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#1
Tales and Trip Reports / The Trout
Last post by Riley Smith - Oct 17, 2025, 12:33 PMOne evening I was working in the wharf area doing something with Andrea, a co-worker. It got close to quitting time and we were done and it was too late to start anything else. As you might suspect, working on ANYTHING over the water concerning hydrocarbons takes much longer and is more involved. A lot of actions need Coast Guard approval, so there is red tape galore, in addition to the normal stuff. At any rate, Andrea and I were done for the day and she said, "Let's take a look underneath 6 Berth and see if we can see some fish!"
Great idea in MY mind! The berths are arrayed along the bayou and there is also an inside berth for tugs and barges. So we stopped the truck and meandered out onto the berth. The loading arms that hook to the ships and barges on the top platform were stowed, as the berth was empty at the moment. One level down, with the top platform shading the sky, you could see into the depths much better and it is nice and cool under there. We leaned on the handrail staring into the green water searching for fish. No telling what you'll see, but what WE saw that day was nothing initially, and we spent a few "cool off" moments staring at the water. All of a sudden there appeared a glimmer and shine, a little too deep to tell exactly what it was. There were shadows too, and within a few moments a whole school of fish had risen into view from out of the depths.
SPECKLED TROUT! And not just your normal little school trout, either. The whole school was trophy sized fish! My mouth was agape and I was drooling when we left and I had vowed to Andrea I was bringing the boat back. That was about a two hour expedition from then though. And true to my word, I hitched the old skiff up as soon as I got home and corralled the two boys into the truck with fishing rods. And away we went.
The old boat was a wooden crab skiff some fellow in Moss Point had built. There were several things I would have done differently while building it but it was stout ( read heavy) and waterproof and at that time, that's all it took. We fired up the ancient 18hp Johnson and headed to 6 Berth once we launched on the Bayou. And proceeded to not get a single bite on the expensive live shrimp I'd bought. Bah Humbug! Naturally with small kids, this didn't go over well and so I decided to move to the product dock, as a berth on the outside was open. I considered it too dangerous to fish the inside. Maybe we could fish for a while with out a tug or ship causing major disruption and making us flee. There is a sand bar there under the pipe racks and the water falls off immediately to 40-50 ft deep.
And so we immediately began to get bites and I was constantly baiting hooks for the kids. Finally Justin caught a good flounder and couldn't get it off the hook, after gripping constantly about fishing with a bull minnow and not a shrimp. I had a shrimp fishing under a cork and wasn't watching while unhooking the flounder for him. When I did look up, my cork wasn't visible. I reeled in the slack and realized it was a good bite. I could see the cork racing under the water about two feet deep. I set the hook and the fish almost took the rod out of my arms pulling back.
WOAH! This one is for REAL I thought, as it ran, making the drag scream. At first I didn't think I could stop the fish but I got it turned about thirty yards out and began gaining line. It helped the fish swam toward the boat and using the rod I applied as much pressure as I dared and got it much closer. It then rose to the top, saw the boat, made a gigantic splash and swirl, and took off on another run. What I saw made me freak. It was the biggest dang speck I'd ever laid eyes on. I actually thought I'd hooked a bull redfish or a shark. And yes, the capture was in serious doubt because neither of the kids had ever netted a fish. It was far from over.
You can give serious schooling in a very few seconds if it matters and it mattered. I told my oldest to stick the edge of the net in the water and I'd lead the fish toward it and when I did and told him, he should just scoop the huge fish up. And I cautioned him, " BOY, DO NOT SCREW UP!" Meanwhile fighting against the huge trout while this schooling was in session and wondering how much was sinking in. And believe it or not, it worked perfectly and the fish hit the bottom of the boat after long minutes of heart racing antics.
A speck is a pretty fish, with silver sides and a rainbow sheen just below the olive green color on the spine. Below the spine are spots the length of the fish and they fade out as they get into the silver of the sides. There is white around it's mouth and it's lips will be bright yellow. It's sort of rainbow trout colored and there are two sharp fangs on the upper lip that it uses to grip it's prey along with hundreds of tiny, razor sharp teeth inside its mouth. This one was the most awesome specimen I'd ever seen and the girth was AMAZING. A beautiful fish.
