Boat restoration #3

Boat restoration #3
(The rebirth of CHIMO II)

This little all wooden gem is a family heirloom.

She may not look like much, but this little dingy was our parents transportation to islands and safety net while cruising the Trent Severn waterway system with two young kids in tow in the cruiser. Our big adventure was always Georgian Bay and camping mooring off islands and rowing to shore for the toilet and solid ground and hibachi burgers… (the best).

*** Imagine a month with your parents in a 23 foot express craft boat,,, I’ll give you a min to mull that over…

Later, she was the boat we used as kids to row around Ryerson’s island at Long Point Ontario when mom, and dad moored the big boat for the day.

When dad sold the CHIMO this dingy was tied up in the rafters of our garage at Long Point for 20 years. She went home to our parent’s place years later and survived pretty good in an old horse stall, inside and out of the elements.

With IDLE HOUR looking like our old home built express cabin cruiser CHIMO in so many ways, I figured this dingy could again be that safety and fun addition to our boating collection.

When done, CHIMO II will again adorn the hard top of an express cabin cruiser, Idle Hour. like retro hat from generations gone by.

*** We will show you updates on our PLAA time videos on Instagram. PLAA stands for Pandemic Lockdown Alternative Activity time.

We Made The Provincial Info Sheet

While we are impressed that our part of tourism made the COVID 19 EXAMPLES we are disappointed the example is in the second stage.

Our new earliest start time will be July 5th (ish) 2021. We hope the Premier will see the wisdom of operators safety with guests and hopefully open sooner.

(But… it was cool to be mentioned)

-Graham Ferguson
Owner/ Captain
Interpretive Guide
Long Point Island Hugger Tours

Shakedown cruise

Idle’s shakedown cruise is going well.
A few adjustments made and all her systems from 1965 are still working true now. Having completed refuelling and engine testing we are heading back to our private dock and complete the day on a great note. (I just heard I’m having steak for supper.) What a great day to ring in the BIG 5-0.

Test day

TODAY we will be testing ALL of Idle’s hull repairs and mechanical systems. In conjunction with our local rules, currently, we will be conducting a WORK UP test of, all her repairs, as allowed by the Province of Ontario.

(It also happens to be my 50th birthday, but this is pure coincidence.)

Second Coat

“Second coat of blue and some more calking.”

We got all the old calking out and a mild sanding on the blue patches this morning… See the next video for the finished results.

Welcome home to your new home Idle Hour

IDLE now is slipped into her berth at Long Point. The end of one dream and the beginning of another while watching her move while tied for the first time.
This was a challenge set out for myself for my boat 50th birthday, May 18th, 169 hours in 3.5 weeks to get her new berth here to Long Point.

Follow your dreams,
float your own boat in life.

Stay well, see you soon.

Fire it up

Today we get IDLE ready today for doing some laps, we will be leaving our temporary slip at Sandboy Marina testing and checking throttle, gearing, prop, shaft balance and manifold temperatures to make sure she is at 100% before we leave the marina to her permanent slip a bit further down the point.