Re: Black Gauntlet
I bought "The Folding Schooner" when it was published in 1976, and I
have always admired Blackgauntlet II, but what particularly appealed
was the Presto-style alternative lines drawing on page 73. It has
cleaner aesthetics, better sailing qualities, and higher expected value
retention. Everyone should read PCB's discussion in this chapter of
the choice between flat-bottom plywood and round-bottom (here, strip-
planked) construction. Plywood has fewer and larger pieces to
assemble, but an amateur can build strip a little at a time. In the
last thirty years, I suspect the costs of good plywood and professional
labor have gone up disproportionately, so that the arguments against
building in plywood to economize on labor cost are even stronger.
If you want a cheap boat, you must buy a used one in fiberglas. If you
want a professionally-built wooden boat, it is better to buy a used one
of good model than to order a new plywood box. If you want to build a
boat yourself, above the smallest size, think hard about investing your
labor and learning time in a more refined model.
-Peter Belenky
have always admired Blackgauntlet II, but what particularly appealed
was the Presto-style alternative lines drawing on page 73. It has
cleaner aesthetics, better sailing qualities, and higher expected value
retention. Everyone should read PCB's discussion in this chapter of
the choice between flat-bottom plywood and round-bottom (here, strip-
planked) construction. Plywood has fewer and larger pieces to
assemble, but an amateur can build strip a little at a time. In the
last thirty years, I suspect the costs of good plywood and professional
labor have gone up disproportionately, so that the arguments against
building in plywood to economize on labor cost are even stronger.
If you want a cheap boat, you must buy a used one in fiberglas. If you
want a professionally-built wooden boat, it is better to buy a used one
of good model than to order a new plywood box. If you want to build a
boat yourself, above the smallest size, think hard about investing your
labor and learning time in a more refined model.
-Peter Belenky
Going through some old files I came across a PDF document with the
complete write-up on Black GaunletII from Bolger's "The Folding
Schooner" - Chapter 12.
Any Bolgerista - half as crazy as me - about Bolger's write-ups,
should enjoy this article - which is actually the entire building
manual. It records the transition from Pointer, through Black
Skimmer and then Jesse Cooper - which was the break-through to
his "advanced sharpies", with their taller topsides and unstayed
masts with tabernacles etc.
Since the book is long out of print I feel the article has
significant historical information for those who may have just
recently become aware of his designs. Some of his ideas and
observations are still as useful today as they were then and others
ideas have evolved significantly, making the Black Guantlet design
somewhat dated, compared to later ones. But still it is an extremely
slippery looking boat!
It is a real pity that that many of his older books are out of print.
The article is at the cartoon group in the Black Gauntlet File.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BolgerCartoons/
Nels
complete write-up on Black GaunletII from Bolger's "The Folding
Schooner" - Chapter 12.
Any Bolgerista - half as crazy as me - about Bolger's write-ups,
should enjoy this article - which is actually the entire building
manual. It records the transition from Pointer, through Black
Skimmer and then Jesse Cooper - which was the break-through to
his "advanced sharpies", with their taller topsides and unstayed
masts with tabernacles etc.
Since the book is long out of print I feel the article has
significant historical information for those who may have just
recently become aware of his designs. Some of his ideas and
observations are still as useful today as they were then and others
ideas have evolved significantly, making the Black Guantlet design
somewhat dated, compared to later ones. But still it is an extremely
slippery looking boat!
It is a real pity that that many of his older books are out of print.
The article is at the cartoon group in the Black Gauntlet File.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BolgerCartoons/
Nels