Tim Diebert

Wow...that Harken stuff looks good. Thanks for the link. Well, they run bathtubs across there to Nanimo. I think you would be a lot better off than in one of those things. I gone to Victoria several times with small sailboats, thru the San Juans. Great cruising. Coming down from a Vancouver area launch would be a day long trip I'm sure. >It looks like it is about twenty miles or so...at least where I would like to cross. I think my boat might be a slight improvement over a bathtub boat..LOL. Maybe a tad more comfortable anyway. The beauty of having a fixed forestay is that the furling system is set into place with the jib halyard. Changing to a different sail is quick and easy as long as the other sail has a luff wire sewn in. >Can a luff wire be sewn into an existing sail? They just coil up and slip into a carry bag for storage when not in use. Roll up the lapper, drop the head with the halyard. Unclip the head and clip on the head of the smaller sail. Unclip the furling drum and clip it on the smaller one. Unclip the jib sheets and clip them onto the smaller jib and raise it into place with the halyard. Then just unfurl it and away you go. Coil up the Lapper and stow it in the cabin. >Very appealing. That would be the ticket for sure. Getting out there to get to the furling drum is why I built the bow pulpit for mine. But I can also just raise the standard jib or a storm sail with a luff wire on a second halyard. Clip on the clubfoot and it is self tending. >Ah, have you ever gotten that far out on a WE Barry? hehehehe. I have done it few times without the ability a pulpit would allow, and it getting real interesting real fast. The stern comes right out of the water and you are balancing on the 'nose' of the boat. I did it once when a friend was watching from another boat and he said it was a comical sight...i HAD INTENDED TO PUT A KIND OF PULPIT FOR MY KNEES TO GO..ooopps caps sorry....but after seeing how unstable it was I left it alone. Now that I am ballasted it might be fine...or if you had someone in the stern to counter your weight...? I usually sail alone. Either way, the furling system would be the cats ass for sure. ...Oh, I called this fellow yesterday. A Philip Teece, in Victoria. I had read an article in the 'Small Craft Advisor' that he wrote. Great story. He has a little bilge keeled 18 foot plywood Caprice. Made in the '70's. Has sailed all over the straight....way up north and down as far south as San Francisco. Sailing these wtaers for 50 years. Written two books as well. He was great to talk to. Lots of info and a real character as well. He said that dinghy's crossed the straight all the time. <embarrassing> A person just has to pick their day. The two main things are no matter if there is a strong wind, the sea conditions are the tricky part. Philip said he had been in storm conditions on the briny blue that were not as bad as it can get in the Straights. Even on a nice 10k day, the sea can be a right proper bugger. 6 foot breaking waves...could be a serious hazard to a wee boat. The other thing he mentioned is it was very possible to have zero breeze as well and so to have a strong motor in that case...if you don't want to spend the night out there. He also mentioned a flow that he knew in the area. Found a 14 foot runabout dead on a beach somewhere. Also found a wrecked 8' glass tender...combined the two to make a boat. The dingy being the cabin....Philip said this guy actually lives on his boat....kind of a homeless person, but was living and traveling on his boat. He rigged a half assed mast and sail...mostly only able to sail downhill. He has covered the entire inside passage MANY TIMES. So I have no excuses eh?

HA! I guess so....a pretty well idiot proof plan I would say.....as long as you have a compass....and there are no obstacles(sand bars or reefs or rocks) between where you are and where you need to get to. Hahaha

...hehehehe. On the water I have always used dead reckoning and a chart/compass. That's fine during the daylight hours or good weather. Having just acquired the gps kind of opened up my mind to another world of info.

I have wanted to get a good solid bit of info on navigation. Too lazy to buy a book. I bought myself a nice little waterproof gps for a Winter Solstice present (a Garmin eTrex) and wanted to understand a few things a lot better. So if any of you folks are like me, you might like this page I found. It is actually in lesson format and is very clear and thourough...meant for grade 6-8 students...so it is perfect for the likes of myself. It is quite vast but is presented in pdf format so you can print them out or just read from the web. Cheers, TT. http://www.ion.org/satdiv/education.cfm

REALLY interesting Bob. Great project and I love your plan. It would be great to see some images as you work through it and eventually sail. Have fun.

