David Luckenbach over at SailingTexas.com was selling a boat and decided to play along with the scam to see how it went. He posted a complete log of the corespondence and even got a cashiers check from the scammer.

https://www.sailingtexas.com/chumor4.html

Shorty

I built a cosign wherry about ten years ago and when I went to Flounder Bay Boat Works using the phone (!) to get the plans for the sailing rig, they were all out. Erica Pricket of Flounder Bay said they had retired and sold all but the name and would look for the plans. When she found that she was out, she gave me the designer's home phone number and when I called John Hartsock, he seemed befuddled and suggested I put whatever I was talking about in a letter. I did and included a SASE but have heard nothing so far.

My question is; can you help me to make my boat into a sailboat? I have gone through a stack of Messing About In Boats as they ran a series on the theories of sail type, sail plan, rudder and dagger board. I have not found that yet. A lot of Welsford so far. Were I to indeed find the series of articles, I'd have to do the math and I ain't too bright and I probably wouldn't follow through as I might if the information was spoon fed to me.
Thanks for your time.

YRS TRLY,
Michael the Scott
sands@bigisland.com

• max. weight loaded - 30lbs.
• must be capable of being loaded through a 25 inch companionway,
• Must included some sort of heating device capable of boiling water.
• must allow for thorough sanitary cleaning

Bob Patterson
b9bpattson@aol.com

Due to hurricane damage, there are hundreds of salvaged boats being auctioned off. the contest would be to utilize a damaged power boat hull, in the 20 to 26 foot range. The objective would be to gut the hull and build a mini-trawler or power cruiser on the bare hull. Say $2000 to $3000 for the hull and another $2-3000 for the construction? Outboard or I/O power not included in the construction costs.

I would envisage something like Ken Hankinson's Coastal Cruiser or the like.

Paul Esterle

Thank you for Duckworks, I look forward to each issue and spend a great deal of time devouring the contents. For those of us who, for one reason or another, cannot tackle large projects your magazine is a blessing.

Regards.
Lorne Duncan

There is a general aviation light airplane that is still flying today that has the entire wing structure on a pivoting bearing across the fusilage. You might want to look it up and consider the ramifications for your pivoting wingkeel design. The spratt controlwing. The controlwing design was used in many variations including flying boats. This airplane is said to be one of the smoothest flying in turbulence as it automatically responds to up and down drafts, only one 1/4 of the forces of fixed wings are generated.

If your wing was the shape of an airplane wing in cross section and the pivot point was at the ballance point there would be no need to force it into a predetermined angle of attack.

It would find its own least drag angle. the exception would be when approaching the minimum draft point where main hull proximity interaction would cause chatter as the gap became narrow. This could be ameliorated by a simple set of small fin shaped stops on each side or the centerline which should be made strong enough to support the hull weight in dry dock or grounding.

Small adjustable trim tabs on the trailing edges would allow for fine tuning.

If you try this and like to experiment more, each wing could be allowed to pivot freely.

If each wing pivoted freely and the trim tabs were controllable from onboard while underway you could controll the uplift and downlift of each side to aid their weight in keeping the mast closer to the vertical in a broad reach. This is the way the control wing controlled banking in flight. It is said to be an exceptionally smooth banking aircraft as there is no need to coordinate turns with the rudder. I have never ridden or flown in one , but there are numerous write ups available to my cursory google search. If you make each side of the wings pivot freely with onboard control of the trim tabs the controls could be used to give down wind uplift to aid the weight in keeping the mast upright in a broad reach

jerry crawford
sparkschaser@hotmail.com

Chuck,

Recently I had you post a classified for a Mirage Drive that I have for sale. I have received several e-mails from people in Europe claiming to be interested in buying the thing. The odd part was that all of them wanted to pay buy UK Cashier's Check and use a "shipping agency". I believe this is a scan where they send a fake cashiers check for more than the purchase price, and have you send them the "change". By the time you and your bank finds out the cashiers check was a fake, they have your merchandise and the "change".

I am not sure that is what is going on here, but you might want to see if your other patrons are experiencing the same type of thing. I would hate to see good people taken advantage of.

Concerned,
Matt Fuller

Here is a copy of one of the e-mails I got.......

