A Plan Forms

I would like to state publicly my goal if sailing the Texas 200 within 5 years in a box boat.A friend I've not seen in years breezed into town and we talked a bit about doing things down the line. He's most impressed I built a boat and has mentioned in passing that sailing is something he'd like to do. And that's all it took to get me thinking. That this whole build a boat sail the world thing I've started has done just that, started. And to keep up momentum on this grand adventure more challenges will need to be found. So the grandaddy of small boat adventuring is a very alluring goal. Five days in the middle of nowhere fighting bad weather and yourself to simply say you've done it. It will take training and study. Preparation above all else. A boat will have to be built and tested and a whole host of other odds and ends. But I'd like to think I can and think I will.
On other fronts I'm waiting for a payment to come in so I can purchase my Ocean Explorer Plans. I spoke to the designer on Facebook and cleared up a few issues on the build. It's in metric but I can buy a metric ruler easy enough. I've figured that total of $550 should get me the boat and trailer seaworthy. Not done, but ready for the water. There is a contingency plan to get the build started if the winter continues in it's current fashion come spring. I understand it's all La Nina or El Nino related and it's been a stiff winter.
Myself and the other members of the Western Montana Home Built Boat Association are pleased to announce our Spring Messabout to be held at at Finley Point State Park on the shores of the mighty Flathead Lake. The date will be June 24th to 26th. You can find out more on our Facebook Page, a link to which is on this blog.

Life on the Hard is Sort of Boring

It has been awhile! It's deep winter here in Western Montana and all my boats are put away until next season. But I figured an update was due to you, the fine readers of this blog. All three of you.

OSS:
The One Sheet Skiff ended being named Trudy C.  and registered out of Mystic, Connecticut due to sentimental reasons. I just liked the idea of a work boat from days gone by and it seemed that a port on the east coast was fitting in that vein. Paint was "Leftover White" and trimmed in "Remaining Green" with three coats of marine varnish for the interior. The end result is a far cry from my first attempt at painting and I have a sharp looking little craft. On the water she's a decent boat, nothing to complain or write home about. The joints keep the water out, the sail sorta moves the boat and I'm happy when I'm on the water. Windward performance is still and issue but I think it'll sort it self out in time. The coolest thing is she is her own boat, no two ways about it. The best way to sail is in "rowing" position, that is feet so the stern back to the bow. And she likes a deep draw when you row. The rope oarlocks I made are holding up but will need replacing come next season  You can fit two but it's not a very safe proposition. But how much fun was building the boat? That makes it all worth it. And she'll make a fine dinghy for a larger boat someday.  At the end of the season I splurged and purchased a professionally made 25sqft sail from Dave over at polysail.com trimmed in green. It looks wonderful however we didn't have the wind for a full test. Currently the Trudy C. slumbers in the rafters of my mothers garage awaiting next season.

Fall Messabout:
The first official messabout from the WMHBBA was held on September 25th, 2010 at Frenchtown Pond State Park. It was lightly attended with just the usual suspects showing up. But a great time was had by all. We had boats in the water on time, food on the grill and a beautiful summer day. More importunately the S/V Pica was in top form for the event. I'll let Mike tell the main story on that but here are some shots of both boats enjoying a grand day out!

The next fall messabout is currently scheduled for September 25th, 2011. We hope to see you there!


Sailing Big Water:
The Typesetter and I sailed the mighty Flathead Lake right at the end of the season. It was an epic journey, worthy of Odysseus or maybe Jerry Springer. And again I'll let him tell the story as we took his boat. But I will say the cool thing about big water is when you're yelling at each other it doesn't carry that far.


Future Boat:
Right now the IPNCo. website is massively in need of an update in regards to my future plans. Originally it was to be a Mayfly 14. Then recently I got an option on a fiberglass boat. And now I'm building an Ocean Explorer. I've been busy!
First a quick recap of the Mayfly. I purchased Jim Michalak's wonderful book "Boat Building for Beginners" which has full plans for the Mayfly 14. It's a pretty boat with plenty of room and meeting my design criteria. I wold need a trailer but that's certainly not an insurmountable obstacle. So I was all fat and happy thinking that that was my next boat. I dreamed about it, thought up names and color schemes and waited until spring.
Throughout this process one thing I kept coming back to was the famous Puddle Duck. This is an eight foot box boat that can literally sails rings around just about anything shorter then it and quite a few boats longer then it.  There's been plenty of virtual ink spilled on the PD so I'll just say that it's a pretty common and increasingly popular boat. And I knew deep deep down I would have to build one at some point. But alas I had a 14' boat on my virtual ways and stuck to my guns. Then came the Ocean Explorer.
If you've learned anything about me reading this blog you'll know I love two things:
1.)Ridiculously Small Boats
2.)Ridiculously Small Boats That Try to Be Bigger Then They Are
My first boat, the S/V Wawona was just the first example of this trend. Keep those two things in mind reading the following sentence. The Ocean Explorer is a 8' Puddle Duck Cruising Micro Yacht. Yup, stake through the heart, it's my krpytonite, put a fork in me I'm done!

