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January
- February - March
- April - May
- June
Lake Pepin |
|
This is a reminder that the Lake Pepin
Messabout is only five weeks away - June
1-3. Let me know soon if you need tent space.
I want to make sure we have enough room
for anyone who wants it. Thanks to you campers
who've already checked in with me.
You can find full event details HERE.
Be sure to invite your boat-loving friends.
Contact me if you have
any questions.
Bill Paxton
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Next Design Contest |
|
I’m not sure when you are thinking
about the next design contest, but may I
make a suggestion.
Perhaps something a little less exotic
and specialized. A clean, low power lake
and river cruiser. Something in a small
innovative day-sailer with some odd requirements
– like must have capacity to brew
a cup of coffee for two people comfortably
watch the sunrise or could serve as a small
camp trailer. Not many of us really are
in Puget Sound or will do the Everglades
Challenge sort of thing. More of us are
around a bay or river or a TVA lake or a
state park launch ramp or some such.
But keep up the good work. I really like
what you do.
David Arnold
Kentucky.
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Jet Kit |
|
Hey Chuck,
I think your readers seemed more interested
in the fact that FSP was developing a jet
than they were about the hovercraft!
In any case, the jet website is now up at
fsplimited.com/jetkit.
I have an article about it too if you want
to publish it.
God Bless,
Matthew Crume
Owner - Father Son Projects, LLC
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Links |
|
I probably got this site from Duckworks,
but on the off chance I didn't, here's a
guy building a Walkabout, just launched
as a matter of fact.
https://gerryl-walkabout.blogspot.com/
Also, while browing you Duckworks website
update today, I saw the link for carbon
fiber sleeving. Here's a source I've used;
I think the variety is greater and the pricing
a little better and the owner has been very
willing to give technical advice when needed.
https://www.solarcomposites.com/
Gary Blankenship
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Another big boat
sailor gone small |
|
Chuck,
My kids ordered the new Jim
M book from you for my birthday,
and it looks great. Count me as another
long time big boat sailor who has finally
seen the light regarding small boats.
Dave
|
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Keep that Grinder,
Lee |
|
Hey,
Yesterday at 4 o'clock, one of my main
tools, a 5" Milwaukee grinder/sander
suddenly stopped going round and round.
It was a really expensive grinder 26 years
ago when I bought it for full-time use in
my welding shop. After a full life in the
welding shop, I've used it for 2000 to 3000
hours [estimate] around my home shop, mostly
on fiberglass, so I was shocked when it
stopped. I rushed in to the same store where
I purchased it, And of course, the tool
tech took it apart immediately after finding
out its short history. Luckily, we immediately
found a wire loose that was quickly fixed.
He decided to put in some brushes, but it
looked to me as though the old ones [original]
would have gone a few thousand more revolutions.
Damn thing cost $3.52 for repairs and brushes.
You would think it was still under warranty.
Lee Martin
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Thank You |
|
Chuck and Sandra,
With the publishing this morning of the
article
by Kellan, you have succeeded in creating
the illusion that I actually know what I'm
doing. A finer effort from a professional
public relations firm is not to be found.
I can only say thank you for believing in
my design work and giving me a place to
contribute to the lifestyle I so much love.
Your friend,
Chris
|
|
Think Mr. Fredbob
might be running a scam? |
|
HELLO SIR/MADAM,
IM MR,FREDBOB FROM CALIFORNIA AND I WILL
LIKE TO MAKE AN URGENT ENQUIRY OF A PRODUCT
WHICH I WILL LIKE TO PURCHASE IN YOUR COMPANY.THE
PRODUCT I NEED IS TRILARS
BOATS, FOR MY BRANCH COMPANY IN WEST AFRICA
( GHANA). BELOW ARE SOME FEATURES OF THE
PRODUCT WHICH I NEED: I WILL LIKE TO KNOW
IF YOU HAVE THE ABOVE PRODUCTS INSTOCK ,
IF YOU HAVE SEND ME THE UNIT PRICES OF EACH
SO THAT I CAN CONTINUE WITH MY PURCHASE
OKEY.....I WILL ALSO LIKE TO KNOW THE OTHERE
PRODUCTS YOU HAVE IN STOCK, THIS PRODUCT
IS OF AN URGENT SERVICE SO I WILL REALLY
LIKE YOU TO BE VERY FAST IN GETTING BACK
TO ME.
KIND REGARDS...
FREDBOB(MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FREDBOB AND
SONS CO.LTD)
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|
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Greetings!
A question: I have to build new bulkheads
for my O’Day 23-foot sailboat. The
chain plates for the mast bolt onto the
bulkheads, which also separted the forward
cabin from the main. The boat came with
teak-plywood bulkheads which disintegrated
when the previous owner allowed the cabin
to fill with about 2 feet of water during
two years of dry-dock. I am thinking of
making solid-oak bulkheads by using a plate
joiner to attach several oak planks together.
The bulkhead itself is subject mainly to
vertical stress and so, and I feel rather
better about having sold wood as opposed
to plywood. Does this sound like a bad idea?
Thanks,
Terence Paré
|
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Great Lakes Wooden
Boat Society |
|
Hello,
I was looking through the Duckworks site.
GREAT SITE!!!!! Found what I was told I
would find (birdsmouth mast making), and
more.
I would like you to check and see if you
would like to link with our Great Lakes
wooden Sailboat Society's website - geocities.com/glwss/.
The web master is Ken Klemmer, kklemmer@gbcglobal.net.
I think all would enjoy and benefit.
Our group is in the process of reorganizing
after the death of one of our founding members,
and the one that did most of the organizing.
It costs nothing to become a member, and
we just had our winter meeting, and it looks
like our annual regatta and gathering will
be with the All Wooden Boat Show, in Huron,
OH. At the Huron Boat Basin.
Anyway, just thought I would check. The
Duckworks site is simply awesome!
Happy sails,
Greg grundtisch
--
See the Friendship Sloop “Sea Dog”
for sale at
https://mysite.verizon.net/seadogsloop/
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No More Flapdoodle |
|
I no longer wish my plans to be sold by
Duckworks. I wish it could be otherwise.
Bill Weller
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Make that "Freight
Canoe" |
|
I recently read in an outdoors magazine
about the “flathead canoe” plans
that are available through your company.
I do not see the plans listed on your web
page. I have never ventured in to boat building
but I am fairly competent with carpentry
and wood working. The article indicated
an amateur can generally accomplish building
this boat w/o major problems. Can you steer
me in the right direction to obtain the
plans?
Tom Martin
Tom: What you saw was
Paul Butler's new design, "Freight
Canoe" in Outdoor
Life Magazine. Paul has kindly listed
Duckworks as a source for hardware in the
article. - Chuck
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Good luck with that
JuneBug, Bruce |
|
Hi Chuck,
How's things? All well I hope.
Can you tell me again what program you
use to build and maintain your website?
I'm building a JuneBug in a public school
ADD and behaviorable problem class, lots
of fun. Article later, after the launch.
Thanks and take care.
Bruce Hector
Bruce: we now use Dreamweaver
MX but once used FrontPage-Chuck
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Order form |
|
Dear Sandra or Chuck:
I am trying to place an order for various
stuff. The form doesn't let me complete.
I am ordering from Canada for a ship ment
to my daughter in Edmonton. The form continues
to ask for a deliver to state in oder to
complete. I don't want to lose all the keyed
in info.
Jim Feltham
Jim: Sorry about that
- the Canadian provinces are listed with
the US states, you have to go to the bottom
of the list to find them - Chuck
|
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Stevenson Plans |
|
Hi-
Have you ever considered carrying Stevenson
Projects plans? I like some of their plans,
but they're the worst in the world to deal
with. I've sent emails and left phone messages
over the course of a couple weeks starting
about 5 weeks ago and STILL have yet to
hear anything. I think they'd be better
off letting someone else manage their sales...
