The joy of restoring classic fiberglass boats and 5 tips to help you.

 

I: Introduction

I started restoring a classic fiberglass boat about a year ago, and it’s been an incredibly rewarding experience. I’m not a master builder, but I’ve learned a lot along the way. I’ve come up with a few tips that will help make restoring a fiberglass boat a fun experience.

II: Why do it?

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned during these past few months is something I didn’t expect: The joy of restoring an older fiberglass boat — and the resulting sense of satisfaction I get from sailing it. Even more than that watching my family and friends enjoy the boat fills me with a sense of pride.

I’ve always loved boats, but I didn’t realize how much until I fixed one and started using it. It’s opened up my world in so many ways. It’s given me a chance to show my family and friends a new perspective on life. When you see the sun rise and set on the water, it changes you.

III: Boat restoration tips

1. Keep it simple at first. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of options. The best thing to do is to start small. Remove old rotted material, take out a seat or two, change some light bulbs. Whatever you are comfortable with.

2. Try not to reinvent the wheel. Make sure it floats. Make sure it runs/sails. Make sure the basic electrical systems work and then ensure the bilge pump works. After that, the rest is up to you.

3. Play to your strengths. If you have a great eye, be sure to use it. Do what you are good at and hire others for the stuff you aren't. Can you design and 3d print custom parts? Are you better at the mechanical stuff? Find what you like doing and enjoy the work.

4. Use the Internet — The web is filled with forums, blogs, and videos about how others have solved the same problems you will encounter. Use all the resources. Search for inspiration and be ready to change your mind a lot.

5. Make it your own. don't be afraid to be creative and ignore the naysayers

It's your boat and it's your imagination. Pick paint you love, horns and lights you love. Install beds and chairs you love. Fill it with stuff you love. Make it the boat of your dreams. Maybe you dream of a simple camp-like boat or a megayacht-like boat. Bling it out however you like. Also simple cheap LED string lights can go an mighty long way :)

IV: Conclusion

Bringing all these thoughts together, remember restoring an older boat can get you on the water, show you more beauty in the world, help you and your loved ones escape the busy life and it can be a great adventure while costing pennies compared to buying a new boat. 

 

 

May the wind at your back never be your own.

David Sullivan

2022

 

New Site Launch Today

Hello everyone,

David Sullivan here from good old Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. How's it goin' eh?

A couple of weeks ago, I launched my latest site, http://www.thedave.org

Over the next, while I will be pulling my different Blogs, fan pages, photo galleries and other material into this one main site. For now, I am simply linking from the main site to my other blogs such as this one.

Dave from Saint John

http://www.thedave.org

:)

Photography - Getting Exposure

Did you like the play on words in the title. I did. So for many years now I have been dabbling in photography and this year I took a leap and dove right in. I finally spent the money and bought a wonderful prosumer level Nikon D90 DSLR. For the record I love my Nikon. Feature rich, easy to work with and it really does make photography fun.

Now with that out of the way let me get to the real reason you are reading this.

Because I want to increase my exposure. I started a local business called Odyssey Photography in Saint John, NB. We have a WordPress site, a facebook fan page and some listings on ebay for a couple of our favorite prints. I am listing these links below and I hope you find them useful and wonderful.

On our Wordpress blog you will find, Daily stories, photography tips, what we are working on currently and our Print that we are offering for sale.

WordPress Blog

(This is our main site right now) - http://ephotographystudios.wordpress.com

Facebook Fan Page.

(Fan yourself to this page for regular updates) http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Saint-John-NB/Odyssey-Photography/343165732324?ref=ts

our current ebay listings

8x12 Print of - Galasia Nera (Greek - Blue Waters) by John Papadopoulos

8x12 Print of - Resting Beauty by David AA Sullivan

8x12 Print of - The Dirty Giant by David AA Sullivan

8x12 Print of - Playful by David AA Sullivan

Enjoy.

David Sullivan

Odyssey Photography

506 608 2418

wow have I ever been slacking on this blog. That was over a year ago. I week later, March Friday the 13th 2009, to be exact. I realized that was going nowhere. I also met another wonderful lady that has changed my life. We went for breakfast that life altering morning and have never looked back. We have been together for over a year at this point. We have faced some simple demons and some not so simple trials. We have had good times and bad times. We have lived, laughed and loved. Above all else we decided that together we want to make it work. We both brought our baggage and together we are helping each other sort it all out. One day at a time no matter what may come.

