Teddy B got dunked

[Pat McL]

   Well guys, it has been a long time in coming, exactly 1 year to the day from the start of the restoration project. Suzy and I took Teddy B to Hickory Point Park in Tavares, Fla where with the deep water ramps we launched. Did she ever look good! Sails like a dream, even with the very used original sails. (Of course, we put the wear on by ourselves between 1976 when we bought her, and 1989 when life, our own business, and 7 kids --try sailing a 16/1 with that crowd-- kind of cramped our style). So we neglected her. The rebuild is done. What is this assumed pointing problem?
   A very pleasant surprise was our '77 40-Plus British Seagull engine. It has been run once since the early eighties, and then neglected along with the boat. It started on the very 1st pull and happily putted along as if it was new. Really funky looking, but a real power house.
   Built a mast gallows out of extra T1 aluminum left over from a repair to my HF ham tri-band antennae. (Cut it with my lawn tractor after lowering it for Hurricane Charlie, but that is another somewhat embarrassing story). Mounted the gallows on the back of the rudder, and it pivots with the mast down allowing us to steer with the mast down. Will stick my little US flag in the tube while under sail as proper yachting dudes should.
   I uploaded some pics on the gallery site. Would have placed some here, but I don't know how yet. I want to thank all, Marcus, Kevin, Gil et al, for the help and motivation that is here on this forum. Had I not seen your projects and pics, this project would have not yet been started. Will be sailing again next Fri, weather permitting. (Customers will just have to get by for a day on their own). Going ahead to our past and sailing again.

---- Pat

[B.Hart]

Welcome back to the world of sailing! Hickory point and lake harris is my wife and my favorite sailing spot. Hope to see you on the lake.

[davestlouis]

I have 7 kids too, but the 16 is all that wil fit in my garage and only 4 of them seem interested in sailing, so it works for us.  Congrats on getting the Teddy B wet again, have fun!

[mgoller]

Pat,
Awesome story.  I agree about the pointing.  When did that myth start?  Boats that point more than ours come with a price and are not typically fit for daysailing and picnic-ing.  Sailing boats are always a design compromise - give and take.  You don't go four-wheeling in a Ferrari, and you don't race from Chicago to Macinaw in a skiff (well maybe).
Get your pictures loaded on a computer and into a file you have setup.  Then go to the gallery and click on "upload" (its in the blue menu bar at the top).  A browse menu will appear and you click browse.  Then scroll to the file and the jpeg you want and click open.  Then just follow the prompts.  What category, title, description.
If you don't have a digital camera you will have to find someone who can scan your phots. (You'll never get around to it)
Email me direct if you still have problems and I'll talk you through by phone.

[Gil Weiss]

Pat,

Check my info out on QRZ.com . . .

73's de K3GIL

[Pat McL]

Hi Gil
   Went to QRZ --- we've got much in common. I've been a ham for about 14 years or so. Suzy and 6 of our 7 kids are also active hams. Made it a requirement for them (the kids) to have at least a tech license before we would allow them to take their driving test as we have a 2-meter in each car. Used to work as a materials engineer/chemist years ago.

One of our older boys,Ryan (ke4bch --general) is, as are you, an RC pilot. If you check the AMA mag covering this years Nats, you will see his pic, as he took 1st place nationally in the Masters Division (pattern). Now he has to compete against his buddy, Jason Shulman, in FAI (his pic is also in that issue --- he is the guy that developed the torque roll, and caught a fish with a lure hanging off his plane a couple of years ago ---cover pic). I've got pictures of Ryan sailing Teddy B back in the 80's.

Marcus,
   I know how to upload digital shots into the gallery, but I don't know how to attach them into this part of the forum. I still have a 16' canoe, and had a sailing rig (lateen, rudder & leeboards)  fabricated for it back in the 60's when I was young and less wise. You haven't really sailed until you try a canoe -- it will give you moments of great clarity!

--- Pat

[Pat McL]

Hi Marcus,
   Got your message on loading pics --- Thanks!
Put in at Hickory Point again yesterday. Wind was about 16 knots, gusting to 21 or so, and coming right into the ramps. Had to use the Seagull in order to get out, and what a fun time that was!!!  Once out, we were fine, however it was too dangerous at first for the full rig so we sailed under furled main, and no jib. I forgot why I dislike roller boom reefing -- found out for sure. There is really no way to come about reefed with no jib, and the butterfly gets hung up on the topping lift with each roll of the boom. Got to figure something for that, as it is dangerous when you are in a hurry and have to reef quickly.
  I have never liked roller reefing anyway, as you generally have to raise the main fully and then reef down. If the wind was like we had yesterday, you don't need that sail fully up at any time. I will probably have reef points sewn into the sail when it gets too hot to sail next summer (Florida, guys). Any thoughts??