Nowadays (after 9/11 and other associated atrocities) you can't get near those docks and it's lots harder to fish that area. A few years ago, the state record speckled trout was caught 1/2 mile south of there. I didn't weigh the fish but it was longer than a 48 qt ice chest and THICK! I didn't even take a picture but the image of that huge fish is still stuck in my mind half a lifetime later. And I consider a big speck on the line one of the finer things in life.
Great idea in MY mind! The berths are arrayed along the bayou and there is also an inside berth for tugs and barges. So we stopped the truck and meandered out onto the berth. The loading arms that hook to the ships and barges on the top platform were stowed, as the berth was empty at the moment. One level down, with the top platform shading the sky, you could see into the depths much better and it is nice and cool under there. We leaned on the handrail staring into the green water searching for fish. No telling what you'll see, but what WE saw that day was nothing initially, and we spent a few "cool off" moments staring at the water. All of a sudden there appeared a glimmer and shine, a little too deep to tell exactly what it was. There were shadows too, and within a few moments a whole school of fish had risen into view from out of the depths.
SPECKLED TROUT! And not just your normal little school trout, either. The whole school was trophy sized fish! My mouth was agape and I was drooling when we left and I had vowed to Andrea I was bringing the boat back. That was about a two hour expedition from then though. And true to my word, I hitched the old skiff up as soon as I got home and corralled the two boys into the truck with fishing rods. And away we went.
The old boat was a wooden crab skiff some fellow in Moss Point had built. There were several things I would have done differently while building it but it was stout ( read heavy) and waterproof and at that time, that's all it took. We fired up the ancient 18hp Johnson and headed to 6 Berth once we launched on the Bayou. And proceeded to not get a single bite on the expensive live shrimp I'd bought. Bah Humbug! Naturally with small kids, this didn't go over well and so I decided to move to the product dock, as a berth on the outside was open. I considered it too dangerous to fish the inside. Maybe we could fish for a while with out a tug or ship causing major disruption and making us flee. There is a sand bar there under the pipe racks and the water falls off immediately to 40-50 ft deep.
And so we immediately began to get bites and I was constantly baiting hooks for the kids. Finally Justin caught a good flounder and couldn't get it off the hook, after gripping constantly about fishing with a bull minnow and not a shrimp. I had a shrimp fishing under a cork and wasn't watching while unhooking the flounder for him. When I did look up, my cork wasn't visible. I reeled in the slack and realized it was a good bite. I could see the cork racing under the water about two feet deep. I set the hook and the fish almost took the rod out of my arms pulling back.
WOAH! This one is for REAL I thought, as it ran, making the drag scream. At first I didn't think I could stop the fish but I got it turned about thirty yards out and began gaining line. It helped the fish swam toward the boat and using the rod I applied as much pressure as I dared and got it much closer. It then rose to the top, saw the boat, made a gigantic splash and swirl, and took off on another run. What I saw made me freak. It was the biggest dang speck I'd ever laid eyes on. I actually thought I'd hooked a bull redfish or a shark. And yes, the capture was in serious doubt because neither of the kids had ever netted a fish. It was far from over.
You can give serious schooling in a very few seconds if it matters and it mattered. I told my oldest to stick the edge of the net in the water and I'd lead the fish toward it and when I did and told him, he should just scoop the huge fish up. And I cautioned him, " BOY, DO NOT SCREW UP!" Meanwhile fighting against the huge trout while this schooling was in session and wondering how much was sinking in. And believe it or not, it worked perfectly and the fish hit the bottom of the boat after long minutes of heart racing antics.
A speck is a pretty fish, with silver sides and a rainbow sheen just below the olive green color on the spine. Below the spine are spots the length of the fish and they fade out as they get into the silver of the sides. There is white around it's mouth and it's lips will be bright yellow. It's sort of rainbow trout colored and there are two sharp fangs on the upper lip that it uses to grip it's prey along with hundreds of tiny, razor sharp teeth inside its mouth. This one was the most awesome specimen I'd ever seen and the girth was AMAZING. A beautiful fish.
