Yah!!!! I can hardly believe it! The boat is back. So, here are the cold hard facts. When you flip a boat, it does alot of damage. When you have somebody fix the major things, and don't do it yourself, you can't complain to badly about the things they messed up on. Sooo we have to fix a few more little holes, replace some hoses, sand some extra glass, re-glass said glass, and then fix the boat. Doesn't sound to bad does it?  We have the stringers laid in the spiffy new sponson, we have the deck hatches cut out of the new decks, and now we get to start sanding. Oh lucky us, the wonderful hours we get to spend covered in fiberglass dust, itching till the cows come home. (in this case, till the boat floats) Then the time spent leveling them, re-sanding them, spot putty-ing them, re-sanding them, primering them, re-sanding them, filling in all the little bitty tiny holes that fiberglass is notorious for, then re-sanding them. Then maybe, just maybe, we will paint it. Oh, I guess we need the motor in to! Anyone up for some sanding? (that was a honest ?, not just joking) well, I posted the pics of it with the new cockpit and sponson, go take a look and see what you think!

Well, I guess from looking at the last date that I posted, I kinda sucked on this lately. Oh well. Life kinda grabbed us, we have been really busy, and we don't even have the boat for a excuse! We have been going to the races, helping out where needed, then the 4Th, then we were camping for the rest of the time. Both kids have swim lessons and soccer this week, so my work schedule is weird. Oh! And did I mention that we have a new lady in the family? Well 2 of them really, but let me send out a big welcome to miss Rowen Ashtyn! Your auntie can't wait to get her hands on you baby girl! The second welcome goes out to our new cat, Marshmallow. (no she isn't white, or fluffy or sticky, that is just what J&R started to call her) Well, an update on the boat, since that is what this site is for.... Cross your fingers, eyes and whatever you can, because it sounds like we get to pick it up on Sat! SAT!!! Can you believe it? Me either! We might really get to race a boat again. (I was beginning to wonder) YIPPPEEEEEEE! We did get to visit it this weekend, and oh baby, what a purdy thing it is. The cockpit is in, and looks no different than when we did it ourselves. Big pat on the backs to Jim and I, as this means that the professionals did it the same way, and then the sponson....... oh wow. *sigh*  It is seriously amazing how neat a person can get a piece of wood to look. It really is a beautiful job. All round and smooth, just a big piece of curved wood. They even made the spray rail look the same. Which is a big thing... really it is! Well, as soon as we get the boat in the shop, I'll take pics and post them, so you all can see how beautiful she is!!

It's shrinking!! Good golly Jim, it's shrinking!!  He he.... some of you have sick minds.. I meant the to do list on the boat! :-)  We have word that the cockpit is done and the sponson is soon to follow. They told us another week and we should be able to pick it up! Yah!! Soooo I finished the scoop and pedals last night, itch like all out. I love working with the fiberglass, but does it have to itch so darn bad?! I need to finish fixing the cracks in the seat, and Jim needs to finish both motors, I think that one is done, but the way the words were flying around the shop last night, I'm thinking the second one isn't. Other than that, there isn't much else we can do until we have the boat back. We have everything that we need to fix it, so we shouldn't have to be running all over the island and internet finding whatever. So I guess that I will keep keeping you updated, and let you know when we get the boat back! Have a grand one!

Well we went to a race this weekend. Unfortunately, the boat didn't go with us. Gotta tell you, it really sucks going to a race and not being in it. I could feel my heart pumping and was telling Jim (who was standing next to me) the countdown and how many boats and where they were. Doesn't do any good if he is on shore with me, seeing what I see. Not to mention the fact that I probably looked like a moron. I really didn't think that I would miss this as much as I do. What I can't imagine is how much Jim must miss it. It had to really suck watching our class go out, and him not being in it. Well, it was a good weekend though. It gave everyone the chance to tell us what they saw, heard, felt. Lots of versions let me tell you! I don't know that we really got the same story twice. I did get to met the lady who took the pic of the boat in the air. What a nice lady!! And really quick reflexes! So an update on the boat. It is in Seattle, from the sounds of it, not much had been done. Sucks. We don't have a clue when it will be done, but my visions of BlackLake are rapidly fading. Sucks. Oh well, on the flip side of it all, my house is clean, yard is mowed, I even have washed my truck more that once! This is not normal!! Well, chat at you all later, have a grand day!!

Well, the boat goes to the shop on Tuesday! Yah!! wonder how long it will take to fix? hummm...

So the decks are on, we are hoping to glass them on Monday, if the glass shows up. We still have to cut the decks around the cockpit so they can easily get to it. It sounds like they are also going to be fixing the sponson. That really saves alot of work for us, and being the company is so busy right now, this is a real mind reliever. The motor will be done and ready to go when we get the boat back. So now all that is left to fix is.... the seat, pedals, motor, scoop, seltbelts, radio, sanding and priming, and then reassembling everything back in the boat... not much right? Ouch! this is still going to take a while folks! Black Lake is coming up fast, and it is still 5 weeks away! Ouch. On the flip side, the rudder, helmet, props, and....and.....(ok, that is all I can think of) are all ready to go!