She'll sleep one internally, has a centerboard and is designed for the kind of off the beaten path, shallow water exploring I hope to do with a small boat. The designer, Perttu Korhonen in association with the indomitable Mik Storer drew up plans and I am hoping to order this for Christmas with building starting as soon as the snow melts.
But what about the glass boat you ask? Well it's a rather sordid tale. See I've had my 1970 VW Beetle in the shop for almost going on seven months. I swung by the shop to check on it's glacial progress and  my mechanic asked me if I was interested in his boat. This boat is a 12' day sailor of indeterminate origin on a trailer of even more questionable birth. I've looked it over before and filed it away as a possible purchase if the opportunity arose. It has arisen. He told me to come up with a figure and get back to me. Talked it over with The Typesetter and a few others and seeing as it's currently buried under six inches of snow, on tires not even on the rims, and needing Eywa knows how much work I decided that $200 was fair. He countered with "closer to $400" I countered with I'll get back to you. After much thought on the matter the boat simply didn't float. Not at that price. Or any price I would be willing to pay. Sure I could get it, find out that it's a rather easy boat to get back in shape and sail it all summer happy as a clam in my first production boat. Or I could discover it needs major work and I could try and mortgage the room I rent as it slowly hemorrhages money I don't have. Either way it's not MY boat. And that funnily enough is a very strange feeling.
The boats I've had so far, I've built them. I take the end result at face value because it was up to me to make them work. But no matter how this boat turned out it would be a boat I rebuilt, not a boat I made. And in my time in the wooden boat community I've been welcomed with warmth and shown the joy that is a wooden boat. Especially one you built yourself. So I've decided to pass on the production boat for the time being.


And that pretty much brings us up to date here in the IPNCo. I'll try and write a bit more often but it's tough in the off season. I will poke The Typesetter so maybe he'll update his blog and you can read about the trials and triumph that was our Flathead attempt (And success!). In the meantime, stay warm!

Rigging my OSS

There have been a few blogs about rigging y our boat. One is here and another here. So I thought I'd post mine. My current rig is a 25sqft sprit rig. The sail is semi-permanently attached to the mast. So here is my rigging procedure, which is the same from shore or alongside the dock:

1. Unfurl the sail
2. Set the Sprit
3. Step the Mast
4. Go Sailing

Getting ready for port is even easier, simply unstep the mast , roll up the sail and store. I have been in talks with Dave over at Polysail and I think I'll have my next sail professionally made. The price is good and will make a good Christmas present to myself. May even go a bit bigger to 33sqft!

And Now for Something Completly Different

I could have been working on my boat but I spent my day doing this:

Everything I Learned About Painting

Everything I know about painting comes from two sources, Dynamite Payson and James May. Payson's Instant Boats is a veritable treasure trove of knowledge if you're willing to read it a couple of times. I think the biggest thing it's done is change how I paint. I used to b a 'dabber'. I'd dip my brush in maybe a quarter of the way into the can, wipe off the brush on the side of the can and wonder why it took so long. Now I dip it in half way, don't wipe and use long broad strokes. I as Payson says "get the paint on the boat!" The result speak for themselves. I"m not a yacht builder. I'm a small boat sailor. My goal at the end of the day is to have a boat I can sail. And if the finish isn't quite as good I can live with that.
From James May I got the direction to never let my brush leave the surface as I paint. This has had obvious effects on the people and environment around me! So far I have painted two boats.

S/V Wawona

Here is my first build with a paint scheme take directly from here namesake, the three masted schooner Wawona. The line between the "anti-fouling" paint and the hull came out well. The decals were custom done vinyl and although I may do it again in the future I need to find a way to seal them once applied.

And here for your consideration is the One Sheet Skiff! Not quite as clean as Wawona but with a solid "work boat" finish. The interior is varnished with three coats of Ace exterior varnish. I've got some paint smears and other minor issues but overall I'm terribly pleased! The transom has hand lettered name and port of registry. It looks VERY hand lettered. but if you were on a beach and needed to get your traps pulled what would it matter? The only thing missing is the IP&NCo. lettering on the bow.
All in all my painting has improved over time and I'm excited for my next build. With only a few minor bits to add I'll be ready for the messabout on Saturday. Then the ***** *. will be stored for the winter in a garage. And it's on to the next boat!

Counting Down!

