Author Archives: C.E. Grundler

C.E. Grundler Anyone familiar with Travis McGee’s houseboat probably remembers how the Busted Flush had a strategically hidden space, all but undetectable and just large enough to hide one human. On more than once occasion Travis utilized that space, either … Continue reading →

C.E. Grundler Outside, a work boat softly idles while a gentle rain drums on the un-insulated roof. An occasional boat motors past the dock, the damp morning breeze carrying the faintest hint of diesel fumes through the open windows, and … Continue reading →

C.E. Grundler It’s always nice to have something to show for endless hours of hard work.  I suppose that’s one of the reasons I enjoy brightwork — it’s so very visual and satisfying.  But my brightwork days are still far … Continue reading →

C.E. Grundler Dirty, oily, messy. Leaky. Sadly, those were the words I’d use to describe my boat’s engine. And it was something that bothered me to no end. While some people think of an engine room as that place where … Continue reading →

C.E. Grundler I’m counting the days until Annabel Lee emerges from the shed and returns to the realm of sunlight and tides. The quiet corner where she’s dwelled, once solitary and serene, has over the last few months become a … Continue reading →

C.E. Grundler “Oh, you mean the fellow with the belt sander,” came the reply on the other end of the phone. A bad feeling ran up my spine. Belt sander? When you work in a boatyard, you often identify customers by … Continue reading →

C.E. Grundler I have to confess, I have a love/hate relationship with the news. On one hand, from a writer’s perspective, you couldn’t ask for a better source of inspirational material. Murder, mayhem, the general decline of civilization and the … Continue reading →

C.E. Grundler …Is that eventually you burn out. It catches up with you, in my case in the form of a horrendous cold. I’d managed to stay healthy all through this winter that refuses to end, but lack of sleep, … Continue reading →

C.E. Grundler With approximately one month to go until my theoretical launch date, work has shifted from high gear to overdrive. What does that mean? For one, there is NO free time. Every spare minute is devoted to some boat … Continue reading →

The New York metropolitan area is one of bridges and tunnels. They’re fixtures to the land and waterscape of the region. And the truth is, around here, we have more than our share of downright iconic bridges. The Brooklyn Bridge. … Continue reading →