Have heard from very few of you about our Island Escape Boat Design Contest. Are you planning to submit an entry or two? Could be an easy $400 in boat supplies for someone. Deadline is only 12 days away. —Eds
About Marty’s series of articles on his search for a Dream Boat—including modifying an existing design—reader Bill Rutherford wrote:
Regarding changes to existing designs…we have built and owned four Bolger designed boats and loved them all. I have to admit changing a few things but also admit to backing out all of the changes, or wishing I could. An example is the cuddy we added to our 15 ft. Harbinger design Catboat. Next year she will be old enough to vote and is still going strong. Many years ago we rigged a canvas cover up forward to shade the Florida sun for my very blonde younger daughter. We should have built a cuddy then, but I procrastinated until she was grown and off to college. By then we were in New Jersey. Working from some rudimentary sketches, expert boatbuilder, Rob Barker of Easton Pennsylvania, built a beautiful fitted cuddy with sliding hatch. To put Stuff in, which is handy now the Cat is on a mooring in Connecticut. However, as I am now less flexible, I sure would like to be able to walk all the way forward and set sail with my feet securely inside the boat…but, of course, I cannot bring myself to remove Rob’s beautiful work, so I say to my sailor older daughter, “Would you mind going forward and pick up the mooring?” Weak, I know, but so much of our enjoyment in boats is their beauty.
West Wight Potter 14/15 owners and admirers will enjoy this new blog post from Stephen Holmgren.
Don’t forget to send us photos and description of your favorite small-boat modification to win the new SCA hat. —Eds
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