It's eight days until our first Messabout and things are kicking into high gear! First a few other news issues:

Spent this last Wednesday out on Flathead Lake with a good buddy of ours in his 25ft production boat. A good day was had by all and much research was done for the Flathead 50, which is beginning to look like the the Flathead 75! Here are a few quick shots.

Our vessel for the voyage.

Wake with Polson in the background.

Enjoying myself in the Narrows

In small boat news I've decided to rename the S/V Sea Hawk. The character of this boat is evolving into a little work boat that may be found on the beach in Main or Massachusetts and I found a name that better fits that occupation. I'll release the name on the 25th! I'm also busy redoing all the lines and rigging in a more natural line to better fit the idea of a work boat. I have two coats of primer on at the moment and hope to finish up painting soon!

Epoxy and other Sticky Thoughs

Yesterday was spent adding some epoxy and fiberglass to the S/V Sea Hawk. The front of the chines were armored and  the bottom and transom coated in the sweet smelling concoction. Had I just painted the vessel I think I would have been fine with the Payson "two coats of each will do" to ensure the wood is protected. As the date of our first event of the year approaches it's been satisfying to watch the boats of the IP&NCo. come together.
I've secured indoor storage for the vessel over the winter which takes a load off my mind. The current issue of Wooden Boats has a great little supplement on winter layup and storage. It also has a great article on the joys of the dingy. Magazines like Wooden Boat, Small Craft Adviser and Good Old Boat act like seed catalog for us boaters during the the darker months. I enjoy curling up in one of the leather couches in our local library and going all over in my imagination as I look over the beautiful wooden boats and the far away places they sail. Following along as repairs are made and seeing other wooden boats that have been launched.
And as I have since the name change here is an older post.

Someone recently made a comment to me that sailing between far flung points on Flathead lake alone might get lonely. And that is exactly the point. To be alone and commune with nature and reflect on the moment at hand. It's just that I happen to be on the water when I do it. On the other side I can find fellowship and community while doing the same thing.
If I told people I was planning on hiking the Bob Marshall or the Appalachian Trail the looks might not be as bad. But I tell them I'm sailing six miles between campground and they think I'm looney. But the concept is the same. It's just a different manner of accomplishing the same goal. When people talk about sailing, the same may be said for boating. The draw is the same and the result can be very beneficial. It can be a form of exercise and is for many rather accessible.
Add on top of that a boat you built with your own two hands and it becomes unique. Going from raw material to finished product and then using that product must be a wonderful experience. The steps to the goal of sailing a home built boat encompass design, carpentry, naval architecture, elbow grease, seamanship and navigation, and imagination. Many who never new they could do some of these skills will find that not only are they within their grasp but that they enjoy it.
These are things I hope to explore over the next few months. And if you're reading this, you might to.

Learn How to Sail (In a Boay You'll Never Own!)

Salmo 15 Dory-Skiff. From Salmo Boats

 I have a few learn to sail videos and for the most part they are useless. Okay, not really useless but unuseful to me. I'm not going down to the dock today to unleash my production 27' cabin cruiser. There will be no clipping the sail to the mast, no talk of standing rigging at all. The motor if I use it will be myself and I'll be on a small pond hoping to find some light airs. So how comes they don't make a "How to Sail" movie for me?
I might be wrong but there is a large contingent of both first time sailors and seasoned salts who go out alone, in a very small and possibly homemade boat for pleasure and work. Sure they'll write wonderful books about it, such as The Craft of Sail, but I've not seen a video along those lines.
I've mentioned the Payson/Bolger books, how about a video? Not only see a Teal being built but also it on the water sailing? It can be very intimidating to a new comer to the hobby being bombarded with more information then they need about sailing. Sailing can be a very simple act and I think as a novice it needs to be a simple act. Get out, find the wind, go where you want to go. Feel the boat and the wind and learn to go by your gut. I don't have a digital wind readout on the Sea Hawk. Nor do I have a bilge pump, electrical system, or a way to hoist a spinnaker. My winds will be inconsistent and my navigation is all done by sight and memory.
One of the greatest things when first getting y our boat is the ability to explore. Once you cast off from the dock the world is your oyster. How about including that in a sailing video? Show how to make a landmark without a GPS in a notebook and then use these notes to get home again.
 I think in this age of going fast and high technology it's high time we get a simple sailing video. Because there is a market out there, we're it!