Nowadays (after 9/11 and other associated atrocities) you can't get near those docks and it's lots harder to fish that area. A few years ago, the state record speckled trout was caught 1/2 mile south of there. I didn't weigh the fish but it was longer than a 48 qt ice chest and THICK! I didn't even take a picture but the image of that huge fish is still stuck in my mind half a lifetime later. And I consider a big speck on the line one of the finer things in life.
#2
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: Last Minute Sail
Last post by Wolverine - Oct 16, 2025, 08:45 PMI'm not on FB and that is where all the info and registration is. I'll have to ask the wife to register me.
#3
TSBB General Talk / Re: Questions regarding lines ...
Last post by pgandw - Oct 16, 2025, 08:38 PMInstead of the suggested mast base from Dwyer, I bought from Garhauer at approximately 2/3 the price (https://www.garhauermarine.com/product-category/mast-boom-mast-boom-blocks-hardware/mast-plates/).
My mast is about 30" reach from inside the cabin - I can stand on the centerboard trunk and reach nicely (I'm only 5' 8"). This allows me to leave the halyards on the mast. Jib sheets go through swivel cam cleats at the end of the cabin with sufficient tail to cross them over to opposite sides of the cockpit. Jib downhaul dangles in the cabin, cleated on the mast when I use it.
I find my Mariner heaves to quite nicely. Raise the jib, sheet tightly on the windward side, set tiller pretty hard to leeward, and calmly go about my business. When hove to, the main goes up or down partially in the shadow of the jib, with the boom over the leeward corner of the transom, giving me room to work in the cockpit. One time I forgot the electric motor was still on, so instead of heaving to I was forereaching - right into a nest of cypress trees that snagged the shrouds. Glad nobody saw me.
The heaving to allows me time to raise/lower sails, tilt the motor, and start a beverage.
Other single handed aids include a Tiller Clutch, a tiller extension, and shock cords mounted on the boom to quickly douse the main on top of the boom instead of all over the cockpit (Mariner has a large mainsail). The commercial version used to be carried by Duckworks, which is now out of business. Easy enough to build your own using the instructions for the commercial version (https://duckbbs.s3.amazonaws.com/hardware/misc/stowaway/stowawaydirections.pdf).
Cockpit has mainsheet (mid-boom sheeting), the crossed jib sheets, and centerboard pennant. On the cockpit seat beside me is the handheld VHF and cell phone with Navionics. I would like to add a good binocular on the seat, and maybe a tablet with a bigger screen than the cell phone.
Mainsail slab reef consists of permanently mounted clew and tack lines - clew is mid-boom, tack is at mast. Topping lift is also mid-boom. Boom vang is on the hatch into the cabin, generally not touched after initial setting. Rudder kick-up is automatic, with a gas strut to push it back down. I can also cleat the rudder in any position, including vertically in the air (Ruddercraft rudder).
Anchor stows on bow pulpit, rode and chain is in clothes basket under cockpit seat with a strong snap shackle. If things are a little rough for going forward, I bring the anchor back to the cockpit locker with the rode run through the bow chock and back to cockpit - both parts of rode must be outside pulpit and shrouds.
Speaking of rough, I wear a pressure-activated inflatable PFD, equipped with a personal located beacon (PLB) at all times when single handing. This way, the worst case is they find my body fairly quickly and save days of searching. Best case is I have equipped the boat so I have really reduced my chances of going overboard unintentionally.
I'm pretty happy and confident with single handing Sweet P with this configuration.
Fred W
Stuart Mariner 19 Sweet P
My mast is about 30" reach from inside the cabin - I can stand on the centerboard trunk and reach nicely (I'm only 5' 8"). This allows me to leave the halyards on the mast. Jib sheets go through swivel cam cleats at the end of the cabin with sufficient tail to cross them over to opposite sides of the cockpit. Jib downhaul dangles in the cabin, cleated on the mast when I use it.
