Flyfisher

Here are some photos of Hugh Replogle's Flyfisher. Hugh built the boat at WoodenBoat School in a 2006 week long class and then finished it out at home in Virginia. He altered the forward deck and created this really beautiful deck that lifts off completely yet provides water tight storage. This a really excellent example of an owner/builder modification.

(click images to enlarge)

Hugh says this is still a work in progress as he plans to add an electric trolling motor in the near future. The third photo is Hugh and his son at the Launch.


David Nichols

Gavin Atkin is a writer and editor by profession, a wordsmith with a love of boats and boating. An Englishman, with roots deep in a country steeped in the history of boating, he has started a website, intheboatshed.net where articles on rebuilds, restorations and new builds of very old designs will be featured.

Remember that the oldest working boat in the world is within a days drive of where he lives, she is 198 years old this year and still fishing, and that institutions like the Windermere Steam Museum, and the Bristol Maritime Museum with working and static exhibits that go back centuries are also within his reach.

There are very old steam tugs, square riggers such as The Cutty Sark and Victory, Small boats such as the Thames Wherries still available for hire, broads yachts, canal boats and (my particular passion) the Solent punts, Falmouth Quay punts and Ichen Ferries all within his ability to get there and get articles to us. It's early days for the site and its editor yet, but if we all get in there and support him, we could have a real treasure.

Do go and visit the website, contribute to it you can or just notify him of a webpage of interest, he deserves the support:

John Welsford

https://intheboatshed.net

Sherpa Xebec Update

Well, all interested parties, today, here is the first sail of a “big rig Sherpa”. This sail was specifically designed by Ross Lillistone and it is 34% bigger than the original, and a bit squat to fit the 3m. mast that I had. The sail is now 5.24 sq.m. (this sail reefed, is same size as the original at about 3.9 sq.m.) and she set beautifully, as designed, spot on with virtually no weather helm. Sailed her right off the beach, no hands. (apologies to sailmaker “Clive” as a later tension adjustment got rid of that little sail kink near the front end of the “yard”)

Sherpa “Xebec” now is an even better boat and the wind on the day up to 20K, with no problems of overpowering. I’m 90 kg. and I reckon I would be reefing this rig at about 25K. plus. (The original sail and I have had several excursions now with 30K wind and is still an easy sail) Today, in the earlier lighter wind, with the big rig, she really lifted away beautifully, and in my humble opinion is the best sail for this great little boat. She spins on a penny round and round and is incredibly stable. I believe these stable little boats should be everywhere that any beginner sailors are, as she would recruit many into this sport. (no small thanks, to that easy easy rig). She rows well and works well with my little outboard (2.5 hp. Suzi.) just on 1/3 throttle, so satisfies many boating needs.

(And yes I can’t fit the knocked down rig inside the boat, but it sneaks over the transom and locates with ease with a bungee chord, so no worries.)

Thanks, regards, John Shrapnel.

Pearls

My friend and contributor to Duckworks, Lee Martin has been trailer cruising around the eastern USA and Canada this summer. Occassionally he has sent these pearls:

The ultimate home built cruiser.. (click images to enlarge)

The driver miraculously survived!

https://skiffamerica.com/

This site has more photos of Donovan's "Journeys"

Latest one to the Pacific Northwest San Juan Islands.

Kilburn Adams

A Strange Cat

Has anyone read anything about this boat? Strange Boat... These pictures were taken in the Port of Ilwaco off the Washington State coast. The crew wore civilian clothes but guarded the boat closely and would not answer any questions. It was suggested it may be something Boeing is working on.

The pontoons appear to be made of very thick rubber and may be fuel cells. Note that each of the steel spider-like legs are jointed in three places. Perhaps the boat can be lowered in calm seas and raised when it is rough. The boat had no name or number... A friend who lives there said it arrived out of the fog the nite before. The crew would not say who they were or where they were from, and were not allowed to discuss the craft. Notice how the rear of the cabin can be lowered into the water but has a very small prop.

One man stayed on the float at all times ... none wore uniforms.

...submitted by Bill Tosh and Bruce Armstrong

Full Rigged Ship

Wanderer Update

I'm having a great time. I understand why people cautioned me to try a proven design or a kit ... this is a pretty big first effort. But so far so good ... it tickles me how much the hull looks like the drawing on Carlson's program. But it does take time .. I'm behind on lots of other things. Today the weather got really rainy or I'd be glassing right now. Here are four pics - not a report for Duckworks - I want to select a sequence with short comments and do it right.

Bob Throne

Little Laker

Chuck,

At some point, I mentioned Little Laker at 80 pounds and 5 HP. I downgraded the HP in the final specs because I felt that 5 hp might over power the light boat and make it flighty or skiterish at top speed.

