The final few weeks before a boat moves out of the shop are busy and often challenging for boat builders. The choreography of the trades requires flexibility, patience and determination. The electrician waits to install his equipment until one more coat of varnish is applied. The painter will apply the top coat as soon as the mechanics finish up the last pressure test on their systems. Added to this dance is the arrival of the vendors to commission their equipment. In the midst of all this activity it is also time to jack the boat 16 feet in the air and slide the lift keel under the hull and into the keel box.

One of the highlights of building AVAILABLE is Hodgdon Yachts chance to work with some great companies. AVAILABLE is the first yacht where Hodgdon, Hall and Harken are working together. Ben & Eric Hall, Olaf & Peter Harken have built world class companies with their product in harbors across the globe. Yet East Boothbay is the place where the first Harken hydraulic cylinders are fitted to a Hall spar.

AVAILABLE is also a project where the present generation of yacht builder and yacht designer add another chapter to their family legacies. In 1956 Sonny Hodgdon (Tim's father) built KATINGO for Bill Tripp Jr. (Bill's father). KATINGO was one of the last wooden boats Bill Tripp Jr. designed prior to embarking on

The high standard Hodgdon Yachts is known for is partly due to the long standing support of our vendors: MasterVolt, North Sails, Ocean Options, Teak Decking Systems, Tilse Industries, and the glue that literally holds it all together, Jan & Meade Gougeon's WEST system, are but a few of the premier suppliers who contribute to the quality and integrity of our yachts.

All of us at Hodgdon Yachts thank our vendors for their support. The skills, ingenuity and integrity of our vendors are an important part of the Hodgdon family's 193 year history of building vessels.

Our latest collaboration the sailing yacht AVAILABLE - will launch June 20, 2009 on the morning tide.

FMI: tsmith@hodgdonyachts.com