Before today, when people would ask to see a picture of the mast that has been taking up many weekends I sheepishly passed them a shot on my phone of the four long pieces of wood stacked neatly on top one another. “Oh, cool” was the standard-polite answer, said through disappointed and surprised eyes. IContinue reading “The Big Glue”
Tag Archives: Sailing
Block Head
The sun had yet to creep over the horizon and greet the sleepy seaside town of Newport when my cell phone/alarm clock began blaring music and vibrating next to my brain. Looking out the window onto the silent street below my apartment, I swear you could tell just by looking that it was going toContinue reading “Block Head”
The Man with the plan(er)
At long last, my phone alerted me to a text from Jim Titus, asking me when I could come down to start building. “He’s really committed to having me be there to help,” I thought to myself. I would stop down to the shop that night to begin working. Our first task would be planningContinue reading “The Man with the plan(er)”
A handshake a prayer
Going into a business agreement with Jim Titus, is unlike going into business with anyone else. There are no signatures on a formal document. There are no estimates, timetables or schedules of anysort. No, with Jim, all decisions end with the handshake from a hand callused from a life of marine carpentry. A native NewContinue reading “A handshake a prayer”
Sealing the Deal
A few days after verbally agreeing to hire Jim Titus to build a wooden mast for me, it was time to as they say, put my money where my mouth is. I had to pay Jim for the wood needed for the construction. I assumed this process would include a trip to our local HomeContinue reading “Sealing the Deal”
Aftermath: A Wooden Mast’s One Night Stand
I found myself in a unique situation. I was a new sailboat owner; I had virtually no working knowledge of sailboats or sailing for that matter and I needed to replace the mast, which even I knew was an important piece. I mean why couldn’t it be some cushions that needed replacing, that I couldContinue reading “Aftermath: A Wooden Mast’s One Night Stand”
The Diagnosis
A few days after the masthead of my recently purchased Rhodes Chesapeake suffered catastrophic failure, it was apparent my sailing season was over. Anxious to find out how extensively the mast would need to be repaired. I asked the gentlemen at Clark Boat Yard to haul her out and pull the mast. I got aContinue reading “The Diagnosis”
Fresh Starts
Exhausted from the long first day of boat ownership, I made my way to the forward berth to get some much-needed sleep. I sleep well on boats, always have. Maybe it’s the gentle rocking motion or the sound of the water lapping against the hull, but I was out like a light. That was untilContinue reading “Fresh Starts”
Mast Head-ache
After finalizing much of the logistics necessary to purchase my boat it was finally time to bring her from Warren R.I. down to her new home at Clark’s Boat Yard in Jamestown, R.I. It was early on a still Saturday morning; my girlfriend, Karen and I met up with the boat’s original owner, who hadContinue reading “Mast Head-ache”
My first sleepless night
I am a notoriously sound sleeper. I’ve slept through many a New Years celebration, thunderstorms, even the odd hurricane. But the night after I purchased my first boat, a 1961 Rhodes Chesapeake, I found myself in the unique situation off staring up at the ceiling. All I could think about was my recent purchase andContinue reading “My first sleepless night”
Boy and a Boat 