Company Blog

You may have noticed I've changed the scope of my blog a bit. Although having a blog named for the once and future boat was cool, I think I'll get more out of this blog if I cover all my boat related news and hijinks. Worry not the Mayfly will be built! Just not right now. One thing to remember when building something or trying to achieve a goal is not look to far ahead. Reminds me of a saying in the Russian Army "An officer who looks to far ahead trips over his own boots." And right now I'm tripping a bit on my boots. I'm still working on getting boats out while still getting a good grip on the basics of construction. I'm hampered a bit by a fast changing season, limited funds, lack of workspace and tools. So I'll throw out another quote, this one by Teddy Roosevelt. "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are". As Calvin noted it was not in the bathtub he said that but it is a very good quote. Looking at the mainpage for the IP&NCo. it says this:

Our goal is to help spread the word about low cost boats for pleasure and or trade in the Inland Pacific Northwest and across America. In these tough times having one's own boat can be an excellent diversion or a business opportunity. The focus will be on  boats that can be built from one or two sheets of readily available plywood. These easily built and sturdy boats can carry two adults and are perfect for gigging frogs, fishing for crab, bait fishing, sailing, teaching and much more. Designed for the sheltered waters such as lakes, ponds and slow moving rivers they are ideal builds for families and can be constructed in as little as weekend.

That goes back to the beginning of my want to build boats and setting up an awesome website to follow my progress. So although my fourteen foot boat may be far back in  my yard I promise it's still there. In the mean time I shall focus my energy on getting the best boat that fulfills the goals of my "company", and finding a good small boat that everyone can build and enjoy. And maybe even find away to get this idea to the masses. And as I'm doing that I'll be caching away knowledge and tools for MY boat. In the end I'll post a thought from my original blog on the kind of boating I'm looking forward to.

This is the kind of sailing I’m looking forward to. When I’ve finished Slow Boatbuilding…

Whatever your craft, whether a rowing boat, or a luxury yacht, it’s your relationship with your boat and the sea that matters. 

 Regardless of length, price and equipment, your craft isn’t just another of your many possessions but rather an agreeable travelling companion with whom you can learn about the sea and, more importantly, about yourself.

Spend time aboard your craft even if it’s just tied up in the harbour. 

Make the boat part of your living space. Do little jobs aboard, this will heighten your sense of ownership and will strengthen the ties between you and your craft.

Leave your hurries and worries on the quay when you go sailing.  

Go without a set time to return, as if you were leaving for a long journey. Forget your watch and let the sun guide you. If you take speed and time out of the equation you’re left only with space: the sea.

Sail without a strict course or destination. 

Let the wind and sea take you where they will. Don’t think about miles covered or those still to go. Don’t go anywhere, just sail and enjoy the moment.

Disconnect the electronics and sail like they used to. 

 Learn not to depend on your instruments. When was the last time you took a bearing? Or a sun sight? Find your position and mark it on the chart. Forget the windspeed indicator, feel the wind on your face. Learn the art of sailing, become a real sailor.

Disconnect the mobile and turn off the music.

  Cut your ties with the land. Listen to the murmuring sea, the bow wave, the flap of the sail, the breathing wind.

Don’t hog the helm. 

Let somebody else take it. How long has it been since you stretched out on deck or sat at the bow? If you’re sailing alone, tie off the tiller, balance the sails and let yourself go. Trust in your crew and in your boat.

Write a log book. 

 Detail your sailing trips and note down your feelings. Then go back over your notes and re-live the experience. Share your experiences with others in what ever way suits you best.

Race, if that’s what you like, but don’t go for the prize.

  Go to learn about the sea, your boat and yourself. There’s no more stimulating prize than this.

Don’t desert your boat, she’d never desert you.

(This is a play on a famous Spanish campaign to stem the amount of pets that are abandoned by the roadsides in Spain, particularly during the summer holidays.)

Contemplate the sea for a while each day,

let its energy flow into you and take it wherever you go.

By Joan Sol via Ben of the Invisible Workshop – where you’ll find some great videos of Ben sailing the Western Mediterranean in a boat not unlike the Walkabout I’m building.

Thanks Joan and Ben.

A Good Day Out

Got to try the oars yesterday and I'm pleased to say the Frenchtown Skiff makes a fine rowboat. Pull easily and tracks straight. Even got some sailing done as well. It was most east coast out! It had been spitting rain all day but it had stopped by the time we arrived. I had brought the GPS for time and distance measuring and was looking forward for some empirical data on how well the boat performed. A dock launch was performed and I shipped oars and got underway.

Rowing for the wind.

Once in position I turned around, a rather ungainly procedure, and hauled in the mainsheet. The spirit began drawing and I was off across the pond. The biggest performance yardstick for this craft that I can think of is upwind performance. Without that ability I have half a sailing boat. So I put her nose upwind and with the new rudder and tiller arrangement made decent headway. It was in reality very, very slow, but it worked. The wind on the pond comes across at about a forty five degree angle to the length of the pond. This makes for interesting upwind maneuvering as starboard tack will get you about fifteen feet up the pond, while port tack will do about five. IF one wanted to I figure you could get the Skiff from the dock to the west end of the pond in about an hour with a five to seven knot breeze. Not bad for a quarter mile!
Then it was The Typesetters turn and in a fit of brilliance he sailed backward. Now why didn't I think of that?

