Gordy Hill

Jim, I made plugs like yours out of pressure treated wood and they swelled ( swolled?) and I had a heck of a time getting the mast out. I made plugs out of thick plastic similar to a cutting board and they worked wonderfully and also allowed the mast to rotate a little easier. In fact, if you cover the mast step with the same material there will be almost no friction. I used two different sized hole saws, going partway with one until the pilot bit showed and then put the other pilot bit in the hole from the other side.

I don't s'pose they's all come back to pull it out for a picture of the interior?....

Personally I don't like it very much Zeca. I don't like the slab sides and the flat bottom will pound. I generally like bilge keels, but I think they work better on a hull with a deeper V. The only real advantage to having a flat bottom, in my opinion, is the ability to operate in shallow water. This is given up with the fixed keel. I think the dual rudders are overkill on this size boat and are an unnecessary complication. The windows are nice.

Neil, Personally I'd go with the 15/16 inch and ease the corners a bit. 3/4 inch on 3/4 inch seems like it should fit, and it should.....probably won't though. Also,I am too cheap to use mahogany where it can't be seen. Nice straight-grain fir might be a bit stronger and not quite as rot resistant (trade-off)

Looking good Jim!

Great report. Thanks!

No! No! No! No! One little picture won't get it! We need many more pictures and you have to tell us about it. ...........Sheesh!

Viet Nam, 1969

Ok, There was supposed to be a photo with that last post.

You could always put sand under removeable floorboards in the cockpit and build a fire to cook...

I'm sure any of the stoves mentioned will work fine. I still lean toward the Forespar. The stove easily disconnects from the mounting bracket and can be put anywhere. I liked my stove outside on the cabin bulkhead. When at anchor the entire cabin blocks the wind. The mount inside was great for cutting the chill on a rainy day while cooking. I definitely liked the propane canisters because they were neat and easy to handle. I now have a new stove that uses butane canisters that produce a hotter flame.

Joe, I had a Sea Swing stove with mounts in the cabin and on the aft cabin bulkhead in the cockpit. It worked great. Forspar makes a nice one. http://www.forespar.com/products/boat-gimballed-stove-mini-galley.shtml

Ok, I see your point, but if you hit a rock with your prop I want to hear about it!

Next they'll be putting motor mounts on kayaks.............. Strengthen the transom but forget about a motor for now. This is just a little day sailer...sail it!

You're gonna LOVE the trim tabs! The trim tabs plus the tilt/trim of the motor really make a difference. Very impressive how you let them in the hull. What motor are you planning to use?

Some of us are just never satisfied. Did you get any video of the Marissa Paul?.............stills?.............sketches?..........

May be just the camera, but it looks like your sprits could be a bit longer.

Just have to put in my opinion. For some reason I just have a thing against two-word names. I'd go for TRAVELER.

I had 9 foot oars on my cs17 and I think I could have fit 9' 6". Longer is better. The 9 footers were a bit short, but, when stowed beside the centerboard trunk, they didn't stick out. The boat rows really well and the oars are very handy at the launch ramp. When I was sailing alone in very light wind I'd use one oar while facing forward and steering with the other hand. It made a huge difference! Mine almost always started on the first pull....

Opps! I just reread my post. Didn't mean to be so rude! Sorry.

The boat is nicely balanced with the main in the center hole. Adding a jib forward of it could give you a hellacious lee helm. (bad!) Go ahead and sail it with just the main. With a nice breeze it's a real joy. Instead of listing she just accelerates. Way too much fun! You just steer and the sail pretty much takes care of itself. Maybe it would be a good idea to borrow a sloop and remind yourself how much fun it is to have shrouds and stays to set up and jib sheets to tend.

My plan, which I never got around to, entailed a short bowsprit and a small Bruce anchor a la Sea Pearl. The Sea Pearl drivers really liked the set-up.

Wes, I had an extra bulkhead and installed two aluminum tubes (had them sitting around). The tubes accepted the handle ends of my oars. I'm sure pvc would work as well.

Hey Ray, We've been waiting for the rest of the story!

Bob, Like Peter, I've often rolled up the main and put the mizzen in the center hole. One should really strike the mizzen before repositioning it, but I was always too lazy and just picked up the whole rig and put it in the other hole. Looked kinda like a rodeo event... If the wind's a bit brisk, just leave the mizzen home. You'll be giving up far less performance than you might imagine.