Plenty to Do...

There are still 3 or 4 weeks until my kit arrives.  This will give the chance to focus on the organization and cleaning of the shop...er....shipyard and button up a couple of ongoing projects.  The cleaning and organization is a huge job.  I have been a bit messy and disorganized for too many years.  This should occupy 3 weeks nicely.

One important factor, well maybe the most important factors at this point is, "will the boat fit in my shop AND be able to be removed from the premises when completed?"

The answer to both of these is yes!  Not only yes but with a lot of room to spare after a bit of moving of machines and work benches.  The shop is air-conditioned and insulated.  It never has been cold enough in the winter to turn the heat on.   Epoxy will kick in the dead of winter in standard epoxy time without artificial heat.

Another task that I have found that can be a bit of a challenge is finding enough lead ballast for the keel and centerboard.  If I understand correctly from the bloggers (my manual is due in sometime this week) I need 150 pounds of lead.  So far I have found about 20 pounds laying around the shop.  Turns out car wheel weights are a popular source.  I just bought a set of Michelins, hope the guy remembers me.

If I run out of things to do in the wait for the kit I did see the dimensions on of the tiller.  I could laminate some wood and knock that out before the kit arrives...or build the cabinet my wife wants.

The Start

After seeing the PocketShip in the Chesapeake Light Craft catalogue when it first appeared around 2008, it has always been in the back of my mind to someday build one.  Lately I have been pouring over the numerous blogs on the building processes and stories.  The consensus has been from the blog authors is, beautifully written instructions, acurate plans, great support from CLC and a joy to sail.

My background comes from a sailing family.  Before I was born my parents won the International Highlander Championship in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.  My dad built sailboats, race cars, airplanes (model and full size) and anything else that moved. I spent many hours learning building technics from him.

I grew up sailing as a kid and spent my summers "inside the rocks" sailing my family's Sunfish on the Corpus Christi Bay.  I was not allowed to sail alone until I weighed 80 pounds.  Since then I have blown past the 80 pound barrier quite proficiently.  It has been many years since I have sailed. Recently I went for a sailboat ride at the local Wednesday night races (see photo).  I forgot how exhilarating sailing is.  I live on the Texas coast and need to take advantage of my surroundings...the water!

Photo I took aboard "Stupid Monkey".

I have built a couple of kayaks and learned a lot about fiberglass, epoxy and mostly about tedious sanding in their construction.  I found I liked building them more than paddling them, but sailing is much different from paddling. Time to build a Sailboat.

On June 23, 2014, the eve on my wife's birthday, my kit order for my PocketShip has been placed  and confirmed.  It is official, I am building a sailboat!

It will be about 4 weeks until my kit arrives so in the mean time shop clean up, organization, unfinished project completion and did I mention shop clean up will give me plenty to do.