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IN PART ONE I DESCRIBED HOW I ARRIVED AT THE DECISION TO DESIGN AND BUILD THE SCHOONER. WHEN THE ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN WINTER WAS APPROACHING AND THE SIDES AND BOTTOM WERE COMPLETE BUT NOT FIBERGLASSED AS YET. THE WINTER COVER WENT ON AND THERE SHE STAYED UNTIL MARCH, 2000. IN THE MEANTIME I WORKED ON SMALLER PARTS IN MY SHOP THAT I HEATED WITH A KEROSUN HEATER. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN ABOUT 50 DEGREES MOST OF THE TIME.

FIRST I MADE THE HOLLOW MASTS FROM VERY NICE DOUGLAS FIR. I DESIGNED A 3" SQUARE SECTION TAPERED AT THE TOP. I PUT IN REINFORCING BLOCKS WHERE I KNEW THE STRESS WOULD BE. I PRIMED THE MASTS AND STORED THEM OVERHEAD IN THE SHOP.

THE WINTER COVER WAS REMOVED IN MARCH, 2000 AND WORK BEGAN IN EARNEST ON THE HULL. I INSTALLED THE DECK CARLINGS AND COVERED THE DECK. I MADE THE FORWARD COMPARTMENT WATERPROOF FOR EMERGENCY FLOTATION. THE STERN COMPARTMENT IS COVERED WITH A HATCH FOR STORAGE AND ACCESS TO THE STEERING GEAR (SHE HAS A SHIPS WHEEL YOU KNOW). ALL THE PARTS AND PIECES WERE INSTALLED , SHE WAS PRIMED AND PAINTED USING THE INTERLUX SYSTEM.

I DECIDED TO MAKE THE SAILS OUT OF INEXPENSIVE POLYESTER FABRIC THINKING THAT I COULD MAKE ADJUSTMENTS WITHOUT CUTTING EXPENSIVE SAIL CLOTH. IT PROVED TO BE A GOOD DECISION. IF YOU KNOW ABOUT POLYTARP SAILS YOU KNOW THEY ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH DOUBLE SIDED CARPET TAPE. I USED THE SAME METHOD WITH CLOTH AND IT WORKED GREAT! VERY STRONG AND SMOOTH. I HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE THE PERMANENT SAILS FROM "SAILRITE" KITS. I JUST NEED A FEW SMALL ADJUSTMENTS IN THE SHAPE OF THE SAILS EVEN THOUGH THEY WORK GREAT AS THEY ARE.

OKAY, BUT HOW DOES IT SAIL???

I WISH I COULD DESCRIBE IN WORDS JUST WHAT A THRILL IT WAS TO SAIL THE SCHOONER FOR THE FIRST TIME! AS WE BACKED AWAY FROM THE FLOAT FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THE SAILS ALL SET AND TURNED SO THE WIND WOULD CATCH THE SAILS SHE TOOK OFF LIKE A STALLION EAGER TO RUN! IT ACTUALLY CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD BUT I RECOVERD QUICKLY AND OFF SHE WENT DOWN THE BAY. MY FRIEND DALE WAS CREW AND HE NOTICIED THE BIG GRIN ON MY FACE! I DIDN’T HAVE MY GPS TO CHECK HER SPEED BUT WE WERE GOING AT A FAST CLIP. SHE CAME ABOUT OKAY, ABOUT AS WELL AS ANY SCHOONER , I SUSPECT, AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME SAILING AROUND CASCO BAY FOR AN HOUR OR SO!

SHE IS VERY STABLE WITH HER WIDE FLAT BOTTOM. I WAS ALONE IN HER SAILING ONE DAY AT THE WHEEL AND WONDERED IF SHE WAS SQUATTING IN THE STERN WITH MY WEIGHT AFT. I LEANED OVER THE SIDE AND EVEN WITH MY 250 LBS. SHE WAS NOT EVEN TO THE WATERLINE!! LIKE THE SCHOONERS OF OLD SHE CAN CARRY A TREMENDOUS LOAD!

WHAT WOULD I CHANGE?

NOT BEING A PROFESSIONAL DESIGNER I LEARNED SOME VALUABLE LESSONS BY THIS PROCESS. EVEN WITH LAMINATED ½ INCH PLYWOOD PANELS FOR THE BOTTOM SHE NEEDS MORE FRAMING TO MAKE HER STIFF. THE FLOORS OF THE TWO COCKPITS ARE A LITTLE FLIMSY. BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS I WILL HAVE INSTALLED SOME ADDITIONAL FRAMING.

THE WHEEL CONTROLS THE RUDDER BY CABLES. I INITIALLY MADE THE GEAR LIGHTER THAN IT SHOULD BE AND THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF FORCE ON THE RUDDER. I SINCE HAVE STRENGTHENED IT CONSIDERABLY.

I HAD DESIGNED THE MASTS TO BE UNSTAYED. THEY WORKED FINE WHILE SAILING BUT I NOTICED WHILE AT THE MOORING IN THE WAKES OF PASSING BOATS THE MASTS WOULD VIBRATE. THIS WAS DISCONCERTING AND I THOUGHT IT MAYBE WOULD WEAKEN THE JOINTS OVER TIME SO I INSTALLED SHROUDS FOR EACH MAST. IT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

OTHER THAN THESE FEW MODIFICATIONS I FIND THE DESIGN SOUND. SHE IS PROPERLY BALANCED AND GOES HIGHER TO WINDWARD THAN I EXPECTED. SHE IS VERY STABLE AND POUNDS SOME LIKE ANY FLAT BOTTOM BOAT WOULD. ALL IN ALL I AM EXCITED TO OWN HER AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW HER BETTER AS THE SUMMER PROGRESSES.

CHECK IN ON THE WEB SITE ONCE IN A WHILE , I’LL BE ADDING SOME NEW PHOTOS OF HER ADVENTURES! REMEMBER, YOU TOO CAN DESIGN AND BUILD A BOAT! SURE YOU CAN!!