Looking appropriately nautical.

Everything worked! Average speed recorded was  1.3kts with a maximum speed of 1.6kts. Not eye blistering but steady and sedate. It was a great day to go sailing and I'm hoping to do it again soon.

How Old is the Instant Boat? (Or Thoughts on First Time Boat Design)

Side Elevation of the Instant Boat Teal.

While observing plan drift on The Typesetters Boat, a thought struck me. The first generation of Payson/Bolger Instant Boat is about two generations removed from boat building. Some of the things we take for granted and common sense to today simply weren't there for the authors when Instant Boats was released back in 1979.As you know, The Typesetter is building a Teal, the classic boat detailed in the mentioned book. It's a fast build when done right and will get you out sailing almost...well instantly. It's a great first build and a good first boat. But as we have worked on it a few nagging issues have popped up that I simply can't get out of my head and I thought I'd address them here. Now I'm not a boat designer it should be noted but I am a small boat sailor, or attempting to be one. So that is my perspective. I'm also not one to sit idly by while I'm told to simply trust the truisms of days gone by. Sailing and boat building, although admittedly conservative in nature are constantly evolving and changing. New ideas on how and why a boat should be built are constantly being plugged by the sailing community. And quite frankly I don't think that thinking now thirty years old should be taken as gospel. I don't think it's safe when what is now considered common sense is disregarded in the name of for a better word, tradition. We have a saying in the martial art I train in, "An ounce of logic can be worth a ton of tradition that has become obsolete through the weathering of time."-Ed Parker And in my view there are a few "traditions" in the Teal that have become obsolete. Now this should not be construed as an attack on the designer nor the author that is not my intent. I hold both in high regard for getting people out on the water and for making the boat accessible to all. What I speak of hear is the Teal and the first time sailor.
On the water  you need to be prepared for the unexpected. That is a given since time immemorial. And there are two major areas where the Teal as planned does not take this into account. Those areas are permanent reserve flotation and the ability to shorten or drop sail. I don't think it was a fault of the designer or the author. It fell outside the idea of building an instant get-it-out first time builder boat. But today I'm seeing both of these points more and more in small, first time boats. I'm also seeing it incorporated in boats that it was not designed in. There is a very good reason for this I'll touch on each one in turn.
Flotation is what keeps a boat afloat. When you run out, you sink. And unless you're a submarine and can regulate this act you'll not be coming back up. This is not always on the mind of the first time boat builder or sailor. But in the check off of things to look for in a boat it's up there. The Teal has foam blocks in the bottom for flotation. Foam is becoming a great way to add flotation and lose weight in many small boats. There is even a boat being built of construction foam as I write this. But beyond foam, which can degrade and float away or not even be installed there is another option for flotation, the classic airbox.

PD Racer with Airboxes

The illistration of the Puddle Duck Racer is fortunate as it brings to light a class rule of the PDR. Number 4 in fact: "4 - The hull must have enough emergency flotation to be self rescued". How about that? In the designing and refining of the craft now known for it's boxy shape and racing credentials the fact this boat may be knocked down and outside assistance unavailable or not right at hand the boat would need to rescue itself. This is one of the reasons the PDR is trumpeted as as a first time boat, it has reserve flotation in the event something should happen. And something most likely will. But what bearing does this have on the Teal? Simple, change the temporary frames to bulkheads and you have two ready made air boxes for the stowage of sea gear and the addition of flotation. I know of several builds that have benefited from this small change and were happy they had done so after something had happened. In my opinion this should be trumpeted by the instant boat community as a good thing. Something that does not change the over all design or shape but adds usability of secure storage and increases the safety factor of the boat.
Taking into account where you'll be sailing and how that effects a chosen plan should be included in a plan. And one of the biggest areas where this can be shown is in sail rig. I'll quote myself:

I'll use one example here, the mast and sail combo that is suggested for the Teal is just one area where IMO and improvement IS needed. That needs to be discussed and understood by both first time builders and sailors. Especially first time sailors. If you've never managed a sail before, or need to leave from a dock and a confined space doing so with a sail up can be a harrowing experience. I experienced this first hand with surrounded by livery boats and multi-million dollar yachts with a 3 knot surface current and 10 knots of wind against me. Being a Montana boy I have never experienced this and with my triangular sail up even luffing I could not make way nor guarantee my safety or that of those underway and stationary near me. In the end I was towed to open water. I hear the caution of the plans but no caution once those plans are built. You need to take into account your level of experience, the location of where you're sailing, and what the conditions may be into your plans. The Teal is for sheltered, protected waters. But I see no mention of where you should launch it because you have a sail you can't set while underway. Those wind and current conditions I mentioned were in "Sheltered and protected" waters. The wind was great for sailing, nothing that would have put me in danger if I was leaving from a beach. But being a bit city (Seattle) at the time that was not an option. I'll respect the wishes of the forum and leave it at that but what do we do about the OTHER considerations in building "Instant Boats" beyond following the plans? What Herb has done is open up a world of possibilities to anyone who wants to build a boat, but what about sailing one?

