Lapwing #27 Lula

[Don Silsbe]

Lula is gorgeous!

 

Being a Chrysler retiree, I cannot let your comment "or maybe that's the reason they raised the bar and build Tundras in Texas and Titans in Mississippi" go by without sharing what I know.  Nissan and Toyota do nothing more in those plants but assemble parts.  Little feedback finds its way back to Japan, except as relates to assembly issues.  I know.  I've worked in assembly plants for Chrysler in the USA, Canada, and Austria.  Plus, the only reason they chose to build them there was because it was cheaper to build them in the southern USA, rather than pay the unionized labor back home.  Car companies don't chose to build an assembly plant somewhere because they're nice guys.  It is a financial decision.  Always.

[Kennneee]

Don- Thanks for your compliment on Lula.  The other part of the post attributed to me was wrong.  I think it was a comment by someone else. 

Cheers,

Ken

[Murray]

Ken you've done a great job - most impressive. I'm still making excuses, but I will re-start tomorrow with the centreboard case. I've found that I have much less spare time now I'm retired - seem to be busy doing things for other people. But that's OK too. I know that when I was young, I had plenty of time, but no money. Now I'm old, (or getting there) I find I no longer have plenty of time... Look forward to seeing some on-the-water pics...

[Murray]

On 4/20/2022 at 12:11 AM, Hirilonde said:

Or maybe we don't buy the vehicle needed to do the job.

I bought a new Ford Ranger Raptor to tow my boat. A little overkill perhaps, but as they say, you can take the boy out of the west, but you can't take the west out of the boy. And now they have launched a new one. So yes, I ordered one. Just in case. my wife just shook her head...

[Kennneee]

Murray- Yes, it does seem to be true that us “old” retired folks are way to busy. Can’t figure out where all the time goes.  The extra cuppa in the morning and reading messing-about might be a clue to some of the time leakage.  I think the bottom line is we have to change some expectations and check in periodically to be sure we are have maximum enjoyment in what we are doing.  Any of us that build boats by definition are goal oriented.  For me, the trick is to balance the importance of the goal versus enjoying the ride.

You are going to have a beautiful boat soon.  If for no other reason then to justify the cool new truck!  Why is it our wives shake their heads so frequently????  Enjoy and post pics when you get back in the rhythm of the project.  At least do better on the posts than me which should be easy!

Cheers,

Ken 

[Murray]

On 6/15/2022 at 11:31 AM, Kennneee said:

I have been working pretty slowly these days. �Lot�s of other things that need doing but still making forward progress. �I have the hull painted with System Three Pennant. �I rolled and tipped it and am happy with the result. �If you look closely you can see some fine brush strokes but they are not objectionable. � I rolled and tipped Rosie with Alexseal and it looks like it was sprayed. �I am still glad I am using the waterbourne System three. �No horrible smell and so easy to clean up. The shear strake will be painted a dark green which will look nice with the cream colored hull and deck. The bottom has been coated with epoxy and graphite. �I wanted a black bottom and brought the black coating up around an inch above the designed waterline to create a contrasting stripe when she is in the water. � Still need to paint the interior and deck but don�t expect that to take very long.�

Mahogany ply was not available when Graham and Alan cut out the parts for Lula. �Graham was nice enough to send me some mahogany veneer which I was planning to use to cover the Okume transom. �Longs story short, I found a WRC board in my stash and resawed and glued on the book matched pieces on to the transom. �I like the look.

With the help of a couple of friends and Luanne we flipped her right side up, back the trailer on Sunday. �A friend with a CNC router cut out the Sapele �name and trail boards. �I have ripped up the rub and trim rails. �They will get installed next week since I am heading over to the San Juan�s on Rosie for a few days.

Most of what I have left to do are things that I enjoy. �Adding pieces of wood that accentuate the beautiful lines of the boat, rigging, and details, details, details, etc. �In the home stretch.�

Festool Tape??

[Kennneee]

Right color but not expensive enough to be Festool.

[Kennneee]

Lula is rigged and ready to tack out of the driveway.  A few minor details, but essentially done.  I hoisted the sails with the battens in for the first time today.  A bit of a pucker at the luff where the batten pockets are located.  I am hoping a bit of wind will bend the battens enough for that to be a non issue.  I would like to get her splashed before I take off on Thursday to head to the Messabout.  

[Peter HK]

Looks spectacular

I think a bit of fiddling with luff and snotter tension will probably sort out the sails- looks not enough on the photo- inducing a bit of mast bend would be good.  Might need more batten tension on the full length ones as well. Always good fun to get the final adjustments just so.

Cheers

Peter HK 

Edited October 16, 2022 by Peter HK

[PadrePoint]

Excellent!!

[Hirilonde]

But does it float?

 

Looks great, now the 2nd part of the fun.