Great info Barry. I had no idea of the two versions...bearing and non. I love the idea of having the ability to have lots of sail available when wanted...and then being able to dowse it easily. The foresail that is. For the inner staysail I would want two options. One about the size of the stock jib and another stormsail for those special occasions. Kind of like you I guess. The cutter rig will come later for me I think. I am going to do just the topsail first...without the higher up forestay attachment point. I really like the way John B. did his...I have saved the drawing he sent. It is the least expensive way to go for now. I already have a lapper sized headsail and loved the performance and balance there. Problem with just the lapper or choosing to start the day with this sail on the stock rig, is when you need to change to a smaller sail. Very interesting to do on a WE. I always beach to change headsails....not great. The furling for the foresail would be a wonderful improvement. I have been playing with the idea of some kind of light weight reaching sail. I sailed on a buddies boat this summer, a 26' MacGregor Legend. He had this sail...I forget what it was called...a light weight reaching sail that had to be jibed around each time. It was symetrical and an odd cut. A head and two clews kind of. On a port tack...for example...the port clew would be clipped at the bow and the sbrd sheet run for control. The head would obviously remain the same during all this. Anyway...I am a bit fuzzy on the whole thing. Point is that on a day when there was not enough breeze to keep any kind of stock sail full, we were easily able to keep the blooperish thing full and the boat moving. It was a fair amount of work....but that is the sailing game. My lake is interesting in that it tends to run the full gamut any old time it wants. The very best days are the 10-15k all day longers...but I only had three of those all last season. The rest were very light, total skunks (2) or 20 knot plus days of which I was fortunate to get 3 of. Anyway, thanks for the new and interesting info. Eventually I am going to have to do something. Like Mike, I too drool over those brass units. Someday I recon. Hey. I got one for you Barry. Are you familiar with the Canuck side of your water? I have had this crazy notion of making the crossing to the Gulf Islands and eventually around to Victoria one day....in my WE. That would be the Lower Mainland and over from there...I forget how far it is at the moment...but I seem to recall I had calculated it would take pretty well all day at 4 knots. (I can't find my old charts to check) I have not been able to find anything on the net about small boat crossings of the Georgia Straight.

Some of you may recall my mentioning my favorite book, 'Sailing Just For Fun", by AC (Charles Stock). There is a picture of his boat at the bottom of this page... http://www.timtone.com/tt/ttphotos/PhotosSailingTopsail.htm He has used the same furling gear on his boat for 40 years. It is solid brass, British made and has been available for over 100 years. Charles highly recomends it in his book. It is pricey, but something I am going to get one day. I thought you might all mind find it interesting. More info here.... http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/asp/prodtype.asp?prodtype=79&ph=cat

Hi Cap. Although I have never made a (large) knife (I make small knife-like tools all the time), I have always had a keen interest in this topic. Years ago when I was working in a small shipyard in Sidney, a couple of the lads and I went to the pub after work. There was this rough looking, living on-your-boat-hippy-type fellow ( a lot like me) walking to all the tables trying to sell a knife in sheath he had made. It was a fine thing to behold. Wonderful balance and amazing polish and edge. As for quality, one never knows until you use the thing....but he only wanted $40 for it 20 years ago. I didn't have that kind of money to spend on something like that...at that time of my life. But I always think of that knife. Turns out he was from one of the small islands there abouts. He made the knife from old leaf springs and used local hardwoods for the handles. Made the scabards himself as well. We bought the guy a beer(s) and had a great visit. Years later, I made a guitar for a Canadian chap that is a world class knife-sword maker. Wally Hayes. Ottawa I believe. http://www.hayesknives.com/menu.html Great guy, fun to chat with. He was in the middle of a commission (this is 10 years ago) for some fellow in Virginia...making a rapier(sp?). Very fancy and decorative with a real jewel encrusted <handle>. I don't recall the price he was getting...something like $15,000. I also have a client that collects swords. He once sent me one for a gift. (Rich friends are a kick!) It is 40" long...weights 3 1/2 lbs. and is a two handed broad sword, British...from a design commonly used 650 years ago. I sharpened the thing (they are not sharp when they sell them) and it is an awe inspiring device. I love to drag it out from it's hidey hole and give it to someone to hold...the reactions are fun. You hold something like this in your hand and it makes you think of what going to battle might have been like back in the day. man O man. Anyway...let us know what resources you uncover....and let us see what you end up making.

This was a topic on my wee brain lately as well. Great info guys. Thanks. Great schematic Barry.

