Rainboat...

I decided to spend a major thunderstorm on Athena...
I discovered most of the portlights (Athena has 4 small ports and 6 large ports) and the two hatches leaked like seives ! ugh. This in addition to the stanchions that I knew leaked...
Still too much to do to create livable creature comfort, so I've postponed moving onto the sailboat until August 1st... well, that was until my landlord found someone to take over my lease... now I'm setting personal goal of moving on July 15th !!!! Taking off time from work work and tackling the long list of things to do...
Todo lists related to the leaking portlights includes taking one of each size portlight out to confirm thickness of lens; deciding to use Lexan or plexiglass; have new portlight lenses cut; take out old lenses; and, install new (easier said than done!).

the dent...

During Hurricane Wilma a rather large piece of mobile home roof flew into Athena's standing rigging... The wind forces on the piece of intertwined metal cause Athena's starboard spreader to bend and a dent in the mast where the spreader attaches to the mast.
The dent in the mast is about 8 inches long and pencil shaded in the pictures to illustrate.

de-masting

The mast must cometh down.
And so it did without a hitch ;)
well, perhaps a half-hitch... knot that is ;)
Much warm thanks to Bill (and his crane), Bill's girlfriend, Russell, Vicki, Tina, Pam, Greg, and Mark !!! Each one of you helped bring peace to my mind on a much anticipated and very stressful day for me.
Thank you !!

First three priorities - Update #2

Special thanks to Capt. John, the bilge pump is new and operational. Priority 2 - Done !

Athena's Crew

Athena has new crew helping with her restoration. Pam and Vicki are stripping..... the teak ;P

First three priorities - Update #1

Hours upon hours were spent cleaning the bilge and removing corrosion. Priority 1 - Done !

Enlisted an Artist and getting ready for de/renaming...

T-shirts are in the works !
I've enlisted my friend Brian to create a T-shirt for the "Crew" of Athena.
As lore would have it, the shirts can't be on the boat until renaming ceremony performed... so, they'll be distributed after the ceremony, giving us plenty o' time for creating them :)

The first letter was scrapped off the back of the boat yesterday as a first step towards denaming and renaming her. A tedious job. goo gone here i come !

Denaming/renaming ceremonies set for September 23rd, Fall Equinox. 12:03 A.M. EDT.
I've found some lore for the denaming/renaming ceremonies...
http://www.48north.com/mr_offline/denaming.htm

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm

http://www.namethatboat.com/boat-renaming.htm

According to legend, each and every vessel is recorded by name in the Ledger of the Deep and is known personally to Poseidon, or Neptune, the god of the sea... I wonder if I should be concerned that Athena competed with her uncle, none other than Poseidon, for the affections of the Greeks. The story indicates that the Greeks preferred Athena's gift and Athena became the patron goddess of Athens...

New fuel tank...

With the assistance of Capt. John, Athena now has a new fuel tank and Racor fuel filter water separator :)

Note the fancy dancy tie downs ;)

Stomach in sailor knots again...

Things are moving fast and furious as I try once again to meet a deadline for moving onto Athena. The first deadline of June 1, 2006 came and went... The next deadline, July 1st, is quickly approaching...
Things have been made tricky for scheduling completion of tasks requiring dry weather with the onset of the raining season of SWFL and our first tropical storm Alberto already skirting by.
On deck sit the drawers from Athena newly sanded and awaiting coats of urethane.
Behind the drawers is Wren, which will be Athena's sailing dinghy.