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I have an Elver that was built in New Jersey in 1983. I bought it in 2002 on e-Bay and it was in very rough shape. About 9 or 10 months later I had it repaired and sailing, usually on Champlain. I...

When I bought K-Boat #255 the P.O. said he would leave it in the water for a week to take up. I wanted to sail mine off the trailer so I wooded the bottom and glassed it. That was 16 or 18 years ago...

Hi Steven,

You are the man !!!!! I've been following this build with all the others and I have a big smile on my face !!!! Kids and boats and great Dads !! The perfect combination. Thank you for...

I have #255 that I keep at my camp in Maine. I think you can use some fairly light rigging if it is well done. There is a masthead forestay and an inner forstay that is about 2/3 or 3/4 up the mast...

Anybody her know anything about a commuter launch owned by Adolf Zukor who was the CEO of Paramount Studios. He may have kept the boat on the Hudson River in the Haverstraw, NY area.

I recently...

Thank you, John, for the update and we're all hoping that those creaky old joints improve. I always looked forward to the word "Lulu" in the subject line and enjoyed every word you wrote.

Now, my...

We always ask for pictures but they are seldom like this !!! Your boat looks fantastic !!!

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to get one of those rare opportunities to crawl all over a stunning project. Most of us don't know a lot about the boat building and restoration activities on New...

Sounds like the nautical version of a "walk about". We may have to ask the Aussies to explain it.

Pretty hard to go wrong on Champlain in the fall. The color on the mountains all around and the general lack of people make this a favorite of everyone who sails there. We plan to have our last...

Steven, my boy, you've set records on getting this into the water. Nobody does that much work in such a short time !!!! Imagine a guy who gets his boat in use before the kids are too old to care. You...

I had that problem on my 20' Elver. I put a 2" square stainless tube right through the after part of the hull, behind the cockpit and a foot or so above the waterline. I plug my motor mount into the...

I think you'll get a lot of info here but you'll have to select a route that links up the places you want to see. My suggestions would be:

Route 100 the length of Vermont, the Lake Champlain...

I was there in Norway a couple of years ago. These pictures are the best. Really takes me right back there. Thank you. Jim

When I built one of Tom Hills canoes, I let the ribbands into the molds but I wouldn't do it that way again.

Reduce the size of the molds by the thickness of the ribbands. This not only allows you...

I don't want to talk about the second happiest day in a sailor's life.

Steven, you've outdone yourself !!! No slogging through the building a of that mere Eun Na Mara for you !! No sir. You've...

I'm thinking that they were used in some light cottage industry like broom making where strength wasn't an issue. The fact that they are clean and not chewed up suggests light use on soft materials....

I put the skeg on my brother-in-law's TS-16 a couple of years ago and I can't remember. If I'm down there I'll take a look. I think that you can find that info on the plans if you look in enough...

I'm also within range to lend a hand and was planning on sailing this weekend, weather permitting.

I think that Whitehall is the last lock before entering Lake Champlain. The lake is almost a river at its southern end but I would guess that you could find many places to step your masts. Hopefully...

I have a wood boiler that takes care of almost all of my heating and hot water. My solar panels take over the hot water duty in the summer. What I like about the boiler in the basement is that it...

I don't believe in such stuff but figure this out. My wife's family mostly live around the Mayaguez area in Puerto Rico. There have been mysterious small livestock killings at night in their area....

What a beauty !!! Now that it is turned, take a few minutes and clean up that messy boatshop. I can't wait to see how nice the rest of your Fulmar looks. Jim

The sprit is 16' long, 2" dia in middle tapering to less than 1" at the ends. It has the lower end about 5' off the deck. The lower end is rigged with a snotter which passes through a fairlead about...

56 ?? Well, I went through the same thing at 56. They'll lay you low but they are smart people who will fix you up when they are done. I'm 59 and feelin' fine and you will be too. Keep us informed...

Oh, and most of the rental pickup trucks these days have back seats so that you can bring all of your friends.

When a drugged up idiot ran into my truck last summer (yeah, he hit the boat too) the rental truck I got had a hitch receiver on it and I towed several different trailers. They don't want you to tow...

I live just a little north of you and I usually head for Lake Champlain. Try it, you'll like it. In fact, e-mail me and I'll bring along the Mighty Cofresi so I can get some pictures of your...

No arguement from me on your points. I've never raced and I will defer in a moment to just about anyone with experience. My 16' K-Boat scoots along just fine under the Gunter and my 20' Elver canoe...

I agree with Todd. If you can go with a Marconi rig, you would have a better performing boat and the raising of the mainsail would be easier.I changed to a Gunter so that I could set up the mast...

I converted my 16' K-Boat to a Gunter rig with a curved spar. Easy enough to make the spar. The sail was recut to my drawing by a professional. Looks good, works well. Mine happens to have a track...

Spend a few dollars to get the plans from Steve Redmond. They will help a lot with your re-build. I paid $2,000 for my Elver with a 7.5 Merc and nice trailer but I had to rebuild everything from the...

Looks like a real family fun day. Jim

And now I'm kicking myself for selling my plans and forms to Steven. That is a real gem. I love it. Jim

Been going there every year since 1967. Fly directly from Bradley to San Juan or better yet, directly from Newark to Aguadilla which is on the west end of the island where you want to be anyway. Rent...

I'm headed out on the weekend myself for an overnight on Champlain. Looks like hot weather and light winds.

You may be able to make a simple insect net covering for your cuddy from one of those...

Very nice. Keep up this kind of work, Joe and your section of the Hudson will be the best. Jim

My centerboard looks a lot like Thorne's picture. I needed to make the cb 1 1/2" thick and I made the lead just under that thickness. I set a marked pan in an old bbq grill and kept filling,...

Great !!! Now I can get some serious ripping done when I pass through. Keep your eye out for a nice big, powerful planer and I'll have my camp panelled out in no time. Good score. Jim

That is one beautiful project. Wow !!!!!

I like the drill powered pump since you could use it with a battery drill when underway. Lots of good advice here. Don't forget the ScotchBrite pads.

I have a couple of small pumps that have a connection on top for a garden hose. These things are submersible, cheap and they will pump down to about 1/2" depth. Then you can clean up the rest with...

I think Joe was asking about equipment lists for his sailing on the Hudson. I finally dug out my checklist for my 20' Elver canoe yawl "Cofresi". I also like sailing on Moosehead both out of...

My cousin had one as a promo for the radio station where he worked. A bad boat and a worse car. Google it up on the net and there is a lot of info on it.

Joe, Thank you for one of the best trip reports I've ever read. All those hours of boatbuilding and repair melt away when you have a passenger with that smile. I suspect you'll be on the Hudson every...

Hi Joe,

Were you looking for a check list of equipment for a short cruise? I guess we all have one but don't remember seeing one posted here before.

I've sailed out of Haverstraw and if I can...

Well, well. The Bauer Family continues to turn out the quality work. Very nice. I'm going to have Chickie talk to Mary and maybe I'll have my own paint crew next spring. Jim

In an article written by Alan Scott in the Oct 1980 issue of Small Boat Journal, he gives a good rundown of cooking in vacuum bottles. I'm not much of a cook but I thought that this would be easier...

This is one of the most interesting threads ever posted here (and there have been some very good ones). Although gentlemen never beat to windward, this info is great. Thanks.

I put in garboard drain plugs on both ends of the pin. I just turn out the bronze plugs and push the pin right out. Most marine catalogues have them.