Derek

Due to conflicting projects, priorities, etc., I am unable to continue with my Weekender. I am putting it up for sale "as is", approximately 3/4 complete. Just finished glassing the hull and the top decks are 75% glassed (rear gunnels and cockpit still needs glassing). Progress pictures can be found at http://www.msnusers.com/truenorthweekender/truenorthconstruction.msnw?albumlist=2 First $750 takes her home. Direct email is revderek@comcast.net

Joel, glad to hear you're making progress again. Looking forward to new pics. Have had to abandon work on boat for a while to tackle "honey-do's", painting the house and garage, remodeling the bathroom, etc. I agree with Barry that once you stand the lazarette up and bend the deck to it, it makes for a very nice curve, fore to aft. Get your ratchet straps handy.

Mike, the 24 and the 17 flew directly over the house (we are in the flight path for the tour) 3 times last evening and expect to see a few more flights through the weekend. Got the telephoto lens out on the SLR camera for some good flight shots (I hope). Luckily here in Olympia its overcast all weekend, so they are flying at about 1200 feet. And the flight cost is now $400. But I'll be saving for it next year! Jake, they are there all weekend so stop by. Many other aircraft as well but my interest was in the 24. Here's some of the other aircraft there http://www.olympicflightmuseum.com/aircraft_gallery/aircraft_inventory.htm Sorry Frank for being way off topic.

for those who appreciate vintage aircraft, I stopped by the Gathering of the Warbirds at the Olympia Airport this evening and grabbed some shots of the only flying B-24 in existence. http://groups.msn.com/B24Liberator/shoebox.msnw My grandfather flew 24's in WWII out of England and Italy and this was my first chance to see one up close and personal.

Very nice. If your mom ever wants to go into business, I'm sure there are plenty of builders that would love to have a piece of artwork like that!

I am using Raka also, with a 50/50 mix of their slow and fast hardener. I could feel the heat yesterday immediately after mixing, but it was allowing me about 10-15 minutes of work time.

Phil, don't mind the heat too much having lived in Vegas for a while, but after aclimating to Washington all these years, 95 in early June is just plain HOT! hehe. But did push through and glassed the entire hull before quitting for the day. Barry, sounds enjoyable, and thats probably why I pushed through so that I am one day closer to doing just that! Mike, excellent question. But I didn't try to experiement, Actually it didnt cross my mind. I wanted to make sure I got it done correctly, been reading too many OOPs threads lately. But I can tell you that the pot got hot about 30 seconds into mixing! Dump it on the hull real quick and squeegee. No breaks. first half was tack free by the time I started the second half. Today's only supposed to hit 80, the front moved in last night. So today I play with silica and microballoon fillers for fairing and fill. At least I wont have to move too quickly today.

95 degrees outside. The hull is fiberglassed and I am DONE for the day!

... just received my shipment from RAKA. Yeah! Looks like I am glassing the hull this weekend. Already planned to take Friday off so I have three days of boat building time ahead!

Here's a link to his archived page from the Internet Wayback machine. http://web.archive.org/web/19991122015324/http://www.overland.net/~moose/page12.html Couldn't get it to retireve any of the picture pages though.

Took a couple of weeks off after the boat show. Some kind of crud bug got me and didn't have the gumption to do diddly. But started in again yesterday and flipped her this afternoon. Getting ready for glasswork.

Looks awesome Chris, when does the big bottle to put it in arrive?

I, and all others I'm sure, appreciate all you do Frank. 99% uptime is fantastic! There's a joke about a little blue pill in there somewhere, but I'm not going there! :wink:

Chris, absolutely stunning (even cover in plastic)! I am in awe. The green will be gorgeous. And yes, please update us on the HVLP.

Denis, I made a late decision to return to the wheel sterring system (was planning a tiller from start). Thank goodness I did not permanently attach one of the hull sides. You will find it much easier to set up your rigging going through at least one side versus just an access port. I also omitted the lazerette opening and opted for two deck plates in the corners of the aft deck. Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks all. Good feedback. Good quality, low stretch line it is, and most likely going with Tom's modified steering.

Well, I just went back to the drawing board, so to speak, and changed my mind again, to go back to using a wheel instead of a tiller. My question is this (to those of you who are using a wheel): What are you using for a control line? I was thinking of using vinyl sheathed cable (to avoid constantly adjusting from stretch), but re-reading Phil Gowan's steering set-up page http://www.pragdata.com/philboat/ConSteering2.html, he said he went back to a low-stretch rope as the cable snapped where it wore on the blocks. Suggestions? Comments? Your current situation? Thanks.

Just got home from the show. Lots of beautiful boats! Here's a few photos for Jake's bragging as his camera was 'misplaced'. The motley crew (from left): Joel, from Gig Harbor; Barry, from Sammamish; Jake, from Olympia; and Derek, from Olympia. It put quite a few to shame. Non-stop people crowding around and asking questions! Look what I found sitting on the cockpit bench! A quiet moment (few and far between). Great meeting up with some other builders! Joel and Barry. Faces to posts, names and boats. And a gorgeous day to boot!

Knut, sounds like you had a great day! Sounds wonderful. Lots of boats out today here as well, watching them go by out my garage window while I continue sanding (big sigh)! Thanks for the info on sails too! Taking lots of notes.

I'll have mine with me Jake!

OK, here's one for you engineering types. I know that the shelf provides for hull support, my question is in which direction? If I were to look at alternatives for hull support through the cabin, would I be wanted vertical supports or longitudinal?

Are there plan sets out there for the Friendship sloop? Anyone know of any links to places to obtain them if they are available?

Looking great Denis! Excellent progress. Barry's right about the transformation once hull sides are on, my garage shrank in size by half when I hit that step!

I get up that way once in a while (my folks live in Edmonds). I'll have to make it a point to stop by Shilshole or the CWB and see if they are around. I try to write, but then I begin trying to print/type/tell as fast as I am thinking and I tend to abbreviate the idea or concept. Perhaps I should take a refresher writing course! Again though, thanks. Even without the pics, you have the knack of creating the picture in one's mind.

How neat Barry! Did you get any pictures on board? I hope you're keeping all this info. After this and Hawaii, you have some pretty good info starting to collect about boats and their builders/owners. Make a good book someday maybe, as you do tell of these experiences very well. Thanks!