HELLO Matthew Fuller,

Thanks for the response.I'm very serious in the purchase.I'll like you to cut off every other interested buyers because I'm ready to buy the Mirage Drive.

I'll need the pics and detailed descriptions of the Mirage Drive.Your Price $250, Is okay By my me,willing to purchase the Mirage Drive.

However,I have a Shipping agent,which would get in touch with you, upon confirmation of receipt of payments and transaction concluded.Payments will be inform of cashier's Cheque, Which would be issued and sent by my client in States who is owning me,$620 for goods supplied,promised to do as i instructed.

The amount would cover your selling price Shipping,and Handling charges So upon confirmation of receipt of the cashier cheque from my client and confirmation from you would send the balance to my Shipper in London when the cheque clears,which wo uld get in touch with you as soon as you received the cheque and we have conlude transaction.

Get back to me, If okay,i will like you to forward me the following details,FULL NAME, FULL ADDRESS,ALSO YOUR DIRECT PHONE NUMER.So i would instruct my client, so that payment will be made out to you soon and hope to read from you.

Chuck:

In a discussion last summer we were wondering if the great boat wizzard (Phil Bolger) or anyone else has designed a 2 or 3 section boat for a pickup truck to carry nested then put together when you are at the water. We only discussed the final product and not the "how to".

We envisioned the first piece, probably the stern section as the "cap" for the pickup and the next section nested underneath and the third section inside that with any gear under it. The third section could be either a small cabin for the forward section or an additional length to give a boat about 24 feet that bolts together ala TIMS at the now famous Kingston Messabout.

All great things start with a dream. So all of you can think about this one and respond accordingly. Here you go Bruce(S). I really like the idea of travelling away from the snow and ice with a great boat safely sitting on the back of the truck for the journey then put it together, add a small outboard or oars and away you go.

Paul McLellan - still glowing from a great month of cruising with the Bolger Houseboat #481 and trying to get back to reality, or maybe the cruising is the reality.

Shorty

Congratulations on a great site, I've been a member for a while now although I still haven't been able to get round to building my little dream boat! I noticed David S's article the other day about the little kiddie lagoon water park, did some searching and came up with some links if anyone is interested -

www.phunzone.com/powerpaddler/lagoon.html

Shows pictures and info about the lagoons and construction, and -

www.phunzone.com/powerpaddler/

Gives details on the paddle boats. Pretty cool, though I daresay using simple shortened 'mouse' type wooden boats and cheaper materials, your average duckworks reader could knock one up fairly cheaply!

Keep up the great work, and thanks for your inspirations.

Martyn Cruise

I always thought the landing craft at Normandy and Tarawa were made of steel. Boy was I wrong! They were made of pine, mahogany, and oak, and were the brainchild of Andrew Jackson Higgins of New Orleans, Lousiana. What's more, a group of old Higgins Industries Employees got together to build a LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicles and Personnel) from original plans. It is now on display in the D-Day Museum in New Orleans.

For more about this, go to

https://www.higginsboat.org/

There are step-by-step photos of the whole project.

For more information and diagrams, go to

https://www.ussrankin.org/id41.htm

Tom Beck

Hey Chuckie!

Just got back from another outboard motor swap meet; the same meet as written-up in the very first of the "swap meets" Obsolete Outboard columns.

Just like last year, there were more "sellers" than "buyers." Plenty of bargains available. Like OMC "pressure" tanks, with hose and quick-connect fittings, for $25.00 to $35.00 each.

Another buyer bought (4) outboards for $50.00 for the pile:

1) 1950 Johnson 10 hp (a bit earlier than I recommend for cheap power, and missing pressure tank, but pressure tanks were available.)

2) An early '70s 9 hp Volvo Penta outboard (bet ya didn't know they were even made) with long-shaft and "vertical-pull" recoil starter for sailboat use. Don't know if parts are still available but then I have never looked.

3) 5 hp Starling Jet outboard; and air-cooled Clinton powerhead mated to a jet-drive lower unit. Not much "push" but very cute; a safe little outboard to turn the kids loose with on a dinghy, since there is no spinning propeller and no speed.

4) Forgot what the forth one was.

