Jonathan M. Cohn

I just got a Starlink mini in order to have internet where its not available on cellular. Any tips for placement on the boat? Did you just have it setting back on the starboard side roughly pointed North? Any tips? I wish I had the power to livestream the Texas 200 but I think I'll save the batteries for fans! Loved your livestream.

After watching many hours of Dawn Patrol 2 sail magically with its windvane steering system, I have decided I can't possibly steer the whole time myself in the Texas 200 in June. More importantly, my brother / crewmen agrees and is willing to help install (or fund installation) of Walter the windvane. In the past, I have considered installing Andy the autopilot but a system not needing batteries would be better. Why else do I even have that big boomkin on the back of my boat?!? Any chance of a kit being sold for Core Sound 17.3? Could I purchase preliminary plans? I know the link at https://bandbyachtdesigns.com/windvane is not quite ready to let me purchase yet. Finally, I have a ladder on the left of my transom and a motor mount on the right. Do I even have room for the auxiliary rudder and kick up apparatus? How much space is needed? If you haven't seen Walter in action check out these links:

I'm excited to see her take shape. Does the jig become the structural bulkheads and just the planking is foam core? What about the decking?

I really like my Epropulsion Spirit with its single removable battery. Its perfect for using to get in and out of a dock or handling in a pinch. Its not as good for all day cruising. Its not cheap. I had a Tohatsu 3 HP outboard before this and the carburetor clogged all the time. If it wasn't clogged it started easy. It was about 20 years old and a two stroke.

Alan, you sail off the dock on main alone without the mizzen? I'm not sure why but in my head I thought I wasn't really supposed to sail on main alone and always put the mizzen up and then the main. Are there other situations where you find it better to use main alone? How about when reefing down? For reefing, I've always thought the order for my 17.3 was sort of: 1. Fill the ballast tank. 2. Lower the sail height. 3. Put in the first reef in the main 4. Put in the first reef in the mizzen 5. Put in the second reef in the main 6. Put in the second reef in the mizzen My plan at this point if still overpowered, assuming I couldn't just stop sailing, was to attempt to sail on reefed mizzen alone without the main. Is that really an option? I'm doing the Texas 200 this year and hear of sailors talking about having three reefs. I've always assumed I didn't need that.

I'm always anxious to raise the mizzen just to get the spar and sail out of the way so I can steer! I often put it up at the dock if possible as I worry about the reefing lines getting back towards my outboard, rudder, tiller, etc. I'm sort of a nervous Nelly until the mizzen is up and I have steerage. Then I find the main is not too bad and I can often raise it even without being completely head to wind. Of course, its easier with someone else on the boat. Luckily I still have a 10 year old minion along a lot of the time and he loves helming while I work on other stuff.

For holding the tiller in place I really like the Tiller Clutch over the tamer. Alan demonstrated one here: https://wavefrontmarine.com/

I second the vote for a Bill of Sale. These aren't to hard to draft yourself. Add in the as-is, no warranty language of your choice.

Are these thicker than the plans recommend? My lines don't seem so big.

Steve, how did you secure the battery? I have been setting mine inside the locker but I'm worried it'll tumble and create destruction in a capsize. I saw Paul built a cool spot into his new boat to secure his.

Way to go all! Your finishes are inspirational.

Thanks Andy. That sounds like a fun weekend. I will definitely keep an eye on your events.

Frank, I hope you continue to see improvement. I know hard it can be having health challenges. Often accepting the new normal is the most difficult part. Good luck. Messing-about is a great site for small boat enthusiasts and I hope you will plan for her to continue in the future. If I can do anything or you need a sounding board, please let me know. Jonathan

It looks like a 10 hour drive for me but the timing is great. Can you tell us a little bit more about the event?

Alan, thanks for the pointers. I am working on moving weight forward more. My scuppers are leaving a bit of water in the rear cockpit and this is allowing some water to drain in through the piano hinge of the rear compartment. I didn't know it in these pics, but that rear compartment had enough water to float my epropulsion battery. I am going to double check that the scuppers themselves have no leak. I purchased some rubber gasket to help limit water ingress. Do you sell the foam kind you use on the hatches? I think this could go around the bottom bezel of that rear hatch. I am also lengthening the tiller extension to make it easier to sit ahead of the thwart. At what speed would you consider it needful to fill the ballast chamber considering the 200 pounds of batteries are already in place? Should i think of filling the tank as part of the reefing regime? Is there a rule of thumb? i.e. Fill the tank when winds are over 15. Put in the first reef when over 19, second reef over 24. Others have mentioned sailing flat. Should I be reefing when she starts to heel? In Graham's Carlita in the Tx200 video he's heeling quite a bit but no reefs. In his Across FB video it looks like he has both reefs in and is sailing her on her ear. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I often feel like a "newb" but I've enjoyed learning. I have really liked the boat and she shines on long runs. My local lakes are just small ponds to her.