Dale Niemann

Wes, Graham has recommended Armstrong hatches for my Marissa. They have a screw which has a arm which goes across behind the hatch. I am using them on my Marissa 'Salty'. However, I am not done so cannot say if I like them in use. Graham also sells them. Here is their site. http://www.armstrongnautical.com/dckplates.htm I agree with Ray on the twist hatches like the ones shown in your photo. I used them on 'Lively' under the seats forward of the thwart and they are not easy to use. I would not use them again. I don't access that area much so it is not really a big deal. just my opinion. Dale

Ray, I have sailed the Beetle Cats and the both the 12.5 and the Haven 12.5 at the Wooden Boat School when I have been up there for various classes.. I had the same reaction to the 12.5s as you did. The main problem I had was envisioning trying to sail one in Florida in the shallow waters we sail in. Actually, I did not like the Beetle cat very much either. I also sailed a Beetle Cat at the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle. I think basically I am spoiled by my Core Sound 17 'Lively'. I love her. I am sold on her abilities for speed and safe sailing in any conditions. I also love the cat/ketch rig. I had never sailed one before but after sailing 'Lively' for about 4 years now in many different conditions, I am sold. The boat I liked best sailing at Wooden Boat School was the 19' Caledonia Yawl built by Geoff Kerr. I took his class building the CY several years ago and he brought his boat. It is a very nice boat. Simple, safe and enjoyable. just my opinions, Dale

Congratulations Graham! Congratulations to Marissa too. Voting is a great thing.

Bob, The weekend of May 6-8th this year is the biggest small boat event in Florida at Cedar Key. If you can make it over then, look me up. I will be there with 'Lively' my Core Sound 17 and I will be happy to give you a ride so you can see for yourself if it will fit your purposes. There will also probably be about 80 or so other boats for you to look at. Most owners will give you ride if you ask. You might also consider building Graham's Marissa Eco 18 powerboat. I am building one now (very slowly it seems). I feel the same way you do about power and motors but if you fish I think the Marissa would be a great boat for you. Graham has it available as a kit which is the way I went. If you are concerned about safety offshore you could stick a 2HP on the transum for backup. You might also consider Hugh Horton's 'Bufflehead' which is a sailing canoe or kayak. It is designed to sail unless there is no wind. I am sure there will be several of his boats at Cedar Key. Dale

Seastate & Reef early as everyone else has already said. However, if you just want to have fun there is an iPhone app called Wind Meter which uses the microphone to determine wind speed. Supposedly it has been tested and determined to be accurate. I had tested mine and it seemed to work fine until I added an Otter Box protective case. Now it does not seem to be very good. I guess the airflow over the microphone is disturbed by the case. Dale

Per WaterTribe website: Dawn Patrol wins Class 4. 2 Days, 18 Hours, 35 Min

Tom, Thanks for sharing your idea about the New Year's Day Sail. We took that idea and ran with it this year in our West Coast Trailer Sailing Squadron WCTSS. We had the inaugural New Years Day Eggnog Sail in Clearwater, FL. It was a very cold high wind day for us down here in the sunny south so only three boats made it but I understand from those attending they had a great exciting time. I was home sick with this very bad cold/flu that is going around. I am back alive again so just wanted to thank you for presenting your idea. Dale

I like the 1" keel per design. It is great protection and strength on beaching and trailering. dale

I have sailed my CS 17 'Lively' for about 4 years now and have not capsized her yet. I actually did have water come over the side deck once but as soon as I released the main she righted immediately. I have sailed her in up to 25 knots and not felt threatened (this was double reefed). I switched from sleeve sails to track sails and have never been sorry. I mostly singlehand. The track sails with two reef points are right for just about all conditions. I roll the sails on the masts for transport and storage or when camping. Rigging takes about 10-15 minutes. I have a custom made tent cabin. It has worked very well on several sail/camping trips one just about 2 weeks ago to Cayo Costa State Park in Florida. I consciously made one choice in design of the cabin which I have since regretted. I wanted very high sitting room. I decided that I would not worry about the ability to sail with the cabin up. This was a mistake. If I were to do it again, I would opt for a cabin low enough so I could still sail with it up. She is a great beach camping boat. See our WCTSS sailing club website for photos of her at our latest beach camping trip. http://members.ij.net/wctss/wctss/photos61.html

Scott, She looks great. Dale

OK Scott, lets see a photo of that color. Dale

GO SAILING! But do not practice racing or Ray will get upset. How do you find a wife that loves sailing? dale

I bought the first Marissa kit from Graham. It is amazing. I would recommend it. I have been working on it for awhile off and on. Hopefully, when the weather here cools a bit I will get serious. As soon as things settle down around here I will begin a 'once-in-awhile' report on my building and hopefully include photos of my progress. Dale

You can also use a drill fitted with a small sanding drum placed inside an inverted belt sander belt. I think I found this idea somewhere in past WoodenBoat magazine. dale

I think they are called mast tubes. A fiberglass tube attached to the boat that the mast slides into. They are constructed by wraping (6 mil I think) plastic several times around the mast and then fiberglassing around that. Then when all is hard pulling the mast out of the tube. I know there are numerous discussions about this on this site. Dale

Edward, I am curious. Why do you want a windshield? Dale

You are welcome, Wes. Your solution looks great. I think you will like it. Don't forget to fasten the bitter end to something. Mine is tied to the third mast base post. Dale

Scott, I have reefed 'Lively' in 25 knot winds using esentially the method Wes described. It was interesting but safely doable. Troublesome at the point you mentioned when attaching the end of the sprit through the higher loop on the sail. I may try to do something like described in the article Tom posted in the future. The other problem I have in reefing is caused by the downhaul and snotter lines flowing back to cleat on side deck. I do not want to release them until I am on deck ready to release the halard, etc. but I cannot do this on the bow deck. Therefore, I must release from cleat and then keep tension on them as I go forward. I am curous how others handle this situation. I think I like Rays idea of detaching the sheet while reefing and setting up the sprit in its new loop. It seems safer but then of course you then have to capture the sprit to re-attach the sheet. Dale

I was the one who designed the anchor drawer. It actually rides on the stringers, does not affect bilge water movement and has enough resistance to stay put wherever I stop it. I think the photos and description are on on this site but if anyone wants them again, just let me know. It has worked very well over the three years or so I have had it. It has storage for the anchor and rode with drains in the bottom that drain into the bilge. It keeps the anchor out of the way but also readily accessable at a moments notice. Dale

I shine a flashlight on the sail. I think this is legal about everywhere for small boats. Other boats see it. Dale

I will add my congratulations. She is a very fine looking boat. You are an incentive to me. I have purchased the plans and look forward to building a Lapwing in the future. First I must finish my current building project which I will reveal in future. dale

Gordy, I am completely satisfied with the Honda 2HP 4 cycle engine. It provides plenty of power with the tides, winds and waves we have around here. I can't remember if I every told you this before. I chose the CS 17 because of the performance I observed on the WCTSS trip to Bradenton when you had your Sawdust there. A bad storm came up and you had moved the sail to the third mast hole and were sailing around with great joy. Right then and there I decided to build my CS 17 'Lively'. dale

My Honda 2HP 4 stroke on 'Lively' can be stored on its side but it must be the specified side with the little skid pads. Dale