buck

try this http://community.webshots.com/scripts/controlPanel.fcgi or: http://community.webshots.com/album/165917225BfGWWB

At last here are some pictures of the almost complete Cabin Skipjack: http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=165917225&ran=18916 I've been a little quiet lately, hope you're all having a lovely summer! Always love seeing photos of your boats!

I'll pitch my 10 cents here. The Navigator is a fine and beautiful looking boat. It is smaller than a Weekender and lighter. It is also a lot harder to build with lots of scarfing you have to get right. Its not a boat a kackhanded jack of (thinking I can do anything) all trades person like my self should ever attempt. THe Weekender is pretty foolproof (even mine is straight and seaworthy). My other critism is that it is rather overbuilt John often can't decide to weither to be stitch and glue or fully framed. Hence the boats ends up a rather complex mixture of both. New Zealand is renowned for making fast light sailing dinghies but has almost no tradition of daysailers. It is good to see John being so successful. His book is really excellent, a must for every sailers bookcase. The crusing stories are inspiring. These boats are seaworthy competent designs, a little narrow but good in a chop. Rather like a Weekender really.

Another picture, http://www.messing-about.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=502&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500 Sorry I haven't taken any pictures of the Skipjack cabin yet. I will soon! However you might visit this: http://community.webshots.com/photo/79608050/79608108EpYRZK

Yeah, I agree with some of your points. But in my opinion the Weekender is very under cabined and quite over canvased. At 190lbs I struggle a bit to keep the thing undercontrol in 10 -15 knot winds. Its Ok with 2 people but singlehanded it can be a handfull. The cabin extension would be light and give sitting room in the cabin. For me the cabin (I'm 6') to sleep in. The problem is finding an acceptable compromise in the size/space ratio. I began thinking about this when I added a small cabin to my son's skipjack and found it had almost more room than my Weekender.

I put the picture in the Gallery http://www.messing-about.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=501&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500 [attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin]

I've been playing with ideas for an extended cabin on my Weekender, I want more room to sleep in on a raised sleeping area and to be able to sit up. The original picture is from Phil Gowans site (thanks Phil) I wanted something that would look good, and at the moment I can't afford a bigger boat. http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=showMyPhoto&albumID=146364139&photoID=146364643&security=lSVpXK

Congratulations Guys! What a fantastic wee boat! I've been following the posts with interest. Good on you for building all the gear as well! I am enjoying my Amphora very much, often going for very long rows. Originally it was going to be a tender for the weekender but I've been using it while the Weekender sits in the shed. (due mostly to our inclement weather we've had this autumn) More pictures please!

The amphora is a good sized wee dinghy especially for one adult although 2 might be pushing it a little. But miles better than a one sheeter.

OOps forgot the link! http://waynemunro.com/grw/wayne/2004/2004_02/dir_small_70.html

After wondering through Wayne's website I spotted this little beauty! Who else uses gorilla glue to build their Amphora? We seem to be getting lots of them maybe we could give up being called Weekender building and call ourselves Amphora building!

I think mike is scanning the pages to put on the stevenson website. The book however is well worth getting, I wish I had seen it as a kid. It would have set me dreaming for weeks. The amphora uses a little more plywood than most one sheet designs, but you get alot more boat. Mine feels quite seaworthy for its size, I hope to test it in a bit of a chop, fairly soon.

The Catboat is actually a Olyimpic Class Finn dinghy. (at 14'10" and 5' beam hardly a dinghy one thinks) I built up the sides, ripped out the cockpit and put in acabin, I've always loved Cape Cod Catboats and it seemed the cheapest way to get one. You can see more on Weekender boatbuilding http://groups.msn.com/WeekenderBoatbuilding/finncatboat.msnw Finns are real he-man boats to race , you know 250lbs and not an ounce of fat, but as cruisers they are sublime, the secret is to spill wind. You flatten down the sail and let it flap away and still move along quite nicely. I've sailed 50km in a day in that boat, in pretty atroious conditions at times. However the my Weekender at only a few feet longer and a foot of beam is more than its equal in seaworthiness. The boat is cold molded mahogonay (round bilge and built in the late 60s. Here they are dirt cheap, nobody it seams wants out-of date racing dinghys. Iwas going to sell it but I 'll paint it up and sail it again.

Hi Johanah, I've been following some of the Amphora building going on, not sure if I got Adla's (is there a link?) I was reminded of John's visit the other day, being this time last year. In that splendid Indian summer?gorgeous autumn we had last year. Unfortunately this year has been cold ,wet and stormy and my Weekender has remained tucked up in the Shed. Too bad. However I have been going on small adventures in the Amphora between showers.

Hi everyone, I needed a tender for the Weekender when I have her anchored out. So I built a rather rough Amphora out of construnction ply and gorilla glue. I fibreglassed the seams, reduced the keel in size and put a small thwart inside. I also made her a little narrower to fit inside my old Seirra stationwagon. I have had two tests of her. One a short paddle and the other a 8 km row! She handles beautifully and rows well. Shes pretty rough but suits its purpose. Good luck to all you other Amphora builders! http://community.webshots.com/album/127728887BPACTo

Congratulations Steve, thats a lovely looking boat, Good to see this class growing in the Southern hemisphere.

