"Calypsee" (More Photos)

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

John Blazy of Cleveland, Ohio invited me to his "Launching Party" on the Grand River yesterday.
I got to take a ride in one of the coolest boats I've ever seen and check it out close up. Dawn took some photos. We had a wonderful time.
Congratulations John. :cool:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/pddc2135d3d1c4fb5cdeedb64dd29084b/f6b1b31e.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p07bb6759c5a4fee7d7caea6fa5950a87/f6b18693.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p8e7539d7e1253252ffc260659e060f85/f6b1b327.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p89bba3fb9af6cfd7755b1180b9eb475b/f6b1b319.jpg

If John looks pleased in this photo he should. Calypsee handles very well and is very responsive and sea worthy. She hauled five of us and I was suprised how fast she moved along on her modified trolling motor in total stealth mode. There's a good chance Calypsee will be at the Mid-American boat show this winter in Cleveland as part of the Cleveland Amateur Boat Builder Society (CABBS) display.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p54f0dba99f7e1dbe6b1c905dc15b0736/f6b1b323.jpg

[ 10-11-2004, 08:14 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Know It All ]

[imported_Daniel]

Very cool, this is the one with the glass bottom right? Looks like a blast.

[videoguy]

COOOOOL smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif ...Phil

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Yes Dan, Calypsee has Lexan windows on her bottom so you can see under the boat. I've never seen anything like this boat. It's a one of a kind.
Can't wait to see John's next boat. :D

[win_wood]

You should really let someone know when you are launching such a fine craft right down the street from me. Which dock was that at? I work right in Painesville.

[John Blazy]

Well, since my wife hogged the 'putor all day yesterday, I just now saw your post Kevin! Thanks a ton. Real fun time.

Hank Vincenti of the CABBS group, being a self-appointed Launching Chaplain, did the launching ceremony - absolutely hilarious, as we doused the bow with champaign and a little for the water. He even hailed the gods of water and sea with a conch shell for approval, and waited for their reply (Hank's buddy hiding around the back of the restaraunt with a conch shell of his own) and to our amazement, we heard the muffled, warbled report back, to which Hank said that the gods must have been up a little too late with last nights libations :D :D

I'm sorry I didn't let you know Win, heck, I even forgot to tell the CABBS members. It was a very short notice gathering. We were at the Pickle Bills deck.

Lets plan a gathering next summer eh? I discovered that the cliff shores of Lakewood, right where the Pier W restaraunt is, has incredibly clear water, and is perfect for fish viewing through my lexan windows. I've seen some huge fish, and beautiful bottom architecture that reminds me of Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore in Michigan:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/pe1ccd58380b00e6e79be38b1c2c4ab0e/f6aba0e7.jpg

Some south winds and that area is like boating on glass. Definitely not the case with north winds.

BTW, my next boat is a deep hull semi-submersible, two person marine observatory. Picture a (strange looking) bathtub shape boat about six feet long and 30" beam, that is ballasted to draft about two feet. Large Lexan windows will be in the sides for side viewing, and it will hold two people. Can't wait.

Hey Phil, you gonna cut windows into Floozie to video through?

[Concordia..41]

And still no green-with-envy Graemlin!!!!! Scot!!!!!!!

:D ;) - M

[Keith Wilson]

OMIGOD! That's not a boat, it's a freakin' piece of jewelry! Amazing work! Very, very nice!

[videoguy]

Not a bad idea John but with the water here in N.J. I cant see more than 6 in smile.gif smile.gif What a nice job you did on your boat I love the helm seat
did you do the upholestry your self?. ....Phil

[ 10-18-2004, 10:08 AM: Message edited by: videoguy ]

[John Blazy]

Phil, I knew you'd say that - I kindof figured the water wasn't clear, but if you trailered it down to the Keys . . .

Anyway, the upholstery was easy til I needed to sew the seat and the main horseshoe cushion. Had to learn to sew - what PITA :mad: . But well worth it. All the upholstery was primarily made using real man stiching - PL premium glue and PVC cement.

I made all the backrests and seating bottoms with 1/8" Lexan sheet, then cemented the foam on, then wrapped the Sunbrella cloth over it all and glued the flaps onto the back of the lexan with PVC cement and locked the wrinkles together at the corners with PL premium (and hot-melt for temporary hold). The PVC cement worked awesome - really welds the sunbrella cloth to the Lexan.

Then I bent the whole "pillow" into the curves and slipped 'em over a few fat #8 screw heads that were mounted in the bent-lam-plywood backrests via keyhole slots in the lexan.

Excellent way to upholster - I highly suggest it for others. The Lexan bends better than any other plastic, and can repeat bend cycles without cracking. The seats were also lexan with thin lexan "hinges" so I can pull up the seats to access the batteries without removing the seats.

BTW the helm seat is in the exact contour of an upside-down Sears shop vac. I used the vac's slightly conical barrel body as a form to do the plywood bent-lamination, cuz it was the perfect radii for a back rest, and also had a little angle to it. Love it when I don't have to build a form.

Thanks for the comments all!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid139/pabafcf73e44ee95ed47bc1b820d66e93/f700a261.jpg

[Wild Dingo]

John maybe Im not remembering an earlier post of your boat... but in that last pic Im having trouble locating the lexan veiwing windows on her bottom seems to be a whole bunch of green pillows all the way?? do you pick the pillows up when you want a gander threw or am I missing something?

Gawd I love people who do amazing things! those curves are aweflaminsome... and before some git says anthing Im NOT talkin about the winsome young thing sittin there either!

Definantly a ripper mate :cool: congrats!

[Bob Perkins]

That is a wicked cool boat!

Nice Job again,
Bob