Here are a few photos from the rebuilding of Rhapsody.
Her history began in Hong Kong in 1947. She was built there to an Australian design by Charles Peel, the "Jubilee" class. Seven were built at that time, using timber local in Hong Kong. She has China Pine planking on Ipol frames, Teak backbone and joinery. And way too much varnish. She has travelled across the Pacific three times, judging by a bill of lading for Vancouver, followed by more receipts for her in Hong Kong. I saw her after her owner had died. We bid on her but too low, and another person bought her. After six months, he hadn't done anything yet, and sold her to us.
Paul and I worked on her rebuild together, but Paul did the lion's share of the work. It took a year of evenings and weekends. I did 'prentice jobs like stripping varnish and paint, chipping bungs, puttying holes, and finishing. And Varnish and Paint.
The rotten stem required major surgery. This photo shows her after the old stem was removed, screw-holes plugged, and ready for new stem of Garry Oak. Still local timber, but other side of the Pacific.
Caulking on this particular boat was really challenging. The planks were damaged on the edges from too-hard caulking in the past. Most of the planks were barely possible, but one on each side, one above the garboard, where the twist was most severe, had to be replaced.
She is 18 feet, sloop rigged, no engine. Oars. Centerboard. Half-decked. Canvas deck. Because she is so tiny and spartan in most ways, I splurged on real gold leaf for her cove line. (That was how she had been originally.)
Our latest treat has been new sails. Originally she had red, handmade cotton sails. There are some amusing letters from Ratsey and Lapthorn in 1960 or so, trying to decide how the sails should be. Essentially they refused to duplicate the original ones. She still had her "new" 1961 sails when I got her. Pretty baggy! Here is a picture of her 1998-1999 sails.
She's only small but we have had really wonderful adventures. We did a month-long cruise to the end of Vancouver island. Now I usually sail her alone because she has so much to teach me that I can only learn by myself. I'm just about ready to gather a heavy crew and start sailing her like the Aussies do, in big winds.
When I'm not sailing Rhapsody I'm often working on the web site for Paul's business. Here is a link to our other site:
