Introductions, or I don't wanna be a lurker

[Bikermouse]

Greetings to all here!  I'm Mouse, and I'm one of those irritating newbies with no idea of what I'm in for.

I've only sailed a few times before, but every few years, much to my wife's chagrin, the urge bites me again, ever since I spent a summer cleaning rental boats in Newport Beach when I was a teenager.  This fall, I'm finally going to learn how to sail when I take the beginning class at OCC in the same bay.  So, at least I have no bad habits to break.

I'm looking at boat plans online, right now I'm leaning towards the Zephyr on www.svensons.com for a couple of reasons.  First, it looks like it will be within my abilities, although I expect to be challenged.  Secondly, the dimensions and rigging seem pretty similar to the Lido 14's that I'll be learning on.  Thirdly, it's small enough that I can get it to a launch, but big enough to bring my wife or daughter along.

So, to sum up, I know just enough to get myself in trouble, but I'm looking forward to learning what I need.  I hope I don't annoy too many of you with basic questions, but I do know that without mentors, this project will never happen, and my circle of acquaintances includes lots of folks who used to sail, but none who can answer my questions.

So, tear into me.  I've got a tough skin, and I'm looking forward to joining your ranks, even though it'll probably be a year or two before I'm really on the water.

[Bill Paxton]

Welcome, Mouse.  You sound perfectly qualified to build your own boat.  You'll fit right in.

Bill

[P Doug (WA)]

Welcome to the Forum.  You are ahead of me, I have never even been on a sail boat!  I am trying to complete my first one, it is from some free plans and suppose to be easy.  I have aske many question on this forum and have always gotten great answers.  This is a great place!  There are some real experts here and they are willing to help. 

[Greg Luckett]

Welcome Mouse!

I doubt you could annoy many or any of us with basic questions.  Those are always good to use as reminders and to re-exam paradigms of methods for the old timers and good learning tools all around.

Greg.

[JeffM]

Welcome, Mouse!  Keep us up to date.  Did you say you were a Virginian?

[Bikermouse]

No.  Although my Mom and Step-Dad have a place in Seaford (on the water on Chisman Creek), I'm in California.  My closest launch place is Long Beach, but I'm more familiar with Newport Beach.  I do feel lucky that I'm within driving distance of Allied Veneer Company, so I'll save a few ducats on delivery fees.  I keep telling myself that... :-\

[RSdaCat]

Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey MOUSE!!!!!!!!!

Cat Here!  I just got through taking Beg & Int Lido's with OCC!

You will LOVE It!  I had both Debs' the "nice" one and the "mean" one.  ;D ;D ha ha ha they are both fantastic! and the Lidos are so reponsive, fun, and fantastic.

Oh yeah and....AND!!!!!! If you are close enough to take lessons at Newport HOORAY! You have a sailing buddy in me cause I am driving up to BC, Canada to pick up Tim's Annie M next week. (I am sort of cheating and sort of not because I am also building her a sister; a weekender (or maybe a Vacationer? :-\) also from Stevenson.)  I plan on spending a lot of time on Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet, and also in Newport Bay!

Hooray Hooray Hooray!!!! You are building a boat.  and......YES you CAN absolutely do it!

I would love to know when you are planning to take Beg. Lidos.

[move]Welcome!  ;D Welcome!    Welcome!    Welcome![/move]

[Ken_Potts]

Welcome to the Forum, Mouse.

You won't need a thick skin here - Lots of nice folks on this board.

[Mike Pennington]

Mouse,

Someone has to warn you, you are entering a very dangerous frame of mind. Next you'll want to buy one, THEN maybe even build one  8)

That is if your lucky, and can stop at only one boat.

The next problem, one can have, is when the scurvy crew constantly nags to go sailing. 

M

If your soul has the calling for the wind, you will know no peace, until you sail.  But at first you'll probably scare the heck out of yourself.

[Bikermouse]

I was home sick for a couple of days this week, and my wife had the suggestion that before I go out and spend several weeks of paycheck on lumber, I should try building a model from the plans I got online.

I discovered a couple of things:

1. My wife is much wiser than I am.

2. It's hard to accurately measure out a 1/16 scale model with a kitchen ruler, 3/32" square basswood struts, and an x-acto knife.

3. While an experienced boatbuilder could probably fill in the gaps for instructions like "carve the stem from a 1"x8" plank", I need a bit more detail.

The model is actually coming along fairly well, and I'll post a pic when I get the sides and bottom on the hull, but the dimensions are a bit wonky.  Yes, that's a technical term.

So, given that this is a project that will either fulfill or frustrate me (probably both) for several years, I suppose I'll have to pony up and buy some real plans.  Any suggestions for a first-timer with more mechanical than wood-working experience?

As I mentioned above, I'd like to stay fairly close to what I'll be learning to sail, vis. a Lido 14.  To that end, I like the looks of the Glen-L 14.  Comments?  Experience?  Alternate suggestions?

I know y'all hate to offer up opinions, but give it a shot...

[Frank Hagan]

Boat plans can be obtuse like that ... "carve the stem out of a 2 x 8" ... and that's all you get.  So I'd recommend that whatever boat you build, you find an on-line community of people who have also built it.  They will tip you off about things like errors in the plans, wood choices, etc.

[Greg Luckett]

I hope Bikermouse will also keep us posted here about his boat building adventures too, but it was good advice you gave him about finding other builders of the same type boat.  There may be some here with us now? 

A couple of links:

GlenL's site: http://www.glen-l.com/weblettr/webletters-2/webletter19.html

and: http://www.geocities.com/briankellyma/page3.html

On a different note, today is the first day to not expect rain in the last month, 28 days of rain I think,  and we have gotten 4 or 5 times the normal amount.  Flooding basement, leaking RV, leaking house roof, and confined to being inside the shop or getting soaked.  This is messing up my Spindrift project schedule.  The bright side is that my wife has started to appreciate my boat building addiction and asked me where and in what condition the boats in the yard were if we needed them in a hurry....ones I have built too   I suggested that we get some koi fish for the basement and Sam and Ben have enjoyed the swamp by their rooms (Ben looking for a fishing line and Sam trying to spear something???).  Feast or famine.  Anyway, today it is sunny, but still wet.  :-[sorry for hijacking the thread to whine.  I bet there are many of us in worse shape .

Greg.