Colorado Messabout!

[DGentry]

Hello Rocky Mountain area boat builders - you are not alone!
In fact, there are lots of us spread out over CO, WY, and NM!

So, we are getting together for the first annual Front Range Messabout, and everyone is welcome!

Saturday June 19th - 10:00 AM
Boyd Lake State Park, in Loveland, CO (just S of Ft. Collins).
http://parks.state.co.us/Parks/BoydL...dLakeHome.aspx

We'll show off our boats, do some networking, possibly learn some things, and do some paddling or rowing or sailing together. It'll be low key, fun and friendly.
We'll have a little cookout (potluck), maybe some demos, and generally have a good time. There's camping available - if you're interested, reserve a spot early.
Canoes, kayaks, sailboats and powerboats are all welcome!

For questions or comments, contact
Dave Gentry Traveller1719@yahoo.com

[James McMullen]

Sweet! Now all you need is a time machine, set it for the mid-Cretaceous period, and have a lovely Colorado seaside romp in those warm waters. Watch out for the plesiosaurs!

[DGentry]

If you squint, hard enough, Boulder reservoir kinda, sorta, looks like the sea . . . .

[switters]

Thanks Dave I have it marked on the calendar with the social directors seal of approval. Will bring things that burn (brauts), things that quench and floaty things that row and maybe sail.

[James McMullen]

I remember finding fossil clam shells in a gully near my childhood home and thinking wistful thoughts.

[Tractor]

Thanks again for setting this up Dave. We are a go. I will try and bring some Ribs and maybe a Jerked Pork Shoulder. Now all I have to do is make five or six kayaks between now and then.

James, I have often told anyone who would listen that there is no place more beautiful than Puget's Sound on a hot August day. I have spent many enjoyable days BBQ'ing on the shores of Bainbridge Island watching drunk Ski-Dooers fall off their evil machines. But that being said, I need to make sure you know that Eastern Colorado is a boater's paradise. No Car Ferrys to have to avoid, no Killer Whales, no hazardous currents. Our rivers are such that if misfortune occurs you can just get out and walk across them and most of the lakes are so large that if you close both your eyes you can't even see the opposing shoreline.

sweet!!


Mike

[James McMullen]

I was actually born in Denver, you know, though I must admit that I moved straight to the nearest coast as soon as I graduated from high school and was on my own. And for some reason, I almost never go to visit unless it's ski-season. Things would be different if Colorado could have held on to that Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, I tells ya.

[switters]

Bump,

Due to an unexpected turn of events, I wont have the summer breeze done, all of my worldly possessions are now in my little boat shop waiting for me to find a place to live. I will bring down something floating and possibly woody. and lots of beer.

[DGentry]

Switters, glad you'll still be able to make it, though it sounds as if all is not going as planned. Let me know if you need a hand moving . . . .
Dave

Edited to add that it looks like we'll have a pretty good turnout! Unfortunately, the guy who lives 6 blocks from me - and who is building a Dudley Dix DeeDee 40 in his driveway(!!) - won't be able to make it. He has some other boats in his yard too . . . I spied at least a CoreSound 17 and a Devlin Polliwog.

I met another builder, just by chance, out at the res the other day, too! He had just completed his Ken Basset Firefly and was taking it for her maiden voyage. He was kind of astonished that I knew what it was, and to learn there were other builders in the area - a reaction I've encountered a lot here! He's coming, too.

Anyway, I hope things are looking up.

[switters]

Thanks for the offer, things are going well, and I should be able to move out of my boat shop and into a home the end of the month. Meanwhile the weather is beautiful and I am planning some smaller projects I can do outside. I have about 10 hours to do on my plastic puffer and have the materials to start on that this week. And a pirogue to paint. I saw Lewisboatworks building great little boats in what appears to be an alley, so I'm motivated again.

Looking forward to seeing everyone.

How many kayaks are you bringing? I have a son who has some kayak experience in need of a father son project.

[gstanfield]

I'm going to try and be there with my Bateau FL14. I have one more coat of paint to the topsides and then finish rigging it, registration, etc. It's going to be close, but I have several days off in between so it should be doable. Well, here's a pic of how she sat a week ago

Thanks,
George

[DGentry]

That's great, George! Looking forward to meeting you and seeing your boat. What size motor are you using for her? Where do you live?

Switters, I'll be bringing at least two, possibly three, kayaks, plus Ruth, and maybe a new canoe. Hopefully I can fit in a cooler and some lawn chairs, too! This might be a pipe dream, though. Maybe I can borrow somebody's car roof . . . .

