Mark Hughes

Now doesn't that just figure. A get together in my neck of the woods and I'm going to be out in Phoenix at my sister's wedding. I'll have to catch y'all another time around.

Don't feel bad, I'm in that club as well. I'm 2 and a half years into a nine month project! Life has a funny way of getting in the way! Carry on, you'll probably be me into the water yet!

Yep, I did know that, but they are as hard to come by. I have a 2.3 Turbo SVO Mustang engine and a Mazda 5 speed from a Ranger that I have been considering putting into it. Long project though. Takes up too much boatbuilding/sailing time. I'm also working on a daggerboard set-up for a one sheet dinghy I built with my son to get some better sailing performance out of it. Too much leeway slip as it is.

Well, adla, as it just so happens, I have a second one- a '74 in Carmine Red. We get these boats done and in the water, and have time for the next project, I may be able to work something out with you on one of them. Of course, if I can't find a good crank, I might just install a mast box and have a gaff-rigged spitfire. Would probably be more relieable!

Well, I have been on hold with my boatbuilding for awhile now too, struggling with transportation issues. Looks like my '88 Ranger has finally passed the point of nursing along and will need a full rebuild, not really worth it for the condition it is in. My '76 Spitfire is much faster and simpler to rebuild, but then I discovered that a machineable crank is next to impossible to come by. This after taking Friday off from work to remove the engine and tear it all down. So, on Sunday I bought a '97 Mercury Cougar (with my father-in-law's assistance) and solved the transportation problem. Not sure I can get used to all this luxury, like air conditioning, power anything, etc. So, now I can get back to the boat. It is upside down, faired and sanded and ready for the glass. Spars are built and shaped, just need final sanding and finishing. Rudder and box are done, just needs to be glassed and assembled. I believe I have all the materials needed to finish except the lines for the running rigging.

Congratulations Fintan! She looks beautiful! Sorry I'm so late in getting to this, but I've been drowning at work, and haven't been able to catch up with the forum. Say... Whatever happened to that wooden trailer you were building from the plans the Stevensons sent you? I remember an initial discussion regarding your short tow distance, but never saw anything more on it.

Happy Birthday Alexander! I have a birthday coming up myself, on the 23rd. I wish I was turning 10 again, but no such luck. I plan on spending my birthday on my boat. I hope you got a chance to do the same! 8)

Beautiful work as usual, Charlie. One question though- I was expecting to see some sort of raised lip around the top to keep things from sliding/rolling off. Won't that be a problem with the formica top?

I agree with Both Ray and Fintan. When I started bogging down here and there, I would clean up the carport I'm building in. With everything neat and clean and organized, it was relaxing to just go out and sit in my moaning chair and look at what I had done so far. And as I was looking it over, I would find myself saying "I'll just take care of this little part while I'm here". And one part led to another, and another... Then, as I crossed a certain point to go from "building" to "finishing", I set myself a target date. For me it happens to be my birthday- June 23rd. That keeps me going like gangbusters to get the details wrapped up and have it functional, if not completely pretty, by then. Something about grilling some steak and lobster, and sipping champaign from the cockpit of a boat I built from scratch rocking gently at anchor in some quiet little cove will make this a very special birthday indeed! 8)

Actually, a square topsail will be the next step for my Vacationer in the evolution towards a Brigantine rig. I'll be launching her as a cutter, hopefully before the end of June, and will get used to handling her in that configuration. Then start adding sticks and string to play with as I go along.

Looks like you've been very productive. My son and I built that same dingy in the dining room this past winter, SWMBO was off on a trip to Chicago. It worked out very nice, and rows suprisingly well. VERY low freeboard though. I'm thinking of adding a layer of styrofoam between the gunwale and the bottom external chine, then another layer of 3/16" ply over that, just to give it a lower waterline. My son wants it to be a sailing dingy, so further modifications are on the drawingboard.

Absolutely fantastic, Captain of Boats! I think this was the most eagerly awaited event on the board for the past year or better! Glad to hear it came off so well. I look forward to as detailed reports of your sailing adventures as you have provided us of your building experience.

