Gordy Hill

Here's a shot of Chick sailing away with my cooler.

Here's pic of Chick's boat. My pics are all high def and I don't know how to change them, so I think I can only add one per post. We'll see if it works...

Thanks! I should admit you guys are greatly overestimating my computer capabilities. (It took a while for me to find the dollar sign.)

I don't know about Global Warming, but I'm pretty sure gravity has increased in the last ten or twelve years.

The tabernacle can rotate. It could be mounted in the mast tube just like a mast. Just my $.02 worth. (What ever happened to the cents sign?)

Hi Dale! When I was shopping for a motor I learned that Mercury and Yamaha 4-strokes are identical. I also found out that the manufacturers make a few different motors and use different carbs to make more choices of power. In 2003, when I got my motor, the Merc 40, 50, and 60 weighed the same. The 75, 90, and 115 were about 100 pounds heavier. If I remember right, the Honda 40 and 50 weighed the same. I've been very happy with my Merc 60. I rarely go above half-throttle but it's there if I need it. The 'Salt Water' Merc has a different flush out hose fitting and a decal. It's cheaper to use the 'saltwater' components in all motors than keep track of which ones have it. Don't pay extra for a decal. Once you have pretty much picked a motor, you might want to see if a step up in HP weighs more. If not, consider getting the larger one. Pictures! Dale, Where are the pictures? Gordy

Nicely done!

That's great Lance! Can't wait for the pictures. We all expect, of course, you to be starting another boat next week. I can't imagine my morning starting out without my nz lance fix.

Just a thought... Is the deck necessary for strength, or could you use stringers and aircraft Dacron and dope?

Opps! I responded to the wrong page! I'm a couple months late. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................never mind...........

A circular saw can easily make the gentle curves of the major panels and I think it a bit easier than using a jigsaw.

Beautiful boat! Well done!

The wedges and hasps strike me as too complicated. I picture two flat stainless springs set in the sides. Push the light closed and 'snap snap' it's locked in place. A knob on the outside could be connected to a dowel which in turn is connected to the spring. Pull the knob, the spring retracts into it's slot. Twist the knob and the spring is locked in the retracted position and the window opens easily.

I had sleeve luffs. I lashed a D-ring to the mast and snapped the snotter rig to it. It would fold flat when the sail was wrapped around the mast. Another real advantage was that I could ease the snotter and push the whole lashing up or down the mast to fine-tune the sprit angle/sail shape.

I had a really stout galvanized bucket that I used for just about everything ....except drinking water. I'd tie 6 - 8 feet of line to the bucket and attach the other end to a rear cleat. On a downwind approach I'd loose the sheets and as I got close I'd throw out the bucket. I don't think it's mentioned in "Piloting, Seamanship, and Small Boat Handling" but it worked remarkably well when I tried it. One nice advantage was that the bucket, once deployed, could be left on it's own and retrieved after more urgent docking tasks are addressed.

Can't wait to see it Don! Waiting... .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................still waiting.........

Dale, I don't mean to sound argumentative. I have a real respect for your opinions. I love my four-stroke 60. It gets jaw-dropping fuel efficiency mostly because I usually run at aboout half throttle. A four-stroke Mercury IS a Yamaha. Among the choices mentioned, you really can't make a mistake. Any one of them should work well.

Wow! Thanks Ray.

Dale, If you mean the four stroke Yamaha 40 you might look a bit more. First, the Yamaha and Mercury are identical, so a good deal on either would work. Secondly, the Yamaha/Mercury 40 is the same (weight, displacement, etc.) as their 50 and 60. I've been told the only difference is the carb. Therefor there's no weight or size penalty for going up to the 60. You may only use the extra HP on rare occasions, such as pulling the grand kids on water skis, or beating a storm, but it'd be nice to have. Another note: although it's unlikely you'll be in Canada in the near future, I found the prices in Canada to be much lower for the same motor. Also, you fill out paperwork at the border and the Canadian government sends you a check to reimburse you for any taxes paid in Canada.

I notice you chose vertical battens. If you plan to stow the sail wrapped around the mast, as I did, you might consider having a window sewn into your main. I had one and never regretted it. Your boat is beautiful!

She's beautiful Dave!

Par, If your mast plug is HDPE as well, there should be no wear at all.

That's it? Four pictures? Nothing about horsepower, top speed, pictures of the interior? No mention of where you launched it? Come on Russell! You can do better than that! We all want to know. Oh yah, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL BOAT!!!!!!!

Your layout looks great. One thing you might consider would be to place the ice box as far aft as possible and extending it below the bridge deck. A hatch on the bridge deck would allow you to put the ice in from the cockpit and give you access to cold drinks from the cockpit.

I had a 17' Silhouette Mk II years ago. It had a Sea swing stove and had a wall bracket inside and one mounted outside on the aft bulkhead of the cabin. I did nearly all my cooking in the cockpit. The inside mount was only used for storage and cold rainy days. I had a kettle, a pot, and a small Teflon frying pan. It's amazing how creative one becomes with one burner cooking. I'd put a small potato in the kettle. By the time I was into the second cup of instant coffee, it was about ready to be part of breakfast.