Catfish Beach Cruiser

Has anyone had any experience building this fine looking boat? Any thoughts on construction/performance? Thanks.

Bolger rules!!!
- no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses
- pls take "personals" off-list, stay on topic, and punctuate
- add your comments at the TOP and SIGN your posts, snip all you like
- To order plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax: (978) 282-1349
- Unsubscribe:bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
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There are 25 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Lighten up!
From: "Samson Family"
2. Re: Epoxy misinformation
From:cadbury@...
3. Re: Lighten up!
From:staehpj1@...
4. Re: Lighten up!
From:cadbury@...
5. Re: Birth Announcement
From:garth@...
6. RE: Re: Lighten up!
From: "Chuck Leinweber"
7. Re: Lighten up!
From: "Lincoln Ross"

8. Gypsy skeg
From:raymcquin@...
9. Re: Lighten up!
From:richard@...
10. Re: Re: Lighten up!
From: "Jeff Blunck"
11. Re: Lighten up!
From:staehpj1@...
12. Re: Lighten up!
From:cadbury@...
13. Topaz owners?
From:wade@...
14. Re: Topaz owners?
From: "Jeff Blunck"
15. Re: dark epoxy.
From:richard@...
16. Re: Gypsy skeg
From:garth@...
17. Re: Re: dark epoxy.
From: "Jeff Blunck"
18. RE: Re: dark epoxy.
From: "Orr, Jamie"
19. Yawl
From: tom
20. Micro vs. Long Micro
From:loyseal1@...
21. Re: dark epoxy.
From: "Lincoln Ross"

22. Fall Messabout near Smokies... Who will come?
From:StepHydro@...
23. Re: Lighten up! / mixing brands?
From:djost@...
24. Re: Fall Messabout near Smokies... Who will come?
From:cadbury@...
25. Champlain messabout (2nd attempt, computer ate 1st)
From: "Lincoln Ross"



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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 11:03:12 +0100
From: "Samson Family"
Subject: Lighten up!

When I brouse this list, I do so for fun, pleasure and instruction. What I
do not like to see is an ongoing pissing contest between guys who, frankly,
should know better. Judging by other emails I've seen, I'm not alone in my
views, so would the guilty parties kindly take their insulting, nit-picking
behaviour off-line where it won't offend the rest of us?

Thanks,

Bill Samson



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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 12:06:12 -0000
From:cadbury@...
Subject: Re: Epoxy misinformation

>
>
> Where's the "darn fine product" comment, Max?
>
>

Message 13898, since you asked.







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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 12:20:07 -0000
From:staehpj1@...
Subject: Re: Lighten up!

Did I miss something?

Which thread(s) are you referring to? The epoxy one? I haven't seen
anything that was very out of line, in my opinion at least. I mean
it is ok to disagree right?

We do need to be civil to each other, but disagreeing is perfectly
acceptable.

Pete Staehling

PS: I'll apologise in advance if I missed something that was truly
offensive.

--- In bolger@y..., "Samson Family" wrote:
> When I brouse this list, I do so for fun, pleasure and
instruction. What I
> do not like to see is an ongoing pissing contest between guys who,
frankly,
> should know better. Judging by other emails I've seen, I'm not
alone in my
> views, so would the guilty parties kindly take their insulting, nit-
picking
> behaviour off-line where it won't offend the rest of us?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill Samson



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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 12:52:10 -0000
From:cadbury@...
Subject: Re: Lighten up!

--- In bolger@y..., staehpj1@h... wrote:
> Did I miss something?
>
> Which thread(s) are you referring to? The epoxy one? I haven't
seen
> anything that was very out of line, in my opinion at least. I mean
> it is ok to disagree right?
>
> We do need to be civil to each other, but disagreeing is perfectly
> acceptable.
>
> Pete Staehling
>
> PS: I'll apologise in advance if I missed something that was truly
> offensive.
>

Well, I'm having fun. although there are a few here how take
this all too seriously.

