Ted and Sandy spent >>fifteen very long months<< slaving over their boat in the work yard. Imagine fifteen months of climbing up and down a ladder, equipment and tools everywhere, endless boat projects, and a boat that takes every dollar you throw at it, laughs, and demands even more money. Yep, that's life in the work yard.
Finally, the big day came - the day that Ted and Sandy launched their boat, Ragtime Gal. They were understandably a little nervous. . .okay a lot nervous. After all, when your boat has been out of the water for a long time, you do wonder if it will actually float.
Good news - it did!
Then the big moment came (the one I think Ted had been even more nervous about) - the shaving of his beard. He started growing his rather impressive whiskers while they were working on their boat and swore once she was splashed that he would shave it off.
Of course, if there's one thing that the Indiantown Party Posse is good at, it's turning anything (even the shaving of a beard) into a party.
Sandy did a live Facebook feed of the beard shaving. It was so cute to see his mom commenting about being happy that her baby was finally going to be clean-shaven.
Who is that guy with Sandy? Oh, wait, that's Ted. He looks so different!
Then it was time for some celebratory pizza and cake. But not before placing the remnants of the beard in a plastic bag, putting it on the free table, and waiting to see if anyone would pick it up. It kind of looks like a brillo pad, don't you think?
There's no rest for the weary. After dinner, it was time to move Ragtime Gal from the face dock over to their slip. This involved pulling it from one side of the marina to the other with a very long line. Oh, yeah, did I mention that the engine isn't working? Guess, Ted and Sandy's boat projects aren't done yet.
Here's Julia getting ready to dinghy the line over to the other dock.
Then some of the guys pulled the line, kind of like tug-of-war.
Here she comes.
She made it into her slip. Easy-peasy.
What do you think of Ted's before and after looks? What kinds of things do you do to celebrate a big milestone and accomplishment?
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That beard needed to come off. Glad their boat is back in the water. That's a long time to work on it.
ReplyDeleteThe beard shaving was a long time coming! They worked really hard for such a long time. I know they're glad to be back on the water.
DeleteHe looks much younger without the beard. Much younger.
ReplyDeleteBoats are expensive. I love them so and I can't imagine not having a boat.
Have a fabulous day and weekend, Ellen. ♥
I agree - he looks so much younger. Such a difference :-)
DeleteHe's good looking either way to me. Good luck to them getting Ragtime Gal back into sailing condition!
ReplyDeleteWell said - he is a handsome guy with or without his beard. :-)
DeleteShaving took years off him! I remember when John shaved his beard off. I had never seen him without it and was quite worried …
ReplyDeleteThat must have been so strange to see John without his beard!
DeleteGood for Ted and Sandy! I’m happy the boat floats (although,she looks a bit tilted). It’s always a nerve-wrecking moment to splash a boat after time in the boat yard. I think we went though this at least eight times with Irie. Once, we had a leak after replacing the sea cocks, and once the engines didn’t start. Scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteTed looks totally different without a beard. Wow. You’ll miss them when they leave with a fixed engine! What a fun couple! Did anyone take the beard hair yet? If they would have restepped their mast, I would have suggested putting it underneath, which we did with a rubber duckie. :-)
They've rearranged stuff and she's sitting pretty in the water now. I think one of the things they may have moved was their Sailrite sewing machine. Those things are heavy!
DeleteSomeone did take the beard hair. No idea what he's going to do with it :-)
Congratulations on splashing the boat AND removing that beard.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good day for them :-)
DeleteWhew! A beard and Florida heat aren't a good match. I bet he feels a lot better. (Looks better, too!)
ReplyDeleteI agree - I would have thought that beard was so hot in the heat :-)
DeleteHi, Geoff here.
ReplyDeleteTaking the beard off was probably a good idea, easier to maintain a clean shaven face when in the tropics which is where I would imagine you will be heading off to once the rebuild is complete. Good looking boat and by the looks of things the boat yard where she was on the hard looks like a very pleasant place to spend your days while you slave away. Good luck with the rebuild and may you have pleasant travels in the near future. Geoff.
In one sense, having a beard is probably a good choice as you don't use water to shave and water is always a precious commodity on a boat. Their boat is really nice looking - inside and out.
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