If the truth be known, Waynes known to get up and slay the odd Orc before breakfast, all part of the job. What I was wondering is this the highest altitude a Weekender has sailed at?

Wayne, 20knots and 3'seas again! You're thrashing that boat, I don't know, I take you out once and then you're addicted. I bet you don't even sail under 15knots anymore!

Hi Robbo, I'd agree with these posts, I've been well reassured by the twin stays on my boat, especially in strong winds. What are you using? I was able to find some old stainless steel stays off another boat, failing that I'd go for single strand stainless steel wire, this is a cheap alternative and just as effective. Galvanised wire would be my last option. I loved your pictures on waynes web site, looks like the boat is coming on nicely. Soon we'll have 3 boats! Won't that be good!

Thanks for your valuable comments, One thing I must point out is how much I enjoyed sailing both boats, its great to compare. I will concede Wayne's hull is somewhat smoother than mine in places. One thing that I notticed about both boats is how quickly they accelerate on a reach. In a moderate puff you can go from standstill to full tilt in just a few seconds.

I quickly notticed sailing my boat against Wayne's beautifully crafted Weekender how much faster his boat was in light to moderate airs. His has a plywood keel and has been built with good materials (marine ply etc.) It is in my view considerably faster than mine in nearly all points, it is in fact more like a racing dinghy and slips up to full speed in very little time. Its also a delight to sail, my own boat is quite heavy particularly with my floorboards attached (inside to sleep on) with its 3 1/2" cypress keel (the wood merchant took 1" dressed to mean 3cm wide) Now I have no complaints about about my boat, in heavy weather, 15-20 knots I can still singlehand and punch through waves 'like nobody's business', a heavy boat is better in heavy conditions, I don't think I could do the sailing I do if it wasn't built that way. In the same conditions Waynes boat (3 up) Me sitting on the cabin roof, Trica in the cockpit and Wayne at the wheel hurtled along at 6knots, The boat still felt considerably lighter. All of which set me thinking as to how I would build again, Plywood keels aren't without ther problems (screw retention etc.)and Wayne fibreglassed his. But boy does it make a difference! http://www.waynemunro.com/grw/wayne/2004/2004_01/marahau_weekenders/Img_7932b.jpg/view_med_70.html "Pounding! I'll you waves a pounding alright!"

Hi everyone, Just back from our break. The photos Wayne took are fantastic. We had a lot of fun, it was great to see Wayne and Trica up at Marahau. It was also fun to do some really hard out sailing in strong winds and 2-3' seas (sometimes 4') But most fun was having another Weekender to sail with, Waynes boat is beautifully finished and a joy to sail. They both looked gorgeous anchored off the beach and attracted a lot of comment. I was pleased with my tarp sails handling 20knot winds, but in truth they were well up to it, but after a year and 40 odd sails they are a little ragged in places. Sailing Wayne's boat in the above conditions was a real thrill, it was screaming along, finely balanced, at full hull speed, the wind was so strong it was hard to tack. I'm a gentle sailer at heart but once in a while its good to go and test your boat against rather adverse conditions.

Wayne, we are staying at the marahau Beach Motor Camp from the 10th to the 20th Jan. (its about 15km north of Moteukea -Buck

Thanks your comments Guys, I went sailing again yesterday this time with some much needed improvements. I made the sail much more flatter (like Waynes) The wind was stronger so I was flying anyway. I rerouted the topping lift back to the cockpit and replaced the cheap rope on my peak (its now much smoother) I also put a roped together all the mast hoops so the sail goes up a lot smoother. All works well, you're right Wayne the sail does sit alot better when the topping lift is out the way. I don't think it was my imagination but I'm sure it went better to windward. Now for the club foot! One thing I did notice sailing Waynes boat, its easier to heel with the wheel. The tiller gets alot of pressure on it when you're sittting on the leeward side, Food for thought! The tiller does get you alot more forward though. I will be at (around) Marahau from the 6th to the 20th January, the first 3 days will be a cruise around the Able tasman national park, which I'm really looking forward to! Wayne could you make it up one of those weekends?

Fantastic photos! Waynes boat is a little beauty, its so fast and light and well set-up , I was very impressed. As you can see on the photos I have no clubfoot, well thats going to change. Its great how you can tune boats with 2 boats. I learn't an awful lot about Weekender sail design as Wayne happily left me standing dead a few times. From my dinghy sailing days I've always gone for high aspect rigs, this tranfers to my weekender having a low halyard and a high peak. Which makes the sail a bag. Well watching Waynes flat sail swoop by me a couple of times really made me think. Likewise when one of us healed the boat in the light breeze there was an instant increase in speed. Wayne is a great person to go sailing with, very generous and alot of fun. It was a very pleasent afternoon watching those two boats bob around together, My motoer eventually refused to start and as the tide ran out we called it a day. So ROBBO hurry up and finish your boat!