Since we are well into our second season with our Weekender "Boom Boom" I felt I should report.
Firstly I would like to thank the forum for all the discussion, tips and advice. For me, it made building possible as the plans leave quite a bit to be desired. But I could always come back to the old blokes who had been down the track before me, thanks again.
I am critical of the Stevenson organisation for not, at least, correcting errors in plan measurements which they are still selling.
It was my second boat and took a bit over a year to build (weekends only - which was appropriate.) It all went smoothly but I thank the man who invented epoxy and the other bloke who came up with the battery operated screw driving drill.
The boat has stunning good looks and is a credit to the Stevensons. It is light, economic and possible to build for your average citizen, shallow draft, comes about and handles well and even has a kennell and no room for bags of "hanger ons'
I wonder about major modifications. Perhaps people who need those should seek another design. I am talking about altering hull dimensions and that type of thing. I did some mods which I regard as minor diversions from the plan but I would definitely do again as they have proved to be of benefit to me, they are as follows.
Make the lazarette, compartments behind the seat backs, the forward compartment and the drink box at the cabin entry all water tight for flotation.
Extend the mast base by 8 inches. Saves the boom bashing your loaf. Hence our name "Boom Boom'
Have reef points put into the mainsail. Makes all the difference on the gusty days.
Use jib sheets instead of a clubfoot. Saves the 9inch eyebolt through the bowsprit and gives the forrard hand more to do.
Use a tiller instead of the wheel business. It is comfortably only a two person boat and there is room for a tiller and it enables the lazarette to be sealed. I put a small hatch in the lazarette deck for access.
I weighted the rudder so that it can ride up in shallows.
Three lead blocks were inserted into holes cut into the skeg up near the mast. They each weighed about 16 lbs so about 50 lbs in total. The lead was free from tyre services, who were happy to get rid of their used tyre balance weights.
I melted them down in batches with a couple of blow torches and poured into a mould I knocked up from scrap pine. The blocks were epoxied into position.
I poured the blocks in layers as I could not keep a lot a lot of metal molten at one time.
The layers stuck together well