lbrewer

The following threads are the most recent ones I have seen dealing with trying to get the plans: http://www.messing-about.com/forums/index.php?topic=6179.0 http://www.messing-about.com/forums/index.php?topic=5942.0 Seems like, since the boats have so many fans, the Stevensons would let someone handle the plans for them if they don't want to fool with it any more. We have a lot of designers that hang around these boards. Anyone ever considered a new design that keeps the clippered bow and the "little pirate ship" look we all love on the topsides......and maybe put a different bottom on it . I think plans offering a design like that would have a line forming to buy it.

I agree about the national coverage. I thought it was really evident after Katrina. Coastal Mississippi after that storm was leveled and the devastation is still evident in many areas and we seldom heard any news about that. New Orleans certainly received its share of misery from both storms to be sure. I guess more people nationwide are familiar with that city so the rest of the storm areas get pushed to the news "back burner". Gustav's effects here were not really bad as far as hurricane's go. I don't think we sustained that much damage comparatively. Although the folks who had just rebuilt these piers from Katrina might disagree:

Here are some Gustav pictures of the local area that were snagged from a local TV station's website. They were submitted by viewers:

That sounds like a great idea. I'm looking forward to the pictures.

Just heard from a friend who lives right on the western shore of Mobile Bay. In fact, his new house is a replacement of the one Katrina razed. He says the water and waves have breached his bulkhead that usually is eight ft. above the water. I'm about a mile inland. There is not much excitement here. (That isn't a complaint). I think I'll be able to get some sanding done on the rubrails of the little decorative boat I've been working on. Steve, it's a modified version of the Jordan cradle like you built. A friend wanted one for display at his Orange Beach home. Larry

NHC just updated....the track is the same but getting there faster. Where that chart has landfall at 2am Tues., the new one has it at 2pm Mon. Earlier discussion spoke of probable shear that would debugger it in strength some. This latest one says that probably won't happen in time.

We're keeping an eye on Gustav here too, Charlie. Looks like at the moment the forecast track has it going right between us. At the rate it is intensifying in strength, it'll still blow our wood flour around. Anyone here live in Vermillion Parish, LA? I certainly don't wish it on anyone else.....maybe just wish it would go away. Larry in Mobile

I'm still hangin around Steve. Larry

Has anyone any experience with Welsford's "Swiftsure" as an alternative design for weekender lovers. It appears to keep the traditional lines everyone loves. The conceptual drawing on his site isn't real detailed but the description captures your attention.

Wes, That boat is turning out really really nice.

I knew I read it from your posts Charlie. I reread all of your posts on the subject before I started. It's a great idea so I figured PAR probably does it that way too.

I picked up an neat little sail on Ebay. 45 sf and the peak is 11 ft

While I wasn't able to take pictures of me herding houseflies, here is how the mast turned out:

I tried the PVC ring also Charlie. In my case I wasn't having much success completing the circle till I stuck something on the inside. I think it may be one of those things that gets easier the next time... I hope. I figure if I was putting in the inside blocking at critical points, as you suggested in your other posts, that would have helped too. I think I would do that with a double tapered mast like Scott's for sure. In this case I just wanted to try it because it looked like a nifty thing to learn how to do. Now I'm so pleased with how it turned out.....I guess I have to build a boat around it! Maybe a quick little dory type hull. I don't want to get too involved because I just ordered Bluejacket plans from Tom Lathrop. I'm itching to get started on that.

It dawned on me today why I've never seen any pictures of anyone actually assembling a birdsmouth spar. It is simply because your hands, arms, legs and chest are covered with epoxy while you wrestle with floppy little staves that are umpteen feet long....all the while knowing that you have to get it together before the epoxy sets up... so you can't hold a camera. When you do get it together....whew! then its too dark to take the picture (and it rains). If you have another person there to take pictures....you would have either enlisted them to help hold the floppy little staves or they would be laughing uncontrollably at you because you look like you are trying to herd houseflies. Now that I have that out of my system. I did actually complete the mast and it turned out really well. I made the initial tries at assembling it much harder than it needed to be, because I wasn't wrapping the staves around anything. I had the partially assembled mast resting in cradles to support it, but nothing on the inside that would support while I tried to get the last 3 staves into the assembly. After I figured out that a piece of 1.25" pvc pipe was approximately the inside diameter of the assembled mast, I put a couple of lengths inside (leaving the ends of the pipe sticking out of each end of the mast) and the last 3 went right on like they were supposed to. I loosely clamped with zip ties then removed the pipe and tightened the ties. The next one will be easy! ;D Larry

That's like having a built in excuse to go to a messabout!

The hatches look fantastic!

I'd say the crib is cool. And its even cooler to be able to say "that's what grandadads do". Good work Greg. My oldest daughter is now 21. I might be able to brag sometime in the forseeable future, right?

Welcome Craig, I'm looking forward to following your progress. I fell in love with the spindrift after seeing Steve Day's nesting version of it at a wooden boat show near me. I think there may be one in my future as well, but I have a couple of others ahead of it. (That changes with the wind though). I won't be able to help on the specific plan but I will sure cheer you on from the sidelines. Jump in, its addictive. Larry

I sure do like the look of the side seats, though I can see why it may not be practical on a boat that size. I am thinking I might leave the side seats out and sail from the center seat and slide the ole butt port or starboard as needed. Have you sailed from the center seat? The fore and aft trim looks better in both your photos and mine when sitting there. Thats also the beamiest part of the boat and could be less tippy there and keep the tiller out of your back.

Greg, That boat is going to be absolutely beautiful. That kind of detail is going to set it off as a "one of a kind" that you can be proud of forever. Larry

I'm looking forward to following your progress as well. It looks like you are off to a great start. You are right.....we like the pictures!

Thanks Charlie for explaining why my images were showing up twice.....i was scratching my head about that one. ...and thanks Frank for fixing that because when I forget what Charlie just said it still will work

That's awesome dale! I'd be interested to know more about her and her sailing characteristics especially. Is the LOA the same 7'9"? Bateau didn't have a sailplan for that design when I got it and I was a little nervous about trusting my own judgment in that regard. I'd like to try it though.

They showed up ok on my screen. I didn't have to scroll or slide anything to see them. Beautiful work too BTW.