Hi Riley I thought you might enjoy seeing this short video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9YpLpWm5eE
Cool video Doug!
My favorite with a cabin is the one out in California, and I have forgotten her name. She sailed with a Doughdish too, so two great boats living life. That one wasn't an exact boat because it had been scaled up 10-20% or so. And if you think a dime doesn't mean much, then your boat is longer than 12'-3". I do like Kathleen though. One of the great things about S R Cat is that big deck that allows a lot of movement; diving from and sightseeing while hanging onto the mast. And pretty much a HUGE storage under it.
I've always wanted to build another because (just like the r/c airplane wing) the first one isn't the best. I'd prolly do the LOA upgrade if I ever did. And of course, it has it's problems too, just like every other boat on the planet. You have to figure a work-around to those things. And it seems here is the answer to those problems encountered by HER skipper, Dick.
Thanks for the video Doug. At one time I sort of wanted to become the Bobcat guy in the world and do keep up with many of the boats. I came really close to launching an initiative, but that was then and this is now. I've sort of become more interested in other things that hold their own mystique and secrets. Oh, don't get me wrong. Seeing her mast glowing gold over the white deck in the muted light of the garage is to look upon something fine, and I love her to the end. And intend to sail her until I can't.
And so I wish those adventurers the same success I've had all these years.
I was intrigued by the tabernacle.
I enjoy videos of small wooden boats.
Of all the modifications one can do to a sailboat, that one increases the utility ten times. On the Bobcat it would allow all the lines to be kept rigged, which is a big time killer at the ramp with me. Raise the mast on the hinge and it's ready. But it still isn't too bad unless the lines get badly tangled and I'm feeling slow. ANYTHING you change has OTHER, often unintended, consequences, so I've been careful not to venture too far off the beaten path. Some, such as the gaff jaw problems, were so obvious that even a dolt like me can see things had to change. Others are more subtle, and after ten years, you wonder why you never fixed this crap before >:(
The LAST modification was moving the sheet bridle at the stern forward 14". And so far, it has been great. It allows for tacking without fighting a snag of the sheet at the motor, and despite misgivings, seems to be much better than before. But I've only used it for a couple of years and I STILL keep a sharp eye out for the time it is going to do something stupid :o
I'll be really glad when things cool off. I've got some grandkids that are getting close to being able to take their first sail. One of THOSE requirements is the ability to swim, and on a boat with only human ballast, I figure it's absolutely necessary. So much so that a lot of the time that is the main destination....somewhere we can swim and cavort and cool off. Luckily there are many places here with nice sand bottoms, fresh water, and a scarcity of alligators and sharks.
They was a guy working for one of the newspapers in Cleveland Ohio who wanted to sail with his wife and 2 kids. He had a limited budget so ended up buying a 12 or 14 foot open sailboat. They had fun in it but then he really wanted a cabin... so he built onto the boat a cabin. Liked that so much that he then decided to sail it from Fallmouth Ma to Fallmouth ENGLAND. By himself. Without radios or navigation equipment. Didn't tell anyone that he was going to do this except his wife and father in law. Takes lots of upper pills for just in case... this was like 1965. One morning he gets woken up by a ship horn which scares the pee out of him, thinking he's gonna get mowed over. Turns out it's a US Navy submarine. They were on manouvers with the Canadians in the area and saw this tiny boat and did a welfare check. He's okay and they give him fresh fruit which he appreciates. The Navy tells his wife he's okay and word gets out about his trip. When he lads in England, there are 50,000 plus on hand including the Mayor with a key to the city. His newspaper sent a crew too so they could get the story.
A fellow I worked with was called Cap'n Ron by everyone, although it wasn't really a joke about the movie but a title of respect. (His name WAS Ron though :D ). He was nothing like the movie character, and grew up in "Fish Town" in Ohio. He pulled himself off the bottom, got educated, and went to work for some engineering firm up there in Cinncinati; a BIG outfit. An assured gold watch and all that stuff. He was OUR researcher and digger of facts. He bought a big boat and fixed her up over a long time, and when asked what he wanted to do with THAT, he would tell people he and his wife were going to sail away one day. And he did, to their dismay.
Here he sailed the Biloxi schooners that operate on sails along the coast. A very good and very smart man. We got along famously, since he knew I sailed a gaff rig. He knew schooners, having sailed them for rich folks as he was coming up. He was a bit older than me. We'd often have to dig through mountains of gigantic ledger-like books containing EVERYTHING about one of the operations area, looking for highly technical stuff. I have lost track of him now, but I did stop by his home one day and chatted with him and his wife some time ago, and he was looking well. I don't know why he would up in THIS spot.
Our focus was to develop templates, with drawings and information attached to repair/ refurbish/ modify high pressure coded vessels as they needed care. Reactors, furnaces, boilers and such. I'm sure they've been well used since I left. Maintenance was increasingly using and collecting such information to provide a life history of such pieces of equipment, that was easily accessible to those with the need to know. It was fun work because you interacted with almost everyone that was anyone in the whole place. And met folks like Cap'n Ron.
The sub that surfaced did the usual security radar sweep, and received a possible return, very weak.
It could have been another sub, just the top of the conning tower exposed, or just floating trash. Since they were in a combat training activity, it was necessary to find the answer. They went to battle stations, and slowly approached the target. After clearly identifying it as a tiny sailboat, they hailed by voice, with no response. The diving claxon was then sounded, which caused the appearance of the exhausted sailor and the conversation. Not only fresh fruit, but fresh water was a welcome gift.
Norman Koon, a good friend of mine, was an officer on that atomic sub, and on deck when the klaxon was sounded.
The crew of the sub found it hard to believe that such a small craft could sail that far from the USA, but it was there! That fact alone led them to believe that it was possible that he would sail Tinker Bell all the way. :)
That underscores the exhaustion that must accompany such a solo voyage. When can you sleep???? Cool story!
It's a great book, highly recommend it.