Re: New micro builder

"By the way, I don't know whether its
kosher to pinch someone elses colour scheme, but I'd love to copy
the boat in one of the storage files under Queensland Micro's, with
her tanbark sails, white bottom and decks, green sides.
Col"

Yes Col,

That boat you refer to was built by Ross Lillistone of Bayside Wooden
Boats up at Esk in QLD and I think that boat is in the Brisbane area.
It is called Cricket, I think

It does look good alright

Greg F

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Col" <cmoone11@...> wrote:
>
>
> Graeme,
> Yes that was Johns Micro, nice bloke and a nice boat. I'm with you,
> buildings half (or more) the fun, and even though it will cost me
> more, the bills are spread out. (false economy I know). I'm in no
> rush, I like tinkering downstairs when the time permits gradually
> moving towards the goal. By the way, I don't know whether its
> kosher to pinch someone elses colour scheme, but I'd love to copy
> the boat in one of the storage files under Queensland Micro's, with
> her tanbark sails, white bottom and decks, green sides.
> Col
>
> --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "graeme19121984" <graeme19121984@>
> wrote:
> >
> > --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Col" <cmoone11@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Graeme,
> > > Sounds like you've got all the expensive bits for a rebuild - a
> > hull
> > > without the keel can be built over a period of time with
> > relatively
> > > little outlay each month. On the other hand, if the hull is
> solid
> > > its marvellous what a bit of epoxy and fibreglass can do. A few
> > > strategically placed drill holes into the keel batten and other
> > > structural parts would soon reveal any rot, and then filled
> after.
> >
> > That's true Col, but maintenance doesn't seem as interesting as
> > building new, it's not as easy to warm to, but it could be the way
> > to go , but, but...
> >
> > >
> > > I've just resisted a tempting offer to buy a Micro located in
> > > Sydney.
> >
> > That wouild be John's, no? Very tempting indeed, and an awesome
> > effort to resist - there was/is a peturbation in the force felt as
> > far as here in Bolgerdom, just a fact.
> >
> > >
> > >Apart from the fact that I didn't have the cash, I really
> > > enjoy the building process and seeing the boat come together.
> And
> > > what would I have done with my bulkheads and mast? I try to do
> a
> > > little every day on her - time isn't an issue. (I may end up
> with
> > > the record for the slowest build on this list) Today I marked
> the
> > > notches in bulkheads C & D and the aft frame piece on B ready
> to
> > > cut out.
> >
> > Way to go!
> >
> > Graeme
> >
>

Graeme,
Yes that was Johns Micro, nice bloke and a nice boat. I'm with you,
buildings half (or more) the fun, and even though it will cost me
more, the bills are spread out. (false economy I know). I'm in no
rush, I like tinkering downstairs when the time permits gradually
moving towards the goal. By the way, I don't know whether its
kosher to pinch someone elses colour scheme, but I'd love to copy
the boat in one of the storage files under Queensland Micro's, with
her tanbark sails, white bottom and decks, green sides.
Col

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "graeme19121984" <graeme19121984@...>
wrote:

>
> --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Col" <cmoone11@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Graeme,
> > Sounds like you've got all the expensive bits for a rebuild - a
> hull
> > without the keel can be built over a period of time with
> relatively
> > little outlay each month. On the other hand, if the hull is

solid

> > its marvellous what a bit of epoxy and fibreglass can do. A few
> > strategically placed drill holes into the keel batten and other
> > structural parts would soon reveal any rot, and then filled

after.

>
> That's true Col, but maintenance doesn't seem as interesting as
> building new, it's not as easy to warm to, but it could be the way
> to go , but, but...
>
> >
> > I've just resisted a tempting offer to buy a Micro located in
> > Sydney.
>
> That wouild be John's, no? Very tempting indeed, and an awesome
> effort to resist - there was/is a peturbation in the force felt as
> far as here in Bolgerdom, just a fact.
>
> >
> >Apart from the fact that I didn't have the cash, I really
> > enjoy the building process and seeing the boat come together.

