kydocfrog

That's a classy, workman like little boat. Cool. Doc A

A very happy Thanksgiving to all. DocA

I absolutely love the color! BOLD!!!!! DocA

Possibly a bit of a complex set of bends, etc. but looks pretty darn logical to me. Would make a lot of sense in a molded hull. DocA

I was alternating between pirate vocabulary of the more complex than the Yarrrrrrr variety and grinning like an idiot. DocA

Cpt. Bob lost the lease on the marina that I launched Charlie Girl at when she hit the water for the first time. Sad, but... Anyway, I picked up a small aluminum fishing boat on a trailer from the close out. It is old and battered, but ugly. Does have potential for winter project to refurbish and sell. Trying to decide between just restoring as fishing boat or making a minimalist river camp-cruiser, kind of water borne backpacking rig. That could be fun. Anyway, I would estimate 60's or 70's. Straight forward, very classic aluminum design with a wonderful, huge cast aluminum breasthook (?), anyway bow fitting/nose cap that is almost of ramming grade. Marked Plaza Craft. I can't find anything on web about the maker. Anyone know anything about Plaza Craft? Doc A.

Here are a couple of pix from Saturday a week ago at Green River Lake in South central Kentucky. It was a glorious day. First shot is as I was trying to work out of the launch ramp cove under headsail alone. Wind was dead into the cove. Almost had it, then lost it, then thrashed a lot. The boat in the background is Barnacle Bill in his Vic 18. He was already out. I got lost and got to lake late. Once I got her around, it got even uglier when the jib sheet fouled the in the bits. It is times like this that my slot top pays off like I hoped it would. This is ugly, but I still have my feet on the cabin sole. Now this is more like it. Into the wind, Bill's Vic could point a bit higher. Off the wind to a beam reach or dead downwind I pretty much held my own. On this point, slightly off of a beam reach, I left him in my wake. We weren't racing. I was just getting there faster. Actually he was a bit faster once we got closer to the wind than a beam reach. But Charlie Girl did good. Picture got a bit fuzzy. Sorry. It's a beautiful lake and it was a glorious day. BTW, Adla and Desert Crowd -- those are trees. We have a lot of them here, often close to the water. They are only dangerous when one falls on you. I know, smart alec, nobody likes one... Cheers! Doc Frog

Another stunning set of photos, and the the dog is just such a hoot. I also got out this weekend on a glorious day along with Barnacle Bill with his Vic 18. Will get some photos up as fast as I can. Cheers! Great pictures. DocA

Not going to be long before Bill hits the legal limit for how many boats a fellow's allowed to own... DocA

The landscapes you sail through just continue to be so intriquing. Great photos as usual. DocA

I remain awestruck DocA

And the class of 2006 continues to grow! Congratulations!!!! DocA

That's just such a lovely boat. DocA

Allow me to add my deepest sympathies and respect. David Arnold Major, AUS(Ret)

I really shouldn't be snippy, but I still remember just camping out on the beach with a sleeping bag and a campfire on the outer banks when I was in college. I mean really, no campfires no dogwalking no bicycles, no darn-near anything??? I almost expected a sign that said coat and tie required on one beach. I'm not a big fan of too much ticky-tacky, but I'll have to say that all the big signs with local ordinances on the NC beaches and the fact that even Cape Fear seems to have been taken over by condos and a community that you have to make a reservation on the ferry to even go out to strikes me as a bit much compared to a honest old fishing pier and Sam's Famous Corner. I guess I'm just a crumudgeon. DocA

Sigh. Just got back from annual family beach trip to Murrells's Inlet/Garden City SC. Really a very nice place, near the intercoastal, etc etc. Home of Sam's World Famous Hot Dogs Corner and arcade and really a lot more authentic (despite huricane Hugo) than some of those NC big dollar condo villages with their no walking dogs no drinking beer no riding bicyles no wearing flipflops and certaintly no skeeball machines regulations. (The town of Little River, right on the border and Southport forgiven). There is a certain, undeniable virtue to authentic tacky. It's nice place. Even has a Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville up at Myrtle Beach where I spent too much money but got a really neat parrot. But it is 15 hours from here, way to far to trailer a small boat, and it is part of the land of huge fishing machine boats. Now as a one-time industrial designer I admit there is some interesting design work in some of those fishing machines, but they don't have sails. Frustration is a week on the southern banks with all the inland sound and waterway and no small sailboat. Couldn't take my dog either. I hope he forgives me tomorrow. Back to it at the college tomorrow. The defense of the West is a never ending task. Cheers. Docfrog

Well, summer's probably officially over, but I'm hoping for a sailing weekend or two yet -- at least if I survive my college's accreditation h#$# period that we are going through. DocA

She's a beaut. Congratulations. And avoiding those waves, all things considered, was probably a pretty good idea. DocA

Ohhh...I do like that cockpit. Small lesson learned note. I've used short splash coamings similar to yours. Even though they are short, I'm considering removing them completely before next major paint renewal. They really get in the way when you want to sit up on the side deck and kind of drive you toward boarding the boat too far to the stern; more stable if you are coming in closer to the bulkhead. DocA.

Well, I suspect the weather jumped all over lots of things this weekend. It sure did here. DocFrog Central KY

Yup; I got the info from the folks at Duckworks too. I guess weather will be the question now for Monroe or Nickajack. DocA Yarrrrrrr!

Well, maybe I spoke to soon. Went back to Duckworks, and Lake Monroe still shows on the messabout calendar, but all links are dead. Has anyone heard if this one has gone belly-up? May be Nickajack after all; sure is a longer drive. Doc A.

Well, unfortunately no pics, but Charlie Girl II made it back to the water today. Glorious sailing day. Steady 5 -10, bright. Sailed on a small Corps of Engineers lake near here called Cedar Creek. Got her rail down, some wonderful full blown beam reach time. Problem at the mast head with the jaws jamming is pretty much under control. New rudder works well, but I'm still not satisfied with steering response. Gotta work on the tensioning. Still seems biased to starboard. Anyway, it was great, and I'm planning at this point to go to Lake Monroe next weekend. I had been thinking Nickajack, but Monroe is lots closer, and I'm time stressed a bit these days. Rather spend what time I can steal sailing or talking instead of driving. Yarrrr.. DocA

Yarrrrr! Thankee fer that. DocA Armed and Amphibious

That's nice. DocA