Mike Pennington

You want a long tongue: 1) to clear that mean bow sprit that likes to dingy the top of the rear hatch 2) to keep the rear end of your SUV and muffler out of the water. Pick a trailer that is low to the ground, this will help at shallow boat launches, too. I built mine, it cost fifteen hundred by the time I was done. Good luck, Mike

Great story, thanks for sharing your adventure. Trips like yours are what keeps the blood pumping. I have come to the point of checking the rudder and steering mechanism before every trip. Why? :shock: :oops: I even installed a flush oarlock off the stern for those emergencies that can occure. I sure love the overnight trips, sailing into a quite cove, early morning breakfast and the hot cocoa. :wink: Then off with the wind for a sail. Mike

Mike, you and your wife do us all proud, sail on.

Ah yes, the boat building virus may lay dormant, but there is no real cure. 8)

Glad to hear the mast didn't get wet Mark. I had the same thing happen with my furling jib's cabel. Lucky, I had the stock jib rigged or I would have lost the mast. Sure gave me a start when she let go. Mike

That was an inspirational interview. The man's living my dream.

Definitely looks like fun and a large fleet. Glad you found some sailing buddies, John. Joan and I are getting settled in down in Palmer. Tomorrow we are going for a day sail on Big Lake. We'll be thinking of you while out on the water. Mike

Mark, I had to wean you at sometime along your career as the new Admiral of the North Star Fleet. I

Florin, I would have to say the best results I've got from the three lappers I've made was the one to the forward stay. If you don't have roller furling then the extra sail gets in the way of clearing the mast. With my stock jib I run the double sheets to the base of the stay threw a coupler with each sheet running down the deck on the inside of the stays. The lapper I have on a manual furler forward of the stock jib, I run the sheets to the base of the back stays. One can bring in the jib pretty tight, when trying to sqeek a little extra out of a tack Granted I might gain a little by putting the padeye in close to the cabin just ahead of the forward stay, but then that is one more line that can snag a foot in an inconvenient place. I just might mak another sail too, one without a furler and use it off the forestay, leaving the inner stay disconnected at the base. I lost the biggest lapper I made in a breeze that I should have known better to try. If I hadn't of had my stock inner stay, which is set to the plans secured, I would have had a distaster. That is why I don't recomend to big of a lapper unless you go over kill on the stay. Also, if I were making a new lapper, I would raise the mast with a line attached to the jib halyard then run another line from the base of the forestay to where I want the clew of the sail to be. In this way you get the two base angles of your triangular sail and the length of your three sides. Keep in mind that the closer the sail is to the angle of the deck the more wind you are using, however your also making a blind spot and you want to clear any deck ornaments that might need to duck as the sail flies overhead. Mike

Florin, I still use my stock jib on windy days. But the lapper Barry was speaking of is definitely the way to go. We are talking at least another knot in speed. I got my sails from PJ, the poly sail is holding up, despite the fact he himself did not. I have seen the sails that Stevenson's sale on Mark G's Weekender, sweet and well made. When I made my first lapper out of tarp and duct tape, I noticed that if you stretch the tape to much it will shrink back to it orignal length and cause the sail to be baggy. Also when lashing the sail, I not only pass the line through the eye, but back through the loop of line. This holds the sail in place, when you tie the line off at the end of the gaff and boom. Stretches it out so to speak. Now as to moving to New York :shock: Well some folks swear Wasilla residents are ruder and that they certainly drive worse than the reputation one hears about innocent New Yorkers. So in away moving to the big city is true, Frank. However, I have a solution to tail-gaters, I place a single bladed Plum ax in the stake bed hole in my truck bed, the flapping blade usually keeps the pesky hiney sniffers back a couple hundred yards The trees are taller here than in the interior, but it rains more too. However that rain has to go somewhere and as a result there are way more lakes to sail and the big water is much closer. Glad you have all your kids under one roof now, it is great how that usually works out. Good sailing to you. Mike

Hello Alexander, The crew of the Aurorawolf appreciates that anchor. I will never be caught saying that there can be such a thing as overkill for an anchor and enough rode. Your anchor is the crown of my collection and the fortress designed hung of metal has not failed me yet. Doreen and Mark, The crew has landed safely and settled into quarters. We took the Aurorawilf out on Big Lake, Sunday and buzzed the yacht club. We only drew two sails out to enjoy the stormy day. The Opland