And

> > what would I have done with my bulkheads and mast? I try to do

a

> > little every day on her - time isn't an issue. (I may end up

with

> > the record for the slowest build on this list) Today I marked

the

> > notches in bulkheads C & D and the aft frame piece on B ready

to

> > cut out.
>
> Way to go!
>
> Graeme
>

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Col" <cmoone11@...> wrote:

>
> Hi Graeme,
> Sounds like you've got all the expensive bits for a rebuild - a

hull

> without the keel can be built over a period of time with

relatively

> little outlay each month. On the other hand, if the hull is solid
> its marvellous what a bit of epoxy and fibreglass can do. A few
> strategically placed drill holes into the keel batten and other
> structural parts would soon reveal any rot, and then filled after.

That's true Col, but maintenance doesn't seem as interesting as
building new, it's not as easy to warm to, but it could be the way
to go , but, but...

>
> I've just resisted a tempting offer to buy a Micro located in
> Sydney.

That wouild be John's, no? Very tempting indeed, and an awesome
effort to resist - there was/is a peturbation in the force felt as
far as here in Bolgerdom, just a fact.

>
>Apart from the fact that I didn't have the cash, I really
> enjoy the building process and seeing the boat come together. And
> what would I have done with my bulkheads and mast? I try to do a
> little every day on her - time isn't an issue. (I may end up with
> the record for the slowest build on this list) Today I marked the
> notches in bulkheads C & D and the aft frame piece on B ready to
> cut out.

Way to go!

Graeme

Hi Graeme,
Sounds like you've got all the expensive bits for a rebuild - a hull
without the keel can be built over a period of time with relatively
little outlay each month. On the other hand, if the hull is solid
its marvellous what a bit of epoxy and fibreglass can do. A few
strategically placed drill holes into the keel batten and other
structural parts would soon reveal any rot, and then filled after.

I've just resisted a tempting offer to buy a Micro located in
Sydney. Apart from the fact that I didn't have the cash, I really
enjoy the building process and seeing the boat come together. And
what would I have done with my bulkheads and mast? I try to do a
little every day on her - time isn't an issue. (I may end up with
the record for the slowest build on this list) Today I marked the
notches in bulkheads C & D and the aft frame piece on B ready to
cut out.

Cheers,

Col

>
>
> Hi Col,
>
> sorry for the delayed response - My Micro was built in the early
> 90's by a QPS instructing sergant at the Qld Police Academy at
> Oxley, or so I was told. This guy built a number, maybe four or

six,

> in a few short years for himself and relatives. I was told he
> swapped mine to a nephew for a big outboard motor. The nephew

never

> wet her. I bought it a few years ago from an elderly couple who

had

> had her for some time. They were getting on and trailer sailing

was

> becoming too much for them - I don't think they actually used the
> Micro very much in the time they had her - they showed me photos

of

> a lovely gaff rigged trailer sailer they had once built and fondly
> remembered. The Micro got a little rot in the bow quarter over the
> years from how it was stored in their shed with its nose poking
> outside.
>
> I was about to send off for the plans and then very likely to

build

> a Micro when I saw their sale ad in the trading post. Very unusal

to

> see a Bolger boat for sale here. I thought I might try one for
> cheaper than building one, and then, if I liked, perhaps to build
> one and sell off the other...
>
> This one requires a bit of work I've found to bring it to plan,

and

> there's overdue maintenance, of the sanding and painting kind. I
> think she's built from good quality ply etc, BUT I am concerned by
> those bits I can't see or tap on - I wouldn't want to do her up

and

> then shortly find a serious flaw in the keel, say. There's the age
> and any exposure of the glue to consider too.
>
> In hindsight I should not have bought, but just gone ahead and
> built. I calculated the cost of building new to completion,
> including everything - motor, sails, modified trailer etc. - to be
> around AUD6000 or so IIRC. I dont want to just scrap this one and
> take the finacial loss (though I'm philosophical about it, and

have

> learnt a lot - it's how you get wisdom I guess). It's occurred to

me

> last week that that I could strip everything from this one -
> trailer, sails, masts, motor - and use them on a newly built hull,
> maybe a Micro II. Then, when I can get hold of an X-ray, or radar
> gadget to check the internals of the old one, do it up. It maybe

the

> start of a plan..., and I would get an essentially new Micro on

the

> water for possibly a bit less than I originally calculated.
>
> One problem with this proto-plan though is that I've still got
> Cabbie's blue and yellow AS19 pictured on my desktop! Longest ever
> Bolger boat there... now beating Anhinga... I like that boat...
>
> Cheers
> Graeme
>
>
>
>
> --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Col" <cmoone11@> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks Graeme,
> > Yeah I know, a last minute sail might take a bit of energy with
> even
> > a Micro, but my current trailer sailor takes me an hour to set

up

> > and a little less to get back on the trailer, so anythings a

bonus!

