DIY - THE WORK ON THE BOAT CONTINUES

The very long and very cold winter that Manitoba experienced this year opened up a lot of small cracks in the fibre glass of the boats super structure.   Those all have to be filled before we paint this year.  We don't want moisture getting in there. 

 

 

 Once the body filler is applied, it all has to be sanded, then painted. 

 

 

 

 And with the poplar trees starting to drop seeds everywhere we will probably have to tarp everything over as we paint.  Otherwise we will have a very fuzzy boat. 

 

 

Dan is re-installing the top of the damaged bow pulpit. 

 

 

And I am busy sanding, sanding, sanding.   And flushing our water system of anti-freeze.  And Ken has the hull just about ready for painting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WE STARTED OUT BEHIND SCHEDULE THIS YEAR, BUT IT'S COMING ALONG

 

 

 

 

WHERE DID THE THUNDERBIRD COME FROM

THUNDERBIRD   1974 - 2000 

What we know about "Thunderbird" prior to our purchase is sketchy.  We were told that R. J. "Dick" Watt  built her at his marina "Buchanan Marine" in Winnipeg.  

Her hull was purchased used from Riverton, without a working engine.  The story is that she was a Lake Winnipeg hull and was used as a ""Fisheries Inspection Boat".    The steel hull with slightly raised steel forecastle and partially enclosed helm, was purchased and hauled to Winnipeg to be turned into a pleasure boat.  Dates Unknown.  Dick Watt added the 471 Detroit Diesel, and as a master carpenter who worked for Brown and Rutherford, he also added the present superstructure and beautiful woodwork and inlays throughout the interior.   

The engine he installed came from a 1954 Winnipeg Transit Bus as did some of the interior light fixtures.  Our research with Detroit Diesel indicates that it came off the line for a 1947 McCormick Tractor, but was somehow diverted to a bus manufacturer and ended up at Winnipeg Transit.   Lots of questions there???  We also have documentation that indicates that she was first re-launched in 1974, but not finished and registered as 5F40284 until 1978.

 We came to know of the boat and her history through Dick Watt's daughter Susan, who is a friend and was a co-worker of mine for 27 years.  The first time I was ever on "The Bird", was in the spring of 1986 when Susan invited us out for a cruise, on the Red River.  Dan and I had just gotten into what we considered larger boats with the purchase of our 25ft Bayliner and loved our little boat the "LINDAN".  But when I stepped on board Thunderbird, I said "Now this is a BOAT!  Wow!”   And I have been in love with this boat ever since.  
  
 When Dick Watt died in 1984. The Thunderbird was taken from the marina and taken to Colville landing by someone from the marina claiming that the boat was promised to them.  They had no documentation or bill of sale or record of transfer or payment.  There was also nothing in any will naming a bequest to them.  So, Susan, her brother Jack and their mother Jean had to take them to court to get the boat back.  They eventually won the case in court and the boat, much neglected and with certain items missing was returned to them.  I remember being at Kildonan Canoe Club in our LINDAN with friends when Susan and Jack went by the day they were bringing the boat back to Buchanan Marine. 

After Dick's death, Susan and Jack tried to keep the marina going, but were unsuccessful.  So, after the years of legal wrangling and the closing of the marina, they were keeping the boat back at Colville landing and trying to decide whether to keep it or sell it.   We were living on Henderson Highway at the time and keeping our boat at Colville Landing as well.   

1. The Bird's roofs were leaking. 
2. They didn't know much about the engine. 
3. They had only ever boated on the river and were not at all familiar with the lake.  

 
That’s when we got involved. 

 They found a friend at Colville to help them get the engine running.  Both roofs were leaking, but the Galley/Salon roof seemed to be leaking the worst at that time so, we helped them patch that.  Basically, we convinced them to fix up the leaky roofs, put her in the water and venture out onto the lake with us, and the "LINDAN".   "How did they know they wouldn't just love it as much as we did?"  

We had many great holidays and weekenders as we introduced them to “The Lake”.  We spent a lot of time together between Colville Landing, BCYC and Gimli and have many fond memories of those times. 

