Can it Daysail?

Heading out on Frenchtown Pond. Stolen shamelessly from www.andrewlinn.com

  The Blue Flower has been bugging me, sitting on her trailer. As boats do she's caused no small amount of day dreaming, planning and scheming. All the basics, like repainting, brightwork, and varnishing will need to be done. But beyond that the plan is to turn Seze into the best daysailer I know how to make.
Right now she's a great pond boat. But I'd like something that can take me a bit farther off shore. As I've mentioned previously the biggest water I can readily access is Flathead Lake, an hour and a half north of me. I've taken a Teal out on Polson Bay, the lower quarter of the lake and will use that as a base line for daysailing. I don't see me getting out on the big part of the lake until my Goose is done.
 So these plans of big water are going to mean some changes to the basic structure of the boat. The first sticking point is axillary propulsion. When there is wind in Polson Bay there is no better place for a pure sailboat. When there is no wind, there is no worse place. It's only about 14sq nautical miles but during the summer it's over run with power boats and jet skis. The ability to maneuver, even under oars will be essential. But we run into a few ergonomic problems. Rudder and boom interference are at the forefront.Coming a close second is where to store them. Oars are an emergency solution. Which means a pair of eight foot wood ones are not really what I'm looking for. I was looking online and found collapsible oars. Not ideal but they would store easily enough inside the vessel. Oar locks and the like can be worked out and I'm considering making the tiller a bit more removable. Again this for the when not if of dying wind. If I play in the bay best be prepared.
 Also in the works is the boom crutch and the boom tent. The crutch is pretty straight forward but there is a twist, It'll be expandable. This is to raise the boom for rowing. The tent is an idea I got from this entry at Log of the Spartina. This will allow for those naps when the wind does die for a bit and I have a good book to finish.
 And why not do duck boards? Allow for a flat place to lay down. Under the boom tent of course. Well the weather is a bit gloomy here but I have plans for brighter days. And that is one of the joys of owning your own boat.

"Cruising has two pleasures. One is to go out in wider waters from a sheltered place. The other is to go into a sheltered place from wider waters."
- Howard Bloomfield

Favorite Sailing Picture So Far

Sailing with Andy Linn

You can read Andy's trip write up here: http://www.andrewlinn.com/2011/110716_missoula/index.htm
Andy did a pretty good job of covering his time here with us but I thought I should throw up some more photo's. Right now I'm busy getting my vehicle and it's new trailer ready to be legal on Montana's roads and am looking forward to some late season sailing. Also have the Goose to finish before the snow comes.

Andy at the helm. What a beautiful boat!

South side of the pond

Running North before the wind

Lots of fishing, very little catching

Two Teals under sail. Not a bad sight at all!

Racing! Pica had me in a straight line but I had superior tactics on the tack! Much fun. And I want a rematch!

Unofficial Tall Ship of the Circle J Trailer Court

1st Anually Finley Point Messabout

The First Annual Finely Point Messabout, held at Finely Point State Park on the shores of the mighty Flathead Lake has come and gone. It was a great weekend of comradeship and sailing, pretty much what you would expect from something called a messabout.
I was the first to arrive, leading advance camp for the rest of the mob. Okay it was just The Typesetter and his son but I'd ensure camp was set up. But there were a few snags. First of all tent camping is not really encouraged at Finely Point. They have six or so tent pads and they don't want you camping on the grass. So after a bit a bureaucratic snafu I managed to secure a spot. This is where the fun begins! I have a huge three room tent as I like to camp in style. But it turns out the pads are designed for those who wish to live in squalor and cramped space  so only two thirds of my tent would fit. But camp was made up and waiting when the rest of the crew arrived.

The hour was late so not much sailing was done. There was however a fair bit of rowing. Ready for a full Saturday we bedded down and much sleep was had. I wish the same went for the drunken college kids just down the site.
The next morning dawned quickly and brightly. The Typesetter put out a wonderful breakfast and we hit the docks. I in my 8' One Sheet Skiff Trudey C and he in the mighty Teal, the Pica.The weather was fine as we set out for a brief sail. The Pica developed some rudder issues but a quick return to the dock fixed those. I also got to work on my man overboard drill retrieving an errant oar.

Dock at Finely Point

For the record I'm told the water was cold.

We returned to the hard for a few minutes to collect our wits and decided a sail out to Little Bull island was in order. This had been the goal of the first expedition to Flathead and it did not end well.
We literally flew out of Finely point on a reach. It was some of the best sailing I've had yet. Even with two people the Teal was a well behaved lady and it seemed in no time at all we had neared our destination. It was here we noticed the chop. Two feet swells and a moderate wind. I was alarmed at first but the boat rode up and over well enough and save for the occasional bit of spray we took no water.

Captain at the helm

Is this protected water?

 Know what it's like to pound through waves in a flat bottom boat? Get a box about a foot square and jump off it. Run around and do it again. And again. Make sure you have your teeth just a bit apart so they clash when you land. Doing it in poor shoes would help to.
Even with all of this there was never a sense that the boat would founder. The lug sail pulled well and with a few minor under way tweaks did a fine job. Sure there was the point were it was out to the big lake or run up an dashed on some rocks with no apparent way to sail out. Or the garage that would not move. But it was an adventure and I'm glad I took it!