Well, it looks like we might not have the boat up and going as soon as we thought. Kinda sucks really. The shop that we have to get a new cockpit from is now telling us 2 more weeks before he can even get a new cockpit in. Did I mention how much this sucks? Well  the decks will be on today, the sponson is next on the agenda. Hopefully by the time the boat does go to the shop, everything will be done besides the cockpit. I think that the 4th of July might be pushing it. Pray, and cross your fingers for us, we REALLY need to make the western divisionals the weekend after the 4th. I have a huge major sponsor on the line for next year, and it is sounding like they want to be there. Hope we will! So, decks: almost check, sponson: soon check, cockpit: someday check, motor: partway check, rudder: check (well, it's in the mail back to us) materials needed: check. New belts, helmet: check.  Money needed: somewhat check. Ummmm I think that is all. Well the painting, but honestly, I think that that is not going to be an option/necessity. It will most likely be a lovely gray primer now!!

Ok, so I know that this is mostly family reading this, but it is quickly coming out to more and more people. So that being noted, here's my thought.  . If you are on the island, or even on the mainland, and are looking for a new way of advertising, we are now going to be "selling" sections of the boat decks.  With the damage the boat took this weekend, the cost's are quickly rising. We are planning on putting this in the 4th of July parade here on island, and can't count how many hours of "see" time it gets in the ferry landings and on the freeways. Not to mention at the race sites themselves. So you are a business, or just an individual, we will gladly put your name on the boat. Either as an advertisement, or in a big thanks. So feel free to contact us at our boat's email addy. goneracin@rockisland.com  and we will reply as fast as we can. Thanks!

 

ok, so I came to a conclusion last night around 3AM. I think the 4 blade props that I was so excited about worked. I mean the boat was screamin! Apparently a little to much. My guess is  that we took last place in the last heat... what do you think? Like the new pics that I posted? Mom, try not to picture Jimmy in it K? HE IS FINE. So, it looks like we will be sending the boat away for a few weeks to get the cockpit and sponson fixed by someone who does this all the time. Yes, I know we have done it before, but that doesn't mean I want to do it again. I'll fix the decks, Jim can fix the motor. I can't believe how many racers/families have called and emailed to check on him. Really neat. Ok, getting a cramp in my wrist...... talk at you all later! If you are dumb founded on a pic, leave a comment & I will try to clear it up...later

FYI if you go into the pics folder, there is a next button, there are 2 pages of pics

after thought.... for those who will understand this, the cockpit is not only ripped open, but the whole thing is twisted on the boat itself, that is why we are replacing it. The pic doesn't show this very well, I know!

Well, we tested the boat in a new way this weekend, it flies. Really well. In the air, not on the water. Well it did fly on the water, but unfortunetly, it flew to good. Jim flipped it. OK, sent it in multiple cartwheels, not really, but it gives you the visual that is needed to picture the damage that happened to the boat. Just for a heads up, Jimmy is ok, bruised body and pride, concussion, and some real sore spots, but nothing broken, nothing that won't heal. The boat is fixable, it will take some time, so now instead of keeping everyone updated on the races, I guess I will be keeping you updated on the repairs for a good month. At least. So that being said, thanks for all the emails, and calls, and we will be up and going again soon! I will post pics as soon as I can, yes we did get video and pics, and they are definetly (sp?) worth looking at, so I will post them as soon as I get a chance.

Woohoo! Our new props came in this week, and aren't they pretty! We get to try them out this weekend, and I will report on how a four blade prop compares to the standard three blade that we have been using. Well, our next race is this weekend, for those of you who haven't scrolled down the page to the race schedule, it is at Lawerence Lake. (Yelm) It looks like it will just be a couple of us going to this one. Have I mentioned how fast this course is? Kinda excited and a little nervous. I will be posting some pics on monday of Moses Lake, yes I did get them, just haven't had a chance to do anything about it. Rissa's b-day is tomorrow, and Jacob is sicker than a dog, so been kinda busy. Ok! Well wish us luck!

It looks like we took a lovely 2nd over all. So that means that after they totaled up all the points from each heat that the boats ran, we finished with the 2nd most points... Yahh!! Our new props are supposed to be here on Monday, so hopefully we will get to test them out at Lawrence Lake on the 12th & 13th of May. Christina is going to be there, (one of my)(Tandi's)( little sisters) so maybe we can talk her into holding the boat in the water, since it is ice cold, and well, someone has to hold it! hehe. Just joking Chris! (although you might want to bring a pair of shoes that can get wet) So, I will post pics as soon as I get them developed, and will most likely take more at the next race. I will also be posting pics of our props and stuff that we use for the boat so that those of you who haven't seen it in action can at least see the things that make it fly. Until next time....

Wow. That is about all that I can say about this weekend. Wow. Ok, so that's not really all I can say, but it is one of the few things that comes to mind repeatedly.

For some reason, there were a few drivers that just didn't have their brains turned on. And there were some that just had some plain out bad luck. We had a few mishaps at the race this weekend. We had boats ran over, blown over and in pile-ups. We had boats on fire, sinking and blowing holes in their decks/sponsons/bottoms. And for some reason, we didn't have any of that happen to us. What a relief! We had a little trouble with the skid fin (holds the boat in a corner) brackets, and a little engine trouble, but nothing that we can't fix easily. Soooo that being said, we are home, all a little sunburnt, and fairly tired, and now desperately trying to catch up on all the work that we missed by being gone. All in all, it was a wild weekend, and I for one am hoping that the next one is a little more tame. Although, Christina is going to be there, so maybe a little action for her to see might not be to bad, as long as it isn't our boat! I will post pictures as soon as I get them developed. (yes, I still use a film camera, if someone wants to buy me a digital that has no delay whatsoever, then I'll use that instead!) And someone leave a comment so that I know people are looking at this!!