Dave

[gstanfield]

I'm in Rolling Hills,WY which is about 30 miles south/east of casper off I25. I have a new 40lb thrust trolling motor for her as well as a 1959 Evinrude 10hp Sportwin that I may use as well. I'll get my profile updated soon with my location and bio stuff. There may be a small hitch in my plan I found out this morning, but I'm going to talk to my sargent today and see if I can swap a day with someone else and still be there. It would appear that my schedule is not what I expected it to be.

Anyway, if I make it or if I don't I'll see you online later and even if I do miss this years meet I will be at the next one for sure.

thanks,
George

[cmw6300]

Hey all you Colorado boat builders, where do you get your building materials from? I live in the Springs and would like to start working on a Lumberyard Skiff as my first build. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Chad

[W Grabow]

Chad,

I live in the Springs also. I bought good cypress at C.& O. lumber; good Doug Fir at Lowes, and marine ply from Noahs (in Toronto). For resin and cloth, I usually go to a place off Sante Fe in Denver or to West Marine. Or you can get almost anything online. Finding what is available and where to get it is part of the challenge here in CO. If I can help, let me know.

Good luck everyone with the meeting at Boyd lake. I've got a commitment that day; unless that changes, I won't be able to come but it appears to be god opportunity to network.

[DGentry]

George, I hope you can work things out!

Strait lumber, in Denver, carries a variety of sizes of Meranti Hydrotech BS1088 marine ply. They also had a good supply of redwood and cedar, though going through the stacks wasn't too practical. I've gotten most of my CVG cedar and redwood by spending an hour or so going through the stacks at Boulder Lumber, here in Boulder.
Sears-Trostel, in Ft. Collins, also carries hydrotech, for about $10 more per sheet.

Anyway, come to the messabout, Chad - no boat required!

For any of you who can't make it, or even if you can, shoot me an email and I'll put you on the mailing list - it's my intention for us to get together less formally a few times a year, at a pub or out at a lake.

Dave Gentry
Traveller1719@yahoo.com

[5by5]

If anyone needs a boat for the Messabout I've got a Stevenson Wing Dinghy that needs a good home. (http://www.stevproj.com/WingDingPg1.html)

It was built by a friend of mine and could use a little TLC. The sails are sewn white poly tarp. Includes plans (if I can find them). Send me a note if you're interested. I'm in South Denver.

Note to mods: Is it OK to give a boat away?

[DGentry]

Only 4 days to the Colorado Boatbuilder's Messabout!

Anyone interested in home built boats - whether you've built one or not - is invited to the First Annual Front Range Messabout.
We'll introduce ourselves, show off our boats - with Q&A sessions for the builders - do some paddling, some sailing, a few demos, and generally have a good time meeting some like minded folks!

When: Saturday, June 19 starting at 10:00am
Where: Boyd Lake State Park, near Loveland, Colorado

We'll be meeting at the Mussel Beach area, at the North end of the park (away from the jet skis!). There is camping at the S end of the park, and several boat ramps and a small marina in between.
The marina store sells convenience store sundries - including sandwiches and beer - plus life jackets, bait, etc. Otherwise, you'll have to drive into Loveland for supplies.
We will have a few picnic tables next to the shore, and plan to have a canopy and a few chairs - but bring your own if you can. There's a barbecue grill, and we'll have a potluck lunch - bring anything you like.
There's running water and restrooms not too far away, and parking seems ample and close by the beach for you car toppers.
If you can't make it, drop me a line anyway, and I'll put you on the mailing list for future events!
Dave Gentry
Traveller1719@yahoo.com

5by5, I hope you'll be there, too!

[Gary Davis]

Dave,

Put me on your mailing list. I'm in Billings and get down to Colorado several times a year. Was in Boulder and Estes Park last weekend (in the rain) - meetings in Denver next week.

Gary Davis
garren@bresnan.net

[Tractor]

Dave I am going to be there. I have the old strip canoe I made out of fencing material 15 years ago sitting on a trailer surrounded by bikes and coolers and smokers. I plan on smoking a pork butt for Friday's dinner and should have plenty for the potluck on Saturday. I am bringing the whole family for a couple days of camping and relaxing. Thank you for setting this up and I look forward to meeting you.

If anyone else is going to be there early shoot me an email at hettinga@idcomm.com and maybe we can get together for beer and pork.

Mike

[switters]

I'm getting excited about tomorrow, and angry with myself that I didn't get any boat painting done this week. oh well, they will make the trip nude.

[DGentry]

I'm getting excited about tomorrow . . .

Me, too - I feel like a kid on Christmas eve!

Sounds like we'll have a pretty good turn out, but I really have no idea. I'll be there by 8 am, so you guys don't worry about being early . . . if you see a black kayak, that'll be us.

[Chip-skiff]

Won't make it this time- the poor boat got bumped by greenhouse, garden, and house fixits. The good news is that the mundane stuff is nearly done, and I can start in on the wee skiff.

I'm with you in spirit. . .

