Sweat Pea, Getting A Boat Ready In The Heat. Ugh, Never Again. Well? Maybe?
In the water cooling off
This spring I knew I was gonna have to do some big work on Sweet Pea. And yes it’s not a typo in the headline. So we can just move on from that.
All the wood was stripped and varnished with new lettering
Cabin roofs done
Work has been 24/7 and I knew all the calls and so on would set me back on Sweet Pea, and boating in general. So a little over a month ago, just as the heat, well, heated up, I had little windows of opportunity. So big jobs got broken into little jobs. The fiberglassing of the cabin roofs, stripping all the brite work and 10 coats of varnish. ON SHADY DAYS.
And then finally getting her up on the rails. Tried to fix a demon leak that has plagued me for 3 years. I think I found it? Paint the bottom, and so on. New Zincs… And then…
A wild hair. The paint on the transom was so thick from decades of slap it on, that I needed to strip it. UGH. Heat gun in the heat, with the sun on your back. I swear some days were three or four T shirt days. Like I had gone swimming. 
Now, this of course is where things kinda get wonky. Do I paint it? It’s not a very pretty wood. But could it be? Do I try it out, and later replace with some real nice wood? Anyway, it gives old Sweet Pea some pazazz for sure.
All the rub rails were cleaned, polished and clear coated
10 coats of varnish, and still a tad wonky. But hey
Lets see how long all this lasts.
High tide and high hopes
Another day! Another t shirt..or 2 or 3 or?
Getting there
And yesterday I was able to finally get her back in the drink. Leak fixed? Not sure. But she is floating and waiting for her 2025 boating season. Better late than never!
Proudly flying her new Woody Boater Burgee. Available HERE at Skipper Rudy
Slowly, carefully turning Sweet Pea from a boat into a yacht. The stern makes a statement.
Big boat, big work, but she looks terrific. I really like the.varnished transom. Makes her look a little like a Michigan boat! Congratulations!
Sweat Pea, I mean Sweet Pea, looks fantastic! I do like the stained transom. I do understand about changing t-shirts through out the day…at least you were working on something you love. She looks great!
Wow Matt,
Sweet Pea ready for a trip up to visit me in Brunswick!
Paul’s Marina right down the way less than 1/4.mile.
Sweet Pea looks wonderful! Love old cruisers, but I CAN imagine the work required & that’s why I doubt I’ll ever buy one!
Looks beautiful, in every detail. But here’s a controversial thought (very controversial!): What if you just had Wecatchem (the PERFECT boat) and just used and babied it all season long.
Sincere effort and progress since my visit and pep talk! Great Boat…true devotion shows! John in Va
Varnished transom looks nice. Roofs look fantastic .After all that work, I’d want it under some kind of shelter. (Now that would be crazy)What kind of wood is Sweet Pea planked with anyway?
Spectacular, you are one energizer bunny. I would thought you’d have shade cloth to erect. Heat is brutal on the Cheasapeake. I remember going to the Wooden Boat Magazine’s annual event at St Michael’s, it was brutal. And I’m no stranger to heat and humidity here north of Atlanta, no breeze ever and no cooling nights.
So do I need to fly out and install the new Flexiteak on Sweet Pea?