I ordered 3 gallons of Raka epoxy Friday morning, which is the brand
I have used before. If someone has independent proof that I would
be better off spending lots more money on Gougeon, I would love to
hear it. But quoting Gougeon literature is not "proof," and for
everyone who has used Gougeon and had good results, there is someone
who has used Raka and had equally good results. Same for bad
experiences. If this "proof" exists, I will change brands.
Otherwise, I am going to save the money. As of yet, no one
has offered any proof that one brand of epoxy is any "better"
than another.

As far as the discussion on epoxy saturation, the only coment I
made on that subject was that, on my next boat, IF I coat it with
epoxy, I will also use cloth. That was all I said on that subject.

Now I have Gougeon-lovers after me (but not offering any "proof")
and the epoxy-encapsulation proponets chasing me (and I wasn't
even involved in that!)

I wouldn't be so paranoid if everyone wasn't out to get me.


Max




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Message: 5
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 13:02:39 -0000
From:garth@...
Subject: Re: Birth Announcement

Roger --

Congratulations! It seems like only a few weeks ago that you posted
your first inquiries here and were thinking about building a Gypsy.
It's a beautiful boat -- wild color scheme, too. I think it's
expressive of the joy the boat will give you (and has already given
you).

Where did you get your sail? It looks very clean (as opposed to my
ill-shaped, inefficient, polytarp mess).

To the post that wondered about rowing Gypsy -- she's great under
oars -- really flies lightly along -- but you need to add a skeg,
otherwise you spend too much energy making little corrections to keep
her on track. All that rocker and the flared bilges -- she is quite
happy to turn circles on a dime.

Roger -- take her sailing and tell us what you think. Post more
photos, too, maybe to Bolger2 if Bolger is running low on space. I'd
like to see how you laid out the interior.

One last Gypsy note, while we're on it: I took mine up to
Cooperstown, NY last weekend to sail on Otsego Lake -- a little bit
of paradise in a long valley, with green pastures and red barns high
on the hillsides and beautiful clear water. Good sailing, good
swimming off the boat during calms. On the way home, through a long
desolate landlocked part of NY State, too far from decent sailing
waters, I stopped in a gas station, and a big bearded guy at a table
looks at the odd boat on my roof and says, What kind of boat is that?
I figure he's like most people who are a bit bewildered when
confronted by anything not in fiberglass, without a corporate logo on
the hull and sparkly paint, so I start with the usual simple
exlanation - "Oh, it's a homebuilt boat. The design is called
'Gypsy,' by a guy named Phil Bolger." And he says -- "Oh, I thought
so. Just wasn't sure because it was upside down. I've built quite a
few of those." A great moment. We spent a while talking boats -- he
knew a lot more than I do, and had built a lot more boats. He's about
to ask Phil B to do a commission for him -- a 53' shallow-draft
schooner! Bolger builders are everywhere -- and the world is a better
place for it.

All best,
Garth




> I would like to announce the birth of a Bolger gypsy. Pictures are
> posted at:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bolger2/files/Arkansas%20Gypsy/




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Message: 6
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 08:43:23 -0500
From: "Chuck Leinweber"
Subject: RE: Re: Lighten up!

> I ordered 3 gallons of Raka epoxy Friday morning, which is the brand
> I have used before. If someone has independent proof that I would
> be better off spending lots more money on Gougeon, I would love to
> hear it.
>
Good morning, Max:

I have used West, System Three, and Raka. The West was the only one that
ever blushed. Larry, at Raka, gives good service, and I can find no fault
in his product. I have built three boats with them.

Chuck



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Message: 7
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 13:57:22 -0000
From: "Lincoln Ross"

Subject: Re: Lighten up!

I've used Raka, and it does blush, though I seem to recall they also
offer a no blush version for more bux. Raka seems to behave just as
it's supposed to. In my experience the temperature and humidity at
time of application are what determine blushing. Epoxy put on when
it's a bit cool out ends up with a layer of slime on it (easily washed
off). On hot dry days, no slime.