I find my Mariner heaves to quite nicely. Raise the jib, sheet tightly on the windward side, set tiller pretty hard to leeward, and calmly go about my business. When hove to, the main goes up or down partially in the shadow of the jib, with the boom over the leeward corner of the transom, giving me room to work in the cockpit. One time I forgot the electric motor was still on, so instead of heaving to I was forereaching - right into a nest of cypress trees that snagged the shrouds. Glad nobody saw me.
The heaving to allows me time to raise/lower sails, tilt the motor, and start a beverage.
Other single handed aids include a Tiller Clutch, a tiller extension, and shock cords mounted on the boom to quickly douse the main on top of the boom instead of all over the cockpit (Mariner has a large mainsail). The commercial version used to be carried by Duckworks, which is now out of business. Easy enough to build your own using the instructions for the commercial version (https://duckbbs.s3.amazonaws.com/hardware/misc/stowaway/stowawaydirections.pdf).
Cockpit has mainsheet (mid-boom sheeting), the crossed jib sheets, and centerboard pennant. On the cockpit seat beside me is the handheld VHF and cell phone with Navionics. I would like to add a good binocular on the seat, and maybe a tablet with a bigger screen than the cell phone.
Mainsail slab reef consists of permanently mounted clew and tack lines - clew is mid-boom, tack is at mast. Topping lift is also mid-boom. Boom vang is on the hatch into the cabin, generally not touched after initial setting. Rudder kick-up is automatic, with a gas strut to push it back down. I can also cleat the rudder in any position, including vertically in the air (Ruddercraft rudder).
Anchor stows on bow pulpit, rode and chain is in clothes basket under cockpit seat with a strong snap shackle. If things are a little rough for going forward, I bring the anchor back to the cockpit locker with the rode run through the bow chock and back to cockpit - both parts of rode must be outside pulpit and shrouds.
Speaking of rough, I wear a pressure-activated inflatable PFD, equipped with a personal located beacon (PLB) at all times when single handing. This way, the worst case is they find my body fairly quickly and save days of searching. Best case is I have equipped the boat so I have really reduced my chances of going overboard unintentionally.
I'm pretty happy and confident with single handing Sweet P with this configuration.
Fred W
Stuart Mariner 19 Sweet P
#4
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: Last Minute Sail
Last post by pgandw - Oct 16, 2025, 06:10 PMQuoteI was planning on participating in the OBX 130 this year, sailing there from home, but as usual none of my 3 outboards were. Maybe in 2027. It's my understanding it only happens every other year.According to the Facebook page, the 2026 iteration of the OBX 130 is already being planned. I think in 2024, it became popular enough to become an every year event. The OBX 130, in comparison to other group cruises, doesn't require as much effort on the part of organizers because participants are responsible for themselves. I had planned to go this year, but ticker problems held me back from preparing. 2025, thanks to tropical storm adjacency, got turned into a 1 day event.
Fred W
Stuart Mariner Sweet P
Hertford, NC
#5
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: Last Minute Sail
Last post by Wolverine - Oct 16, 2025, 05:05 PMI was planning on participating in the OBX 130 this year, sailing there from home, but as usual none of my 3 outboards were. Maybe in 2027. It's my understanding it only happens every other year.
#6
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: Last Minute Sail
Last post by Captain Kidd - Oct 16, 2025, 04:28 PMJust now reading this. How pleasant. I've been to Oriental one time 21 years ago. We were living in Roanoke Rapids and I was boat shopping. I was ready to move on from my Kells 23. I made a two day loop thru eastern NC. I stopped in Oriental, New Bern, little Washington, Edenton, Elizabeth City. Oriental was very quaint. I'm sure you must enjoy it. One of these days I'd love to visit B&B and one of their messabouts or do the OBX 130 or maybe the Watertribe event. My sister lives on the mainland just across from Harker's Island. One of these days...
#7
TSBB General Talk / Re: Almost-A-SCAMP Progress Re...