[5by5]

Thanks, Dave, for organizing the Colorado Messabout and bringing your boats out to Boyd Lake.

I had a great time time even though I got there after 2:00. It was fun to have a little row in Ruth and my two youngest daughters were quite taken by the little blue kayak.

I don't have the full list of attendees but while I was there I saw a little one sheet skiff and a larger skiff. Also John's beautifully built and well appointed Ken Basset Firefly (love those CF sculls and custom riggers). John also had a lovely little copper nailed lapstrake boat.

Thanks also to Terry for taking us out on his CoreSound 20. It's an impressive boat and we spotted it from the road when we almost drove by .

Just before I left, a guy showed up with a nicely restored little mahogany runabout. He had no connection to the Messabout but just happened to show up with his boat and his family.

I took some pictures but unfortunately the exposures were off so there's nothing to post.

Anyway, it was a great day to be out at the lake and I really enjoyed meeting everyone amd messing about a bit in some great boats.

Thanks again Dave for pulling it off!

Hal

[DGentry]

And a great time was had by all. Err, at least I think so!
It was fun, and great to meet all of you forumites there.
I counted 18-19 boats, by the end, but was too busy to take enough pics or count heads! More folks kept showing up until 5pm . . . .


Lots of messabout pics here, for a start:

http://picasaweb.google.com/bobcarls...dLakeMessabout

Looking forward to seeing you all again!
Dave

More pics to come, I suspect, but here are some teasers . . . .

Steve's exquisite CLC hybrid Wood Duck, almost finished


Brian, getting a feel for the Disko Bay - a far cry from his plastic fantastic:


The aforementioned powerboat, a restored 1934 something:


A 40 year old Penguin


Jon's screaming nice traditional lapstrake solo canoe, et al.


Moi, giving RUTH a bit of a workout

[Three Cedars]

Nice work Dave . Hope you made some SOF converts !

[switters]

Thanks Dave, great day, next year we are bringing finished boats.

[James McMullen]

Aw shucks! I woulda rather have been out there with you guys than what i did on Saturday.

[gstanfield]

I hate that I had to miss it, but work needed me I'll be there for the next one for sure.

George

[cparkerc]

Dave, sounds like you had a good turn out. Great job! I'll look forward to next year!

Thanks

Carrington

Fort Collins

[switters]

Reviving this thread for summer 2012. Gentry has left us and I reckon I'll do my best to be the planner and pick up the slack.

We have a few options for areas so I'm not going to pick one just yet. We can do Lake Boyd (east of Loveland) again, camping and beer, along with jet skis.

Union reservoir east of Longmont, no motor boats or jet skis, no beer. (I know, doesn't make sense to me either)



The date: Saturday July 14th, 2012. It is the day before urban assault in FoCo.

I will have a Summer Breeze under sail guaranteed (although it seems like shaping the rudder yesterday took 100 hours or so and I'm not done yet) probably the kids pirogue.

if you have a favorite lake or a really good reason to change the date then post. Lets get this organized, because the one two years ago was too much fun not to do again. PM me if you need to.

You don't have to have a boat, just an interest in wooden boats.

[kmon]

That weekend works for this Chugger Builder, would like to go someplace where I could actually start the engine(beer is also good), so my vote would be for Boyd.

Keith

[DGentry]

Nice to see this happen - it was lots of fun and about the only way that CO and WY builders can seem to get together. I'll see if I can find my old mailing list . . . .

[Chip-skiff]

Jet skis with beer? Or neither. That's a tough choice.

In any event, I should be able to make it, with my lug-rigged Gypsy, Scandal.

Hope we have enough sailboats for a race (Switters?), and a bit more wind this time.

A couple shots from the last one:





Dave's Ruth wherry:



I rowed her and he took a turn in my Gypsy.

[Gary Davis]

I hope I have what it takes to be ready to sail by then. Just a few odds and ends, finish shaping the mast, and rebuilding the 1957 trailer. Too much travel between now and then to commit at this point.

Wish me luck. It'll be close.

Gary

[switters]

Where was it held last year? I dont remember how I missed it.

[Chip-skiff]

Where was it held last year? I dont remember how I missed it.

Lake Temperance, in Longmont. Or is it called Lake Union? I think it has another name as well. It was the year before last. Gentry set it up before he moved to the Beast Coast. There wasn't one last year, that I know of.

[switters]

Lake Temperance, in Longmont. Or is it called Lake Union? I think it has another name as well. It was the year before last. Gentry set it up before he moved to the Beast Coast. There wasn't one last year, that I know of.

I'm researching, going to ask around and see if we can get special dispensation for one day of Sailing allowed at Douglas reservoir. Wakeless, good boat ramp, beer allowed. No camping, but it is about 4 miles away from the boat shop and I allow camping there if necessary, or even a spare bedroom.

