Don Silsbe

Of course I’m right! LOL.

That’s right. When someone is in the stern, I move to the bow. Yes, they are airtight. Most of the boats include these in their builds. It helps if you are good at origami. LOL They are a little complicated. But I like them so much that I added them to my rower.

I’m planning on arriving Wednesday afternoon. If I can get some last-minute stuff done, I’ll sleep on my boat Wednesday and Thursday. For the weekend, I’m moving ashore to my traditional large encampment. Others are welcome to pitch their tents on another side of the shade awning. This is what it’ll look like on Friday.

Well, I like the way you think! But coolers tend to be a bit heavy for these small boats. And my Yeti weighs as much as a large dog. But anything is possible, within reason. The lads at B and B have come up with some nifty self-sealing hatches for those seat tanks. But the simplest way to go is with an Armstrong hatch. These work like a champ. B and B might even carry them. I have both on my Bay River skiff. https://www.fisheriessupply.com/armstrong-nautical-round-watertight-compression-deck-plates

If it were me, I’d join that nice little sailing club now. Lake Julian is a nice little lake. Then, I’d buy an old beater temporary daysailer, just to get on the water fast. If you start building one (which I LOVE doing), you’re gonna lose a whole year. That’s my bad advice for the week!

I agree with Hirilonde regarding not building a nesting version unless you have a specific need. There is a big sacrifice in floatation, when going to the nesting version. I did floatation tests on my Two Paw 8 this summer. I’ll be adding floatation chambers this winter. Speaking of my TP8, I live just “down the mountain” from you in Tryon. I’d be happy to meet you at a lake sometime, and let you look her over, sail & row her, etc. Also, try to get to the Messabout. There are many boats to test drive. You will learn a lot.

That’s really cool!

Jay— the slightest amount of this stuff works wonders at preventing galling.

@Andy B, That CS20.1 was impressive. There was plenty of room for kids to spread out. (I also suggest getting a new “deck of cards”. The Messabout is a great event.)

For my BRS15, I haven’t found any tent or bivy small enough to use with only the back panels that you have. Consequently, most of my efforts have been on developing my forward panel. I work on all of this almost daily. I am holding out hope that I get to use it this fall. But this fall is slipping by quickly, even here in the Carolinas. Fingers crossed!

Since I don’t have reefs in my sails, this is the only* way I can “reef”. But it works! D3B740C2-D567-433F-B6D2-41C110E28152.MOV * Not true. I can also furl the main, and sail under mizzen only in the rear position. Have only tried that once so far. Jury’s still out.

Can’t wait to see that Core Sound 29! LOL I’m looking forward to this, even though we won’t be able to do all our traditional socializing while dining. @Andy B— mainly, we gather, and ogle each other’s boats. It is common to offer others a sail on your boat. That way, you can experience nearly the whole line. One time, I got a sail on a Core Sound 20 mk1. It was like sailing in a Greyhound bus! (In a very nice way.) We sit and chat a lot, making new friendships. There are all sorts of tricks you learn about sailing, too. I remember one cat ketch manipulating their sails in a particular way at the dock that they calmly veered off from the dock as easy as you please, and sailed away. I’ve been practicing that one. Graham often has some sort of boatbuilding demo. Sometimes there is a “friendly race”, whatever that is. Normally, the weather is “early fall”, with chilly nights and warm days. Hope to see you there. Don Silsbe (AKA Thrillsbe)

Last night, I watched a video about this year’s OBX130. It is an informal group camp cruise in the Core Sound. The sailor who took this video sailed a traditional sailing skiff. I noticed some lines extending from the mainsail’s leech to luff. I asked him about these. They are braiding lines, which are useful for dousing the sail under certain conditions. I thought this might be a good thought starter for you. Here’s his description: “The line you are referring to is a brailing line. It runs from the top of the mast to an eye on the leach, back to the masthead, then down to the base of the mast and from there back to the cockpit. A quick pull gathers the majority of the sail and the sprit up against the mast. Very handy and essential for singlehanding.”

Have fun, Steve. Looks like a good time.

@meester— How did you attach the tent to the gunwales?