Last post by Captain Kidd - Oct 16, 2025, 02:36 PMGreat report! I feel the excitement/anticipation building.
#8
TSBB General Talk / Re: Paint and Varnish Suggesti...
Last post by Spot - Oct 16, 2025, 01:54 PMThanks Everyone for the replies, they are greatly appreciated!
#9
TSBB General Talk / Almost-A-SCAMP Progress Report...
Last post by Charles Brennan - Oct 16, 2025, 01:21 PMAfter applying primer paint and some light sanding, I was ready to paint all the various pieces.
You cannot view this attachment.
I got so much cross-contamination on the different paint colors between the port light frames and the grate (I really am a Painting Slob!)
that I banished the port lights to the garage.
Which is why they are missing from subsequent pics.
And skipping ahead to the third coat (on this side).
You cannot view this attachment.
Epoxied these planks back in August and it was now time to wipe off all the dust . . . . . . . . .
You cannot view this attachment.
. . . . . . . . . and give them a primer coat.
You cannot view this attachment.
So I could start applying top coats.
You cannot view this attachment.
Needed to build up the inside walls of the extended-height "SCAMP ramp" and was mildly impatient to get the pieces cut, fitted, epoxy triple-coated and then glued in place.
Seemed like a lot of delay for such a small task,
but it needed to be done before fiber-glassing the cabin roof.
Then I had a thought.
You cannot view this attachment.
Hey! Remember THIS disaster, from last month?!?
No?
That's what you get,
for not reading all my posts!! 
There was just enough usable surface area to make ramp inserts and they were already epoxy coated!!
(And why you NEVER throw anything away on a Boat Project, until after the thing's in the water!)
You cannot view this attachment.
I only had to cut one edge so the exposed side, I arranged to be facing up and I could get the requisite 3 coats of epoxy on the exposed edges, when I fiber-glassed the cabin roof.
Cleaned up, sanded, and ready for fiberglass!
You cannot view this attachment.
It was so windy, the day I was doing this, I had to clamp and tape the cloth, because it kept blowing off the roof.
You cannot view this attachment.
A wall paper brush works wonders for smoothing out the fabric.
You cannot view this attachment.
Even though it was 6oz. fiberglass, it was a very close weave and was a major PITA to wet down, thoroughly.
You cannot view this attachment.
I was reduced to lifting a corner at a time and wetting down any "dry spots" and laying the fabric back down, again.
Also had issues with stubborn trapped air bubbles, that had to be squeegeed down to the nearest edge.
As usual, Persistence Conquers All!
After trimming the unused fiberglass, while still "green".
You cannot view this attachment.
That tight fabric weave really paid off, when the 2nd coat of epoxy filled in the weave.
You cannot view this attachment.
Actually had to lightly sand the top to apply the third coat of epoxy , because I worried about it bonding sufficiently, to such a slick surface.
While I was top coating the port light frames, I took the opportunity to touch up some dings in the rudder stock and the rudder blade.
You cannot view this attachment.
(I can tell, I'm going to have a really Bad Case of "Newitis",
when I finally get this boat in the water).
Skipping ahead to the 3rd coat on the 2nd side.
You cannot view this attachment.
A bit of a problem here, with a flat-bottomed Nav light block mounted on a curved surface; wanted a closer fit.
You cannot view this attachment.
Solution?
You cannot view this attachment.
Adhesive-backed sand paper, stuck on the roof!
Rub the block back and forth, vigorously . . . . . .
You cannot view this attachment.
. . . . . . . for a MUCH better fit!
You cannot view this attachment.
Having learned a bitter lesson recently,
I added some grease to the hole-alignment bolt; needed so that the block would not slide around on the roof, after gluing.
You cannot view this attachment.
And so that the bolt would not become a permanent piece of the boat!
Added a lead dive weight until the glue started to squeeze out.
You cannot view this attachment.
Also glued up the grab rail to the roof.
You cannot view this attachment.
Not quite as flush as I had originally hoped for, but a belt sander should whip it into shape, pretty quickly.
You cannot view this attachment.
