Florin {VACATIONER}

Looks like we may dunk her in today if the weather cooperates (we're expecting severe thunderstorms this late afternoon or evening). I've got to go out and buy some stuff to wire the trailer and install the safety chain. Other than that we're ready to go. Yesterday we managed to finish the last bits on rigging and modified the trailer. We've balanced the boat on the trailer and we now have about 100# tongue weight. I've had to cut the draw bar back (I've left it longer during the construction for balancing purposes). We've had to cut off 3'. We've also had to move the winch mount closer to the bow of the boat. We installed the fenders as well last night. The uprights which support the bunks are about 5" taller than they should be, this was done intentionally again for moving the boat on the trailer for balancing, I now have to cut them shorter. We'll have to dunk the boat in the lake on the weekend, I'll leave the admiral and the kids at the lake to enjoy the rays and I'll bring the trailer in the garage to perform the necessary modifications. I've posted a couple of pics in my gallery, but they are now pending approval. Cheers Florin

Ok, I attempted to upload a couple of test pics and it looked like I was successful. So now lets see if the pics get accepted by the boss. Thanks Florin

BTW Frank, what is the procedure to uploading the pics? Thanks Florin

Thanks Frank, I thinks I'll just do that... Is there a certain size/MB limit to the albums? Thanks Florin

Tim, I wouldn't mind having a look at the pics if you don't mind sending them... Thanks Florin

Sound like a good lesson for me to learn, if I can learn from other people's mistakes. Florin

Very nice boat Frank! Enjoy! Florin

Thanks Frank, And what kind of rope do we use for that? (should have asked to begin with). What type and thickness. I was looking at the thinnest braided stuff @HD and didn't think I could get all those turns in the little 1/2" clips. Thanks Florin

is used when tying the main sail hanks to the mast hoops? I understand it has to have seven turns each way... and then what? Thanks Florin

You're a tease Tim... We'd love to go there this season (Although I'm not quite sure we'll make it there). Chances are next summer we will. We sort-of want to get used to sailing this battleship before we get onto the larger more distant lakes. I'm sure there'll be some things which will need fixing or improving after or during the first few outings. My aunt and uncle just called yeserday, they just returned from a two week long vacation on Mara Lake. That was another tease, they said it was awesome, the weather was excellent with the exception of a couple days when it was a bit soggy. Glad to hear you've had a good time on the lake and wish you at least the same for the rest of the season. You guys do any fishing out there? Cheers Florin

After loading her on the trailer I've noticed a couple of things I have to change on the trailer... The bunks posts are about 3-4" too tall, so I have to trim them short now, and move the bunks down. Also, I made the draw-bar longer than usual, so that the bowsprit won't interfere with the towing vehicle and the bike rack at the rear. It appears that the draw-bar has a bit more flex in it than I would like it to... so I have to strenghten it before we take it down the road. Everything else seems good. Thanks Florin

It turns out we have enough space in the boatshed to make the sails, so fortunately we don't have to go anywhere else. We've cut the sails out of the poly tarp last night. Couldn't really do anything else because it was my daughter's B.day and we went out for dinner. Now we can finish the sails today and hopefully have the entire rigging setup. Thanks Florin

Good job, nice boat. Love the colors on her. I'll bet you're really proud. Cheers Florin

Just one day or so before making the sails and still not decided whether to go with loose footed main, or go with the plans. Seems to me like loose footed would be the way to go since it appears to be sooo much simpler. Are there any other practical advantages? Also what would one have to do in preparation in comparison to "as per plans". Thanks Florin

About all we have left now is finish rigging. We've stepped the mast yeserday, installed the chainplates and crimped the ends of the cables for the forestay and the shrouds. We've also finalized the bowsprit installation. Now she really looks like a sailboat. We've still got to install the boom and gaff, make the sails, rig up the running rigging and hook up the steering cable to the components. Doesn't seem like a lot to do, but I'll bet it'll take a long time. I don't think I'll enjoy making the sails, not my kind of thing. Cheers Florin

Thanks Johannah, Got lots of pics but like I said before, we'd ran out of web space with so many pics there about two years ago... now all we can do is store them on the disk. Too bad our forums cannot allow for posting pics Cheers Florin

Finally got to this milestone. Whew!! Never thought we'd get to this stage. Mike and Craig: You were right we didn't need a large crew to do this! First mate and I managed to do this on out own. Of course, because we did this in the evening we've had a bunch of neighbours and passers by offering to help... and we did take advantage of the freebies. It all went relatively well with the exception of the front dolly getting caught up on some lump of resin glue on the floor... then she decided to break and the boat landed on the keel... after assessing the damage we found there was none (except for the broken dolly). I fixed the dolly, jacked up the boat and slipped the dolly underneath again. Due to the steep grade we have on our driveway, getting her into the street where is flat was the hardest chore. We've had my van behind the boat (with a foam mattress in between) to prevent the "runaway boat effect". Loading her onto the trailer was a breeze. Now she is on the trailer in front of the house covered with a blue poly tarp. Everyone walking by, gives this monstrousity a good loooong look. BTW, while people were helping out yesterday, they were all asking how long it took us to restore this boat... When we told them we built it from scratch they couldn't believe it. That was fun. Now more assembly... Cheers

