It wont be long now!!!

[Mr. Fixit]

It wont be long now!! thats what was said when they cut the monkeys tail off!!Thats what i am saying now with regard to my project--rebuild of a Columbia 30. I am in the process of completing painting the interior -- every corner every storage area has 2 coats of oil base paint. I removed two berths (upper) in main salon replaced with cabinets, also 2 work areas--2'x2' one on each side. This gives me 8' cabinets 2 additional counter space areas. I also will have shallow drawers under cabinets.I am having trouble deciding if I want to install doors or netting on cabinets. If it is doors I was going to hinge at bottom with piano hinges and secure with barrel bolts. Not sure yet. I think I can make my completion date of Aug.30th this year. This is about the third completion date I have had. One thing leads to another oh well the best laid plans--

[Bubba the Pirate]

Sounds great!   

I love the sound that deadlines make as they going whizzing by.   

Good Luck!   

TrT

[AllAboutMe]

MrFixit,
Just stay with it, and get it done. The majority of old boats that are sitting in boatyards, abandoned by owners, had deadlines, and when they didn't make it, the owners lost interest, and gave up. I'm currently working on six (6) sailboats. 160 feet of them.
Well, one is going to the dump..but the other five are works in progress. One Columbia 8.7,a Columbia Sabre, a CS27, a Com-Pac 16 and the latest, a Victory 21. None I'm sure as well turned out as your Columbia 30, but all have great potential.
Don't let deadlines get in the way of the most important part of owning a sailboat: sailing it.
Larry Wilson
Richmond,Va.

[Mr. Fixit]

Thanks for the encouragement AllAboutMe--My problem isnt so much discouragement it is the degree I went to rebuild, in my spare time. I was going to retire in March however they pleaded with me to stay on. The winters in the North East slowed me down as well. One major mistake I made was not to build a set of stairs up to the cockpit. Another was not buying a set of movable portable stairs. My concern is that it is a 30 mile drive to water that will float my boat, also that would keep me from using air tools, wood shop equiptment. I prefer to complete as much as possible as I will be limited as to what I can carry in tools. Since I intend to remain on the water as long as my health permits, there will be so much to learn and do I want to complete as much as possible befor I get there. My better half is caring for an aged parent right now, and she is not free to go along right now. We have sort of agreed I can leave in Sept. Not an easy decision

[AllAboutMe]

Don't let the little things get in the way of launching. Get it in the water, and start sailing. All of the cabinetry can be done in water. Power and hydraulic tools are nice, but 18 volt portables work well too. I've just seen too many projects languish because they were never "ready" to go into the water. Have fun with it while you can.
larry

[AdriftAtSea]

I'd second the 18V cordless tools being more than capable.  I used a set of Bosch 18V cordless tools to build my bridge deck.  Amazing how far they've come from the underpowered units that were the only things available for many years.