Fintan Murphy

Adla, I'm still in awe of your progress. :shock: One question though, it appears from the pictures that you are not even wearing gloves when working with the epoxy? I know that you have a lot of experience with glass before, but I'm assuming it was polyester, and I don't know what adverse reactions can develop from that. I do know that you can build a hypersensitivity to epoxy, where even a small amount can break you out in a rash. There are a few weekender builders to whom this has happened. When I was doing the glassing, I wore a tyvec suit and gloves, and still got some on me, which caused a rash. Please be careful, and take a break, you're showing all the rest of us up! (four years and counting :roll: )

Please post pictures when you have finished the six-sided one. If you are interested in selling the plans for it when it's done, count me in. The idea of building baby cradles appeals to me more than building scale models. I suppose it's the fact that they will be used as opposed to just ornaments. I daydream about the time I'll be finished the university degree, and be able to give up the day job, and start teaching night courses (more fullfilling - less money), spending my days pottering around, building small dinghys, baby cradles, bookshelves, etc. to make a few extra bob. Hopefully it will be in the next two years. And if the current offer we have on the new house is accepted, we'll be another step closer to realising it.

Absolutely beautiful Dave. How long did it take to build? And was it from purchased plans? One of my friends is definitly planning children, and it would be alovely present to make for them (once the boat is finished of course).

It sounds dreadful, especially from someone who has kissed the blarney stone a few times (we live down the road from it), but I've had nothing much to say. I've been keeping up with posts - My God, that Adla makes me jealous - Is she living in the same time/space continium as the rest of us? :shock: I can't fit my normal stuff in 24 hours - but she's building a boat as well in record speed. Adla - if you're reading - my hat goes off to you. The boat hasn't seen the light of day since September as my second year in college (by night) is taking up all my spare time. I've one assignment to complete, and the year end project and then I'm back to boat work for the summer. There's about a month of work left in it to launch, and I've built up some holidays that I can take to hurry along the process. I hope to launch in June/July. Unfortunately there is another cloud on the horizon - we are looking at moving house and have been looking at one closer to the city. At least it has room for a small workshop, and room to store the boat. But it needs some work. Hopefully I'll get the boat finished before the sale is finalised and work begins - or you'll see a repeat of this post next year So, as I said, in May it's hopefully back to boat work. The hull is finished and painted, the spars have three coats of varnish and will get a few more. So all that's left is to make and install the rigging, make the sails, and get the trailer up to scratch. Oh, and I bought a digital camera, so you all will get to see the launch pictures.

Experience is the knowledge to recognise a mistake the second time you make it. And I love the word Amateur. I remember an old film I saw about an amateur orchestra. I can't remember the name, or the cast, but I do remember the conductor, after they got a review in a local paper calling them "a bunch of amateurs". He stood in front of them and said that that was the highest compliment they could earn. Because amateur is derived from the French verb Aime - to Love, and they do what they do for the love of it, not for money, or fame. I suppose it's why we build boats (or houses, patios, furniture). Sure, in my case anyway, a professional would do a better, quicker, nicer job. But that's not the point.

