Calling Venchka, or Calling Out Venchka

[Paul Pless]

We know you have the plans for a Gartside Cutter, we are all green with envy.

Tell us your reasons for choosing the cutter, what and where are you dreaming about sailing?

How and where are you going to build her?

What is your time frame?

Keep us updated. It would appear that you are in the wood acquisition phase. ( i've been reading your posts )

As always, good luck, I really look forward to seeing this boat get done.

Thanks,
Paul

[Venchka]

Hi Paul!

Funny you should ask just now.

First, the boat plans are for Paul's Design #110, "SPARTAN", 18'-0"x7'-8". Gaff sloop, not cutter. While the sailplan shows 2 jibs, it's an either/or thing. #1 jib+full main, #2 jib + reefed main.

What is my time frame? Good question. Here's the long version: I spent my lunch hour with my virtually new Caledonia yawl. I came to the realization that if this boat can't take me where I want to go I probably shouldn't go there. I chose the Caledonia yawl over a 16' version of Spartan. My intended use for the boat is cruising when I retire. The Inside Passage is first on my list of places to cruise. Meerkat of this Forum said, "you don't want to come up here it rains all the time." If he is correct, I may be back home after a week or two and start building a boat with a cabin. I figure it doesn't rain that much and with preparation, luck and God willing I'll spend a summer north of Victoria, B.C. Maine and the Maritime Provinces of Canada after that. The Gulf Coast in the meantime.

Next Boat Lust Syndrome seems to be a very real problem. I didn't recognize it until after I purchased the plans. I have learned a lot in the last two weeks. I finally visited Robichaux Lumber in Raceland, LA. To say that they have boat building lumber is an understatement. I learned enough from the good folks here at the Forum to realize that my time and resources should be directed toward using the boat I already own.

There you have it. One more set of boat plans added to the list along with Norm's "MIST" plans. Good boats that for one reason or another might not get built in the near future. I typed "never get built" first. Never say, "Never." I'm not ready now to build a boat now. I have a boat that deserves my undivided attention.

Elisabeth Grace might need a tender when she goes cruising...

[Paul Pless]

I know how it goes, I've got five sets of plans myself, including a Macgregor canoe, a Strange canoe yawl, and a Malabar. I've also got about 100 boat design catalogs.

I also currently own more than a couple of boats and deciding which one to use and which ones to neglect has been an issue at times.

maybe I shoulda strted this post with,

Hi, I'm Paul, and I am a . . .

[Venchka]

Yep...I'm Wayne and I am one too... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

HI, PAUL...

[JimD]

Count me in, too. I'm definitely a... And it don't rain on the Pacific Northwest quite ALL the time. Summers can be not bad at all.

[whb]

Hi my name is Howard and I'm a wanna be ...

[Venchka]

Originally posted by whb:
Hi my name is Howard and I'm a wanna be ...

Welcome, Grasshopper! Pay attention here and you too can learn to throw good money after bad on dreams, hopes and aspirations! Who counts money, eh?

[Grumblepunk]

I realise that I am posting rather late on this issue, but I had an idea regarding:

The Inside Passage is first on my list of places to cruise. Meerkat of this Forum said, "you don't want to come up here it rains all the time." If he is correct, I may be back home after a week or two and start building a boat with a cabin.

Why not simply speak to Iain about neccessary changes to give Elisabeth Grace a true cuddly cabin, with just enough headroom to squeeze around in? Not flush with the deck, like Aegre, but more akin to a skinnier Eun na Mara. If you start planning it now, you may even be able to figure out a way to make a removable hardtop, complete with removable plumbing and such. Say a master drain that plugs and a pair of one-off water tanks and a case mounted battery/electrical box. Have your cake and snack on the side, to paraphrase.

[Venchka]

Thoughts along those lines whizzzzzzzzzz around in my brain a lot. Maybe make a canvas dodger/cuddy thingie. Perhaps something more substantial. Biggest problem is the forward bulkhead/deck that is currently in the way of a little foot room forward.

Lunch time-More later.

[ 05-12-2004, 02:23 PM: Message edited by: Venchka ]

[Venchka]

Originally posted by Grumblepunk:


...Why not simply speak to Iain about neccessary changes to give Elisabeth Grace a true cuddly cabin, with just enough headroom to squeeze around in?

Modify my current boat? Eliminate the need to build a new boat? Logic? Reason? Pretty radical and subversive thoughts there.

[Grumblepunk]

Urk! Okay, do NOT let the missus see what is written on this page and you should be fine. As long as she doesn't get wind of the convertible idea then working out the details of building a new boat - despite a freaking goddess of a boat sleeping in your driveway - should be doable.