I also felt that the boat could be built lighter than 80 pounds but the weight is only an estimate as a boat can get heavy in a hurry depending on what goes on it. A case in point is a builder in New Zealand that was planning to use teak as the skeggs and inwale/outwale. A good choice but it will make the boat heavier. 9 oz cloth rather than 6 or 4 oz will also make a great deal of difference in the overall weight. I do feel that if a builder is very careful and doesn't add on the boat will weight very close to 65 pounds. It is possible add 5 pounds of epoxy without really trying. Perhaps it is best to say the weight is between 65 and 75 pounds if a builder is careful.

There are no photos available of a completed Little Laker but here are some of a boat under construction in New Zealand.....

David Nichols

I think I'm addicted...

... No I AM addicted; just ask my wife. Everytime I mention the "B" word, she just sighs and rolls her eyes. Seems like all I think about is boats; reading about them, building them, paddling them, rowing them. Now I'm writing about them, too.

Here are a few pictures of a canoe I built about a month ago. I had some scraps of plywood laying around the garage and a set of bottom panels for the Podyak that I built a while back. I recut the bottom panels into a "canoe" shape and kept some of the V at the ends while making the center flat. Then I stitched the sides to the bottom, fiberglassed the seams, added rails, breasthooks and some leftover paint and next thing I knew, there was a canoe in the garage. I also picked up a cheap woodburning iron and tried my hand at a little ornamentation on the for'd breasthook. (Pardon the dragon flies. They were out in force that day.)

Thanks to Joe Tribulato; his La Petite Bateau was the inspiration for this one. I did remove the center thwart and replace it with two closer to the ends, so I can trim the boat a little more level.

Hope you enjoy it. I know I do,
Tim

Origami Dinghy Kit

Ahoy Chuck,

Attached is a pic from Fyne boat kits who are in the process of making a kit version of the Origami Dinghy. It's all very exciting and very good news since here is the proof that my plans work. It doesn't matter how many times I do it, it's still nice to know that others can do it too, that's the point after all!

It's not a very good pic but it certainly looks like an Origami to me.

Have just got back from the Cannes regatta. What a sight. The most amazing collection of classic yachts to be seen anywhere in the world. Now St Tropez. It's madness. The bay is full of anchored yachts and motorboats and today the rest of the competitors arrive from Cannes so by now the port will be heaving. I don't know how the crews manage. Many of the boats have no winches and it's hard work. Then they go partying most of the night and go racing again! This goes on from April to October. There is one boat here, about 80 feet it carries 45 crew for racing!!! Or about 3 tons of people.
Good movable ballast.

All the best

Benjy

Chippy's Clip

Chuck,

I came across a little metal clip which is invaluable when sawing large sheets of plywood. It works equally well with a handsaw as with a powersaw such as a Skilsaw.

It prevents the sagging and consequent binding of the saw blade. I have tried to trace the maker of this tool without success, and the distributer has given up on it. Evidently the maker has gone out of business, as far as I can ascertain.

I shall send you an example for your evaluation, and it may well be within your capacity to have such a thing made in the US.

I am sure that your clients/readers would leap at such an aid.

Yours etc,

Alvan Eames.

(Anyone who knows of a source for this
clip, please let me know - Chuck)

Model Boats

Heres a couple of pics of some of the fleet

Brian Cuthbert

The Classic WoodPussy Catboat is now
being built on Long Island

By Tony DELoia
Author’s note: I first noticed the WoodPussy Catboat on the Hudson River while sailing Lightnings in the 1950’s. We became reacquainted through my membership in the United States WoodPussy Class Association (USWPCA)

The Palmer Scott Company, New Bedford Ma, first built WoodPussys in 1945 as planked wooden boats. Other builders later offered fiberglass and cold-molded hulls. Less than 75 of the estimated 1000 + hulls originally built are known to have survived.

The Frank M. Weeks Yacht Yard in Patchogue NY (Long island) is building the Philip L. Rhodes designed 13’ 6” Marconi rigged WoodPussy Catboat in fiberglass. Brian and Kevin Week’s grandfather Frank, founder of the yard in 1898, sailed a WoodPussy almost daily for 15 years in his retirement in Florida. Brian sailed the first new WoodPussy hull in regattas on Long Island in Sept. 2006. Hull # 1101, the prototype, successfully competed in the WoodPussy “Solo Bowl” in Little Silver NJ in mid - Sept.

Brian has successfully competed at the International level in various dinghy classes with two National Championships under his belt. He served as class president of the United States Sunfish Class for 6 years. Weeks Yacht Yard also has exclusive rights to build the Force 5 Sailboat.