Well, it's Christmas eve. I'm in work. So far we've had the telephone exchange go down, knocking out all outside communication, and our own exchange server decided to go tits-up. I've got them both back and am just hoping that everything holds together 'till I'm out the gap in 30 minutes. Then it's the on-call person's problem He He. Myself and my wife are heading down to my brother's bed&breakfast to meet my parents and stay for the night. Then we are going back to Cork to spend Christmas Day and St. Stephens Day with my in-laws (including various sisters, husbands, nieces and nephews). We are then taking a breather and going back down to my brother's for New Years Eve. I always get a bit reflective, sometimes melancholy over the festive period. I suppose it's a time to look back at the year just gone, look to the new year coming in, and take stock of ones life. I must say that I'm very fortunate. I have good health, a wife that I love dearly, a good job, and pretty much everything that I could wish for. I even, almost, nearly, just about, have a boat. Next year for sure, it'll be in the water. My excuse is that I went back to college at night and am now in my second year of a four year course. B+ average last year, and I just got the results for my first assignment, Grade A. It's going in the right direction for my career change when it's finished. I'm coming up on 38 (on 3rd Jan), so the big Four-0 is looming. I must say I'm looking forward to the next 40 years. Oh, and of course I also have a great bunch of folks to chat to here. I've even met one of you!, and hopefully will meet a few more in the next year or so. I've told my wife that if ever we wanted to visit the states, we could stick pins based on your locations, and to a boat-crawl. She obviously wasn't pleased :roll: So, that's it. It's just turned midday. I'm wrapping up untill I'm back in the new year, 5th Jan. Another year older, and hopefully a bit wiser. Hope you all have a peaceful and happy Christmas, and the new year sees you in the best of health Nollag shona dubh, Fintan

Excellent post Bob. I've seen the Brendan voyage ship. It's on display up near Galway. I'ts a small boat to go crossing the atlantic in. :shock: What I always found worrying is that if I ever visit somewhere that has a tradition of not using their left hand (for anything other than toilet duties), I am going to be in trouble as I'm left-handed.

If they like quirky or novelty presents get a Roundtoit I once saw one of these in a Spike Milligan book. It is a circular disk, with "Roundtoit" printed continously on one side, spiraling into the center. So the next time he says that he will finish some part of the boat when he gets a round to it, tell him he already has one.

My thoughts are with you Frank. At least he can go in the knowledge that he has instilled in you the good qualities that he has, and that you have passed those on to your own children. I suggest that you should repost "The Question" here, for those who have never had the good fortune to read it. It certainly touched me.

Steve, let me know when you're coming and I'll organise to meet up. Hopefully, I won't get a speeding ticket this time Right Frank :oops: By the way, where were you staying in Ireland? You left the year I was born (1966), hopefully that was just coincidence, and judging by the difference in our skill levels with wood (after seeing your blocks and wheel on the other post) - I know we're not related.

I'll go along with SeaEagle. I'll celebrate Thanksgiving, and have the pennys lined up for Anzac day, if you'll celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Wait a minute......

Work, study, work, study, assignments, work,study. The boat won't be uncovered and worked on again before spring next year. So close and yet wo far. There's just about 1 month left in it before it's on the water. I've semi-decided not go put a motor on it, but try mounting a sculling oar. Within the harbour, you're never too far from anywhere, and if you wait an hour, the wind will always come up. Just when things are settling down, we saw a house we are interested in. There's a lot of work involved (a diy enthusiasts dream according to the brochure - understatement of the year according to me) Here's hoping !

What I always wondered about is that, when I go to France on holidays, I lose an hour. When I come back to Ireland, I get the hour back. How do I know it's my hour I'm getting back, and not somebody elses :?: And what have they done during that hour. :shock: Have I slept with somebody elses wife, or robbed a bank? I also explain to people who are foolish, or drunk enough to listen, that when the Irish emigrated to America, there were so many hours lost, that they have to have an extra day every four hears to use them all up. Hence the leapyear.

Don't mind your foreign policy ...... One point, one lousy point. :twisted: That's what Ireland were beaten by on Saturday by Australia. If only that drop goal had hit home, we wouldn't be playing France next week. Ah well,

Congratulations Dave, Great looking boat and brightwork.

