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  1. Today
  2. labrat
    You've done a fine job - it looks fantastic. You'll probably get held up a lot at launch sites by people wanting to admire it and ask questions.
  3. meester started following The eponymous Mellimac - a Short Trip from Long Cove
  4. meester
    “A spouse who will go camping on a boat with you is worth her weight in gold.” - Brian Forsyth We arrived at the ramp just before sunset, and I was nervous. My previous two overnight cruises were trial and error, with lots of little mistakes, lots of learning. But this cruise was special. This cruise would be the first for my wife Melanie, and I wanted her to enjoy it. This Spring Cruise was the big show, the final exam. Or at least that’s what I thought. When I asked her to marry me, I was pretty sure she would say “Yes,” but I had doubts she would put up with the little discomforts of sharing a 15 foot dinghy. There was nothing about that in the vows. Even the “for better or for worse” clause doesn’t cover sleeping in a dinghy. Husbands doing dumb stuff are on their own. "What about bugs?” she asked. “Oh sure, there are mosquitoes, but the tent has netting.” I didn’t mention that I had been repeatedly pierced by Maryland’s most ferocious, wild, man-eating animal on the previous trips. What if there’s a thunderstorm?” “We just anchor in a little cove where the trees will protect us from wind and the land will protect us from waves, and we wait it out. If there’s a big storm in the forecast, we go home.” But what if the trees fall on us, I wondered, or if the tent blows off? Or lightning? Lots of stuff to worry about. Then she asked the Big Question. Are there places where we can stop to go to the bathroom?” Oh crap. “Oh, sure. There are a few places. Here and there… Maybe a porta-potty at the ramp… maybe… Not really, no. Not any.” “But check this out!” I showed off my custom-built, wag-bag-based, okume and epoxy, personal comfort and hygiene facility with an understated modern design and natural wood grain finish to delight both the modern boater and generations to come. “Won’t that be great?” My customer made a funny face – the one with the pursed lips and the wrinkled up nose – and said “Hmm.” Sensing defeat, I deftly changed the subject. “You know, there’s a pizza place in Queenstown that we might sail to if the wind is right.” Genius. So after struggling through DC’s rush hour traffic and a brief delay at the Bay Bridge, we arrived at the ramp, I hustled through the rigging, and we launched as the sun disappeared over the horizon. I had picked out Deep Cove as a possible anchoring site about a mile away, and we sailed, then rowed into the cove as the last light lingered in the western sky. Melanie loved it. I set up the boom tent, turning our boat into a bedroom. Melanie loved that, too. “It’s like a popup camper on the water!” Melanie slept well, woke up smiling, and she was still smiling later. I didn’t sleep much. Our breakfast of oatmeal and coffee was rocked by an enormous wake that burst through the narrow entrance to Deep Cove. For the sake of objective reporting, I should mention the possibility that maybe I just lost my balance a little, but that report has not been confirmed. A little later, as we sailed out into Langford Creek, we caught sight of Norm Wolfe’s tanbark lug rig and green hull making haste to the ramp. We gave chase, but we weren’t able to catch him. I think it was probably Norm’s wake that I had felt earlier. Or did I imagine that? Like I said, I didn’t get much sleep. We sailed across to Town point at the mouth of the Corsica river, stopping to chat a little with Mark and Ed in their Dovekies. In 2016, when the US kicked the Russians out of their compound at Town Point near Centreville, I was hooked. I have read enough Tom Clancy novels to have a really vivid imagination about the shady activities that would take place in such a shady facility. When I found the place on Google Maps’ satellite view I noticed two things. First, a lot of trees – definitely shady. Second, it was on the shore, with a view of the water. I felt immediately that it was my patriotic duty to sail by in my little wooden boat and make some intimidating display of defiance. Maybe dump out a bottle of vodka or some caviar to show contempt. But no, that wouldn’t be right. I was raised by a couple of recovering depression-era farm kids, so no, that plan would be too wasteful. Maybe I’d make some rude gestures, or maybe I’d even moon them. Haw Haw Haw. The sixth-grader in me liked that plan. Economical, too. When the time came for decisive action, we were anchored 100 yards or so off shore from the red brick mansion of the former Russian compound, and the adult in me had regained control. We were rafted up with Brian Forsyth sharing a little lunch and enjoying a good chat, so I was in polite company, and I refrained from rude gestures. Anyways, the Russians were long gone, and the State Department employees that keep the place now don’t deserve any grief from me. The water turned glassy smooth as the forecast turned rough. I rowed a little and then we sailed a way up Langford Creek on occasional puffs. When the wind filled in a little, Melanie took the helm and sailed on a reach back to the ramp with enough speed to make Mellimac chuckle and splash through the water. Later, Melanie said that “sailing fast” was one of her favorite parts of the trip. We cranked Mellimac back up on her trailer, cutting our trip one night short to avoid the incoming weather. On the road home, we stopped in at the Queenstown Pizzeria. For future reference, there’s free docking on the end of the Queenstown dock, and the Pizzeria is about 4 blocks away. Good pizza. By land, there’s room for a couple of vehicle & trailer rigs at in the Queenstown Commisioner’s office across the street. Melanie drove the car, Mellimac trailed obediently behind, and I slipped in and out of awareness in the passenger seat. “We didn’t need reservations or anything, did we?” “Nope.” “So we could just – go? Anytime?” “Uh huh.” “When can we go again?” Zzzz.