Man, you can't know how wonderful your writing, stills and video look to a Canadian this time of the year. I will consider this a fine Christmas gift...thanks Rob. And as a 2 X side topic...though you guys are not the weekenderators (though I am sure most of them hang out here too) I am wondering if you think one of these bailers would work in a WE? Currently snowing like a bugger and damn cold to boot eh.....

Well, all good things Dave. Your craftsmanship is outstanding. Someone has to give the stock steering system a major re-think. I have read and heard way too many stories of these failures....many on first days sail. hugely disappointing.....and dangerous. As I was discussing with someone not of this forum, the original builder and owner of my boat had his steering malfunction the first day out and ended up crashing into a log boom. This (and some other things) scared him enough to trade the boat to me. The very first thing I did to that boat before my first sail was to 'tillerize' the thing. When I read of Jans first day and the steering failure, it actually made me quite angry. This should not happen if you choose to build according to the stock plans. And as long as I am winding up for a bit of a rant, I think the designers should have changed the plans a long time ago to either remove the wheel steering all together or to have re-engineered the design to at least be safe. A simple amendment to the stock plans would not be too out of the question I would think. And to step on a few more toes even further (get ready to duck old chap), I think the wheel, and wheel steering of this design to be bordering on ridiculous. IMHO the wheel exists to sell plans and to catch plan buyers. It is inefficiant and cumbersome and in some cases, unsafe. It exists to merely look good....assuming that some folks do enjoy the look the wheel brings to the boat. Carry on with those amazing images. Flame shield up. :2gunfire:

Hey look you guys....a newbie. Sorry, can't help you with your question...but someone will. Welcome.

Those renderings truly kill me Dave, outstanding.

Font choice is everything, and you picked a real nice one. Looks grand. Good name too. Best of luck.

Man, you are right Knut. I did know that...but it had not even crossed my mind. Zach and I were discussing the event just this evening. I was fun to compare notes. At the time I was trying to untie this amazing knot...Zach was pushing the 'envelope'. He was really getting into it. Enjoying himself. Then this very solid wall of wind makes an appearance and he feels the power....he knew he should just point more into the wind (and that's what I told him to do to reduce some pressure on the sails) ...but for some reason he fought the weather helm and rolled off at just the wrong time. I didn't even look up from this knot business...he seemed so calm and quiet...speaking in a normal voice. I figured all was well, but now he tells me he was freaked out and waiting for me to give him more instruction. Hahaha. All I had in mind was to get that damn knot untied (I have never seen anything like it before or since...hell, I almost took a picture of it) As soon as I felt the boat going over, and heard Zach quietly going, "Ahhhh...Daaaad" I dumped the jib and he must have let go of the tiller...or once the boat was over far enough, the rudder was out of the water....either way she rounded up and then popped right back up like a cork. I went right back to the knot and just told Zach to sail the boat. He said, "but it's waaay windier" Haha...he was really muttering then...but he did, he just sailed, pinching hard until I untied the stupid knot. At that point he was all too happy to turn the driving over to me. As I said before, a pretty interesting first sailing day for him. :shock: So, now that you mention it....yes, I could have taken down some peak. But if I was driving, none of this would have happened.....except for the knot....so next time, I will get my inexperienced helmsman to untie fairy conspired knots, and I will drive the boat. In the meantime it turned out well and we have a fun story to tell. BTW, at the point where I had gotten on my knees in the cockpit to do rope tricks, the wind was moderate 10+....OK for the amount of sail we had up. The squall was hard to see coming (Zach said) because it was dark and raining and the waves were already pretty big...so it was hard to see the gust on the waves. Tonight he told me he figured the wind that hit us was a lot stronger than the earlier wind that day, which, as I said was easy 25+-......so....yikes eh.

Got a buddy with one of those in his boat...says it is always wet in his cockpit.

These boats don't sail at all well into the wind. Basically dead down wind is all they will do. But that is OK.....sailing downwind is easy and does not require much thought. They draw very little. The reasoning behind this aspect of the design is to make beaching as effortless as possible. Folks that use these types of boats don't like to get wet.

One of my main beefs with the flat bottom design. Build a raised up cockpit sole 6" above the cockpit/boat bottom and run some drains out the stern. The cockpit sole has to be above the water line dude. Actually, you might get away with less than 6"....amybe even 3" Wouldn't a drain be awesome? Even if just for washing the boat when it is on the trailer. I have come up with a plan for a drain for that....but not whilst sailing.

