Neil Brander

Thank you all for your input. About flying, it is still pretty expensive considering I would have to rent a car. I'm in western Mass. But would travel to see a Core Sound to just about anywhere in New England. Right now I'm in Nova Scotia.

Even after such wonderful responses, I’ve decided not to attend the get-together. I live in Massachusetts, which is about a 13 hour drive to Vandemere. That’s a lot of driving for a long weekend – especially if you are doing it solo. Initially, I figured I would tie it into picking-up the CS17 kit and building the hull in the B&B facilities under Graham’s watchful eye. Then purchase a trailer down there and trailer it home for completion. But the logistics just don’t work well and it is pretty costly, what with food and lodging and all. So I guess I’m just going to have to build one without ever seeing one. Thank you all for your generous offers. It would have been fun! Neil

Thanks, Rick. Would be great to see you there, and I'd enjoy doing some sailing together. I'm a little reluctant to make the trip unless I'm sure there will be C17s present. Anybody else out there who's planning to attend? Neil

I’ll be building a Core sound 17. I opted to purchase the kit, which I can either have shipped or I could pick up if I go to the get-together at the end of October. If I’m going to be there it would certainly save shipping costs and at the same time I could source the hardwoods from B & B that I would need to complete the project. Both Carla and Graham are encouraging me to attend. They feel I would get to know the folks I’ll be communicating with on this forum (you), and learn something about sailing and rigging a Core Sound from those in attendance. But it’s a long trip from Massachusetts and I want to make sure it’s worth my while—namely, that there will be Core Sounds in attendance and that I can get on-board. Please weigh in, anyone who has a Core Sound, plans to have it there, and wouldn’t mind an inexperienced sailor who has never sailed a cat ketch joining you for a sail or two? Thanks, Neil

Thanks Ray, I just might try that or possibly just paint the mast the same color as the hull. Neil

Thank you all for your good advice. I had the opportunity to speak to Graham the other day for about 20 minutes – thank you Graham for all that time. He advised me that the CS17 would be a more stable boat and a little roomier, and when I told him I didn’t have much sailing experience, suggested the CS17 should be the boat I build. Also the CS17 comes in kit form which is very appealing to me. So while I think the Lapwing 16 is a more aesthetically pleasing boat , I will probably be purchasing the CS17 kit sometime mid-September. We also had a discussion on wood masts versus aluminum – I think wood masts are more pleasing to look at – and Graham advised that the aluminum mast was sure to perform according to his spec’s while what with the differences in woods this can not be assured when building a wooden mast. So, again, I think I will go for practicality over aesthetics. That said, I really do like the looks of the Core Sound 17 and painting the mast will go a long way to resolving my aesthetic issues in that regard. Once I start the build I’m sure I’ll be posting all sorts of questions. Thanks again, Neil

Scott - thanks for the info on the pro's of the CS 17 hard chined body in the waters I will be sailing in. Frankly, I would have thoght a lapstrake boat would be stronger than a stictch and glue model. You live and learn! And John - thanks for the info on the speed of these two boars. I was out demo-ing a bettle cat like boat and trying to go through a narrow channel and the boat wouldn't head up into the wind enough to make way. All we did is go back and forth until I finally suggested mounting the motor and powering out of the situation. So I'm particularlly curious how far you can point up with these baots - 60 degrees of the wind or 45 or even less? Thanks, Neil

I have a home in Nova Scotia - right on the water. There are a lot of islands around me and also open ocean. There are also a lot of rocks and fairly tight and shallow places to get through. so I need a nimple boat, that heads fairly well into the wind, and can draw very little water when necessary. I've done a rather exhaustive internet search and the Core Sound 17 and Lapwing 16 seem to come up as winners. But what most articles cover is the construction of the boats, and do not give an exhaustive account of how they sail. So that is what I'm asking - who do these boats sail? How close to the wind can you sail them? Do the rigs need to be modified in any way? And any other information you can supply would be greatly apppreciated. Thanks, Neil