Another Weekender hits the water

[Rick P]

Our little boat finally saw the water this summer!  Here are a couple photos from Lake Erie's Sandusky Bay.

[Oyster]

It looks like you did a nice job on the boat. These projects are always a fun project to cut your teeth on for the next project, which normally expands your reach on the water from the semi protected regions and placid conditions that these boats are enjoyed in.

[PAR]

Agreed a very nice looking job. Enjoy, stay safe and give her the love your build effort suggests she deserves.

[Rick P]

It looks like you did a nice job on the boat. These projects are always a fun project to cut your teeth on for the next project, which normally expands your reach on the water from the semi protected regions and placid conditions that these boats are enjoyed in.

Thanks.  We were fortunate to have a great weather window, experienced sailors and a chase boat.  The boat performed flawlessly.  That being said, I wouldn't  recommend Lake Erie as a fitting cruising grounds for a weekender (or any boat less than 23').  That lake can turn nasty!

[Hirilonde]

Nice job on a classy looking boat.

  That being said, I wouldn't  recommend Lake Erie as a fitting cruising grounds for a weekender (or any boat less than 23').  That lake can turn nasty!

 

Length has little to do with seaworthiness.  A Weekender is a nice little toy, but definitely not intended for open waters.  That does not mean there aren't small designs that are.

[PAR]

Agreed, there are certainly more sea worthy designs, but as a rule, seaworthiness is more a function of a skilled skipper and crew, assuming a well founded boat. Weekender is a protected waters boat, which simply means it's a lake, small river and bay boat and not intended for big puddles like Erie. You must remember it's a 13' LWL, flat bottom boat, with limited freeboard and a less than desirable stability curve for deeper, more exposed waters. Still great fun and you've done a fine job too.

[maligno]

My Weekender is now over eight years old and we still find it a fun boat to trail, sail and sleep aboard (cockpit tent because the cabin is full of stuff). I do have reef points in the main, a furler for the jib and no scruples motorsailing when the seas pile up.  If you take the time to learn how she handles, your Weekender should take you through as many years.  Enjoy!

[Latitude42]

The maiden voyage of my Weekender (Elusive II) was on Lake Superior, sailing the Apostle Islands... don't know if I'd do a crossing on her, but with a level head she is a sea worthy boat. Any correct, size has little to do safety in a small boat. I have sailed smaller boats over larger waters.

[Rick P]

We are lucky to have a variety of small lakes and reservoirs and Lake Erie all within a few hours drive.  Our first launch was at a local pond where I slipped away and backed the trailer down the ramp, let out some line on the winch and stood on the shore with a local fisherman for 15 minutes to see if the thing floated.  That being successful, we did more than a dozen "shake downs" on local reservoirs to tweek things and play with goodies like roller furling and auxiliary power.  Pretty much anything will work on a calm day.  Sandusky Bay gave us the opportunity to push the boat to the upper limits we expect to see.  Even after the wind clocked around and piped up on us the boat performed perfect.  One of the most enjoyable sails I've had in quite some time.  By design the boat is very stable and responsive and a joy to sail.  The weekender is a fun project and a great little boat to sail and it really turns some heads at the ramp and on the water!