Mike Pennington

I was checking out the photos on the other thread. That should be a fun craft to spend the day on.

My Wolf is still around. 8)

Yepper, That's what I think. Notice that pretty grey lump on the back of the Wolf? All torque. As a motor sailer that Vacationer does real well in the rough suff.

Howdy Craig 8) Check out the new website Frank built for me. http://aurorawolf.com/ The dang Doctors won't let me drive anymore, well for awhile anyway. The meds for suppressing the white blood cells make me a bit weak. I tried to tell him I drive in my sleep all the time, but he wasn't going for it. I suppose he's right. I took the Wolf out a couple of weeks ago. Woke up headed into the wind :shock: But I figure I had a nice nap, I'm not sure how long I was out for. I've been itching to use my John Henry scarf tool, but the Wife keeps counting my fingers every time I play with my tools. So now I'm publishing fiction. Who knew?

Wow, Folks talking about the Vacationer, and Konrad too. I weigh a hefty 260 and standing on the rail the boat barely heels. But a ten mile an hour wind things can change. I often sail Kachemak Bay off the Cook Inlet and around to Soldovia, however I hug the coast and choose my day to cross out in the open. I met Mike Hale owner of Mordag of Ketchikan Island down in the south east panhandle. This boat is built from British Columbia Marine Ply she is about as bullet proof as a Vacationer can be and as exact/stick to the plans. Mike told me how he rolled the Vacationer in four foot surf off the north end of the island. The boats tough, sails good, but with the long keel under her, and getting side ways in the surf, you can get knocked over from the pounding waves. Mike sailed the Alaskan Marine Highway for over twenty years on the Alaskan Ferries as bosun. When the Coast Guard came to rescue him, he said he was a bit embaressed, but glad to see him. G Man I've never sailed your waters, but if you have surf the Vacationer might not be for you. She's an inland water boat. Have you considered the Calidonia Yawl? Or better yet, Ask Par What Boat he would suggest? The Man knows his boats.

Here are a couple of pictures that might be of use

I used 1/8 inch thick by 1x8 inch stainless steel strap ( Stanely ) with pre drilled holes. Bolted them to the hull with a 1x4 backing : then leaned on them, 250lbs is an awsome force at times. I was able to angle them just right to where they were in line with the back stays, plus get an angled bend flush with the top of the deck. Then I used my four inch grinder to round them off. If you are building a piano, uhm, my method was kind of down and dirty, so it may not be right for you. If you don't have 250lbs to work with, a large cresent wrench will work too. That box of donuts works for about anything, tire shop, ect. 8)

I like the Ultra- Pierre : But then I still have plans for the Calidonia Yawl. I have an Essex built, Islander 23 that needs to be restored and a vacationer that needs some deck work. Also, a 26'x14' boat shed to put up. Come on break up I'll just have to cool my jets for awhile. But I do feel the need ;D

Thanks Steve, I don't brouse their site as much as I used to, the cost of their plans are a bit out of my range. However, there are a few I like. Don't hurt to dream. I'll check out the book though. M

Steve, that download is a book You must have hours upon hours of time invested in this boat. I copied the down load to paper and will find a note book for my copy. Thanks for the plans, and yes, if I choose this boat I will send you a photo log of the construction. At this point I will most likely build the motor version, but the rowing skiff is very tempting. Mike

Link? I have been wanting to build a lake boat for fishing

Nice web page, Steve. I've been looking for something small to build too.

Yeah! Really cool that you have a local fleet, and I thought our little Alaska Fleet was Froggy. I remember when I was a Scout, and dreamed of canoeing Canada's Lakes. Now that dream has changed to sailing some of those lakes. You folks are really going to have a good time. Mike

Frank, The hard drive in my home computer died, was down for awhile, lost your e-mail address. When you get time send me a message. Mike

A major event during any build 8) and a few times after that Good luck with your project.

Cut a slot in the cross peices for the keel. And carpet the top edges of the ply cross pieces. So your boat is not only resting on the keel but the bottom ply too. Don't forget the casters : the locking kind are cool. If you build the frame right, when you flip the boat to fiberglass the bottom, you can use the same dolley. As long as the cabin fits down between the cross peices. The frame width is as wide as the deck. Good luck, working on your boat, you won't regret the effort. M

Keep sanding strip her down good and maybe get some strips of clouth. I'm not the expert, but I have had some good luck fixing leaks. How does the wood look inside the box? Seperation? Softness at the base? Try using an awl to poke around. I would wonder if the wood had been totally encapsilated in epoxy, then got a leak, did H2O seep in and for how long? Maybe put some heat on the area to make sure it is really dry. Looks like solid construction, in the photo and FUN sailing. How about another picture of the outer hull? so we can see her lines?

