Jim Stumpf

http://www.messing-about.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=271&papass=&sort=1&thecat=997 Vacationer at Pymatuning Reservoir

Joe Raised his sails on his Weekender without straping the boat down. Don't try this at home it cost him several weeks to launching and a split mast were his spreader spread the top of the mast wide open. http://www.messing-about.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=276&size=big&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

http://www.messing-about.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=272&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500 Me at the helm. No I can't sail that close we are under power.

http://www.messing-about.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=274 Vacationer and PC at sunrise on Senaca Reservoir

Capt. Jake, Good things are worth waiting for. I had six years in on my Vacationer and Joe had 2 years on his Weekender. You only build it once. (enough philosophy get the damn thing done )

I haven't sailed along the Weekender yet but will have a chance to this weekend at the BYYB NE Regatta. I have sailed with Scott Widmier and his PC, I think we could out run him in a stiff breeze but in light air he starts pumping his barn door rudder which sends him through the water amazingly fast and I have never seen him stall in a tack as he can swing the boat right around with that rudder action.

Today I went out with Joe Horvath for his maiden sail. We took his Weekender named Finch, Joe loves birds and has named many of his boats with bird names, out on lake Erie today. We had a great sail with plenty of wind. I was amazed at how different the Weekender handles than the Vacationer. With the Vac. I just stroll my 200 lbs up the side deck do what I want then stroll back, on the Weekender you need to make sure the helmsman is on the opposite side of the boat and then stay toward the center line of the boat while you are heading forward. The Wkndr is much more tender than the Vac. With the wind blowing we would shift to the high side when tacking, you need to be good friends with your first mate as there is plenty of hugging and bumping going on trying to stay under the boom and move to the opposite seat. Joe's Weekender is one of the prettiest home built boats I have seen and sails like a bat out of hell. We had great fun and I look forward to many more sails on and along side the Finch. By the way Joe will be joining me, Scott with his PC and anyone else that can make it to Pymatuning Reservoir on Aug. 22. "It ain't a boat untill it's wet." is Joe and my motto. Jim Stumpf Vacationer "Rudunyet"

I'm in, Site 637 Friday and Sat. nights. I will have my Vacationer Rudunyet. This is an excellent place to sail, nothing but fishermen and sailboats. (fishermen without 100hp outboards). We have camped and boated here at least twice a summer for the last 6 or seven years. Jim

Florin, the Vacationer plans do not allow for the boom to stay in place while the mast is folded down. You need to leave the stump longer and move your hinge up. I know this wasn't part of your question but I had to redo my mast after I found this out to late. Jim

I know a fellow who sewed sails for a Weekend Skiff ( from the same folks that designed the six hour canoe) out of painters drops. The complaint that he had was the material was to heavy for light wind sailing. Jim Vacationer Rudunyet

Thanks for all the kind words. I should have given Stuart credit for his photo above. Florin, keep up the good fight it took me six years of sundays to build my Vacationer, it really is a lot of boat. Frank, Thanks for the gallery that you added to the site I have lots of photos to share and now I have a place to do it. Photos from Craig Gleason gave me the incentive to finish now it is time for me to help some one else out. Thanks, Jim

Yes the one on the water is the Vacationer. The sail at the bottom of the screen belongs to the PC built by Scott Widmier of the BYYB. I have been out twice now and have no regrets in my investment in blood sweat and tears (even some foul language). Jim

Here is a shot of my newly launched Vacationer on the water Memorial Day. There is a better shot of it on the trailer in the gallery. Jim Stumpf Vacationer Rudunyet

I would like to invite everyone to all of the following Cleveland Amateur Boat Building Society outings this summer. I will be launching my Vacationer this weekend at Hot Dog Day and will probably make all of the other events. Although I may need to take my Bolger Pirogue or Six Hour Canoe to the hand launch event. If you are goinig to be in Northern Ohio at any of these times please look me up, our club would be happy to entertain you for the day. Tentative Summer Outing Schedule May 18 Hot Dog Day Start the summer with CABBS official launch and pot luck cook out. Hank is working on a special treat for the youngsters so plan on bringing the kids or grandkids. June 13-22 CABBS Week at Pymatuning Join other CABBS members for camping, camp fire chats, boating and church basement dinners. July 12 Ladue Reservoir Spend the afternoon sailing or paddling, bring a bag lunch and spend the day. Aug. 16 Bradstreet Landing This was a first for last year and was a lot of fun. Bring a hand launch boat and launch from the beach in West Lake on Lake Erie. There is a concession stand and a shady picnic area so leave the day open and beat the summer heat. Sept 13 Fairport Harbor and Grand River We are looking at a multi purpose day for this event. Big boat access from Lake Erie, small boat fun in the bay and a possible river trip along the Grand River to the bay. Oct 4-5 New London Possible camping and boating weekend. Hope you can make it, Jim

For those of you who don't know me, I post here form time to time and read the board all the time. I am getting ready to launch my Vacationer may 18th (although we snuck her in the water last Oct 27th before the snow started). I am also the president of the Cleveland Amateur Boat Building Society. We have had a couple members build Weekenders over the years. Recently one of our members Marty Turner died while on vacation in Hawaii at the age of 52. Marty built two Weekenders at the MidAmerica boat show about 6 years ago; his wife has put these boats up for sale. The first boat is more or less a stock Stevenson plywood version of the boat and the second is a scaled down version of about 13ft built in aluminum. Mrs. Turner is asking $1500 for the wood boat and $850 for the aluminum. If any one is interested please contact me and I can get any additional info that may be needed. By the way the boats are in Novelty Ohio about a half hour east of Cleveland (Northern Ohio on Lake Erie) Marty's story is rather sad. After working around the world building cooling towers and being away from home for extended periods of time he decided to stay at home and enjoy life with his wife. He completed his last project came home and he and his wife headed to the Hawaii to enjoy themselves. On the first day at the beach 10 mins into a snorkeling trip Marty died of a heart attack. Very sad indeed. Thanks, Jim