The October Keelhaul was another great success at Pizzakaya: 34 people showed-up.
Among the group were two former Bridge Commanders (Eugin Mall and Eric Due), 4 guests and 3 new Members! This is our 8th consecutive Keelhaul where we exceeded 25 people, and our 3rd consecutive with 30 or more! The Keelhaul is increasingly becoming a solid, highly looked-forward-to monthly event.
The Bridge Meeting followed a week later as is usual: Keelhaul 1st Wednesday, Bridge Meeting 2nd Wednesday). Several important matters were decided including:
…. BBQ in Yumenoshima Marina on November 9 (Saturday) from 1:00 o’clock;
…. Open invitation to November Bridge Meeting (before Yumenoshima BBQ from 11:30)… all welcome to observe & join-in;
…. the Bonenkai on December 4 from 6:30 at The Tokyo Bay Intercontinental Hotel;
…. cancelling the Yokohama Boat Show TSPS booth (but NOT the SuperKeelhaul!); and
… getting rid of the dinghy;
…. no Keelhaul in November (replaced by 11/09 BBQ) nor in December (replaced by 12/04 Bonenkai).
Details on each to follow separately.
SKUTTLEBUTT: please see the newly uploaded report from Commander Bill Van Alstine on Lake Inawashiro Weekend Event (click on this hyperlink to go directly to the Post).
In any event, here are some
Photos from the Keelhaul:
Guest from France Marion, Shun-from-Katsuyama, Freddie, RemiTSPS packed-the-house with 32 people, another record!New Members Lemar, Max, and Dryden…Ashley chomping-down with his friend, Evan & Dom chatting-up a storm.Ashley sitting under a poster especially hung just for him (okay… maybe both posters just for him/her).Dominique and daughter!Bridge Secretary Timothy hosted this Keelhaul.Johan and former Bridge Commander Eric Due…. staring-down the pizza….Famous mechanic Anthony Hardie and Maya Matsuoka (re-arranging napkins)Michael and precocious Ken!Michael and Ken-chan eyeballing each other, Naoko looking on.Commander Bill chomping on a salad, sitting next to dandily-dresser former Commander Eugin Mall.Finicky Freddie, Maya, AndrewFormer Commander Eric Due chatting with a new Member Dryden, Freddie STILL studying the menu.Essential ingredients for any successful TSPS Keelhaul!Scene of the crimes…Maya and Remi in synchronized chewing (a new Olympic sport), Andrew yackin’ it up as usual!Bridge Treasurer Maria Tenold and Commander Bill (pretending to smile); Evan Burkosky doing something-or-other.
Remember: NO KEELHAUL in November… instead a BBQ that weekend in Yumenoshima Marina on 11/09, Saturday.
TSPS’S BBQ at Lake Inawashiro Sept 14-15 included Sunfish sailboats, wakeboard boats, an evening BBQ and a morning of French toast… many members brought their own camping equipment, paddle boards, picnic items to share. Two days on this beautiful lake was fabulous!
All in all, 19 Members and families showed up to have a pretty good time. This was the second time for TSPS to attempt this lakeside ordeal, with a chance for everyone to try something new, to enjoy a truly spectacular place, and get to know each other a lot better.
The organization could have benefitted from the wake-boats NOT being a 30 minute drive from the other side of the lake, out of sight of the rest of the group, the wind NOT being so iffy at the beach, a little less rain on Sunday, and someone’s better ability to get the windsurfers and canoes to the beach. But the event actually went swimmingly well, given the logistics and the last-minute weather.
In fact, sponsoring a BBQ that far from Tokyo (a four hour+ drive) requires more than a couple of boats and a fabulous steak BBQ to be attractive! And, in fact, this involved a lot of fellow Members’ help and contributions to get off the ground. Brendan, Alex D., Jeff Canaday, Gary Thomas, Maria, Svetlana and lots of others deserve at least a mention for carrying so much: thank you, guys.
On the day of the event, its a beautiful morning. By noon, people are filtering in to the marina, far away from our actual camp, so some Members take a few boats and get out on the water while another group forms a caravan to drive through the forest where the event is being held. Tons of incidents and drama in between.
