Boat and trailer in travel lift straps

George standing in front of The Sweet Forever.

After gently lowering the boat into the water (trailer and all) George discovered a serious leak in the stern tube and had to haul her back out, but not before running the engine with the new impeller for the water pump. It ran great. The Sweet Forever is currently resting on jack stands at Pier Side Boatworks on the Charleston Navy Base, awaiting a fresh coat of bottom paint and leak repair. We should be cruising very soon. GOOD JOB DAD :)

Pier Side Boatworks

Positioning The Sweet Forever so the travel lift operator can rig straps to lift the boat and put in water.

Headed to the boat yard

James Island SC, George Barth following the The Sweet Forever to the boat yard.

Swim Ladder and Cover

Fitting the new swim ladder. It will be secured by gussets to the hull. It's made from scrap stainless tubing, and the steps are made of scrap white oak and ipe. An "Okanipe" ladder. (Sounds like a song) When attached to the stern, it will serve as a deep sea swim-call ladder. It will also attach to the bow for dry beach-party deployments.

I restiched the Sunbrella cover and did alot of patchwork as well as doubling up on the tie-down points.

A custom toilet paper holder made from scrap oak for the backing and plastic StarBoard to hold the spool. Cost.... Love = $.02

LeRoy Bates - Bartender Plaque

George Barth built this frame and mounted a New York Times article about The Sweet Forever on the cabin V-Birth Door.

What a handsome yacht :)

Cockpit View - The Sweet Forever

Lights, Fan - The Sweet Forever

Cabin lights! Even a fan!! And a view of the elevated bridge from the cabin.

Almost Done - The Sweet Forever

The Sweet forever has gone green!!! New top too. And a new flag pole that also serves as a stern light. (Couldn't figure out where to put it on a double ended boat.) The flag/stern light pole reverses to serve as a porch/cockpit light for those quiet moments at anchor. It also serves as a hanger for the kerosene lantern. It's removable.

The Sweet Forever - Final Touches

The bell now has a lanyard run aft to the helm where a childish skipper can annoy people. The bow now has a single bulb running light and the mast now has an anchor light.

I run the engine once a week. The bilge pump now has a float switch which is hard-wired to the battery. The blower works. I painted the deck and new floorboards with a non-skid additive. I think it is time to put the boat in the water. I'm scared!!! Where an I going to go??

Fortunately, where I work, I will have the luxury of having the entire boat and trailer lowered gently into the water by the travel lift, and I'll have plenty of time to look for leaks and run the engine without a garden hose. It would be scary to dump the boat off a ramp after all these years.

The bell now has a lanyard run aft to the helm where a childish skipper can annoy people. The bow now has a single bulb running light and the mast now has an anchor light.

I run the engine once a week. The bilge pump now has a float switch which is hard-wired to the battery. The blower works. I painted the deck and new floorboards with a non-skid additive. I think it is time to put the boat in the water. I'm scared!!! Where an I going to go??

Fortunately, where I work, I will have the luxury of having the entire boat and trailer lowered gently into the water by the travel lift, and I'll have plenty of time to look for leaks and run the engine without a garden hose. It would be scary to dump the boat off a ramp after all these years.

Teak

Exterior Teak cleaned sealed and varnished, looks brand new

V-Birth Teak Veneer

Recycled engine box teak veneer in v-birth, varnished shelf face.

Compass

A lighted compass will be mounted on the dash in front of the helm. A beautiful varnished mahogany base was built and tapered on the bottom so the compass will sit level on the sloped surface.

HEAD

A beautiful working head was salvaged from the boat yard. Cleaned and refurbished, wooden rope trim was steamed around the edge of the mahogany lid.

The Sweet Forever Engine Box

A handsome engine box was built with marine grade plywood and painted white. The top fits securely down on the base held in with slots and grooves built into the lid.

The Sweet Forever cockpit backrest was veneered with the salvaged teak from the original engine box. Varnish and trim was added to finish the edges.

Boat Dog

Cooper in his favorite outfit :) haha He actually liked the shirt but the hat annoyed him a bit. A collar on a dog just makes me smile for some reason :)

Land Rover and Bartender- 1969

1964 Land Rover and 29 ft Bartneder - Huntington NY - 1969

The Sweet Forever - 1969 - NY

International Harvester Travelall launching 29 ft Bartender - 1969 - Long Island Sound - NY

Sweet Forever Update

Email from George Barth on April 19, 2010 in Charleston SC

Spring has sprung. I spread Sweet Forever's stern wings with little wedges to get in some caulk. Then I repaired the rotten splash rail with some white oak. I replaced the nuts that hold the propeller to the shaft and drilled a hole through the nut and shaft and put in a cotter pin. I also ground off the old iron strut nuts and replaced them with stainless steel.

Now hear this!!! The head mechanic at Pierside Boatworks where I work, came over last weekend to go over the engine to see if it was worth saving. The starter wasn't up to the task, so I took it apart and fixed a loose wire and bolted the starter back on, I crossed my fingers and turned the key. She fired up!!! For about three seconds. Then the starter died so I couldn't try again. I have since found a new starter online and expect its delivery soon, and I can't wait to hear that engine roar again. How long has it been? 15 years? You won't believe the black crap that got blasted out of the exhaust! Mostly rust from the exhaust manifold.

Amway, just keeping you posted on the progress. Roy named the boat well. She is Sweet, and she is Forever. Roy's spirit has been with me from the start in getting the boat back into shape. We've had a few arguments about procedure and quality control, but I always win the argument because, hey! Who's doing all the grunt work here? hee hee

I know Roy will win in the end when we get Sweet Forever's bow teaching the Folly Beach surf a thing or two.

Helm Seat Cushion

MAKO 17

My 1974 MAKO 17 is finally put back together and Runs great :) Cooper and I went fishing today. I built a hatch flap out of Pacific Blue Sunbrella and added a nautical star for good luck. I also built a helm seat cushion which is very comfortable.