The Process Begins

We ( Felix Basadre & Rick Sottile) bought Splash as a trainer so we could learn how to sail. Never in our wildest dreams could we have anticipated getting so caught up in sailing and racing, that would eventually take us down the path of restoring such an old boat (hull #2).

 Basically this was a throw-away boat, needing everything replaced. We started racing it on Thursday night pop-tops; just two mamaluks out drinking beer. We never understood why the other boats always had more than two guys? Bob Daniels spotted us one day and approached us about racing with Fleet V.  Bob invited us to race with him to learn the ropes in hopes that eventually we would join the fleet.  With help from Art Melendres (he gave us a set of sails, main and jib) and Steve Horst (he gave us a spinnaker and showed us how to rig it and sail it) we got started.

 However, after a while we started to develop an inferiority complex about the state of the equipment on the boat and how she looked. By word of mouth we were directed to see the legendary Cal25 guru Steve Brown. We asked Steve if he would guide us through the restoration. We wanted to do most of the work ourselves and eventually bring it back to Finco Fabrications in Santa Ana for final paint.  Steve was most gracious and accepted. We took his trailer and off we went.

 We pulled Splash out of the water on January 6, 2006 and work commenced at Mamaluk Boat Works (Felix’s house) the very next day. We started bottom up; stripping what was left of the old bottom paint only to find more blisters than the national debt. We worked the blisters and faired the bottom for weeks. We then gutted the interior so we could get to the keel. The keel was literally separating from the hull. We re-glassed the bottom and added needed support.  We then proceeded to remove every single piece of hardware on the deck and sanded and repaired all the previous holes on both the deck and sides.  This process went on for months. 

 After about 500 man hours we brought it over to Finco. Steve Brown being the consummate professional told us we had done a great job in prepping the boat but, it still needed a bit more work, especially on the bottom. Steve went to work and he was able to transform the ugliest Cal25 in existence to a work of art. Steve applied all the external paint (bottom, sides, topside and non-skid). Steve also fabricated a new rudder for the boat. His work was outstanding!

 We then took Splash back to Mamaluk Boat Works for interior paint and assembly. This included all new electrical, cabinetry, flooring, windows, seat cushions and headliner. All the teak was replaced on the boat, including a custom made teak pop-top and fore deck hatch. Our good friend and fore deck person Dave Powers (aka English Dave) fabricated and assembled all the teak on the entire boat (including all marine plywood in the interior). In our opinion, it’s the finest work we’ve ever seen. The interior work and assembly of all hardware required another 250 man hours. We just can’t thank Dave enough for the amount of time and money he donated (he wouldn’t take a dime for all the teak, plywood and labor).

On January 7^th, 2007 we had a renaming ceremony and old Splash became the new Tiburon. We launched Tiburon on January 13^th 2007, a little over one year after pulling her out of the water. In a project like this, it’s good to have friends! We need to thank Dave Grimm for all pluming fixtures; Larry Kaye for all the amazing stainless steel work; Cameron Rose for stanchions, and stern/bow pulpit; Dave DeWolfe for logo design and making us our cool looking shirts and sweat shirts; and Marcus Leon and all the above mentioned for all their sweat equity. I’m sure we’ve forgotten to thank someone, and if we did, our apologies. 

 Final thoughts; keep your sense of humor, sanding an entire Cal25 is a thankless and miserable job; gluing your fingers, hair and clothing together with resin comes with the territory; going up and down the ladder 1000 times is a good workout; four trips to the hardware store because you couldn’t remember everything you needed is to probably due to paint fumes; and finally, when you add up all the visa bills, “remember it’s only money”.