At the BBQ folks are just starting to party. People on the Sunfish, on paddle boards, swimming, the fire is started in the grill. Brendan shakes my hand with a smile.
In the morning, I wake-up to see Frank ready to depart in the Sunfish, the sun just rising over the nearby mountain ridge. I get a fire going to make French toast and Marina joins in. Its a blast. We choose teams to sail the boats back to my cottage with Alex in charge.
Suggestively, the wind is dying and clouds are coming in. There is a table covered with breakfast food still and suddenly, rain starts. It increases in strength as people rush the sails and rigging into the container before they get too wet, attempt to break camp, load things getting increasingly drenched back into their cars; just a tiny bit of pandemonium.
One of the team drives back from the marina (after delivering the boats) but by now the water is cascading from the sky. I see fleeting glimpses of the team scattered here-and-there as they scurry to finish loading. We wave our goodbyes hurriedly as I observe a table of leftover food and drinks – a lot of bread on the table under plastic, but no way to rescue them; packs of ham and chicken filling with water. And I am of course soaked.
Nevertheless, the event was largely successful and I think everyone had a good time. We should definitely make this an annual event but maybe devote a little more organization into it. The volunteers who helped this year were fabulous, and TSPS owes you a huge debt of gratitude!
So please add your own observations and Comment in the section below, and let everyone know how YOUR experience was?
———-
Bill is an avid boater and reasonably tolerable Commander of Tokyo Sail and Power Squadron for the last two years. He has held several positions on the Bridge including as Treasurer and also as Secretary. If he is not making granola at his shop in Tokyo then he is probably on, in or close to the water. #wakeboard, sunfish dinghy, windsurfing, canoe, sailing, swim
Are you passionate about sailing and eager to build long-lasting friendships in Japan? Do you want to find a vibrant community in Tokyo with other boat enthusiasts? Do you carve speed and would like to try wakeboarding? TSPS Japan welcomes you!
Our secret sauce: Strong Social Circles
TSPS Japan offers a unique environment to connect, learn, and grow alongside fellow boating enthusiasts. Beyond the technical skills, fostering strong social circles within, our vibrant community unlocks numerous benefits.
Mentorship and support
Experienced sailors like Eugen, our Commander Emeritus, gladly share their wisdom and foster a culture of mentorship and growth. He continuously inspires us all with exciting boating stories and his past adventures.
Eugene, thank you for joining the Keelhaul in September!
Shared experiences and how to develop valuable skills while having fun
All sailors face similar challenges and triumphs. Sharing these experiences strengthens community bonds and creates a sense of belonging. It also inspires the sailors to work towards common goals and objectives. Working together on boat maintenance activities helps you develop essential soft skills like leadership, communication, and problem-solving. Plus, you’ll gain handyman skills for future boat upkeep!
Please meet Timothy, the outspoken guy with a charming smile, who recently got a new boat that he wants to renovate. Some people say that bigger is always better, and when it comes to boating, we cannot disagree with this statement.
Let me tell you more secrets! Some of the TSPS members are already helping Timothy to refresh his new boat and make his dream happen—a huge thank you to all who contribute with their time and expertise. I hope Timothy has been serving good pizza that we get at Pizzakaya in Roppongi during the Keelhaul events. By the way, if you need a sailboat, Tim’s dream Yamaha 26′ “Santana” is now for sale!
Celebrate Triumphs Together
Speaking about triumphs, kindly take inspiration from Claude (our resident Yoda of education in TSPS!) and his racing team with their beautiful sailboat, Anais. They all love speed and challenges and as Claude proudly says, “Nothing makes you a better sailor than participation in races”.
Their dedication and hard work paid off with a well-deserved 3rd place finish in the Tokyo Bay regatta – now that’s something to celebrate as Anais got listed in the Kazi boating magazine for this significant success. Look at that happy face!
Collaboration is Key
Strong social connections lead to better communication and teamwork on board and ashore. Our boating and activity nerds are discussing innovative ways to utilize the Hayama boats. Be prepared for exciting changes and digital transformation at TSPS Japan!