I did my best to stay away from "foaming" polyurethane glues under the waterline. Since when they cure they are poros, I'm not sure if they wouldn't end up wicking up water in the joint if the finish layer was breached. Glad to hear I was wrong about that. Cheers Florin

Like Craig said, use the epoxy... we've ended up having the same problem but we've noticed it before we installed the bottom to the keel. Either way, we warmed up our epoxy components in hot water before mixing to help thin them out as much as possible and injected them into the cracks with a disposable syringe. Yes, it took some time but it was worth it I think. I don't believe thickened epoxy would flow in as well... you may end up with some undesirable air pockets which may get filled with water later on and create delam... yuck!!! Good luck Florin

We bought insurance for our boat last year even though it isn't finished yet. We really don't want to take a loss in case it burns down with the house... We have all risk insurance and it is a rider on our house insurance policy. Costs about $600CDN per year. We don't really want to take the chance of losing the boat after all this money and time invested in it. And if we do, we want to be compensated. And then there's the liability.... Cheers Florin

So, you figure the cutter rig will give waaaay better performance to justify the extra work, or are you a just sucker for punishment :-)? We'll start with the jib club this year. Chances are we'll convert to jib shrouds by next year, then we'll see. I think today is the day. I got the welder yesterday, and a cutoff saw. Today we'll try to get the steel for the trailer. Was gonna get it yesterday but much of the businesses were closed for Canada Day. Off I go! FLorin

I think the eyebolt there is a good idea. At first I thought I would tie into the chain anywhere, but I think it would be a lot more secure to use a the eye. FLorin

It wasn't that hot around here today, maybe 23C... I'm so glad to be done with that feckin' sanding and bondoing.... Just drilling holes in the mast and working on the taffrail now. Lots of little things to do. Also drilling the port rings holes in the cabinside.... Tomorrow I have to paint the rings, rudder and rudder box... Then, staining and varnishing the brightwork. I hate that.... too many coats of varnish. She HAS to be in the drink by the end of next month. This weekend I have to weld a trailer toghether. Cheers Florin

I love your shiny shopfloor. I wish I had the time to get mine half as clean as yours. I have about 1/2" of plastic resin glue, epoxy and fiberglass resinn+bondo on it, and maybe some beer bottle caps embedded in the stuff. I think I'll have to rent a jackhammer to get it off when the boat is on the trailer. Florin

Never heard the term feckin'... but it is definitely a good replacement word for my mom. Here's one I like with some substituted feckin' words. Enjoy!!! PART ONE Two Newfies walk into a pet shop. They go directly over to the bird section. Willie says to Paddy, "Dat's dem." The clerk comes over and asks if he can help them. "Yeah, we'll take four of dem dere budgies in dat cage op dere," says Willie. "Just put dem in a peeper bag." The clerk puts the budgies in a bag, and the two guys pay for the birds and leave the shop. They get into Willie's van and drive until they are high up on a hill, and stop at the top of a cliff with a 500-foot drop. "Dis looks loike a grand place, eh?" says Willie. He then takes two birds out of the bag, places them on his shoulders and jumps off the cliff. Paddy watches as his mate drops off the edge and goes straight down for a few seconds, before he hits the rocks below with a 'SPLAT!'. As Paddy looks down he shakes his head and says, "Feck dat, dis budgie jumpin' is too feckin' dangerous for me." PART TWO A minute later, Seamus arrives. He too has been to the pet shop and he walks up carrying a 'peeper bag'. He pulls a parrot out of the bag, and then Paddy notices that, in his other hand, Seamus is carrying a gun. Hi, Paddy. Watch dis," Seamus says and launches himself over the edge of the cliff. Paddy watches as half way down, Seamus takes the gun and blows the parrot's head off. Seamus continues to plummet until there is another 'SPLAT!' and his remains join Willie's at the bottom. Paddy shakes his head and says, "An' oim never troyin' dat parrotshooting needer." PART THREE A few minutes after Seamus has gone splat, Sean strolls up. He too has been to the pet shop, and he walks up carrying the now familiar 'peeper bag'. Instead of a parrot, he pulls a chicken out of the bag, and launches himself off the cliff with the usual result. Once more Paddy shakes his head. "Feck me, Sean! First der was Gerry wit his budgie jumping, den Seamus parrotshooting and now you feckin' hen glidin..."