> >
> > Whats the history of your Micro? Do you know when it was

built?

> I
> > knew a guy at New Farm (Brisbane)who built one around 10 years
> ago,
> > can't remember his name.
> >
> > By the way I couldn't open your links, will see if theres

another

> > way to do it.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Col
>

Hi Col,

sorry for the delayed response - My Micro was built in the early
90's by a QPS instructing sergant at the Qld Police Academy at
Oxley, or so I was told. This guy built a number, maybe four or six,
in a few short years for himself and relatives. I was told he
swapped mine to a nephew for a big outboard motor. The nephew never
wet her. I bought it a few years ago from an elderly couple who had
had her for some time. They were getting on and trailer sailing was
becoming too much for them - I don't think they actually used the
Micro very much in the time they had her - they showed me photos of
a lovely gaff rigged trailer sailer they had once built and fondly
remembered. The Micro got a little rot in the bow quarter over the
years from how it was stored in their shed with its nose poking
outside.

I was about to send off for the plans and then very likely to build
a Micro when I saw their sale ad in the trading post. Very unusal to
see a Bolger boat for sale here. I thought I might try one for
cheaper than building one, and then, if I liked, perhaps to build
one and sell off the other...

This one requires a bit of work I've found to bring it to plan, and
there's overdue maintenance, of the sanding and painting kind. I
think she's built from good quality ply etc, BUT I am concerned by
those bits I can't see or tap on - I wouldn't want to do her up and
then shortly find a serious flaw in the keel, say. There's the age
and any exposure of the glue to consider too.

In hindsight I should not have bought, but just gone ahead and
built. I calculated the cost of building new to completion,
including everything - motor, sails, modified trailer etc. - to be
around AUD6000 or so IIRC. I dont want to just scrap this one and
take the finacial loss (though I'm philosophical about it, and have
learnt a lot - it's how you get wisdom I guess). It's occurred to me
last week that that I could strip everything from this one -
trailer, sails, masts, motor - and use them on a newly built hull,
maybe a Micro II. Then, when I can get hold of an X-ray, or radar
gadget to check the internals of the old one, do it up. It maybe the
start of a plan..., and I would get an essentially new Micro on the
water for possibly a bit less than I originally calculated.

One problem with this proto-plan though is that I've still got
Cabbie's blue and yellow AS19 pictured on my desktop! Longest ever
Bolger boat there... now beating Anhinga... I like that boat...

Cheers
Graeme

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Col" <cmoone11@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Thanks Graeme,
> Yeah I know, a last minute sail might take a bit of energy with
even
> a Micro, but my current trailer sailor takes me an hour to set up
> and a little less to get back on the trailer, so anythings a bonus!
>
> Whats the history of your Micro? Do you know when it was built?
I
> knew a guy at New Farm (Brisbane)who built one around 10 years
ago,
> can't remember his name.
>
> By the way I couldn't open your links, will see if theres another
> way to do it.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Col

OK, thanks for that clarrification Peter.

My old Micro doesn't have a fid shelf then. It has a fid, and the mast
is lashed to it by a stout, short length of rope - this does work, but
I think the designed set-up would be better. I don't know why that
design was not adapted to the non-standard pipe mast <shrugs>.

Graeme

--- In bolger@yahoogroups.com, "Peter Lenihan" <peterlenihan@...> wrote:
>
> --- In bolger@yahoogroups.com, "graeme19121984" <graeme19121984@>
> wrote:
> > Mine is not quite standard either (what's a fid shelf???).

> Click here and scroll down a bit to the 5th picture,the fid shelf
> is the athwartship member just aft of the mast which drops into a
> slot and keeps the mainmast upright.The forward cross piece is the
> fid.
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bolger/files/Micro/Lenihans%27%20%20%
> 22LESTAT%22%20/

Thanks Graeme,
Yeah I know, a last minute sail might take a bit of energy with even
a Micro, but my current trailer sailor takes me an hour to set up
and a little less to get back on the trailer, so anythings a bonus!

Whats the history of your Micro? Do you know when it was built? I
knew a guy at New Farm (Brisbane)who built one around 10 years ago,
can't remember his name.

By the way I couldn't open your links, will see if theres another
way to do it.