Water will collect against the aft cabin bulk head, inside and out. It is the lowest point in my Vacationer, when sitting in the water. If your lucky your cabin will never leak : from above. The only water that gets in my boat is from the rain and the cockpit can get deep quick. I would put the pump under one of the seats by the bulkhead. Stoves! I use a two burner, stainless steel Brinkman. I use the small green Colman gas cansiters. Well okay, Joan uses the stove. Not only for cooking, but a quick warm up. I also have a Colman heater that uses the same canisters. Lasts about seven hours with continuos use.

Hello All, I wrote a response last night, but the dang cable company went down, before I could post it. Naturally, I realize now that I didn't save my work either ;D Brian, I've been busy raising up the grandkids, very little time for myself. Or the boats. The Vacationer sails well, I've surprised a few boats that some might think are a higher class boat, and done the Vacationer design credit. Adding sail forward, helps her point up wind a bit better. Getting the mast angled right helps, too. : Rowing the Vacationer is actually easy, once she gets going. I use the oars to put her back on the trailer, much easier than the motor, more control. I used eight foot oars, but nine to ten would be better. I carved out my own ten footers. I had to raise the oarlocks at the cockpit to clear the railing. Some times in a light wind or a passing speed boat, will cause the bow to stall have way over when coming about. Nice to have that oar ready for a quick dip and get back to heading the right way. All that keel out front will slow you down if you loose momentum. With a light load the Vacationer can almost keep up with Lars' schooner. Which is saying something. I have sailed the Vacationer in some heavy winds, white caps, swells and cross currents. The trick is to reef the sail, before she gets rough. I have scared the dickens out myself more than once, too. Lars Opland's, "Loon." Very fast, also has two oar stations. Vacationer, "Mordag," off Ketchikan Island, Alaska, under oar power.

Hello, A little encouragement. I've busted my head on that mid rafter, more than once I forget how many inches I raised the mast base, originally, fourteen, maybe a bit more. Then refitting a couple of years ago, I raised it again, when I changed the mast to white spruce. I got to pick that one out of the mill yard, that was a good day. I have a double bottom on the Aurorawolf. And her sides are a size up from what the plans called for.(Not intentional, just the only thing that I could get in Fairbanks, at the time.) She is a bit heavier now, I've added some lumber, from when I first launched. The first few seasons, she was so light that I could ghost along on a flat surface, if the wind could barely flicker a Bic lighter. Now days, I use a Honda 9.9 to push the big duck through the water ;D She rides real well out in the bay off Homer, the raised mast and sail area hasn't effected her stability in my opinion. I think you might be able to see how much room is available. My Vacationer's gunwhales are raised, too, shelter from the cold splash. I think you might get away with something close to raising the hatchway. Just remember, change one think, and adjust a whole lot more I want to rebuild my hatch, something with a little more height, and maybe small portholes. But a structure that won't give way or loose in a roll over. As water tight as possible. The raised sides have given me problems when rowing out of Seward. But I have since decided that if the wind is that strong again, I'll stay in port. : Getting side ways in the surf is a big no-no with the Vacationer. All that extra flat surface on the keel at the bow, will drive the boat over. Same with tacking, she can be fickle.

Nice, thanks for the link.

I posted a few pics awhile back at Frank's MSN site. I believe their are a couple more Vacationer's as well. http://www.messing-about.com/weekender/albums.htm The four inches to the cabin hieght is a must, I bang my head as it is.

Mouse, Someone has to warn you, you are entering a very dangerous frame of mind. Next you'll want to buy one, THEN maybe even build one 8) That is if your lucky, and can stop at only one boat. The next problem, one can have, is when the scurvy crew constantly nags to go sailing. M If your soul has the calling for the wind, you will know no peace, until you sail. But at first you'll probably scare the heck out of yourself.

I went to Redmond High School and lived on Lake Washington, the far side of Seattle. I later moved to Orcas Island, before moving to Alaska. Beautiful country, one has to love that trade off :wink: The area was no doubt an influence, as far as sailing goes. We caught the top end of that same wind storm here in southcentral Alaska. Followed by eighteen inches of snow I figure the snowplow guy needs to make a living too. Say, Barry, umm, get out the chainsaw buddy. 8) You sure named off some nice wood. I'm drooling :icecream: Merry Christmas Builders :x-mas:

Greg, Yep! That be the pirate, I mean, the Admiral of the Fairbanks Fleet. I'm the dark shadow and the pink blur is my four year old granddaughter. :wink: The pictures were taken this last summer on Harding Lake. Next I'll be building her a boat :roll: Well, I hope.