09 May April Update 2015 Restoration Project

The steady drum beat pounding out our work cadence has been stepped up a notch. We’re not at ramming speed yet but getting close. Only 60 plus days till The Rule is scheduled to splash.

Michael Gonzalez finished shaping and painting the main mast. We slid it out a small window in the corner of the work shop, all 36 and a half feet of it, it’s now out in the sun light awaiting hardware. Mike is now working on the Mizzen which will hold all of the electronics; Radar, antenna, lights etc. Daisy Arquero, our rigger, has mastered the art of splicing wire rope and has assembled all of the blocks needed for the running rigging.

Dennis Thompson welded together a support structure that will hold up the mizzen mast but not interfere with the propeller shaft or the engine exhaust system. Jason Kraft is almost finished with the starboard toe rail. The port toe rail is in the paint shop where Karissa Osborne has been sanding and painting 3 days a week. Breckin is completing the bunks, settee and galley structures. All the parts have been cut, sanded and primed and will soon be assembled in the main cabin. Helen Jaccord purchased all the materials needed for the bunks and seat cushions. She has shaped the 3 and 4 inch foam to fit the V berth and both bunks in the main cabin as well as the seat cushions for the bench seats. The material is a sturdy and beautiful aqua marine Naugahyde. Helen is going to embroider the name “Golden Rule” in gold color on the seat cushions. How cool is that.

The gunnel and transom caps have been epoxied and permanently screwed into place. Gerry Condon and I have sanded and are currently applying the final coats of varnish. A Mahogany Gallows has been installed over the transom. It will support the Mizzen boom, stern light and life rings.

Captain Nienhaus has wired into place outlets for 110 and USB ports with high and low power for computers, phones, so crew members can work on their lap tops and Skype with family and friends while aboard.

I hate to say it but we are pretty much out of money again. Several of us are using our own savings to buy materials and pay the few people we need to hire occasionally. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. To close out today, we need a small crew of folks to begin tearing down the boat house. If you can operate a screw gun and climb a ladder, we can use you. The boat house needs to be disassembled and cleared away so we can move the Rule onto the launch car. Call, write or just come by the boat yard and we’ll get you organized.

Respectfully submitted by Chuck DeWitt, Restoration Coordinator “The Golden Rule Project”

Finn Town, Humboldt Bay CA.