Lucky Coin

Lucky Coin stepped under the mast. An old tradition is to lay a 'lucky coin' under the mast of the boat for good sailing. So as part of the refinishing of the mast and boom for the boat was the installation of a coin under the mast. The coin was a Canadian quarter from the …

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Many Hands

As I scrape I have a lot of time for reflect and think about all the hands that worked before mine over the last almost 70 years?  Who were they?  And what different tools and materials did they use?  How have we improved our impact on the environment over the last 70 years?  From infinite …

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Part of the Coast

The boat is out of the water for its annual paint and refit. We had planned to pull alder II from the water and to look at the planks. It arose from the water in fine fettle, with tight planks with a clean bottom. In all it looks wonderful below the water line. Alder II …

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Alder II Heart Beat

The heart of Alder II is gum wood that was laid down in 1949 as the keel of the vessel.  But the heart of the action is the GM Detroit Series 71 three cylinder diesel engine also from 1949.  It is a engine from 1949 and runs without a hit of smoke.  It idles at …

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Alder II – So It Begins

The glorious sweet lines of the former Forest Services Assistant Ranger Launch.  This is the wonderful boat that my wife and I have bought.  We are bring the boat home from Sechelt to Powell River on the May long weekend.  Our boat Alder II, was built in 1949 and the above drawing is a generic …

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