RE: work on it or sail it? (was: Grasshopper for Guru (Cal25)) (C hris)

Many years ago there was an article in the paper here in San Diego, and this discussion brings it to mind. A guy had built a ferro cement monstrosity of a boat inland and trucked it to San Diego to launch. It had surplus telephone poles for masts, and it had no interior. When it got cold they would just build a camp fire on the cabin sole (which was the inside of the hull) under an open hatch. It had no bottom paint, and would make 4 knots with a favorable wind. No engine, no electricity. I was mentally snickering at all this until it occurred to me that this guy was in the South Pacific with his boat, and I wasn't. Brought me up short. For all I know he's still out there. _____ From: sentto-16485695-4172-1163432849-george.a.elwers=sa… [at] returns.groups.yaho o.com on behalf of Chris Campbell Sent: Mon 11/13/2006 7:32 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Grasshopper for Guru (Cal25) Husar Charlie wrote: You would like to get the parts that need to occur on land done first, then the items critical to sailing, so you can get the boat in the water, and finish up the rest in between sailing times. You'll love the boat more that way, I believe. I'll second that. There's no better way to maintain enthusiasm than being able to sail the boat, even if it's not perfect. Sometimes you see project boats sitting in a yard. And they sit and they sit and pretty soon 30 years have gone by. There's a steel hull a-building where I live. It's been progressing little by little for about 30 years. The builder will probably be too old to sail by the time he's done. I'd much rather have my little old boats, imperfect but sailing. Besides, sailing gives you lots of time to contemplate improvements and changes. I've re-rigged my Cal 20 mentally about 45 times. Mostly, it's all about being able to get out sailing. That's why we own boats, isn't it? My boat may lack the technical dazzle of the big go-fast racers, but if I waited until I could afford one of those, I wouldn't have sailed an hour. So get those things done that must be done to be safe--the structural things, the basic things. The launch and sail and work when you have a chance. Chris Campbell

We worked on it until we just about couldn't stand the sight of it in the yard! (just about every evening and weekend for two years) then we got it to the marina and new things started to happen, rigging, spars, prop etc. This got the creative juices flowing again and a few weeks later it was actually floating and there were new bugs to work out. I figured working the bugs out would be a few weeks, and then I would get back to the pre haul project list. Still working about 10 hours a week on her since March '06, and I'm just about finished killing the bugs! But I have logged over 1,100 nautical miles on her, and even last Saturday when the promised 13 knots of wind never developed in the afternoon, I dropped anchor and installed my new ARS-5 voltage regulator. We're leaving for Beaufort, NC after Thanksgiving, and sailing down there for the winter months before returning to the top of the Chesapeake for '07 season. When I get back, my pre haul project list will still be waiting for me, I'm sure a dozen other projects will have cropped up by then! Sail her, work on her and enjoy the heck out of her! Glen Fromm CAL 3-34 Moon Shadow ----- Original Message ----- From: Elwers, George A.<mailto:ge… [at] saic.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com<mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 11:20 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] RE: work on it or sail it? (was: Grasshopper for Guru (Cal25)) (Chris) Many years ago there was an article in the paper here in San Diego, and this discussion brings it to mind. A guy had built a ferro cement monstrosity of a boat inland and trucked it to San Diego to launch. It had surplus telephone poles for masts, and it had no interior. When it got cold they would just build a camp fire on the cabin sole (which was the inside of the hull) under an open hatch. It had no bottom paint, and would make 4 knots with a favorable wind. No engine, no electricity. I was mentally snickering at all this until it occurred to me that this guy was in the South Pacific with his boat, and I wasn't. Brought me up short. For all I know he's still out there. _____ From: sentto-16485695-4172-1163432849-george.a.elwers=sa… [at] returns.groupsyaho<mailto:sentto-16485695-4172-1163432849-george.a.elwers=sa… [at] returns.groups.yaho> o.com on behalf of Chris Campbell Sent: Mon 11/13/2006 7:32 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com<mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Grasshopper for Guru (Cal25) Husar Charlie wrote: You would like to get the parts that need to occur on land done first, then the items critical to sailing, so you can get the boat in the water, and finish up the rest in between sailing times. You'll love the boat more that way, I believe. I'll second that. There's no better way to maintain enthusiasm than being able to sail the boat, even if it's not perfect. Sometimes you see project boats sitting in a yard. And they sit and they sit and pretty soon 30 years have gone by. There's a steel hull a-building where I live. It's been progressing little by little for about 30 years. The builder will probably be too old to sail by the time he's done. I'd much rather have my little old boats, imperfect but sailing. Besides, sailing gives you lots of time to contemplate improvements and changes. I've re-rigged my Cal 20 mentally about 45 times. Mostly, it's all about being able to get out sailing. That's why we own boats, isn't it? My boat may lack the technical dazzle of the big go-fast racers, but if I waited until I could afford one of those, I wouldn't have sailed an hour. So get those things done that must be done to be safe--the structural things, the basic things. The launch and sail and work when you have a chance. Chris Campbell

