How's the cabbs group display this year? Unfortunately, we weren't able to come this time around. We were all very very sick with flu last weekend, which postponed our last weekends plans to this weekend, killing our intent to come on down today. A real bummer, but we're expecting a great summer of sailing finally.
How's the family? Tell them we say hi.
Hello Stuart,
The show has been quite this year, I think attendance is down. CABBS has a nice booth this year we are displaying my Oxford, an 8 ft hydro built by a 14 year old boy with some help from his father, a ply kayak and an Optimist pram, the group is also building an Opti at the show. We again had model kits for the kids but used all 300 up the first weekend.
I have been busy building my new Kingston 15, we rolled her over yesterday so that I could start the top sides, it may be a pipe dream but I am shooting for a CABBS week launch. I was moving along very quickly but have hit a snag on the upper hull/cabin sides installation. I may have to sit in the moaning chair a few more days to get it worked out.
Everyone here is good and looking forward to spring, send our best to Dawn and the kids and we hope to see you on the water this summer. It's good to hear that things are on the up swing for you.
By the way Scott if you see this message I ran into Suits Us new owner at the show, I talked with him for a few minutes.
Jim
Hi Jim,
I remember that hydro being under construction last show, if it's the same one I'm thinking of. How did it turn out? Were you able to fix the damage to the oxford from last summer's joy riders?
I bet the kids loved the boat models again. What design did you use this year?
I didn't know which design you had settled on. So, you've gone slightly smaller than the Vacationer this time around, huh? Did the Vacationer and other boats ever sell? If you get to a point where a few extra hands may help out, feel free to drop me a line. Turn about's fair play.
I just checked out the design page. Looks like a pretty sweet little boat. The whole bottom's flat with the daggerboard (?) retracted? If I'm seeing that right, beaching should be a breeze. Think their weight and cost estimates are in the ballpark? I'm looking for a slightly more cruiser oriented trailer sailor for down the road and wouldn't mind one myself.
Let me know how the moaning chair works out. Take care.
Wow! I am jealous! You rolled over the Kingston already... I haven't even got started on my new big boat primarily because we still own our old house in Ohio. Double mortgages certainly cuts into my boatbuilding budget. How was Dennis? He really put a lot of work into personalizing SuitsUs but I worried about his confidence in taking her out by himself. He was also discovering how a wife can get jealous of the time spent on a boat.
I am slowly progressing on a lighweight 12' boat that has a lot less beam than the C12. Something that is very easy to cartop and go for one person plus rows really well. Kinda like your Pirogue but hopefully lighter. I have her almost done except I need to install the off-center daggerboard trunk and then paint the hull. Not to mention all of the rigging for sail! Hope to bring her up to Ohio on top of the van.
Well, I miss you guys.
House sale or no, you're still keeping your hand in the boat building. That's good to see. Can't wait to see your latest creation!
We all miss you and your family too. Sean was brought up by Devon the other day, as we were thinking of warmer weather, sailing, and camping.
My boat building lately consists of dreaming, list making, and getting parts and materials together to finish off my weekender. Soon though, soon, I'll finally get onto that next boat project.
The boat I am working on now is made out of two sheets of Luan both because it is inexpensive and lightweight. The rubrails and skids on the bottom (there are three) are made from ripped pine 2x6. The hull is put together stitch and glue with the outside being glassed and the inside and other parts coated with epoxy. Probably the biggest expense at this point is the epoxy! I only have two small frames in the boat and was worried about rigidity until I added rubrail, inwhale, and skids on the bottom. The inside is very open and clean! Total costs should be under $110 when all built.
I am thinking of building a 10' boat for my son to use following Mickalak's boatbuilding proceedures with a lot less epoxy and hopefully a quicker build. I already bought the two sheets of Luan and have the other wood needed. I also plan on following his instructions for making some oars for Little Gem and the new boat.