Frank Hagan

Nothing wrong with being the only boat out there! When I sail, I'm usually one of many. Really need to get back out on the water now that work is starting to slow down a bit.

I'm trying to think of a situation where you would be on the water, equipped with a VHF radio, and would not have it on. I guess if you have a battery issue, and you're afraid you might run out of juice, having the radio off would save battery life. I don't have a VHF yet, but I stay in the harbor and close by the harbor mouth where my cell phone still reaches. The harbor patrol's number is written on the companionway bulkhead in case I need to call for their help. A handheld VHF is still on my wish list, of course, as a cell phone is a poor substitute.

It is very sad. For me, its also a reminder how dangerous a job these people take on when they decide to volunteer. Sometimes, I think we take these things for granted, but no one knows the odds better than these folks and others like them. Yet they continue to press on, to advance science and knowledge for the rest of us. God bless them, and their families.

I'm discovering most of the features of the old software are here too, but in a different way. Here are some tips: At the top and bottom of the "blue box" that holds the messages is a line that looks like: messing-about.com Forum Index -> Main Forum Those are links ... click on the "Forum Index" portion to return to the main forum index page (showing all the other forums), or on the "Main Forum" portion to the right to go back to the Main Forum index page. People don't realize they are links because they aren't underlined. But they are links! (On the page they are ... they aren't links in this message, because I'm just quoting what it says. But you knew that already. Quit being so picky.) At the bottom of the "blue box" topic index for each forum is a drop down box where you can select how to display messages. By default, it says "Display topics from previous: All Topics", but you can choose 1 Day, 7 Days, 2 Weeks, 1 Month, 3 Months, 6 Months or 1 Year. If you're a registered user, and you set this to 7 Days, the software will insert that choice into your "cookie" and it will display that way until you change it to some other value. Click on the "FAQ" link in the navigation menu at the top of every page. It is the shortened form of the user's manual for the forum software. I have most things enabled, so ask if you see something there you can't figure out. Yes, you can type the text, then highlight it using the mouse or SHIFT-ARROW keys, then click on one of the text formatting buttons above the message box. The Forum software will insert the code at the beginning and end of your selected text. Its quite a bit faster than typing them yourself! From the forum index page where all the forums are listed, there are three links at the top right of the "blue box" containing the forum listings. They are: View posts since last visit View your posts View unanswered posts You can click on "View posts since last visit" to see all the posts in all the forums that have been updated since the last time you logged on. You can click "View your posts" to see all the posts you are watching, or have posted in, even if nothing has happened since the last time you logged on. And you can see all the posts that have not had a response yet by clicking "View unanswered posts". You have to be registered and log in for this to appear, but its a pretty nifty way to see all the new messages, etc., if you just have to get back to sanding.

Join in and contribute to our "Users Links" page. You can add your favorite supplier, boat-related "info" site (such as other forums, etc.), your personal site, or one related to Stevenson Projects or B & B Yacht Designs boats. Go to our Links Page to add your link. Access is limited to registered users only, but if you aren't registered, just email me the link you want included and I'll get it posted.

You were asking specifically about the placement of blocks and cleats, right? It could be that no one has any direct experience with it and doesn't want to provide questionable advice. But perhaps someone can discuss where they decided to place them, and why, on their CS17 or 20.

I have to be honest ... even though I spent a lot of time making a lighter weight mast, I just don't think reducing weight in a mast that's just 12' above the water level is that important on a gaffer this size. There are so many other things that could provide a performance boost, such as a larger headsail. So I don't think there's really a performance edge with a lighter mast. The concern with stability is probably misplaced too; I don't think the weight of the mast matters too much with the Weekender. The boat doesn't tip over easily in wind ... the cases we've heard about have been from accidental gybes that gain their power not from the weight of the mast, but the force of the sail full of air suddenly being stopped by the boom stopping after its swung over to the other side. In that circumstance, it doesn't matter how heavy the mast is, the momentum of that boom swinging over will tip you over quickly. I don't think the mast, per se, has much to do with the stability issue. On larger gaffers they do recommend trying to lighten the weight of the gaff itself, but keep the boom heavy. The gaff on the Weekender is so light I can't see much advantage in using aluminum or a lighter material ... a 1 1/2" closet pole less than 6' long just doesn't weigh too much. All the work I did wasn't exactly wasted, becuase I like the look of my mast. And I enjoyed making it. But from a practical standpoint, I don't think my hollow bird's mouth mast is any better from a performance or stability standpoint than the standard tapered 4 x 4 mast.

I have a message in on the support forum about this. I think it is choking on the ampersand in the email address' date=' which it shouldn't do as its "legal" in an email address (but in the programming language this forum is written in, an ampersand is a command). So I'll let you know when I hear from them![/quote'] I have the updated code installed, so you should be able to register now. Sorry about that! Software. :roll:

OK, I have it GMT -8 hours right now; I'll change it to -5 because the server is in the eastern time zone of the US. That will help me coordinate any error messages with the updates from my host (slammer worms, indeed).

The "/" is used only on the closing tag: [url]the url goes here[/url] You can also click on the button marked "URL" and it will put the opening tag in, you type in the URL, and click "Close Tags" to have the closing tags applied. Or you can type the URL, highlight it, and then click the button URL and it will apply the URL tags on beginning and end. Just don't ask me how to click and select when you don't have a mouse, and you're on a Mac!

My fault, I think. I can't remember the + / - sign thing with the GMT. Atlanta (where the server is) is in the Eastern time zone of the US. What is the offset to GMT? I think it is -7 hours. Pacific time is -10 hours. Right?

What Russ said! :!: He pretty much nailed it. One other thing you have to realize is that often the most vocal critics are those that have no real life experience with the boat. Others, who have owned the boat, or at least sailed it, may have criticisms that may or may not matter to what you are looking for. There are easier boats to build, and there are boats that are harder to build but look better. I'm not sure there's another boat as nice looking that is as easy to build as the Weekender. The Weekender puts a nice salty looking boat, that sails well and safely, within the grasp of the average woodworker or handyman. And the owners seem to like them.

I have a message in on the support forum about this. I think it is choking on the ampersand in the email address, which it shouldn't do as its "legal" in an email address (but in the programming language this forum is written in, an ampersand is a command). So I'll let you know when I hear from them!

Konrad, didn't you have the "compression cracks" on the keel when you tightened down the straps holding the boat to the trailer? I may have you confused with someone else, but I thought that was you ... it was one reason I'm not a fan of glassing the keel, especially if you've used green wood, as it will shrink as it dries, leaving voids and susceptibility to that kind of cracking.

If anyone talks to my wife, let her know I'm still cold. Very cold.

I hate all these guys, but: Raiders. By more than the 3 pts I heard was the last spread. (While everyone else is watching the game, I will be in my hotel room catching up on sleep. I am way too old to spend half the night smoking cigars and drinking scotch with a bunch of other middle aged men, telling stories about our wild youth.)