  5. Yesterday
  6. Kennneee
    Yes, seeing her profile is a treat. Not completely satisfied yet. I am a bit anxious to see her floating! Patience Ken, patience. Thanks guys.
  7. DaveH
    Ken, For nine years I putzed around in my garage building my Bluejacket 25.5. Unable to step back and obtain a panoramic view of my progress, my sense of achievement was limited to completing a task on the build. There was no immediate feedback on how that task interacted with the boat in its entirety. On the bad days on the job, it sure would have been a morale builder to put my tools down, step back and see the boat in its entirety as it was coming together. Last year I pulled the boat out of the garage and for the first time I saw a whole boat. No words can describe my excitement and sense of accomplishment. I know exactly how you felt on the day your boat emerged from her cocoon. You have much to be proud of! Henry Hassell (Bluejacket 28) advised me to paint my boat a camouflage color. I asked why since I’m not a duck hunter. He said because your boat will attract much attention and sometimes it gets too much. You will learn that Henry is right. We look forward to seeing pictures of Rosie romping at sea and you and Luanne docking at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Victoria for high tea. All the best, Dave
  8. Last week
  9. Todd Stein
    I’m about to begin attaching the longitudinal stringers to the hull sides and bottom. I’ve pre-drilled and attached block and drywall screws on outboard side. My question is how do you recommend positioning the plywood while applying the epoxy filler, vertically or horizontally? Initially I had the plywood piece hanging vertically so I could work both sides, but wanted see if there’s a better way? Todd
  10. acreew
    I may be interested if still available.... where are you located? thanks, will
  11. Casey
    Love the hand rails. Your works nice and tidy. Not to sure about the mast though. Different blokes different strokes 🙂. I've been following your build. I think your hull #55? I'm hull# 54. You're way ahead of me but I had to build a shop to build the boat first Haha. Keep up the good work. What are you doing for fuel tanks? Just using 25ltr totes? And what are your going to push her with. Casey.
  12. NowWeTryItMyWay
    I can report back that I got the green angle stuff in the mail a few weeks ago, and it seems to work great. As predicted, its a little heavy, but has clean edges, easy to work with, and glued up nicely to the members that would go inside the ballast tank.
  13. NowWeTryItMyWay
    Have made some progress in the last few weeks. Glassed the keel (inside), broke and then fixed my hanging knees, made several other errors and recovered, attached the transom, framed out the centerboard trunk and coated the inside with an epoxy / graphite mixture so it will hopefully have less friction with the CB. Also have attached approximately 800 cleats to the top of interior members, almost ready to dry-fit the inside components of the boat.
  14. NowWeTryItMyWay
    @Alan Stewart - Ok, great, that's what I figured but wanted to double check. I figured it would be difficult to get in there to add another pivot after I glue the cover on!
  15. smccormick
    Very nice.
  16. Alan Stewart
    I think that is a typo in the drawing, at one point we were playing with putting a block on the cb itself but decided against. There should just be the one block which is labeled.
  17. Paul356
    I love that first beam-on picture. Happy yachting.
  18. Jknight611
    I have just the one block in mine. I have a plexiglass cover over it, it will sometimes get a little water up there.
  19. NowWeTryItMyWay
    Hello - I'm putting together the centerboard trunk and had a question about the pivot(s) for the line that raises the centerboard. In the drawings, there is one pivot labeled Harken 243 block. Then just below it , there is another thing that looks like a pivot, but it isn't labeled and seems to not totally make sense (I don't see how it would provide any benefit, and looks like it is in the way.) I was wondering if this is a real thing or maybe just an artifact in the drawing?
  20. Kennneee
    Thanks Alan!
  21. dutch ob 20
    The hand rails
  22. Thrillsbe
    First coat of paint is on.
  23. Alan Stewart
    I am jealous. what a sweet boat.
  24. Dawgcoach Dawgcoach joined the community
  25. Kennneee
    Thanks Egbert. Yes, after all this time I had not been able to stand back and see her in profile. Made me a happy man! I have installed the motor and will bring it to the local outboard shop on Tuesday for then to put in oil and start the motor for the first time. That was the agreement I made in order for them to let me do my own installation. I will get more pics up soon.
  26. ejds
    Isn't it something to see the whole boat for the first time. Congratulations on this milestone. Egbert
  27. Casey

    Nz ob20 #54

    Casey replied to Casey's topic in B & B Yachts Forum

    Thanks for the encouragement. I started in January this year. I had the plans one year prior to then, but couldn't start as I had a speed bump in the form of building a new 10.5m x 7m shed to build her in. And every man needs a beer chair in his shead! Cheers Casey.
  28. Thrillsbe
    I’m making great progress!
  29. Kennneee started following Calling all Marissa eco 18 builders. Post a picture of your boat
  30. Kennneee
    Very nice!
  31. AmosSwogger
    The curves you put in the aft end of the coamings look great; it really compliments the lines of the boat. I wouldn't be surprised if future builders duplicate them.
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