The tale of Tatoosh

[Redhook98]

I was watching some of the videos the PO took when he was rebuilding Tatoosh. Tatoosh is my 1979 49ft Marine Trader RPH which was in barely salvageable condition. Here are a few screen grabs of the process. The boat was completely, and I mean completely rotted out. The entire superstructure was collapsing upon itself and you needed to lay boards down to walk on the decks. Even then you had to be careful. 2 ft of water was in the bilge for years. One motor and the gen were completely flooded and locked up. All interior bulkheads, joists, walls, flooring, etc etc had to be replaced. Every bulkhead/wall, joist, floor/deck, support, overhead, etc etc was removed and new ones built. Only the old trim, frames and details were kept. I have talked a little about this when I first joined, but figured I would share a few pics. Enjoy.

 

[Redhook98]

More

 

[Redhook98]

And more

 

[Redhook98]

Still more

 

[Redhook98]

And now..... 2021......

 

[Pete Meisinger]

The boat looks GREAT! You have done a fantastic job, you can be proud of it and your work.

But I have to ask. What motivated you to take on such a huge project?

pete

 

[Redhook98]

The boat looks GREAT! You have done a fantastic job, you can be proud of it and your work.

But I have to ask. What motivated you to take on such a huge project?

pete

Oh I did not do it. The PO did. I think he and his Dad were crazy. They had many many times what it was worth into it with time and material. His estimate was they had appx $250k+ into it (time and material). They bought it in 2001 and worked on it until 2019 when I bought it. It languished and went downhill in 2007 thru 2015 when his Dad died though. He burned all receipts, most pics and docs when his father died. He was almost going to burn the boat where it sat. Yikes! It was obviously a labor of love, father/son project.

I just finished out the empty boat with electronics, updated systems, maintenance, furniture, details, etc. It was an empty canvas when I got it.

 

[Comodave]

Congrats on your new boat. It looks very nice. The PO must have put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears into it. You are very lucy to have it.

 

[rgano]

He clearly finished the job with the memory of his dad in the front of his mind. I can think of no other reason anybody would carry on like that. I am sure he loves seeing the boat being used as intended instead of a money/time pit.

 

[Redhook98]

Congrats on your new boat. It looks very nice. The PO must have put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears into it. You are very lucy to have it.

Thanks! I have been on here with this boat for about two years now though. Just figured I would share a few of the screen shots now. Shocks me ow much he did. The screen shots you don't see are of the massive bonfires he had burning the old wood, and knocking down walls with sledge hammers, or seeing right into the engine room from the fly-bridge. Crazy stuff.