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 Splash!

This time we have the following boats:

Send a picture or three and a short description of your boat and its launch to chuck.leinweber@gmail.com for inclusion here next month.

QT Skiff

Just launched a 13 ft QT Power Skiff on July 3, 2010. Added a few details not on the plans such as open gunnels and storage under all three seats. Used Sure Ply plywood from Lowe's, West epoxy to glue scarf joints for sides and bottom and in all other joints. Rust-oleum marine paint and Cetol were used. The hardwood cleats are homemade and the drain was fabricated from a threaded PVC cap and a nipple. Power is a 2.5 hp Nissan and a pair of self made 7 ft oars. The Swampscott Dory behind the skiff I built in 1979. Sold it and bought it back three years ago at a nautical yard sale.

Bob Guess

Norfolk, VA

Julie Ann Christening and Launch

Here are some pictures from the launch of my newly completed 4.0 meter dayboat, the Julie Ann, designed by Radoslaw Werszko. She is named for my lovely wife and launched on July 4th, 2010. It seems appropriate that she's red, white and blue. A link to a few more pictures and, finally, a link to the construction blog is HERE.

Thanks to Duckworks for quick and accurate delivery of all the boat hardware, fiberglass and epoxy. Everything I ordered came intact, on time and reasonably priced. I could not have accomplished this project without them. Also thanks for the magazine. I started this first boat project a complete novice, and while I’m still quite the tenderfoot, what I learned from Duckworks magazine helped me turn a dream turn into a reality.

Best Regards,
Tad Scheeler

The launch of Meanda - a Welsford Janette

My son launched his new boat yesterday. Meanda, a John Welsford Janette had her maiden voyage at Alton Water resovoir - Life is full of strange coincidences - my previous build, a Welsford Pathfinder was launched on Sunday the 5th of July, the day of the Wimbledon final and yesterday was yes, once again the first Sunday in July and the Wimbledon final! Before anyone asks - no `I have no plans for any more boats' (though truthfully this should not really prevent me from ordering a set!).

We got to Alton water at 1 o'clock - a bright, warm sunny day - couldn't ask for more really. My son who is 11 had invited 14 of his friends who gathered around for a brief naming ceremony and Meanda was named, the name derived from meander, a bend in the river but in fact code for `me an dad'.

With lots of little hands to help, she was soon off the trolley in the water and looked just perfect with her new paintwork glistening in the sunlight. Not keen on supervising fourteen kids on the water I had arranged an instructor from the sailing club to go out with them - it was a good thing I did, for there was a stiff 18mph breeze. She was off instantly, the large sail bending the mast a fair bit - they returned to shore to reef the sail, after which she sailed very nimbly - my son was delighted and so was the instructor who was thoroughly impressed with the little craft.

As the day progressed I arranged four Optimists for the children who went out as a little flotilla sailing around Meanda - my son had a day to remember - enjoying his first boat and out with his friends on a spectacularly beautiful day. At the end of the day I took her out for five minutes - the difference between the Janette and the Pathfinder was amazing - a bit like comparing a small sports car to a large 4x4. I prefer my Amazon, my boy prefers his Meanda so all's well in the world....

Before I finish, just a word about the daggerboard - as you know I had too much weight in the daggerboard which weighed 12.4 kg. I made another one with exactly 1.5 kg of lead in it and guess what - this one weighs 10.4 kg! I guess I had 3.5 kg of lead in the original board. Yesterday I used the heavy one and may use the lighter one for light winds.

John, I can't thank you enough for this superb boat. she was an amazingly easy build - 6 months to complete. She is a beautiful craft with elegant lines, agile and responsive and as you can see from the pictures, can take several small children with ease (six at one point). My son is delighted with his boat and I am sure he will have many many days of enjoyable sailing this summer. Thank you for your support and encouragement, I can only hope my experience with this design will encourage many others to build this excellent little boat.

Best wishes

Nishan

PS Lots of pix in a folder named Janette - Meanda.

Cedar Pontoon

Thought you might be interested in just how far you can take woodwork. Still need to have canvases made for the doors and roof, but my tools are put away.

The boat and I both reside in Sandyhook Ct. on lake Zoar. She has no name as of yet, but I was thinking of maybe "Insatiable Vixen", not sure though. Guaging the time it took me to build is hard because I worked on it whenever I had the time. I started in May of 09', but stopped in August so I could just use it. Picked it up again in April of this year and finished by mid-June. Total time in my best estimate...8 weeks.

William Brusca

Ladybug

Here are a couple of Ladybug pictures.

Sakari Aaltonen
Helsinki, Finland

 

 

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