New path to competion

15 June 2013

With builder now formally out of business, there is a need to find a new solution for completion.  Except for the keels and the bent rudder, the boat is sea worthy, although the fly bridge and a few areas of the bulwarks are showing some weathering.  Fortunately as the first boat started in the 5 that ae left incomplete, the beginnings of the boat (hull and house) are quite solid - having been built before the financial ills began.  Most of the other boats are not nearly so far along and needed to find a company that could do extensive work.  My boat could travel on it own hull and power so had more options.  I chose to have Schooner Creek Marine of Portland OR come to Astoria and repair the keels and rudder and re-paint the hulls.  After the keel repairs the bottom was painted with 4 coats of Pettit Protect epoxy barrier coat and 2 coats of Pettit Trinidad SR antifouling paint.  On September 25, 2013 the boat was launched taken to the Schooner Creek facility to work on the fly bridge and bulwarks.

Slow construction progress grinds to a halt

01 January 2012

At this point the builder was in so much financial trouble that he could only work on projects that brought in new money.  The builder's failure is obviously just a matter of time.  I made infrequent trips and do some work myself.  I installed a hot-water heater and  hydronic furnace heating system - Hurricane II.  The system involves 100+ feet of 1-inch heavy-duty heater hose circling the boat with5 heat exchangers.  The system can heat the water with a diesel burner, and electric element or draw heat from the engines.  It also circulates the water through the water heater reducing the need for the electrical element in the water heater itself.

Haul out creates issues

01 November 2011

The haul out didn't completely go as planned.  While towing the boat into the building one rudder was caught on the very strong slinging door guide and the 1-inch rudder shaft was bent.  The rudder shaft bent without causing any damage to the hull or the shaft log inside the boat.

Once the boat was inside it was also apparent that the laminated keels were not adequately fiber-glassed and had lost integrity.  There are parts where you can actually push your finger laterally into the keel.  Both keels will have to be replaced.

Hauled out at Tongue Point

25 October 2011
In October DW was hauled out at Tongue Point onto a 40-ft flatbed trailer and moved into the building for the winter.

Stateroom and Head doors intalled

1 October 2011
Stateroom and Head doors were fabricated and installed.

Purchased some furniture and appliances

15 July 2011

In an attempt (futile as it turned out) to motivate the builder to accelerate work on the boat I purchased and installed the refrigerator, table, and couches.

Some additional cabinet work done in Galley

3 June 2011

The refrigerator cabinet and pull-out pantry are completed

Work goes from slow to barely moving

2 February 2011
As the builder struggles to remain in business at all, work on the Double-Wide really slows down as new-money goes toward new builds.  DW does see some fabrication of head cabinet framework.

Delivered to builder's new location at Tongue Point, OR

24 August 2010
After a little messing about in the Columbia the D-W was delivered to the  boat builder in Tongue Point for completion.  The shallow ramp next to D-W was originally a seaplane ramp and the building in the background was the hanger.  New docks arrived the following day, so there will be more room shortly.  Video below was taken while giving some of the boat-building crew a feel for their work.

Docked at boat builder in Tongue Point, OR
Below is a drive-by video

From Tillamook to Astoria

22 August 2010
The next morning D-W left Tillamook early to catch slack tide at the Columbia Bar.  It was somewhat foggy at the start, we ran through some light showers but it cleared up early with seas even more benign than the first leg of the trip.  Total time was 6 hours 30 minutes from dock to dock.  We tied up at the Astoria Marina by 2:00 pm.  Only 54% engine load at wide open throttle so the props will need to be re-pitched.

At the dock in Astoria

Up the coast to Tillamook, Oregon

21 August 2010
Finally, time came to move Double-Wide to Astoria.  On Saturday we made a leg from Newport to Tillamook, OR.  The trip was 8 hours and 15 minutes from dock to dock.  Seas were 3-5 feet with a 6 foot surge.  Speed was varied throughout the trip to get a feel for handling and to satisfy break-in recommendations.  The bar at Tillamook was easily crossed at slack tide.  After a relaxing night of sleep aboard, the below photo was taken at sunrise.

At the dock next morning in Tillamook

Move to Newport

15 June 2010
After several months at dock in Toledo, the power and steering systems were finally ironed out and the boat was moved downstream to Newport.  Preparations were begun to move her to Astoria for completion.

Double-Wide Launch

22 June 2009
The long awaited launch of Double-Wide.  Everything went smoothly and a large number of Toledo residents turned out to witness the event.  There is still a great deal of interior work to be completed on the boat and the owner will be undergoing significant interior work as well.  The future travels of Double-Wide will be documented here - stay tuned.