Mitch
Glen Ellyn, IL
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Magnolia Beach -
1 Week Left! |
|
We had a slight change in the format of
the event -- we are no longer officially
associated with the Water Tribe points series.
No ill feelings, just that Chief doesn't
have time and wanted to hold off till later
this year to do any point series races.
So, now the event is FREE, and instead of
specific routes, we are simply putting out
the log book boxes and you can visit them
in any order you want. The log book pages
will be published on my website after the
event is over, plus some interesting statistics.
For more info, see the updated web page
HERE
See you in a week!
Thanks
Shorty
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Lake Pepin |
|
This is a reminder that the Lake Pepin
Messabout is only five weeks away - June
1-3. Let me know soon if you need tent space.
I want to make sure we have enough room
for anyone who wants it. Thanks to you campers
who've already checked in with me.
You can find full event details HERE.
Be sure to invite your boat-loving friends.
Contact me if you have
any questions.
Bill Paxton
|
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Origami Folding
Dinghies in the Water |
|
Ahoy Chuck,
Just a quick one to say that I have created
a customers
gallery with a few Origamis
now.
Also a 4 page article coming out in Classic
Boat magazine in UK (like your Wooden Boat)
in a couple of weeks.
Also the editor of Classic Boat mag is taking
his Origam to Beale Park boat show, one
of the biggest shows in the UK in June.
Benjy
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Flicka Update |
|
Hello Chuck,
The interest in the Flicka
design continues. I have had four phone
calls in the last month, all fall flat when
money is mentioned but you know about this?
I think people think a small boat will be
small money. It's never the case, of course
and why Pacific Sea Craft got out of it.
All boats, except Godspell, as mentioned
in my story have now been sold, so have
the moulds, they have gone north.
I saw Peter the builder/owner of Godspell
yesterday, and the boat is back at his yard
for maintainace and is seriously for sale,
possibly you can post this on your site?
Roy McBride
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A Cool Product |
|
Morning Chuck and Sandra
You may have seen this already and if not
here is a LINK.
Just picked up a 4 pack of these, way to
cool.
Have a good day
Don Burton
|
|
Additional Information
from Admiral Dingy |
|
Ahoy there, Chuck!
Greetings from Admiral
Dingy!
And along with my greetings, I extend a
heartfelt thanks to you for the great coverage
that I enjoyed in Duckworks last week!
I also want to express
my sincere thanks to your readers who visited
my website at
www.admiral dingy.com.
Below is another update
for your review; and I trust that you will
want to share it with your readers.
Chuck--thanks again--!
We'll stay in touch as the adventure continues--!
Here's wishing you and your readers red
sky at night (sailor's delight)!
--Admiral Dingy
S.O.S.—DUCKWORKS
READERS
Ahoy there, Duckworks Readers!
I hereby request permission to come aboard
and introduce myself: Daryl Colinot (aka
Admiral Dingy)—Master & Commander
of the Cruise Ship Dinghy. Your support
of Duckwork is a marvel for sailors who
mess about in boats. I’m sure that
there are many sailors who read and study
Duckworks articles to gain knowledge about
their
projects.
If I may be so humble as to request help
from you with issues that I do not have
the Knowledge to solve nor execute by myself.
The training that I received, as a dancer,
Actor and filmmaker, did not give me the
knowledge of a Shipwright. I, tis true I
have built my dinghy and I’ve done
it through other people’s minds, as
well as my own common sense. Yet I find
that I still need your input to complete.
Some of the problems that need to be addressed
are:
1). The Dinghy has wind and solar-generated
power. How can I add motion generation?
2). Are any of you aware of an America’s
Cup boat that has fins that act as swim
fins like a treadle on a sewing machine?
Could this be converted into a motion generator?
I find this most interesting and wish to
learn more on the subject. Could this be
true? I question.
3). The Dinghy has 20 batteries that create
13,000 amps, within 5 (five) battery banks.
Three (3) of the battery banks generate
24 volts to run the motors. Two (2) are
house batteries. This would be no time for
Dumb Dingy to cross wires!
4). I still don’t have a head aboard.
#1 is easy. But #2—what to do?
5). Any suggestions on what to include
in my first aid/medical chest.
6). Ham radio/SSB. Would appreciate suggestions
on what and where to buy? I still don’t
have a license to operate one!
7). Now that we are cruising, I don’t
have time to play Webmaster. Is anyone interested
in working as Webmaster from home and keeping
me and my website in line?
The Cruise Ship Dinghy and I are on our
first leg of our 14-leg voyage to circumnavigate
the world. The boatbuilding has led to a
dwindling of funds. So if you wish to help
in that department, you can sign up for
sponsorship by purchasing Nautical Miles
and becoming a part of the adventure. You
can do this via the website www.admiraldinghy.com
Your help with knowledge or sponsorship
will be extremely appreciated. Hope I see
you along the way! --Admiral Dingy
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RE Big Words |
|
Hey,
Now you made me dig out the dictionary,
brush off the cobwebs and go to shuffling
pages---let's see "iconoclastic"
, couldn't you just say " a person
who ridicules venerated institutions regarded
by him as erroneous"? Now that just
rolls off the tongue.
Lee Martin
(Lee is refering to
our intro to the Hot
Chili article this month-Chuck)
|
|
Village Boatbuilding |
|
Hello there, my name is Kari Thomas and
I am an ethnic Papua New Guinean but live
in Australia due to marriage. I have recently
returned from a visit back home to my family
and can't come to terms with the poverty
and desperateness of the people back home.
While I was there and on my return I have
been thinking of ways to help my people.
A chance chat with a visiting friend from
New Zealand put me on your site. I think
it would be a wonderful opportunity to establish
an industry such as the one you have going
in East Timor as it would create means of
finding food, create an income stream and
the people involved would learn skills to
a trade. The unemployment is about 80% and
so manpower is no problem. Monies can be
raised to start up but I desperately need
advise on where to go from here. Please
reply as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
Kari Thomas
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Link to Duckworks |
|
Hi Sandra & Chuck
I would like to make a link to your magazine.
I do not a lot of links but your magazine
is so interesting, not only for my American
clients, that I would like to make a link.
For this purpose can you send me a little
bit bigger image of your logo? See our link
page. https://www.ikarus342000.com/LINKpage.htm
Cheers
Bernd
K-designs
https://www.ikarus342000.com/
|
|
Chuck,
In a subsequent e-mail, you will find a
large (3 MB) excel file that has the new
version of FoilStip. There are two new tabs
to play with - one will calculate lengthwise
strips that will require planing to final
foil shape. The other will calculate lengthwise
strips to be filleted (like the warren
messer approach).
Because the solution to the lengthwise strips
approach requires solving an eighth-order
polynomial, it requires a hell of a lot
of calculations, yielding a large file size.
TJH
(Tom's new spreadsheet
can be found HERE
with the old one-Chuck)
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|
Webwatch Mistake |
|
Thanks Chuck
IMHO You picked the best picture from my
site for the May Webwatch but unfortunately
the link is wrong.
It should be:
"https://www.linderborg.fi/vene/index.htm"
Nice to become an internationally known
"boat builder" ;).
Anders
(We apologize for the
mistake - Chuck)
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|
EC Report |
|
It is cool here in SE PA (cold for April)
and keeping me from working on Wanderer.
But at least there is Duckworks Magazine.
You don't have a reply form set up on Jim
Michalack's column and
Gary Blankenship's write-up
on the EC was so compelling that I wanted
to thank him and you for it.
First of all, it's great to read an account
of this years race. Having followed it on
the EC site and on your blog,
I was really curious to get a deeper grasp
of being on the water. Gary did a fine job
conveying what he and Noel Davis experienced.