The United States Woodpussy Class Association (USWPCA) met with Brian in late February, in Red Bank N.J. Jeff Jacobi, then Commodore of the class, and 5 past national champions, discussed the “Renaissance of the WoodPussy for the 21st century” with Brian to assure new hulls made from molds used almost 40 years ago would not render existing hulls obsolete for fleet racing. Original molds were strengthened, trued and fared to assure a quality product.

Ian McCurdy of McCurdy and Rhodes, a yacht design firm, assisted Brian in reviewing original plans during the planning process. His dad, Jim McCurdy, worked for Philip L. Rhodes, then partnered with Bodie Rhodes, Phil’s son, He continues the family tradition in boat design and assists the NorthEast WoodPussy Association (NEWPA) as its fleet measurer.

The beauty of these family day sailors is enhanced with cockpit trim features in teak or mahogany. Convenient sail controls serve to satisfy requirements of day sailors and fleet racers. “Specialty” rigging and additional options are offered at extra price for highly competitive fleet racers.

Frank M. Weeks Yacht Yard is currently offering the WoodPussy Cat Boat for Spring 2007 delivery (Patchogue NY). Interested sailors are asked to visit the website https://www.wpcatboats.com/ for information about this boat and for current pricing.

SIOUX TOOLS SIGNATURE DRILL SERIES FOR TODAYS MANUFACTURING – PERFORMANCE, SERVICEABILITY, ERGONOMICS AND VALUE…

(Murphy, North Carolina) - Sioux Tools announces the addition of Signature Series Drills to the line up. Through next generation ergonomics and the continued focus on productivity and operator safety comes the development of the Sioux Tools Signature Series Drill line. Signature Series Drills are used in applications ranging from manufactured housing and wood working to light assembly. The powerful five vane motor makes these drills great for drilling applications that contain ferrous and non-ferrous metals, wood and composite materials.

The Signature Series Drills offer great value with a 3 planet gear system for increased life and load capacity. The Sioux tools Signature Series Drill line reduces operator fatigue by offering a low sound level and low vibration solution! Operator comfort is achieved through the implementation of a light weight aluminum housing and a comfort grip. Drills are available in both reversing and non-reversing pistol grip and lever handle
configurations.

Signature Series is a pneumatic tool program inspired by the operator and designed by Sioux Tools. Since 1914, Sioux Tools has been committed to bringing productive solutions to the pneumatic power tool industry. Signature Series is an innovative pneumatic power tool program created through the implementation of next generation ergonomics, productivity enhanced features, serviceability and value.

# # #

For additional information, visit www.siouxtools.com

NauticalCharts.Com Announces
Gold Series Inshore Fishing Chart #39F

Nov 03, 2006 Chart publisher Waterproof Charts, Inc. has announced a brand new addition to the Gold Series: Inshore Fishing Chart, #39F Everglades City to Lostman’s River. This newly compiled chart is the ONLY ONE to show the popular GRASS FLATS on the outside and pinpoints dozens of specific areas for the major species caught in the area, as well as places to catch bait. Details of Big Lostman’s and Rodgers River Bay as well as highlighting the Wilderness Waterway are also included. You will also get campsites with their respective GPS coordinates and boat ramp locations as well. There is NO BETTER fishing chart available, guaranteed!!! A HUGE amount of information for only $24.95 retail. The folks at Waterproof Charts have complete Inshore coverage from Tampa Bay to Miami!

Waterproof Charts, Inc is the country’s largest private publisher of individual nautical charts. Founded in 1984, the company was first to successfully produce and market marine charts on waterproof, tear- resistant paper. With over 180 editions the Original Waterproof Charts cover the most popular recreational boating areas in the country.

Learn more...

NauticalCharts.Com
Kerri Kibbe
Sales Manager
email: kkibbe@nauticalcharts.com

It's Hunting Season!!!
And the Coast Guard Auxiliary offers seven tips to keep hunters safe

Daffy: "It's Wabbit season!"
Bugs: "Duck season!"
Daffy: "Wabbit season!"
Bugs: "Duck season!!"
Daffy: "Wabbit season!!"
Bugs: "Duck season!!!"
Daffy: "Wabbit season!!!"
USCG Auxiliary: "It's Hunting Season and we want you to be safe!!!"

And while we all enjoyed Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny fight over which season it actually was, they never did get around to saying that much of the hunting season is done in and around water.

Hunters that are engaged in hunting in and around water should be just as aware of boating and hypothermia issues as your average recreational boater. In fact, those hunters that use boats as platforms from which to hunt are boaters!

We encourage all hunters in and around water to follow these simple rules:

For more information about safe boating, contact your local Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla. Use our Flotilla Finder at https://ff.cgauxa.org.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer's who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education.