PadrePoint

Ah… looking good with some enhancements that you are adding from your Avocet build. As I looked at your post, I’m literally sitting on our deck swing with beer in hand and Avocet in front of me. Last year, I painted the lower “swoosh” at the waterline yellow, to add a bit more color. (The bottom is still white.). Plus, I put some yellow on the top foot of the masts. I’m doing a couple little things before it goes to the summer boatyard (I keep it well covered out there.). I got a new mast float mount installed on the mizzen mast to mount the mast float (it is named “Wrasse-cal”… a wrasse being a little Yellow Sea fish.) And, I figured out a way to mount a pig stick for a yellow ribbon onto the main mast mount (I had Wrasse-cal on that mount last year but wanted a ribbon on the main mast instead… it serves as a wind indicator and adds some additional yellow color.) Tomorrow, I will start making “slats” for the companionway entry that can be removed when the masts are in their lowered place. The current one will still be used, but it requires the masts to be lifted up out of the way to remove it, should I want to access the cabin when masts are lowered (well, I can uncomfortably slide myself through the sliding hatch on top.) And, I’m finally making another canopy that can cover the cabin entrance and forward cockpit area when anchored or camping. (My wife agreed to do the sewing of the Harbor Freight canvas drop cloth I bought for $15.) I got some “replacement” tent poles last summer that will stretch the canopy sides upward and outward. I know this blog is about your new build, and it’s been fun to check in with your progress. But, I thought you might like to see some of my mods on Avocet. (Oh yeah, I added a nice 4 step ladder to the transom last summer.) Ted

I put my name in the list… with a little luck I can pull off being part of the event. I would camp aboard my CS17m3.

You’re never one to sit still. I was clear in myself that I’d not build another boat. But, I recently decided to buy Don Silsbe’s extra sail that needed a boat. My boys decided to build a simple project with me and to involve my grandkids as well: a 8’ B&B Two Paw that can accommodate Don’s sail. I told the kiddos that THEY would be responsible for its name and how it will be painted (now THAT could be interesting) and that they’d assist in the build.

This forum has worked well for a lot of years, especially for builders of B&B Yacht Designs boats. I created the forum for my local sailing group but it “didn’t take.” Perhaps I could create a new forum for us if there is an interest. I’d take care of costs. Let me know your thoughts. Ted Johanson

And now you’ve got just the right boat to use Two Paws as a “tag-along”.

So, Paul, how were biting type bugs for you?

OR… another way to do the great loop: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1078525023707686/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v He completed the Great Loop… https://www.facebook.com/reel/1082652473409037/ in his Jon Boat. Jay, I think your approach will be MUCH more fun.

“Two tone” can at least be functional.

My family made plans for the September dates (and I couldn’t travel during most of May. Ted

I will likely do this as well to my CS17 (folding or popup cleats.). Curious, how far forward of the transom did you place them? And, I’ve been thinking about making a second companionway hatch cover. Currently it’s a single piece and stowed masts prevent me from lifting it out without also lifting the masts to provide the room. I plan to cut three boards to stack in the hatchway (that will prevent water from seeping in), each being able to be removed while the masts are in the stored position. Always SOMETHING to do, eh?

Maybe Swallows and Amazons been placed in the BANNED BOOKS list. It seems like the currently banned books lists include all kinds of my and my wife’s favorite childhood reading. Maybe books like Animal Farm too closely suggest current politics and we cannot have kids see or hear those words. (I apologize that my sarcasm meter is a little high today.) A DCA Journal from last year had an article about the Journal editor’s wife taking her granddaughters to the lake and island that served as base for the children’s novel. When I bought it for my grandkids I read through it first. The characters’ imagination and conversations are much like my granddaughters’ own. I’m hoping the book will inspire their sailing and boating interests. Rain is forecast for tomorrow so I told the girls that after raising the sails again and having some imaginative pirate play we’ll put things back into trailer mode and return the boat back into the garage.

We got the two grandgirls up here for the Easter weekend; their parents come up Friday night. SOOO…. let’s set up Avocet for the first time this year and do a little “trailer sailing.” They did all the steps needed to set everything up as I showed them the “ropes” and processes. (We’ll try out the reefing system tomorrow for something new.). Upon getting everything ready, they headed into the cabin for a snack. At home the family is currently working through the children’s novel, Swallows and Amazons (1920’s… four siblings sail their boat Swallows on a bunch of sailing and imaginative adventures.) So NOW that setup is done, their imagination is kicking in, and some gentle wind is coming up. Oh no, one just “fell overboard” and needs rescue (yes, we practice the drill when on the water… one gets to spontaneously throw a floaty and alert everyone, “man overboard!”) Back aboard and they are starting to get LOUD with orders and imaginative sailing adventures. How do two little girls make so much noise?? (It’s great.) Temps are dropping a bit so I supplied them with a couple blankets for the cabin bunks. Maybe they will chill at some point in their “sailing time”. I rigged the anchor to “lower” for some downtime. They asked about staying in it overnight… getting to 38 tonight… nah. (But, summer’s comin’!!)

2025 - Goal: a LOT more Boat Time I just got back home from a 300-mile round trip downstate to get Avocet out of its winter storage. (I rent 6 months’ of space from a guy who keeps his garage-building above 40 degrees; my daughter parks her little 13’ Scamp Camper there as well, among maybe 20 other RV’s and boats… nice arrangement for $55/month.) I paused at a rest area for a photo. I note that I have added nothing to this thread for over two years. I can’t believe how I slid along that long; my good intentions produced nothing. I will change that for this year’s sailing season. I might even add a few catch-up posts from the last couple years just to show that I actually did some sailing. And, I must admit that some family and health things took a lot of time and attention, especially this past year. I have devised some goals for this year. In particular, I intend to sail and camp on the lakes that are part of the Wisconsin River. I created a Facebook Group and described my summer’s goal in this post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16GzGAh95J/?mibextid=wwXIfr I will use all three of my boats to accomplish the goal. The Eagle River Chain of Lakes (which the Wisconsin River runs into and out of) doesn’t seem conducive for a sailboat to explore many of the 28 lakes, but my 15’ ski boat would be a fun alternative for me to tour the lakes (I’ve only driven by a few of the chain’s lakes and I look forward to seeing the chain from the water.) So, after a month-long road trip out west with my wife in June, we plan to be home for July and August. I shall endeavor to accomplish this goal in 2025.

Yeah, there is that. Always gotta think of the big picture…. (and what’s worth it.)

I found a $29 Amazon tent with the door on the “side” that I could aim to the bow. I built a platform to fill the cockpit with an “egg crate” support. Yes, I’m 6’5”. This has worked successfully for me.