 Needless to say I was told to trust the designer as he knew what he was doing in so many words. If you're launching of beach in still water and have forecast of sunshine, unicorns, and lollipops then yes. But I'd rather not launch off a dock or beach with 59 sq.ft of sail I'm unable to reef or let down. It simply makes no sense that I would put myself in that situation knowingly while not knowing what may happen when it comes to my sailing ability or the weather. Simplicity is great but what I've termed elegant simplicity is better. Adding a factor of difficulty or complication to accommodate a greater number of factors is worth it in this case. A Bermuda or lug rig could accomplish this goal quite well while keeping the rig simple and the sail area the same. You can't of course just put these rigs in the same spot as the planned rig but with set dimensions it could become a standard option.
And finally the very nature of building these instant boats has changed. PL Premium and Titeond II are now the adhesives of choice for builders. Dimension lumber has become defacto as opposed to ripping  your own. The internet is full of people very much like this one. Choices abound and the plans aren't limited to the book. We can view others builds, see what they did, ask questions on things we may not need or want to question and arrive at erroneous conclusions because we listened to some blowhard with a blogspot. But I'm not so sure this is a bad thing if taken in the right vein of thinking.
As a builder you can take into account things that the designer, for his own very good reasons did not. And changing a plan as I've mentioned is not a bad thing if it's done for the right reasons that YOU can justify and have good reason too.
There are those that resit changing something, no matter what the reason or how good it may be because they are convinced you'll end up cutting off your fingers and killing kittens. That these deviations will lead you down a dark road where your boat will never get finished and you'll end up with a pile of unusable plywood and vanquished dreams, single and alone with not even a puppy for company. And it's true that this has happened numerous times in the boat building wold. The boat never becomes a boat but remains a project forever because some genius thinks he knows better then the designer. But what about those who make changes and end up with a better boat for the conditions they are going to be sailing in? What about those who by looking at a plan objectively chose to follow through and find out if it works or not? What about those who question a first time build and use it as a learning process for themselves and their family? Because these people exist too.
I need to reiterate this is not a bash on Herb Payson or Phil Bolger. I also need to point out that WHEN IN DOUBT BUILD THE BOAT TO PLAN because the designer really does know what they are doing. But if you want to make the boat your own, be prepared for the consequences and know it will not be easy. And by all means let the rest of us know. Because if we can learn from the ideas and mistakes of others then it will move the idea forward. And that is what this blog and some of these boats, can be about. And of course, maybe I'm completely wrong.

Finishing Touches Before the End

(EDITORS NOTE: After much thinking on the matter, the S/V Sea Hawk will no longer be classes as a One Sheet Skiff. I think the design has drifted-er evolved enough to call it something else. Further reference will be made to the MacLeod Inspired Frenchtown Skiff)
Work continued to get Sea Hawk ready for the messabout. Went to a local outdoor supply store and found a set of cheap oars. Thanks to her low freeboard the Frenchtown Skiff they'll work quite well. They had some really snazzy bronze oarlocks for $24. They felt heavy enough to cost that much but they were far too big for my twenty dollar boat.. Someone building a one sheet skiff used rope oarlocks and I figured they would work for my needs. Two dollars of rope later I had my oarlocks.

You can see in the background how the oars store neatly in the boat. I'd like to say I planned it that way but it was a happy circumstance. We also got the rudder repaired we hope for the final time. Dowels were inserted in the transom for better main halyard handling and I installed the downhaul below the mast partner. Our plan is to head out on Thursday to see how it all works together. This boat is coming together well.
I'm currently reading The Way of the Ship. Good square rigger reading that will make your hair stand on end! I'll post a review when I'm done.

She'll Make a Fine Rowboat!

We had gorgeous wind today. From the west at around 7-10mph. So naturally I went sailing! I fixed the rudder last night in preparation. It was chilly on the pond today I'd say WMO sea state 2. Now this may not SEEM like much but it was a lot for this new sailor and this new boat.

 I was a little concerned but bravely struck out from the shore. And snapped the tiller. Land ho!

