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Dear Chuck,
I just wanted to thank you for the great site. I just finished
and launched my Michalak
“Family Skiff” this June/July. Her name
is the “Karen Ann”. The plans were great and Jim was
responsive to questions.
You have allowed me to easily find the products I needed to complete
my boat; it took about a year and a half but it was well worth
it. I built her in a one car garage. I give many thanks to my
wife for letting me take up the garage through a Northern Illinois
winter. I will never build a boat in an unheated garage again.
When the time comes to build the next one, it will be a warm weather
only project no matter how long it takes.
My plan is to do some cruise camping on the big flowages of Northern
Wisconsin. My maiden voyage was on a small lake (160 ac.) near
Tomahawk, WI. She performed well in a variety of wind conditions
which gave me confidence for the next step.
For a true test, I took her to the Chippewa Flowage by Hayward,
WI. The Chippewa Flowage is a 17,000 acre reservoir created in
1923 by the damning of the Chippewa River. It encompasses 11 natural
lakes, 9 natural rivers. The "Big Chip" is made up of
233 miles of undeveloped shoreline and 140 islands making it a
unique sailing experience. There are several areas that are miles
across allowing the wind to build some waves. I sailed in mostly
Force 3 to 4 winds with no fear of capsize in the steep chop.
She was a dry and had a very solid feel. I was staying at a campground
with a couple of buddies who don’t sail and they were both
calm and comfortable while sailing in whitecaps.
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The above pictures are taken from my buddies fishing boat out
in the middle of “Pete’s Bar”, a great place
for Muskie. (Doesn’t the sail
from Duckworks look great?) I didn’t get a
chance to camp from the boat because as nice as the weather looks
in the pictures; it stormed three out of five nights. For my first
camp/cruise, I want good weather. I am looking forward to some
fall sailing. I hope to have a small mizzen completed by the time
I have to put her away for the winter. Thank you again for everything.
I have wanted to build a sailboat for years.
Jeff Norman
Crystal Lake, IL
*****
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