As a rough approximation, any boat project takes about 4 times as long as scheduled. And that can get longer depending on how far away the local hardware and boat supply places are. Cheers, Anyway Charlie From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of glen fromm Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 4:10 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] RE: work on it or sail it? (was: Grasshopper for Guru (Cal25)) (Chris) We worked on it until we just about couldn't stand the sight of it in the yard! (just about every evening and weekend for two years) then we got it to the marina and new things started to happen, rigging, spars, prop etc. This got the creative juices flowing again and a few weeks later it was actually floating and there were new bugs to work out. I figured working the bugs out would be a few weeks, and then I would get back to the pre haul project list. Still working about 10 hours a week on her since March '06, and I'm just about finished killing the bugs! But I have logged over 1,100 nautical miles on her, and even last Saturday when the promised 13 knots of wind never developed in the afternoon, I dropped anchor and installed my new ARS-5 voltage regulator. We're leaving for Beaufort, NC after Thanksgiving, and sailing down there for the winter months before returning to the top of the Chesapeake for '07 season. When I get back, my pre haul project list will still be waiting for me, I'm sure a dozen other projects will have cropped up by then! Sail her, work on her and enjoy the heck out of her! Glen Fromm CAL 3-34 Moon Shadow ----- Original Message ----- From: Elwers, George A. <mailto:ge… [at] saic.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 11:20 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] RE: work on it or sail it? (was: Grasshopper for Guru (Cal25)) (Chris) Many years ago there was an article in the paper here in San Diego, and this discussion brings it to mind. A guy had built a ferro cement monstrosity of a boat inland and trucked it to San Diego to launch. It had surplus telephone poles for masts, and it had no interior. When it got cold they would just build a camp fire on the cabin sole (which was the inside of the hull) under an open hatch. It had no bottom paint, and would make 4 knots with a favorable wind. No engine, no electricity. I was mentally snickering at all this until it occurred to me that this guy was in the South Pacific with his boat, and I wasn't. Brought me up short. For all I know he's still out there. _____ From: sentto-16485695-4172-1163432849-george.a.elwers=sa… [at] returns.groups. yaho <mailto:sentto-16485695-4172-1163432849-george.a.elwers%3Dsaic.com%40ret urns.groups.yaho> o.com on behalf of Chris Campbell Sent: Mon 11/13/2006 7:32 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com <mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Grasshopper for Guru (Cal25) Husar Charlie wrote: You would like to get the parts that need to occur on land done first, then the items critical to sailing, so you can get the boat in the water, and finish up the rest in between sailing times. You'll love the boat more that way, I believe. I'll second that. There's no better way to maintain enthusiasm than being able to sail the boat, even if it's not perfect. Sometimes you see project boats sitting in a yard. And they sit and they sit and pretty soon 30 years have gone by. There's a steel hull a-building where I live. It's been progressing little by little for about 30 years. The builder will probably be too old to sail by the time he's done. I'd much rather have my little old boats, imperfect but sailing. Besides, sailing gives you lots of time to contemplate improvements and changes. I've re-rigged my Cal 20 mentally about 45 times. Mostly, it's all about being able to get out sailing. That's why we own boats, isn't it? My boat may lack the technical dazzle of the big go-fast racers, but if I waited until I could afford one of those, I wouldn't have sailed an hour. So get those things done that must be done to be safe--the structural things, the basic things. The launch and sail and work when you have a chance. Chris Campbell