Core Sound 17 #221

[Randy C.]

Wes,

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I've been pretty busy at work for the last 6 weeks. By the time I get home I'm usually tired and don't feel like working too much on the boat. To make matters worse, yesterday around 5 P.M. we had 90MPH winds. At work we had around 50 trees uprooted and many more missing limbs. So..., we'll be busy for several weeks cleaning up the mess.

The building hasn't gone as fast as I'd hoped. I will, however, keep plugging away. I am looking forward to doing the seats and framing the decks.

Glad you found a house, and I'm glad it's you moving and not me. We moved 4 1/2 years ago and I hope it was my last move.

Was there a reason you put the outboard mount on the starboard side? I've seen them on either side. Just curious.

[Randy C.]

Where did I go wrong? I started laying out the seats today. The seat stringers are level from the aft bulkhead up to the center seat bulkhead(69" mark), then they go uphill. They're off about 3/4" at the foreward bulkhead. I thought I had the keel pulled together tight before I did the epoxy. I guess my cuts were a little off. Any suggestions on what to do???

[Randy C.]

Ray,

I have the boat level according to DWL and the seat stringers do just what you're saying. So, do I draw a string line from the top of the seat stringer forward to the top of the seat stringer aft and cut the seat front straight and let the seat sag a little in the middle? I think this is what you're saying. Then put the drain at the low spot of the seat top..??

[Randy C.]

Ray,

That makes sense. I really didn't think using a string seemed right. Thanks for clearing that up for me!! Back to the shop.

[wkisting]

Sorry, I just realized you asked why I put the motor on the starboard side... I did so for a few reasons:

(1) I prefer to sit to port, so I wanted the engine to counterbalance my weight a bit when sailing alone or with my very-petite wife who is much lighter than I am

(2) since I prefer to sit to port, I wanted the motor to be in my peripheral vision rather than straight behind me so I can keep an eye on it more easily to watch for problems with its operation or angle of propulsion

(3) the motor's throttle arm is offset to the port side, so by mounting it to starboard, the throttle arm is nearer to the centerline of the boat, where it can be reached conveniently regardless of which side I'm sitting on; otherwise, if mounted on the portside, the throttle would've been so far to port that it might be awkward to reach from the starboard side... Also, with the throttle arm close to the centerline, I can easily link it to the tiller (if desired) so that turning the tiller will also turn the motor for very responsive, slow-speed maneuvering.

and

(4) the aft hatch is located to starboard... since the motor is mounted fairly far aft, I can stand inside the aft hatch opening when installing or removing the motor from its mount; otherwise, I would've had to lean all the way across the 3' aft deck, which would make it VERY hard to lift or attach the motor (try lifting 40 pounds with your arms fully extended!) 

Really, it would work fine in any arrangement, but I always think through the little details like this when mounting a motor and make a decision based on my own preferences (the joy of a customized boat).

I believe that, technically, most outboards tend to operate SLIGHTLY more effectively on the port side because of the clockwise direction that most props spin and a phenomenon known as "prop walk" (whereby the clockwise-turning prop tends to "walk" the transom toward starboard). I've found this to be a very small effect in actual practice, so I didn't care about the minor effect on handling/balance, since it can be negated by angling the motor just a few degrees off of straight ahead.

[Randy C.]

Wes,

It all makes sense. I would have to say it sounds like you did put a lot of thought into your design. It should work great.

[Randy C.]

I'm working on the seats. I have them epoxied in place. It would be easier to do the fillets and tape from the inside. At what point is it O.K. to get in the boat to work on it? I weigh @ 180 lbs.

[Randy C.]

Ray,

Thanks, I did the fillets and tape early this morning. I just reached over the side.

[Randy C.]

Made a little headway last weekend.

[Randy C.]

More pictures.

[Randy C.]

I'm leaving on vacation this morning, so nothing will get done on my boat for two weeks. When I get back I'm planning on making the CB trunk and CB. After I get the trunk installed I plan on flipping the boat over so I can finish the bottom. I plan on using quarter sawn white oak for the CB. I think that's a good choice, isn't it? I have quite a bit on hand and figured it would work fine. Would oak be OK for the rudder too, or is that overkill?

[Greg Luckett]

As I watch these Core Sound builds a thought occured to me.  A Core Sound would only be slightly more difficult to build than a Spindrift 12 sloop is.  The skills and tools needed are almost identical.

[Randy C.]

Greg,

Sorry it took so long for my response, I just got home yesterday. I agree after looking at the pictures of your boat. They look very similar in design, just no decking on the Spindrift 12. So, will a CS17 be in your future?

I need to get back to building, but man is it hot and humid. I know Charlie, I'm whining, but it is hot and I'm doing this for fun. But, working in the garage when the heat index is around 120 isn't fun.

Randy

[Greg Luckett]

Randy, I am building the Spindrift 12 sloop version and as far as I know am the only one to have done so.  If you look at pics from other Spindrift builds, which are all cat rigged, you will see a deck and mast mounting very similar to the Core Sound's.  Graham would be able to compare the differences much better than I can, but just looking at the build pics, the construction seems almost identical save for scaling up and adding the aft mast.

I lived in Texas a large part of my life.  Lots of ice drinks and fans and I was okay working in the garage.  If it got too hot I just siesta until night.

[Randy C.]

Greg,

Looking at the pictures of your boat it doesn't look like there will be decking. It looks like the seats just go all the way to the front.

As far as working in the heat, I do it all day. I'm usually pretty whooped by the time I come home, so working in more heat just isn't that much fun to me. I know, I'm still whining. I will probably work on it, it just won't be as much fun.

[Greg Luckett]

You are right Randy, on my Spindrift the seats transition into the foredeck.  On the cat rigged Spindrift there is a bulkhead that looks a lot like the Core Sound's and then the foredeck is above the gunwhale edge and on top of the bulkhead.  I am posting a picture of a Spindrift 12 cat rigged foredeck under construction, and hope Graham does not mind me using his picture for this discussion (thanks Graham...fuss at me if I go too far please).

Thanks to you and the other folks that have posted pics of building the Core Sounds, I do not have any doubt that it is a good boat for a novice or a master to build, and I am leaning strongly towards building the CS20.  My two youngest boys are pushing me to help them build a couple of Divas this winter which will keep me from the CS20 project, which means I may try sailing the S12 on next years Texas 200....naw, too much sun for me.  The boys can paddle thier Divas and I will stay with the RV. ;D

[Randy C.]

Greg,

I would have built a CS20 if I thought I had enough room in my garage. I'll see how much room the 17 has after it's on a trailer. If there's enough room I might build a CS20 in a few years. I should probably learn to sail first.

[Greg Luckett]

Oops, sorry Randy.  :-[ For some reason I was thinking you were building a CS20.  The CS20 is the largest I can squeeze into my garage shop without extending the back end, which I would be willing to do if the city and neighbors here abouts would not go nuts.  ;D

[Randy C.]

That's OK. I figured a CS17 was big enough for a first build, I didn't really know if I was getting in over my head, but so far so good. I've had to ask a lot of (probably dumb)questions, but I'm really happy so far with the way it's turning out.

[Randy C.]

I'm done building Christmas presents and it has cooled off(it was 4 degrees this morning), guess it's time to start working on the boat again. I'm getting ready to build the CB trunk and probably making it harder than it really is. I'm a little confused. Does someone have a closeup picture they could send or know where one is?

Thanks,

Randy