Taking Stock of What I Have

I've got Island Girl parked in a local storage lot.  I can work on her here and I share a very small shop space at the same place.  I'd love to be inside, but that's just not possible.  The upside is that I'll certainly know where the leaks are.

My intention is to try to mostly keep the original appearance of the trailer.  I think I can do this, as the outside skin is in excellent condition and the original birch cabinetry can likely be reused.  I like the inside layout and don't have much in mind for changes.  The trailer has no 12 volt system, 110 volt refrigerator and hot water heater, and no holding tanks.  Systems, therefore, will be starting from scratch.

I hope I can keep the stove and part of the refrigerator.  Really want to figure a way to keep the cool door from the Marvel refrigerator and try to put a newer propane/electric unit behind it.  Gotta be a way!

So, the plan is to take it apart and put it back together.  I know there is rot in the plywood subfloor, so I know the whole floor has to be replaced.  This means everything inside has to come out first.  Since I want the cabinets to go back in later, they will have to come out with some care.  I'll also want to replace some broken window glass and renew window gaskets pretty early on.  I'd like a dry trailer by the time I get the new plywood floor installed.

My frame is a question mark at this point.  I'd like to keep the belly pan on until the old floor is out, allowing me to clean out whatever is down there from the top.  I won't know what kind of repairs the frame will need until the old floor is gone and I'll have to make plans for my holding tanks at that point too.  And, a new axle.

My wife Pam and I have been living on our 31 foot sailboat for the last 20 years.  From 1996 to 2004 we wandered around the world in Pamda Bear, ending our circumnavigation where it started, in Washington state.  It was the trip of a lifetime, but about halfway around Pam began showing symptoms of Alzheimers disease.  She was determined to continue our cruising life and we did, but accelerated our pace to try to return home while she'd still be able to spend time with family.  Now, we're well into the course of the disease and I'm her full time caregiver.I just bought a 1957 Airstream Caravanner as a long term project of restoration.  It'll be a slow process as most of my time is taken, but I do have a great person who comes in a couple of days a month to give me some time off.  I'll use some of that time working on "Island Girl" and document the process here.She appeared in a Craigslist ad and after several emails, phone calls, and a trip to see her, I just had to have her.  Built in Airstream's Ohio plant, her first owner apparently moved from Illinois to retirement on Lopez Island in Washington's San Juans.  She had one other owner on Lopez before moving to adjacent San Juan Island about five years ago with the last owner before me.  It's very likely the trailer has been on those islands for around 35 years.A fellow liveaboard here in the marina, Darrell, offered to do the towing.  I'd seen old original split rims on the trailer when I looked at it before purchase, so we took new wheels and tires with us for the pickup.  A trouble free trip on the ferry and up I-5 to her new home was next.