Bounty

It is raining. It has been raining since early last evening, foretold by a drop in the barometer yesterday morning. The barometer has been rising all this morning. I expect the rain to stop before I go on my walk later on today. With the silence of the cottage, I can hear the tap tap tapping of water droplets off the roof onto the sheet metal covered pump house. Last night I went to sleep with the sounds of dripping onto the back deck, and awakened this morning to the same cadence. 

My journey to the cottage so early in the season was to get Bounty after she had been restored by John Kilpatrick. His shop is just North of Owen Sound on the coastal road Grey #1. I had left Bounty to have her windscreen, front bench seats repaired and have her sanded and repainted. After meeting John, he spoke of how Bounty would look with her bright work restored and her floorboards carpeted. At least that is what I remember from my early September conversation. He hadn't asked for upfront money, just an address and phone number where he could reach me. He had said he had no room in his heated building so that he would have to get Bounty finished before the weather became cold. I had been following the weather in Canada during the Fall, since I believed his target date was early November. I expected that he would call me and ask me to get Bounty and store her in her own boathouse. I didn't get a call from him all Fall. In early January, I got a call from his wife, with her immediately recognizable Scottish baroque. She said that John had just started working on Bounty and wanted some money. I sent what was requested. Kathy and I went on our Southern Hemisphere adventure and at our return, there was another phone call. The work is progressing, requesting more money. By the end of April, I was becoming a bit anxious, would Bounty be ready for this summer? I called, speaking first to his wife, then I got to speak with John. "I think you will like how she came out"  He went through details of some of the things that he had done. I told him that I was planning on coming to pick Bounty up Thursday and for his wife to call with the amount of the final payment. She called Monday. Three calls, each request the same: "... a couple of thousand." That was it. My receipt, a corner piece of blue line notebook paper, a few items listed. "I didn't put everything on it, but this will do."

The trip to Owen Sound was sunny and 51 degrees F. I was a bit hesitant as I drove, wondering if I could find his establishment since I was coming from an opposite direction; but I did, easily on the first try. I pulled into the long driveway and there, standing by herself  in the sunlight she sat: bright work shining, lettering bold in "Olde English", she was ready. I got out of Big Red and walked around Bounty, almost afraid of touching her, disturbing her perfection. She had not just been restored, she had been enhanced. In all my years of sanding, repairing, painting and varnishing her, she did not look as good as she does now. My eyes scanned from stem to stern and back again, the details of finish work, new items added, reinforced windscreen, bow seat, back bench filled me with an emotional warmth, welling up in me that I almost cried right then and there. First John, and then his wife came out of their house and we went over what he had done. He had found a spot for her in his heated shop, took her apart, set her upside down and began the restoration process. 

Bounty's trailer did not have a front roller. So over the past 48 years, she has drooped her bow creating a hump in the keel from where the last roller is positioned. While upside down, John put a jack on that hump, and over the next months, the hump was removed and a straight keel restored. Between the decking and hull is an aluminum strip, both cosmetic and functional as a fender. Over the years, water accumulated, apparently not drying out completely, allowing rot to begin. The stem, running from the joining of the deck and hull in the very bow, down to the keel, had separated from the hull and allowed water to penetrate, also causing mischief. The hull itself was intact and free of rot. I already knew this since I have worked on the hull both inside and out over the years. The masonry floorboards were replaced by 3/8 inch marine plywood, the internal ribs were covered with marine plywood as well. The stern seat was rebuilt, covered and strengthened. Polished trim was added in areas where dock lines and ski-tow lines rub on the bright work. "You will notice that she will be a lot stiffer now and won't twist and sound loose." I am looking forward to the new ride, her feel in the water.

The same trepidations I had had about taking Bounty to John Kilpatrick's shop, ie, being caught by the Ontario Provincial Police for all the boat registration and trailer violations, antique tires, etc. delineated before in a Fall email and blog, nagged at me as I drove slowly to the cottage.  All's well that ends well. It only took me an hour to get Bounty into the boathouse what with all the lining up and checking and rechecking I did to be sure I didn't scrap anything pushing her in.

In thinking about Bounty's restoration, I realize that having the expertise to work on wood boats includes seeing what needs to be righted, and having a vision of the outcome; spending the time necessary to achieve that outcome, re-bending the keel, waiting between coats of varnish to let each one dry, sand, clean, and re-varnish. I touched her bright work, it is smooth and feels thick, almost like a liquid. Visually, she is a museum piece, now only better. 

RJ called a few minutes ago and asked if I had put Bounty into the water yet. I have not. I would have to pull her out after a day's run, meaning, I would have to get into the water to align her stern on the trailer supports. Lake Huron water is still mighty cold. I'll wait until Kathy comes up with me in early June, so she can crank the winch while I am in the water if I take her out. I have new chain, swivels and couplings for the standing anchor which I want to attach before leaving Bounty overnight on her mooring. Even in June, I'll need a wet suit to dive on the standing anchor and attach the underwater stuff.

The two pictures include John Kilpatrick plus Bounty. The first picture, in the background is his wife.

To say that I am very happy with the outcome, impressed with the process, and glad to have met such wonderful people, is an understatement.

Well my chickadees, it has stopped raining, the barometer is up in the fair weather area, there is enough blue sky to make a sailor's pants, it is time to get out of doors.