Steve W

Where is it located? I might no someone who may be interested.

I stuffed a piece of foam I cut from a old kick-board and shoved them in the back part of the forward end of the coamings to prevent things from sliding backward. Those cabbies are really handy. I'm not sure about plugging them permanently. I'd guess if you ever turtled (not likely) having that flotation that high might be problematic. I'd want to get Graham or Alan's blessing first. As for oars I'm with Amos. I'm will eventually get to that. I didn't want to cut down the coamings as I might be tall enough to not need to. In the meantime I have a three piece collapsble SUP paddle that worked pretty good in my one time use of it. I tried a regular canoe paddle and it was too short. I'm going to put some clips on the port side of the cabin roof to hold it so it's handy. My plan when I make oars is to use the DuckWorks carbon fiber connectors to make them two piece. For storage I'm going to put a port in the left aft bulkhead. To store the oars, remove the port, slide the pieces into the aft storage and then once they clear the seat hatch, slide them aft and then close the port. In theory this should work, but I think my oar length becomes limited to the storage locker length which I think is 5.5 feet. I'll measure first.

Amos, that is great. A boat deserves a name and naming after a significant female in your life is a long established tradition. It's interesting that everybody I sail with refers to their boat, no matter what the name as "her" or "She".

This info about keeping things nice an straight is real good. I had to scarf about a 3/4" piece on to my cabin top because I didn't angle everything just right and the stock top was just a little small. I've looked "Skeena" over every which way and I can't see anything that bulges or is concave, but my OCD knows that little scarf is there and it bugs me. I can't tell you how jealous I am that Taylor is in the trenches helping you out. I showed my wife and she was impressed too but didn't volunteer to help on the next boat. I'm trying to talk her into coming to the messabout........maybe Taylor can tell her how much fun she missed over dinner :^)

Chick, great trip pictures. We need more of the boat though. Was this a solo trip or did you have company?

Pete, I have an 11N with the zippered sleeve luff. I love the performance of that little boat, so if your main use will be as a hot rod little sailboat, it's pretty stable platform. I wouldn't build the nesting version, unless you have a storage issue. I think the reality is that a trailer is the way to go. As light as I built my 11n, getting up on the top of the car is a two person job. A second problem is that the boom is really long and it sort of defeats the purpose of having the collapsible mast. Also, I use the boat in a different way than it was designed for so I don't blame the design. I often fish or motor, which it really does well. But you are forced to leave the sail at home if rowing, as the rig doesn't scandalize well. It's a lot of sail and getting the sail up isn't super quick. I am thinking about making a little balanced lug or the sprit rig of the cats-paw sail for it. Performance wouldn't be as good, but dousing it all alongside me for some rowing/fishing would be easier. I strongly suggest you wait to sail one at the messabout before you make a decision. Steve

Finish it bright? I'd get the shape right before I worried how it looks.....

My laundry list with questions: Non-skid. I know how to do it, just wondering where you think it is necessary. Currently the cabin top sides, and the cockpit sole. Anywhere else? Seat tops? Fender attachment points. Where did you put yours? Thinking of running a little pendant from the mizzen sprit snotter eye strap to attach to the aft of the main sprit to support the sprit while at the dock. Anyone done this and if not any other solution to the pile of sprit and sail lying in the companionway? Here is a pic of the motor mount (forward): Reverse: And Skeena with teak rub rails but without a waterline and her name.

So my daughter gave the first sail a 10 out of 10. First a few pics: My daughter Helen. She's been my faithful companion since she was born 21 and a half years ago. Took time from her two jobs and LSAT study to sail with dad. The motor mount. Fantastic. worked perfect. Still need to test in bigger waves to make sure the prop stays, but going over a few bigger boat wakes worked great. At worst a change to a long shaft. It's still in the break in but I had it going 6.2 knots for a few moments. The solar panel is attached to the front hatch. My son Teddy made a plastic cover to protect the leads coming out. And now, the Video: Thank you to Graham and Alan, Doug, Jay, Chick, Pete and everyone else (miss you PAR) who helped out and offered advice and tips. Thanks to the great staff at B & B for all the help and conversation. See you at the messabout! Steve

She sailed today on a full moon. Summer thunderstorms, work, kids, etc. I just couldn't get a good day. Today was it. I hooked up one of my sprits wrong and I forgot to plug the secret fill tube to the ballast tank but Skeena rocked! I'll have video tomorrow.

Pete, First of all I want to say that must be a tough decision. I bought my Sea Pearl from a youngster of 84 who had tears rolling down his face as I towed his baby away in 2007. I commend you on the decision because as prepared as you are I know you wouldn't take this lightly. I'm glad you are waiting until 2020 as I hope Chessie and Skeena get a chance to sail together. You've been a great help to me and an inspiration. Thank You, Steve

Went to the DMV and actually got my paperwork today. Skeena will be in the water this weekend one way or another. I have a few modifications on the trailer to make and add the rubrails but basically she is done. I made a decision I like and want to share. I decided to add a bungy to keep the aft hatch closed. Pics: No latch! A couple of screw eyes. One to tie to and the other to allow the bungy to be long enough to not run too tight. Doesn't seem to interfere, and the hatch will be always shut. Easy to hold open with your boat shoes or shop slippers! Should be a full report Monday!