Cheers,

Col


--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "graeme19121984" <graeme19121984@...>
wrote:

>
> Col,
>
> I'd like to help you out as I'm in the area, but mine is not

sailable

> (nor saleable) at the moment. She sits under cover waiting for her
> owner to learn enough to judge whether it's worthwhile to fix her

up.

> (I really should have just built instead of buying one to try!)
>
> Mine is not quite standard either (what's a fid shelf???). Of

rough and

> ready construction, aluminium pipe masts (good), hanked-on sails

(not

> so good (what ever possessed the sailmaker to try that?), and some
> internals left out.
>
> As far as head-scratching building bits are concerned, IMHO
> accommodating the keel on the trailer would have to be one of

those.

>
> As far as afternoon sailing on an impulse, unless the boat is on a
> mooring that won't happen often. Micro takes a bit too much time

to rig

> and launch for that - probably more than a Martha Jane on a

trailer. Of

> course some have used a sailplan on Micro too that's quicker to

set up:

>
> Shorty Pen had a balanced lug main in a tabernacle on his Micro:
>http://www.shortypen.com/xboat/micro.jpgLike on his Martha Jane:
>http://www.shortypen.com/xboat/marthaj1.jpg( All Shorty's

boats:

>http://www.shortypen.com/xboat/) Jason Stancil did away with

the

> mizzen and had a larger balanced lug set from a tabernacled mast
> relocated near centrally over the cabin (Jason did away with the
> salient keel too!)
>
> Graeme
>
>
>
> --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Col" <cmoone11@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > I built the bulkheads and mast for a Micro several years ago and
> > stored them away when things got busy. I've now restarted the

project

> > and was wondering if there are any Micro owners in the
> > Brisbane/Sunshine Coast area that might be kind enough to let me

come

> > on board for a sail?
> >
> > Many thanks,
> >
> > Col
> >
>

Thanks Pete,
Nice shot, I'd seen your photo before but the penny just dropped on
how it actually works.
thanks,
Col

--- In bolger@yahoogroups.com, "Peter Lenihan" <peterlenihan@...>
wrote:

>
> --- In bolger@yahoogroups.com, "graeme19121984" <graeme19121984@>
> wrote:
> > Mine is not quite standard either (what's a fid shelf???).
>
> graeme19121984 and Col,
>
> Click here and scroll down a bit to the 5th picture,the fid

shelf

> is the athwartship member just aft of the mast which drops into a
> slot and keeps the mainmast upright.The forward cross piece is the
> fid.
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bolger/files/Micro/Lenihans%27%20%20%
> 22LESTAT%22%20/
>
> if the link won't work,just go into the files section and look in
> the MICRO file,Lenihans' LESTAT folder, 5th pic down.»lso a

picture

> in there of the main companionway hatch set-up.
> Enjoy!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Peter Lenihan
>

--- In bolger@yahoogroups.com, "graeme19121984" <graeme19121984@...>
wrote:

> Mine is not quite standard either (what's a fid shelf???).

graeme19121984 and Col,

Click here and scroll down a bit to the 5th picture,the fid shelf
is the athwartship member just aft of the mast which drops into a
slot and keeps the mainmast upright.The forward cross piece is the
fid.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bolger/files/Micro/Lenihans%27%20%20%
22LESTAT%22%20/

if the link won't work,just go into the files section and look in
the MICRO file,Lenihans' LESTAT folder, 5th pic down.»lso a picture
in there of the main companionway hatch set-up.
Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Peter Lenihan

> Mighty Micro ... well worth your efforts

I ditto Peter, and add that the best thing about Micro is that it is
small enough to be achievable, yet big enough to meet 99% of your
'needs'.

I say this in context, whew, just off a weekend of
sanding/sanding/sanding acres fiberglass on a 31 foot long Topaz
project. A 15'4' boat seems like a walk in the park in comparison.
On the bright side, I think I am finally learning how to be more
efficient.

Col,

I'd like to help you out as I'm in the area, but mine is not sailable
(nor saleable) at the moment. She sits under cover waiting for her
owner to learn enough to judge whether it's worthwhile to fix her up.
(I really should have just built instead of buying one to try!)

Mine is not quite standard either (what's a fid shelf???). Of rough and
ready construction, aluminium pipe masts (good), hanked-on sails (not
so good (what ever possessed the sailmaker to try that?), and some
internals left out.

