222 at her launch

[Capn Dave]

Trying to figure out how to post pictures using Photobucket. So this is an experiment...
Here's my 222 when she was launched:

[Capn Dave]

Here are a few more shots of "Desire"...


stripped everything down for flyfishing...


took off the hinges, and installed bungees, but not really necessary to keep the hatches down, even in heavy seas...


cleaned up the console, and lowered the windshield...

Local metalworker made up some new rails, with heavier 1" tube


Pulled the old tank, and had a new one made by the same guy for short money.  The two fittings take screw-in posts for a narrow leaning post which I store in the forward hatch until I do some long runs.



Decided to take a chance on the transom, drilled holes and ran a lot of epoxy into it.  So far, seems solid, and three years later, still going strong.  Hung a 140 Suze, which has been great.

"Desire" has caught a lot of fish inshore, but put in a lot of miles offshore, chasing bluefin tuna.  We run out to Stellwagen Bank, 20 miles offshore and can easily put in 50+ miles in a day.  She's been a great boat, great hull.

[Marcq]

Wow, she looks good, very clean looking   Is she all original(beside the obvious) ? I like the idea of not having a helm seat but just when you need to, it gives in the back so much more room

Beautiful boat, you have taste  
Marc..

[aquasport79]

Very Nice Job!
That shows pride in your work.

[pete]

nicely done! would look great with a t top.

[DOCREED]

Looks GREAT

I just got back from a week in Marblehead. It was cold and miserable and rainy.  I have my first cold in eight years.

But, I had a great time.

[Capn Dave]

Thanks guys.  Most of the tough work was done by my pal Clay, who's worked with West system a lot.
I found the boat in a local boatyard, without an engine. Picked it up for 2K.  We stripped everything down, pulled the console, and opened up the tank coffin.  Had to rebuild the hatch cover, and also the foredeck (by cutting out the rotten plywood from below and epoxying in a replacement).  Stringers looked good, and the transom was good enough, but we drilled a bunch of holes straight down into it.  Picked up some moisture low down, but because I didn't have a place inside to do a whole transom number, we dried it out with acetone, used a heat gun, and finally poured a ton of epoxy into it, and capped it.  Who knows what it looks like in there?  Pity someone who wants to replace it sometime.  Maybe that was a mistake, but we did it... Seems solid and doesn't flex under pressure.
Otherwise -- painted topsides and the floor (matched the original color under the hatches).  Gelcoat was pretty good, and put in the  new hardware - flush cleats and bow light --  and did simple wiring (cool red LED lights under the gunwale).  Put the fuel filter under the console to keep the transom clean.  
That's it. I've been meaning to share these pictures for a while.  
The real reason I love this boat is the picture below - my first bluefin, a few weeks after launching.

[Marcq]

The real reason I love this boat is the picture below - my first bluefin, a few weeks after launching.

Wow, on a fly rod !! That must have been something  8)

Marc..

[Dukester]

Is that Marblehead, Ohio?  Old stomping grounds and still my family's!

[Menner]

That is one good looking boat!
You did a great job hope my 19-1 turns out that nice when she is done