Another wonderful transformation...

Many boat owners with teak decks neglect to keep up on seasonal maintenance. Rather than oiling their teak on a regular basis, they opt for the simpler “blonde” look of natural teak. While this option is cheaper in the short run, allowing teak to dry out causes long term expensive damage. Unprotected UV exposure causes the grain of the wood to open, allowing dirt and chemical residues to build up, further deteriorating the surface. Moreover, the erosion of the surface causes a premature breakdown of the caulk seams between the planks. As we see all too often, what was once a beautiful teak deck can become an expensive burden when heavy sanding and re-caulking become the only solution. If you prefer the look of un-oiled teak, ask us about our clear UV protecting sealants.

Below are some pictures of a project completed in Milwaukee this past weekend by our Grand Haven crew. The before pictures are an ideal example of the level of wear that is prime for teak deck maintenance. All that this project required was a quick, single stage, light sand and two coats of oil. Not only is the deck now protected from the sun and the elements, but it is also restored beyond its factory beauty.

Boat Graveyard

I came across this series of photos of boats which are way past their prime and are slowly but surely being taken back by mother nature. While they are wonderful pictures in their own right, I prefer nice shiny yachts thank-you-very-much.

Have your teak and enjoy it too!

One of the many services Ship Shape specializes in is teak deck restoration. A simple two-step chemical brightener can successfully lift some contaminants from the deck, thus bringing lightly soiled teak back to life. More heavily sun damaged or neglected teak decks require a complete re-sanding and several coats of sealant. Our qualified staff of teak specialists uses a full vac system when performing any power sanding project. This ensures that the mess of the job sight doesn’t find its way into your cabin, or your neighbors! For more information about our restoration process and finish options, or to set up your own custom teak maintenance program, call (800)-33-ShipShape.

Here are some before and after shots of a project completed by the Grand Haven crew earlier this summer at Tower Marine in Saugatuck…

Miles Minor Kellogg Ship Houses

I doubt Mr. Kellogg was concerned (if one needs to be?) about global warming back in the early 20th century, but he was ahead of the curve on recycling. Part entrepreneur and part architect, Mr. Kellogg built these "house boats" with no intention of them ever being actually put into the water.

His ultimate recycling triumph was the boathouses on the west side of Third Street between F and G. What a stir they created back in the late twenties. The editor of the local paper poked fun of Mr. Kellogg's creation and Mr. Kellogg retaliated with a major tongue-lashing! But then his imagination soared and he thought back to earlier days when he had worked on bats at Lake Michigan and the idea came to him to build "boat houses." His young son, Miles Justin Kellogg, helped every day after school until they were completed. In 1928 the boat houses could be seen from Highway 101 and people passing through town began to turn west for a better look at the structures. Down through the years the boathouses probably have been the most photographed buildings downtown and are a unique symbol of our surfing, beach, and Hwy 101 culture.

Demo Day Results

Thanks to everybody who came out, despite the rain! Instead of taking up a chunk of the parking lot, we were relegated to the awning, and the gel-coat restoration on our beautiful '88 Sea-Ray was not completed. But, the BBQ was still delicious! We could not believe how excited everyone we talked to was. Also, I would like to thank West Marine for generously giving away all the keychains, and coupons, as well as letting us raffle a pair of binoculars. Congratulations to Jim Gardner on winning them! It was great to talk about what we do, especially when we can talk boat owners out of bad habits. For example, boat owners talk about using harsh chemicals such as Roll-Off to wash with, and they wonder why their wax doesn't last!

Just a reminder, the Venetian Festival is going on now!

If you are up North, don't forget this week/weekend is the Venetian Festival. There are a lot of exciting events going on, so be sure to check out the event website.

One event that caught my attention was the "Ultimate Air Dogs":

Ultimate Air Dogs will dazzle Festival goers as they lay their "poochie prowess" on the line by leaping high and far over their custom designed pool in the heart of East Park. The owner and director of the Ultimate Air Dogs national tour is Milt Wilcox. Milt teamed up with Jack Morris and Dan Petry, to form the ace starting pitcher trio of the 1984 Detroit Tigers, which propelled the team to the 1984 World Series Championship. Be sure to check out Milt and the dogs in this impressive competition of canine athleticism, from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Classy and Innovative

Ever stuck in the office wishing you were out on the water? I know I do. While there are certainly many great classic looking yachts, Wally Power yachts have a unique look all their own. By going here, you can find an amazing number of computer backgrounds which will make you feel as close to the water as possible. They give off a James Bond type fee, which should help you day dream for a minute or two about an adventurous life beyond Outlook, phone calls, and the commute home.

Saddam's Yacht For Sale

At one point in time (and still perhaps?) Saddam Hussein's yacht was up for sale. Complete with private escape passage and bullet proof glass. Why was he found in a hole in the ground when it would take longer to search this thing?

Aside from the typically Muslim features, including prayer rooms and ornate fountains, the specification was much the same as super-yachts owned by millionaires the world over.

There are bathrooms with gold taps, Jacuzzis, steam rooms, hi-tech entertainment suites and games parlours, including table tennis and pool tables, and flat-screen TVs in almost every cabin.

With banquets in mind, there is silverware for 200 people. But as the yacht was intended for Saddam's private use, it can sleep only a relatively modest 28 people. There is a helicopter pad and a health clinic, complete with a mini-operating theatre.

Security measures include a secret passage which would have allowed Saddam to get to a fast boat in case of trouble. A mini-submarine pod is also connected to the passage.

The vessel's 35-man crew was on standby 24 hours a day, all year round. It has storage for heavy machine-guns and surface-to-air missiles. All of the glass on board is bullet-proof.

West Marine Demo Day

The Grand Haven crew will be at the West Marine at 810 Jackson, discussing techniques and products. We will have at least one boat there in order to demonstrate the immediate and drastic results of things such as buffing and powerwashing. This hopes to be a great way to introduce Grand Haven boaters to Ship Shape, as well as educating them on some of the more advanced aspects of marine maintenance.

There will also be hamburgers, hot dogs, refreshments, and a raffle with coupons for both West Marine and Ship Shape.

A Few Test Spots

Some Customers who neglect their boats will not realize the slow dulling of cushions and canvas, or buildup on inflatables. Engine rooms and bilges are subject to the same accumulation of dirt, but also have other elements, such as oil, that are a whole different beast! Here are some quick test spots that show that it is easy to reverse the damage of time (click for larger photo).

Protecting Your Yacht

Here is an article with a lot of good tips on how to prevent your yacht from being a target for criminals.

3.) Keep record of all serial numbers, identification codes and other hints to identify your boat or particular equipment. This applies in particular to your hull identification number (HIN), the serial numbers of your engine, outboard engine and electronic equipment. Write notes on little scratches and other special features that would allow you to identify your property. Write into a notebook and keep it outside of the boat.

8.) Take pictures of your boat and all parts of it. Hull, deck, rigging, interiors and of course all valuable pieces of equipment. All these things should be on record. Keep the pictures in your anti-theft-notebook (see advice number 3).

Part of our mission at Ship Shape is to make your yachting experience the best it can be. Along with being on your yacht during our weekly washes to keep an eye out for anything unusual, we are constantly on the docks working on other yachts. We are always rechecking our work, and in the process keep an extra set of eyes on your yacht for any suspicious activity. Let us know if you would like us to create a anti theft notebook and digital archive for you.