It's not easy choosing to make it work. Many people glide around hoping things work. That approach doesn't work for everyone. We live in such an age that we have access to so much information. There is no reason for us not to understand how people work. People are not Machines. We have a physical side, mental logical side and a mental emotional side. In most cases these 3 sides are never in equal balance. More often, than not our emotional side overrides our logical and physical sides. We need to be aware of this and ready. The resulting static electricity or stress is deadly for relationships surviving on pure luck.

Many people don't realize that people suffering from any form of imbalance often can't control their own feelings. However if they have uncontrollable feelings, they must be responsible to get help and to start the process of becoming responsible and accountable.

These are the lessons I have learned in the last year.

I hope this helps anyone that reads it.

Stress and clinical depression are running rampant in our society today.

Everyone should research these topics and become aware of how they present.

More than ever people need to be educated on the root problems.

Once you know what you are dealing with the rest becomes reasonable.

Continuing the Odyssey

David Sullivan

An interesting encounter

So in the last couple of days I have had the pleasure of meeting a Lady.
This Lady is captivating. She is wholesome and inspiring.

For now this is all I have to say.

Feb 27th 2009,
The encounter - An unexpected dance, with an unexpected person, in an unexpected place

Feb 28th 2009,
The First Date - An evening of Dinner, Drinks and fantastic Dancing.

March the 1st 2009,
Everything in the Known Universe Changed.
Discovery, there is someone out there.. Alive and willing to live.

Stay tuned.....


Wow.... I just found this post after 8 years.
Update. The March the 1st Lady was amazing and real and we have been living together for almost 9 years now. Life is a funny thing.

My Philosophy

If there is only one thing in my blog you ever read I hope this is it.

Ignore the Nay Sayers. Never accept abuse of any sort from anyone.

Listen to your heart. Think with your head.
Involve passion at all times and truly love your partner.
Give them more reasons to be a greater person.
Encourage them everyday.
Support them with your heart, body and soul.

Above all. Don't be afraid to challenge them, play with them and find a way to laugh and cry with them as much as you can.

Imagine you know that these are your last days to be alive together and love them like there may not be a tomorrow.

Learn to forgive, understand and be compassionate and teach by example.
Remember that everything you do is an example for somebody.
Be the best example you can for good.
Be honest and steadfast. Be true to yourself.

Accept this universal truth
Some will like you and some won't.
SO WHAT!

Some people will not be ready for this kind of love. Don't worry. Keep looking.
There is someone out there looking for you too.
Never give up. Search UNTIL you find them.

And live your life along the way.

Learn to listen. Really listen. The universe is giving you everything you need
Listen and filter. Challenge the thoughts not the words. -- Always challenge.

A few great quotes from a few amazing people...

Things not only have to be right. They have to look right. (Perception) -- My Parents
Go for the goal, but remember to enjoy every second of the journey -- Barb
When the WHAT is big enough the HOW becomes clear. -- Stephen

Love yourself, your friends and your family. In the end they are the only ones that count.

My name is David Sullivan. I am a Son, a father, a friend and a partner.
I am a very blessed man.

Take these words. read them again. find the thoughts behind them and challenge them to see if they can help you.

I give these wisdoms to anyone willing to read them, with all my love.
Dave

PS Practice everyday being kinder and more understanding. Some of us find this harder than others but will continue UNTIL we get it right.

Arise from the Ashes of great Pheonix and take your place in cosmos

The world has changed and I with it !!!

Wow. It has been a while since I felt like blogging. Much in my life has changed since last I wrote. I have become separated from my Wife of 13 years. I have moved on. I have struggled like many before me and I would like to believe I have grown much.

I have taken a detour in my career path, watched depression over whelm a loved one to dangerous levels and witnessed their slow climbing up out of the ashes. I have lost a dearly loved relative to Leukemia and discovered how to love myself again.

My name is David Sullivan and I love people and life.
In this blog I will share my little lessons and wonderful experiences when ever I feel the need.

today I wrote a quick piece about some things I believe I have learned.

I will post it next -- Called My Philosophy