Tuesday, February 22, 2011

9 lives

Lately most of our evenings consist of sitting around out little teak table, drinking hot tea, and dreaming up the design for Me Voy's galley.  This area really got hit hard by the various leaks that were left unattended by the previous owner, and now that we have finished the replacement of the hull planking, the time has come to have some fun! 

This is my favorite phase of any project; the design of the space and the picking out of the materials. 
We are changing things up a bit from the original design, combining what was the aft stateroom with the galley, into a larger galley space and a small workshop. We figure with two berths and five possible sleeping places already, a workshop space will be more useful. After all we have to have some place to keep our collection of Epoxy resins!

After nearly four years of boat restoration we have  a West System epoxy for any occasion

But it hasn't been all talk either. Travis, after years 
of working on other peoples boats, has turned to working on our boats full time.  We figure the most important thing right now is to get our boats into a state of "finishiness". We both realize that neither of these boats will actually ever be finished, as there is always something to make better. But a state of finishiness is totally within reach and even seems likely with Travis Ahsum on our side. I know I'm biased, but seeing T's work I am amazed with the quality and speed with which he makes things happen. Looking at the big picture, or the previously mentioned elephant, this project gets overwhelming, but when I see all these small things getting chewed at I can see this whole thing coming together soon.

However none of this was really the point of this post. What I really wanted to remember, was sitting here, with incense wafting, tea steaming, Chopper sleeping with his bone but alertly keeping an eye on everyone and Billy... dragging his soaking tail in the salon!? WTF? It seems Billy went for an evening swim in the frigid water. How this happened will remain his secret. We heard nothing and saw nothing except for the poor disgraced cat coming down into the salon with a walk that reminded me of a old man disgusted with the world around him. He seemed to take it in stride as I wrung him out in a towel,  and Chopper licked his ears. The whole scene was a bit surreal, and if it wasn't for the wet towel, that now smells of cat, hanging over the stair railing, I swear the whole thing was a bizarre dream. Its a wonder these animals don't run away from home.

7 comments:

judith said...

Wow every epoxy color (label)in the rainbow! He wins!!!!

Jamie said...

I've heard good things about West System epoxies - evidently you would agree? That might be a better option for bar tops and tables, even over the Super Glaze. I'll let you know how the wear goes on the bar and table after it cures and a few weeks go by. Workshop space is critical - I might even switch to a small galley and large workshop, rather than the other way around :)

Travis and Maggie said...

I totally agree on that workshop thing, but since we both love to cook the galley space is also very important. Anyway I am glad to find that nice product review on your blog. Have you tried table top resin? I used that on a few art projects and that's what we were going to use on the bar tops. Still might. But do let us know how the Rustoleum holds up. Oh and yeah, we are big fans on the West System. Travis calls it perfect, except for the price.

Laura and Hans said...

I'm so glad your cat got back on board. The sad thing is he'll probably do it again!

Travis and Maggie said...

Thanks Laura, I told Billy you cared! He's done this twice before, and we never know how it happened. Once I did see him fall in and he swam to the pylon and climbed halfway up and then he saw me and I pulled him in. That time he got really wet, and turned out to be just a little bitty thing under all that down and fur.

Anonymous said...

Hi T&M; even the mess and clutter looks great; its like the plowed corn field in spring, all clods, stalks sticking out this way and that, gully's and dirt. But it has to be that way for the harvest that will surely come. I of course, second Maggies assessment of Travis, already having 2 of his previous projects. Merle

Travis and Maggie said...

Merle, that is the best analogy I heard so far. It IS like a cornfield !