Speaking of innovation, Vlad, our energetic member, returned from his break with a renewed spirit to introduced us to a more agile process for boating activities. With the same, he decided to hide the current paperwork under his t-shirt. We all value individuals and interactions over processes and tools!
Grow Personally and Professionally
TSPS Japan offers a wealth of networking opportunities and cultural exchange. Engaging in social activities helps you develop essential soft skills and broaden your horizons by interacting with sailors from diverse backgrounds. Boating together is a fantastic way to achieve this!
Join the Fun!
Looking for some fun and recreation? We’d love for you to join our next event – a camping and boating trip to Lake Inawashiro on September 14th-15th!
Don’t worry if you’re not a fan of creepy crawlies (we’re just kidding… maybe a little!). You can relax at the local onsen for a comfortable stay. Parking is also available at the lake, and the event is accessible by bullet train from Tokyo. It’s not too late to join! Reach out to us at activities@tspsjapan.org.
Bridge Member Ashly Smart embedded Analytics into our webpage a few months ago. It has taken a while to gather the data but this is what we have learned so far:
Skuttlebutt Posts listed by popularity, below (hyperlinked to the actual Post, so please “click!”). The following list is from #1 to #40.
More than 12,000 hits over the last 3 months!
Congratulations to Svetlana on her Number One Ranking Post!
Lots of people in this photo: Maria Tenold (Bridge), Eirik Tenold, Captn. Toshi Tanaka, Jeff Canaday (Bridge), Maksim, Michael, Remi, Ash Smart (Bridge)(AND Keelhaul Sponsor!), Greg Melchior.
The Bridge was initially unsure, given the weather, the holidays, many out-of-country, etc., to host the August Keelhaul. Bridge Member Ash Smart took the bull by the horns with”damn the torpedos!” and so we announced as-usual: the first Wednesday. And what a party it was!
To the delight & surprise of all, this Keelhaul turned-out to be a total blow-out: it exceeded the number of people who attended in years past: more than 32 Members, Friends-of-TSPS and lurkers joined us! And this was in spite of the tremendous rain and wind that followed everyone into the Pizzakaya venue, and basically flooded everyone when we left!
But anyhow, a great time was had by all. Here is a photo-montage of the event.
Someone watching their weightCaptn. Michael Staley, Captn. Darren Halliday, Remi in the backgroundJochen DamerauGreg MelchiorCaptn. Toshi Tanaka, Jeff Canaday (Bridge), Bridge Commander Bill Van Alstine, Laurie Wesselhoff.Half gnawed pizza….Captn. Claude Strobbe (Bridge), Michael, Ash, Remi, Mike, Emma, Chris AdamsonAlways-hungry Maksim ZiurinCaptn. Daren Halliday, Naoko Staley, Captn. Michael Staley, Captn. Chris EveJochen Damerau is joined by his daughter for pizza~~Always Tabasco…
Please join us on the first Wednesday of September, too, at Pizzakaya for a return engagement!
Weather patterns in Tokyo can become erratic later in summer as Typhoon season kicks into gear. This is well-known to anyone who has suffered from guerilla-downpours we frequently get in the afternoons.
The ability to assess the weather is key when planning a multi-day sailing trip during such an unpredictable season. Captains familiar with the region are who you want to trust for a weeklong trip to the Izu Islands during the Obon holiday. I was aboard the sturdy Halcyon, a Hanse 34, captained by Darren Halliday, a seasoned long-distance race helmsman and avid fan of Niijima.
Sailing to Niijima
The crew of four, all experienced sailors, set off from Yumenoshima Marina to sail through the night to Shimoda. We planned to relax there before hopping-over to Niijima, our main attraction, to enjoy its beaches and locally caught sushi. However, three storm systems appeared in the forecast just east of Japan. Knowing that two would have already passed north of Tokyo, we decided to skip Shimoda and go directly to Niijima.
Getting there was an adventure. Sustained winds above 20 knots, choppy waves from all directions, and an outgoing tide made for an uncomfortable ride. Each wave crashing over the bow and spray into the cockpit elicited a cheer from the crew. All were in good spirits and having the time of our lives. At sunset, after passing Yokosuka, the seas calmed. Finally, at midnight, the wind died, and the motor was kicked into life, its steady hum accompanying us the rest of the way.
