October Reports
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By Duckworks Readers - all over the world

January - February - March - April - May
June - July - August - September

Stripper Troutboat Update

I am really close on the stripper trout boat. Final sanding is done (finally). No more wood work left. I am about to giving it a real good cleaning and then start final paint and varnish. I don’t have a recent photo - but here are some I took a couple weeks ago. I just laid the slats on the bench and step to see if that was the way I wanted to go. I think woven seats would be very appropriate on this boat and I just may go back and do that - if I find time to learn to do that.

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The front bench turned out to be a requirement - there was nothing up there to hold the shape of the bow so the sides straightened out - looked funny to me. So, I muscled it back with the bench thwarts (with load spreaders to prevent bulges in the thin sides). Also added scuppers and inwales to the front that match the back section. Result - a very stiff 18 footer that I bet my eye teeth is going to be nice on the water.

Anyway, I am enjoying this last little bit of detail work and will take my time to give the boat the best finish I can. Should be finished in a couple of weeks. I will let the paint and varnish set up while I build a trailer. Then I expect some years of fun scratching and gouging and beating the thing up!

Official launching will be at the Russellville Messabout.

Larry Pullon

Successful sail of my Piccup Squared

Chuck,

I had a chance to sail the Piccup Squared this weekend.

The boat sails beautifully. It points quite high into the wind and sails at all other points very well.

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This I credit largely to the sail we got from Duckworks. I am very pleased with the sail and believe it performs at least as well as the Bhondell sail I have for my AF3. Thanks for all of you help in getting the sail to me so quickly.

I have attached a few pictures to this email.

Thanks
Chris Feller

Laura's in the Water

Chuck:

Had Laura Bay out on Sunday with some friends. For a 9.5 foot boat she handles very well. Nick thought that she was "over oared" with the oars I had, as he thought she went very fast. Will try to take her sailing today if the wind comes up and I can find someone to take some photos. The moving middle seat works great and I will probably make some slight changes to it's construction. The lower gudgeon also needs to be raised and inch or so too.

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Warren

Form is a Function

Photo of Sharpie in action

This picture is the Eastern Shore Stickup. This is the 'flattie' model of this skiff. The model shown here has deadrise in the stern only, and represents a transitional type between the pure flat-bottomed sharpie and the deadrise, or V-bottom, skiff (small craft), and skipjack and bateaux (large craft).  Another of this type is represented by the 24' Chesapeake Flattie.  The 18' Modified Sharpie Skiff is an example of the next stage of evolution on the Chesapeake.

I wrote an article for Wooden Boat Magazine about UNICORN, which I built in Key West, and which performed beyond my wildest dreams... she planed to windward! The source for this vessel is Fig. 113, American Small Sailing Craft.

www.vincentseye.com
vincent p. walter

Just reporting on my first boat building endeavor

Chuck and Sandra,

Thanks for getting my order out to me so quickly. The epoxy kit came in especially handy when the float test revealed a small manufacturing defect in the middle of the luan plywood.

I also wanted to pass on some photos of my newly constructed and launched Bolger Big Tortoise. I scaled up the plans from Dynamite's New Instant Boats to 8'x4'. I added a forward frame; it just seemed to need it.

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I changed the sailplan increasing the sail area to about 65 sq ft. I made my own poly tarp balanced lug sail using a slick method that David Beede describes on his great site, https://www.simplicityboats.com, using PVC C-clips.

It still needs some finishing work to be done and some refinements but I just had to get it on the water for our vacation in Vermont the first week of August.

My Son must have asked me a million questions while we were out there in the light air that day. It was awesome!

Next up is a One-Sheeter for the kids for next year.

Thanks for the great insipiration!

Jeff

Today's Boating

Hi!
Pic, by courtesy of Tor, from todays boating. This is what it looks like a bit out from main land here. Just a bit further out it´s just heaps of stone emerging.

Yours,
Dejan
Sweden

Oar Collar & Sleeve

duckworks supplied oar collars have been cut down and installed "backwards" using hoseclamps over the cladding off a pair of carlisle oars. - Harris

Tahitiana Plans

Hi, I received the Tahitiana plans! After building a 28' wooden cutter, reviewing the plans and planning for the build has to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of the process. I am debating as to whether to take on such a task again! If and when I do take on this build I would be glad to keep you informed! See attached photos of my cutter, it only took me seven years! Thanks, Marc.

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Redneck Houseboat

Ahoy! I don't know any details about this - only it is a rare picture of a shanty underway! She is making pretty good headway too. Surely there are normally several bikini clad crewmembers on the flybridge - I can only assume they are below performing their duties while the boat is underway!

Larry

First New WoodPussy built of fiberglass in 36+ years

WOODPUSSY NEWS FLASH! - Brian Weeks of the Frank M. Weeks Yacht Yard www.wpcatboats.com Patchogue NY (Long Island) separated the first new WoodPussy built of fiberglass from 36 year old molds skillfully restored at his yard. These boats are once again available for day sailing and racing sailors who until now have had great difficulty locating them.

Brian Weeks will sail this first prototype at the Catboat Regatta in Sayville Sept. 9, at the NorthEast WoodPussy Association (NEWPA ) Regatta on OAK ISLAND Sept. 10 and at the Solo Bowl in NJ on Sept. 16.

