Mark Gudschinsky

Hi Frank and all, Frank's reminder reminded us that it's been a while since the Alaskan Harding Lake checked in. So here's a bit of catching up. Our Weekender The Flyer gets most of the work over the summer, and after seven years (Holy cow! It can't be that long can it?) she is still going strong. Other than changing hardware to Harkin and other real sailing fittings a while back, she is still sound and doing well. I must also extend a complement to the sails we bought through the Stevenson's site. they're still near pristein and preforming well. Alexander's Swimmer (look on the Stevenson's website under Amphoras http://www.stevproj.com/OtherBBB.html ) still is an eye catcher and gets regular outings. One point of experience we gained from Swimmer is a person might want to consider growth of the captian and crew as a boat designed is chosen. If you take a look at Swimmer and crew on Stevensons web site, they fit nicely in the hull.In the intervining years though the captin has grown a bit. He's 6'2" and weighs 215 pounds. Launching no longer requires dad. Laura's Skipjack Skipper is idle often just becaust when the wind is up I'll launch The Flyer, and people tend to pile in. We're going to have to make an effort to put a few more sea miles under her next summer. For now, all three boats were pulled out a few weeks back, and have been bundeled up for our long winter. Flyer may get a refit before spring though. I'm planning taking some time off work. She needs some paint and polish, and I'll probably need something constructive to do.

Something I have recently wondered about in the floatation department is the material "pool noodels" are made of. Recently at work some items came packed in small 1" thick sheets. Anyone know the correct name or term for this material, and where it might be got? I think The flexible nature of the stuff would be ideal in some of the smaller craft.

Good point on the hidden corrosion, I hadn't thought of that. I bought aluminum swages as that was what was on the shelf. May I assume they will be good enough?

I

I know why your plans failed, It was the spirit of Swimmers revenge! :twisted: Sure you take The Flyer home for work, but what do you do with my Amphora? You leave her under a tarp at the lake house next to a four-wheeler that turns off every time we start it. (Even at full gas!) I say it's time to give Swimmer a new paint job! (And a patch job too) Hey Greg, what did you do with Dragon all winter?

I spent all winter working and lurking, and am now caught with spring rushing up. As for my best laid plans for refitting The Flyer this winter, they got away. The mast and bright work is showing age after three years. So Saturday the kids and I stripped the rigging and pulled the boom and mast and hauled it all into the boatshed for sanding and finishing. As we came back out and got our first look at The Flyer for the first time in three years without her trimmings it was quite a shook! A bare sailboat is like a girl with her skirt blown up, she needs some sort of modesty applied to preserver her dignity! Luckily it looks like it should only take a few days (with drying time) to get the bright work back on. As for lines and blocks etc., while the boat is bare, it might time for an upgrade. I

Chad, Most reports of swamped Weekenders I thought were described as floating with the rails at the surface. Were you caring extras weight? Battery, motor, etc.? Do you have any floatation aboard? Or were the conditions such that swamped was swamped and the level of swamped didn't really matter?

What you

My personal favorite keep warm combo is wool pants and shirt and hat for warmth. Rain pants for dry and a GOOD FLOAT COAT to keep me dry and save my life if I suddenly find myself in the water. Because, when you find yourself in the water it will almost always be sudden, a surprise, and a shock physically and mentally. The most popular float coat here in the interior of Alaska are Sterns and Mustang. Both are good, but lately I

Good idea Frank. Maybe you've the idea to counter what spoils much of the potential of the net. So much is disrupted by clutter, noise, and basic bad maners that many of us simply opt out.

Hi guys, The channel was so shalow swimmers bottom was scrapping it. It confirms my suspition that Laura is bad luck along with the water temperature when docking and the wet wind speed. Picked up a beer can on the way (with dads boat hook) but unforchunitly the beer was gone. I even beat the car to the cabin. (And you guys think sail boats are fast) Sorry on misspellings, spell check is missing. Did I miss something? P.S. His name is Neptune

July 15, 2006. After a whole year Skipper was almost ready for launching. Final preparations were done with lots of late night work and help from family and friends. Mike Pennington and my Uncle Steve made the sails and put together all of the rigging. Dad and I finished the rudder and tiller and other small things. I put on Skippers name myself. Later I will send a thank you card to the store that made Skipper

Adla, I like your ladder. Does it interfere with the rudder at all? Where did you get it? Brand model number etc? I ordered one for my Weekender last year, and it's too big. I want something like yours for the fun of it, but mainly for safety. Getting in these boats while in any water over five feet deep is difficult at best (I have personally tested it out.) I have a rope style ladder, but it usually is under a seat, so is of no help if you find yourself in the water with out someone aboard to help. A side note for fellow Weekender owners, (or for any boat) here is a very important test to do with your boat. (Kinda like a fire drill.) 1-On a calm day, take your boat out with a big strong crewman and/or with a portable boarding ladder. 2-Find water about five or six feet deep. 3-Jump overboard. 4-Try getting back in with out help or the boarding ladder. 5-After your crewman helps you get in the boat, imagine that the water is cold, or that the seas are rough, or that there was no help. Scarry! :shock:

What a day! I

Yes we did. Laura christened Skipper with Dr. Pepper instead of camphane. Laura ran after me with a bottle of Dr. Pepper because it would not spray any more. By the way I need to escape back to the lake, Mom wants me to take a shower.

:new-bday: Skipper! Today we launch.

After more than a year in the boat shed Skipper, Laura

Denis, What finally worked for me is adding an hours to each end of the day, enlisting a bit of help, and reducing the scope of work. I could see my launch day slipping away to the point of losing an entire season. So, I started getting up an hour or so earlier than normal and going directly to the boat. No morning paper, no breakfast, just get to it. I also would work late in the evenings. There was family resistance but it all evaporated on launch day. I decided not to paint the first season. I used pigment in the epoxy for some UV protection, and to help hide the bondo. I called her a work boat the first season. I didn't get the cabin hatch on and used a temporary hatch on the forward deck, these waited till winter. (She still has no comings.) As launch time approached the excitement of the possible event allowed me to get help with the rigging and fitting the trailer. It boiled down to more hours, add some, steal some, have the kids help it gives you an excuse to be out there. (even little kids can sweep up the sawdust while you make it.) I did all of this for a month straight. It made for long days, but we got on the water!

Frank, all you have to do for me is Amphora. In a couple years you might need to add a fancey boat. Later I'll need to impress the the girls.

Hi guys! We did some paint touch ups on Swimmer yestrday. Dad forced me out to work because he thought my valedictorian brain was already sucked out from playing my game boy advance sp and neopets. Our motorhome is in better shape than when I stepped though the bathroom vent last winter. You ready yet Mike?

JOHN, Quit a nice job. I think we might need your definition of easy though.

Okumee. Raise the cabin 6+

Speaking of sail colors....The future Capitan of the boat we have on the ways has decided she would like to have purple sails :shock: Many searches later have turned up no purple. Adla's idea of dying seems intriguing, but may be impractical. So any ideas out there? This is this captain

I'm considering the computer game Virtual Sailor for a birthday present to keep an Alaskan sailor busy during our long winters, anyone with experience or opinions.

If you watch the Weekender video as well as read the plans it appears the bulk of the function of the no-skid is to speed construction by hiding imperfections, and to make the boat look more detailed and professional. It doesn't look as your boat needs either! That is inspired decking!