Night Sailing
Night sailing poses its own set of challenges. Large cargo ships are no longer easy to spot in the dark, and neither is a comparatively tiny sailboat. The night passed in shifts of three hours, each pair keeping an eye on the horizon. The waxing crescent moon illuminated the world like a minor sun, and I watched it set, burning a deep orange above the waves. Without the moon to outshine them, a magnificent spectacle of stars was revealed—one of the last places on earth where the night sky can be seen as it was millennia ago.
Morning announced itself with a slight fading of the stars and a brightening of the eastern horizon. We spotted the islands ahead: Oshima, Toshima, and finally Niijima—small mountains of greenery surrounded by the deep blue ocean. Arriving at port, we were greeted by a friendly crew offering help to tie up at the pier, a typical kindness in the cruising community. We quickly set up tarps for shade as the sun became unbearable, then plunged into the clear, inviting water. Lounging in the cockpit, we enjoyed the slight breeze, talking, laughing, and enjoying the camaraderie of the trip. Gazing into the water, we spotted a surprising diversity of sea life, including tiny squid, a puffer fish, and a red stingray.
The Island
Feeling hunger creep up, we left the quay and walked into town, following a nicely paved road along the coast. Stone statues of dolphins and faces provided a welcome distraction from the heat. We rented bicycles, making travel a breeze, and arrived at a local sushi restaurant notorious for long lines and limited stock. The chef only sells what he catches himself, and possibly due to the impending storm, the store was almost empty. A curious deviation from mainland sushi is the use of Karashi instead of Wasabi, a local adaptation due to the island’s lack of fresh running water.
The rest of our time was spent visiting the gorgeous beaches on both sides of the island, easily accessible by bicycle. The beaches of Niijima, with their white sand and crystal-clear water, transported me back to the Caribbean. After enjoying the sun, sand, and saltwater, we visited the free, open-air hot springs. The springs, built on a cliff overlooking the ocean and facing west, allowed us to relax together and watch the sun set.
Clean and fresh, we returned to Halcyon for dinner. A sailboat tied up nearby offered us a beautiful Kanpachi (yellowtail tuna) they had caught but couldn’t keep. Darren displayed his expertise, filleting and preparing the fish sashimi-style. Paired with a bottle of dry sake, the sashimi made for an excellent dinner to cap off the day. Tired from the sun and activities, we went to bed full and content.
Return to Home Port
The next morning began with freshly brewed coffee. Instead of the morning news, we checked the latest on the storm. It had strengthened into a low-grade typhoon and was now forecasted to arrive earlier than expected. Given the update, we decided to stay a final day on the island and leave after dinner, sailing directly back to Tokyo overnight.
The return was made under motor to outrun the storm. We took the east side of the island chain to catch the Kuroshio, a current that added two knots to our speed. We made quick time back to Tokyo Bay, arriving at Yumenoshima before 11 in the morning. The round trip consisted of just under 40 hours of sea time, traveling over 200 nautical miles. It was an experience that surpassed all expectations, enriching us with newfound friendships.
I mean a ship. It is close to 280 meters(!) in length (~920ft), more than 110,000 ton displacement. It is an LNG tanker; my job is connecting the huge pipes for loading the LNG into storage-tanks. It is a specialized technical job that requires strength and skill, as you can imagine; it is only sometimes dangerous work.
Though I have been on 2 month cruises three-or-four times, crossed Atlantic ocean… know a bit about ships, big vessels, how to plan a voyage… that sort of thing. But if I am honest, I am still a novice when it comes to sailing, even after 5 years occasional crewing on a friend’s 34’ sailboat near my home. I have been sailing with these pals until I recently fell into a nice, respectable thirty-five year old 30’ sailboat that needed a new owner and some loving restoration. That is when I discovered TSPS. And that is where I spend my weekends now.
But the point is, sailing in a sailboat gives you many first-in-a-lifetime experiences (often cascading upon you in one shot!). So for example, a couple of weekends ago I traveled out to Hota for sailing on a lovely, recently-restored 45 year-old 34’ Peterson sailing yacht. Garuda is owned by one Evan Burkosky who is pretty famous among the TSPSers; I would like to tell you how this tiny journey brought me many first lifetime experiences. All were pretty good.