I generally judge my progress by the number of pieces/parts I am juggling, at any one time.
The 7 pieces at middle and left on the next pic down, are going to eventually be a main-sheet swivel-block thwart.
(Had to check, that I said that right!)
Here's an example:
You cannot view this attachment.
You cannot view this attachment.
The two blocks on the right, are another example of the difference between Planning and Reality.
Planned and planned and planned, to make SURE I had backing blocks for all the deck and cabin roof hardware and TOTALLY FORGOT!! The anchor painter clam cleats.
Fortunately, where they go I can still reach under the now-completed deck, to glue them in place; all I had to do was bevel one side, to clear the hull-deck fillet.
On Urchin, I always had an anchor painter permanently lead from the bow to the cockpit and secured with a clam cleat, since I anchor exclusively from the cockpit.
(It's the cleat directly in front of the goal post, in the pic below.)
You cannot view this attachment.
To anchor, I remove the anchor and rode from the cockpit lazarette locker, tie the anchor painter to the end of the rode, snatch on a snatch block on a 20 foot line and toss the anchor overboard.
To retrieve the anchor, I pull on the line and use the block and line to bring the painter end back into the cockpit.
I needed two of them for the SCAMP, since I never know which side I am going to anchor from.
Needed to drill holes for the halyard cleat.
You cannot view this attachment.
Also needed to know where the halyard turning block was going to be mounted.
Pressed a scrap piece of mast and the upper mast partner into service, to get an idea of where to drill.
You cannot view this attachment.
After all the holes in the roof were drilled . . . . . . .
Let that sink in, for a minute.
ONLY Sailors, would DELIBERATELY drill holes in a roof!
And then I OVER-drilled the holes, for filling in with thickened epoxy.
It's great to finally get out from under the tyranny of: wait until cured, or wait until dry, on these steps.
Now I can run concurrent tasks that are independent of cure/dry times.
I can feel the Progress accelerating!!
Charles Brennan
You cannot view this attachment.
I got so much cross-contamination on the different paint colors between the port light frames and the grate (I really am a Painting Slob!)
that I banished the port lights to the garage.Which is why they are missing from subsequent pics.
And skipping ahead to the third coat (on this side).
You cannot view this attachment.
Epoxied these planks back in August and it was now time to wipe off all the dust . . . . . . . . .
You cannot view this attachment.
. . . . . . . . . and give them a primer coat.
You cannot view this attachment.
So I could start applying top coats.
You cannot view this attachment.
Needed to build up the inside walls of the extended-height "SCAMP ramp" and was mildly impatient to get the pieces cut, fitted, epoxy triple-coated and then glued in place.
Seemed like a lot of delay for such a small task,
but it needed to be done before fiber-glassing the cabin roof. Then I had a thought.
You cannot view this attachment.
Hey! Remember THIS disaster, from last month?!?
No?
That's what you get,
for not reading all my posts!! There was just enough usable surface area to make ramp inserts and they were already epoxy coated!!
(And why you NEVER throw anything away on a Boat Project, until after the thing's in the water!)
You cannot view this attachment.
I only had to cut one edge so the exposed side, I arranged to be facing up and I could get the requisite 3 coats of epoxy on the exposed edges, when I fiber-glassed the cabin roof.
Cleaned up, sanded, and ready for fiberglass!
You cannot view this attachment.
It was so windy, the day I was doing this, I had to clamp and tape the cloth, because it kept blowing off the roof.
You cannot view this attachment.
A wall paper brush works wonders for smoothing out the fabric.
You cannot view this attachment.
Even though it was 6oz. fiberglass, it was a very close weave and was a major PITA
to wet down, thoroughly.You cannot view this attachment.
I was reduced to lifting a corner at a time and wetting down any "dry spots" and laying the fabric back down, again.
Also had issues with stubborn trapped air bubbles, that had to be squeegeed down to the nearest edge.
As usual, Persistence Conquers All!
After trimming the unused fiberglass, while still "green".
You cannot view this attachment.