Turns out I could steer with my hand on the top of the rudder so that is what I did. And dang it, I WENT SAILING! First was a very quick reach across the pond. Sailing with a boomless rig is different and will take some getting used to. I would like to keep my weight balanced but hanging on to the end of the sail puts me farther back then I'd like. Trying to get close hauled I'm having to hike out while IN the boat. Sounds odd I know and let me tell you it feels it. But let me tell you this boat SAILS. Maybe not as well as I'd like or hope but she will move upwind and reach and run like a banshee. And she'll pound your teeth out in a chop. I have a few more rudder issues to work out but I can say this boat gybes very well. As the wind comes around the wide beam of the boat helps to keep her on an even keel. But it was a learning experience and here is what I've learned so far

• MAKE OARS!!! She paddles well but as a rowboat she'll really shine. 
• Accept the fact that as a sailboat she may always just be a fair to middling performer.
• Figure out a better way to get the sail close hauled so I'm not stretched out towards the stern
• Leeboard position is huge on this boat. You can feel it when you put the board down and she straightens up. 

I have no idea how well it all went didn't get the GPS set up as sailing is still a fairly full time job for me, still learning don'tcha know ;) but she sailed as well as I could have expected. Save for the freeboard it's a fine little boat. I'm pleased with this build but I'm hungering for more. But here is a video of the S/V Sea Hawk heading upwind.

 I think to make a proper lady of her I need to get some oars on her. In the end I was wet and tired. But it was a good day!

She Sails! Er...paddles!

After a whirlwind morning it is my honor to say that the S/V Sea Hawk was launched to much success today. This was a "soft" launching so the normal page and a half script for the naming ceremony was not used.

"I christen thee Sea Hawk! May God bless her and all who sail her!"

Formalities done it was into the water. There were very few leaks and after a few minutes she stopped leaking. There was NO wind at all. But a wise man says "Sometimes you have to paddle to find the wind", so paddle I did!

This boat is amazing. Okay maybe not amazing to some but compared to my first effort this is a far better craft! The hull is for a better word slippery. Rowing is a breeze and if I got my numbers right the sailing should be good. The keel and skeg really help to keep directional harmony and it shows in the rowing and general tracking. A wise man also say "If you can't find the wind, take a nap". This boat lightly loaded has plenty of room to lie down!

With no wind I decided to let The Typesetter have a go. And wouldn't ya know it, I broke my rudder! It should be noted the entire rudder assembly is overbuilt to an amazing degree. Lots of through bolts and a big heavy tiller. This thing is massive thanks to my little "incident" on Lake Union this summer. Turns out the rudder is fine but the tiller/rudder joint was weak.

Snapped right at the bolt. *Shrugs* Easy fix and a lesson learned I guess. The bungee works great to keep the rudder down and it'll be up and running soon. So Mike took a spin. Even with low freeboard the boat handled it well.

 And I finished the day by looking for a geocache using my GPS and my skiff.

All in all I'm very pleased. The boat is stable, paddles well, not much more to say. I just hope for some wind on Sunday!

My first handheld GPS!

Had someone who needed to pay of some debt to me so I traded them an ancient but working hand held GPS. It's a 1997 Garmin GPS III and I could not be happier with it!

I did indeed steal Andrew Linn's wardrobe.

It's simple, waterproof, old, and fun. I would love a GPS with all the bells and whistles but what am I going to use a GPS for really? To find a campsite and see how fast I'm going. The campsite can be imputed as a way point and the speed is really one of the most basic functions of the a GPS. It's a simple from hither to yon. I am at hither, and I need to go to yon. I'll be on the water so even only being able to access eight satellites should not be a problem. With a monochromatic screen and a very basic map this unit will not distract me with multiple sound settings, a flashy display, or any multitude of things that distract me when I use a new piece of technology.

We went to the Idaho Falls Zoo and I brought along my new toy to see how it works. I was able with some work to figure how far we were from the car and what direction it was. I set a series of way points and used the GOTO feature to return to them. The trip computer told me how the walk went and I got to pet a hedgehog. Okay that has nothing to do with the GPS but it was cool nonetheless.

This is a photo of a happy Lion King fan. Real lions in the background.

Monkeys

Giant tortoise!

Baby Serval

Lioness. She still has some of her spots.

 If you get a chance go to the zoo, it's worth a visit. And you don't need a GPS, they have pretty good maps of the park.

Little Bit O' Work

It was a relatively short and quite day. Experimented with a boom on my spirit sail. Excessive boom rise but I'll keep at it. I do like the spirit sail for it's simplicity and ease of set up. One thing I need to remember is this is a SMALL boat and should be treated as such. I draw inspiration from the Ensigns Gig a two sheeter I found at Duck Works. I am a patriot. So today I raised Old Glory above the deck of the S/V Sea Hawk.

This means my sail will no longer be stored outside as the flag is permanently attached to the sail. Well as permanent as duct tape. No tape on the flag though! I also spruced up the mast step a bit.

Now is the time for the dreaded bits and painting. I'll be varnishing the inside for a more traditional look and I'm excited to get that started. But I'm off to Idaho for a few days so I'll be boat free for a bit.

