THE REALITY
In short, we got what we wanted.
Over the course of four years of construction, my spouse and I continually asked, “Is this what we really want in a boat? Is this how we want to live? In 50 years will our grandkids be venturing the same passages we enjoyed in the custom boat built a couple generations earlier?”
These are difficult questions to answer at the moment, but they served at the time to push us to build our boat just the way we wanted. Being on site and working alongside the other workers allowed us to make decisions that truly make this a custom boat.
Examples: what height for handrails, location of instruments, where to place the stairway up to the flybridge, and where the swim platform should be placed so we could board safely from a dinghy. We figured out which doors would swing in or out, or be pocket doors. The placement of light switches, door locks, interior hand rails, interior heater and design of all cabinets, berths and reading lights, all required well thought out decisions.
After the launching, we transited more than 100 locks on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers and the waterways of the Trent Severn, Rideau, and Richelieu, our access to full walkaround decks and door openings off the wheelhouse paid off handsomely.
Another design feature that paid off was the flybridge. Experience on our former trawler made clear that we wanted to drive the boat “upstairs,” except in increment weather.
We chose aluminum for the surround to minimize the weight of the 14- by 8-foot structure, and stainless for the permanent bimini and radar tower. With Velcro screens and thick closed-cell-foam cushions, the bridge sleeps two blissfully on starry nights.
While we were dealt a single Perkins 6-354 engine, we were grateful each time we encountered a fixed object below the waterline. Our prop and shaft were saved from impact, and believe me, we grounded going at least five knots. To compensate for the single screw, we chose a Sidepower bow thruster rated for a 50-foot boat in a 30-knot wind. Even this was marginal when we encountered swift river currents acting on the 4.5-foot keel, especially entering locks.
Paint is part science, part art. While fiberglass boats must deal with blisters, deterioration of gel-coat and “dock rash,” steel boats are subject to rust. We used an epoxy barrier coat for underwater surfaces, and Acrolon (acrylic polyurethane) for the topsides. One major advantage of this system is that a rolland-tip approach works wonders to cover scratches. Which in turn reduces the anxiety of docking. Plus we do it ourselves. Did we build the perfect boat? Absolutely not. It will, however, suit our purposes for coastal waters and the Great Lakes; and it will be a point of pride to pass along to future generations. We also know that wherever we go, people are seriously interested in her, and ask for a captain’s tour. As one guest commented, “Anybody can buy a boat; not everyone can build one.” That observation rings true after four arduous years.