Or maybe a late-60s Evinrude 3 hp for $35.00? (these real late 3's have a provison for mounting a fuel pump for a remote tank; the early ones do not.)

And a 1983 Mercury 9.8 hp for $100 which did not appear to be too far from running condition (but if it needs electronic ignition parts, it could get expensive; which is why I like "old-fashioned" points-and-condenser ignition)

Jim Michalak showed-up and bought a 1966 Johnson 20 hp with a badly-cracked lower unit. He took it home Saturday afternoon, and sent me the following e-mail 6 hours later:

"No spark so swapped plugs from Goodyear12 and had good spark. Carb does not appear to have a high speed adjustment - I think what looks like a jet is just a long bar plug that the low speed adjuster pivots around. Carb looks freshly overhauled, hoses are new, looks like new gasket on fuel pump. Started right up after changing plugs. Pumps water OK. Hood has some wear and will need a bit of work. Its base on the motor was twisted maybe from a fall and I straightened it with 2x4. Fits a lot better but wear points will need some attention. Let it idle for ten minutes or so, no problems yet. Shifts in and out of gears OK.

Will dig into the lower unit soon, replace impeller and try to seal the crack. Then I think it is good for a test run.

Got it for $30."

That lower unit may be cracked too badly to just seal it up, but then the Gale 12 that he has that refuses to run https://homepages.apci.net/~michalak/15dec03.htm has a lower unit that should swap without too much trouble.

Which is why I recomemend that people stick to one series of outboards; if you buy a "dud" it can serve as a parts engine for a better example of the same model/series.

And after dealing with a "dud," your next purchase will be an "educated" purchase.

If there is ANYONE out there who still thinks that there is ANYWHERE better to buy "cheap power" outboards than a swap meet sponsored by the Antique Outboard Motor Club, Inc., then they are beyond my ability to help them.

Later

Max

Looks like we lucked out and Charlie went inland almost 100 miles south of our site. At least no panicky calls from the park admin peaople. So reserve a week or two for Florida next winter. Sailing on the Intra Coastal, rowing in aligator infested swamps, schlepping over vast stinky mud flats in search of clams to boil. Should be fun.

Can you post a noticeable announcement of the Kingston Messabout having been cancelled? I've sent off messages to everywhere I can think of, but I dread the idea of some poor soul driving 1000 miles to a non-event
that I'd promoted.

Thanks.

Bruce Hector

I liked you article on old motors. When I was growing up on Lake Wylie on the outskirts of Charlotte, NC., my Dad once bought an old plywood boat and two old motors came with it. One was a 50s vintage 3.5 hp Evinrude and the other was a two cylinder with no identifying labels (it had been totally painted over a few times. I remembered when I was very young that my Dad had the old Evinrude running on the plywood boat, but when the boat began to rot a few years later, my Dad gave up on the idea of same outboards and boats and went the route of larger boats that were suitable for pulling water skiers.

About 10 years later, in my teens, my older brother and I purchased an 14ft K-Craft (i.e., KMart) aluminum boat and went to Sears and bought a 7.5hp Sears Ted Williams Gamefisher air-cooled engine. Yes it was loud and sounded like you were cutting the grass when you used it. We used and abused that motor for two years and killed it. Now we had an aluminum boat and no working motor. I told my older brother that we should see what those old motors still mounted on the old 2x6 between the two trees could do. We tried larger green painted motor first. Keep in mind that this motor had not been touched, much less started in over 25 years. We cleaned it up and put in two new spark plugs, rinsed out the gas tank that was on top of the motor around the flywheel and cleaned out the fuel line and wire fuel screen (not really a filter). This was a water cooled motor.

After only a few hours of "restoration" we put in on the back of the boat. On about the 5th pull, it fired up. This engine did not have a neutral or reverse, so you had to be ready to go when in fired up. To our surprise, this motor ran really strong, much more powerful than the 7.5hp Sears, and it wasn't as loud. The problem that we had was that the gas tank had a lot of corrosion products in it, and you had to take a wrench to undo the fuel line and clear the screen about every hour.

Were I grew up in the Carolinas, we affectionately referred to these old outboards as "egg-beaters", because they had some resemblance to an old electric egg-beater. I think that would be a title for your columns on old motors. Just a thought.