I am not quite sure what you are meaning there Mike. The Thimble is rotated around? They all look like they are where I last left them.....but I will have a look next time out. I already dug out the additional clamps needed and planned on getting them on then as well. If all goes well, Saturday sometime. The forestay has two per end. I already learned a lesson on that one. Not that I did anything wrong, but the previous owner forgot to final tighten the clamps and I had it come apart on me one blustery day shortly after getting the boat from him. Not fun. Could have been downright nasty.

Hehehe Well that's a commonly known design around here. Called the BC Bud Special. Very little effort required. Good seating. Easy design to build. As you can see she carries very little sail, so again, quite relaxed. Variations include a couch and TV rather than lawn chair and newspaper. Extremely large beer coolers have been known to capsize these vessels. Can also be identified by large green drifting clouds of smoke trailing from the vessel. Thanks for noticing Dave.

Jan...digital video clips....right? :shock: Craig. Yes indeed. A pretty good first day for a fellow to reminisce about years from now. When I first started sailing I spent months just learning how to cope with lack of wind. Not much to speak of there... He did tell me he had a great time....but then he hasn't called me since then...... :? Sorry to hear about your storm damage. As you say, great chance to alter the rig some. Best to try and see something positive from such an event.

How many flutes on those units Russ? Looks like two. Do they cut smoothly?

That is just so interesting Mike. I have always wanted to design a boat from scratch and build it. But I would have lofted it and built the form and faired the lines. This way you kind of lay it out to scale with major scantlings in mind....fair it up and go for it. So cool. It is fun to see it come to life in such a detailed manner. I enjoy this thread for sure. I actually like most of the lines of the Weekender(or VAC).....but would love to re-draw the boat with a V-bottom, have the beam carried much further aft (much wider transome) and built without the outer permanent strongback and rather with slightly more traditional methods. I would nix the clipper bow/bowsprit support and go to an almost British plumb stem/ entry. I have actually photshopped VAC to look like this before. I liked how it looked. A person could combine elements of your boat, the VAC or WE, and your building style and come up with something really interesting. Do you have images of other boats you know to have been built this way?

Ok, I get it. I could see how that would really help. Thanks for the extra explanation. You have such a nice boat! Didn't you put a new hatch roof on last winter? I can see me doing something different later on. Glad it helped you. Sometimes a picture tells a clearer story. Nice boat? Hehehe....you haven't had a close look....some of it is nice enough...but more of it is downright spooky in spots. But thanks anyway. Yes, the hatches are new, the spars and sails as well. Great thing about this stuff, it can all be changed or modified as you get the time or interest. In your case, get finished and get wet. With the nervousness....have you sailed before? Taken lessons? Rounded the Horn? Maybe take a friend that has some experience that can be disguised as 'crew'....ask him (her) to pretend to be totally incompetent and just sit there while whispering instructions to you.... Pick a day where the weather is solid, not changing.....the lighter the wind the better and work up to bigger stuff...maybe? Ask local sailors what time of day the winds come up, how big, any hazards to watch for etc. As Oyster says, pictures are mandatory. We have been spoiled with the one chaps launch where he had pro quality shots of every other second of action. One or two chase boats with photogs.... and a helicopter would be good too.

I feel for you Charlie. I have had such things made up for me before....at least similar. Maybe you could do that...? Find a clever fab guy somewhere. I have had occasion to need a 'giant' countersink. I had one made years ago, used it for all kinds of cool things around the boat yard I worked at. I need one again a few of years ago, could not find it, so had another made. Come to think of it, I haven't seen that thing in a long time either....? It was basically a long 1/2" bit with a countersink cutter head made and brazed in place. Great for countersinking washer and bolt head for keel bolts and such. I also used it for some massive knees I made for a 100 year old train station restoration....same thing, counter sinking bolts heads with a washer.....or the nut/washer end...whatever the application. Just a little trick I stumbled on for getting the Fuller style countersink head nice and sharp and smooth cutting. Before sharpening, slide the cutter down the bit so the flutes just extend a wee bit past the end of the drill bit. Chuck in a drill press, slowish speed. Bring this thing down on a nice sharp file to just even up those points on the countersink head...just so they are all touched...not far. Then take the thing out and over to your grinder and sharpen to the new reference point. It's the same idea as 'jointing' a hand saw blade or circular saw blade before taking a file to it. Makes a counterbore cut real nice and smooth.