Nice start, and welcome aboard! Your keel looks beautiful, and I can see why you would want to finish it bright. Certainly not a problem to do so, as long as you don't mind the extra maintenance typical of any brightwork. But then that's part of what makes a wooden boat so special in my opinion. A little time, attention, and elbow grease and they are the most beautiful things you could want to see on the water!

I, like Greg, named my Vacationer after my paternal grandmother, who passed away nearly a decade ago. She was always known as Adelaide, and it wasn't until my late teens that I discovered her actual first name was Regina. I have liked that name combination ever since, so the Regina Adelaide it is. If she were here to see it, she would make a bunch of bluster about using her name so, but inside she would be tickled pink, I'm sure.

I have a pair of Siberian Huskies I could lend you for the aging process! They would fit right in to your climate. Build yourself some runners under the boat, and they could provide your auxilary power for ice boating!

Fintan! Now there's a brogue I haven't heard in awhile! Where you been hiding?

All right, that's what I'll do. I was thinking of putting the plasticoat directly on the wood and then painting over it. Maybe I'll try one each way and see if there is any difference in the results. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll report the results here if anyone is interested.

Thanks for your reply, Barry. Since they are being kind enough to send me a sample to try out, what would you suggest for a test to simulate the contraction and expansion that would normally occur over time?

Is anybody familiar with a product called G-Plasticoat? I stumbled upon it on the web at http://www.g-plasticoat.com/, and it sounded intriguing. I emailed them with some questions, and here is what they answered: "Thank you for your interest in G-Plasticoat. Yes, this product has been proving itself as a great protectant for marine applications. It is undergoing extensive testing in this area and has been protecting boats from mold & mildew, oxidation, etc... It is paintable, however, it is highly suggested that the surface appears as desired before the application of G-Plasticoat; this is mainly used for a top coat and only protects the paint that it covers. I am unsure what "checking" in plywood is - but if it means the plywood surface peels due to moisture; Yes, this will prevent "checking" (Let me know if this is what you were referring to). It is durable and flexible, will not crack, chip, or peel, and withstands many weather damages. Apply with a lint-free cloth, synthetic brush or roller, or air-less sprayer (keep good product control). Watch for drips and excessive foam (most will collapse). Be sure surface is clean, dry, free of wax and oil, and appears as desired before application. Keep water away from surface until cured. Apply until a good top coat is achieved. If any gouges or deep scratches result from use, just apply more G-Plasticoat to the area." My thinking was this could be an alternative to glass/epoxy, particularly for the topside, cockpit and cabin. I have asked if I can get a sample to try out, but if any of you have knowledge of or experience with this product, I would love to hear what you think.

I made mine from Southern Yellow Pine. I bought a 16' 2x12 and ripped them from that, then scarfed them at 1:12 with a hand plane. I glued them up using polyurethane construction adhesive, left them clamped together for a couple of days, and then installed them. The scarf is so neat, that I still have to look really hard to find the joint, and I know where it is! Didn't have any bending issues, although I started at the bow, rather than the middle, and worked my way to the stern. I had enough extra length to give me plenty of leverage all the way to the transom. Fussing with the shear line until I was satisfied with the look of it was probably the longest part of the whole process!

The heck with the foredeck! Four of them mounted on the cabin bunks and sticking through the portholes, and you have yourself a "Sloop of War"! With a little ingenuity you could probably make them telescope into themselves for easy stowage during "peacetime".

Hmmm... haven't got it yet. Did you change the (at) to @? I put it in there that way for spam avoidance.

Hey Dave, I meant to get in on this the last time around, but since it has come up again, can you email me a copy of those plans as well? Better send them to my house, markhughes_2(at)lycos.com. The firewall here at work gets a little finicky about what it will let through.

Ok, don't leave us all hanging! For those of us who didn't see Sunday's episode, what type of tool are we talking here? A spoke shave? a lathe? Inquiring minds want to know!

I made a card stock model from the plans after I got them and before I had the money for the first round of lumber. It kept my momentum up and gave me a better visual of how things laid out than the two dimensional pictures do. I just pulled it back out to try out some different cabin fixture arrangements.