Thank you to Stephen Smith, (fleet Capt. - Monmouth boat Club (MBC) for coming from NJ and providing these photos.
Special thanks also to Margo Hoffman Lane and her husband "Will" who protected the molds since they brought them back from Indiana in 1998 (Culver Military Academy).

Bill Madsen, (NEWPA fleet Capt.) his son Eric, Dick and Gerry Bracken (NEWPA) , Ian (NEWPA fleet measurer) and Jane Byrd McCurdy and Tony DEloia (NEWPA secty/treas) represented the NorthEastern WoodPussy Association.

Regards,

Tony D'Eloia

A setback as the Eventide lists to port.

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The Brits have such a way with words - When things go wrong.....
Bruce

Picara Pictures

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Got a few pictures of my project "with the paint on". Sorry it has taken so long.The project has begun to move ahead again as I try to work a couple hours each day.

David Davis

Topaz!

Chuck & Sandra,

Hope you guys are doing well.
We are in the midst of revamping a Bolger Topaz we bought from Sam Glasscock. We love it. Standing headroom, nearly 360 degree view, and enough room to live in comfort a week.

It's been quite an adventure painting and sanding in the dog days of summer, trying to second guess the evening rainstorms. Here are a couple of pictures of the remodel in progress.

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Dianne's gorgeous roof refinish and paint job. And our new color scheme for the outside. The lighter blue at the waterline is masking tape which we will remove before painting a white stripe there. We will trim the windows with the wine/red color and do the deck and rubrails white also. Quite a job but the end is near.
See you around
Rhett David

How the other half lives

Hey,

We're helping a friend move his 42' Ponderosa motor yacht through the Chicago and Illinois river locks. Three days of "how the other half" lives. Hard to tell we're traveling on a boat.

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This boat has internet on board as well as washer/dryer, ice maker, shower/little tub with water heater, stand-up refer/freezer, air conditioner and so much more. What, you mean your boat doesn't have an ice maker? Oh, well, if there weren't poor boaters like you how could we be so exclusive? Ta, ta from the other half. I'll send photos. Master Lee Martin, esq.

Auction:
featuring outboard motors, houseboats, etc.

Greetings!

We are contacting you to inform you of an upcoming auction which will be featuring outboard motors, houseboats, and tons of miscellaneous marine hardware and parts. This auction is huge!!! We have attached a couple of photos of outboard motors and the houseboats. The auction will be held in Red Wing, MN (which is an hour drive south of St. Paul/Minneapolis), on September 23, 2006, beginning at 10:00 am.

If you would like more information and directions, please contact us via email, alsantiquemall@hotmail.com; at our toll-free number, (888) 388-0572; Here is a list of marine items to be auctioned off:

MARINE COLLECTIBLIES: 10ft sailboat, 26x14ft pontoon w/cabin on trailer, 2 Wetjet jet skis made in Paynesville, MN, Evenrude 33hp Ski Twin Outboard motor, 1956 MERCURY HURRICANE 10HP KIERKHAERE RACING OUTBOARD MOTOR, Vintage Sea King 1hp motor, Sea King red & white 3hp outboard motor, Mercury 400 motor (as is), 4 cylinder Lehman diesel Marus engine w/paragon trans, Chrysler Fury 210 marine engine as is, Brut Model BA44L1 432cc; 40X12 1/2ft concrete boat hull for salvage; outboard motor gas tanks, stauds; boat air horns, anchors, bumpers, coolers, hooks, ladders, controls, new in the box seats, steering wheels, trailer parts, brass hardware, pulleys, tie downs, oars, oar locks, running gear, portholes, spotlights, ship wheel & MORE!!!

Thank You!

Al's Antique Mall
512 Plum Street
Red Wing, MN 55066
(651) 388-0572
(888) 388-0572
alsantiquemall@hotmail.com

Coast Guard Auxiliary to showcase Lifejacket Cat Walk
at National Conference

Dallas, TX - The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary will be holding its annual National Conference from 31 August to 3 September in Dallas, Texas.

In order to highlight the need for all boaters to wear lifejackets, the Conference will feature a "Save a Life" Lifejacket Fashion Show on Friday, September 1 at the Westin Park Central Hotel's pool at Noon.

Lifejackets can save your life. According to the latest USCG Recreational Boating Accident Statistics (2004) shows that 90% of all drowning victims were not wearing their lifejacket. Most victims drown within close proximity of safety. The difference between life and death is often the result of wearing a lifejacket.

Properly fitting lifejackets are especially important for younger boaters, so 8 of the 13 models involved in the show will be children. A common mistake made by boaters is to try to put an adult lifejacket on a child. If the child ends up in the water, chances are they will slip out of the lifejacket, defeating the purpose.

Lifejackets, also known as Personal Flotation Devices or PFDs are now made in a variety of sizes, shapes, types and price ranges. With the help of DMG Model & Talent Management Agency of Dallas, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will have a range of professional models, men and women, youngsters and adults, to show the many kinds of lifejackets available.

All models have donated their time and energy to assist the Coast Guard Auxiliary in promoting PFD awareness.

Again, the "Save a Life" Lifejacket Fashion Show will be held:

Friday, September 1, 2006 at 12:00PM (Noon)
Westin Park Central Hotel
Poolside (3rd Floor)
12720 Merit Drive
Dallas, Texas

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer's who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Its 30,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions.

For more information on the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit us at www.cgaux.org.