Building Navigators - Oct 20 Status

[Barrett Faneuf]

All signs indicate that I'm totally crazy. :D Here's how I know:
I got my building site for Nighean prepared, but the plans aren't ready yet. What to do, what to do. I know! I'll build a boat for my mom while I'm waiting! Oh, we like Navigator (http://www.woodenboat.net.nz/1WBNZOffice/Navigatorbasics/navigatorindex.html)! Hey, the site's big enough for 2 of those, haha. Wouldn't it be neat to build 2 at once? Actually, I bet it would be easier to build 2 simultaneously than one after the other. Hmm..

So now I have two Navigators under construction. Somebody, medicate me, please!

This weekend I got the bottom panels cut out and the building jig constructed. I used a lot of the non-spar-quality salvaged lumber (see this (http://media5.hypernet.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=001968) thread for details) for the jig. I'm now about to start laying out and cutting the permanent bulkheads. My table saw blades are getting sharpened in preparation for oodles of softwood resawing. They need it.

Here's the gallery, since I'm documenting my descent into madness.
Navigators Gallery (http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288806687)

[Venchka]

You go, Girl!

Great boat, the Navigator. Not as well known in the Colonies. A very respected boat in Kiwi Land!

[John B]

I was looking at one on saturday. Strange as it may seem, they are few and far between out here and I only really see them at the Mahurangi regatta in january.
the one I looked at was 'Jaunty', the one that has been bought by Dave..... Dave the man who sailed one through the Yasawas in Fiji and left it there......
Anyway, he's enjoying his boat. He'd been out the back of Rangitoto island for the night with a friend and a child aboard.

[Meerkat]

How... interesting.

[Concordia..41]

Wouldn't it be neat to build 2 at once? Actually, I bet it would be easier to build 2 simultaneously than one after the other. Hmm..
:D I like how you think!

Cheers!
- Margo

[Steve Lansdowne]

and of course you remembered to reimburse the designer an additional $104 for the plans to build the second boat, right?

[imported_Steven Bauer]

If John really drags his feet maybe you could squeeze in the Eun Mara, too. :D

Looks great! I really like those Navigators.

Steven

[capt jake]

Well Barrett, It is looking like a boat! I would love to be there for the launch! Maybe if my life here settles down, I can come and take a first hand look?? I can't be more than 20 minutes away. e-mail me if it works for you. smile.gif

[Venchka]

Barrett,

:rolleyes: That's me. Green with N. V.

It does appear that we share the same taste in circular saws. Is that a blade left Porter Cable saw I see? Perhaps my boatbuilding tool inventory isn't as sparse as I thought.

The NAVIGATOR as tender to the big boat? :D

[Barrett Faneuf]

Steve - I have sent off a query to John about the appropriate fee for a sistership. I certainly don't need a second copy of paper.

Capt Jake - See your email.

Venchka - Yep, that's a left blade Porter Cable. It's awkward for cutting 2x stock, but perfect for panel ripping and curve cutting; I can see what I'm doing while driving with my right hand. That's why I bought that version. If I were doing more conventional carpentry, I would have got a right blade saw.

Not too much progress; Yesterday was the all-time rainiest day in Seattle history, so I pretty much hunkered inside. Got the transom pattern laid out. Lots of fiddly measuring etc (no full-size plans). My mom's having an artist friend carve the name board, so I made a tracing of the transom pattern to provide the "working space" for him.

[capt jake]

Hey, I love my PC left cut saw, though mine is the Saw Boss, the little version of yours! It cuts 2X stock just fine. To each their own. smile.gif smile.gif

Got the mail, look forward to it!! smile.gif smile.gif

[Barrett Faneuf]

Oh, the PC CUTS just fine, I just find it a bit awkward. I like to stand on the right side of the board with my foot to steady it. Makes being right-handed weird. So I swap to "lefty" for cutting like that. I'm fairly non-handed for tool-using; years of swapping the plane direction instead of swapping the board. But power tools haven't been swapped as much.

To each their own, I love the saw.

[Venchka]

Here's a newish site devoted to the Navigator and more importantly, SAILING the Navigator.

Open Boat (http://www.openboat.co.nz/)

Teaser...

http://home.xtra.co.nz/hosts/david77/SINCLAIR7.jpg

Enjoy!

[Jim M]

Is the aluminum mast really necessary?

[J. Dillon]

Viewed your album and thanks for sharing it with us. :cool:

Do ya really need the motor ? :rolleyes: To my eyes it tinges the beauty of the boat. ;)

JD

[Venchka]

Ya'll are entirely too picky. It's not my album nor do I own a Navigator. I was browsing the site and liked the general nature of that photo. It suited my personal taste. As for the mast & motor, if they suit the owner, then they are perfect. Were it my boat, I might do things a little differently, no doubt. If it were your boat, you could do as you please.

Better...

http://home.xtra.co.nz/hosts/david77/tacawalevu.jpg

or...

http://home.xtra.co.nz/hosts/david77/sunset.jpg

[John B]

That's the man I was talking about. Dave. Met him last weekend. Nice guy.

[Meerkat]

That new Open Boat forum is run by Dave Perillo. Here's his adventure in his first Navigator:
Dinghy Cruising the Yasawas (http://www.woodenboat.net.nz/Stories/BoatFiji/DinghyYasawa.htm)
http://www.woodenboat.net.nz/Stories/BoatFiji/images/art1.jpg

[ 10-22-2003, 03:52 PM: Message edited by: Meerkat ]

[Ariel]

Hey, High Priestess--congratulations on your projects--I once made 4 identical sails at the same time--went from one to the other mechanically until they were done! Very nice boats....

[Murray Campbell]

Thanks all for the open boat inspiration and daydreaming material!...still hoping to indulge myself with a little beach cruiser as a break from the liveaboard project boat reality.

Have any of you built or sailed other welsford designs? i've been all wistful about the whaler..

[ 10-23-2003, 02:58 PM: Message edited by: Murray Campbell ]

[Ross Faneuf]

Craziness is an inherited trait...

[Aramas]

Hey! She's kinda hot!..uh..the boat, I mean..yeah, that's it ;)

Great workshop. Once those navigators are in the water you'll have more competition for those fine days.