PARTNERS
We are thankful to the following Contributors, Contractors and Resources that have contributed their time, money, knowledge and products to the restoration and repurposing of The Fir. This work would have been impossible without their help.
CONTRIBUTORS
The following companies generously contributed their products, expertise and money to this restoration project. Such a large undertaking could not be accomplished without their help.
Click on the name of the company to learn more about the company and find a review of the equipment selected by the Fir. Check back often. We started from the top of the mast and are working our way down. We are in the process of installing mast equipment and selecting most of the new equipment.
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Place Holder (Pumps)
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Contractors
J&J Welding
Our initial luck with contractors in Stockton was dismal. The "boat people" had no idea what to make of a boat like the Fir. From a mechanical perspective, Fir is more of a floating industrial plant than a boat. We have a saying: everything on Fir is heavy. The equipment is far larger and far more robust than what one finds on a small boat .
Just when we were ready to give up on Stockton, Joe appeared. His first job was to remove the stove from the galley. It proved to the most difficult job to date. He beat and cut that stove for 10 hours until it was out. Every time we have a tough job, we end by saying, "but it is not as tough as that stove."
Joe has become indispensible. He is always on time. He works from the minute he arrives to the minute he leaves. All he requires is a case of Pepsi and a pack of Marlboros. When Joe shows up, it is game on. And, there is no job beneath him. Joe does whatever is required to finish the job. It is a rare attitude.
Chris Willson
Chris owns our neighboring boat, the Aurora. We had a rocky start to the relationship due to issues with one of our initial contractors.
But, Chris has become a friend and great contributor to the project. Chris has been working/dealing with the Aurora for years. As a result, he has great experience dialing down a large boat. Over the years, Chris has collected a huge inventory of parts and devices that always comes in handy. He has a very pragmatic approach. Chris works on a wide scope of projects and he is willing to pitch-in as required. He is very talented with electrical issues and he has helped greatly with our social media.
Chris and Joe form a good team able to address most of our needs.
RESOURCES
The internet is a great resource for tracking down odd parts and getting recommendations for the best current equipment and methods. Of course, there is a lot of BS on the internet. Below are our "go to" sites for accurate data.