Chick Ludwig

Lynn, sorry, but I don't have the weight. I sold the Princess several years ago. I would think the Toyota would do fine. Graham will know the dry weight.

I like to complete everything, including paint, before flipping.

I talked with Carla yesterday. She is doing MUCH better. She is off of anti-biotics now and the infection is gone. She has 5 sets of plates, screws, and rods in her neck, but---this is hard to believe---she has a full range of motion!. And NO PAIN! She is able to eat normally now, and it "all comes out the way it is supposed too." She has lost a lot of weight through her ordeal. She feels good but is still very weak. Her main job now is to build up her strength and endurance to the point that she can begin physical therapy. She still has more surgery to come on her lower back. (Still pain in her lower back, That was where she was originally supposed to have the surgery until tests indicated a very dangerous situation in her neck.) This will happen, maybe, in December. She is back in he office trying to get everything back on track---including Graham. Her computer went down just as she got back, and they went through a period when the phone system was "off line". Who did I just hear saying "When it rains, it pours."? Beth was a great help in getting out plans and such. Carla is very thankful to all of of you for your concerns, well wishes, and prayers. She said that there were literally thousands of people, church groups, and friends praying for her, and she credits this for her recovery from a very dangerous and trying situation. Thank you to all of you. And most of all, thanks to God!

That is hull No. 1 that I built. $5500 is a really good price.

Graham has done two designs for me that are now stock plans, one modification of one of his designs that is now stock, and the latest, "Turtler" the Sport Boat, that may become a stock plan if there is interest. By all means talk to him. He is a pleasure to work with.

Thanks. Very nice-never heard it before and the video is awesome.

I agree. Looking forward to meeting up with y'all. Where are you getting your plywood?

Thrillsbe, sounds good. I'll give you a call.

Looks like she may be back on the market. Situation here may cause me to sell. Let me know if you are interested. She is located here in Hendersonville now. I've not done any work on her.

Hey, I saw that Hirilonde beat me to it! What's that they say about "Great minds....)

I'm mainly concerned about the hardness and "slipperyness" of the plastic. How about cutting another piece to attach where the clamp screws tighten down with holes hole-sawed into them that the screw pads recess into? Then even if the clamps slip a bit, they can't go anywhere. I had a motor come off once---not a fun experience. The only thing that saved me was the fuel hose!

How is Miss Carla doing. Haven't heard anything for several days.

Lookin' good. One small warning---the motor mount looks like it's made with cutting board type plastic. If the motor is not VERY tightly clamped down it could slip and possibly come off.

Hey Alan. Any more videos yet? We're ready for part 16. Hey, I kinda like that little mini Mk-3. Sure beats the Peep Hen. West Wight Potter 15 is really popular. There are other 14s and 15s out there too. This would give them some competition. Some folks just like to "potter around" and speed isn't a concern. They want lower cost, ability to tow behind small car, and just like the idea of a minimal cruiser. Hey---how about an ocean crossing in it, like Tinkerbell or Yankee Girl? By-the-way, who is that ugly guy in your renderings?

Here we have the keels finished and ready for the first coat of epoxy. Actually, the epoxy coat has just been finished now as I write this. Still trying to decide what kind of paint to use on the outside. I'm thinking of an enamel such as Rustoleum or a porch or floor paint. I want low cost, ease of application by brush/roller, and ease of touch up. (Turtler will be pushing through the weeds and over mud and rock.) I didn't bore y'all with a picture of filling and fairing the taped seams---but I did that since the last time we got together, too. All of the woodworking is done now. Nothing left but epoxy, sand, epoxy, sand, paint, sand, more paint. Then flip and sand, epoxy, sand, varnish, sand. more varnish, sand, did I mention that I have to sand the durn thing? Heck, time for a nap to think about it!

Hey Tom! I was just up at Julian a few days ago, Not boating, just checking-it-out. Amazing to see the cruising boats at the marina. Kinda short cruises... I was paddling down on Lake Adger a little while back. Kinda like it there. And it's free to launch and use the lake. I'll be boating in kayak, Turtler, or future CS-17 on most of the lakes sooner or later. Well, maybe not the ones that charge a bunch just for allowing my presence on their precious waterfront. Like Lake Bowen for instance.

Over 4 hours to either lake for me. Too far to throw "an-apple-atcha". (Ha! little joke---VERY little joke.) Know anything about Douglass Lake or Cherokee Lake in Tennessee?

I LIKE it!!!

Yeah, wives just don't understand us... I have a batch of old, previously "epoxied" clothes that i always wear. Once in awhile, i forget and go out to do some little thing on the boat, and mess-up a shirt or something. Just adds to my pile of old work clothes. Just don't understand why Miss Debbie won't let me wear it to church---it's just a LITTLE glue glob... It is always my FAVORITE shirt too. Durn!

Thrillsbe, 1blueheron, Hey, good to hear from you guys! I'd forgotten about this thread. As you know, I sold Summer Breeze when I moved. Not a good move on hindsight!. But now I have a partially built CS-17 that i bought from Greg Baker when HE had to move. I'll get to work finishing her after I finish my Sport Boat, "Turtler". I'll probably add a cuddy so I can do my 2-3 day cruises. Lake Hartwell isn't far from here and I think it's big enough for cruising. Jocassee looks beautiful. (Went to look awhile back.) They say that the sky looks like you are 20 miles off shore. Maybe we can get together for a mini-mess-about some time---what do y'all think?

Got-r-flopped. Seams glassed. Holes filled with q-cell. Some compound where forward and aft panels were joined. That's all, folks.

That's more like it!

Still praying!!!

It's been a busy several days here in Hooterville. Rick and Minnie (ricknriver) came to visit for the Apple Festival. We had a great time talking boats and solving all of the world's problems. Then I had to finish some "honeydoo's" and such. Finally back to Turtler. Hatches done, and floorboards cut. Shown here temporarily screwed in place. Note that the center section had to be cut down the center and then the joint was glassed to hold it's shape. "Why", you ask, don't I just screw down the separate sides instead of glassing them together? My profound reply---"I dunno"... Funny little forward section. For folks with tiny feet. Center, glassed together section. The aft, much flatter section. This one actually makes sense. Now for much sanding of details, and resin coating the entire inside of the boat, and hatches and floorboards. I think then another sanding, a couple coats of epoxy, then turn-r-over to finish the bottom, then flip-r-back to varnish inside. Whadaya think, y'all? (Y'all knew that I had to fit a "y'all" in here somewhere, didntcha?)

Good job! I wanna go sailing---NOW!