Re: [bolger] Spars - Paint or varnish? - also 'f-----g artists'

I'd go for varnish every time - Contrary to what you might expect, paint
shows up flaws and irregularities MUCH more than varnish does. So - you win
both ways with varnish - people think you're brave to have used it - a real
craftsman - AND you can get away with a lot more!

On the subject of the WB article on SNAME, PE quals and so on - Nobody in
their right mind is gonna sue a boat designer - They're all as poor as
church mice. The boatbuilder is a much juicier target. Also - what builder
ever followed the design to the letter? What owner ever used the boat
precisely as specified? These variations let the designer off the hook very
nicely, I suspect. So is this all just a puff of righteous indignation,
soon to be forgotten?

Personally, I'll continue to build boats designed by 'amateurs and looneys',
as the SNAME supporter called them, to say nothing of 'f-----g artists' .
Much more interesting people, and designs in my view.

Talking of which, has anybody out there ever come across ANY small craft
design by Andy Davis ( - the guy who badmouths dead designers -), never mind
an interesting design? I bet Davis can hardly wait until PCB shuffles off
this mortal coil, so he can write an article badmouthing his designs with no
chance of retaliation.

Bill