Flotsam and Jetsam

Various letters and notes...

Following our article on Boats of the World, specifically “reed boat,” reader Hal Forsen sent this image below as further evidence of the versatility and usefulness of alternative construction materials.

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In what may be our first ever, reader Norm Neiderer sent this unsolicited boating shoe review. Thanks, Norm! Anyone else who wants to review a boating related product—send it along! —Eds

“I bought my first sailboat in 1972, and since then I've had 8 sailboats. Over those years, I've had as many boat shoes, and more. From regular sneakers to the top of the line. Lately, my wife made me aware of Skechers Shoes. Now that I'm 79 years old and not as flexible as I used to be, I found some Skechers slip-on for wide feet, They come with anti-slip soles. I have never had a pair of shoes as comfortable. Also, they are the best anti-slip shoes that I have ever owned. They grip the deck of my boat like nothing I have ever owned before. They come in 1/2 sizes and, I hope that you are sitting down when you read this, I paid $69.00 Canadian on sale at the Shoe Warehouse in my home town on Vancouver Island, BC.”

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Designer Dudley Dix wrote to offer SCA readers a remarkably good price on his own Paper Jet design. Take a look below…—Eds

“Paper Jet prototype with extras. This is the prototype and first boat launched to this high-performance design. It was designed and built by Dudley Dix and was used for development of other features in the design. It includes all three rig options with spars and sails, which allow it to be sailed with a una rig, a sloop rig or a skiff rig with asymmetrical spinnaker on retractable bowsprit and trapeze. Built from Joubert okoume plywood and framing of cedar and poplar, epoxy-coated throughout. Spars are hollow birdsmouth detail of a combination of cedar and poplar. Included are three daggerboards of differing lengths and two rudder blades, as well as beams and amas for sailing as a trimaran and a high-speed road trailer. The Paper Jet can be single-handed by an adult or double-handed by an adult and child or two teens. Located in Virginia Beach, VA. The $6000 price is less than material cost to build.”

e-mail Dudley @ dudley@dixdesign.com

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