It kibosh any fantasy I had of doing it
myself, but really enticed me towards some
two and three days cruises on less challenging
water. Having read the previous years reports
and the Oracle upgrades I have a keener
appreciation for the building and sailing
skill that went in to this splendid achievement.
I fully concur with your comment vis-a-vis
amateur vrs. professional. I was also fascinated
by Graham Brynes effort; it's clearly a
fast boat sailed fast. But taking a "stock",
home built, Michalak Frolic2
to fourth overall and second in class is
a terrific accomplishment. I'm sure Gary
and Noel take deep, well deserved satisfaction.
Likewise, it is a real compliment to Jim
Michalak, proving the worth of his design
and laying to rest any nay-sayers.
Reading through Gary's articles and others
on Duckworks is both an education and an
inspiration to this "OF". Many
thanks to all.
Bob Throne
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|
Droped the Price
of Redwing |
|
Hi Chuck,
I have decided to drop the price of the
Redwing in the Classified
Ad that's on your web site
to $8000.00 dollars from $12,000.00.
I'm planning on moving within the next
year, and I have to get out from under it.
Plus, I'm looking to build something new.
Thanks a Bunch.
Ken Duda
|
|
Mystery Boat |
|
Hey Chuck,
I must thankyou for all you have done for
me in posting info that I was seeking, I'm
talking about the April "Reports"
entry for the "Mystery Boat" that
you did for me.
I have found a local suitable boat that
I was indeed searching for and I must say
you're the only one that wanted to help
me when I needed it. . . I must ask if it
is at all possible for you to remove my
message/news post on the April News letter,
It has attracted emails I would rather not
have, if this is possible I would greatly
appreciate it to the upmost, you've been
more than a help already, thanks a mil,
Buck
|
|
More Multipart Articles |
|
Hey Tom,
Interesting perspective on multi-part
articles being a way of "stretching"
material. I never would have thought of
that perception, being on the writing end.
I can't speak for other writers, but I normally
split an article on a big project when it
gets really LONG! I think the general idea
of DW articles is to give people something
of about the length that can be read during
a coffee break or two at work. I think my
articles are generally oversized by DW standards,
and fortunately Chuck's laissez-faire approach
lets me get away with it. I don't usually
worry about it until they get to more than
twice the average article size. Then I feel
like I should split the article.
A good indicator is generally that MY attention
starts drifting when proofreading. I might
have a shorter attention span that you do,
but I still take it as a "red flag".
Particularly since I know people with an
even shorter attention span than me!
Here's the evidence that it's not stretching:
the process works both ways. A good example
was my Outboard
Dirty Tricks article - assembling
some mini-articles to make one full-sized
one. So far I've only done this once that
I can remember, though. (I guess I'm too
long-winded to need that technique very
often!)
--Rob Rohde-Szudy
|
|
Great Lakes Wooden
Sailboat Society |
|
Hello,
I was looking through the Duckworks site.
GREAT SITE!!!!! Found what I was told I
would find (birdsmouth mast making), and
more.
I would like you to check and see if you
would like to link with our Great Lakes
wooden Sailboat Society's website.
The web master is Ken Klemmer, kklemmer@gbcglobal.net.
I think all would enjoy and benefit.
Our group is in the process of reorganizing
after the death of one of our founding members,
and the one that did most of the organizing.
It costs nothing to become a member, and
we just had our winter meeting, and it looks
like our annual regatta and gathering will
be with the All Wooden Boat Show, in Huron,
OH. At the Huron Boat Basin.
Anyway, just thought I would check. The
Duckworks site is simply awesome!
Happy sails,
Greg grundtisch
See the Friendship Sloop “Sea Dog”
for sale at
https://mysite.verizon.net/seadogsloop/
|
|
New Column for Small
Craft Advisor |
|
Hi Chuck,
Would you consider mentioning to your
readers that we've launched our new Down
the Ways column? It's a good place for builders
to show off small boats that they've recently
built or restored. We're asking for up to
500 words and a few good color photos. We
don't pay for this column, but the featured
boat will get a full color page of coverage.
Thanks for your consideration.
Best,
Josh Colvin
Small
Craft Advisor
|
|
I've been hesitant to send this. But, just
in case one reader's perspective counts...
The impression that I get when I see frequent
multi-part articles in magazines (whether
in print or online) is that the editors
are stretching material.
TJH
TJH - trust me we do
not need to stretch material - just ask
anyone who has contributed in the last 6
months - we tend to post them as we get
them and if they are submitted as multipart
articles, we post them that way. Usually
we only get them one part at a time; and
a project progresses. - Chuck
|
|
Back in Print |
|
Hi Chuck,
Anthony Platt, brother of Brian Platt
who cross the Pacific in a junk-rigged boat,
wrote me to say he's reprinting another
100 copies of the book. He asked me to change
the blurb on The Cheap Pages -- also I thought
I'd let Duckworks know.
From Anthony
Platt:
To purchase a copy
of Brian's"Parallel 40 North to Eureka",
contact Anthony Platt at: amwplatt@btopenworld.com
or by mail:
17 Westgate Street,
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP33 1QG, United Kingdom.
Anthony says pound sterling or dollar checks
are acceptable. Price in USA is US$40.00
by air ("pretty fast, like inside a
week") or $35.00 by surface mail ("according
to the Post Office, very slow"). Contact
him for pricing in other countries.
Cheers -- Craig O'Donnell
|
|
Thanks |
|
First of all-
Let me thank you for hosting one of my
favorite online boat sites. Yours is a great
combination of supplies, designs and other
stuff that really hits the spot with me.
I am a carpenter and a part time amateur
builder of boats, although I haven't built
anything for some years now, having less
time and more responsibilities :-(
Thanks and thanks again for such a cool
website.
Steve Rinker
|
|
Condolences |
|
About your pal, Dennis. Beautiful little
model-- and I agree-- it would be nice if
a set of plans could be made, maybe named
after him and offered for sale. Anyway,
it sucks, I know. My condolences.
Mike Connelly
|
|
Hey guys- JUST read Chucks write up on
the site about your friend Dennis. Really
sad thing, but it made me realize just how
LONG it had been since we talked. Sad isn't
it? To take something like that to jar you
out of writing lethargy?
Charlie Jones
|
|
Hi Chuck
I'm sorry to read about the death of your
friend. His model positively exudes charm;
the organic shapes really work for me. It's
easy to believe that the creator of such
a thing would have been a force for good
in the world. There's not much more to say,
I guess, other than to echo the suggestion
that his memory might be usefully preserved
in a plan set. Was he working from an existing
hull, do you know?
cheers
Derek
|
|
Thanks, Derek and everyone
who wrote:
Organic is the best word to describe
the boat. There are no plans. He was working
from scratch when he built the model - I
think he intended to build the full sized
version from it.
Chuck
|
|
Loved todays story
about the Corps and Sven.
Warren Messer |
|
Congratulations on your
EC effort!!!! You and Skip are not afraid
to try something new.
Tim Webber
|
|
Bad luck in the Ec but I am glad you are
ok. Keep up the great work on the site.
Thanks
Brian Garner
|
|
Chuck - are you planning
to write an article about what happened at
EC, or just going to try and forget about
it? :)
Shorty
I have written a short
article which will appear in Small Craft
Advisor - Chuck
|
|
Dear Chuck,
I doubt your tale from the EC will be unexciting,
and I do hope we hear about it soon.
Don Freix
|
|
Hi Chuck
Sorry to hear about the EC...glad to hear
you guys were safe...next year will be here
before you know it...
Best
Mike Smith |
|
Hi Chuck,
I was watching the race progress and the
adventures that Skip and yourself were having
and figure that in a while you'll be looking
back on the event as an interesting experience
that you will remember for a while.
Adventures are by definition wet and uncomfortable,
and adventures are great things to tell
others about when you are back home, well
fed and dry.
