Conclusions

So, first off, I have a lot of people I need to thank, because this project would never have been finished without them!

First off, my wife: You have kept me (mostly) sane throughout all the mishaps, trips to the hardware store and late nights of planning. Also, without you, the boat probably would have ended up being twice the size it actually is (I have Tim the Toolman disease: bigger is better, more power, arr arr arr!) Also, it is thanks to you that I set the deadline for Little Dude's birthday party, even though you deny it ;). THANK YOU!

My brother: He was my right hand man throughout this project and occasionally had to take over when stress got the better of me. We bounced countless ideas off each other and would not have been able to figure out all those angles without one another. We owe you a VERY nice dinner and probably a lot of beer! THANK YOU!

My Dad: He helped me draw out the initial plans and took my relentless phone calls for advice nearly every weekend! Most importantly, he and my mom came down to visit and help me finish the pirate ship. I have decided to give him the nickname "The Closer." He helped my brother and I finish countless 4-H woodworking projects the weekend before they were due and he helped us get over the hump on this project to make it look like a real ship before they went back to Ohio. THANK YOU!

My Mom: While my wife was out of town, she played the important role of toddler wrangler and drink server while we worked all day. She will probably claim that it wasn't that bad, but anyone that has wrangled a two-year old will attest otherwise! Also, a big thanks for finding the sail fabric and then sewing them so they look awesome. THANK YOU!

All of our friends and family: For lots of encouragement while we were building the ship, for reading this blog to track our progress and all of the compliments on the finished product. If you haven't got to see it in person yet, we hope you can soon! THANK YOU!


Now, I have had several people (jokingly or not) ask if I can build them a playhouse like this or one similar. The answer is NO! I had a great time building The Becky's Revenge, but I do not know if I would ever do this again for myself or my kids, let alone someone else. I guess if petroleum engineering ever falls through, I have a backup career though. In case you are wondering (some have asked,) here is a rough materials list of the major items.

(36) 4x4's
(5) 4x6's
(10) 2x4's
(20) 2x6's
(21) 2x8's
(2) 2x12's
(142) deck boards
(92) carriage bolts, washers and nuts
(2300) assorted screws
(30) bags of concrete
(160') 7/8" manila rope
(3) swings
(4) sails
(7) solar LED lights
(1) captain's wheel
(2) spyglasses
(3) instruments
(1) Jack Daniels whiskey barrel
(1) Jolly Roger flag
plus a few other small things I surely forgot!

As the pirates of old said,

To our next merry meeting!

TWB

Just in the Nick of Time!

First off, I apologize for taking so long to post this edition of the blog. After the craziness of finishing the pirate ship, Little Dude's birthday party and then travelling, I am just now getting back to my computer. 

After making small bits of progress in the evenings during the week leading up to the christening of The Becky's Revenge, I decided I needed an extra afternoon and the accompanying daylight to chip away at the remaining items on this project. In the last day and a half, I was able to (with the help of my trusty brother in the evening) finish the dock and gangplank, build and install the steps to the dock and the upper deck of the ship, hang the shade sails, mount the swings, install the rope railings, attach the sign (to make the naming official) and install the various finishing touches.

We did not finish a moment too early either. When my wife came out to check on us at 9:30 on Friday night, we were working by flashlight to install the ship's wheel, the spyglasses and the drums (every pirate needs some musical accompaniment, right?) We finally declared it FINISHED at 10:00 PM, leaving us 12 hours to spare prior to the christening of The Becky's Revenge and Little Dude's pirate ship party!

The party was a blast and the ship was fully broken in by all the kids (and some adults) in attendance. Once all our guests had left and Little Dude was down for a well-deserved nap, we kicked back in the AC, cracked open a beer and toasted to the conclusion (almost**) of a very ambitious and successful project!

**There are a few small things left to do, like the installation of permanent sails, big-kid swings, staining and sealing the wood and finishing the storage area under the ship, but most of those will wait until cooler weather avails!

Finally finished with 12 hrs to spare!

Ready for all the kiddos!

Fully occupied!

Awesome treasure chest birthday cake!

The Captain hanging out with Uncle C.

Trying to stay cool on the patio

Family shot before cake time

Christening the boat!

Cupcake time

Taking a whack at the pirate pinata

Little Dude going to check out his ship after all the guests left

Heading up on to the dock

Safety first, hold the handrails!

Front of the ship

The Captain is steering us to adventure!

Thanks for tuning in to this blog. I will be posting one more concluding post, but this was by and large the epic of The Becky's Revenge. I hope she sees many fair skies and great adventures in the years to come with Little Dude at the helm!

TWB