Our goal, Little Bull. Camera angle is not exaggerated

Great day on the water

Then it was on to a surprise for me! I had been admiring a little O'Day 22 moored at the dock and ended up with a ride! Not enough wind for sailing but we did do some motoring. Find time had by all

Future boat someday perhaps?

Wonderful evening out.

The evening was adjourned to a small fire and sleep. The next morning we loaded up and left. All and all a fine weekend indeed. We'll be holding this event next year with the theme of "Teal Daze". So build a Teal and come on out. You'll enjoy it. I know I did.

Messabout Boats

Big News!

I have learned that in addition to the Goose I have incoming that I'll be able to purchase the S/V Annas Discors as well. This is big. It was looking at that boat that has really had impact on the boats I build and what I think a small boat should be. Details are still ongoing but it'll be a great day when I can look to it as mine. Sure I'll need a hitch. And a trailer. But those are minor details, right? In the meantime I'm busy getting S/V Trudy C. ready for the messabout. There is a small cove next to where we'll be camping I think should be safe for an 8' boat. I'll leave you a picture of the AD under full canvas as she was born for. My own mini windjammer!

Stolen shamelessly from www.andrewlinn.com

Moving Ahead....Again

Spring has come to Western Montana and a young mans thoughts turn to boating! And we here at the Inland Packet & Navigation Company are not where we wanted to be. It's the beginning of June and I have not even started my next boat! I'm supposed to have a Summer Breeze floating around here ready for the messabout at the end of this month. But not all is lost and there is good news on the far horizon. For there is a boat right now with my name on it. And it's the largest, most seaworthy craft I've yet had the pleasure to call my own. And it's a while before it's mine!
I was on Facebook a few weeks ago and I get a message from Andrew Linn asking me if I'd like a 33% done boat. And not just any boat, but a PDGoose.The Goose is a twelve foot expedition boat that Andy has been pushing the last year or so. It's based on the PDRacer and like it's smaller brethren will out sail most boats it's own size.

As the above video shows it's a quick little boat with a lot of sail. It's four foot beam means it's stable and can carry an amazing load. As I've mentioned before I really want to start camp cruising and the Goose is just right for that
So let's talk about MY Goose. It started life as hull number 110501 name Mayday. Andrew decided to stretch out his Texas 200 finishing PDRacer Salem Electron and create a new and untested hull design. And in my opinion it look simply stunning. Fast while standing still, can't wait to get it wet. Here is a page on the design and progress so far.
As I mentioned it's not mine. Yet. The last progress report had it on a trailer in Oregon waiting to find it's way west. The IN&PCo. looks forward to it. I"ll keep you updated.

Why Not?

I'd like to talk about those crazy off course idea's you get when building your own wooden boat. Now it should be noted I'm of two minds on the subject. One one hand you should follow the plans. The designer knows what he's doing. Unless he doesn't.
There is something amazing about how a rather logical act such as building a wooden boat, the process that is not the actual act, can be so corrupted so quickly! In Year of the Boat Cheek makes the comment that humans want to be around beauty. And this I think explains why people love "boaty" looking boats. The lines and bowsprits, gaff rigs and ships wheels. I'm not immune. Look at my first attempt the Harley 8', it had belying pins for goodness sake! So I've once again entered on the path of going overboard when I don't need to. I may complain about people wanting to be boaty over a boat that works and I'll continue to do so. But this is a boat destined to be in public and I desire a certain look. There. I said it. If I wanted true performance I'd build a Goose. And I still might.
The Summer Breeze is inspired by the Bolger Teal. The Typesetter has one and it's a nice little boat.Clean lines, sturdy and when sailed right, brisk if not fast. A mutual friend of ours, the indomitable Andrew Linn built a Teal then turned the hull over to a friend and out of this came a miniature windjammer, the Anna Discors.

Stolen Shamelessly from www.sleepingschnauzer.com

This damn boat has been a thorn in the side for both The Typesetter and myself. We keep returning to it in conversation and moments of whimsy when we get to discussing "What if?. That whole beauty thing I'm guessing.. Now for those of you who've kept up on my boat building adventures I have the predilection to make small boats look bigger. Just wrote to Andy about the Anna Discors and he came back with "It's a hole in the water you have to push around" But the fact is he has a decent Subaru with a trailer. So as of now I'm fairly limited to pushing around holes in the water.
The gaff rig has always fascinated me. I actually came up with one for the Wawona but my mast and spars at t the time were not up to it. Hate to be tangential but here is a shot from the first time I laid eyes on her namesake back in 2008. She has since been documented and dismantled.

