Boat Update

The process up getting the boat ready has begun with moving it to Frankie's shop in New Bern, NC.    Pumping up tires, greasing bearings, strapping, etc. and we were off.  I was particularly impressed as to how well the boat pulled on the trailer.  But when we hit a dip in the road,  I realized how really heavy this hull is.  And, it doesn't even have an engine on it yet.

To my untrained eye, this boat looks like a 'train wreck'.  Certainly I can see the classic line design of an offshore hull.  When I climb around in it I can feel that it is solid!  But Frankie sees potential that's out of my range. He just laughs and says, "It will be beautiful. Don't worry".

The manufacturer of the hull is SportFisher and we are calling it the "The Eubanks Special Edition".

The right-hand picture shows the wooden bulkhead which had to be replaced due to rot, as well as the unhinged teak hatch.  Frankie pulls leaves and debris from the transom prior to taking off for New Bern in the picture to the left.  The white box next to the boat is a drop-in insulated cooler that mounts in the stern against the transom.  We will use this cooler with a blend of raw sea water and ice to store our catch while fishing to retain flavor.

The hunt for a 225hp outboard engine continues. Obviously that is an essential element.

Watching the transformation of the vessel should prove quite interesting.  The Stone Crab Kids hope you enjoy.

Ten more traps where delivered via FedEx today. Lots of chores to fill our time. Its a good thing!