But as it turned out they didn't really enjoy boating on Lake Winnipeg as much as we always have.  After a few years they were not enjoying it enough to warrant the expenses and decided to sell.  At the time we still owned our Bayliner and were very much involved with our new house on Henderson Highway and weren't really prepared to think about boating.   

But, years later, with retirement looming, and us deciding to sell the house and downsize, the idea of getting back into boating as a retirement hobby, seemed like a good idea.  My thought was, “What better way than with the Thunderbird?” Dan’s thought was “Do you realize how much work that boat needs?” 

I decided to find out if they still owned it and if it was still for sale.  We hadn't really kept track of whether they had sold her or not.  The subject didn't exactly come up at coffee breaks.  But, when I asked Susan about it she said her mother always thought we should have it and Susan made me an offer, I couldn't refuse.  And Dan was right.  He has been working on it ever since. 

 

 

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS BLOG UNDER "DIY", THE REFIT OF THUNDERBIRD HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2000


 

 

   

DIY: WORKING ON THE BOAT

OK,  here we go with our todo list for the Thunderbird for the spring of 2014.

We didn't think we had that much to do this year, but on closer inspection, this winter was pretty hard on the old girl.  The Hull definitely needs the usual work. 

Of course Dan has to undo everything he did to winterize the engine and the plumbing systems on board.  Batteries to be charged etc.  Then, I have to return everything that would have frozen, that I removed from the boat in the fall.  I'm bound to forget something. 
 

 

 The hull needs to be scrapped and painted.  Thankfully our son Ken is doing that.  This of course has to be completed before the boat goes in the water. 

Then there are some repairs needed to the bow pulpit, from our disastrous trip back from Gull Harbour last August. 

There is also some damage to the rub rail on the starboard walk around. 

These two repairs could wait until we are at the beach, but we will just see how the time goes.   

Hopefully we will be underway north, to Boundary Creek Marina in no time at all. 

I WANT TO GET GOING, I HAVE TO BE THERE BY CANADA DAY. 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS SPRING PROJECT IS COMING ALONG

The spring project at our daughters is coming along.  The demolition has been completed and the rebuild has started.

 

This project consists of 3 main areas.  Opening up the wall between the dining room and kitchen, creating a pony wall for a new pass through counter, new granite counter tops and widening the doorway.  This also required repairs to the new laminate floors where the door was widened. 

 

Then there is the bathroom, that needs a major plumbing repair then replace the old tub surround with new subway tiles around the tub. 
 

And finally, the back entry is getting a whole new ceiling now that the new roof has eliminated the leaking.  Plus of course there are always the "Might as wells" that get added to the list, when you have an old house, like new plumbing fixtures while you have the shower all pulled apart and finally getting rid of the last of the old post and spool wiring while you're at it. 

 

 

Now that the supplies are here and unloaded we are done for now.   

 

 

 

 

All of this certainly won't be finished this spring, but it's time for us to get on with our boat projects.  So, carry on, and let us know if you run into any snags.  And we will come back and lend a hand in the fall. 

 

 

 

ON TO BOATING

 

 

NOW IT'S TIME TO GET THE BOAT READY FOR LAUNCH

Today we went out to RMYC and took the tarp off of the boat, Finally.   

 

 

 

This is the first time we have ever stored the boat outside for the winter, and I hear this winter was a doozey, so it's time to see how well we did and how she fared.  Everything we did to winterize it now has to be undone. 

 

 

 

 The boatyard is a pretty busy place right now,

 

 

 

with everyone anxious to get their boats in the water and get the season started. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's time to start making my todo lists.   Other than engine stuff, that I have nothing to do with, there is a lot of cleaning to do.  Then the hull needs to be scraped and painted and there is a damaged area on the starboard rub rail that needs to be replaced.  Hopefully we will be able to get this all done in a short time because I am anxious to get the boat in the water and get my summer started. 

 

 

Right now my boat is a disaster, but most of this can not be put in order until all of the work is finished. 

