Your Boat Builds and Other Projects Pt 4

Longtime reader Ian Colquhoun finally tackled that daunting project may of us with older trailersailers have to consider. (Let us know if you’d like him to offer a more detailed explanation of the process as an article.) He writes:

Please find attached several photos showing my project to refit our 1979 Halman 20, full keeled, double-ended sailboat with six opening portlights.

Due to weather constraints and life in general, the project is stretching into its fourth season. It involves outdoor work on the hard, four hours from Ottawa where our family lives. 

The project involved considerable cabin top, “autobody,” rebuilding work prior to cutting out the six holes for the opening portlights.

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Ben Bierman shares some additional details and a few more photos of his lovely Jimmy Skiff II.

He writes: I’ve been really pleased with my CLC Jimmy Skiff 2. I had previously built a Chameleon Nesting Dinghy from plans, so this was kit vs plans, a little larger, flat bottom vs. vee. I have to say the CNC kit was great. I could certainly have lofted all the pieces and cut and sanded them as with the Chameleon, but the speed with which everything comes together, all perfectly aligned, was awesome. They also cut the fussy compound angles on the stern knees. Wood quality was excellent. I’m complemented on the boat every time I launch or recover, and now I can say “Oh, it was kit. They’re really easy to build” with a humble, aw-shucks attitude…

I also did some hacking on my old Harbor Freight trailer and was able to get the boat on trailer to less than 14’, so I can still work in my garage when it’s home. Note the proximity of the winch to the rear hatch. Another inch closer and it would hit when the hatch opens.

I’m building the mast now, so haven’t sailed it yet, but have had many rowing and motoring adventures on the Columbia River, Lacamas Lake and Lake Merwin, alone and with my wife. The stability is excellent compared to the Chameleon, and standing up and moving around is easy. My wife loves it. The downside of the flat bottom is slapping and pounding in chop, but it seems a small price to pay. There is a ton of dry storage under the sealed seats and in the bow, but I’ve gotten lazy about using it because the inside stays so dry, even when the wind is blowing against the Columbia current and it gets quite choppy.

The boat has a flat floor between the seats that’s 10’ long x 20” wide. My wife and I can sit facing each other with our arms up on the seats as though in an arm chair as we motor along at 3-4 kts with the Torqeedo quiet enough that wildlife ignores us. I mostly row solo.  My regular exercise is 4 miles averaging 3 kts with plain old Caviness 7’ Feather Oars. It’s nice to be able to stop anywhere on the water, stand up and stretch, lay down flat in the bottom, sit in the “armchair” and read for a bit, then get back to rowing.

Off to work on the mast. Sailing report next spring…

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Reader Paul Schupbach built a truly remarkable little ship for his granddaughters.

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Here’s a classic Phil Bolger Teal built by reader Jim White:

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Our friend Cooper Parish is doing fine work on Port Townsend Watercraft’s PT 11 nesting dinghy kit.

I'm building a boat that I've been meaning to get on with for about 12 years now. Being in-between jobs has been the perfect time to crank out the project. This is the incredible PT11 designed by Russell Brown, which I think deserves a spot pretty high on the list of greatest designs of all time. 

Since it's been so long in coming to my boat shed, I jokingly tell people it's name will be A-boat Time. There are kind folks who laugh and suggest it's a cute name, but the ones who groan and roll their eyes are those I seem to prefer!"

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More of your projects soon…—Eds •SCA•