I have loved the look of the schooner and it's gaff rig and think it's time I build my own. It's not an impulse but a  long held desire and sometimes you have to follow those desires to see where they lead. It's said every boat you build gets a bit more complicated and closer to the boat you will ultimately build. I'm not sure what I want yet in the end but a forty foot schooner would be a pretty good place to end up. Of course a jib on a small boat can end up being more trouble then it's worth. But if done right it'll add a bit of beauty to an otherwise utilitarian craft and maybe my love of the gaff rig can be satisfied.
I'm also going to attempt something I've never done before either and that is a centerboard and trunk. The idea of cutting a hole in the bottom of a boat terrifies some but I think it'll be much easier in the long run then trying to deal with a leeboard. Leeboards and I have never gotten along well. I get that they keep the interior of the boat open and they don't require a trunk but I think I'd like to go a different route on this boat.
Of course I have to do the above while still maintaining the "Desire List".
Well I think that's out of the way I can let this blog go quiet again for a bit. For those interested here are links to the Summer Breeze page and that of the Anna Discors. And remember nothing is written in stone. And if it is a good chisel and some time can take care of it!

Passion is the Fuel for The Fire of the Soul

It's still a pretty hard winter here in the Big Sky Country. But a short session at The Typesetters house has ignited the boat building passion once again and I thought it deserved a blog post. But I'll start at the beginning.
Once the cold and snow settled here I was set on my next boat. The eight foot PDR inspired Cabin Cruiser known as the Ocean Explorer (OE) by  Perttu Korhonen with technical assistance from Mik Storer. For those living under a rock for the last few years a PDR is a boxy boat with great performance and is in fact a racing class. The OE adds a cabin for one person camp cruising.

From Duckworks.com

It has a full set of Storer foil and rig plans and would out perform just about any other 8' camp cruiser or open sailboat on the water. I had been lusting after it after I saw it on Duckworks and decided to pull the trigger and order the plans. The plans alone were worth the money. It's all in metric and some of the measurements are carried out to a tenth of a millimeter.  But as I pored over the plans a bit of apprehension hit me.
I knew I could build this boat. But could I build the boat in the time frame I had set out this summer? The Western Montana Home Built Boat Association has a messabout scheduled for June 24th on the Mighty Flathead Lake. And I'm planning on attending the Center For Wooden Boats Home Built Boat Show in July sometime. So with the worst winter in years  I was looking at a shortened time line as I work outdoors.
Building a boat is not a big deal but the OE is a different kind of cat then I'm used to. There is lamination, curves galore and a fit and finish that while nice does not lend itself to a very quick build. If done to plan it would be rather expensive if done right and I'd need a trailer and a hitch to get it around.
So knowing my timeline I've been sweating the last few months on how I"m going to get the money to get all this done and then find the time. Or find the time and then the money. It simply wasn't coming together.
Part of the OE's appeal is the ability to sleep on it comfortably. Well as comfortable as you can get in an eight foot boat with a cabin on it. This would save me paying for a hotel room in Seattle.
I finally decided I would simply throw my eight foot One Sheet Skiff Trudy C. on the roof of my 1970 Beetle and get it to Seattle. The boat is done and ready for a show, but I'd have to sleep in a hotel. Simple as that.
Enter a book. The Year of the Boat by Laurence W. Cheek. It chronicles  the build of a boat very much like the ones I've build and others that have been considered these long cold months. As I read it, skimmed it is more like it, I was returned in an instant to what building a wooden boat is all about. The fear. The trepidation. The hope and the unknown. And the urge to build a new boat hit me like a thunderbolt from the clear blue. I honestly was surprised. The last few weeks have been karate inspired and getting in shape and other martial goals. I had to get up in The Typesetters kitchen and pace. It was like electric energy and I had to satisfy it.
When starting this blog I laid out a series of considerations for my next boat. I'll put them up here.

• The ability to carry more then one person safely and comfortably.
• A proven design with a greater build history then the Harley 8. 
• Enough room to sleep one in relative comfort, and if not carry the gear to allow it.
• "Instant" construction using plywood.
• Small car compatible, either on top or behind.

Those requirements have not changed. The plan a long time ago, at least in blog time, was to build a Michalak Mayfly 14. But that entered into trailer land and for the foreseeable future that is not going to happen. Enter the Summer Breeze by David Beebe. An 11' 8" Day Sailer based on the Bolger/Payson Teal.

The plans are free. She'll carry two without fuss and sleep one semi-comfortably. Good amount of freeboard and room for floatation boxes. Able to be car topped and built in the style I'm used to. Not only that I can get into a 3D hull in about $70.00 and take it to the nines if I'm financially capable. So there you have it. Once again my future boat has changed. And it may well change again. But I'm on a mission now. I'm planning on getting the lumber next month. I have a place for dry storage so I'm not too worried about buying it early.
There are a few things I want to do with this vessel I've not yet done but have been advised to do so. Chief among them is cap the top of the hull with the gunwales. That'll hopefully stop the checking issue that cheap Luann can be notorious for.
And I may yet build the OE. It looks like a well thought out, very capable boat. But I don't think it's the boat for me, right now. But I will have the plans if I get a wild idea as I'm known to. But I'd rather be sailing then building and I only have till June!
For all my readers I highly suggest The Year of the Boat. Boat Building is a madness but one I'm privileged to share with home boat builders across the world from every walk and avenue of life. So if you'll excuse me I have boats to go dream about and voyages to plan that are yet to be taken. Passion is the fuel for the fire of the soul. And it feels very, very good to be alive.

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!