Re: Taking the plunge . . .
Hi King,
"Escargot" is one of my favorites of all the homebuilt designs out in
the universe. Of course when I first saw the design I knew that that
man-powered propeller wasn't for me. This is not canal country like
France or Britain which I believe the designer meant to take advantage
of but nevertheless there are many opportunities of canal travel not
too far from here. I opted to build my "Hawkeye" for that purpose but
maybe "Escargot" would have been the better choice.
"Escargot" has to be one of the most romantic manifestations of the
homebuilders art. Best of luck with your canal "barge" if I may call
it that. If you are in the east you should most definitely make
yourself familiar with the Trent-Severn system of canals in Ontario,
Canada. If you wish I will loan you my "Trent-Severn Waterway Small
Craft Guide" or you could get your own from the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans, Ottawa, Canada.
"Escargot" is one of my favorites of all the homebuilt designs out in
the universe. Of course when I first saw the design I knew that that
man-powered propeller wasn't for me. This is not canal country like
France or Britain which I believe the designer meant to take advantage
of but nevertheless there are many opportunities of canal travel not
too far from here. I opted to build my "Hawkeye" for that purpose but
maybe "Escargot" would have been the better choice.
"Escargot" has to be one of the most romantic manifestations of the
homebuilders art. Best of luck with your canal "barge" if I may call
it that. If you are in the east you should most definitely make
yourself familiar with the Trent-Severn system of canals in Ontario,
Canada. If you wish I will loan you my "Trent-Severn Waterway Small
Craft Guide" or you could get your own from the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans, Ottawa, Canada.
--- In bolger@y..., king@c... wrote:
> I loved building my Escargot. Nice to be that involved in creating
> something.
>
> I didn't keep track of price... but after perhaps $900 on plywood
> alone... and all that epoxy... oh boy. Probably have $4000 to
$5000
> into boat with new outboard... new trailer. But I agree with the
> person who talks of spreading the cost out. Also... to get a boat
> such as this made by someone else would cost three to four times as
> much.
>
> And the only problem after all that.... is I learned a great deal.
> Well, that is great! But now I look at the boat and think... I wish
> I new THAT at the beginning.
>
> When you build your own boat... you will make mistakes. I made an
> error on the finishing of the boat... and didn't sand enough. Also
> learned that paint doesn't hide a thing. In fact, it highlights all
> imperfections! Next time I will sand for a few hundred hours more!
>
> The best thing about building this particular boat? My family loves
> it.
--- In bolger@y..., king@c... wrote:
That is the best part of all when you build your own pleasure
craft,you can give yourself an almost unlimited number of attempts to
get it all right!There really are so many lovely craft out there that
once you have built one,you just about cannot help yourself from
thinking about the next one.Of course the next one will be all the
better since you know(ha!) that you will not repeat the same errors
next time around.Fortunately,wooden boats have so many little bits and
pieces in them that you are almost assured of making mistakes
again(new ones,that is) and then taking all kinds of solemn oaths to
absolutely never make them again on......the next boat.And so begins a
wonderfull voyage of self-discovery and growth.The future becomes
ladened with great expectations for the next boat and our sleep is
rendered peaceful through happy dreams of high adventures undertaken
on the next boat.That all of this is possible through the efforts of
our own selves makes the whole thing that much richer and meaningful.
Some of my all time best memories were all provided through
experiences/adventures gathered while using a boat of my own
building.I cannot help but think that my quality of life has been
greatly enhanced through these experiences and that I am somehow(even
in the teeniest way) a better person for it all.Then again,maybe I am
just another hopeless romantic caught up in the evil web of the Peter
Pan syndrome and the high quality of my friendships is pure dumb
luck.Either way,I am most grateful for the efforts of our Hero,Phil
Bolger, and his sincere attempts at rendering designs for simple folk
to build and enjoy.I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China or all
the wine in France,for that matter!
But if I were rich,really rich,would I feel the same about my
little boats and simple pleasures?Would my bank manager or my
accountant be"good"people?Would my brand new acquisition(ooops!I mean
boat) really"do it" for me?Probably not.......but then again I
wouldn't care because I would be rich!Thus my constant efforts to
maintain my postion at just above the poverty line.To help ensure I do
not easily lose this hard won position,I build little boats to keep
the game fair,treat myself to GOOD wines and cherish the friendships I
have made because of my little boats.
I hope we all can find our own happiness in our choice of leisure
pursuits.......home-buildable-Bolger-boxes just happens to be mine
while I still have the health to help me along!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,coming out of a two day heatwave(and to think I used to
bi*ch about winter!) where temps soared into the very high 30s,ice
became a friend,water a lover and my crew kept the air-conditioner on
all night long,here on the shores of the St.Lawrence.............
> I loved building my Escargot. Nice to be that involved in creatingHi,
> something.
>
> When you build your own boat... you will make mistakes. I made an
> error on the finishing of the boat... and didn't sand enough. Also
> learned that paint doesn't hide a thing. In fact, it highlights all
> imperfections! Next time I will sand for a few hundred hours more!
