High C

Has anybody thought about using one of the high tech kevlar or Technora ropes for the Weekender's shrouds instead of steel cable? It seems to me that it would make folding the mast and bundling everything up for trailering easier to have flexible lines instead of the cable. The strength is certainly there. The elongation, or stretch, is a tenth of one percent, very, very low. Am I overlooking something?

Even at 25% off, Waste Marine is still pretty high. Defender Marine carries Samson rope that is about 40% than you know who's line. www.defender.com

Bye Capt! Don't strain anything.

I wouldn't make a keel out of ply unless I covered it with Kevlar. If you abrade the bottom of the keel thru the paint by running aground, you'll expose the plys to water absorption. With solid lumber you would be exposing the edges, which do not absorb water like end grain does. I'd sure want to use solid lumber, laminated as per the plans.

Don't worry about not being able to smell the resin anymore, that's probably just a little dain bramage. :shock:

Hi Joe! For some reason I'm craving steak, mmmmmm 8)

Barry, that sounds like a good idea with the snap-in vinyl. I have thought about the motor mount question, a lot, but have no firm plans yet. I want to keep it simple and small so's not to hide the bright transom too much, but I may have to go with one of those mounts that raises and lowers the motor in and out of the water, as I have a short shaft Nissan 3.5 I plan to use. I may do something with wood, make my own. I just haven't made much progress yet. Keep me posted if you come up with something clever. Thanks!

Barry, thanks for the comments. I'll be using her strictly as a day sailer. We have a big plastic boat, the High C, for overnights. I'm going to keep the back of the cabin open. It really is much like a dodger that way. It looks good, and is easy to reach the cooler and ditty bags under the roof. Also provides a place for the kids to ride out a rain storm. The only thing I haven't figured out yet is how to keep the spray water that gets on the cockpit floor out of the cabin area. I don't want to put a solid wall accross the end of the seating since that would make it hard to get a loaded cooler into the cabin. It's so hot in Louisiana that we design everything around the cooler! I will be putting toe rails and rub rails on. I thought it best to do that after the paint and glass. I'm using 5/4 x about 2 inches treated pine laid flat on the deck, and sticking out past the sides about 3/4 inch. That will serve as both a toe rail and an upper rub rail. I'll also put a second rub rail below that, as designed. That's a really important visual element, I think. Yep, a tiller. I bought one that looks great, and with the bigger cockpit, it won't be in the way as much.

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When I bought Bruce's boat, I felt that the square cabin was the only thing he did that I didn't like. But now that I've lived with it a while, I like it quite a lot. It makes the cabin a bit larger, and since I've cut about two feet off the original cabin that Bruce built, the extra space is most welcome. It really looks right to me, too. Derek, you are definitely the man if you can make it to the show in two weeks! Your boat looks great, and your hatch cover is a lot like what I'm doing. I'm doing pretty much the same thing, but with cherry, and I have a second hatch on the cabin top, too. Looks great!

I'm there with my laptop on the wireless network right now!

I've added a few new pics to my Weekender site. It's just a matter of time now! http://www.jtservices.net/boat.htm

One more thing that's really important in some cases, whether or not it has neutral and/or reverse gear. Some of the little motors start in gear, they have no neutral or reverse. Pull the starter rope, and off you go. This could be a problem for some. These motors do pivot around 360 degrees so you can back up, but the lack of a neutral could be a problem. Be sure you think it over and know which type you're getting.

The itty bitty 2 cycle Mercs are actually Taihatsus. Taihatsu also makes the Nissan 2 hp the 3.5 hp, and the Merc 3.3. They all weigh 28 to 30 pounds. I have the Nissan 3.5 w/ neutral gear, that I use with my 10' dinghy. It's way more power than is needed for the dinghy. It's a great motor, and I think quiter than my neighbor's Honda 2hp, which is air cooled. I also plan to use it on my Weekender when it's done, any minute now, soon, one of these days...

I'll third that. Veneer is for pros and very skilled ams who have the right tools. Have you ever held a piece of veneer in your hand? It's so thin, I can't imagine how it was cut in the first place, or how I could even get home with it in one piece. I'm about to start making my hatch tops. There are two, the foredeck, and another at the front of the cabin roof. I'm going to make them out of solid cherry, strips maybe 1.5 inches wide, and bright, of course. I'm hoping they'll be the main focal point of the boat. I'll post pics when they're ready.

Thanks Robert. They have a 6", and a 12". To get the 9" I suppose I could cut it down. Another good possibility. Thanks!

I'm thinking about hanging my Danforth type anchor from the bowsprit, like big boats do. Haven't given it much thought yet. So little brain to go around. :wink:

Good stuff here guys. I like the eyenut idea. Thanks.

Ooh, I like that idea Barry. The vendors mentioned above do have some great stuff, but still don't have the 3/8 x 9" eyebolt that holds the bowsprit to the stem. Your idea sounds good, and if I don't find what I need I'll probably go that route. Thanks!

I thought of that idea Jake, but I'd have to drill the hole oversive to allow room for the nut. I'm also trying to figure out something with a threaded rod, hmmm And I am having a hard time finding the long eyes, even in galvanized.

I have no doubt she'll do 20 knots...... on the trailer.

I'm having a hard time locating the long eyebolts called for in the Weekender plans. Jamestown doesn't have them. Anybody know another vendor? Thanks

I'll second the epoxy + microballoons suggestion. Easy to work, non-shrinking, and easy to sand. Spread it with a plastin spreader or wide putty knife. Don't dally around though, short pot life!

Thanks Jake. I'm about 6 weeks away from any mast raising activity on my Weekender, but I'll sure keep your ideas in mind. Thanks!

So Captain (not of boats), did you find it hard to step the mast once all the stuff was installed? Please keep us posted about your mast raising system using the jib halyard. It's a great idea to use an existing line. There are plenty on there already!