John Welsford
|
|
Have you reviewed any of
the Hitchcraft products?
There are 4 or 5 videos of them on Youtube.
Bill Lange |
|
|
|
Following is a response
to one of the letters posted in January
...
"Thanks to John Welsford and Jim Michalak"
As someone who's built one boat, purchased
plans for more than FORTY others, and commissioned
two designs (John Welsford's "Walkabout"
and a revised version of Paul FIscher's
"Skylark 14," I feel compelled
to respond to the January letter from Michael
Kinney.
Mr. Kinney complains that the plans from
Welsford and Michalak are not sufficiently
detailed, and goes on to heap praise on
the plans from Jacques Mertens at "boat
plans online dot com."
I own two sets of plans from Mertens (the
Otter 16 and CK 17), three sets from Welsford
and more than a half dozen from Michalak.
I've studied all of them closely, and I
haven't a clue what Mr. Kinney is talking
about. The plans from Mertens are no more
detailed than the others.
I have nothing against "boat plans
online" -- Jacques has some interesting
designs, and his plans are well done --
but the criticism of Welsford and Michalak
is unfounded. Anyone who's thinking about
order plans from John or Jim should pay
no heed to Mr. Kinney's letter.
Sincerely,
Stephen Paskey
Adelphi, MD
|
|
|
|
Well, thanks to Lee's article,
I finally did it! After drying sand for
two weeks and looking at my 16' long piece
of 7/8" stainless, I built a jig and
did it! There was a lot of careful calculating
of circumferences and radii and a lot of
trepidation, but the prospect of saving
$700 was a driving force.
I think the stainless behaves differently
than aluminum. I was bending everything
to a 30" diameter and found that the
tube sprang back, giving about a 36"
radius. Fears of collapse or kinking seemed
unfounded. In the end I drained out the
sand and bent the radius sharper out in
the open with no specially sharper radii
forming. I think starting with the template
and the sheathing pipe is the key but I
should have made a template about 24"
so the spring would go out to the desired
radius.
The only other problem was the tube sliding
around the template. I had to wrap it with
duct tape to get it to stay put while the
bends were put in--perhaps a clamp of some
sort would have been better.
In conclusion, I would say stainless is
much tougher and resiliant, but it takes
a fine bend (at least to a large radius).
Tom Schultz
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Percy Blandford's Hornblower
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In an idle moment I googled hornblower
and breifly came on a mention
that your magazine had a query about said
percy blandford design. I built one 27 years
ago, still have it and may be able to help
if anyone wants to contact me.
Annually cruise the west coast of scotland
in it.
Tony Shorrocks
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I found a quality tide clock and a barometer
to go with it at hightideclocks.com.
The clock is a lot easier to keep track
of, (it's on my bulkhead) and gives me reliable
info fast. The thing is made of brass and
should last forever. I got it with the ports
I go in and out of and the surrounding area.
The barometer matches and they make the
inside of my sail boat look a bit more classy.
Thought you might want to take a look. Thanks
for having such a cool site.
Carl
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Hi All
I’ve entered a competition with
one of my poems,
if you get a chance I’d appreciate
you rating it on the web site, who knows
I might win something.
Cheers Mike Birch
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Lake Charles Messabout, April 21,
2007
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Our 6th Annual Messabout is coming on Saturday,
April 21, 2007.
The Clubhouse is finished (from storm damage)
and the water is fine.
We welcome all small boaters, including
sail, row, paddle and small power boats.
We will have hot dogs at lunch and burgers
in the evening. Activities are not scheduled,
just come out and ''Messabout in Boats.''
There will not be a Puddle Duck Challenge
race this year, but PDR's are invited to
come out and sail.
Sometime in the afternoon we will have the
''Battle for Lake Charles'', a waterballoon
fight. Bring your weapons.
Activities start at 9:00 or so in the morning
and end with the evening meal.
Come out the night before and camp on the
grounds.
Also, on Friday we will have a ''Cruise''.
Last year we went to Prien Lake and Prien
Park. This year we will go back to Prien
Lake and visit the Lake Charles Power Squadron
at their 'Anchorage.' They have a Friday
evening BYO social (6:00) and we are invited.
The cruise will start midmorning on Friday
and end back at the Yacht Club when we get
tired. We can either stay in Prien Lake
for the social or drive over from the Yacht
Club. I'll probably drive over.
All Yacht Club members and Power Squadron
members, plus the general public are invited
the Messabout.
Ken Abrahams, Lake Charles Yacht Club
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Boat Plans |
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I am building a 18 foot
Wherry - glued lapstrake. I was not in the
mood to build a stripper - and I wanted to
see what all the "gain" stuff was
about and I really like the idea of no fiberglass
sheath. One thing for sure - the designer
may be a master boat builder but he is certainly
lacking in his ability to explain things on
paper. If it wasn't for Ted Moore's Canoecraft
I don't think I would have even gotten a decent
strongback up. That book should be required
reading even if you never plan to build a
canoe.
I fully understood what the guy was raving
about that returned the boat plans and wrote
the letter. Of course he was mistaken as
well - he bought boat plans - not a boat
book - so he should not have expected a
"how to". I think there might
be an article there - I could see it done
in the form of a letter - from a landlubber
to the masters of the sea....
Larry Pullon
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Hannu's Close Call |
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Dear Chuck,
Intrigued by his many clever designs and
delightful website,
I have become a fairly frequent corespondent
with Hannu Vartiala. A witty fellow (you
know I speak Chinese, but in my second language
I am hardly "witty". Can you imagine
being witty in a second language???) we
write fairly frequently, and so I was somewhat
concerned when my last letter to him went
unanswered for a longish time. I figured
that he had fled the Finnish Winter for
somewhere warmer and sunnier.
It turns out that instead he was trapped
inside a Finnish hospital, knocking at Heaven's
Door, or closer to it than is comfortable.
Right after New Year's, he went to the doc
with severe pain in his right shoulder and
was quickly diagnosed with sepsis, a severe
bacterial infection (life threatening or
life ending not all that long ago) and they
kept him pinned up and on IV antibiotics
for just shy of a month. He's home now,
with orders not to do anything much with
his right hand until given a medical go-ahead.
I think a number of DWers have built boats
of his design, and figured they might want
to know and drop him a line.
All Best,
Mike
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Looking for Apprentices
for Project |
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Chuck,
I’m looking for three or four new
apprentices for a new project that I’m
starting. The new boat, an 18 foot cuddy
cabin outboard cruiser, is the boat we discussed
several months back in my shop. It’s
my version of Chappelle’s Camp Cruiser.
My version has a flat run aft so it will
plane and uses a 25 hp four stroke. It should
have a WOT speed of about 23 to 25 mph.
I plan to have a raised flush deck rather
than the cabin used on the Camp Cruiser.
This will make a great casting platform
and make construction very straight forward
and simple.
These will be work for knowledge positions
but each of the apprentices will get a set
of plans and the manual/book for the boat
at the projects end. I’ll also give
each student copies of my DVD, my book A
Working Guide to Traditional Small Boat
Sails, and the new book. In addition, they
will be able to buy any other of my plans
and kits at cost.
I think the boat will take about three
months to build and I would expect the students
to work from the start to the end of the
project.
It seems like this would be ideal for retired
or semi-retired individuals, men or women
in the Central Texas Area, with an interest
in boat building. I’m not looking
for people with boat building experience,
just a desire to build boats. I find that
is far more important than any experience.
As always, I’ll make sure everybody
gets a good understanding of the process
of building this boat and how it applies
to building other boats.
If you would pass on the fact that I’m
looking for new apprentices I would appreciate
it. Have anybody interested contact me at
www.arrowheadboats.com.
Thank’s for your help with this.