As far as head-scratching building bits are concerned, IMHO
accommodating the keel on the trailer would have to be one of those.

As far as afternoon sailing on an impulse, unless the boat is on a
mooring that won't happen often. Micro takes a bit too much time to rig
and launch for that - probably more than a Martha Jane on a trailer. Of
course some have used a sailplan on Micro too that's quicker to set up:

Shorty Pen had a balanced lug main in a tabernacle on his Micro:
http://www.shortypen.com/xboat/micro.jpgLike on his Martha Jane:
http://www.shortypen.com/xboat/marthaj1.jpg( All Shorty's boats:
http://www.shortypen.com/xboat/) Jason Stancil did away with the
mizzen and had a larger balanced lug set from a tabernacled mast
relocated near centrally over the cabin (Jason did away with the
salient keel too!)

Graeme

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Col" <cmoone11@...> wrote:
>
>
> I built the bulkheads and mast for a Micro several years ago and
> stored them away when things got busy. I've now restarted the project
> and was wondering if there are any Micro owners in the
> Brisbane/Sunshine Coast area that might be kind enough to let me come
> on board for a sail?
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Col
>

Hi Pete,
No doubts at all, it would just be nice to see in the flesh what
I've been visualising in the plans all these years. I've had the
idea of changing course and building Martha Jane gnawing away at me
for a while now, but I've put that behind me once and for all based
on both cost, and the energy required to launch, sail and retrieve
single handed for an afternoon sail.
I've collected quite a mass of photos over the years, from as far
back as Pippo, Rob Feaney, David Jost and of course yourself. I
definitely think its time I saw a Micro in the flesh. I'd also like
to take some snaps of some of the tricky building bits like the fid
shelf and the hatch setup. Oh and yes, I'd love to be out sailing
one in 15 knots to see what you're all raving about!

Cheers,
Col


--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Peter Lenihan" <peterlenihan@...>
wrote:

>
> --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Col" <cmoone11@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > I built the bulkheads and mast for a Micro several years ago and
> > stored them away when things got busy. I've now restarted the
> project
> > and was wondering if there are any Micro owners in the
> > Brisbane/Sunshine Coast area that might be kind enough to let me
> come
> > on board for a sail?
> >
> > Many thanks,
> >
> > Col
>
>
> Need a sailing fix or just having doubts Col ? :-) Never fear! The
> Mighty Micro will be a pleasure to sail and well worth your

efforts

> to finish and launch your very own Queen of the Fleet! Super
> stable,fully self righting,can be made to steer herself,roomy

enough

> to haul gallons of"supplies" and the ice for said supplies,can be
> slept on completely protected from the elements,excellent reefing
> options for a nice range of winds,trailerable and very storable
> right in your own yard or garage, guarenteed show stopper and

crowd

> pleaser.Not too shabby eh? Hard to imagine a better use of 14

sheets

> of plywood, I dare say :-D
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Peter Lenihan, feeling just a wee bit nostalgic for Lestat, as yet
> another winter lays her frozen hands on the land.........
>

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Col" <cmoone11@...> wrote:

>
>
> I built the bulkheads and mast for a Micro several years ago and
> stored them away when things got busy. I've now restarted the

project

> and was wondering if there are any Micro owners in the
> Brisbane/Sunshine Coast area that might be kind enough to let me

come

> on board for a sail?
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Col

Need a sailing fix or just having doubts Col ? :-) Never fear! The
Mighty Micro will be a pleasure to sail and well worth your efforts
to finish and launch your very own Queen of the Fleet! Super
stable,fully self righting,can be made to steer herself,roomy enough
to haul gallons of"supplies" and the ice for said supplies,can be
slept on completely protected from the elements,excellent reefing
options for a nice range of winds,trailerable and very storable
right in your own yard or garage, guarenteed show stopper and crowd
pleaser.Not too shabby eh? Hard to imagine a better use of 14 sheets
of plywood, I dare say :-D

Sincerely,

Peter Lenihan, feeling just a wee bit nostalgic for Lestat, as yet
another winter lays her frozen hands on the land.........

I built the bulkheads and mast for a Micro several years ago and
stored them away when things got busy. I've now restarted the project
and was wondering if there are any Micro owners in the
Brisbane/Sunshine Coast area that might be kind enough to let me come
on board for a sail?

Many thanks,

Col