| My brief boating history
I bought a West Wight Potter 15 (WWP15) in fall of 2006, at age
66, after decades of extensive backpacking/back country exploring
in Central Coast mountains of California. I felt a strong need
for new directions. Learned to sail in the WWP15, including turning
turtle in it with the help of racing keelboat sailor friend. Trailered
it to Gulf Islands of British Columbia in summer of 2007 for light
wind sailing and lots of motoring. Sold the WWP15 late summer
of 2007.
Boat building beginnings
While searching for boat building possibilities to replace loss
of the WWP15, found Duckworks. Searched plans pages on DW and
bought Jim Michalak's
boat building book. After reading it many times decided on his
Roar2 design for my first boat build. I began
Roar2 in fall of 2007 and launched four weeks or so later. It
was built to plans including graphite
epoxy on bottom/bilge panels. Then learned to row on local lake
and sometimes Monterey Bay's scarce sheltered waters. But I missed
the sailing part of being on the water.
Wooboto - design - build
Searched for row/sailboat under 16', beachable, simple sail rig,
possible camping on board, light weight for moving on water and/or
land, and cheap to build. Contacted then worked with Jim to modify
his Woobo
design to have a through the water bow.
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Wooboto |
While Jim worked on redesign, I bought a Poly tarp sail kit and
built a 74' lug sail with one line of reef points. Received plans
March 2008 of newly named Wooboto
and began building. Finished hull in three or four weeks. Finished
sailing bits five or six weeks later. Used local 1/4² ACX
fir ply and fir lumber. Most/all hardware, epoxy, some tools,
and line was bought from Duckworks.
I built Wooboto to plans, except for:
a. 3/8" ply transom - had glued framing sticks to original
1/4" ply on backwards and only had 3/8" left for second
piece.
b. Used 4 oz. glass cloth on bottom instead of 6 oz.
c. Lashed down both hatches with 1" nylon webbing and nylon
side release buckles left over from backpack sewing days. Two
straps forward and three aft held in place with stainless steel
(s.s).
Tie Down Eye Straps from DW. Will be replacing
the nylon with polypro webbing which has better UV resistance.
d. Cut oversized boarding hole in rudder to fit my size 14 foot.
Launch - fine tuned rigging/sailing bits
A friend and I launched the Wooboto without decks/hatches. We
were eager to get it into water and its very easy to spot leaks
without decks. Installed decks/hatches, then cleats/fair leads
for sailing. Began shake down.
Settled on main halyard through fair lead to cam cleat. Very
easy to dump/lower lug sail. Down haul line ties to 6" galvanized
horn cleat. Both on starboard side of mast attached to reinforced
bulkhead with s.s. machine screws with nyloc nuts. Halyard for
rudder lifting passes through two small screw eyes to a clam cleat
on tiller top. Main sheet clips to s.s. pad eye bolted at boom
end, drops to small turning block on tiller top above rudder pivot
point, then forward to a small nylon fair lead mounted on tiller
top. Added jiffy reefing lines to sail through the boom.
Since launching a bit over a year ago, these are some of the continuing
modifications/adaptations:
1. Tiller control line through six small nylon fair leads around
cockpit. Easily attached/detached to small jamb cleat on underside
of tiller. Used to steer boat while reefing and/or "hove
to".
2. Another poly tarp sail taped/sewn using Jim's measurements
for camber.
3. Covered all exposed glass/epoxy seams with graphite epoxy
for UV protection and no maintenance finish.
4. Using Jim's plans, built and installed add-on mizzen. Taped/sew
up a mizzen sail. Added line to depower mizzen while underway
without leaving cockpit.
5. Installed inwales (3/8" x 3/4" fir strips with
spacers) for attaching storage bags.
6. Boom and bow tarp tents sewn using 1.1 oz silicone nylon.
Use mizzen mast as boom crutch for tarp.
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Wooboto Boom Tarp |
7. Built and installed redwood floor boards for sleeping spot
and slightly elevated seating.
8. Various mesh/nylon storage bags sewn for drinking water bottles,
main sheet, mizzen lines, spare oar locks, etc..
Rowing and sailing the Wooboto
When rowing, either due to calm winds and/or seeking sailing
space, here's what I do. The sail/boom/yard bundle is completely
rigged except for boom to mast tether and it's stowed on port
side of mast. Bundle is moved forward with clew end resting on
cockpit floor. This allows for oar swing. As there are no thwarts,
seats, or benches, I use the rowing box suggested by Jim. Mine
is 6" high for the Wooboto. I row with leeboard and rudder
cleated UP.
To raise sail at dock/launch or while rowing this is what I do.
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Mast Downhaul Main Halyards |
(I've already rigged lines, except for boom tether, while on
land. Halyard and downhaul cleats are mounted on starboard face
of mast bulkhead.) I position Wooboto's bow slightly to port of
dead into wind. This means any wind is coming slightly from starboard.
I can control boat's heading with tiller control line.
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Tiller with control line & hat |
The leeboard and rudder are lowered. Then sail bundle is moved
aft to allow boom to mast tether line to be attached UNDER main
halyard. Sail can then be raised and halyard cleated. Next is
to tension the downhaul tightly and cleat off. Then adjust the
sheet and sail away.
Rowing with sail up and winds have died.
Position rowing box and oars, leaving sail uncleated. Raise leeboard
and rudder then cleat up. When I'm seated on rowing box, the boom
clears my head easily. As wind picks up, stow box and oars, lower
rudder and leeboard, adjust sheet and sail away.
Lowering sail while underway (no mizzen)
Position boat with bow into wind as above. Again control of boat's
heading can be done with tiller control line. Release halyard
from cleat and lower sail into boat. Detach boom to mast tether
line and uncleat downhaul. Attach sail ties and move sail bundle
forward to clear oars. Position rowing box and oars, the raise
leeboard and rudder. Row away.
Add-on mizzen management and tarp tents. Next installment
After a year of rowing/sailing/trailering/tinkering/grooming
the Wooboto I find it meets my needs. And I'm continually amazed
with the genius of Jim's designs, and thoughts on boats and boat
building. Wooboto is a zen kind of bulls eye for me.
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