get Orion into the shed at Sounds Shipwright Services right here in Havelock is a huge advantage. We're hoping, believing, that the paint job will be all the better for it. It means she's in the shade and out of the wind, so although she'll dry out it'll be nothing like last year when insanely hot sun beat down on her day after day.