First time in Hota
Oh man, Hota is so far from my beaten path even around Yokohama where I grew-up. It is even way outside my regular sailing area with my pals. Since my sailboat is new to me and requires lots of attention to the engine, I went by train. This was to attend Captain Evan’s engine-maintenance workshop. By the time it takes to get there, I could have gone to Osaka! My route took me to the Uchibo Line, familiar to me as my tanker-job is in Kisarazu on the Chiba coast… right where the underwater Aqualine connects the two peninsula (Yokohama-Chiba). I know how far this is but wow, Hota is a different story. Very Chiba-rural for a city-guy like me… wild, full of jungle and mountain forests… almost to the tip of the peninsula. I have never been there before… my first trip into deeply rural Chiba!
This is not a day trip. I mean, considering what is out there in Hota: beautiful nature, mountainous landscape, the smell of sea; actually, a mere day trip back-&-forth would be a waste. So I planned for an over-the-weekend stay.
Late in the afternoon Captain Evan picked me up at nearby port train-station. On the way driving to where Garuda is berthed, I saw an out-of-place classy non-Japanese car, with license-plate number “Ya” in hiragana. I had a strange sensation that I would come across some yakuza Oyabun, driving his car out here, to a nearly obsolete fishing town… maybe to dump his betrayed mistress or a crazy wife? Catching the look on my puzzled face, Captain Evan says nonchalantly “Oh, that’s Tim’s car”.
“Huh? Who is THAT?” I wondered and immediately began thinking maybe I came to the wrong place.. that perhaps I should’ve gone to Hooters instead of Hota!
Firsts with Captain Evan: night time & single-handed sailing
There was still a bit of daylight when Captain had me carry his maintenance tools and materials onboard to Garuda. While that sounds bland, getting from the quay onto the boat required traversing an insanely narrow, teetering gangway without handrails from the quay and simply perched onto his beautifully restored yacht’s bow-pulpit! A death defying feat that was another first for me. Seems he does it all the time! But my heart-rate returned to normal several minutes later.
The whole purpose for going to Hota was to learn from this Canadian and obtain his advice, by hands-on working on Garuda (particularly engine noise reduction) so that I can apply the same skills & techniques to my recently acquired sailboat. But it seems this trip was not going to be quite like that… just not today (we did it the following morning).
As soon as we got set on Garuda, the Captain said while gazing up into the sky, “Well, it seems like a nice wind so why don’t we go out for a sail?” And as I well know from my experience, when you are on someone’s boat, and they are the Captain, their voice is The Rule. So of course I replied with the required enthusiasm “why not!” (I don’t think my voice cracked audibly).
As merely a ‘crew-experienced’ novice, I asked how I can help once we cast-off the mooring lines and started motoring gently towards the mouth of the harbor. “Just stay there where you are now and watch how I single-hand manage my boat, okay?”.
I thought single-handed operation was really only doable for a smaller boat, like a ~20’+ Yamaha but definitely not for something over 30 feet; certainly it cannot be safe! For a 30+ft boat, even double-handed requires a competent skipper and crew, I always thought. So this was was my first time to see and to experience how to single-hand a pretty massive 30’+ sailboat. It was beautiful and poetic and such an eye-opener for me!
First night-time sailing
Soon after he killed the engine and we were drifting out to sea, it was already dark. Under the stars and under sail, Evan taught me how to sail, how to trim the sails (you need to come to Garuda for those details!): it was an astonishing and surprising, awakening experience.
I apologize that my English is not perfect but I wanted to write this story as gratitude to TSPS, to Oyabun Tim and of course to Captain Evan Burkosky for such a wonderful opportunity. Looking up at the stars in the middle of the massive Tokyo bay entrance, slicing through the water, I asked aloud, “What could be better than this?”
Those are, in fact, the same-words said to me by a third-mate crewmember on one of my training ships when we were stuck on a lifeboat in my first training cruise. I was 20 years old then, but already smitten with this pastime we call sailing.