Something I might want to explore in the future is a more heat
resistant epoxy, but that seems to limit my control of the cure (i.e.
adjust fast or slow depending on temperature), at least in the most
heat resistant case. I think in a lot of cases if we use colors on
deck that aren't light, it will soften the epoxy.

I've mucked around with some other brands of epoxy, and they all seem
similar, but I haven't used WEST yet. An exception is the System 3
Phase Two, which is weird stuff but seems to work as advertised. I
haven't carefully tested it's properties yet, though.
--- In bolger@y..., "Chuck Leinweber" wrote:
> > I ordered 3 gallons of Raka epoxy Friday morning, which is the
brand
> > I have used before. If someone has independent proof that I would
> > be better off spending lots more money on Gougeon, I would love to
> > hear it.
> >
> Good morning, Max:
>
> I have used West, System Three, and Raka. The West was the only one
that
> ever blushed. Larry, at Raka, gives good service, and I can find no
fault
> in his product. I have built three boats with them.
>
> Chuck



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Message: 8
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 13:59:36 -0000
From:raymcquin@...
Subject: Gypsy skeg

Garth,

What length and depth skeg have you used on Gypsy?

Thanks,
Ray


To the post that wondered about rowing Gypsy -- she's great under
oars -- really flies lightly along -- but you need to add a skeg,
otherwise you spend too much energy making little corrections to keep
her on track. All that rocker and the flared bilges -- she is quite
happy to turn circles on a dime.




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Message: 9
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 14:24:29 -0000
From:richard@...
Subject: Re: Lighten up!

Whatcha building Max?

--- In bolger@y..., cadbury@s... wrote:
>
> I ordered 3 gallons of Raka epoxy Friday morning, which is the brand
> I have used before. If someone has independent proof that I would
> be better off spending lots more money on Gougeon, I would love to
> hear it. But quoting Gougeon literature is not "proof," and for
> everyone who has used Gougeon and had good results, there is someone
> who has used Raka and had equally good results. Same for bad
> experiences. If this "proof" exists, I will change brands.
> Otherwise, I am going to save the money. As of yet, no one
> has offered any proof that one brand of epoxy is any "better"
> than another.
>
> As far as the discussion on epoxy saturation, the only coment I
> made on that subject was that, on my next boat, IF I coat it with
> epoxy, I will also use cloth. That was all I said on that subject.
>
> Now I have Gougeon-lovers after me (but not offering any "proof")
> and the epoxy-encapsulation proponets chasing me (and I wasn't
> even involved in that!)
>
> I wouldn't be so paranoid if everyone wasn't out to get me.
>
>
> Max



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Message: 10
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 08:30:29 -0600
From: "Jeff Blunck"
Subject: Re: Re: Lighten up!

I've used Raka for Frolic2 and now my Tennessee. I find it easy to work
with, thin enough to absorb nice, and very little if any blush. (which may
just a feature of our dry weather and low humidity) So far I've had no
problems and very economical.

Jeff

----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2001 6:52 AM
Subject: [bolger] Re: Lighten up!


