The Launching of "Little Pike"

Begun more than a year ago, Bill Tyler had the idea of launching "Little Pike" a Morgan 24 (foot) bought by his dad 4 decades ago. The "Little Pike" that Bill had was land locked in its storage garage adjacent to the "Launching Pad." Over the dozen or more years, the marine rail tracks have rusted and become distorted by the winter's ice pack pounding on them. 

Driving the isolation of "Little Pike" further, has been the water levels on the Great Lakes which have been very low since 1986, the last high water. At that time, 22 years ago, water lapped into "Little Pike's" boat house. Now there is no hope in floating the boat off of its marine railway trailer. So she sat, and with sitting, accumulated all the ailments a boat, which had previously sat in water, accumulates including frozen bolts, levers, cables and a host of other metal parts previously immersed in water. 

Bill's thoughts turned first to restoring "Little Pike" ; ie, taking off all hardware, removing the gasoline in the tank that have turned into varnish, replacing the stuffing box, the through the hull fitting where the shaft from the engine to the propeller is located, and a myriad of fitting and pieces that required replacement. New fiberglass paint was applied and the day drew nye for her launching. The question of course, where to launch her? Take her to Lion's Head Harbour and keep her there at that marina? Find deep enough water in his front yard to launch her? In the end, a road was made to the front yard and the steep entry into the water was moderated with stone, and "Little Pike" was launched, floated off her trailer, having been pushed into deeper water by a chained extension log by Connie Collins' tractor. The launch, again demonstrates, that where there is the will and resources, there is a way.

From launch, Bill and his friend Anna Marie came to the mooring just inside "Mare Nostrim".

At this point it was a "see Bill run...." story. The wind was coming from where I was standing taking the picture. As Bill came up to the mooring ball, he scrambled from the cockpit and the tiller to the bow to catch the "painter" with his boat hook. The engine died and the boat came broadside to the winds directing it towards the rock shoals less than 40 feet away. "see Bill run", back to the cockpit, to restart the engine and make another pass at the mooring ball. "All's well that ends well." After the second or third pass, he snagged the painter, cleated it, stopped the boat's wayward movement, and secured "Little Pike" to her Little Pike Bay mooring. 

After launch and a shake down cruise, Bill and I headed out, compass course 270, due West, for 10 miles in a 12 knot breeze, 150% genoa jib flying, heeled over with little pressure at the helm. So, "Little Pike" is back; restored, launched in a new place, and she sails as well as 4 decades ago.