Bill Paxton

June 3-5 is right around the corner. Find full details at lakepepinmessabout.com Bill Paxton Apple Valley, MN

It is not too early to reserve some tent space for the Lake Pepin Messabout on June 3-5. Use the event website to drop me a note if you want some camping space. Bill Paxton

This year's Lake Pepin Messabout will be June 3-5. Once again we'll be in Lake City, on the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Full details are on the website at lakepepinmessabout.com Bill Paxton

Yes. The Lake Pepin Messabout will be June 3-5. Full details at http://lakepepinmessabout.com

May Christmas be happy and memorable for you. Bill

Glad to hear Sultana is getting ready to sail again. She is one of the best looking boats I've ever seen. I even had the privilege of sailing on her at Lake Conroe several years ago. I hope the turkey feather wind indicator is still intact. Bill Paxton

Congratulations, Al! There is no feeling like sailing a boat you built yourself. In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. Then you go sailing for the first time... I spent the entire first season with SURPRISE making little changes so the sailing experience would be easier and more enjoyable. But that's part of the fun. Fair winds. Bill

That looks like a lot of fun!

Congratulations on launching such a beautiful boat. The fun is just beginning. In addition to the tips posted above, there is also a demonstration of mast raising on the Stevenon video. Bill

When I was building my Weekender everyone said that condensation and rot would occur in a sealed space. I believed them, so I made sure air could flow through the seatbacks by placing air holes at each end. However I still wanted buoyancy so I glued the tops onto empty milk jugs and secured them behind the seatbacks. There is a strap that runs through each jug handle and is secured to the underside of the deck. This prevents rattling.

It was great fun watching you launch the Lake Scow, and put it through it's paces. It's one fast boat! Here is a link to some photos of it at the Lake Pepin Messabout. http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=lakescow Bill Paxton

That's a very cool boat, Steve. Can't wait to see it later today at the messabout. Bill

Thanks for the PR, Frank. Nicely done! Bill

Everything is looking good for this year's messabout. Spring has come early, which will be a break for those guys building a boat to bring. The event will be June 4-6, and full details are at lakepepinmessabout.com . Bill

This year the Lake Pepin Messabout will be June 4-6. It's hard to imagine in the midst of all the snow and cold, but it's fun to look forward to it. Full details are on the event website at http://lakepepinmessabout.com . Bill Paxton

Here's a link to how I protected the keel on my Weekender using a strip of aluminum. http://www.messing-about.com/forums/index.php?topic=3402.0

No, I haven't replaced the halyards, but it's on my list. After eight seasons some new line would be welcome.

It's been awhile, but I think the length listed for one of the halyards is wrong. Might be the peak halyard. In any event it's worth buying some cheap clothesline to get the right lengths for all running rigging on your boat. Then go and buy the right length of line.

My Weekender is rigged just like Frank's. Works great.

Hard to believe that June 5-7 could be that close. If you're in the area of eastern MN or western WI I hope you stop by for awhile. Full details at lakepepinmessabout.com Bill

I didn't want more strings to pull or snag, so I added a grommet near the top of the leech and tied the flag on.

I managed to grab some photos on Friday afternoon and Saturday at the launch. You'll find plenty of photos of Graham and Tom. http://www.flickr.com/photos/58781034@N00/tags/evergladeschallenge09/ If anyone else uploads photos to flickr, if you use the tag evergladeschallenge09 we will be able to view all the photos together. Bill

I thought of you this morning as I brushed 7" of fresh snow off of Surprise. It can't be cold and snowy forever, so as soon as the lakes thaw, let's go sailing!

I'm planning on being there Friday to see old friends and make some new ones. I'll be the shockingly white guy who looks like he's been in Minnesota all winter. Bill

For those of you who already planning your boating fun for the summer, the Lake Pepin Messabout will be June 5-7 at Lake City, MN. Full details are available at the messabout website: http://lakepepinmessabout.com Bill