JPower210

ok- so I have been reviewing some pictures.... my new mantra when sailing the CS.... "it's a sprit, not a boom, it's a sprit, not a boom", I think I figured out what my issue was....

The bus is a 76- so 2L engine with FI which is nice from a reliability and power standpoint for doing any towing. But Action Tiger has a really good point- I live where I do in large part because I want to slow down- the bus will just make that a requirement rather than an option.

Thanks Graham! Now I have to get started on the OB 20 kit- but that project is on hold while I do a bit of refitting on this....

Hi Chick- yep- boom tent/dodger is on the list- It is a great area to sail, especially with a shallow water boat- I love the Shellback I built but this is not the best area for a dagger board... As far as being homesick- let me help you with that- it is currently 91, with a heat index of 111. We are all hiding out inside from about 10 am till sunset- Some mountain lake sailing sounds pretty good right now....

323 went for her first sail today- My first time in a cat ketch and definitely still some stuff to learn- I launched at the Harkers Island ramp in NC- wind about 15 with occasional gusts. The wind was directly onto the dock. I double reefed just to be conservative, but I think I still need to figure out halyard/downhaul settings for reefing. Quite a bit of belly in the sails. Things went pretty well- had to straighten out a few lines, etc., and one near capsize, but released the main and she stood right up. It was a little disconcerting to see the water coming in over the side. My Andersen bailer seems to be leaking a little so I will need to address that. An official launch, with the name and a little ceremony and lots of pictures to come in the next few days. My initial impressions are all positive- I have been sailing for a long time, the last 10 years or so sailing my Westsail and a Shellback and a Dyer Dhow. I am really impressed with the stability, and it is great to sit on a seat rather than on the bottom of a small boat. I am also impressed with how fast the boat feels. with really poor reefed sail shape, and a complete lack of familiarity with the new boat she was cooking right along. I think I am going to like this.... :-) John

This, having just completed a 17, and specifically not adding up the costs, is a screaming deal! Tony, sorry to hear you won't be completing, but hopefully circumstances are positive- Have you posted in the classifieds here as well as the classifieds on the B and B site? Take care- JP

Well funny that you should mention that... the Westy is in the process of getting new heads....and a trailer hitch. Definitely planning on towing the new boat with it. And thanks for the compliments-

Well- in spite of the title, we haven't been too MK3 centric lately, but a "classic" update anyway- Shooting for putting the boat in the water for the first time this coming weekend- still need to put the front hatch hardware on, the aft hatch and the hold downs for the seat hatches. And my wife, the artistic one in the family, is going to paint the name. I am pretty happy with how everything is turning out. There are some little touchups and things to do, but that will be this winter after a sailing season- or at least part of a sailing season. I'll update with launch pictures, but a heartfelt thanks goes out to all on this board for the support and encouragement! JP

Alex- that's a bummer! I would definitely weld over epoxy- that is not a repair you want coming apart out on the water- but, welding cast would take someone with a lot of aluminum experience- and I would try and back it up with an additional piece if you can- JP

Exactly- right at the end of the glassed section- if you look at the picture above (the second video) you can see them. I used two 2.5 by 2.5 blocks, 1/2 in ply I think screwed to each other right through the hull.

Good luck 'Dubs- I recommend the "anti-crack" blocks. Better safe than sorry. I know on my 17 they definitely helped, although I did the unfolding on my own. Take care- JP

Thanks Robert and Jeff- Jeff- based on my description of use, is there another design of yours you would point me towards? Thanks- JP

Hi All- I am trying to decide between Vardo and Ravenswood. I am an intermediate paddler, mostly doing sounds, etc. in coastal NC. I am currently paddling a CLC 17, so I have a boat for camping, but do end up caught in some chop and boat wakes now and then. I am about 200lbs with a size 11 shoe. I am leaning towards the Ravenswood so that I have a shorter boat in the collection and it could be dedicated to day paddles. I don't race, but I like to paddle fairly fast sometimes to make some distance. I also spend a fair amount of time in the marshes where an extra two feed can sometimes be a hindrance. Thoughts from folks that are familiar with both? Thanks all! JP

Acreew- check out this link- http://www.clcboats.com/shoptips/fitting_out/flush_hatches.html I have used this method on a couple of kayaks I have built and been quite happy with the result- My next one will use some latches from underneath to make for a completely flush installation- Alan did a remotely operated latch on one of his- I am going with a traditional hatch on my 17 at this point, but am thinking about some alternative latching methods to eliminate the hinges and latch. JP