Amen, Konrad. I still get oohs and ahhhs, enough to inflate my ego. And at least she doesn't leak. And if I'm not lazy and rig the boom tent the cockpit doesn't get too wet. Also when the Wolf goes for those mid night jaunts on her own in the storms for a little dock bashing I don't worry about her too much. Although the new anchor Mark's son sold me is a nice fail safe, for extra precaution. Mark, it is not all my fault :roll: Joan turned an application into the mental health unit at Providence Medical Center and the manager dang near hired her on the phone. She kept fretting that Joan might apply at Regional. I didn't want to give her a stroke and tell her she all ready had. I did mention that bribary does work :wink: I may drive out to the lake this weekend, no promises, I'm not sure about the condition I'll be in after surgery this Wen. But I could use a good sail. I will also probaly give my 2 week notice at FMH, while I'm on medical leave I might add I agree we need some more recruits, maybe a tall tale in the Alaska Magazine will draw some Pogey Bate. :roll: Joan and I want to sail Tustamina Lake next, we be thinking big. Now that will be some great pictures and make a good artical. I'll give you a shout Mark when I get back in town. Mike

Dang bondo! :twisted: Sorry to here the bad news Mark. The finish of the Flyer looks so much nicer than my thirty foot finish on my Vacationer. At least you have that way cool boat house you built to work in. The new job search looks like it is paying off, Joan and I both have interviews this coming week. The one positive thing I am looking forward to in moving, is the prospect of a large garage to work in this winter. Good luck in the repair work. Mike

I'll let Mark or Alexander explain that one. I have to hand it to Mark, he is a fantastic father, and knows how to keep his kids busy. He has some great ideas. Mike

So how much did you pay for that furler and where did you purchase it from? Also do you have any pics of how the sail is attached to the furler?

The Memorial Day weekend was a big success for the Harding Lake Fleet. The Flyer and As You Wish representing the Weekenders and my Aurorawolf a Vacationer. We were also joined by our newest member Steve Gudshinsky and his Capri 15. Three great days of fun, good food :wink: and lots of sailing. The highlight of my weekend was when I scored a Fortress anchor from Alexander's Salvage and Marine. I've been wanting one for some time now. Alexander salvaged the perfect anchor for me, at a low cost of twenty bucks. 8) Such a deal! http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UQAhA*oXIbr1cd8k5!cyuhfAsBdyyLAKr6JTBsA3Nd7Al3DxHPPHopof789oUqaRNn40TU!ahaZG3uB!fS03RkMAYmm1RVrgO7O!Ogvl7hNLVxSfC6*P3aL3t339eL2B/P1010002.JPG?dc=4675524628275286302

That's cool Dave.

Good for you Craig, your still the saltyest. :wink: The Harding Lake Fleet is gathering for the weekend. I sailed Mark's Weekender for the first time this evening, fun little boat. Mark gave me my own spot at his dock, today. I'm very flattered and greatful :shock: Now I can leave my boat in the water overnight and not have to worry about her. I'm glad you had a great time, and tell Mrs. Saralee to get better from us Alaskans. Good firstmates are hard to come by. Mike

John, Mark asked me to invite you out sunday and monday. The dock is up and Mark's Marina is in full swing. Lets go sailing buddy. We'll be looking for As You Wish. Mike

Wow, nice sailing stories guys. I went out Monday to Harding Lake, Mark said the ice went out, so I had to go out for a sail. I'll be out there again this weekend. Mark is putting his dock in and I get to help. :shock: Bring your own hip waders he says. http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UQD9AvwXs7r1cd8k5!cyuuekPpmyjcjUXnn*aJd9Y5wNm2uuhb4bgSVsN6y7forFzBEJ6POIBFhBkuZDbwxw596L5jB8Qu08A*FFSrZYzBAYgttFkt0ScqPtOo8ZnD8h/P1010022.JPG?dc=4675524118353103652

Excellent sail. Felt so good.

Well yeeha! So much for cleaning out the garage I guess this will answer my question whether the new trailer is too high to launch at Harding's shallow boat launch. I was going to take the drift boat for a dip, but this sounds like much more fun. Mike

A couple of years ago, I'll try and find the pics, I watched a black lab and an otter playing on the docks. I don't think the dog knew the otter wasn't just another funny looking dog. They had a good game of tag your it going. As far as cockpit raiders go, the dang sea gulls are enough

Here's a nice picture of As You Wish. John post your address above in private messages and I will mail you a disc of all the pictures I have of your boat from last year and this last trip. Mike http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YACZAkgeotKmRDRwmfqugbUrXNFwZ491FYn*sQYv6MZz3rW*Of3OGrdyBSbmSa4jwOCC5E7P6qKWfIxVQEqxGiF8AdR!wY6Nq5TDsZSF*ghjuPySy6SxqheCR97hbfl5c1561uWRs9fXchUCTW96aQ/as%20you%20wish%20homer.jpg?dc=4675522436632041241

Why does and otter roll over in the water after every meal? http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UwDxAiUaHmGjJA8Z6DjkQSLPEZ7Uu3YWCJ80NLCgQsgrD!tbKVEyhA0opPzGlUhietPrwXO9acsz!6AyqovrYZDzoYLJHvqyeCOMCoMrRArHWnKnPDsJXq1LmwY2rrNt/otter%20one.JPG?dc=4675522003719369849 To clean its table