Steve W

Peter, I didn't realize there was a Princess 28. Do you know how much she weighs, draft, and any other particulars. I'm intrigued.

Alan, great pics. Wish I was there. I've made a promise to myself to focus on being there next year. I'm assuming those two boys are yours. Enjoy every moment of the amusement and unproductivity they provide. It doesn't last forever.

It's been awhile (15 years) but I went into Home Depot back then and looked in the Vinyl siding section and found a piece of extruded trim that is about 3/4 x 1/2 and I think it's at least 10 feet long. It's pulled may fair curves in it's lifetime with hopefully many more to go. Hopefully yhey still have this. Pic: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMlU_1VC8tTkcQQrtwHpU0YSOjUznp0Kz2C0tbHR0uaWbor3cClQKHbcb_cIcCbGw/photo/AF1QipMZql8HiuNEpM8O0YrfTly7gplUzH0J_YIZfweV?key=Q3JhMGRjeHpOMjFOakR6VnNpbXd0bVFxTHUyVGNR

Very sorry to read that.

I took Skeena on a low wind shakedown yesterday before I head to Maine August 2nd fr two weeks sailing out of Rockland. A couple of thoughts: 1. I love this boat. When you spend as much time as I did building, it would be a bummer if it wasn't waht you thought. 2. My sails need a bit of work. The batten pockets stitching and some other areas need attention. Time to get to work with needle and thread. The clock is ticking. 3. A video. She sails herslelf: Skeena off Sodus Low Res.mp4

Jay, that looks fun-ish! I feel like I got at least one more boat build in me once I retire. I'm anxious to see the finished product! Take Care, Steve

Jonathan, I wrapped it in the foam it came in and tuked it in the forward part of the aft locker. This weekends project is to come up with a better plan. Paul, Your install was an inspiration.

Like Bob Dylan in 65, Skeena has gone electric, at least most of the time. How this happened. I put a 6HP motor on Skeena that had frward and reverse. Magical to have reverse. But the size and weight weren't great. So it was back to the Suzuki 3hp. Then I got enticed by the Epropulsion Spirit 1.0 I started looking at revues (mostly very positive, a few not) and dreamed of a quiet electrical experience with reverse. As a 6 year owner of a Chevy Bolt, I'm a huge electric fan. Low (no) maintenace, whisper quiet, lots of torque, no gas vapors, full tank every morning, no more gas station junk food, etc. So I bought one. Got it a few weeks ago. Sadly, unlike any other outboard I've ever seen, the tiller doesn't tip up and so it wouldn't fit in the space I'd created for my Suzuki. Grrhhh! Who designed this thing? But I wasn't giving up. I bought an extension cable for the battery and a lid that replaces the battery. I routed the extension into the Starboard aft compartment where the Battery now lives at it's front. This keeps the weight of the battery off the stern a bit. Used a SeaView Cable Gland. A really great product to keep the compartment water tight. Here is the motor on Skeena. I do have to rotate the motor 90 degrees and before I tip up to accomidate the tiller handle (dumb). While I don't have any video, I wil say that this expencsive toy is a joy. I backed into a slip in Burlington Vermont while I was talking on my cell phone. Incredible. I do have range anxiety and less money. At 3.2 knots in calm seas it goes 8 hours. More to come.

Very cool. What 360 Camera are you using?

I am sure this deserves it's own thread, but since this is personal, I'll keep it here. When I fitst saw Graham's 3D drawings of the CS 20.3, I was smitten. I studied them pretty hard and the only thing bugging me was the possibility I couldn't sit aganst the hull on the berths. Enter Doug Cameron who pm'ed me. He'd build the prototype and extended an invitation to come see "Look Far" in Tennesee. I had an opprtuunity to swing by on the way to deliver my father's car to Florida. I spent 4 hours talking boats, taking measurements to make sure I could get Skeena out of my basement, and just life in general. I didn't want to leave. Doug and I stayed in touch off and on in corespondence. I watched all his activities in the EC and other things and admired his spirit and kindness. I thought we'd cross paths again, but it wasn't meant to be. Boys and Girls, use those boats. The next sail isn't garaunteed. Fair Winds Doug. Myself and our/your community will miss you. Take Care, Steve

Always wash with water ( i add one drop of dish detergent) before final sand and paint. I left some blush in the anchor locker and what a mess it was to fix.....

I'd thicken some epoxy and use a room key card to push into the holes. Finish as desired.

Lots of good advice. I adjust the sails and centerbord to get neutral or just a slight bit of weather helm. In gusts I slowly point up. But I watch the water to ease off and keep the boat driving as the puff eases. The key is to keep rudder movement to a minimum. Lastly, avoid trying to point with sloops. Set an unwind way point and put your GPS in VMG mode and play on a day with fair wind. I had a Sea Pearl 21 that took me years to really sail to its potential. Same with Skeena.

I always use clear packing tape. It sticks good and you can see the air bubbles are out. I thicken with cabisol and use a room key card to squeegee and come back after it sinks a bit and re squeegee.

I didn't glass the Suzy J, but I did wrap the joints and faired them after. As for cutting, I used a hand saw with some tape above the cutting teeth, just to keep the saw fram scratching the bulkhead. That was probably on B & B' s advice, but that was a long time ago.