KiwiGrip Gives Great Ketch a Refreshing Look

During the late Spring this past year, I applied a new anti skid top on Great Ketch's deck and cockpit. After sanding and cleaning the prepared area, I applied the anti skid known as KiwiGrip using their special roller applicator, which allows one to control the depth of texture.

KiwiGrip hardens quickly and more so as the outside temperature rises, so I made sure to apply KiwiGrip section at a time in order to remove the outside masking tape while the Kiwi was still pliable. Also by working one section at a time, I was able to practice different pressures on the roller to see what kind of effect the various pressures made. The deck was given a more texture than the seats of the cockpit; using a smooth roller to apply KiwiGrip the cockpit seats were merely "painted."

Great Ketch is a free standing masts boat; therefore, it was important that the tracking on the deck was heavy. How can one grab onto a shroud while walking the deck where none exist?


In the picture provided with this post, one may note the hatches are in very good condition. This past winter, I completed the brightwork on the aft most hatch, and replaced the crazed lens with new dark grey .5 inch acrylic. The companionway hatch is this year's winter project.

For more information regarding KiwiGrip, please go to http://www.kiwigrip.com/

Defender Defends Great Reputation.

The marine store "Defender" has provided great customer service recently when I received a few defective products made by Lewmar. I had purchased seven (7) fly screens for Great Ketch, and 4 of the screens had broken clips.

I contacted Defender customer support via their email on a Saturday -- after discovering the broken items -- and received an auto acknowledgment response. By Monday, I was sending them pictures of the defective Lewmar fly screens, and the very next day had received new screens.

I found Defender's customer service to be superb. Defender was quick to acknowledge a customer, provide a process to track and expedite a resolution, and ensure that their customer was satisfied.

Not many companies put much into the customer satisfaction aspect of doing business because, in my opinion, it is easier to get the number on the books when the product is sold and out the door rather than address the non billable aspects of running a company.

I have a very busy schedule so when I take the time to write an accolade for a company, it means they deserve it.

For those curious to see more, visit www.defender.com

I do not work for Defender, nor have any relatives who are employed by them -- merely a happy customer.

New Herreshoff CKY Link Added

A new link has been added to the resource link section of this blog.

The material at the link are the original promotional material of all the Herreshoff Cat Ketch boats made by the Cat Ketch Yacht (CKC) Corporation except the Herreshoff Cat Ketch 33.
Not sure why the 33 promotional material does not exist. Based on my research, I have been given the impression that the 33 was custom made during the later year of the business of CKC. Moreover, CKC changed its name to Cat Ketch Yachts (CKY) when the business relocated from Florida to Texas.

There were 100 31' Cat Ketch boats produced, and 5 33' made. The location of hull 2 is in Texas, hull 4 and 5 are in Florida, and hull 3, which is the one I own, in New York. The owners of the four CK 33' do not know where hull number 1 is located. Hull number 5 is in pristine condition, hull 2 and hull 3 good condition undergoing improvement, and hull 4 needs much tending.