Spring Launch !!
It Finally happened! I cartopped my Light Dory around the corner to
our creek (Beaver Dam Creek, on northern Barnegat Bay) for a quick
christening ceremony ( my friend Tom said a few words and christened
the boat "OLD BAY", I splashed a little Heineken on the bow)followed
by a short row on the creek ( the wind was really honkin' and I had
to
get back to the weekend "honey do" list, so it was kept short out of
necessity). The boat was a joy to row and to build. I bought Payson's
"How to Build the Light Dory" and went from there, modifying the
plans
for stitch and glue construction. The worst part was any time I had
to
do alot of sanding, which was often. The good part was that the boat
went together so fast and so easily that I always felt a sense of
"instant gratification" or accomplishment anytime I worked on it.
Also
the boat is so damned pretty with that Light Dory sheer and flare
that
you can't help but stand back and admire! I started in the first week
in November and had the boat assembled in the first weekend, then
spent the winter working on finishing the boat out for a spring
launch. My loose estimate of building expenses came to about $350.
When winter finally hit in NJ my unheated one car garage became
unfriendly to boatbuilding so I backed off for about 2 months until
it
warmed up a bit out there. I'd say total building time was about 2
1/2
months of weekends and a few evenings here and there, I was taking my
time since there was no rush after all, spring doesn't usually hit
the
Jersey shore till mid March. Now that the boat is done I'll finish
her
out with bow and stern hardware so I can tie her up alongside my
Dovekie at our dock, a bungee cord arrangement under the rowing seat
to stow life jacket, bailer and sponge, and last but not least a rod
holder so I can troll a line behind while I row and maybe pick up a
weakie, striper or blue on one of my trips down behind Island Beach
State Park.
Faire Winds,
Jake Millar
our creek (Beaver Dam Creek, on northern Barnegat Bay) for a quick
christening ceremony ( my friend Tom said a few words and christened
the boat "OLD BAY", I splashed a little Heineken on the bow)followed
by a short row on the creek ( the wind was really honkin' and I had
to
get back to the weekend "honey do" list, so it was kept short out of
necessity). The boat was a joy to row and to build. I bought Payson's
"How to Build the Light Dory" and went from there, modifying the
plans
for stitch and glue construction. The worst part was any time I had
to
do alot of sanding, which was often. The good part was that the boat
went together so fast and so easily that I always felt a sense of
"instant gratification" or accomplishment anytime I worked on it.
Also
the boat is so damned pretty with that Light Dory sheer and flare
that
you can't help but stand back and admire! I started in the first week
in November and had the boat assembled in the first weekend, then
spent the winter working on finishing the boat out for a spring
launch. My loose estimate of building expenses came to about $350.
When winter finally hit in NJ my unheated one car garage became
unfriendly to boatbuilding so I backed off for about 2 months until
it
warmed up a bit out there. I'd say total building time was about 2
1/2
months of weekends and a few evenings here and there, I was taking my
time since there was no rush after all, spring doesn't usually hit
the
Jersey shore till mid March. Now that the boat is done I'll finish
her
out with bow and stern hardware so I can tie her up alongside my
Dovekie at our dock, a bungee cord arrangement under the rowing seat
to stow life jacket, bailer and sponge, and last but not least a rod
holder so I can troll a line behind while I row and maybe pick up a
weakie, striper or blue on one of my trips down behind Island Beach
State Park.
Faire Winds,
Jake Millar