Moving 12000 lbs and other fun.

I had the morning off today and had a chance to make a few more calls to local boat haulers to get a quote to move Solstice the 94 miles to our house. Of course it is the busiest time of year for every person in the marine industry so it will not be happening tomorrow. One hauler said he can make more money staying local launching lobster boats all day than he can by driving halfway across the state for one boat. Another wanted to charge $100 more just to bring the mast on the trailer, meaning I would have to get a crew to lift it onto the boat if I wanted to get his lower price. I finally called a mom and pop hauler in Bucksport that came in quite low, will haul the mast for free and wants the work. It looks like they are the ones and the quote of $750.00 is within our budget (okay, free would be nice but I don't think that will happen). They can haul it the week of the 21st at the earliest but that is fine because it gives us more time to try to sell the Morgan and free up some yard space. Candace and I have decided we can live without a boat this summer if we have to, and it will give us time to make Solstice into the boat she can be. I have been warned that this project can't consume ALL my time so we will just be picking at it for the next year hoping to be ready early next summer.
Just for grins and giggles I looked up the scrap price for lead today and the ballast in the boat is worth 2 times what we paid for it so I am calling us ahead!
I hope to get the boat into sailing condition for under $2000.00 over the next year and if the market hols up we should have a boat worth roughly 4 times what we have in it. Not that I am looking to sell just yet...I would need to find a bigger boat first.

When we start doing the refit I will be posting pictures of the work, describing various ways to do repairs and keeping a running total of hours worked and money spent. I am open to questions regarding boats, boat repair and the answer to last weeks puzzler....I want this to be both an outlet for me, and a place where other boaters can bounce ideas off me and ask advice. I am also open to suggestions and you can give me a virtual smack up side the head if you feel it necessary.

The interior