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My ship, - "Kit Yu"

- a classic Nordic Folk boat -

- in service, - after the 3rd. year of continuing upgrading -

2011-05-16.12
The mast ready to be mounted.
(Photography © Kit Yu Tao)

2011-05-16.16
Here we go! Carefully placing the mast in correct position.
(Photography © Kit Yu Tao)

2011-05-16.19
Mast in place, - and "Kit Yu" ready to be shifted to her permanent berth for complete rigging and fitting out.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-05-17.01
The following day: At her berth, - and all standing rigging in place.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-05-20.01
Here the standing rigging in silhouette. Not a very complicated rigging, but it must be done correctly.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-06-03.002
Now completely rigged, - main sail fitted, - and fully equipped, - ready to go anywhere!
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-06-21.001
Mast and rigging and a magnificent sky!
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-07-06.001
Finally under sail, - and a very happy, old sailor fully enjoying the magic of the sea!
(Photography © Kit Yu Tao)

2011-07-06.003
And here Kit Yu, - the combined Chief Mate, AB, Cook and Bosun -, during her watch -
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-07-06.009
Cook at work! Power food! Pork bellies prepared outside the galley.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-07-06.014
"Kit Yu" at anchor off uninhabited island Brandsø.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-07-06.031
- and here another shot of "Kit Yu" at anchor in a magnificent late afternoon light.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-07-06.032
- and another one -
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-07-31.004
Here another "totally enjoy" photo of human being Kit Yu and Nordic Folk Boat "Kit Yu" -
Now at anchor in scenic Gamborg Fjord at a perfect place for swimming.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-07-31.006
- and another one -
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-07-31.009
- and a third one from Gamborg Fjord -
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-09-30.005
Underway with sails down.
Sometimes there is simply no wind and if also the current is against you, you have to use motor if you want to get home in time.
Here "Kit Yu" under such conditions in Fænø Sund. Home is just around the corner.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-10-31.011
But all wonderful summers at sea come to and end, - and the time comes for laying up the boats for the coming winter.
Here "Kit Yu" at the end of October, - rigging and sails stripped completely, and all equipment removed. Also gone is the sun!
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-11-08.001
And here "Kit Yu" in early November, - high and dry -, just put ashore for her winter sleep.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-11-08.002
This is what the bottom looks like after one season at sea.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)

As you can tell, the anti fouling coating has partly been doing it's job, and efficiently prevented the growth of barnacles and sea shells, but if you could only look underneath the steel keel, you would see a thick layer of about 5 cm, - or two inches -, of blue shells, that had started a colony there.
Reason is, that the year before, the blocks I had placed under the keel were too low, so that I had no space for coating that particular area with anti fouling paint. Hence the naked steel was not protected, - and immediately the blue shells saw the opportunity and settled down.
The boat could easily have been kept in the water during the winter, - and some do -, but there could be heavy ice that would damage or even sink the boat, and the howling winter storms, could also be a problem that you have to take into consideration. Also it is an advantage to have the bottom cleaned, so that the hull glides more smoothly and fast through the water when next spring comes around. Therefore I prefer to take "Kit Yu" on land every year, so that I can clean and inspect the bottom, and apply a new coat of paint for protection of the underwater hull.

2011-11-09.002

This picture of the bottom is taken the day after, and as you can tell, the sludge like deposits are now removed. That could be easily done with a water hose and a brush. The colony of sea shells had to be scraped off, and you can see some of them lying in the grass. Then the bottom looks almost like new.
Not so bad - - - -
As you will also notice, I have now placed thicker blocks under the keel, which means, that next spring it will be easier for me to clean and coat the underside of the iron keel - - - (Photography © Karsten Petersen)

2011-11-23.004

Next step is to make a "house" that protects the boat from rain and snow, so that she is nice and dry when next spring comes around, and the yearly maintenance routines and inspections will start all over again. (Photography © Karsten Petersen)

As you can tell, - part of the bottom section has not yet been scraped, cleaned and coated, but still shows the original red lead.
But next year I am convinced that the job will be finished, - and I will have a "new" boat, but this is what I have said for the last three seasons, - so who knows how many more chapters there will be written about the major inspection and upgrading of "Kit Yu"?
Well, - the remaining jobs are now so few and easy to do, that I am confident, that in the next many years to come there will ONLY be the normal routine maintenance and repair jobs left. (Which is actually quite a lot for a wooden boat!)

This picture gives a good impression of the construction of a Nordic Folk Boat. As you can tell, the hull is clinker built and this in combination with the many frames placed with in short intervals, - and a long, solid oak keel -, makes this construction VERY strong. Also take note of the many solid oak bottom supports that are placed transversal on top of the keel at short intervals throughout the hull. It is really strong and solid!

Believe it or not, - but in two years time it is 50 years ago that the keel was laid for this fine boat. When she was launched, she was originally named "Svik", - and now after almost 50 years she is still going strong as "Kit Yu". It will be interesting to see how many more years I can enjoy the sea with this fine, classic boat, - after all I am getting old too -, but "Kit Yu" seems to be in excellent condition, with no signs of rot or weaknesses in her hull.
A fine boat indeed, that might last longer than I, - and I have often thought about how nice it would be if I could be "buried" in her, - the Viking way of taking her to open sea, - and then setting her on fire! What a glorious way to go - - - - But hopefully I will last several more seasons, - at least I have no immediate plans of being burned with my ship for the next many years to come - - - - :-)
Could also be, that she ended up as a museum piece on permanent display in my garden! What a wonderful garden decoration she would be!
And now and then I could climb onboard and prepare some tea, - or even sleep in her - - Or just sit and dream about the South China Sea - - - And- - -????

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Page initiated: Feb.04.2012