Boat People

DougSteel Boat

We got a lot of work done, with plenty of smiles and laughter, and no body got more than a small burn. Sorry Bart. Many thanks to our boat people:  Bart, Jason and Cloie from Tulsa. Luuk Martijn who flew in from Rotterdam last night and has become very proficient with the plasma torch, and Chris Gassen from Germany who is showing some fine stills for a novice welder.  And we are keeping the CNC router cranking out floor tiles with beautiful results. Thanks again for your overwhelming support.

Luuk

Luuk

Jason

Jason

Chris

Chris

Cloie

Cloie

Bart

Bart

vs161126-010

Seeker’s Sole, V Carving and Paint

DougSteel Boat

img_1602Here’s an opportunity for you to support Seeker and add a bit of “you” to the project.    We have 50 Ipe (E-pay) tiles, approximately 24″ x 24″ each, that will be used as the floor in our cargo hold area.  You can sponsor a tile for $50 and it will include an inspirational quote and your name.     Choose either one of our suggested quotes, let us choose for you or submit one in the “notes” area upon checkout and we will work with you in making your sponsored tile one of a kind.    Any questions?   Email Doug at svseeker@ymail.com

>>>> Deck Tile Sponsor

Floor Tiles and Paint Testing

DougSteel Boat

POR15, Rust Doctor, and MetalFix
What brings together scientist, truck drivers, constructions workers, military members, artist, and the occasional database administrator?   Hell if I know.  But I’m really glad that it’s happening. Seeker has been a magnet for bring together new friends.  Crew members Charlie and Monica put in an advanced order for a sole tile. We recommend getting the new holland parts online on this website and fix it with the best equipment.

Here’s to tall ships.
Here’s to small ships.
Here’s to all the ships at sea.
But the best ships are friendships.
Here’s to you and here’s to me!
We are raised being told that family is the most important thing, but I much prefer a friend that does not judge me or decide what is best for me and my life.   I want to LIVE my life as I choose.  By my rules, and with friends whom I love.   Wayne Dyer said “Friends are God’s way of apologizing for your family.”  So if you love working hard and working as a team for something BIG.  Consider joining our family.

Paint Test and More Cargo Hold Work

DougSteel Boat

106 Ipe (E-Pay) deck tiles arrived. They are 2×2 feet and weight over 25 pounds each.

Ipe (E-pay) floor tiles arrive.

Ipe (E-pay) floor tiles arrive.

We tested V-caving with the CNC table and we like the results. You will soon be able to sponsor a tile for Seeker, and have your favorite inspiration quote along with your name carved into it. Imagine the joy some wreck diver will have when they recover the artifact you sponsored.

Testing CNC V carving the floor tiles.

Testing CNC V carving the floor tiles.

Daniel is a scientist in his day job, so he was perfect to construct and direct our paint test.

Daniel Majonis, Toranto Canada

Daniel Majonis, Toranto Canada

POR15, Rust Doctor, and MetalFix

POR15, Rust Doctor, and MetalFix

Military Non-Skid. "Do not use on flight deck."

Military Non-Skid. “Do not use on flight deck.”

Once cured the test samples will be placed in our homemade salt spray test chamber. Every hour the salt water is agitated by air for 1 minute.

DIY Salt Spray Test Tank

DIY Salt Spray Test Tank

Tony Cavazos also stopped in this weekend to help, as well as locals, Paul Hatch, Jack and Bart. Together they made more progress on the tile supports

 

in the cargo hold and we like how it’s coming together.

Paul Hatch, Bart and Tony

Paul Hatch, Bart and Tony

Cargo Hold Soul

Cargo Hold Soul

Relaxing with Tony and Bart

Relaxing with Tony and Bart

Cargo Hold Deck …just getting started.

DougSteel Boat

Paul Hatch Sand Spring, Oklahoma

Paul Hatch
Sand Spring, Oklahoma

Andrew Logan Toledo, Ohio

Andrew Logan
Toledo, Ohio

Eric Towell Toledo, Ohio

Eric Towell
Toledo, Ohio

Holly Rupp Toledo, Ohio

Holly Rupp
Toledo, Ohio

Eric and Holly drove in from Toledo Ohio to work all weekend.  By some strange coincidence, Andrew Logan also from Toledo Ohio dropped in and stayed long enough that I loaned him some work cloths and put him to work.   Jack dropped by as well as Paul Hatch from near by Sand Springs.   And Bart to the mix and we had a great crew and got a lot done.

Thanks to everyone! –Doug

 

 

Mermaid 2 of 2 – Figureheads for Seeker

DougSteel Boat

vs161103-001The mundane, the bland, the ordinary, is waiting on the self for us at every big box store and a robot at Amazon is moving around millions of these items daily.  A dive through our neighborhoods and house after the same house displays the same consumer-off-the-shelf decorations.  An inflatable pumpkin for Halloween, some wire reindeer for Christmas.   We drive the same cars, live in the same houses, wear the same cloth, vacation at the same places.  We may be alive, but we are brain-dead.   We disdain the thought of being herd animals yet we follow along like good little sheep. And worse we incriminate those that take a different path.   “Not true of me?”  you say?   Really?

We are born inquisitive and adventurous, and imaginative, and creative.  And though parenting, school, church, and media it dies.  This homogenized world is not killing us.  It is the result of our death.

Today, try blowing some life into that ember of humanity that remains.  Find something you are told not to like and learn, not only like it, but love it for being different.  Even better! Go do something that will make some waves and spark some imagination.  LIVE!

A Wonderful Vacation

DougSteel Boat

Measuring the height for the floor supports.

Measuring the height for the floor supports.

I’ve had a wonderful vacation.  Met some great people from all across the USA and an old friend Johan from Sweden.   We got plenty of sun and exercise and we happened to get a ton of things done on this little boat project we have in the front yard.  Tomorrow I can go back to my regular day job and rest up.

Next weekend is Mermaid Weekend!

Conner Lowry from Dumas Texas

Conner Lowry from Dumas Texas

Tinka,seeing the world from above.

Tinka,seeing the world from above.

Dont't forget your PPE

Dont’t forget your PPE

Bart Robinson

Bart Robinson

Figuring out the supports for the wood deck.

Figuring out the supports for the wood deck.

Marking the floor supports.

Marking the floor supports.

Cutting steel for the forward cabin.

Cutting steel for the forward cabin.

Checking an anchor for fit.

Checking an anchor for fit.

Johan making last years welds perfect.

Johan making last years welds perfect.

Salty Dog

Salty Dog

vs161015-012

Engine Room Floor Grid version of Twister.

Engine Room Floor Grid version of Twister.

 

Fuel Tank Lids and Junk Sails

DougSteel Boat

vs161012-002A huge amount of work has gotten done and it’s because of a great crew. I’m on vacation, so Johan and I have been cutting steel and welding every day and this last weekend we had Randy and Arron in from Bismarck North Dakota who along with Bart, cut fuel tank hatch opening, hatches and drilled and tapped over 224 holes. And we had some great visitors too, who stayed long enough for us to put some tools in there hands. And Betsy has made great progress on learning to make Junk Sails. The Mizzen will be done soon and we’ll need to put a mast in the lawn just to give it a try.

All and all it’s shaping up to be a wonderful vacation. One of those that make you want to quit your job and work on your passion full time. Thank you to everyone for your support. A lot of things have transpired in my life to bring me to were I am and I am grateful for all of it. Embrace change and be true to yourself. LIVE!