Dale Niemann

You might check the Watertribe site. I know a lot of those guys use rollers when launching at the start. Dale

I switched early on from sleeve to track. I have never been sorry. I like tracks much better. I do not have battens. I roll and store the sails on the masts. Storage, set up and take down is just as fast. Most important is the ability to reef in a blow. Even if you have the third mast hole as I do, to move one sail to that position in a blow is next to impossible if you are out on the water with shelter not readily available. If I were doing it again, I would not construct the third mast hole and open up the cockpit to the forward bulkhead. I have a CS 17 'Lively'.

John, Congratulations on the article in SCA. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Also, thanks for mentioning your pet stake. I have a couple of auger type tie downs which are in my hurricane kit to tie 'Lively' down once she is off the trailer and partially full of water. Based on your comments, I will start keeping one or both in the boat. They might come in handy when beach camping. Dale

I use 8 ft of chain and 150 feet of 3/8" line on a 11 lb Bruce at bow (Graham wanted to know if I thought I was anchoring the Titanic) but I have had no problems draging (yet anyway). On stern I have a small 4 lb Danforth with 4ft of chain and 100 ft of line. By the way our tides in Tampa Bay, Florida range 1 - 3 feet. Dale

Doug, Please post a photo of your bail fix. Thanks, Dale

John, Are you any relationship to the John Turpin that wrote the interesting article "Zen & the Art of Boat Maintenance" in the latest Jul/Aug 2010 issue of Small Craft Advisor? Thanks, Dale

Bob, If you are from Alaska, there will be no comparison to beach camping in Florida and Alaska. In Florida, we have mostly sand beaches and very shallow water. Beach camping many times means tying up to a tree on shore or anchoring on beach with a small anchor off the stern. However, many times by choice I choose places where I may spend half the night completely aground. Since the photos above I now have a cabin for my boat which encloses all the space forward of the mizzen mast. I was camping ashore when the above trip was taken in 2007. I have taken many beach camping trips since then and feel that my Core Sound 17 'Lively' is very well suited to Florida's shallow waters. I love sailing in the shallows using the centerboard as my depth finder. The wild life and scenery is much more beautiful in the shallows. Hope this answers your question. Dale

Here is "Lively's" tent cabin. Next time I would lower the cabin to below sail height.

Graham, Have you established a date for your fall boat-in yet? If you have, what is it? I am trying to plan vacations, etc. Thanks, Dale

John, I am sure you have already planned this but thought I would mention it in case you did not. From the trailer photo it appears that your trailer is a typical motorboat trailer with the wheels at the very back to carry the weight of the motor. I would suggest that you move the wheels forward until you get the proper weight distribution on the tongue. Dale

Joe, System Three has very good durability in my experience. I have used it on two previous boats my Bananas which I think I had for about 8 years and never repainted. I ran her up on beachs many times and that paint is tough stuff. I used it on "Lively" and after 4 years the paint is holding up very well. However I have several scratches which I will probably repair this summer. I do not like the high glossy finishes. I agree with Wes on that. I rolled and tipped with foam and achieved a very nice finish. Dale

John, I have attached a couple of thumbnail shots of "Lively". Hopefully, they show the deck gunwale detail. I followed the plans and left the plywood end open and put the gunwale on the topsides. The white line allows the wales to be removed and replaced if it ever becomes necessary. As you can see, I used mahogany and it is laminated. I got the wood from a friend that was restoring a Chris Craft. It is about 5/16 or so thick. Lively has been around since 06 and I have had no problems with this solution. In fact I really like the toe rails on the deck. They really come in handy when reefing the main sail. They are also laminated. If these photos do not work, send me an email and I will send you the full size version. Dale

"Man invented the slowest form of transportation - the sailboat - then decided to race them". - Philosopher Unknown Racing has never turned me on much. When I get to the water on the boat I have reached my destination. Dale

Sorry John, I just assumed you were going to put a hatch cover over the opening. Well, you know what they say about folks that assume, they are 1st three letters of assume. You should be fine with an open hatch. Sorry bout that. Dale

I am not seeing any ventilation in the fuel locker or is that coming later? Dale

Thanks Richard for the great photos. It looks like you are enjoying your summer. I bet it is tough without a sailboat though. Dale

I am very close to a decision on my next boat. My new garage/boatbuilding shop is almost finished. I am trying to decide between the Marissa Eco 18 (I can get a complete kit) and the Outer Banks 20 (More difficult & no complete kit but would enjoy the challenge). Anybody have any photos of a completed Marissa on the water? The boat I would most like to have is the Outer Banks 20 but am not sure I am willing to take on a significant project like it would entail. Thanks, Dale

Sounds and looks like a great color scheme. Alleviates all my concerns. You have obviously thought this through. Dale

Dean had mentioned in a post on Lapwing #5 that you had a color scheme for Black Ruby. He did not actually say it was black but if it is I am concerned about heat buildup with epoxy and black in the sun. I do not know where you live but here in Florida it can be a real concern. I would love to have black topsides but feel the sun/heat would be a problem. Anyhow, my 2 cents worth. Dale

I have a "Fein Multimaster" and love it. I agree with Dave. I have used it very little in boat building. However, it is wonderful for cutting the grout out of tile and cuts into hardwood floors to replace boards. I have not used it much for sanding. I don't think it would work well as a substitute jig saw. If you are having trouble with vibration when cutting usually where you are cutting needs to be moved very close to a support board or table under the board you are cutting. Also clamping might help. Dale

Yes, Mike is right. I meant polyester cloth. I also would never use polyester resin on a wood boat with anykind of cloth. Dale

'Lively' is not sheathed except where called for in the plans, i.e. where panels meet. I painted her with System Three two part primer and final coat. She has held up very well over the 3 or so years I have sailed her. That paint takes a lot of abuse. i also used it on my previous tri 'Bananas' with good results. I do not baby the boat. I pull her up on beaches, etc. The big advantage to this idea is much lower weight. That said, i think on my next boat I will probably use 6 oz glass on the bottom only. I may use a polyester which is much more abrasion resistent. Dale

Ray, You got me to thinking. I was curious so: Strictly for comparison purposes I checked out our Annual Heating Degree days here in Clearwater, Fl. Annual HDD 548 Just so you do not get too mad at me this time of year I will give you a comparison for Annual Cooling Degree days. Annual CDD 3718 Dale

Thanks for responding and the update, Ray. We all miss your excellent advice. Dale

Thanks Gordy. I signed up to follow the NCMARTEC blog. I am seriously debating what boat to build next when my new 2.5 car garage/workshop/studio is finished in February. Right now it is Marissa or Lapwing or another kayak. Dale