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tdrown
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« on: July 13, 2003, 02:46:03 PM » |
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On the 4th of July after much toil I lanched my Weekender in Chebacco(sp?) lake in Essex, Mass. The name for it is the Gail Jean, after my mother, I finaly decided that at the ramp. The steering almost took all day to set up. First my wheel and shaft needed beefing up, then after hooking everything up and having all the line in lazzerate taught, the steering wasn't working, the rope came and went on different sides of the steering shaft. the rope was all undone and that was fixed and then after trying it out the port side block riped off (it only was attached with brass woodscrews and it took a piece of wood with it). I ended up using different blocks there with an eye-bolt through-bolted on each side (I was previously using garage door pullys on a mount, which the line was having a hard time staying on). I hopefuly will probably buy u-bolts and use the stock steering system. Those blocks are under stress, and the way in the plans is looking pretty good right now. It's hell working in there and I don't want to mess with it any more than I have to. Other than that I didn't have any problems that I can remember. At the lake on the 4th there was no wind. I just ended up barely drifting to the center of the lake. Sunday we drove to Cape Cod and checked into the resort converted from a motel. leaving the boat in the parking lot would be having it in a place a little too public for my comfort. We checked out the nearest launch which was right between the ocean and a bay, and it cost some money to put it in or take it out of the water. We drove to a relative's house further east and left the boat there for the night. The next day we went back and a relative suggested the boat be moored, he called up the harbormaster and without charge I could moor the boat off there for free. The boat was in the water from Monday to Friday of last week in Pleasant Bay, which is a beautiful very protected bay just west or Nausset Beach. There was always a good wind and sailing was great, I recieved a suprising amount of complements, I didn't even get to put the portholes in. A man in another gaff-rigged sloop said I added class to the bay. All in all a good week and fun sailing. I just hope the lakes around here have enough wind!
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Boat Projects:
Weekender, 2003
One Sheet Skiff, 2004
Dory, 2004-2007?
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tdrown
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« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2003, 02:52:39 PM » |
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I will upload nicer pictures when my mother's film is developed, those are off of the video camera like most of my other ones are. Here are some more.
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Boat Projects:
Weekender, 2003
One Sheet Skiff, 2004
Dory, 2004-2007?
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Barry Pyeatt
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« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2003, 04:01:10 PM » |
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HURRAH TYLER! It floats! What a great day for you. Lots of work and finally the payoff. Congrtulations! That was nice to name it after your mother, it will also keep you out of trouble occasionally when you have to explain the name.  You might whant to check out T. Nelson Surbooks modified steering system, it is strong and easier to work with. |
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Weekender-Spirit Wind
Mukilteo, WA
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Pat Mellema
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« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2003, 09:55:16 PM » |
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Tyler
Congratulations on your launching. I will get Sanddragon in the water sometime in the next week.
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Sailing the Weekender
"Sanddragon"
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capt jake
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« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2003, 10:24:55 PM » |
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Congratulations Tyler!! Good going!! Is this a record build time??  Good for you. |
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Captain of Fire Escape and a big red truck!
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T. Nelson Surbrook
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« Reply #5 on: July 13, 2003, 11:04:32 PM » |
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Wonderful Tyler, A job well done and she looks great on the water. Be sure to take lots of pics and share them with us.
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I still have all my fingers!
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Joel
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« Reply #6 on: July 14, 2003, 09:45:27 AM » |
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Way to go Tyler! I cant believe how quickly you finished.
joel
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Weekender, "Island Girl"
Gig Harbor, WA
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Fintan Murphy
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« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2003, 10:23:17 AM » |
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Congratulations Tyler, hopefully I'll be joining you in the very near future. They've started a betting pool in the office as to when I'll be finished.  The pressure's on  |
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Slán,
Fintan
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Mark Hughes
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« Reply #8 on: July 14, 2003, 02:40:18 PM » |
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Congratulations, Tyler! That was amazing perseverance to get her in the water as quickly as you did, and she looks fantastic! My office gave up the betting pool. But, I've got to get cracking on it now. Swabbie number two is on the way in February, and if I don't get done before that, I'll never get her done after!
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capt jake
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« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2003, 09:34:04 PM » |
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Geesh Jake;
My guess is you will set the record for length of time between completion and launch. Probably very true! sigh...... |
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Captain of Fire Escape and a big red truck!
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tdrown
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« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2003, 10:27:28 PM » |
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Thank you for all the kind comments. For the record I started (first wood purchased) on Febuary 23rd, 2003 (but I have been telling people March, opps!) and the boat was launched on July 4th, 2003. I started about a month after I got the plans. I'm not sure when I first got the idea to build a boat but last 4th of July my cousin and I lashed a few branches and funoodles together and threw it in the lake. It was a complete failure though it did float, but that could have been where I got the idea to build my own boat from. Then in August, on what was probably my 4th or 5th time sailing ever at a local lake on my family's Sunfish that we got from my neighbors I started looking at some of the boats docked as I sailed by. The person who was visiting me and was sailing with me mentioned that his grandfather drafted the plans for a type of old fishing sailboats that used to be all over the coast of Brittany (I am visiting him for most of August). I think Browsing around on the internet (or I might have searched for it) I finaly got the idea of building an affordable cruising sailboat, albeit light crusing. I read all the books we had on sailing (3) and bought a book in September. I finaly decided upon the Weekender sometime in January. I think I am addicted, I am looking for a new project now, too much good leftover to let go to waste, and I still have to make the slash coaming, attach the porthole plastic, and varnish some things yet! The Gail Jean will be at Lake Nockamixon in Quakertown on Saturday for any local folk interested.
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Boat Projects:
Weekender, 2003
One Sheet Skiff, 2004
Dory, 2004-2007?
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Frank Hagan
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« Reply #11 on: July 15, 2003, 12:00:51 AM » |
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Congratulations, Tyler! I think that is one of the fastest builds I've seen, and to think that you didn't even have the tools to build the boat when you started.
Nelson Surbrook was also a fast boatbuilder; he started building after I did and then launched way before I did. But I think we all enjoyed it the same.
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MikeStevenson
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« Reply #12 on: July 15, 2003, 09:00:24 PM » |
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Well done Tyler! Very fast work; it took us about six weeks last time we did a Weekender, and we've done this sort of thing before! You got it in four months, which is really comendable. I'll make sure Peter sees this.
Now you're one of the "old salts" on the forums: You've actully finished! What sort of machine next, I wonder? A Mini-Max? I always thought that'd be a fun project, if one wanted to make a flying machine.
Once again, great work!
Mike Stevenson
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