Best Regards,
David Nichols
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Pop-pop Boat Forum |
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Hi all,
I a few discussion groups to look for fairly
simple hull designs that might be scaled
down for use on semi scale models of old
steamboats and ships.
I am an old retired guy who played with
pop-pop steamboats before WW2 when these
little tin boats were probably the favorite
toys for kids.
For lack of anything better, or smarter
to do, I am trying to generate interest
in the development of pop-pop boats that
would look more like steamboats, and less
like recycled cans.
I thought the best way to do this would
be on a Yahoo discussion group and used
"pop-pop" for searches for a while
before I decided that the only way to find
a group for discussions of pop-pop boats
would be to start one. This LINK
will take you there.
One of our problems is that there aren't
many kits or designs for very small models
of 19th century steamboats. There are a
lot of kits for paper ship models. Most
of them are waterline models, so we need
ways to provide waterline models with full
hulls and to make them stronger and waterproof
of course. There are a lot of groups for
people who build elaborate, highly detailed
scale models from kits, or from scratch.
These people are not interested in building
simple semi-scale models, so I decided that
groups for people who build real boats might
provide a better source for plans that could
be scaled down— a long way down!
Best wishes to all, Frank McNeill
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David Beede on TV |
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Hey Chuck,
Local PBS station just did one of those
"artist close-up" thangs on me
recently, building and playing my quasi-esoteric
instruments. It's now viewable online here:
https://www.wuft.tv/gallery_episodes.aspx
It's in Quicktime or .mov format, so your
browser has to support that. I'm cursed
to dialup land these days so haven't seen
it myself. It's a few minutes long.
I'm adding a 12' x 32' space to my shop,
partly to quietly accommodate my new CNC
machine and also give me a spray room and
a clean room. I'm getting too old for construction
work and ache all over. I'll be thrilled
when it's all done though. Floor framing
and roof are done, so I can see the light
at the end...!
Hope you guys are well.
David
www.davidbeede.com
www.simplicityboats.com
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Thanks for the Forum |
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Dear Chuck,
Although my 10-yr old daughter thought "DUCKWORKS,"
was a pretty silly name for a website, and
she joyously thrilled at the chance to kid
me in applying the word, "Amateur,"
to my abilities, she was never-the-less intrigued
with the fact that something
written by her dad is published on the web.
Not a small feat with a child who knows everything
now that she is half-way through fifth grade.
This is a great enjoyment for me and I appreciate
the opportunity through your hard work, maintaining
this site, to be able to contribute and to
impress my daughter.
; ^ )
Don Freix
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I'll be there |
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May 6 is on my calendar. I will be at the
Duckworks Messabout/Magnolia
Challenge with my Boston Whaler.
I thoroughly enjoy Duckworks Magazine, keep
up the good work. Say Hi to Sandra.
Bob Shipman
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Thomas Firth Jones
Passed |
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Hi Chuck,
Boy you sure have a nice resource with your
bbs and magazine, bravo.
I just found out Thomas Firth Jones had
died. I was just reading a letter he sent
me back in July, looked on the internet
and found out he was gone: https://www.wharram.eu/live/
see the Obituary by Ruth a ways down the
page, nicely written.
I have all his books, and like Bolger
says he "did all his own thinking".
BillR
Whidbey Id (near Seattle)
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Boat builders are romantics and visionaries
that can see the potential in any piece
of trash. So I can understand their objections
which I partly have too. But on the other
hand, we all do know how junky they can
be made, or turn into, and their funerals
are usually hushed up affairs - that happen
all the time.
Shorty
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Bleah, I knew this was going
to cause a s**t storm. I hope my reply doesn't
further offend people. Pull it if it gets
ugly. Still, I think it is a valuable discussion:
When is a boat worthless? Lots of variables
on that.
Andrew Linn |
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Rigging PDRacers |
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Magnolia Beach Challenge |
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Hey everyone, come on down
to the Magnolia Beach Challenge and Combo
Event. We are doing something new this year,
we have several loops to sail or paddle as
part of the Water Tribe point series, the
5th annual Duckworks Messabout, Noel's Casual
Cruise, and a Puddle Duck Race. If you like
small boats, you better come. If you can't
come, you better be dead, or in jail. If you
are in jail, then break out!
Full details at:
https://www.shortypen.com/events/2007/magnolia/
Shorty
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Melonseed Skiff
Progress |
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I am approaching the end of the planking
on my Melonseed project. I am fiddling with
the last two planks trying to get their
spiling down. Spiling is a really
nifty boat building crowd word that simply
means "to determine the width".
I have to spile the last two planks with
the eye of a practiced artist because I
am running out of room on the forms and
need to make the planks look good and swoopy.
Swoopy is a nifty boat building
word that means "you didnt read the
book carefully enough and need to panic
and cram the last two planks on because
your spiling stinks on ice". Its good
to be part of the boat building crowd and
know these things.
Jim
Augusta, GA
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Thanks from Cross
Multihull Designs |
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Dear Chuck,
I was very pleased to see the photo used
for the article
and the plug for my website. Thanks so much
for that. If you ever need a photo of a
particular CROSS trimaran and some catamarans,
I would consider it a privilege to provide
one. I am a attaching a CROSS 42 photo incase
you would like to substitute it for the
CROSS 44 your now have. Again thanks for
the plug.
Best regards,
Jeff Turner
CROSS Multihull Designs
Email jeff@CrossMultihulls.com
URL https://www.CrossMultihulls.com
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I have purchased several
of Jim Michalaks' plans and I take offense
at your comments. Jim's plans are filled with
detail if you take the time to actually look
through them. With the included building key
there is not much left to question. I have
thought about calling Jim a few times with
a question, but with a little study of the
plans the answers are there. Jim's boats are
simple boats in design and construction and
the plans are more detailed than more expensive
plans that I have purchased. I did purchase
Jim's boat building book and it was well worth
the money. The incredibly low cost of Jim's
plans and book compared to other designers,
it would have still been worth the investment
at twice the cost.
Mark Knedler
Rockford Illinois |
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Crusing: Sense and
Nonsense |
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Hi Chuck,
After reading Charlie Whipple's extremely
sensible "Some
things cruisers might want to think about",
I opened my second favorite website and
found Edward Lear's nonsense poem, "The
Jumblies" (click and scroll
down).
It was clearly a cosmic coupling.
from Saturday, 20 January 2007
" Far and few, far and few,
Are the lands where the Jumblies live",
Tim Ferguson
Thetford, Vermont
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Wish List |
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Hi Chuck,
I love your site! It has been very helpful
in getting me started building a boat.
I don't know how complicated this is, but
having just gone through the holiday season
and getting requests for gift lists from family
and friends I discovered the joys of Amazon
wish lists.
I would love to be able to set up a similar
list on your site of all of the things I either
need or want to purchase for my boat build
or things that others might want to purchase
for me to help out the project. Even something
where I could take the time and list all of
the hardware for my project so I can purchase
it as I have the money and not have to try
to remember what it was each time.
If it's not too complicated it might be a
nice addition to your wonderful site.
Here's a wish for all the best for you and
your family in the New Year!
Scott Marckx
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Stolen Diablo |
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I've been meaning to share with you that
this
Diablo was stolen (along with
its trailer) on the Olympic Peninsula about
a year ago. Can't be too hard for your readers
to spot.
I've built several since then but still
miss that old skiff.
Ed Sasser
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Thanks |
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Chuck,
You saved me a lot of research and trial
and error by posting up your detailed
article on how to modify the
trailer.
I own the same trailer and have been using
it for hauling misc. stuff around for about
a year. Well, I just came across a good
deal on a 14’ flat bottom aluminum
fishing boat and I needed to figure out
a way to haul it around. I thought I might
be able to extend the tongue on my trailer
to make it work, so I searched the internet
to see if anyone else had tried this. Sure
enough, I found your article on duckworks!
Thank you for doing all the hard part for
me..