Are you tired of scorching hot days and relentless heat waves, even when you’re near the water? Let me tell you about my escape from the heat. Here I am, just a few kilometers from Japan, in a place where the temperature plummets to bone-chilling lows. Welcome to Kamchatka, one of the most remote and breathtakingly beautiful regions in Russia. This land is as wild and untamed as it gets.
Our vessel, the Liberty, is a McGregor 65, a rare gem with only 100 boats ever made between 1991 and 1992. This boat is a marvel of design—long, narrow, and incredibly strong, built to withstand the harshest conditions. With its sleek, bullet-like shape, the Liberty slices through the water effortlessly. We managed to achieve speeds of 6-7 knots even with no wind, and when we engaged the motor, we soared at 12-13 knots. Gliding through the water, we felt like the orcas and sea lions we encountered, their graceful movements mirrored by our boat’s agility.
In just one week, we’ve experienced the full spectrum of weather. We’ve basked under a bright sun, battled towering waves, and braved storm-force winds. The ever-changing conditions have kept us on our toes, making each day an exhilarating adventure. And our diet? Well, we’ve been indulging in caviar for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a luxurious treat that adds to the uniqueness of this journey.
One of the most memorable experiences was taking a sauna on an old Soviet tanker and then plunging into the frigid ocean, which was a mere 8 degrees Celsius! The shock of the cold water was invigorating, a stark contrast to the warmth of the sauna. And, of course, we couldn’t resist toasting with vodka, though I must confess, we didn’t actually drink with bears—it might sound thrilling, but it would be terrifying in reality!
In five days, we’ve covered an impressive 250 miles. Despite the cold, which has been a constant companion, we’ve embraced every moment. This is the best season to be here, and yet it’s still incredibly chilly. However, the cold is a small price to pay for the breathtaking beauty and the unforgettable experiences Kamchatka offers.
July has been particularly active with a three-day weekend, a fruitful Bridge Meeting, a 24-hour Aomori & Hokodate race, the JRMA test. It has also been active on the blog-section of the TSPS webpage. In fact, Skuttlebutt has enjoyed the most active-month-on-record: FIVE posts!
Take a look at these below and offer a comment, observation or ‘atta boy!’ for encouragement. Also consider offering your own story: any Bridge Member should be able to help upload.
Many thanks for your support and participation: August 7 is the next Keelhaul at Pizzakaya! The weekend afterwards is another 3-day weekend!
As Commander, I decided it was important for me to join the other Scuttlebutters here as this is obviously the new nucleus of the club.
And this week I finally had something to talk about – repairing the hull of a vintage Sunfish sailboat. I think this 14 foot dinghy holds the record for sales of any kind of boat. That is certainly the case for me because I bought 3 of them.
This year has been one of the most eventful for me, setting up a trailer lakeside in Fukushima and bringing a shipping container full of Sunfish and windsurfers, wakeboards etc., from Michigan to Fukushima. It was a nail biter with money on the line and no plan B if the dray could not get the container onto the property. Well, that was all a success and I basked in it for the last couple of months but as I began to unpack my goodies it became apparent that a couple of the Sunfish were in pretty awful condition.
And I had no clue how to fix them up. I never worked in my life with rivets, fiberglass, FRP, putty. But I sure did yesterday. And how did that come about? Why, Jeff Canaday, of course. Many of you know him as a long time instructor at TSPS. He agreed to join me this week and we lifted a 2 ton version of a Sunfish out of the container and onto the operating table for some important, mostly cosmetic surgery.
Under the canopy of a 250 year old Keyaki tree we got to work sanding off 250 years worth of lichen – OK, maybe 4 or 5 years. This Sunfish hull was from a defunct boys camp and had one poorly repaired hole in the side, lots of dents in the bow and stern and spider cracks through the gelcoat in several spots. And the aluminum trim was coming off in spots because of missing rivets.
Jeff has experience working with fiberglass and FRP and he has the power tools for grinding and sanding and a bunch of secret weapons that he uses when working with FRP and putty. Those weapons are most importantly the paper cup and the popsicle stick.
Here I was back from the home center with a can of FRP large enough to start a Lego factory plus the putty, plus the catalyst. What did I learn about the catalyst? Dip the popsicle stick into it and let a few drops land on the putty. What would I have done? I would have poured about a cup full of catalyst into a bucket where the entire amount of putty would have been placed.
