Day 2: A New Stand and a Major Move

Progress continues on Hunky Dory—and today was all about getting her off the borrowed trailer and onto a new, stable work platform we could call our own.

We started by building an 8-foot boat stand out of plywood. It had to be strong enough to support the full weight of the boat while giving us easy access for repairs and restoration. With some careful measuring, cutting, and reinforcing, the stand came together solid and level—ready for the next big step.

Before we moved the boat, we tackled the motor. Hunky Dory is powered by a classic 1957 Johnson Seahorse 18HP outboard—a real piece of history in its own right. We unhooked the steering controls and carefully transferred the motor to its own dedicated motor stand. The lift went fairly smoothly, but maneuvering the stand indoors for storage took a little extra effort and teamwork.

With the motor safely stowed, it was time to shift the boat itself. We positioned the trailer as close to the new stand as possible, then slowly and carefully transferred Hunky Dory from wheels to wood. It took all our strength and some creative leverage, but the move went off without damage—and now she’s finally resting on her new stand, ready for hands-on restoration.

We wrapped up the day by cleaning up the workspace and covering the boat to protect her until next time. The trailer has been returned, the motor’s out of the way, and Hunky Dory is officially on the stand—ready for her next chapter.