Fall 2025 haul out in Port Townsend

GRETA gets hauled out in Port Townsend at Boat Haven with Haven Boatworks providing space and shipwrights. On the initial list was thru hull re-bedding, rudder shaft alignment, a little soft wood repair, a insurance survey, and bottom paint/prop speed coating.

The port rudder re-alignment involved dropping the rudder and removing the lower fitting to move it slightly forward and ensure it was plumb. All the fittings were inspected and found in good condition and re-installed. The planks in that area were re-fastened.

Bottom paint and Prop Speed re-coating were straight forward. Prior to the haul out I used an inexpensive underwater camera to assess where the aggressive marine growth that Port Ludlow is known for was thriving. As expected, surfaces exposed to more light showed higher concentrations. For this year’s painting we used bottom paint with added biocide to see if it is more effective.

Two small areas of soft wood were found in the rub rails. The soft wood was removed, and replacement new wood was scarfed in. It is thought that water intrusion around several fasteners caused the damage.

Two thru hull fittings required re-bedding, the depth sounder transducer and the raw water supply to the generator. This was to eliminate some seepage that I noticed in those areas.

Our insurance company required a survey prior to next spring’s renewal. The requirement included drawing out some fasteners. GRETA’s report card was good with a few easily remedied minor findings mostly related to USCG and ABYC requirements like fire extinguisher updates, USCG required placards, and insulative boots on high current terminals. All recommendations were completed by December 1^st.

The 1920 Ted Geary designed, Blanchard Boat built schooner RED JACKET was squeezed in close behind GRETA. This gave me a front row seat as a Haven Boatworks shipwrights began a frame and planking renewal project. It was impressive to watch how the work progressed. It was also educational to peer into the spaces revealed after the garboards and lower planks were removed. It’s amazing what will accumulate in such places over 100 years.