 

 

 

SO NOW IT'S TIME TO GET AT IT

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIFE ABOARD A TRAWLER

Living aboard a trawler is similar in many ways to living in a small cabin or trailer for the summer.  You get to enjoy summer at the lake, plus you have the benefit of being able to take your cabin to a different beach if you choose. 

 

A Trawler is traditionally a very slow, but powerful boat.  And that very much describes what "Thunderbird" is.  She is big and roomy and makes a good live aboard.  But, she is also very slow.  Her top speed is only 10 mph and our normal cruising speed is about 7 1/2 mph, therefore if we are going anywhere it needs to be well planned out. 

 

Not that we haven't seen some of the best laid plans go awry. 

 

 

 

For the most part we spend our summers close to our home port of "Boundary Creek Marina".    This harbour allows for easy access to everything we could possibly need.  Groceries, Hardware, Liquor Store and a variety of Restaurants within a short drive.  Even a Walmart 27 miles away in Selkirk and of course our lake access. 

 

 

We can venture out for cruises, to go out on the lake to swim, or to get away from a hot still day at dock, to cruise with friends for a raft-up or we cruise just to break the monotony that can occur in a long hot summer.

 

But a "Destination Cruise", is a whole different thing.  That takes planning.  You have to plan for fuel, where are we going to have access to Diesel?  Food, what to take and for how long?  Will there be stores?  Do we have all the tools we need if we have a breakdown?  Always a fear on a long haul.  And what about the weather?  But the "Destination Cruise" is the high-lite of living on board.  To take your home and move it to a new port or a few new ports for a real change. 

 

 

Navigating??  I think we are pretty good at navigating, we haven't gotten lost yet.  But when you are going into strange waters it is always best to check all your charts for updates. 

 

We rely on our GPS and personal notes for the most part, but I would never cruise away from our home port without my charts.  We have had incidents when the GPS has gone "out" when on a cruise.  So I don't rely on it alone. 

 

 

Weather??  Now this is the one thing that you have absolutely no control over.  Especially on Lake Winnipeg.  This lake is relatively shallow for a lake of this size, especially in the South Basin.  A squall can come through on land with high wind and rain and leave nothing behind but a few puddles and a little excitement. 

 

 

But out on the lake that same squall, can whip up substantial waves.  And if the wind keeps up for any length of time those waves can build to be quite huge.   We know from experience that you don't want to be caught out there in that and you most CERTAINLY would not venture out into it. 

 

 

 

 

I LOVE LIVING ON BOARD OUR TRAWLER

MORE OF OUR FLORIDA TRIP

Dan's brother Dwight welcomed us to Florida.     

 

My readers should remember Debra and her husband Kevin, whom you met along with Dan's brother Dwight in my earlier blog of St.Patrick's Day in Texas.  

 

Later we were joined by another niece  Bonnie and her Brad.

 

 

That night we had a few toasts to Barb.  Then the next morning we took off to the other side of Florida, to West Palm Beach ,where Barb's favourite beach was.  That was where Barb and Dwight's third daughter Deanna was catching up with us. 

 

 

That night, we, including Dan's sister Brenda and her husband Gary, all gathered for dinner at the Blue Anchor restaurant and bar.

 

 

Our  three Thacker Nieces.  Bonnie, Deanna and Debra.

 

 

The next day was the Memorial service, which I covered in an earlier blog.  Before the little ceremony some had a refreshing swim in the ocean.  Then after the memorial the wind picked up a bit and we headed back to the hotel. 

 

 

Dwight put us all up at the beautiful Marriot Courtyard in West Palm beach.  We all spent a lot of time gathered pool side, well into the evenings. That was really, lovely. 

 

 

That night we all gathered again for dinner.  This time at The Old Key Lime House on the ocean. 

 

 

Another lovely dinner with family and friends reminiscing and sharing stories of Barb. 

 

 

 

Then it was back again to the west side of Florida and our flight from Tampa back to Winnipeg. 

 

 

 

 

NOW IT'S TIME TO GET TO OUR SPRING TODO LISTS