That tight fabric weave really paid off, when the 2nd coat of epoxy filled in the weave.
You cannot view this attachment.
Actually had to lightly sand the top to apply the third coat of epoxy , because I worried about it bonding sufficiently, to such a slick surface.
While I was top coating the port light frames, I took the opportunity to touch up some dings in the rudder stock and the rudder blade.
You cannot view this attachment.
(I can tell, I'm going to have a really Bad Case of "Newitis",
when I finally get this boat in the water).Skipping ahead to the 3rd coat on the 2nd side.
You cannot view this attachment.
A bit of a problem here, with a flat-bottomed Nav light block mounted on a curved surface; wanted a closer fit.
You cannot view this attachment.
Solution?
You cannot view this attachment.
Adhesive-backed sand paper, stuck on the roof!
Rub the block back and forth, vigorously . . . . . .
You cannot view this attachment.
. . . . . . . for a MUCH better fit!
You cannot view this attachment.
Having learned a bitter lesson recently,
I added some grease to the hole-alignment bolt; needed so that the block would not slide around on the roof, after gluing.You cannot view this attachment.
And so that the bolt would not become a permanent piece of the boat!
Added a lead dive weight until the glue started to squeeze out.
You cannot view this attachment.
Also glued up the grab rail to the roof.
You cannot view this attachment.
Not quite as flush as I had originally hoped for, but a belt sander should whip it into shape, pretty quickly.
You cannot view this attachment.
I generally judge my progress by the number of pieces/parts I am juggling, at any one time.
The 7 pieces at middle and left on the next pic down, are going to eventually be a main-sheet swivel-block thwart.
(Had to check, that I said that right!)
Here's an example:
You cannot view this attachment.
You cannot view this attachment.
The two blocks on the right, are another example of the difference between Planning and Reality.
Planned and planned and planned, to make SURE I had backing blocks for all the deck and cabin roof hardware and TOTALLY FORGOT!!
The anchor painter clam cleats.Fortunately, where they go I can still reach under the now-completed deck, to glue them in place; all I had to do was bevel one side, to clear the hull-deck fillet.
On Urchin, I always had an anchor painter permanently lead from the bow to the cockpit and secured with a clam cleat, since I anchor exclusively from the cockpit.
(It's the cleat directly in front of the goal post, in the pic below.)
You cannot view this attachment.
To anchor, I remove the anchor and rode from the cockpit lazarette locker, tie the anchor painter to the end of the rode, snatch on a snatch block on a 20 foot line and toss the anchor overboard.
To retrieve the anchor, I pull on the line and use the block and line to bring the painter end back into the cockpit.
I needed two of them for the SCAMP, since I never know which side I am going to anchor from.
Needed to drill holes for the halyard cleat.
You cannot view this attachment.
Also needed to know where the halyard turning block was going to be mounted.
Pressed a scrap piece of mast and the upper mast partner into service, to get an idea of where to drill.
You cannot view this attachment.
After all the holes in the roof were drilled . . . . . . .
Let that sink in, for a minute.
ONLY Sailors, would DELIBERATELY drill holes in a roof!
And then I OVER-drilled the holes,
for filling in with thickened epoxy.It's great to finally get out from under the tyranny of: wait until cured, or wait until dry, on these steps.
Now I can run concurrent tasks that are independent of cure/dry times.
I can feel the Progress accelerating!!
Charles Brennan
#10
TSBB General Talk / Re: Paint and Varnish Suggesti...
Last post by Riley Smith - Oct 16, 2025, 08:23 AMOn the varnish front, I have used different things on the catboat over the years in the varnish category, and although urethane is much easier to apply, my brightwork gets exposed to the outside elements more frequently than say an interior application. It's going to get banged up; it's just a matter of time. And so do you want to do it more frequently or less? The answer to me was real varnish, and yes, that a helluva lot of work made more pleasant thinking of the days to come with the sun making her gleam. The Petit varnish I used last time was much easier on the pocketbook than the Interlux Captain's varnish and seems to be holding up as well. Besides, the aroma takes me to my happy place