But I get ahead of myself. First thing was sanding off the lichen. It was like a pumice stone and we started with the grinder. In the back of my mind was the thought that with all this powder being produced, lichen powder and gelcoat powder, maybe I should put on a mask. But since this is no longer a COVID emergency I decided instead to inhale the powder and what I didn’t inhale I wiped on my Brooks Brothers navy blue polo shirt (was navy). Jeff was better dressed of course but also decided to inhale particulate for…OK, we are lazy. Lazy and coughing.
I listened to Jeff explain how temperature influenced the number of catalyst drops to add to the putty. It was a comfortable 28 degrees. This boat was getting sanded from about 11am and we broke for lunch at 13:00. After lunch, while Jeff stayed focused and sanded, I kind of let him do all the work until he gave me the grinder and had me going after the cracks in the gelcoat. I did not have a lot of confidence in grinding up the hull because I did not know how to fix the gashes I was creating.
But finally by about 3pm it was putty time and I learned how to mix the putty with the catalyst and then apply it to the gashes with the popsicle sticks. And not soon after I was pouring FRP into a paper cup, putting one centimeter worth.
And Jeff explained how we would cut the patch of fiberglass to fit the contour of the hole in the side and how the first patch would be small, followed by slightly larger and then the last one rounded to stay within the depth of the repair.
We first worked some of the FRP into the hole and then placed the fiberglass patches into FRP and we then used the special metal FRP squeegee to remove air bubbles and make the amount of FRP even. We did the 3 sizes and by now I was having so much fun I was wishing the boat had more holes. And since it was time to wait for everything to dry, we decided to call it a day.
For some fun I took out our Michicraft canoe and Jeff and I hopped in for an evening shoreline tour. The water is very clear and the sandy lake bottom was in sight always. There was no wind but the sun was out and a sunset was definitely going to happen. By the time we returned there was half an inch of water in the canoe (not an FRP repair unfortunately). After that I went for a swim. And because there was no wind the water on the surface of the lake for about 10 centimeters deep was warm but the water underneath was NOT WARM. Jeff stayed out of the water and built a fire for us to roast corn and hot dogs. My goodness that was a simple but satisfying dinner. The beers were cold and camp chairs comfy. Mosquitoes came by to share the sunset with us, which was a wonderful sunset. But then the mosquitoes all went to bed and we were there alone until 10pm listening to — a lot of storks mostly.
Next day: So for breakfast, what flavor granola did we eat? Jeff had the Rocky Mountain, I ate Tropicalish muesli. And then after checking our putty we decided to work on the rivets first. Jeff has a rivet gun and I provided the 1/8 inch rivets which I had earlier bought at the home center.
The Sunfish trim is aluminum and the trim holds the fiberglass deck to the hull. Importantly, the bottom of the trim does not have a hole for the rivet to pass through. The rivet stops inside the aluminum trim at the bottom but after passing through the hole in the deck and the hull. We were not sure whether Jeff’s rivet tool would need to pass through the aluminum as well but long story short (YOU WISH), the rivet worked just great without passing through the bottom of the trim.
And they looked great. And again, the riveting was so fun and satisfying, we went and looked for missing rivets on the other two Sunfish.
After the rivets, Jeff could not wait for the spots to harden further and just started shaping the repaired spots with this sander. And I kind of cleaned up and got ready for lunch. Which was leftover hot dogs.
And then we put away our project – next step will be a little more putty and then gelcoat. And there are some inspection ports on the way from Michigan. Once installed its my hope that the hull is just water logged and that I can dry it out and lighten it up—or that it has a stash of gold bars in it.
Author: A fluent Japanese speaker, Bill has worked in Japan since 1985. He is experienced in operating small watercraft and has done so since the age of 12. He is mostly power boat involved and is known to arrange wakeboarding trips with TSPS members. He completed USPS education courses in Seamanship, Piloting and Advanced Piloting as well as TSPS beginner sailing. Bill is the current TSPS Commander, as he was in 2017 and 2018, and Treasurer from 2019-2023.
