TRACKER

It took me eleven years to build Tracker and I can honestly say that I never once got tired of doing so along the way.  I sort of built her in stages and as I completed each one I would have a small celebration.  I don't think I ever thought about the end product or finish; that's why a lot of people gave up, the end was always so far away.  I don't think it would have mattered how I went about it I would have finished her; truly, it was an intense labour of love.

Start March 1969 launch July 1982.

This is the initial stage of construction where the temporary frames are laid up.  The hull will be built over this and later the frames are removed.

At this early stage construction of the interior really started to get interesting.  I'm installing a portlight & thinking how bloody expensive they are.

The planks are one and an eight red cedar bent dry with a lot of muscle.  In most ferro cement boats rough planking is used and later ripped out after the hull is finished.  This took a lot of extra work but later you are sitting inside a boat looking at wonderful cedar.

The inside planking is done.  You can see the planking by the keel is rough because after cementing it comes out with great difficulty and replaced with ballast.  When we moved to the new building site we took a few tree branches with us, they didn't stay in the finished boat.

The redwood deck is one inch clear edgegrain over a plywood base.  When the deck was finished, caulked and oiled it was a sight to sigh about, it was truly gorgeous.

The rebar and mesh are done, the concrete poured and smoothed.  Turing her upright was delicate and exciting

This is Jack Menzies, probably the best buddy a person could have.  He built a sistership to Tracker.   Here he's trying to work out a complicated molding around the cockpit ports.  Even though I say I built the boat, it would have taken many more years without Jack's help & advice.

The roughing in stage makes things happen quickly and is exciting.  Things really slowed down again  when I got into the finishing and trim; I also found the finishing more satisfying.

Tracker is just heading for the water.

The galley is larger than most boats this size but it worked out well.  The ten gallon hot water tank heated by the stove or shore power was a great comfort in cold weather. the stove had a cast iron top and radiated a most comfortable heat that could be circulated throughout the boat.

This mirror was made by my friend and neighbour Adolf.  A few weeks before launch he was wandering around inside the boat while Peg and I were in a frenzy trying to get things finished.  I felt bad for thinking I wish he'd help or get lost; he was looking around thinking about what kind of gift he could make for the boat.

My ever faithful Peggy doing last minute things that I never would have thought of; such as foam for mattresses, seats and generally she cleaned up my mess.  She did so much about putting food and all kinds of supplies on board that make it a home.  Without her Tracker would have looked like a squatters hang-out.

I don't mean this to sound like a male sexist thing but the head (bathroom) was designed with Peg in mind.  She loves to take a bath and it always makes her feel good.  I also installed a shower and curtain later.  A number of fishers and offshore sailors sort of smiled at the tub but said that at times of cold and storms  is a life saver and just plain nice after a scary cold and wet day.

Here's my Granny and Mom.  Granny's the one with the dark hair.  They were very proud of their prodigal offspring; I'm not usually vain but I was proud of me too.

Peggy was so emotional that she couldn't stop crying.  After eleven years a big change was about to come to our lives.

The big moment.  Granny with the help of my daughter Erin sending the champagne to oblivion.

There she goes, in a few moments she's floating as is her destiny.  Go to the next page on this site to see a few pictures of her sailing.

Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.