Larry pressure washed the crud off her bottom, and the boat was blocked up.

Almost immediately, people began stopping by to reaquaint themselves with Sea Witch. Five kids grew up on this boat with Jo Bailey, and John Bailey Sr. lives here in town. Soon, John Jr and Sr both were sitting aboard going down memory lane. We learned a lot about what she used to be.

A week later, Sea Witch had her fresh coat of paint, gray with red and forest green stripping. We also pulled the shaft and replaced the cutless bearing on this go-round.

We didn't have to look far to find a professional painter for the lettering. Her transom has the backstay tang running straight down the middle, so we opted for two names on each side of the stern. And even though the boat was designed in 1939 and probably not launched until 1940, our last boat was a '40's boat, so we voted to add 1939 beside her name tag.

Back in the water, we actually had a bit of time before winter came to try her out. Here she shows the old sails, covers, old cockpit instruments and washboards, all of which were soon to be replaced. The old faded cockpit floorboards now sit beside our hottub.