We're helping a friend move his 42' Ponderosa motor yacht through the Chicago and Illinois river locks. Three days of "how the other half" lives. Hard to tell we're traveling on a boat.

This boat has internet on board as well as washer/dryer, ice maker, shower/little tub with water heater, stand-up refer/freezer, air conditioner and so much more. What, you mean you're boat doesn't have an ice maker? Oh, well, if there weren't poor boaters like you how could we be so exclusive? Ta, ta from the other half. I'll send photos. Master Lee Martin, esq.

Hi Chuck and Sandra,

Dianne and I are steadily working trying to get the boat finished so we can get back on the water. We were hoping to launch by our wedding anniversary (Sept 24) but we may not make it.

The Behr Porch paint is working great, but it has been so humid and rainy the last couple of months that it still hasn't hardened enough for rough use. We still have a long list of things to do. Mostly on the inside. Will update more on interior improvements later.

Thanks for Duckworks. A great gathering hall for a great group of people (boatbuilders) Let's face it. Duckworks magazine is a virtual messabout!
Rav Davis
Georgia

I thought you might find this PDF file interesting and even post it on the site... very timely! - Bill Tosh

Hello all,
Some quick pics from our vacation on Oak Island, N.C. this August.
Paul designed and build a deck tent for Jeff Gilbert's Roonio. We camped out and slept on board. More info to follow.

Paul will be writing an article about the design/making/use of the deck tent soon.
Un Abrazo,
Bill Moffitt

Chuck,

I thought I would share a picture of a Dynamite Payson designed June Bug sailboat. The picture turned out pretty good and hopefully you could include it on the web site.

The picture shows myself and family members on the boat I finished this year. I removed the sail and put on a 4.5 hp Sears outboad engine I have. It goes a long very well.

Jeff LaFlame
Akron, OH

Here are some pictures from just last night. Interior is moving along well. She is about ready for decks and seat tops and will be at the Arkansas Messabout on September 22-24 in some form or fashion. It is a stretched, Michalak Toon2 below the waterline. Above the waterline, it is inspired by Michalak's daysailers. The rig is my rendition of Bolger's standing lug (Rig no. 16 from 101 Sail Rigs).

Phil

We got it wet today.... did fine, motor runs smooth.... kids loved it.
Still has a nasty leak in the rear of on pontoon though....

Not a problem. A little more patching should fix her right up.... Have the BarBe-Q aboard next trip.
Captain Tom

Folding Troutboat

OK the boat is done. I am waiting on Game and Fish to give me a vehicle number so I can get it registered. You can see now how it fits on the trailer - backwards. This will allow me to leave the motor on all the time and I can fold/unfold single handed on the trailer. Also you can see the bolts that hold the hull open - same system I used on Longjon. I will put all this stuff together for you after she gets wet!

Larry

Here are pictures from the sea trials of our latest boat, a 20' Rialto Runnabout. It is Mahogany and TEK with Epoxy.

Robert Mancuso, New Zealand

We got this letter a while back...

Is this the last photo of this guy alive?

Charles Belknap
Vice President for Community Development
National Mental Health Association of Greater Los Angeles
Long Beach CA

Here are some shots taken by my wife a couple of weeks ago of a boat on the island of Kos (sometimes spelled Cos ), which is in the eastern Aegean way over near the southern coast of Turkey. Thought it was interesting and that you might also find it so.

click to enlarge

It appears to be a fishing boat, but she says there are few fish to be had in any of the Greek islands they visited. The ones on restaurant menus are very small, almost sardine sized, and expensive, although squid is plentiful and popular.

She also commented on the absence of any observable marine life in the water, and on the scarcity of aquatic birds. There has no doubt been very heavy fishing pressure on those waters for a very long time, and perhaps they have simply been over-fished to the point of virtually total depletion.

If any Duckworthians or Messabites out there have any actual knowledge of the straight skinny on this, I’d be interested in hearing from them.

Happy Trails and Smooth Sailing,

Tyson - pgochnour(at)aol.com

Jerry

Hi Chuck,

How’s things? Just thought you may be interested; or some of your readers might be… I have some GPS units available at my storefront for a pretty good price. You can have a look here:

Cobra GPS 100

Cobra GPS 500

Thanks

Joseph Murray

Dallas, TX - The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary will be holding its annual National Conference from 31 August to 3 September in Dallas, Texas.

In order to highlight the need for all boaters to wear lifejackets, the Conference will feature a "Save a Life" Lifejacket Fashion Show on Friday, September 1 at the Westin Park Central Hotel's pool at Noon.

Lifejackets can save your life. According to the latest USCG Recreational Boating Accident Statistics (2004) shows that 90% of all drowning victims were not wearing their lifejacket. Most victims drown within close proximity of safety. The difference between life and death is often the result of wearing a lifejacket.

Properly fitting lifejackets are especially important for younger boaters, so 8 of the 13 models involved in the show will be children. A common mistake made by boaters is to try to put an adult lifejacket on a child. If the child ends up in the water, chances are they will slip out of the lifejacket, defeating the purpose.

Lifejackets, also known as Personal Flotation Devices or PFDs are now made in a variety of sizes, shapes, types and price ranges. With the help of DMG Model & Talent Management Agency of Dallas, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will have a range of professional models, men and women, youngsters and adults, to show the many kinds of lifejackets available.

All models have donated their time and energy to assist the Coast Guard Auxiliary in promoting PFD awareness.

Again, the "Save a Life" Lifejacket Fashion Show will be held:

Friday, September 1, 2006 at 12:00PM (Noon)
Westin Park Central Hotel
Poolside (3rd Floor)
12720 Merit Drive
Dallas, Texas

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.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Its 30,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions.

For more information on the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit us at www.cgaux.org.