Also, what do you think about the old 1.2 hp air-cooled Sears outboards made in the 70s? My landlord has one in the garage that I've been trying to buy from him?

Thanks for your articles. I like your AF4. I'm thinking about building one to use with my 9.9 hp 4-stroke Suzuki.

After reading you and Jim about motors,

Stacey Strickland

Appreciate the kind words and the story; since most of the old outboards were pretty simple machines (the K.I.S.S. principal) they usually do not require too much "wrenching" to get them running. Few old outboards actually saw enough service to be "worn out."

As to the little air-cooled 1.2's from the '70s, I think I would hold out for a Johnson or Evinrude 1 1/2 (from the late '60s) or a 2 hp (from the early '70s) as parts would be much easier to come by, and I think you would get more 'push' out of em. For that mater, a J or E 3 hp, made from 1950 to 1967, is a good engine as long as someone has not run it "wide-open" hour after hour, and parts and service info are easy to come by.

I like my AF4 very much, but have thoughts of building the
AF4G (always a bigger boat !), and I even like the new
4-cycle outboards.

I just don't like the price you have to pay to get one !

Keep in touch.

Max

I know you don't censor articles, and I don't really expect you to. I don't bother reading Richard Frye's articles because I hear enough crude language that serves no purpose at work, and I don't care to read it in my leisure time. My standards; my choice.

However, I think it would be justified to exercise some judgement about headlines. Something buried in the text of an article doesn't jump out at you, but a bright blue headline does. Occasionally, my eight-year old says, "Dad, let's see what's on Duckworks." No problem; its safe. However, if he had been with me when I checked it today, he'd have seen, "Cheap Bastard makes canoe paddles." Changing the "a" to a "@" doesn't change the meaning. I really don't want to have to tell him, "No son, not until I check it first."

Regards,

Tom Beck

As soon as we got this letter from Tom, we realized that we had made a mistake. The title has been changed and we will be more discreet in the future. - Chuck

Chuck

I wish you would offer the book "103 Sailing Rigs" by Phil Bolger. The Book is available secondhand on the web, however, it would be nice to find more Bolger books in
duckworks magazine.
Regards
Jacek

(Unfortunately, the book is out of print - Chuck)

I messed up last year - had lots of boats and motors left over to work on at the end of the season. I know better now, buy boats Oct - Jan and fix em and sell em before Labor day. I still have a couple to go - but at least there is a small light at the end of the tunnel! Jenny and I are taking a siesta in Panama early in September and when we get back my first stop will be the lumberyard! Until then I will savor every moment in anticipation of building the greatest boat since Noah's Ark, Ha!

Larry Pullon

Chuck and Sandra - -

you've heard it many times (and I've even said it myself once or twice) but you run the best dang site on the net. Thanks very much, and I look forward to being a member for a l-o-n-g time.

The idea of 1-2 new articles a day is a good one - hopefully when I get my Michalak jonboat done I will write a short article with pictures for the site, and even better, actually show up at a messabout one of these months! I am hoping the boat doesn't float too cock-eyed (I'm pretty sure it'll float, though it will certainly be a workboat in every sense of the word) - but even if it does, I'll chalk it up to "experience" as there has been plenty of that gained through this project!

Pete Leenhouts
Fairfax VA

Editors note: We are going to attempt to provide 1-2 new articles each day with links to them on our "New" page. Many of you already use this as your go-to page when you visit anyway. - Chuck -

Larry Pullon

Hi Chuck,
Thanks for the deckplate info. That helps, and the dimensions turn out nearly perfect. Damn, I'm good! (or as my foreman said... lucky). My sons & I are building the Micheal Storer designed Goat Island Skiff, and these will go into the face of the aft bulkhead, turning what had been merely a buoyancy chamber into add'l storage as well.

Also wanted to say how much I appreciate your adding the hardware to your product line. There are other sources... West Marine, et. al., but none have the same focus on the backyard boatbuilder/small boatyard that you seem to. Plus your prices are peachy. Hope you're maintaining sufficient markup to keep the chandlery afloat. Looking forward to my first issue of MAIB.

Keep up the good work,
David Graybeal
Portland, OR.

