8/29/09

Into the light.

Just a quick post to celebrate -- some long time readers of this blog may remember this post from 2005. A couple of days ago, after more than eight years of working on it once a week for 3 hours, we finally rolled it out of the garage and lifted it onto the trailer:
   

 In a couple weeks, we'll add water and two incompetent sailors and see if this thing floats.

38 comments:

  1. Wow- amazing work- congratulations! good luck on your maiden voyage!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Depending on that competence, I smell blogging fodder! It's beautiful though, good luck with it and congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I can't tell you how impressed I am. I love the boat, love the size, what an amazing project. Good for you!!

    ML
    mlanesepic.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice job. Check for spiders or you will have "woman overboard".

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow JV! She's a beauty.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congrats! She looks beautiful!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's neat there Gibb's. Glad you got it out of the basement...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Holy shit, dude. That looks amazing.

    Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can hear the theme music for Gilligan's Island playing in the background. Don't forget lifejackets, ship-to-shore radio, GPS, extra fresh water, Marianne, and the Professor too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous5:37 PM

    What?!? You have time to build a boat AND blog?

    Excuse me while I go out and take the "For Sale" off my hot rod.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks everyone!

    Beck, that would be like an episode of Fear Factor since she can't swim..

    UKB, don't feel bad. I sold my '69 Impala Sport last year. Sad to see it go, but...

    ReplyDelete
  12. um, that's ok. i get pretty seasick.

    ReplyDelete
  13. She is gorgeous! What did you name her?

    ReplyDelete
  14. The BOAT is beautiful...Just glad I'm seeing it online...Me + boat + waves = get the hell out of my way. Unfortunate wedding present I gave to my husband - Deep Sea Fishing. I'll stick with sex in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh Johnny, it's beautiful. You must be really proud. I can't wait to hear the stories.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous12:40 AM

    Beautiful Boat! Congrats on finally getting it ready to sail. (I went and read your original post. As always, you get me laughing!) I'm looking forward to hearing about your first high tide adventure.

    KMarie

    ReplyDelete
  17. That's Some Boat. She's a beauty!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am unabashedly envious. Don't forget to pour some champagne over the bow.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Can't wait for that blog post!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous8:24 PM

    Absolutley beautiful...congratulations to you and your dad! And my Nautical Proctologist recommeneds you keep your fingers out of any holes....

    ReplyDelete
  21. It's beautiful. Good luck and happy sailing!

    Speaking of coming back, I haven't seen you at my blog lately. Just saying.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Breathtaking, JV-- and the fact that it is something you could do with your dad is just awesome. That makes it SO much more meaningful than just going out and dropping money on some boat. Plus it wouldn't be nearly as sweet.

    I don't know if I mentioned on the original post back then, but you and I are kindred spirits if only insofar as getting a finger stuck somewhere it ought not to be. Mine was in the gas tank of my Buick a number of years ago while filling it up. And it was similar in the sense of that Chinese finger-trap sort of way. And in that I was greeted by howls of laughter by my loved ones. Not to mention being laughed at by the paramedics and other various and sundry emergency personnel who turned out to free me from my predicament.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Steve -- you *have* to elaborate. What the heck were you trying to fish out of your gas tank?

    ReplyDelete
  24. Congratulations and she is a beaut. I hope you are still saying "I can't believe I/we freakin made that!" Because I'm looking at the picture saying "Wow they freakin made that! Themselves. With their own hands. Not in a factory with each piece added on in a line."

    Don't forget the bubbly- 2 or more bottles, one for the boat and the others to celebrate!

    ReplyDelete
  25. As a level 3 white sail sailor, I say, "Effin nice boat!" Be honored to go out in it someday.

    ReplyDelete
  26. That is amazing!! Teach your wife to swim so you can sail away together!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh man, I love to sail! I wish I could go. I even know some things about it. Sort of.

    Okay, I've never sailed a mono-hull sailboat, but it's easier than catamaran sailing, and I'm all about that!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous8:16 AM

    is that an albino sasquatch?

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love the color JV! Aaaaand that's all I'm qualified enough to say. :P Course I could always go with "Hey baby, nice mast" :P

    ReplyDelete
  30. Um.. JV?

    Just how big of a bottle did you have that thing packed in??

    (Kidding!)

    Looks great.. I hope you followed the directions close enough that she floats, and doesn't end up being a really pricey sponge!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Haven't been around for awhile, but just wanted to say, it's always nice to drop in here, have a good laugh and be treated to some great writing. I'll be catching up on your posts to see if you've mentioned anything about you writing your book...

    BTW, have you ever read Michael Perry? I'd really like to recommend him to you as you've both got a similar vibe, very funny, touching, and, again, great writing.

    Best wishes.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Congrats on the boat! I can't wait to hear about her maiden voyage!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I miss you. Please come back.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thats freaking awesome... I wish I could make a boat. I also wish I lived near water to put a boat in. *Sigh*

    ReplyDelete
  35. "There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

    Kenneth Grahame: The Wind in the Willows

    ReplyDelete
  36. Anonymous4:32 PM

    does it have a name?

    ReplyDelete
  37. Congrats on getting it ready and I believe it will be beautifully seaworthy...but wear your life preserver...just in case.

    ReplyDelete