GOLDEN RULE RESTORATION PROGRESS
A vessel with a past and future mission

We found this famous vessel in a truly deplorable condition – but there's enough there, and it's symbolism so compelling, that we have determined to fully rebuild and restore the Golden Rule to it's original condition. It is our intention that it will once again take it's place in the forefront of the battle against  militarism and needless war.
     We will be posting photos of our progress as our project gets under way and proceeds toward that worthy objective. (August 2010).
     Golden Rule is being restored at the Zerlang & Zerlang Boat Yard, Fairhaven, Ca. Yard owner, Leroy Zerlang, who originally "found" the Golden Rule, is donating the facilities and his services as consultant to the Golden Rule Project. 
     Follow our progress on this page. 

SEPT. 2010 – SITTING UPRIGHT

Here are a few more recent photos showing the hull upright. The interior has been mostly stripped to show construction of the hull.
    We have learned that the two large holes on the starboard are from storm damage. The boat was tied up improperly to a concrete pier and was battered by severe storm more than 24 hours and sank. It was underwater only two days. Therefore, the boat is not rotten, as we thought, but solid and just broken a little.
     We'll fix her first class with South American purple heart for framing repairs and Port Orford Cedar planking.  

OCT. 3-4, 2010 – MOVING DAY

The next order of the day was to put Golden Rule off of the shifting sands and onto a solid footing so she could be braced up, leveled, plumbed, covered, and the actual restoration work begun.

OCT-NOV.  2010 – UNDER COVER

The next priority was to get Gold Rule under cover. We have the boat stable, and now enclosed in a makeshift building to protect the work and the workmen from rain and storms. 

Now the real work begins. VFP Chapter 56 members begin the removal of damaged planking and repair of broken frames.

JULY-DECEMBER 2011

ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE! LAST PLANK! STARBOARD SHEER STRAKE AT THE TRANSOM ( SEEN PROTRUDING UPPER RIGHT)

Boat Shed upgraded to keep the weather out.
Work to strip fittings and equipment from two vessels acquired
for breakup (the Kanwara, a 40 foot sailboat, and a smaller fishing boat).
Hull planking completed, sanding and preparation for caulking begun,
and a once battered stem made new!

JANUARY 2012

ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE!

January was another exciting month for the Golden Rule Project and its many supporters – and it wasn't only that there was significant progress on restoration work. On Monday the 30^th the Golden Rule received two important visitors.

Elliot Adams, Past President and member of of the Board of Directors of Veterans For Peace National, and Mike Ferner, VFP National Executive Director, appeared on the scene to  award VFP Chapter 22 and the Golden Rule Project with VFP National Project status!

Posing behind the Veterans For Peace flag, from left to right: Leroy Zerlang, owner of Zerlang & Zerlang Boat Yard, member and consultant to the Golden Rule Project (GRP); Lenny Anderson, Treasurer of VFP 22 and the GRP; Mike Ferner, VFP National Executive Director; Sherry Champagne, Secretary of VFP Chapter 22; Elliot Adams, National President of VFP; and Chuck DeWitt, member of VFP Chapter 56, and Restoration Coordinator for the GRP.

Fredy Champagne (left), President of VFP Chapter 22, receiving certificate of acceptance as a VFP National Project from Mike Ferner, VFP National Exectutive Director, on behalf of VFP Chapter 22, the Golden Rule Project Committee, and all the friends of the Golden Rule.

During January of 2012 restoration progress continued apace on the Golden Rule, with forward deck beams, Sampson post, and main mast partners in place. Whoops! Some planks had to be removed to repair a couple more frames. Better now, than later!

No problem!

February and March saw more significant progress in the restoration of the Golden Rule. The last of the rib-frame repairs were completed, and shutter plank finally put in place. The hull was whole again! To commemorate the occasion, Leroy Zerlang and Zerlang and Zerlang Marine Services hosted a "Whiskey Plank" Party where the final hull planking screws were driven home. The turnout was good and the party was a great success, both as a party and as a fund-raiser for the Golden Rule Project!

Pictured in the third photo from right, assisting master of ceremonies Leroy Zerlang with the raffle drawing, is Leroy's niece, Tessa Zwerling. In second photo from right, Chuck DeWitt, Restoration Coordinator, eyes some mighty enticing grub.