> --- In bolger@y..., staehpj1@h... wrote:
> > Did I miss something?
> >
> > Which thread(s) are you referring to? The epoxy one? I haven't
> seen
> > anything that was very out of line, in my opinion at least. I mean
> > it is ok to disagree right?
> >
> > We do need to be civil to each other, but disagreeing is perfectly
> > acceptable.
> >
> > Pete Staehling
> >
> > PS: I'll apologise in advance if I missed something that was truly
> > offensive.
> >
>
> Well, I'm having fun. although there are a few here how take
> this all too seriously.
>
> I ordered 3 gallons of Raka epoxy Friday morning, which is the brand
> I have used before. If someone has independent proof that I would
> be better off spending lots more money on Gougeon, I would love to
> hear it. But quoting Gougeon literature is not "proof," and for
> everyone who has used Gougeon and had good results, there is someone
> who has used Raka and had equally good results. Same for bad
> experiences. If this "proof" exists, I will change brands.
> Otherwise, I am going to save the money. As of yet, no one
> has offered any proof that one brand of epoxy is any "better"
> than another.
>
> As far as the discussion on epoxy saturation, the only coment I
> made on that subject was that, on my next boat, IF I coat it with
> epoxy, I will also use cloth. That was all I said on that subject.
>
> Now I have Gougeon-lovers after me (but not offering any "proof")
> and the epoxy-encapsulation proponets chasing me (and I wasn't
> even involved in that!)
>
> I wouldn't be so paranoid if everyone wasn't out to get me.
>
>
> Max
>
>
>
>
> Bolger rules!!!
> - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses
> - pls take "personals" off-list, stay on topic, and punctuate
> - add your comments at the TOP and SIGN your posts, snip all you like
> - To order plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA,
01930, Fax: (978) 282-1349
> - Unsubscribe:bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject tohttp://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>



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Message: 11
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 14:31:32 -0000
From:staehpj1@...
Subject: Re: Lighten up!

--- In bolger@y..., "Lincoln Ross"
wrote:
> Something I might want to explore in the future is a more heat
> resistant epoxy, but that seems to limit my control of the cure
(i.e.
> adjust fast or slow depending on temperature), at least in the most
> heat resistant case. I think in a lot of cases if we use colors on
> deck that aren't light, it will soften the epoxy.

Is this a real problem that anyone has actually experienced? Or is
it just something that you suspect might happen? How bad is
the "softening" and in what ways will it affect the boat?

BTW: I have used both RAKA and West and found them to both work as
advertised. I have had some issues with slow or erratic curing with
West, but that was with a can that had been around for quite a few
years, so age was probably the problem.

Pete Staehling



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Message: 12
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 14:48:15 -0000
From:cadbury@...
Subject: Re: Lighten up!

--- In bolger@y..., richard@s... wrote:
> Whatcha building Max?
>
>
Looks like its Norm's boat. I liked that AF2, but 18 ft is
as long as I can build in my garage without putting a
bunch of stuff into storage. Plus, I have some old
1920's and '30s outboards with lots of polished bronze
castings that would look good sitting on the transom.

Have already recieved my order of bronze ringed nails
from Jamestown and the epoxy is coming from Raka.

I think I will just go with the BC pine as on my current
boat, and probably will not epoxy/glass anything except
the chines and other exposed edge grain. Latex primer
and gloss latex paint. Sail will be polytarp and it
will be a lug (Norm's boat has the option of a gaff.)

If I had your sail-trimming ability, I might try the
gaff. Maybe on the next one.

The "keel laying" should happen in about 3 weeks, and
completion to be in time for next June's Midwest messabout.

All the above assumes that my wife will give me permission.


Max



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Message: 13
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 14:50:46 -0000
From:wade@...
Subject: Topaz owners?

I wrote to Mr. Bolger asking how suitable the Tennesse would be for the Finger Lakes, with the occasional cautious foray into Lake Ontario.

He replied that Topaz would handle rough water better, and in general is a lot more boat for not a whole lot more effort.

Any Topaz builders out there?



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Message: 14
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 09:27:54 -0600
From: "Jeff Blunck"
Subject: Re: Topaz owners?

Check out DuckWorks Magazine, it has a several articles on building and
cruising on a Topaz.http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/

Jeff
----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2001 8:50 AM
Subject: [bolger] Topaz owners?


> I wrote to Mr. Bolger asking how suitable the Tennesse would be for the
Finger Lakes, with the occasional cautious foray into Lake Ontario.
>
> He replied that Topaz would handle rough water better, and in general is a
lot more boat for not a whole lot more effort.
>
> Any Topaz builders out there?
>
>
>
> Bolger rules!!!
> - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses
> - pls take "personals" off-list, stay on topic, and punctuate
> - add your comments at the TOP and SIGN your posts, snip all you like

=== message truncated ===


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