Boat Camping Wish List

Don't think I'll get any boat work done today so I thought I'd post one one of my favorite topics, Boat Camping. The allure of heading out on a local lake and going from spot to spot for a few days has really fired my imagination. Last night it was waiting out a rain storm, who knows what it will be tomorrow! But I thought I'd throw up a wish list of gear. Now it should be noted that this is not everything and just what my rather uniformed mind would like. But for those of you wondering, here is my list:

-Bivy Sack
A must for boat camping. Near as I can understand it's a one man tent that could be set up IN my boat. How cool is that? I figure I'll carry a full tent for shore excursions but if I'm on the boat for the night it seems to make sense. It'll need to be waterproof and had a good price. And I'd like a full bivy, not just a "shelter". A one man tent may fit the bill. But it is my plan to ask for a bivy for Christmas.

Lightsabre Bivy by Black Diamond

-Camp Stove
Again an essential if I want to eat more then Cliff Bars and trail mix. Okay I'm reaching a bit there but having a couple of sizzling sausages in the morning while I watch a hunting Great Blue Heron while sipping a mug of hot chocolate seems like it's the way to go. Or turning plump freshly caught trout with the blade of my boat knife while I wait to for my tea to boil. Will it happen? Who knows but this is all in my mind at the moment. Something small and one burnery I think. Or an old battleship Coleman two burner. I think in my future boat I'll have the room for one of the green monstrosities, I grew up with them so I have no doubt one would continue to serve me well.

Coleman Fold n' Go Instastart 2 Burner Stove

 -New PFD
I have one and would never imagine sailing a small boat without it. But I would like a new one. A PFD that gives me more room to move and doesn't break the bank. I've been looking at kayaking vests and they may fit the bill. Will need to hit my local REI to ask questions and find a good one. But I think for extending sailing my current PFD will be better left as a back up or emergency floatation.

Extrasport Eagle Type III PFD

-GPS
A back up to my tennis ball log and compass. Not a necessity but it would be nice to have. Something rugged and inexpensive. I don't want a $400 dollar unit on my local lakes. If I ever move or journey father afield a full featured GPS would be the order of the day. But right now, it's not.

Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS

-Marine Compass
This is a must for any kind of navigation. I'd prefer the marine type. If I can get one in a binnacle all the better but I can forsake fomanticism for functionality.

Tr-31Gclm by Ritchie

-Spy Glass
Because I want one dammit!

Tesco Specialty 25x30mm Brass Spyglass

-Binoculars
Because it's smart. And a good pair will last forever.

NcStar BA1050R 10x50 Full Size Binoculars

-Marine/Weather Radio
This one is also a must. I can call for help and keep track of my local weather. 'nuff said.

Cobra MR HH125 Compact Waterproof Marine Handheld Radio

Foul Weather Gear
-Because not having it in the great state of Montana for any sort of outdoor activity is just plain stupid. And if I get one the odds are it won't rain because I have it.

Coleman PVC/Nylon Rain Suit

Well there you have my current want list All the items can be found on Amazon for less then $100 and if you'd like to send me stuff, go right ahead. I'm off to live vicariously through others blogs. I can smell the campfire now!

A Day of Work

The year is 1905 and Seitz Boat Yard and Print Shop is running two shifts.

Spent a good day at The Typesetter's house helping him work on his boat, the S/V Pica. By helping him I sat in the shade reading a wooden boat book, took some photo's and held things when he needed. it. But the end result was a finished mast and mast partner and a completed bottom. It's a truly and amazing thing to watch a boat come together. Doing it with a good friend is even better. And by better I mean constant petty bickering that leads to more thinking and good results. It's a good time had by all. That's probably why it's just the two of using doing it.

S/V Pica enjoying her new bottom.

I work best in the morning for some odd reason. I like it when the sun is coming up and the world is just getting up. No better time to work. So for the last few weeks I've been stopping by The Seitz Boat Yard and Print Shop to assist in the creation of the Montana's newest home built boat.
On a previous entry I made mention of the idea that changing the plans kills kittens and cuts off your fingers. I should clarify after our session today. There is a huge difference between changing the plans for the sake of changing the plans room to set them "right" again. I'm sure The Typesetter can cover what is and is not changed but we're, that is HE, is gong about it right. How those decisions are arrived at is not as important. What is important that a lot of thought and banter goes into these decisions. For myself I'm building a boat vicariously and it's a blast. It's nice to to see how my Mayfly will get together and after watching this boat I'm pleased to say it'll be quick and painless. I hope. but I know I can count on a good friend to help me. Because he'll have another boat to build. Even if he doesn't know it yet.. So I'll end with some photo's taken during the build today. You can see how the boat is coming along well, the creation of the new mast step and partner and a man building a boat to get away from it all. Doing a pretty good job of it I think.