Steve Downs

Adla, maybe Darick would buy your sails. I recall him saying he might be looking to replace his tarps.

Hey, another Utah boat! Congratulations and keep those questions coming. There's lots of useful information here to help you and keep you motivated along the way. Phil Gowans is close to you and I'm only 4 hours away in case you want to take a peek at a completed boat sometime. I know that would have helped me. Good luck to you.

Ditto Stump. Glad you're still at it. Keep us posted on your progress. I get these Morningstar withdrawls every once in awhile.

Hey Frank, I was wondering where I was going to put my bell. :? My brother gave me a nice bell and I'm not sure what to do with it. Does the bell rope go all the way back to the cockpit? Very nice.

Thanks for the info. I'm just about at that point where I'll start my rigging and getting materials together. It has been that way all along it seems. I just get ready to make a move and someone talks about it and makes a good case for doing it another way. I appreciate the forum Frank.

Hi Jan, I'm just about done. I just finished up buiding the hatch cover last night. Just need to glass and paint it then it will be ready to be installed. I still need to apply the non-skid and finish painting then I'll be ready for some rigging. I still need to find a trailer somewhere but it's getting close. How are you enjoying your boat? Been out lately?

Hi Fintan, What a beautiful place to live. My wife would be so jealous. I's nice you could stay to close to where you were. Cork is a very nice place to be, the weather seems to be about perfect there. I'm going to get back to your neighborhood some day.

Hi Jan, You won't regret building a birds mouth mast. All those laminations seem to make it plenty strong. I'm still plugging away on my boat hoping to get it in the water soon.

I had the same horrible experience so I found a piece of bender board, 3/8" luan with a single ply in the middle. Worked like a charm. Check out a store fixture manufacturer. They use it on the bases of display cabinets, etc. I just happened to have a piece laying around and had just enough. Stained up real nice inside like mahogany.

Go Smoolie go! Gotta love it.

I toyed with the square rig idea one time but never acted on it. I wondered if the same sort of mechanism that you roll a bamboo porch blind up and down with might somehow be used with a square sail. Just a rambling thought. :?

This is so cool. Love the design. I'm sure you've thought everything out a long time ago and I give you a pat on the back for creativity. I can't wait to see it in person someday. Keep it up and keep us posted.

I finally have some pictures posted of my boat if you want to take a look. It's on the other board (BYYB) with my "Black Falcon Chronicles" that I do occasionally to keep myself motivated and active.

Man, that is a great looking pirate ship. Wish I had seen your posts before I started mine. Oh well, maybe my next one. My pirate ship is about half way there but it will look like an old weekender. You have some great ideas, good luck with them. I'd like to come up and see your launch. I'm just below you here in Utah.

Dave, as far as I know she's loaded up with classes and homework, trying to get through school. She takes a break now and then and works on the boat but she's slowed down considerably. I'm going to stop and visit with her some day soon and see her progress.

Way to go Jan. What a beautiful job you did. You should be proud. Looks like a beautiful lake as well and a nice day to boot. Congratulations!

I found a Black & Decker set, 3 sizes for $7.99 at the DeWalt factory outlet store. I have only used one size so far but I'm sure glad I got it. It has saved a lot of work.

I really feel for you folks down there in hurricale alley. That has got to be miserable. For the last 3 days we have been getting the remnants of hurricane Javier which came up the Baja peninsula. We finally got some much needed rain but the wind was just plain agrivating. It was only 40 to 50 mph but steady and just annoying. I can't imagine the kinds of winds you folks were experiencing. Good luck to you all and hope you get back to normal soon.

Good going Adla, I knew you could do it. I getting antsy to see some more of your work now that you are finished with classes and it's cooling off.

Here it is. March 1981, pages 102 and 103.

I believe we saw some in Waterford when we erer there and she was so excited. She talks more and more like she'd like to move over there. Ireland is calling her.

I have the original article. I'll have to check it out on my lunch hour and get back with you later this afternoon.

The "Black Falcon" is coming along nicely. The figurehead has been carved. I'm just about ready to turn it over and do the bottom but I've been making the seat frames, getting them ready for caning. I want to glass the cockpit and get the seat cleats in place before I turn it over. It's been slow going so far, summertime demands a lot of my time but it's coming along. I'm in no hurry. Thinking maybe Springtime for a launch date. I don't have any recent pictures yet. Still in the camera.

Great job Fintan. The boat looks great. I am surprised however, that you did not paint it green. Glad you're finally in the water though. I'm trying.

I started building toy boats when I was big enough to operate a hammer and a hand saw. Scraps of 2x4's I could find ended up glued together with little nails and string forming a railing around it. If I could find paint I would paint it then take it down to the irrigation ditch and launch it. Great fun. I just grew up wanting a boat so now I'm in a financial situation where I can do it so I'm doing it. Can't wait to have my own pirate ship.