Lapwing #5 build

[John Turpin]

Well, she's ready to launch.  I've been working on trailer tasks all week. There's just not much that's interesting enough to photograph.  I made a pair of mast crutches, made some trailer guideposts, added a cross-member and added an additional roller.  I'm also working on a motor mount for the trailer.

And, I've stocked up on dock lines, fenders, bungee cords and other bits and pieces.  I've got a tentative test launch scheduled for Monday morning.

[John Turpin]

Here's my trailer motor mount.

[wkisting]

Very nice, John! Enjoy the maiden sail, and snap some pics for the rest of us! I'm sure she'll float just fine. 

[Richard Whitney CS#70]

She's looking great John.  Bless her and all who sail in her.  Enjoy the fruits of your labours and the admiring looks you will receive every time you are out on the water.  Look forward to some photos on the water.

[John Turpin]

After 352 days of building, Lapwing #5 sails.  Thanks to everyone who advised and encouraged me over the last 51 weeks.  And, yes, Blue Peter sails like a dream.

[John Turpin]

[John Turpin]

Kevin Nicolin in C517 Jubilee.

[wkisting]

Just beautiful, John. Congrats!

[cdunc]

Congrats.  Looks like you had a nice calm day for sea trials.

[Gordy Hill]

Great great job, John!!!

[Steve Day]

Looking very good. Looks like you had a nice day for the first sail.

There is absolutely nothing better than a day on a boat YOU built! And you got Travis there as a bonus! :wink:

Steve

[Richard Whitney CS#70]

Well done John - I will print some pictures and put them up in the garage to spur me on.

[Joe Anderson]

Looks very good John.

I enjoy seeing all the details you take care of.

[Dale Niemann]

I will add my congratulations.  She is a very fine looking boat.

You are an incentive to me.  I have purchased the plans and look forward to building a Lapwing in the future.

First I must finish my current building project which I will reveal in future. 

dale

[Scott Dufour]

Hurray! Beautiful job!

[Rod Thompson]

A hip hip hurray to the "happy skipper."  Thanks for sharing your progress all along the way.  She, I mean he,  is a handsome addition to the B&B flotilla.

[John Turpin]

Here's my final knotwork project.  It should be a pleasure holding onto that tiller.

[John Turpin]

l added a depth sounder in the form of a Humminbird 170 fish finder.  A thru-hull transducer went into the stern locker. The unit is powered by a small jump-start battery that lives in the starboard locker.  The unit isn't bolted down and can be moved around in the console as needed.

[wkisting]

Looks nice, John. I've always been glad I installed one on our boat... saves us from losing bottom paint in places that are unexpectedly shallow or littered with submerged rocks/stumps.

You probably already thought of it, but on our setup, since we were installing the battery anyway for the sonar/gps, I also wired in a small cigarette lighter (12VDC) receptacle to the battery... makes a handy place to charge a cellphone or VHF radio, plug in a spotlight, or run a small electric bilge pump in an emergency.

[John Turpin]

Hi Wes.

That little battery only has one accessory plug so, as it stands, I could only power one device at a time.  And, since it only comes with 7 amp hours per charge, I'd suck it dry pretty quickly if I use it for too much.  But, it will be easily reached so I could plug other accessories in for some juice as needed.  If my power demands grow, I can always add a second battery or even add one of those "splitters" from Radio Shack that would let me plug multiple devices into one port.

As for battery recharges when a 110 outlet isn't around, I have a roll-up solar panel that I can use for battery charging.  I can lay the flexible panel on one of the benches and let power trickle into the battery.  On a sunny day, it does a pretty good job.  But, that little fishfinder won't require much power.  I only turn it on every now and then and it only draws a single amp.

Here's my sonar in action.  This photo was taken at the lake yesterday.