Re: Gypsy almost done
Have fun wth your Gypsy. She's a great boat, and a convincing way to
refute those who say that taped-seam boats have to be ugly. Here's
my take on your questions, based on my limited experience building
one Gypsy a few years ago
1. The skeg is essential if you want to row her in a straight line
without complete concentration. I'd guess the depth is just about
right, but maybe only two feet long or so would be better?
2. Good idea. She's just a bit twitchy (agile, let's say), so it
can't hurt. I don't think you'd notice any difference unless you
were racing against an identical boat without the shoe.
3. Silcone works OK. More normal for bedding coamings is
polysulfide or old-time linseed-oil based bedding compound like
Dolphinite. I like the old stuff 'cause it doesn't smell bad.
Hope this helps.
Keith Wilson
refute those who say that taped-seam boats have to be ugly. Here's
my take on your questions, based on my limited experience building
one Gypsy a few years ago
1. The skeg is essential if you want to row her in a straight line
without complete concentration. I'd guess the depth is just about
right, but maybe only two feet long or so would be better?
2. Good idea. She's just a bit twitchy (agile, let's say), so it
can't hurt. I don't think you'd notice any difference unless you
were racing against an identical boat without the shoe.
3. Silcone works OK. More normal for bedding coamings is
polysulfide or old-time linseed-oil based bedding compound like
Dolphinite. I like the old stuff 'cause it doesn't smell bad.
Hope this helps.
Keith Wilson
--- In bolger@y..., aasman@y... wrote:
> Anyway, I do have a few questions maybe someone out there can help
me
> with.
> 1. I've read in earlier posts that a skeg is a good idea on a
gypsy.
> I've got a little leftover stick of fir about 42" long and 3-1/2
deep.
> Would that be an appropriate size?
> 2. Not only are the lakes hard here for half the year, but most
shores
> are hard all the time. The two times we put the boat in last year
left
> some pretty serious rock rash on the bottom. I'm thinking maybe a
keel
> shoe of 3/8 oak about 2-3" wide might give her some protection.
Would
> this degrade her sailing or rowing performance? Any other ideas or
> suggestions?
> 3. Any suggestions as to what I should use to seal the joint
between
> the varnished pine coaming and epoxied/painted fir ply deck? I was
> thinking something like silicone would be simple and expedient, but
is
> it good enough?
> be talking to you all again, I'm sure.
> regards, Al Aasman
Hello all.
Came across this group quite by accident the other day--who'd of
thought?...a dedicated Bolger group.
I live in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, which means the boat building
season is considerably longer than the boat sailing season. I had to
smile at John Bell's post earlier today about heading way up north in
BC to Chetwynd. That's a 2-day drive (1500 km) south of here! Anyway,
my Gypsy has become a not-so-instant boat over the winter, complete
with decks, coaming, etc.
Near the end of last October, right after the first coat of paint
dried, we dropped it into the little lake behind our place. We had
scrap ply seats, tyvek sail and various jury-rigged bits and pieces. As
I started to unfurl the paper and my wife attempted to drop the rudder
a little puff of wind came along that surged the little boat forward
and sent me ass over teakettle aft. We laughed, struggled to hold on
and eventually had things in order and moved very smartly the 2 or 3
kilometres to the other end of the lake. What a rush. The weather
turned cold and ten days later, we were walking on the lake. I've been
dreaming of sailing ever since. The lakes are just opening up this week
and I'm just about finished the boat. A bit more hardware to bolt down
and a boot stripe to paint.
Anyway, I do have a few questions maybe someone out there can help me
with.
1. I've read in earlier posts that a skeg is a good idea on a gypsy.
I've got a little leftover stick of fir about 42" long and 3-1/2 deep.
Would that be an appropriate size?
2. Not only are the lakes hard here for half the year, but most shores
are hard all the time. The two times we put the boat in last year left
some pretty serious rock rash on the bottom. I'm thinking maybe a keel
shoe of 3/8 oak about 2-3" wide might give her some protection. Would
this degrade her sailing or rowing performance? Any other ideas or
suggestions?
3. Any suggestions as to what I should use to seal the joint between
the varnished pine coaming and epoxied/painted fir ply deck? I was
thinking something like silicone would be simple and expedient, but is
it good enough?
be talking to you all again, I'm sure.
regards, Al Aasman
Came across this group quite by accident the other day--who'd of
thought?...a dedicated Bolger group.
I live in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, which means the boat building
season is considerably longer than the boat sailing season. I had to
smile at John Bell's post earlier today about heading way up north in
BC to Chetwynd. That's a 2-day drive (1500 km) south of here! Anyway,
my Gypsy has become a not-so-instant boat over the winter, complete
with decks, coaming, etc.
Near the end of last October, right after the first coat of paint
dried, we dropped it into the little lake behind our place. We had
scrap ply seats, tyvek sail and various jury-rigged bits and pieces. As
I started to unfurl the paper and my wife attempted to drop the rudder
a little puff of wind came along that surged the little boat forward
and sent me ass over teakettle aft. We laughed, struggled to hold on
and eventually had things in order and moved very smartly the 2 or 3
kilometres to the other end of the lake. What a rush. The weather
turned cold and ten days later, we were walking on the lake. I've been
dreaming of sailing ever since. The lakes are just opening up this week
and I'm just about finished the boat. A bit more hardware to bolt down
and a boot stripe to paint.
Anyway, I do have a few questions maybe someone out there can help me
with.
1. I've read in earlier posts that a skeg is a good idea on a gypsy.
I've got a little leftover stick of fir about 42" long and 3-1/2 deep.
Would that be an appropriate size?
2. Not only are the lakes hard here for half the year, but most shores
are hard all the time. The two times we put the boat in last year left
some pretty serious rock rash on the bottom. I'm thinking maybe a keel
shoe of 3/8 oak about 2-3" wide might give her some protection. Would
this degrade her sailing or rowing performance? Any other ideas or
suggestions?
3. Any suggestions as to what I should use to seal the joint between
the varnished pine coaming and epoxied/painted fir ply deck? I was
thinking something like silicone would be simple and expedient, but is
it good enough?
be talking to you all again, I'm sure.
regards, Al Aasman