Dave Stephens Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Hi guys, Hope you don't mind if I share a big non-blade project I've been doing this Summer. Last Fall I purchased a very abused boat, a Nordic Tug 26. This is a really neat, classic power boat with whimsical lines. Whoever owned her before me was the equivalent of a violently abusive husband. She was so, incredibly beat up. Anyway, I've spent the Summer gutting the interior, painting the interior hull in preparation for a new engine installation, and spending hundreds of hours fiberglassing, sanding, scraping, caulking, painting, and varnishing the exterior. All teak has been refinished or rebuilt (original swimstep was too damaged so had to build a new one), every seam caulked, every window reseated, etc. Next she goes into a shop for the Winter where they will pull the old engine and transmission and install a new Yanmar. Next Summer begins the interior infrastructure build, with new freshwater tanks/lines/water heaters, diesel stove/furnace, charger, inverter, solar panels, fridge, etc. Summer of 2022 begins the part I'm really looking forward to, the build of the interior woodworking and tile work, and the teak/holly flooring. Hope to splash her for a "maiden" voyage in Fall of 2022. I wish I had taken more "before" photos to give you an idea of how much progress has been made. If you look at the "before" photo of the faux stack, in which it's cracked, dirty, and rotten, and then just imagined the rest of the boat in a similar state of disrepair, you'll have some idea. Attached are some photos of the project and some shots of the almost done exterior (some minor trim work on the bow left). She is newly name the "Bittersweet," which was the name of my dad's first commercial fishing boat. Hope you all are safe and healthy (physically and mentally). Dave 9 -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Hertzson Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Wow, what a fantastic restoration. She is going to be quite the attention getter in the water. Very impressed with the craftsmanship, time and effort you have put in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Christenberry Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Dave, you and your wife (my assumption) did an absolutely magnificent job of bringing that old girl back to spit and polish shape. You are going to be the envy of the docks for sure. Very impressive. Chris www.chrischristenberry.com WHEW!!! If I could only know now what I "thought" I knew back then.................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Stephens Posted August 31, 2020 Author Share Posted August 31, 2020 15 minutes ago, Chris Christenberry said: Dave, you and your wife (my assumption) did an absolutely magnificent job of bringing that old girl back to spit and polish shape. You are going to be the envy of the docks for sure. Very impressive. Thanks Chris, Believe it or not, the woman in the photo is my mother, who looks younger than I do. Also, my daughter and her boyfriend have helped a lot. My wife (the Admiral) is in Florida, where I spend the Winters. She only gives me two weeks a year at our house in Alaska during the peak of Summer, now. She doesn't do cold weather! lol -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Christenberry Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 "Family re-furb"...............what an arrangement. Chris www.chrischristenberry.com WHEW!!! If I could only know now what I "thought" I knew back then.................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Stephens Posted August 31, 2020 Author Share Posted August 31, 2020 1 hour ago, Dan Hertzson said: Wow, what a fantastic restoration. She is going to be quite the attention getter in the water. Very impressed with the craftsmanship, time and effort you have put in. Thank you, Dan! -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Brewer Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Well done Dave; nice to see people saving good old boats wish I had gotten the chance to save my Grand Dad's commercial boat the Lenore, It was a marlin harpoon boat before Gramps bought and converted it to a salmon / albacore troller....... If ya can't be good don't git caught !! People who say stuff can't be done need to git the hell outta the way of people who do stuff !!! Show me a man who is called an expert by his peers And I will show you a good man to listen to ...... Show me a man who calls himself an expert and I will show you an egotistical asshole...............!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Stephens Posted August 31, 2020 Author Share Posted August 31, 2020 54 minutes ago, Clifford Brewer said: Well done Dave; nice to see people saving good old boats wish I had gotten the chance to save my Grand Dad's commercial boat the Lenore, It was a marlin harpoon boat before Gramps bought and converted it to a salmon / albacore troller....... Thanks, Clifford. Was your grandfather's boat in Oregon? Any photos? I have to admit I know nothing about Marlin harpoon boats. I'd love to learn more. Thanks. Dave -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 That's a lot of work, but wow! Looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua States Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 I am leaving this post on my screen for the day, so I can toggle through them and imagine myself helping you rather than sitting at my desk job. Thanks for posting Dave. This is making the day start out with a little inspiration. “So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.” The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing. Josh http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg J.States Bladesmith | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyO Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Thanks for posting, Dave. Looks like y'all are doing a fine job on the restoration. RIP Bear....be free! as always peace and love billyO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Myers Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 I can tell the abuse she received by the engine. No self-respecting owner/captain would let their engine get so rough-looking! Out on the water, the engine is your life, and you need it clean and operating in tip-top shape. That thing just looks like a pile of dried grease and oil! