Launch 2009

After the extensive work done during the past winter layup on the hard, I had been anxious for weeks to get Vintage Viking re-launched and back in the water. There was still work to be done, as there always is with a classic (note: not OLD) boat. But I believed that I had done as many of the projects that required the boat to be on the hard that I could financially afford to do this year. Both engines were in and running, but we did suspect that the port engine needed to have the raw-water cooling pump rebuilt (even though this was done as part of the winter refit). But this could be done once the boat was in the water.



Weather fronts prevented the detail crew from completing the entire boat and superstructure, but they were able to complete the waterline-to-rub rail portion of the hull. The rest would wait until the weather cleared and I could get the detail crew back. But I could wait no more. The marina had made arrangements with the hauler to transport the boat from her winter mason-block pedestals to the launch ramp down the street at the Municipal Dock.



The gentleman who runs the hauling concern is an octogenarian German who custom designed and built his tow vehicle and trailer to meet his needs. If he thought of a better way to do something, he would probably re-engineer the entire rig to meet the need. Even though the surrounding area had plenty of lagoon-front homes with boats in the backyard, this man could, and did, make a living of hauling these boats out of the water in the backyard and re-depositing them onto blocks in the front yard for winter layup. He didn't need to travel very far; just in the immediate area I would guess there are 300 potential clients.



Late in the day on a beautiful Spring Friday, he came to the marina to re-load Vintage Viking onto his haul trailer and get her wet again. Just as Jesse and I had turned the corner at the bend between the Municipal Dock and the marina, we caught sight of the boat moving across the Earth on this freight-train of a truck turning onto the road. Because of her height above waterline, and the added presence of the gin pole, someone had to ride on Vintage Viking while she made her journey so that he could lift low-laying wires that stretched from utility power poles on the road. This process would repeat itself about four times before the boat was down the street in the Municipal Dock parking lot ready to be backed down the ramp. It was not surprising to see that as Vintage Viking made its way down the street she attracted about 6 or 7 groups of onlookers, gawking at first her size and then the ease at which she moved over land. Even as we prepared to release her bonds and straps keeping her on the trailer, she still seemed graceful and at ease.




As she was backed down the ramp and began to get wet, first her props, then her rudders, and finally the keel and lowermost part of her hull, I could almost see an AAAAHHHH come over her. Like when you slip into that cool clear water of a swimming pool on that hot summer day. The mechanics from the marina were on board now, checking through-hulls and preparing the engines to run. After several minutes of 'discussions' between the sage octogenarian hauler and the young enthusiastic mechanics as to what was the best way to get the Viking off the pads of the trailer and floating freely without getting the haul-truck into the water. After a combination of slight tugging, easing the trailer a little further and the prevailing wind pushing the Viking into the water. She was now finally afloat, at home again in her wet environ where she belonged.

I climbed up to the flybridge and took the controls for the first time this year. I could hear and feel the smoothness of the rebuilt transmissions and the power of the engines. I eased the boat down the channel, away from the Municipal Dock for the short 500 yard trip to the entrance to the marina and eventually her slip. I gingerly ran the engines, not wanting to overheat the port engine, yet still have power to overcome the windage once I was ready to back her into her slip. She responded to the slightest touch of the controls. I will be very happy to open her up and unbridle her newly-freshened power plants. But a little at a time; remember break-in instructions from Crusader........