Russ, I've yet to hear somebody on their deathbed say "I wish I'd spent more time in the office". Frank, you're right. My main concern is to get my college projects done, as they have a habit of creaping up on me if I don't get a start on them. It's probably psychological. I know I can get the boat motoring in the water, so I'll concentrate on that , and who knows, I may get fine weather untill October, and get it sailing this year. It's just that I know I cannot spend as much time on it as I have been, and neglecting the other (looming) jobs. I also asked Irene if she would motor around on the boat. (She has stated that she has no interest in being in it when it's sailing - don't go there!). She said that she would, but not on the first trip - there's confidence :roll: ). So who knows Frank, she may be weaned on to the sailing thing yet. And yes, myself and Frank discussed holidays when he was over. I still can't believe that you Americans put up with 10 days holidays a year. And I know that some of you don't even take them (and say it like its a GOOD THING - please refer to the statement above). I get 24 days a year, plus 9 public holidays, plus 5 days sick leave (uncertified), and I am on flexitime, so in theory I could work up another 12 days, ( one a month). I don't take the sick days unless I'm actually sick, and I rarely work up the flexitime days. My wife gets all the above, but gets 29 days instead of 24. Most of the rest of Europe gets 30 days (I think). I know that France and Spain practically close down for August.

Ok, my ironing secret. I like ironing :shock: I lived on my own for 4 years, and shared a house with two blokes for 7 years, and have always had to wear shirts and ties to work. That, coupled with having been reared by a strong working mother, taught me to be self-sufficient (I can even bake ) Anyway, I find ironing theraputic, starting out with a wrinkled shirt and ending up with a nice wrinkle-free one. Sort of like ironing the wrinkles out of your life. When you go through 5 shirts a week, that's a lot of wrinkles! Now, Irene (SWMBO) does the clothes washing, I cut the grass (good division of labour), but I still iron my own clothes. And no, I don't take requests.

Well, I'm resigned to the fact. :cry: The boat will most likely not be completed this year. The problem I have, as most others here have, is that this is only one part of what I do. i still have to go to work, do the honey-do's, cut the grass, do my ironing, give SWMBO quality time, meet my friends, and help my dad fix his computer when it breaks. And I can only work on the boat four nights a week (weekends are out). Now the 2nd year of my college degree is rearing its ugly head, with my first assignment and workshop looming at the end of September. As well as another course I am doing, which needs an assignment, including research, and a 3000 word project, completed pretty soon. So now I'm going to make (metaphorical) lemonade. (After the initial depression from the realisation wears off that is.) :x Hell, the boat is painted, the rudder is made, the bowsprit is waiting to be attached, and the trailer needs only a small bit of work. I'll attach the motor-mount, throw it in the water and motor around for a while. At least it will see the water this year, and we can call them sea trials. The mast, boom and gaff are on their second coat of varnish, these can be completed. The sails, standing and running rigging, as well as blocks, cleats, and chainplates can be completed over the winter, and it will come out of it's crysalis next year as a fully fledged sailboat. One half of me is realistic about it, and the fact that I have only so much time on my hands, The other half is sad, and thinks I've, cheating by not sailing this year. Thanks for letting me vent

Steve, I think you'll find that everyone has done at least one (or two ) stuff-ups. They usually happen when things are going well, and you start to feel that the Murphy Factor doesn't apply to you. The good news is that you normally only make the same mistake once. The bad news is that there are sooooo many other mistakes to make :x me, I've mis-measured, mis-cut, mis-drilled, and my favourite was when I measured and marked the pencil line for the lazarette stringer on the bottom, then proceeded to glue the stringer (perfectly curved I might add) on the wrong side of the line. If course I only discovered this after the glue had set.

I've often seen prospective builders asking whether to buy the video or not. Apart from the help in construction I've had with it, it has provided one invaluable service to me. When I'm up to my eyes in boatbuilding, with no end in sight, I used to go to the TV and watch the end of the video again. You know, the bit where they go to the lake and sail around. It always served as a light at the end of the tunnel. I presume I'm not alone in this.

Capt. Jack, wishing you the best, and hope all goes well. I'm only sorry I can't be there to share the joy. I've the same problem, so many people have asked to be at the launch. I think I'll probably chicken out, and have "sea trials" first to make sure that nothing goes wrong, then have the actual launch a few days later.