Relaunch Day dawned, and almost 100 family members and friends came to share this special event.
Hugh said a few words: “Four and a half years ago I came home from the Maine Boatbuilders Show and asked Pam if we could sell the alpacas, house and farm, quit our jobs, and go live on a boat.
She said, “I could do that!”
So this is a big day for us. While we didn’t do the heavy lifting, we have worked on our new home almost every day we weren’t at work or on vacation. It has been an absolute delight to have worked with Chip and Scott of Six River Marine.
As you can see their workmanship is extraordinary. They are highly skilled, and easily tackled many challenges to transform a tired old boat into a sturdy and safe work of art.
They replaced every plank and frame, rebuilt the transom, stem, and part of the keel. Almost everything inside was hauled out and reinstalled.
KATIE MACK was built in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1932. She has a fascinating history, from running Canadian whisky during Prohibition, making fishing trips to Alaska, and entertaining Hollywood celebrities. A detailed history can be found on the tables, along with coffee, pastries, and other snacks. Please help yourselves.
Because she is not a new boat and we didn’t change her name, this is not a traditional christening, so there will be no champagne bottle smashing! Seafaring tradition requires some libation to the gods of the sea, so we will be pouring some Harwood Canadian whisky over the bow and into the water over the stern.
Our original plan was to sail off into the sunset to tropical isles, but things change and we will be spending the winter in Martha’s Vineyard, then back to Maine for a summer of exploring!
Thanks again for coming. It means a lot to Pam and me to share this celebration with you all.”
While standing on the bow, I said the blessing: “Bless this ship and all who sail on her. May you have fair winds and following seas.
Almost 40 years ago, Hugh introduced me to Ratty’s belief that, “There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats!”
The four-sling travel lift lowered her into the water, and KM floated off! She was moved over to the dock so guests could climb aboard for a good look. Seams swelled nicely, but water came in around the stuffing box (where the propeller shaft goes from inside to outside the boat), sounding like a babbling brook! Bilge pumps all got a good workout, but she remained afloat.
See the two little wood screws perched on the trim in the photo below? At some point before the transport from Six River Marine, someone left two screws sitting on the shelf in the utility room. They made the whole trip from the boatyard, onto the travel lift, and into the water — a fine testament to the care that went into transporting and relaunching our new home.
We spent much of the rest of the day finding a place for everything, and putting everything in its place. For example, the saloon went from this:
To this:
Soon, the rest of our living space was shaping up.