Hello Chuck and Sandra,
I want to thank you for the website you have created cause without it We might not have met some of the really nice people we met at the Rend Messabout... As this was my first messabout I want you to know We (my wife and I) really and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves..Although we got there late I was in heaven as I really do love wooden boats.. Would of stayed longer if I could have but the little lady was ready for home as we had other engaments on sunday. It was worth the 4 hr drive just to meet you and Sandra, Max, and the others.

I have almost completed the little jon-boat I am building and it has been a alot of fun and alot of learning for me. It was something I decided to do with some scrap lumber laying around after building my shed/workshop. As soon as I finish her I will send picures of it to you and will let you know how it does in the water as well.

As for the tools I'm using the tools my wife bought me for X-mas. The set of tools from black and decker came with tool cabinet and they have come in pretty handy building the boat. Especailly the cordless drill, the powered sander and jig saw. These have been a blessing on the boat and the shed I built... Especially as I'm not a carpenter. Well I best quit gabbing and again let me say we had a wonderful time even if we didn't get to see the boats being used due to the weather but wow it was great just the same... I liked your Sail boat as it was a really nifty little boat all in all. My wife liked the kayak /we both loved the skiff america as well as the AF4's there...It was great meeting you Chuck ahve a good day and good sailing... Sincerly, James and Sondra Dugger...

I noticed your comment about windshields in your messabout article. (Gracefully written as usual, by the way.) Clearly, you need some direction (as education is sometimes referred to) on this matter.

You will agree, on reflection, that what you are talking about is a sprayshield, not a windshield. No problems with the wind, just with the water. Here is the tricky point: you are the sprayshield. One of the important functions of crew is to 'take one for the team', i.e. stop the spray before it gets to the captain. This is especially true when the captain is your SO as well as your CO. In my experience, this duty is more willingly embraced during the engagement than during the subsequent marriage, but there it is.

In return, the SO/CO is obliged to equip you with the most fetching and attractive water-resistant gear on the market. Feel free to shop the Henri Lloyd racks and put it on his bill. He may argue that the Creator provided you with an even more attractive and even more water resistant skin, but you get to choose between natural and
synthetic, based on air and water temperatures.

Offered in the spirit of universal public education, which I know you support.

Peter Vanderwaart

Childhood trauma when I was attacked, has left me averse to centerboards. That is, I was attacked by the adolescent crew of the "Wood Pussy" who had been forced by their parents to take my twelve year old self aboard for a race at a Long Island club.

They said to me: "put down the centerboard." Not knowing what one was, and figuring if they asked me it could not be very important--I sat huddled in a sullen lump and awaited further instructions.

We suffered the ignominy of having to be towed home. Adolescents are not shy about venting their feelings. Ever since I have stubbornly resolved never to touch a centerboard--and this was long before I understood how centerboards stick and twist and splinter and the wells are a big hole in the hull which inevitably rots and leaks and lets just see you try to repaint the inside, &tc. The centerboard was a 19th Century innovation and not all new things are progress.

So. Any ideas?

Jock Yellott

My name is Ben Cook, a 29yr old psychology student plus a history buff for all things nautical and I reside on the Gold Coast, Australia. I have recently acquired a Klepper "Master" from an auction and am interested to know more about this amazing craft! As there are no folding kayak distributors in australia and all klepper websites are not really research minded, I was wondering if you could help me out. I was directed to your sight by a local wooden boat builder, and my dad who owns a maurice griffith eventide 26 footer (Windward), she's so lovely! The kayak in question seems to have it original klepper bags and buoyancy vest from sears and roebuck circa 1936, and a kapok cushion also from sears. It is fairly poor condition but I think has the original rubber skin as it is really detiorating in places. It has red ink on some of the ribs and the instructions 'vorne' (front in german) on some other pieces, also the number 473 also in red ink on the main rib. I would love to know more about the history of this klepper and am in contact with it's previous owners brother re its history. I would also love to restore it faithfully to its former glory and was wondering if any of your members had any experience in this field. I have contacted klepper in germany, but they have yet to return my email. I think it would be fascinating to uncover how it got to the gold coast, and possibly as a project to submit to your website.

yours truly
Ben Cook