[Kennneee]

On 10/15/2022 at 6:22 PM, Peter HK said:

Looks spectacular

I think a bit of fiddling with luff and snotter tension will probably sort out the sails- looks not enough on the photo- inducing a bit of mast bend would be good.  Might need more batten tension on the full length ones as well. Always good fun to get the final adjustments just so.

Cheers

Peter HK 

Peter- Thanks for the advice.  I played with batten tension, etc and they look better.  So far she goes to weather nicely in the driveway.

Dave- I hope to find out if she floats very soon.  If she doesn’t, I will just sail her in the driveway.

[Gira Gira]

Mate, beautiful job.

[Kennneee]

Well, my goal was to get Lula splashed before I left for the Messabout. With the help of a friend we got her launched today.  All went very well.  I still have a few tweaks to take care of  and a lot to learn about the Cat Ketch.  Hoping to learn a lot at the Messabout this weekend from all of you.  Heading out bright and early tomorrow and should be at the site on Friday morning. My friend Gil shot the video below of her first sail. Now it’s time to pack. 
https://photos.app.goo.gl/UWPUMto8vwKRKEsWA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZSwwnfBeQfw3fy9T9

Ken

[Don Silsbe]

She is lovely, Kennneee.  I plan to be there Thursday evening.  You will learn so much this weekend!  Please come by my campsite or my boat, and we’ll go for a sail.

[Kennneee]

Thanks Don. I will take you up on that offer.

[PadrePoint]

I enjoyed watching the 16 footer dancing around the big boats.  See you tomorrow. Feel free to try out my CS17 mk3 — Avocet. 
Some shots today with 4 of us sailing around. Jay’s newly built Matthew Flinders, JC’s FIRST sail in a Core Sound 17 he just bought, Amos’ Core Sound 20 mk3… we were out about 3-4 hours.

 

 

 

 

[Kennneee]

Lula made it to her new home in San Diego a few days ago after towing her for around1,500 miles.  We had a  great trip south with good weather which is not always the case this time of year.  Visited a number of friends and seemed to have picked up a ships rat after one such visit.  All was well until the last .5 mile when my new transmission started slipping again!  Had her OUT of overdrive the whole way but I guess having the van loaded with a surfski on the roof and a boat in tow was more than the gearbox could handle.  Of course taking it to the dealer they can’t get it to slip again. Always loved this van but it will be getting traded in when we get home to BC in the Spring.  Won’t be towing or have much of a load so I will have my fingers crossed.  Hope to get my van back from the dealer today and get to sail Lula very soon.

[Kennneee]

Hi All-A lot of bad weather in California kept me off the water more than I would have liked so far this Winter.  I have only had Lula out 4 times since arriving here and have enjoyed every trip so far.  Still getting to know her.  So far I am really please with her performance.  She ghosts along in light air and stands up to her canvas better than I would have expected when the wind pipes up.  She is no slouch speed wise.  The helm is nicely balanced and easy to steer with very little effort.  As expected her lines seem to be a magnet for compliments.  I managed to build a paddle a few days before I headed south for close quarters maneuvering but didn’t have time to build oars.  I have been using my EPropulsion electric outboard that I borrowed from Rosebud, my Spindrift dinghy.  I had hoped to get by with a simple transom mount but the shaft is a bit short for this application.  I suppose I will hold my nose and get a commercial mount to bolt on her stern.  Either that or get busy building oars and skip the motor all together.   I don’t have any good pics of her under sail yet but here are a few others.  One of them is with an old friend that I met while cruising in Central America 30 years ago.  She was hitch hiking around the pacific on sailboats at that time.  Turns out she now lives in San Diego and still loves to sail.  Had a great day out on Lula reminiscing and telling tales of our past adventures.  

Ken

[Hirilonde]

3 hours ago, Kennneee said:

 So far I am really please with her performance.  She ghosts along in light air and stands up to her canvas better than I would have expected when the wind pipes up.  She is no slouch speed wise.  The helm is nicely balanced and easy to steer with very little effort.  As expected her lines seem to be a magnet for compliments.  I managed to build a paddle a few days before I headed south for close quarters maneuvering but didn’t have time to build oars.  I have been using my EPropulsion electric outboard that I borrowed from Rosebud, my Spindrift dinghy.  I had hoped to get by with a simple transom mount but the shaft is a bit short for this application.  I suppose I will hold my nose and get a commercial mount to bolt on her stern.  Either that or get busy building oars and skip the motor all together. 

 

Your assessment of performance is right on. Yeah, the Lapwing makes meeting people at the ramp really easy.

 

I have yet to find any need for an outboard of any kind.  I am patient in very light wind, and as you have noticed, a Lapwing can be moved in them.  It all boils down to how often do you expect to be becalmed?  And can you row that far (what ever that far is for you), do you want to have to row that far?

 

There is a freedom not having power on board.