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Brewer Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 10 hours ago, Dave Stephens said: Thanks, Clifford. Was your grandfather's boat in Oregon? Any photos? I have to admit I know nothing about Marlin harpoon boats. I'd love to learn more. Thanks. Dave I don't know much about the harpooning either, but it had a long bowsprit and racks for buoys that were connected together at certain lengths as well as a crow's nest for spotting, I liked it when we were albacore fishing for spotting schools. We were based out of Humboldt Bay Calif. but we worked from Bodega Bay Ca. to Coos Bay Or. I miss it a lot, Gramps passed away on the boat in Humboldt bay in 75 and me being in high school it was not possible to take it over..... If ya can't be good don't git caught !! People who say stuff can't be done need to git the hell outta the way of people who do stuff !!! Show me a man who is called an expert by his peers And I will show you a good man to listen to ...... Show me a man who calls himself an expert and I will show you an egotistical asshole...............!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 I just noticed she has a bow thruster! Sweet. I bet that'll come in handy on such a short, bluff-bowed boat should you ever get in tight quarters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dougherty Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 I do love old boats. Very nice (and large) project you have there. Good on you! How is she constructed? Looks planked from the outside, but the bilge pics look like fiberglass. Do you follow Leo of the Sampson Boat Co. on youtube? -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveShimanek Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Nice project, coming along great! Still working on my boat as well, a 36 foot sail boat; we are heading back to Hawaii in the very near future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Stephens Posted September 1, 2020 Author Share Posted September 1, 2020 10 hours ago, Brian Dougherty said: I do love old boats. Very nice (and large) project you have there. Good on you! How is she constructed? Looks planked from the outside, but the bilge pics look like fiberglass. Do you follow Leo of the Sampson Boat Co. on youtube? Thanks, Brian. It's an all fiberglass hull. The grooves on the outside are just decorative. I don't follow Leo. I will check it out. Thanks. 9 hours ago, SteveShimanek said: Nice project, coming along great! Still working on my boat as well, a 36 foot sail boat; we are heading back to Hawaii in the very near future. Steve: Where is your boat? Do you mean you'll be sailing her to Hawaii? -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Stephens Posted September 1, 2020 Author Share Posted September 1, 2020 10 hours ago, Alan Longmire said: I just noticed she has a bow thruster! Sweet. I bet that'll come in handy on such a short, bluff-bowed boat should you ever get in tight quarters. I've had three boats with bow thrusters and I refuse to use them from sheer hard-headed stubborness. They are nice when it's calm: no wind, no current. If it's blowing, however, you have to know how to maneuver your boat on basic principles. Do you know the book/movie, "A River Runs Through It?" There is a line in there that I love. (Paraphrase) "In my father's opinion, no one who did not know how to catch a trout properly should ever be allowed to dishonor the fish by actually catching it." I've got sort of the same attitude with boats. Grins. Dave -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Stephens Posted September 1, 2020 Author Share Posted September 1, 2020 16 hours ago, Joshua States said: I am leaving this post on my screen for the day, so I can toggle through them and imagine myself helping you rather than sitting at my desk job. Thanks for posting Dave. This is making the day start out with a little inspiration. Thanks Josh. If you had been here, I would have happily accepted the help! So many hours on the random orbit sander. I wish I had counted how many discs I went through. LOL. -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 8 hours ago, Dave Stephens said: I've got sort of the same attitude with boats. I get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lester Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 How ya gettin it ta Florida? Doug HELP...I'm a twenty year old trapped in the body of an old man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveShimanek Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Dave, my boat is here in Pago Pago harbor, American Samoa; it is a 1980 Lancer 36 designed as a IOR racer/cruiser. It was cheap, so you know how much goes into THAT! I have been working on it since February and just got to sail it for the first time the other day; plan is to leave to sail north in October/November time frame if all goes well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua States Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 That looks like a ton of fun Steve. “So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.” The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing. Josh http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg J.States Bladesmith | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Stephens Posted September 6, 2020 Author Share Posted September 6, 2020 On 9/1/2020 at 12:51 PM, SteveShimanek said: Dave, my boat is here in Pago Pago harbor, American Samoa; it is a 1980 Lancer 36 designed as a IOR racer/cruiser. It was cheap, so you know how much goes into THAT! I have been working on it since February and just got to sail it for the first time the other day; plan is to leave to sail north in October/November time frame if all goes well. Ah, that's cool man. I follow a couple of sailboat cruisers on YouTube that have lived aboard a sailboat about this size and totally rebuilt it. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzcVZX2xM_kiOFWuGg-Phw I wish I knew more about sailboats. I grew up in the commercial fishery in Alaska, so all my experience is in trawler-type diesel powerboats. I have chartered sailboats several times in the Virgin Islands, but I'm a fair weather sailor at best. Any serious passage, put me in a trawler. -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Bondurant Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Dave, Nordic Tugs are awesome boats,,,, great project and even better job on getting it done. Sorry we never crossed paths down in Florida, were out here in the middle of a ocean of grass now days, if you ever run out of beer,,,, I have some work for you, b. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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