Hi Will- I considered the same thing on the hatch and mocked it up- I elected not to go that route as it seemed like access under the decking over the cockpit would make that compartment less useful. My plan is for fairly light stuff up there, but bulky, like fenders and lifejackets. It could work, but I did not want to go through the contortions to get to it- As far as the bowsprit/spinnaker- that seems doable, but I would talk with Graham first- I am going the route of the staysail before I think spinnaker- but most of my sailing is solo or with the family (two small kids) so the complexity of the spinnaker is less appealing to me. I't love to see it in action though! JP

Thanks all for the input- I have done both ways on past boats I have built, and have always been a little happier with the sheathed boats from a durability perspective. The 17 is actually sheathed on the hull with Xynole, mainly as an experiment to see the difference between that and cloth and because I have never used Xynole before- it sure is a lot nicer to work with. I am getting ready to put the decks on, still undecided as to painted or finished bright (using Raka clear epoxy and S3 Gloss Clear, another experiment), or painted. Right now it seems as if most, on a standard deck, did not use cloth- I'll make the final decision after I get the decks on. I definitely don't see a need on the side decks, so just the forward deck and aft deck are under consideration.

Hi Carter- Welcome to the forum- I will echo Steve's comments- I have built a couple of smaller boats and kayaks, a Weekender, and most recently am finishing up a CS 17. Sitting in the other bay of my shop is a big wood box with an OB 20 kit. I have two small kids, and finding time is tough, but I don't stress about the timeline and I figure if it takes me a year, or 4, to build that OB, either way is fine. The support on this board, and notably from Graham and Alan, is amazing and a huge resource. It sounds like you are considering the kit- if so, I highly recommend! I was going to do my 17 from plans, but decided to go with a kit and I figure it has saved a lot of time, as well as potential mistakes/wasted time. It also takes out some of the "is this not fitting because I did something wrong" questions. I say go for it! Good luck, and if you decide to do it- definitely post progress here- Take care- JP

Good morning- Question for CS 17 and CS 20 builders... I am about to flip my hull back over to complete the interior and decks- I am curious how many of you added glass cloth to the decks, and if you did, did you carry it all the way down the sides? What weight did you use? Thanks- JP

Hi Tom- I don't see the pictures, but I'll take a stab at it anyway- if there is glass already on the boat I would sand smooth and epoxy coat- if not, this might be a good opportunity to add glass, but it's a lot of work- Some folks have done tape along the bottom and chines and no glass on the rest of the hull- I am the opposite end of the spectrum and am just finishing the bottom of my boat which is sheathed completely with Xynole. Adds weight, but I think the trade off is worth it for the oyster shells, etc. around here. By the way- congrats on having a CS 17- great boat! JP

Thanks all for the ideas on the uphaul- lots of great potential future upgrades- I think I will add the wire with a hook for now. 2nd coat of primer went on last night- couple of more to go, a little sanding and filling and hopefully spraying paint this weekend. JP

Thanks all- I did run into a question this evening- I got the hardware kit from B and B, and am finalizing the rigging on the rudder. The downhaul makes perfect sense with the line going from the clam cleat through the brass ferrule in the top of the rudder to the knot in the hole in the rudder blade. Included with the kit was an extra bullseye and a piece of line labeled rudder uphaul, but I can't figure out how the uphaul would be rigged and I don't see it on the plans. Am I missing something really easy? Thanks!

Hey Y'all- Since I have not been seeing any posts on the "classic" 17's i thought I would give a quick update- Number 323 has been progressing steadily, if somewhat slowly- amazing how much time a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old take up I have been fairing, and sanding, and fairing, and sanding for what seems like forever. I have become a huge fan of System 3's QuikFair. The skeg went on last night and I hope to have paint on the bottom by the end of the weekend. Then I will flip her back over and finish out the inside. I have also been working on other projects at the same time- the masts, rudder, centerboard, hatches, etc. are done. Before I flipped the boat I completed all of the framing, seat tanks, etc. So, when I flip her back over, I will have the carlins, coaming, forward seat tops and decks to complete. I am leaning towards a painted deck, (I am a fan of horizontal surfaces being painted for maintenance reasons), but we will see how the ply looks when I get it laid down. The tiller, coamings, thwart and seam covering board on the forward deck will be bright. I am also planning on some rubrails, with stainless half rounds, out of mahogany that will probably be finished bright. I finally feel like the end is in sight and I am looking forward to having the boat done in time for the July 4th race here in Beaufort. Fair Winds- JP

Greg- how's the build going? I was hoping to be started at this point but I have been stuck in fairing purgatory on the 17- JP

Thanks all!

Graham or Alan- would one of you be willing to do a little lesson on finishing off the ends of the hollowback rub strip? Alan showed me really nicely finished ends on a 17 that was there when I was picking up one of my kits. I can't remember what the process was for getting a nice point that laid flat. Thanks! John P