Current
Status: Project Indefinitely Postponed.
Home Page > Update Status |
Click here for the full
site update history. |
September 1, 2010
 With
mixed feelings, we made the decision during the summer to
indefinitely postpone (read: cancel) this project.
The reasons behind this decision were complex, but
centered around some very different thoughts we were
having about our future cruising and boating
needs--thoughts that had been manifesting themselves for
the past couple years.
This was a difficult
decision, one made over time and with much thought.
This would still make a great and beautful boat, and
everything I've said about the design and her potential
still stands, but for reasons I'll discuss elsewhere we
decided we were interested in a different direction.
A lot had changed since 2004, and it seemed better to
admit to our inner feelings than to push on against the
grain. Coming to terms with the potential
expenditures--both precious time and money--for our next
big project also meant we had to be sure we were spending
both on the right boat for us.
Having come to this
decision, I reinforced the coachroof from beneath with
some supports (to support future snow load on the cover),
built a simple framework over the gaping cockpit hole, and
gingerly moved the boat outdoors for storage, after which
I covered her securely. I was melancholy, but also
excited at the new prospects ahead.
Later, we
transferred the ownership of the boat, and she was taken
away.
Here's what's next. |
 March
19, 2010
Progress has been slower
than I'd hoped during the latter part of this winter. Work
commitments and other requirements have taken most of my
weekends of late. A few weeks ago, I even thought
I'd have to temporarily move the boat out of the shop to
make room for work projects; fortunately, it appears that
this won't be necessary after all, which is good news.
I have the material on hand to begin the repairs to
the stern quarters, and look forward to beginning soon.
When that will be I can't say for sure, but hopefully my
weekends will open up in the near future, at which point I
can get back to work.
This website is about action
and progress, not excuses, but I felt a brief update was
in order to explain the current status and reassure you,
dear reader, that progress will surely soon continue. |
 October
6, 2009
Now that the project
is underway, most new updates will occur in the project
logs.
Click here to go to
the project logs. >>> |
 October
5, 2009
I uncovered the boat
for the first time in over two years, and moved her inside
my shop, where I could begin the long project ahead.
Click here for
more. >>>
|
 September
30, 2009
Newsflash! This
project will begin this fall. Watch for updates
soon. This is very exciting, so
stay tuned (assuming anyone is still watching and waiting
for this project...)
|
 January
19, 2009
No change in the status. |
August 3, 2008
No change in the status.
|
 December
31, 2007
Pixie remains outdoors and tightly covered
against the weather. Shop space availability,
personal time, and, most importantly, financial
capability remain the factors affecting the eventual
start date of Pixie's rebuilding. |
June 4, 2007
Yes, this project will eventually happen.
 But for now, I had to
accept the fact that I had neither the time nor
resources to do any immediate work on the boat, and
therefore came to the difficult conclusion that I needed
to move her out of the shop, as I needed the space for
other projects.
Therefore,
I had her moved back outdoors, where I installed a new
tarp to keep the water out. (Sorry...no photo of
the tarped boat at this time.)
I'm quite anxious to
get going on the project, but until I am truly ready
there's no sense pretending. So stay tuned, and
eventually your--and my--patience will be rewarded.
I'll post status updates as appropriate. |
January 19, 2007
 I have no progress to report, unfortunately.
This project is turning into a longer proposition than I
originally intended; it's been over two years since I
bought her, but I just haven't had the time to dedicate
to her restoration.
I
always intended this to be a long-term project, however,
so it's not really a surprise. Lack of progress so
far doesn't mean that things aren't going to get going.
Anyone who knows me knows that I always follow through.
Once I get going, things will start to happen regularly
and quickly. But until I can truly dedicate the
time, money, and resources to the job, I won't do much.
That said, I still hope
to do the basic demolition this winter. Stripping
the boat back to her essence will not only remove the
forlorn appearance, but will also provide inspiration
for her rebuild. A blank canvas is an exciting
thing. |
June
25, 2006
Things are still on hold. I've taken the summer
off to build a new house on our property, and all boat
activity is now pending completion of the house later
this fall.
 Since
we moved, all our boxed belongings are stored in the
shop next to and around the boat, which would make any
work impossible regardless of other commitments.
By the winter, the shop will be empty of personal
belongings and demolition work on the boat can begin as
time allows. While I am not making any firm
schedules for this project, I would like to manage to
strip her back to hull and deck over the winter,
removing the fire-damaged interior and preparing for new
work. I'd also like to grind the hull and deck to
remove old paint and prepare for new work.
I realize this site is
growing very slowly. But if you keep coming back,
I promise that eventually there will be work to see! |
February 15, 2006
Pixie moves indoors!
Click here for more. >>> |
November, 2005
The pupa is back!
 Last
year, a friend quipped that the boat looked like a pupa
the way it had been covered. The name stuck, of
course.
So, after a summer
exposed--but during which no work occurred--I recovered
the boat in late October. The plans are to
transport her to the new shop sometime late this year,
but to hedge my bets against early snowstorms and
freezing, I located a derelict old tarp somewhere and
covered the boat--a token, but then there's little that
can hurt the boat in her current condition.
Mainly, I wanted to keep out additional water that might
freeze in the bilge. The garboard drain has been
performing admirably, however. |
October 18, 2005
Unfortunately, I have no
progress to report on the boat at this time.
 When
we bought the boat just over a year ago, we didn't
anticipate that we would find--and purchase--an
excellent plot of acreage about an hours' drive away.
Such a property (50 acres, in this case) had been a
longstanding dream for us, so we jumped at an
opportunity.
This shook things up,
as building a new house and larger, improved boat shop
meant that we would not, for the time being, have
resources available for Pixie's restoration.
Therefore, until the new house is complete in 2006, we
don't expect to be working much on Pixie.
That's OK, as she was
always intended to be a long-term project, and we bought
the boat as much to secure a desirable design as
anything. Once the new shop is complete, hopefully
by late 2005, I expect to move the boat there, and place
her inside, where deconstruction work can begin as time
allows.
If you're interested in the new shop, please click here.
(Opens in a new
window) |
 April
20, 2005
The wind took care of the small forward portion of the
cover, so I decided to finish the job and remove the
remaining cover. I had considered leaving her
covered, but frankly, I wanted to see the boat again, and
was sick of the blue tarp.
Having the boat uncovered
gives me a chance to climb aboard from time to time and
reflect upon the job ahead. The damage inside is
devastating, but things will seem better once I get an
opportunity to begin some demolition, hopefully this
summer. Meantime, a little rain isn't going to hurt
anything.
There was lots of
settling, heaving, and other ground motion during the
winter, and I was constantly readjusting the stands.
Now, with the boat open and more room, I decided to
rearrange the stands, reset them on new pads on the ground
(pressure on several had forced the stand bases right
through), and add two additional stands amidships.
The weakened stern quarters had begun to deform under the
after stands, so with the additional set amidships, I
could relieve the pressure safely on the aft stands. |
 February
4, 2005
There's no action on the
boat, but I thought this was a pretty shot in the fresh
show. |
|
January 3, 2005
 The
boat waits patiently her
turn in the workshop, scheduled for sometime in mid-2005.
She's covered with blue tarps, temporarily hiding the
devastating fire damage from view, if not from my mind.
The tarps manage to accentuate that beautiful sheerline,
though.
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