I am wondering if you have had any issues
with the trailer? I will be doing this mod
to the tongue in the next couple of weeks
if I don’t hear anything negative
from you.
Thanks a million !
Tim Weig
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Dear Chuck and Sandra,
I wish you a very prosperous New Year, one
filled with increased sales, submissions,
ideas, participation and of course, time to
dink around with friends and family in interesting
places (the San Juan River comes to mind...).
Thanks so much for your efforts. I agree with
others that the e-zine has so much more to
offer than any other publication concerning
mainly homebuilt boats and gear. Of course,
we can't leave out MAIB, I wouldn't dare hurt
Bob's feelings but both fill a niche without
redundancy.
We were blessed in that our youngest son survived
a year's combat in Iraq (US Army Infantry,
3ID) and was able to spend Christmas home
with family after two year's absence. We built
a "yachty" center console box for
his 4X4 p/u. He made me promise a long time
ago to help with that if he was able to come
home--promise fulfilled, and gladly. He is
due for another redeployment to Iraq this
new year and it will probably happen. After
nine years, he does his duty. Even if there
is a draw-down, they still need fresh units
to relieve those due to come home. He was
part of some remarkable achievements over
there, very touching, although you won't hear
about over here, but there are some Iraqis
that are sure singing their praises, and you
won't hear about them either.
But here's to a safe and blessed new year,
I'm looking forward to it.
Sincerely,
Ron Bennett |
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Chuck,
Thank you. I love your site. It's the first
one I check in the morning as the coffee is
brewing and the last one I check in the evening.
If anything will get me building another boat
it will be your site. Thanks for inspiring
and educating so many of us.
Curran in Jacksonville, FL |
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Hello Chuck,
I wanted to personally thank you and Duckworks
for the sponsorship and help you’re
giving to Alan Stewart and his fellow team
mates to help them complete their boats
for this year’s EC.
Much appreciated!
Cheers
Kristen - AKA 'Kiwibird'
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You really have your Duckworks
in a row. It looks good, feels good, and works
good on this side of the monitor. You are
probably facing a x-road now. Whether to get
big and hire headaches or stay a comfortable
size and not be able to get away for more
than a few days.
John Wright |
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A great Book and
DVD |
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Hi Chuck
Recently I bought a book and DVD from
an Irish publisher about building Currachs
The book is based on extracts from the
DVD and a set of lines is provided together
with the DVD.
I have to say this was one of the most
enjoyable viewings I’ve had for ages.
It starts with a short local history told
by the builder and goes on to show the whole
thing from the choosing of wood, to the
measuring and building process. A very enlightening
entertaining and clear DVD. You just know
you could go and build one of these things
by eye.
Far be it from me to criticise design,
but in my view the build is rough and ready
to put it mildly. However when you see the
finished product on the water and winning
a race, all you can say is. “This
is real non nonsense boat building. Very
impressive!”
I’d recommend this to anyone interested
in skin on frame boats as you can sail these
as well.
Get it HERE
Michael Birch
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New Hovercraft |
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Hi Chuck,
I've recently designed a hovercraft kit
with the intent of blessing students and
familes with a fun and educational project.
The kit comes with "The Science Behind
the Hovercraft, a Conceptual Study Guide"
which explores the scientific principals
demonstrated by the hovercraft and its engines;
including Bernoulli’s principal, Newton’s
third law of motion, aerodynamic stability,
and the workings of the 4 stroke engine.
The hovercraft is fast, packed full of great
design features, and is super easy to build.
You can learn more at my website.
I was wondering if you would be able to
put a link on your website to mine to help
me in my efforts. I would truly appreciate
it, and I believe your viewers would as
well. Many of the design features incorporated
in the hovercraft kit make it superior to
Universal Hovercraft's kits.
Sincerely,
Matthew Crume
Owner - Father Son Projects, LLC
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Clear Deckplate
as Porthole idea |
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Your clear
deckplates will be IDEAL for
a couple of portholes on an American 16
I'm refitting.
Do they come with a back flange to hide
the raw cut? If not, you might consider
a special package for portholes: one that
contains an inner flange and an outer one.
In fact, here is a little idea - take an
inner flange and glue mosquito net or nylon
screen to it. Then mount the flanges. The
fact that the net is on the inner flange
may mean less likelihood of damaging the
net when you screw in the cover. It would
give you a nicer finish inside (they are
cheap enough that two could be used).
Another option would be to have Seadog
make them in smoked plastic. (I'm also looking
at designing a tent for your contest I wanna
be an engineer when I grow up!)
Thanks
Phill Mayer
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Whew, just got back
from Puerto Vallarta |
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Hey, chuck --- Whew, just
got back from Puerto Vallarta, in time to
just find out that we will now be able to
ditch the old "dial up" phone line
and go to DSL at last.
In Pto. Vallarta we got to ride out a storm
front in a panga with about 15 others, a full
boat in fact. Weather so rough that we had
to leave the beach in smaller surf dories
to transfer to the bigger one in the bay,
docks and beach had 6 foot rollers. Nobody
got out without a drenching or two. I watched
a suspicious dark line coming from about a
quarter mile out, at the head of the bay.
I was standing on a higher point while another
panga was taking on passengers from the beach.
Nobody else was looking, I guess -- looked
like a tsunami to me. When it hit, the just
launched boat was pitched up to about 35 to
40 degrees, a few passengers fell aft, but
not for long. As the wave passed they fell
forward as the boat hit the trough, about
a six foot drop. A lot of yelling and a bit
of panic, but the boat was still pointed out
and the motor still running, so away they
went. About 8 people in an 18 ft boat, 60
hp Yamaha 4 stroke, and the nearest port about
20 miles away.
Then it started to get rougher, I guess over
25 mph winds, 6 to 8 ft. seas --- and we were
next!! Our boat had a 150 hp on a 4 stroke
Merc, and a total of over 12 people in about
a 22 ft. boat. After we finally got transferred
by scrambling across between waves, we got
out of there -- fast. Cross seas from the
point at 6 to 12 ft. with flying horses, so
we got airborne several times. In fact we
passed the other boat that left earlier, picking
up our other passengers (quickly) from a pier
more in front of the storm front. There were
about 4 kids, two under 5 and a wee baby (who
thought it was a lot of fun!) as she was handed
down to her dad in 4 ft. swells. All in all
a great trip, just enough scary, plenty of
excitement. When the panga skippers have everybody
don life jackets in port, and tell you to
hang on -- just do it. Anyhow safe and sound
about 1 1/2 hours trip length each way, ready
for a hot rum(s) and a good bath. If you want
to look the area up, find BOCA, below Pto.
Vallarta -- no roads, water taxi only to YELAPA,
further south. Super place, great beaches
and lagoon, hiking to a waterfall and excellent
restraunt in a tropic setting. Just watch
the weather, as if you have a choice!!
PS -- I stepped into a snake pit of boas on
the beach in the beach litter, 3 fat ones
about 3 ft. long -- harmless unless stepped
on, but my shorts got all knotted up instantly
as they look like dark brown rattlers. No
rattles of course, but I didn't wait around
to look too closely at first. We sure do get
a lot of excitement for our travel dollar!!!
Kinda stream of consciousness writing Chuck,
sorry but this mail screen is not good for
editing/moving passages around!! Anyhow, will
get back with you later, don't know the day
the new cable will be in, I hope this coming
week.
Later, Cal |
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Simmons Sea Skiff |
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Hello!
