15 Jun June 2014 Update

April has been a very good month for the Rule. We’ve had a number of important visitors to the boat yard and some really generous donations. Citizens from coast to coast including Hawaii are being personally informed of our accomplishments thus far and our intended mission. A big thank you goes out to retired Army Colonel Ann Wright for the work she is doing on our behalf with the Friends of Honolulu. The V.F.P. Golden Rule Project is moving ahead faster than I could of imagined.

Mike has finished installing the hatch on the foredeck which includes a small light window that is strong enough to walk on. He’s now building the butterfly hatch which will be on top and in the center of the main cabin. It has two glass windows for light and can be opened for ventilation or closed during storms. It also may be walked on, extremely sturdy.

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The Dutchman (aka Breckin) is finished working on the Bay tour boat (The Madaket) and has gone to work on our companion way hatch. She has cut the opening to it’s correct dimensions and is now gluing the Mahogany trim in place. The gunnel & transom caps have been cut, sanded and dry screwed into place with two coats of protective varnish. Once the hardware and life lines are located we’ll epoxy the caps down permanently. I’m currently constructing the bunks and storage lockers in the foreward compartment.

Mr. Ralph Krause of the Kayak Club has joined us and is going to build two doors for us. One door is for the foreward compartment and the other is for the head (bathroom). We will supply the design, measurements and materials and he will build them at his home shop. Steve Ninehaus has acquired a wholesale agreement with West Marine and has ordered all our electronics; radar, GPS, radio, inverters, batteries(deep cell marine) and lights. Lighting will all be LED with both white and red capabilities. The cost of all this will be around $6K.

A check for $3,500.00 has been cut and sent for a 16 inch 3 bladed prop, shaft, drip less stuffing box and bearings so we can hook up to the transmission and bolt the engine down permanently. Installation is scheduled for May 3rd. The boat shop has been cleaned out & reorganized in preparation for main mast construction. This will be a huge job and will require at least 6 volunteers. I expect we’ll start the mast work in July. We also need a navigation center built to accommodate all of Steves electronics which should arrive any day now. We need another cabinet man, HELP….. The project is moving forward at flank speed thanks to all of the supporters we have, THANK YOU!!!!

Respectfully submitted by Chuck DeWitt, Restoration Coordinator.