Thanks for the report Pete!

Thanks Amos and Jay. I forgot to add to my list painting of the non-skid. I have a good chunk of this weekend to work. This morning I re-drilled all the holes for the hardware and I'll be bedding that stuff in. I then plan to work inside after that on the hatch boards. I'm heading to the Mid Atlantic Small Craft Festival in early October. I'm hoping to make a week long cruise out of the trip. I may leave the boat in Maryland and fly home, heading to pick it up on the way to the mess-about. I was jealous when you were all leaving to cruise so if that happens I hope to be part of that. Amos, I figured the sails reluctance to slide was something like that. I just haven't had a chance to diagnose. I think I remember Graham talking to me about that at the Messabout.

Jay, this boat build has tested my patience. Hot (probably not for you) weather, a family member with health issues, graduation parties, a camping trip, and three kids home for the summer. But I made a short list of what's left. Paint 2nd coat on mizzen tabernackle. lube and test new suzuki motor finish the rubrail install. finish varnishing the drop-boards remount hardware in holes that were fill and drilled. Figure out why my sails don't go p and down smoothly The worst part is that the state of NY has to do an inspection so I can get a hull ID number. I'm not going to let that hold up a launch. We have plenty of lakes that don't have much law enforcement. But as soon as she goes in the water there will be a full report. I think I can finish it completely this weekend and once this heatwave passes we should be good to go.

Mark, the tube ladder takes up very little room on the transom. I mounted mine to the left of the left longitudinal bulkhead, but I suppose it could be even further outboard. As for the motor mount, take the lack of a design seriously. The reverse transom makes for quite a bit of fiddling to get it right. I bought a Suzuki 2.5 three years ago to make sure I got it right. I also have a Honda 2 I made sure fit. The Honda is quite reliable but loud. At the time the Suzuki (water cooled) didn't have a long shaft version but now does. BTW, this build looks really sweet.

Jay, That is a beautiful looking displacement design. Do you have an expected weight? Any interior details? Trust me, "Skeena" (launch possible Sunday if all goes well) is probably going to have to keep me happy for awhile unless I want a divorce, but building is almost as fun as sailing. Take Care, Steve

Wow, that is fantastic. I've dreamed of doing the Great Loop and that looks like a perfect boat for that. Congratulations on launch.

Amos.....just what I needed. Never saw battens like that and couldn't find anything in my plans.......forgot about the vids......

Hopefully if the weather is right I'll launch soon. NYS is slowing my registration process and that may delay me, but I'm sorting out little details right now. The latest is these battens. This one is the top main batten. The top one for the mizzen sticks out of the pocket at least 6" and all 4 at the top of main and mizzen have two grommets. The little black chafe protector I assume goes outward and I'm not sure about the length. I'm sort of thinking they tie in, but my plans don't show anything. I posted it here for future WTFers.. Help! Steve

I'm glad you are OK. I second the "stay at anchor" I had a situation (micro burst) years ago that scared me. Thank you for sharing as a reminder. Steve

My camera does some optical illusion, but trust me, finally parallel masts. A great day of gardening and other stuff yesterday. This morning I got the mizzen tabernacle faired and tonight I'll check it for smoothness and prime it.

That is fair. And remember, I've sailed a Sea Pearl 21 for 12 years without capsizing and there isn't any chance of recovery if I go over. I'm not worried.

After watching the CS17.3 video it seems like a way to get the centerboard extracted easily while the boat is on it's side is important as well as a way to lock the board out and prevent it from fully retracting.

The weather here has been very lousy. I don't have the boat waterproof enough to leave outside, so work has been a bit slowed because I need to roll it out of my garage to put the masts up. But my dumb mistake on the mizzen tabernacle is almost over. My son Teddy helped me tip up the mast and mark it's proper location. I made a little template to rout the mast step into the base and routed the base last night........it came out nice. If fits snug and I think by this weekend we'll be past this self made problem. Unfortunately I'll be gone for a week on a family vacation out west and momentum will stop until I get back June 3rd, but I'd like to get past this before I go. I have a trip scheduled to go to Lake Champlain. At the rate I'm going it might be with my Sea Pearl, which is frustrating. Between work, HS track meets and honey-do's, time has been scarce. On a real positive note my good friend Doug bought me a oil lamp. Here it is hanging in the cabin. Up in Maine last year on his Cornish Shrimper we used his lamp to take the chill off the cabin. I'm super excited to have this aboard. Last night I snuck out in a totally dark garage to light it and it really makes a cozy cabin. I know y'all southerners don't need any heat in the cabin, but up here the evenings get cool and on a small boat this is the ticket. Thank you Doug!