One of the star attendees was Amy Fontaine (left). While a high school senior in 2011, Amy's poem, "Serenity Sets Sail" (inspired by the Golden Rule) won top honors in the 2nd Annual Redwood Coast Peace Poetry Contest. Read Amy's poem here:  http://www.vfpgoldenruleproject.org/peace_poetry.htm 

APRIL -- JUNE 2012
MORE MILE-STONES

Among other things, the Golden Rule Project finally recovered much of the original gear from the previous owner. This included shaft and propeller, rigging, and too many other items to mention. The interior of the hull was finally cleaned up, sanded, and painted. A brand new Yanmar Engine was purchased and delivered, and the engine bearers were installed by the middle of June. Other work has been going on on the hull, and deck beams are being installed. 

The 30 H.P. Yanmar engine, donated by an anonymous veteran, was broken out of its box and placed in position on the engine bearers.

PHOTO CAPTIONS, LEFT TO RIGHT

(ROW ONE)
1.   The finished powder coated engine mount, thanks to Mike Gonzales.
2.   Engine mount installed.
3.   First look at engine, removed from shipping box.
4.   Jim Sorter steadies engine on truck.
5.   Kevin Coles prepares engine for lift into Golden Rule.
6.   Peter Aronson and Chuck DeWitt look on as the engine is lifted.
(ROW TWO)
1.   Bill Eastwood checks clearances while Mikal Jakubal films progress, as we hoist engine over the port side.
2.   Jim Sorter carefully guiding the new engine into place.
3.   Almost there.
4.   Fredy Champagne, Jim Sorter and Peter Aronson, removing shipping frame before final placement.
5.   Mike Gonzales and Bill Eastwood look over the alignment.
6.   Shipyard owner & consultant, Leroy Zerlang, looks on with Bill Eastwood.

AUGUST 2012

Shipwright, Breckin Van Veldhuizen (a.k.a. "Dutch," in blue, black, and white plaid shirt); volunteers A. J. "Skip" Oliver (with trailboards and sanding hull), and Mike Gonzales, who built the steam box used to bend deck beams, assisting as required.

Progress has been steady during November. The white base coat above the waterline has been applied. Below photos taken on December 4th, showing Shipwright "Brecken," assisted by Mike Gonzales, at work on deck beams and footwell. The fuel tank is being fabricated of stainless steel by Dennis Thompson (not shown), and will be installed before the aft deck is laid.  Photos below by Fredy and Sherry Champagne and (bottom row) by Nate Lomba and Chuck DeWitt 

Cockpit/footwell and aft deck finally begin to take final shape. Master shipwright, David Peterson, turns his hand to cutting and fitting cabin sole and deck panels. The other photos show the progress with deck and cabin sole panels temporarily put in place. In the third from last photo, taken by Fredy Champagne, panels have been removed; Shipwright Brecken and Mike Gonzales tidy up and prepare for final fitting, placement, gluing, and screwing down of decking -- Restoration Coordinator, Chuck DeWitt (red vest), and "Skip" Oliver, looking on approvingly. In the last two photos we finally get a glimpse of Dennis Thompson hard at work fabricating the Golden Rule's fuel tank. Photos by Chuck DeWitt and Fredy Champagne (1). 

These photos, taken on March 8th by Peter Aronson, show the coach roof taking shape. Molds are in place to form the cabin roof beams. The companionway cutout is apparent in the after bulkhead in two photos. Restoration coordinator, Chuck DeWitt in far left photo, and shipwright David Peterson can be seen working his magic in three of the photos.

More photos, taken on March 9th by Fredy Champagne. Far left, Chuck DeWitt surveys the cabin beams, and confers with volunteer Libby (middle-left) while Jim Sorter surveys the progress while snapping a photo. The hull is taking on the appearance of a new vessel.

NO APRIL FOOLING! THIS IS PROGRESS!

Chuck DeWitt submitted these photos showing recent progress! Coach roof is now in place and hull thus totally enclosed -- another major milestone! Posted 10 April 2013.

MAY = MORE PROGRESS!

More progress, but slow — with finances sagging uncomfortably low. Photos compliments of Chuck DeWitt with one (far left) by Fredy Champagne. Main feature here is the transom trim and shipwright Brecken (a.k.a. "Dutch") in a triumphant mood. Posted 29 May 2013.