My name is Justin Beard. I hold the Simmons
sea skiff close to my heart. Some of my
best memories revolved around going to my
grand-daddy’s house when I was very
young. In fact the earliest recollection
of grand-daddy David was when he was building
the frame (skeleton he called it) of his
20ft Simmons sea skiff one afternoon at
his house in Raleigh. He was so proud of
that boat and everyone around him could
see his satisfaction anytime we even talked
about It. He passed away about three years
ago and we were very close. The boat was
passed on to my brother and then passed
on to me. I remember taking it out last
summer and having the time of my life! We
went to Masonboro and camped out all night
laughing around campfires, took midnight
cruises with, well, just about anybody that
would go, went fishing early in the mornings
for Spanish, blues, and anything that would
bite. That boat just makes me feel close
to my roots if you know what I mean.
One evening I asked a girl out on a date
and planned to take her for a little late
evening cruise. I was very nervous so I
took the boat out for a test ride to make
sure it was running smoothly. I went home,
got ready, picked up my date, got the cooler
ready and headed for dockside where I had
the boat tied up. Well, to my utmost surprise,
when we arrived I took one look at the boat
and immediately realized that it had taken
on some water! To make a long story short
I called five buddies and had them come
bail for me while I took her home and got
the trailor. By the time I got back the
fifth of Vodka was gone but at least the
boat was still holding strong!
I knew the leak was minimal, but I docked
the boat in my friend’s garage and
we decided to completely strip it down and
make her look mint. We striped it down,
took out the floorboards and console and
started stripping it down. The worst part
is I didn’t really have the money,
time, or know how to fix it like it needed
to be done. When they moved I had to move
the boat to a boat storage place in Castle
Hayne where it lies today. Unfortunately
it was not under a roof, but I did cover
it and there is no signs of rotting wood.
Over the holidays we had all the family
over and stories about the past were inevitable!
Someone started talking about the stories
Grand-daddy- David had with his adventures
in his boat. I cant tell you what a nerve
that struck in my heart. I feel so ashamed
that I have not been able to take better
care of that boat. It was his jewel. I feel
like every time I even think about it I
can see him up there kind off shaking his
head.
I have made a few inquiries to who would
be able to help me restore the boat. I have
some money saved up now and don’t
want to wait another day to get proactive
on restoring the boat back to its pristine
shape and keeping it that way for my grand
father and myself! If anyone has any suggestions
as to who could help me restore the boat,
I would be greatly appreciative! I have
money to pay for there services, but I really
want someone who cares about the Simmons
boat as much as I do, because I know that
would mean a lot to both of us.
Please feel free to send this to anyone
you know who has a passion for the Simmons
Sea Skiff
Thank you for your time,
Justin Beard
justinb@nc.rr.com
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Your EC Boat |
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How is your boat going?
I need some more pictures of the proa please.
When are you expecting to take a test sail?
I don't want to miss watching this boat splash.
es todo, Lee
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Thanks |
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Dear Duckworks,
I’m a first-time user of your online store,
trying to rig up a WS fishing kayak. Thanks
for the simplicity of your site. Good pictures.
Prices are easily seen. No guess work. Great
site!
Wes Priestley - Knoxville, TN |
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Hey guys, just wanted to drop
a note to tell you how much I enjoy your web
site. I log on for at least an hour a day and
find something I missed every time. I would
be a happy boater if you started publishing
this in a magazine format. I would like to print
out a lot of the information on this site but
the cost of ink prohibits this. Please don't
ever stop publishing this web site, the how
do articles are worth a fortune. The only bad
thing, is it seams like every few visits I find
something to buy, if I keep going I'll own all
of Michalak's plans.
Thanks for a great source of information that
is hard to find any where else.
Mark Knedler
Rockford IL
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Merry Christmas to you and
your family and best wishes for a prosperous
New Year. And. Along the way, congratulations
on a truly wonderful website and a business
that just seems so very clean, friendly, useful,
without vice or agenda -- just fun and useful.
That is so rare.
David Arnold - DocFrog in Kentucky
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I received the plans (Jim
Michalak's QT
skiff and John Welsford's Seagull)
and I am not real happy with them. I have built
only six boats in my life but each of them came
from very detailed plans. (canoes, skiffs and
prams) Never have I set eyes on the likes of
what I've been sent. When I ordered the plans
I asked if the plans had detailed building instructions
and was told yes they were but the builder recommended
I purchase his book.... Book? I shouldn't need
to buy a book if the designers had the amateur
boat builder in mind. For years I have bought
plans from Boat Plans Online with outstanding
results. Excellent easy to read plans and full
scale drawings so if there is a problem one
only has to look at them to see what the part
is to look like full scale. Boat building should
be fun! One should not have to bang one's head
on a wall trying to figure it out. When I brought
this up with Mr. Michalak he seemed to think
the major failing is that 99.9% of the boat
plan buying public just doesn't read the plans.
(!?!) Well, so be it. I guess I'm just one of
the 99.9% of the dumb public who can't read
and understand well enough to build your boats.
Your plans have been returned and I won't be
purchasing your plans in the future. I will
however hop over to boatplans-online.com
and thank Jacques for his excellent designs
and years of enjoyment his boats have brought
to me and thousands of others like me with bovine
intelligence. When a designer of small skiffs
cannot go the extra mile to make the building
process as easy as possible for the poor slob
who just wants to make a boat in his/her backyard/garage
and instead stand in arrogance and proclaim
the world is to dumb or lazy to read and understand
deserves to end up in the poor house. I'll spend
my money elsewhere....
Respectfully,
Michael Kinney |
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Selway-Fisher Lynx
14 |
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Chuck,
Just wanted to pass along a note to let you
know that Paul Fisher provided a set of Lynx
14 plans for me to reveiw on
my website, and that I have listed Duckworks
as a source for these plans.
I also ordered a set of four 4" deckplates
from you last night for the Trilars,
we've had some good weather here in Virgina
the past couple of weekends so I've been able
to get some work done.
I hope you and Sandra have a happy holidays
and you have a great 2007.
Tom Raidna
The Home Boat Builders Page
www.buildboats.com
buildboats@yahoo.com
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Letting Gains |
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Chuck:
I followed a link at the bottom of the new Pathfinder
article on your site which led to another article
on making gains on lapstrake planking. I have
never made a gain, but I suspect you made some
on the Rifleman.
Do you think this approach would work? Instead
of cutting a conventional gain on the lower
plank that the upper plank fits into, what if
you used your router to cut about an 8 inch
or so long rabbet (as deep as half the ply thickness)
on the bottom inside edge of the upper plank
and a similar rabbet on the outside top edge
of the lower plank. The two rabbets ought to
transition to fit together nice and flush near
the stem, and the remainder of the pocket between
the opposed rabbets to the extent there is a
gap could be easily epoxy-filled. Do you think
this might work? Is making a gain so simple
in practice that such an alternative is not
really needed?
I just noticed this week that you have advertising
links from major players such as Chrysler to
their 300 SRT8. Congratulations are in order,
as I suspect that is a very major milestone
to have achieved for Duckworks.
Have a good holiday,
David K |
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How Much Filleting
Epoxy? |
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How much ready mixe filleting putty would
I need to make the rudder and daggerboard
foil you have a plan for in your recent
article.
thanks, Rich D
Warren Messer replys:
Not much EZ-Fillet is needed. I think I used
less than 6 mixed ounces for both foils; and
not much QuickFair either. If someone is making
the DB and rudder the same time they are building
the boat; its a good place to use up the extra
materials while working on the hull.
Warren
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'Gator Bait |
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IF things go as planned I will be going to
England in 07. March or April.. at least that
is the plan at the moment.. Many Nations Tribe
has members in England and some of them have
invited me over.. I am going to be somewhere
Near New Castle, our contact is in Tyne and
Ware.. If you wish to talk to our contact
in England I can give you his e-mail address..
a mighty fine guy. you will like him and his
family. He visited our tribal lands several
years ago and I took him on the BIG bayou
in the deep woods. Not our bayou but one that
goes for Miles and miles, through some wild
places. I will never forget. He had never
been in a small boat. So before we left the
dock I gave him a few lessons. How to use
the paddle, keep your balance, etc.... He
loved it. Well we were in a real swampy place
and looking for gators.. it was evening and
the shadows were long and dark laying on the
waters like a thin grey blanket. A spooky
thing. It was quiet.. VERY quiet, the sound
of a buzzing misquoto sounded like WW11 fighters
rollling in for a strafe. We sat very still
and quiet expecting for a monster from ancient
times to reveal himself.. Our eyes rolled
from side to side as we starred into those
shadows waiting for the surface to gently
break and reveal the bump of eyes and nostrils
on some wild, powerful, and dangerous beast.