>
> The best thing about building this particular boat? My family loves
> it.
That is the best part of all when you build your own pleasure
craft,you can give yourself an almost unlimited number of attempts to
get it all right!There really are so many lovely craft out there that
once you have built one,you just about cannot help yourself from
thinking about the next one.Of course the next one will be all the
better since you know(ha!) that you will not repeat the same errors
next time around.Fortunately,wooden boats have so many little bits and
pieces in them that you are almost assured of making mistakes
again(new ones,that is) and then taking all kinds of solemn oaths to
absolutely never make them again on......the next boat.And so begins a
wonderfull voyage of self-discovery and growth.The future becomes
ladened with great expectations for the next boat and our sleep is
rendered peaceful through happy dreams of high adventures undertaken
on the next boat.That all of this is possible through the efforts of
our own selves makes the whole thing that much richer and meaningful.
Some of my all time best memories were all provided through
experiences/adventures gathered while using a boat of my own
building.I cannot help but think that my quality of life has been
greatly enhanced through these experiences and that I am somehow(even
in the teeniest way) a better person for it all.Then again,maybe I am
just another hopeless romantic caught up in the evil web of the Peter
Pan syndrome and the high quality of my friendships is pure dumb
luck.Either way,I am most grateful for the efforts of our Hero,Phil
Bolger, and his sincere attempts at rendering designs for simple folk
to build and enjoy.I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China or all
the wine in France,for that matter!
But if I were rich,really rich,would I feel the same about my
little boats and simple pleasures?Would my bank manager or my
accountant be"good"people?Would my brand new acquisition(ooops!I mean
boat) really"do it" for me?Probably not.......but then again I
wouldn't care because I would be rich!Thus my constant efforts to
maintain my postion at just above the poverty line.To help ensure I do
not easily lose this hard won position,I build little boats to keep
the game fair,treat myself to GOOD wines and cherish the friendships I
have made because of my little boats.
I hope we all can find our own happiness in our choice of leisure
pursuits.......home-buildable-Bolger-boxes just happens to be mine
while I still have the health to help me along!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,coming out of a two day heatwave(and to think I used to
bi*ch about winter!) where temps soared into the very high 30s,ice
became a friend,water a lover and my crew kept the air-conditioner on
all night long,here on the shores of the St.Lawrence.............
I loved building my Escargot. Nice to be that involved in creating
something.
I didn't keep track of price... but after perhaps $900 on plywood
alone... and all that epoxy... oh boy. Probably have $4000 to $5000
into boat with new outboard... new trailer. But I agree with the
person who talks of spreading the cost out. Also... to get a boat
such as this made by someone else would cost three to four times as
much.
And the only problem after all that.... is I learned a great deal.
Well, that is great! But now I look at the boat and think... I wish
I new THAT at the beginning.
When you build your own boat... you will make mistakes. I made an
error on the finishing of the boat... and didn't sand enough. Also
learned that paint doesn't hide a thing. In fact, it highlights all
imperfections! Next time I will sand for a few hundred hours more!
The best thing about building this particular boat? My family loves
it.
something.
I didn't keep track of price... but after perhaps $900 on plywood
alone... and all that epoxy... oh boy. Probably have $4000 to $5000
into boat with new outboard... new trailer. But I agree with the
person who talks of spreading the cost out. Also... to get a boat
such as this made by someone else would cost three to four times as
much.
And the only problem after all that.... is I learned a great deal.
Well, that is great! But now I look at the boat and think... I wish
I new THAT at the beginning.
When you build your own boat... you will make mistakes. I made an
error on the finishing of the boat... and didn't sand enough. Also
learned that paint doesn't hide a thing. In fact, it highlights all
imperfections! Next time I will sand for a few hundred hours more!
The best thing about building this particular boat? My family loves
it.
Hi all,
Great exchange of views on the merits of plastic vs home-build!
I suspect that many of us (me f'rinstance) are really in it for the
BUILDING. The sailing is fun, but secondary, and probably not competitive.
'Serious' sailers are, of course, dedicated to racing around cans in
tasteless day-glo outfits and shouting at each other - or at least that's
how it looks from where I'm pottering.
So - is there any point in agonising whether to buy a used plastic boat?
For me, at least, ownership of such a thing would give me little
satisfaction or pride of ownership.
Just don't expect a home-built boat to hold its value. They're not greatly
in demand on the S/H market. Guys who want that kinda boat would usually
want to build their own.
Bill
Great exchange of views on the merits of plastic vs home-build!
I suspect that many of us (me f'rinstance) are really in it for the
BUILDING. The sailing is fun, but secondary, and probably not competitive.
'Serious' sailers are, of course, dedicated to racing around cans in
tasteless day-glo outfits and shouting at each other - or at least that's
how it looks from where I'm pottering.
So - is there any point in agonising whether to buy a used plastic boat?
For me, at least, ownership of such a thing would give me little
satisfaction or pride of ownership.
Just don't expect a home-built boat to hold its value. They're not greatly
in demand on the S/H market. Guys who want that kinda boat would usually
want to build their own.
Bill