What to do with a boat past saving

This was the front end of an old outboard run-a-bout that would never float again, just too far gone, but the bow section was still fairly decent, added a plywood breasthook where the original rotted one was, some new outwhales and a bench seat for storage.  The whole will be painted, the inside finished natural after a good sanding and scrubbing and will live in my son's living room, hey he's single.  A few more projects out of the way and I can start Nina. 

Tumblehome Nina gets her Skeg/Keel

The skeg is larger than called for on the plans.  I also added the all around light on top.  I really gotta clear out my shop and get started on the real thing.

Tumblehome Nina gets a light weight roof over the helm

This is a nod to Whio on our much more modest Nina.  The roof can be of canvas over a light frame and therefore removable for those days when the sun is welcome rather than scorching.  Should serve to keep the cabin, helm and controls a bit dryer when at the dock.

Tumblehome Nina with a short roof over the helm

Tumblehome Nina

The windshield scales out as 20 inches including the frame at the highest point.  The geckko is not to scale.

More Shots of the Model of Tumblehome Nina

Model of Nina

This is a view of Nina from the stern and bow showing the transom with moderate tumble home.  The model is made with 1/32" birch plywood and painted off white.  The cutout for the motor is smaller than the plans for Nina and are in line with the Handy Billy and Ninegret design.  Also similar to the production fiberglas boat based on the Harry Bryan concept.

Next Boat, Still Stealing Ideas

A Doug Hylan design, Pagan. I would like to replicate the tumblehome in the transom of Bateau's Lb 22, Nina.  Not sure if it can be done, but a really elegant look.

Festivus is Back Home at Wonderdog Boatworks

We pulled Festivus from her berth at the marina and she is outside Wonderdog Boatworks shop to get her interior furniture installed: dinette/dbl. bunk, galley and helm seat.  Then covered for the winter and a new paint job planned for next spring.  Red bootstripe and trim.  Non slip for the sole.

Another example of the Handy Billy with a cabin

Winka is built from plans obtained from Wooden Boat and a very similar hull may be built in stitch and glue with plans from Bateau.com.  Winka has a much smaller cutout in the false transom and a small cabin, both features I would like to adapt to the Bateau design.  This hull is 6.4 meters or just about 21 feet.

Here is Another Version of the Handy Billy

This is a fiberglas version of the boat I plan to build, Bateau's Nina.  It features a dodger to give some protection in rough weather.  One feature that I like about it is that it has a smaller cutout in the transom for the kick up of the motor.

Motor well only

Motor well details from Ninegret

I am Getting Closer to Picking my Next Boat

This boat is a Harry Bryan design, 21 x 6 with a removable cabin held in place with four bolts and sealed with foam weatherstripping.  The owners, Maynard and Anne Bray designed and built the cabin with the help of Harry Bryan.  The motor is in a well and is sound insulated to run quietly.  What a beauty!

Better Trim With Ballast

Now that the ballast has been added Festivus sits a bit better but still needs more to aid in self bailing

More pictures of Festivus at the dock

Here is another possibility for the next build

Looking for plans for the next Wonderdog Boatworks project

We have been searching through books of plans for our next build and this may be the next one

Old Keel helps solve trim

Today we put 305 pounds of lead that was salvaged from an old sailboat keel into the stern well of Festivus to see if it would help correct the trim issue.  It was a partial success but we need about 1 or 2 hundred more pounds of weight to make it truly self bailing.  At least a bit better.

Thursday, July 24, 2008, Launch Day

Festivus is ready to get her feet wet.  Still needs some hardware, touch up of the paint job, some ballast or something to improve trim but the basics are all there.  Motor, a used Honda 25 four stroke runs and starts nicely.

Some of the launch crew

Festivus at its slip at Coates Island Marina

Almost wet

At the boat ramp

Festivus ready to roll

Sunday July 14, 2008

The big day, moving Festivus out of the shop and onto its trailer.  Son James, friend Pete  and I built a ramp to elevate the boat enough to enable us to slide the trailer under it.  We jacked the boat off of its cradle, put 2" pvc rollers under it and rolled it up the gentle incline onto the ramp.  the boat was blocked up, the ramp removed and the trailer pulled under it.  We lowered the boat onto the trailer, adjusted the bunks, had to remove the fenders and moved the whole unit out into the yard, threatened rain, showered a bit but we made it.  I contemplated using a crane to set the boat onto the trailer but the price motivated me to find a better way, we Yankees are thrifty.

The ramp

The moving crew

Festivus on the trailer

Doors fitted Fore and Aft in Festivus' cabin

Building and fitting the doors for Festivus

Building Grab Rails for cabin roof

Glassing the Cabin Roof of Festivus