SUDDENLY - the slience was abruptly broken
by the ringing of his cell phone. .Poor thing
JUMPED and almost flipped the canoe.. For
a split second he did not realize just what
that sudden loud noise was.. in the silent
moment it sounded much like the air horn of
some big truck going down the freeway. He
recovered and we both got a laugh.. glad he
did not have a bad heart.. PS, it is warm
here today a bit foggy and a little damp.
BUT a beautiful day.. People in hell would
trade a swiss bank account to enjoy a day
like this one.. Then again, maybe not having
a day like this one is hell. smile. Have a
great day.
Chief Redelk - Many Nations Tribe
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In Praise of Jim Michalak |
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The following exchange was overheard
on some forum - ed
When I was looking for plans for my first
boat, a sailing skiff, I immediately dismissed
Jim's boats as ugly and 'clunky'. Later, I
bought his book and built the QT Skiff with
one of the students at my school. I was really
impressed. I'm finishing the Normsboat (for
me) and can't wait to get it on the water.
Don't know what happened, but now I find his
designs clean, efficient, and elegant. Part
of that change may be that his designs seem
to look better in person than in drawings,
but maybe that's just me. And further thanks
to Chuck at Duckworks--I've ordered often
from him with nary a fumble. Great folks to
do business with.
- Mr. Ballast -
_____________________
I think it's a pretty common first reaction
to Jim's designs. Part of it is that you're
exactly right about them looking a LOT better
in person. Jim's engineering drawings certainly
don't do them justice. Hell, even Jim has
to make models to "see" them better.
Another part, though, is that we're just not
used to seeing boats that are purpose designed
as beach cruisers for amateur construction.
Most of the boats we see are production boats
patterned on slick high-tech racing designs
that spare no expense in rigging. Or they
are character boats designed to be encrusted
with salty-looking nauticalia. (Hey, I think
I just invented a word...) These folks know
that looks sell boats. They always sell you
a cabin but never mention that almost nobody
really uses the cabin, and everyone crowded
aft in the cockpit ruins the trim. And they'll
never use a commonsense off-center mast for
easy entry, because it would look odd to the
uninitiated.
Basically, the big market in the marine world
is people who want to HAVE a boat. People
who want to GO BOATING are rather a minority,
I'm afraid. That's OK. The former help keep
cleats cheap for the rest of us. Even smaller
is the group who actually go camp cruising
regularly enough to justify a purpose designed
boat. Those folks can hardly buy anything
suited to their needs because the market is
so small. So there's Jim.
And a few others, to be fair. Like John Welsford.
But Jim lives in the Great Plains, so he knows
what it takes to make a boat sucessful in
that vast swath of the USA. Not many designers
understand "flyover land" like Jim.
The shallow and unimproved ramps, the voracious
mosquitoes, the good fishing, the many opportunities
for "outlaw camping" on public land.
And indeed the desires of outdoorsmen in general.
WHY a certain kind of fishing boat should
be the way it is.
There's a reason duck hunters and fishermen
took such an interest in Jim's Piccup after
he painted it camoflage. It's like the sail
became invisible! Another example that always
leaps to mind for me is PolePunt. The moment
I saw Wojtek's prototype I knew I would eventually
build one. (It is amazing how the Vistula
looks just like the Lower Wisconsin.) I have
a buddy in Iowa who does a lot of hunting
and fishing who would probably kill for one
of those boats. It will get you to the shallow,
weedy fishing spots where the big bass are,
and it will also sled those big, corn-fed
Iowa deer out of the woods. And if you find
yourself on thin ice when you're out there
fishing, nothing would be better than to have
your shanty built on something like it. It's
not going to take on the English channel or
anything, but it is ideally suited to the
needs of the Midwestern sportsman.
- Rob Rohde-Szudy -
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Reminds me of a story told to me by a friend
who managed a running store. The majority
of the people who came in did not want to
hear about pronation, supination, proper support,
cushioning, etc. -- all the variables that
determine the right running shoe for the individual,
and that that can make a huge difference in
your running experience. They wanted to choose
their running shoes based on color!
I love the process of accepting and then
loving Michalak designs. It starts with shedding
your preconceived notions of what a boat is
supposed to look like. It leads to examining
your own self -- are you actually trying to
impress others by the type of boat you own?
And it ends with possession of secret knowledge
-- my "cheap, ugly" plywood boat
is ten times better for nearly all uses (except
crossing the Atlantic) than all those six-figure
fiberglass cruiser/racers, most of which never
cross the Atlantic. And the revelation that
you don't need to let your boat limit your
cruising grounds -- i.e. all those sleek white
creations with 5' + draft have never known
the joys of sailing right up onto the beach
and getting out to play, or even just sailing
close enough to shore to enjoy the scenery.
Ultimately it takes a headstrong, self-confident,
clear-thinking person to embrace Michalak
designs. That's us. ;-)
- Garth Battista -
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James Wharram |
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I just discovered the James
Wharram Cataraman website this week, https://www.wharram.com
and think its great. The coolest thing on the
site was a picture of how they lash on the rudders
instead of the traditional gudgeons and pintles.
I check your site everyday. Your doing a
great job!
Sincerely -- Jonathan Bornman
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Boarding Ladder |
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A fellow named Renzo in Italy took the time
to email me with an improvement on the boarding
ladder I put forth in an earlier article.
https://xoomer.alice.it/renlione/Slipper2/scaletta.htm
Renzo figured out the hinge arrangement
that confounded me - the upper step attaches
to the lower with hinges, and the lower step
attaches to the hull with SEPARATE hinges!
I still don't know if this is how Kilburn
Adams did the (brilliant) original form, but
it looks like Renzo's will be an improvement
over my version. In particular, he won't have
to bother lashing it down to keep the bottom
from dragging below the hull. Furthermore,
it seems to me that it will be an advantage
to have the upper step a bit lower, as Renzo's
version does. That step out of the water isn't
quite as big. It is still too cold for him
to test this creation, and I would guess we'll
hear from him in May or June. If not, I will
certainly try Renzo's version myself this
summer on the new/old AF4 Breve.
Thanks Renzo!
--Rob Rohde-Szudy
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Arinar |
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Hi Chuck,
I wish you and all your readers a very merry
Christmas. Well she's finished, in the water
and sails beautifully. She was launched in October.
I'm so happy with the finished results. I've
updated
"Story of the build" to date and included
new pics on the web site, https://arinar.bravehost.com
and when I haven't been doing things on the
boat I've been enjoying your articles.
Regards Craig |
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Aluminihell |
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Hey Chuck--
The boats this guy was talking about are so
awful-- beyond merely ugly, they don't sound
that cheap to me either. $3500 for a 13 foot
scow?
https://www.oneuglyboat.com/scow.php
But I thought there would not be a point
to adding a comment at the bottom of the page.
What could I write that's nice? "Good
imagination!" "Durable!" "Non-magnetic!!"
I was thinking that I could build a coracle
in the living room, per Hannu's plans. I'd
like to try it covered in dacron (ala Monfort),
which I think would make for a delightful
boat. Making it with the mylar stuff would
be beyond a RPA, but boy, would that look
cool! Still, you can see the wave patterns
through the varnished dacron--
Best to S!
Mike C
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