May 30................Transom lettering

I get to Mojito just as "Krazy Kolors Larry" is finishing repainting the transom with Mojito's name again. He has done a great job. It's good to have her name on her again.

Joel has finished sanding the cabin sides and neutralized the wood in preparation for the stain. He also has had Mojito's motor running and tells me it checks out fine.

So whats left is stain, varnish and sanding between coats on the cabin sides.

Two more coats of paint for the topsides.

Sand and paint the roof.

A few more coats of varnish on the transom.


Mojito is getting closer to a splash.

May 22......Varnish and paint

A lot has been done since I last saw Mojito. Cabin sides stripped, two coats of paint laid on the hull, carburetor rebuilt and installed and fuel system checked out. Robert and I only have 3 hours so we clean the bilge, pull the batteries and tape off the cabin sides so Joel can sand them.

Joel also shows us the hatch he has completed with 12 coats of varnish. I am starting to drool because it looks so good.

Primer goes on........

The primer coat goes on the hull after extensive sanding. Its nice to see this happen. I can start to see what she may look like finished.

I continue stripping the cabin sides at a slow pace. I am really glad Joel is in charge of this project. He is a real pro that spends enough time keeping me informed and busy while I am there, but he also gives me the appropiate jobs to do so I am not in his way.

At last.....some stain goes on!

Joel is kind enough to wait for me to apply the stain on the transom. The photo above shows Joel checking out the stain. Its great to see this progress!

More stripping and sanding ....does it ever end?

I pick up Robert and we make the 30 minute drive to Stillwater. I appreciate spending this time with him and the energy he has put into this project. He had spent the previous Monday stripping the hull with Joel. It's all off and Joel is sanding and fixing dock dings. No additional planks are needed and she looks great.

Joel has also removed all of the old canvas off of the foredeck. Again, I think I am very lucky because the decking is solid. Joel will install a West System over this replacing the original canvas system.

We are assigned to strip the cabin sides of varnish. I suck at this but need to get it down. Once again Robert proves that his patience and technique is better than mine. I guess fathers should listen to their sons every once in awhile.

Where Mojito rests

I told my daughter Sarah and son-in-law Jason about Mojito over dinner one night. I also mention I was not sure about where I want to dock her. I knew that I wanted to be on the river , but not sure where. I have looked at a few marinas on the Mississippi and the St. Croix. Because of it's location I mention my first choice is The St. Paul Yacht Club. Jason speaks right up and informs me that one of his best friends father is the Dockmaster there. By the end of the evening Jason has set me up there with a great slip. It could not have been easier.

The hull...April 24th

Robert and I arrive to find that Joel has the bottom painted and is stripping the hull. We suit up and try to help. I quickly learn that I have to develop a lot of patience while letting the stripper work. I seem to not let it cook long enough. I think Robert has a better sense of when it's ripe and I start listening to him. It goes a lot better.

All of a sudden this 33 foot hull seems very, very big to me. We work away and make some really good progress. Robert has agreed to come back on Monday and help with additional stripping.

I am a little nervous about what we will find after the paint is all off, but so far so good.

The bottom

I arrive at Joel's to find he has the bottom down to bare wood and ready to caulk. He shows me one plank he replaced and a few he has refastened. He also shows me that he has replaced two lower planks on the transom. I spend the afternoon laying on my back helping him caulk the bottom. I quickly discover a few things. I am fat and out of shape and it is really a good idea to have a pro around who knows what he is doing.

Surfing for others

I am also spending way to much time surfing the web to find out more about sister boats to Mojito. If you are reading this blog you probably know that it's easy to get lost on the web. I have found many great sites and a few comparable boats but I am always looking for others. As always, The American Classic and Antique Boat Society Inc. is one of many sources that provide great information.

Buying stuff

Ok, it's been a few years since I owned a boat this size and have shed most of my gear. I am now gushing money buying all the basics again. Fenders, lines, PDF's, you name it. The online and local marine stores love to see me coming. They get all my spare cash.

The work begins

My son, Robert and I head to Stillwater to retrieve the upholstered pieces from the cabin. I am not a fan of what she has for current fabric so I am going with an off white. Two bunks, the captain's chair and a sleeper sofa all need to be done. That is about all I am doing to the cabin this year.

Joel plans on starting the bottom April 6th. I am scheduled to help whenever I can.

The plan this year

My plan for Mojito is pretty simple. First, I write a bunch of checks. Anyone that has owned any boat knows that no matter what you plan on it always costs more.

This first year is about getting her ready for a splash. I will concentrate on the bottom, hull, cabin sides, fore deck and cabin top. After sitting out of the water for about 4 years all the paint and varnish needs to come off and the wood inspected. I will do some very basic cabin work this year but the emphasis is on the exterior. Joel has agreed to mastermind the project and I will help when I can. Next year should bring more attention to the interior and creature comforts.

Classic Boat Hardware

I first saw Mojito at Joel Lemanski's Classic Boat Hardware (www.classicboathardware.com) pole barn in Stillwater Minnesota. Joel claims to have known Mojito most of his life. Buying a boat from Joel is the same as getting permission from him to own it. He is really very practical about wooden boats, but the underlying tone is that you have to understand you never really own these things. They own you, or at best you are just their caretaker for awhile. It actually made my buying decision a lot easier. With Joel's help and guidance I am going to try and bring Mojito back to some of her former glory.

Original

Mojito has never been substantially altered. She appears to have been well maintained by a small group of owners that seem to have done the right thing for this old boat. Some modifications are inevitable, but Mojito appears to be "as delivered".

Power

The biggest modification to Mojito appears to be the installation of a Red Wing 115 Horsepower Meteor engine, replacing the original Chris Craft power plant.

Mojito...the boat

I do this because I love it. I am driven to these boats because of their classic lines, craftsmanship and the sense of fulfillment (and frustration) you get from owning and maintaining a woody.

This is my story about Mojito...........while under my care.