[W Grabow]

The Colorado chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society will be at Grand lake on July 14. They are a good group of wooden boat lovers with beautiful runabouts. Although my boats are neither antique or classic, they tolerate me as a member, so that's where I will be. Wish I could be in both places!

[gstanfield]

There wasn't one last year, that I know of.

No there wasn't. I tried to get one going, but just didn't recieve much feedback so I gave up on it. I didn't want to invest my time and moeny organizing something in another state only to be the only one to show up If someone puts something together this year I'll be there though!

[switters]

July 21st, Douglas reservoir north of Fort Collins.

Wake-less lake, boat ramp, no fee, sail boats welcome though I have never seen one and beer allowed, no sail boards and very few trees, everyone who can bring some portable shade shelter would be appreciated.

http://wildlife.state.co.us/SiteColl...uglasRes10.pdf

I called DOW to make sure because a few years ago sail boats were not allowed, we are good to go this year. I'll try to remember to bump this every so often, PM me with questions.

Boat ramp is on the northwest corner of the lake, guess which direction the wind comes from, plan accordingly. As stated earlier, my shop is on a farm 4 miles away and anyone travelling from afar is welcome to camp out on the farm, but no camping at the lake.

[Chip-skiff]

July 21st, Douglas reservoir north of Fort Collins.

http://wildlife.state.co.us/SiteColl...uglasRes10.pdf

I called DOW to make sure because a few years ago sail boats were not allowed, we are good to go this year. I'll try to remember to bump this every so often, PM me with questions.

A bump with question: On the pages linked, it mentions mandatory inspections before launching. Are there inspectors at the ramp, or does this involve an off-site inspection, buying a sticker, etc.? Wyoming has invasive species stickers required to launch, but the enforcement is spotty except at the most popular fishing spots.

[switters]

Inspections are on site, they are serious about it on the weekends, but since most people there are locals the line has become pretty short.

[gstanfield]

Is there a per boat fee on the inspection like Wyoming? I'm going to try and make it and bring my SUP and Puddle Duck Canoe (if it's finished by then)and maybe a SOF kayak if I have time to finish it. I might take you up on the farm camping spot for the night before too

Looks like I'll be bringing a fishing rod too!

Thanks for setting a time and place

[switters]

Greetings,

I will haul the canoe out there this weekend during prime time and go through the process, a full report will be given on Monday about inspection fees. So far this year i have not been inspected at the other lakes I have been to.

[Chip-skiff]

Waiting for the inspection report. Meanwhile, do you remember the Colorado guy who started a thread about building a Hvalsoe 13? I might search for it and send him a PM. Sure would like to see that boat.

Found it: http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...oe%2C+Colorado

PM and E-mails sent to Bongo Boy (Kirk Fleming). If you can think of other boaters who might come but not be aware of this thread, then let them know.

[Eric Hvalsoe]

Waiting for the inspection report. Meanwhile, do you remember the Colorado guy who started a thread about building a Hvalsoe 13? I might search for it and send him a PM. Sure would like to see that boat.

Found it: http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...oe%2C+Colorado

PM and E-mails sent to Bongo Boy (Kirk Fleming). If you can think of other boaters who might come but not be aware of this thread, then let them know.

chip skiff,
I just got an update on Kirk's Hvalsoe 13. Except it is no longer his. BTW - I built the boat many years ago for a client, Kirk was the second owner. Despite how thrilled he was to have her, the boat was put up for sale again. Don't know why. This boat now resides in rural Illinios (after a brief stint in Texas). Amazing. She has migrated across the country on her original customized trailer. The new owner Keith sounds like he has a great home for her, with many lakes and rivers to visit. Don't tell me that traditional lapstrake is necessarily unsuitable to live on a trailer. Directed at no one in particular.

There is a Hvalsoe 16 prowling about somewhere in Colorado. And one in Idaho. Is Idaho near Colorado?
Cheers

[Chip-skiff]

There is a Hvalsoe 16 prowling about somewhere in Colorado. And one in Idaho. Is Idaho near Colorado?
Cheers

If you can find the name of the owner of the 16, send me a PM and I'll send an invitation. I've admired your boats in photos and would love to see one up close.

Idaho near Colorado? Not really. Is Maine near Virginia?

[switters]

a funny thing happened on the way to the boat ramp. crashed my bike over the weekend and broke a collar bone and cracked three ribs. One boat I recently finished, actually put a stern seat in on Saturday, is getting launched Sunday and I will go to observe, my apologies for the delay.

The inspection is free, but sailboats and motor boats will need a parks pass, which I hope to sort out over the weekend as I'm not fit to do anything else.

[Chip-skiff]

Sorry to hear about your bike mishap.

If the parks pass can be purchased at the gate, fine. Otherwise, let us know what needs doing.