Quote:
Originally Posted by redsky49
In the past, we owned a Wauquiez, a 1986 Centurion 40, Scheel keel, no teak decks. Always thought it was a wonderful boat, great sailing, easily single-handed, beautiful (people asked if it was a Swan). The only boat that my wife cried over when we had to sell.
With a couple of minor exceptions, I always thought it was a well-built boat, built when Wauquiez was at the height of their game.
Now I am not so sure 
Hooked - How are you dealing with all this, both left brain and right brain? This must have been an emotional experience.
This also clearly illustrates what a difference an experienced craftsman can make, as opposed to a skilled DIYer.
Best of luck with your project. It looks outstanding! |
I look at it this way. The boat was strong and well built enough to sail thousands of miles with the keel sump in that shape. Some of it was luck but some don't believe in luck. She is a production boat and has the good and bad that goes with that. I imagine that most production boats could not withstand the type of grounding that this one went through. The
repair that they did way back when was totally ineffectual and did nothing to strengthen the boat.
I'd be lying if I said I am having fun doing this. I am screwed by this boat. I can't sell it like it was,
insurance won't cover it, no one to sue (if I was that type and I ain't), and it is a ton of
money. I had to break open a
retirement investment to fund this. Not cool. That all being said, since I HAVE to fix her, we will fix her right.
Minaret has been my rock through this and had made it a much better experience than if I was having a boatyard do this. I'd be out many many thousands more and they would not have even come close to the quality that I am getting. He and his helper have busted their asses on this job and have maintained an attitude that can only be described as joyous. They love what they do. It is infectious.
So I have moments of enjoying this experience and others of just shaking my
head at the cash heading out the door. As we get closer to splashing the boat, I am starting to lighten up. But for awhile there, it was just grinding and grinding and grinding. So many man hours wasted, absolutely freaking wasted on fixing what should have been done right when the damn boat was built. I can touch on the white hot rage within me just thinking about it. So damn stupid to put that brown
gelcoat over EVERYTHING!!!!! Makes me want to scream.
This touches on another point. I get super defensive when people talk bad about my boat. I don't think I'm alone on this. Want to get a spark going, make fun of someone's boat. My boat is like my kid or something. I'll defend her. Even after all this, I still will defend my boat. I think Wauquiez made a good product. Are they comparable to Swans? Island Packets? HRs? Hell, I don't know. Maybe. All boats have their issues.
The one thing that I keep going back to in my
head is that I had my
family on this boat with the keel like that while we sailed
Mexico. We rounded Point Conception in a gale with the keel like this. My wife and three
kids did over 8,000 miles onboard with the keel like this. The nightmare that I had after the damage was discovered still rattles around in my mind. I can feel the water on my body and the fear in my soul as I swim to the keel-less upturned boat, desperate to get my
family out of the
cabin, knowing that I can't...
Well enough of left brain.
Keel went on yesterday. Easy peasy. I don't think Minaret took any photos as he was running around getting stuff done. So I'll post what I have.
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