2003

Early in 2003, I still didn't have a workshop but I completed an ASA instructor's certification and taught sailing occasionally in Upper New York harbor for the Newport Sailing School.  I also went frostbiting on Solings with the New York Community Sailing Association.  I put a deposit on the F33 kit since it didn't look like I was going to get enough space to build the hulls anytime soon.

It wasn't until July of 2003 that I found a workshop in JC, 500 square feet on the second floor of Moishe's Moving and Storage warehouse, for $400 a month.  I shipped all my tools and parts for $2000 via ABF U-Pack. The first thing I built was the 2-Paw 9. It only took about a month because I wasn't commuting and didn't have too much work to do. Plus, by this time, I was getting fairly good at this kind of thing, and had a lot of pent-up boatbuilding to work out.  For an absolute beginner taking his time, 3 months of part time and weekend work would not be unreasonable to complete this boat, or at least get it to the point where it could be rowed.

I reviewed my idea about building a boat from a laminate of foam and plywood, but it's simply too expensive to justify for a dinghy.  So I built the "Goody E" from marine plywood and S-glass.  It's an excellent design that nests for storage, and ended up being much lighter than the Foamee at 60 lbs.  It is slightly less stiff, though, particularly the aft section since it must be kept clear for the forward section to nest.  At some point (when I don't have anything better to do) I may consider rebuilding the aft section from Urethane foam and plywood, or maybe 3/8" Divinycell, to make it stiffer and more bouyant, and extend it by about a foot for an enclosed stern compartment and seat.  I also might build the sides from two layers of 1/8" plywood split into a vee, to have floatation compartments but still retain nestability.  Another potential option is a boat with plywood bottom and bulkheads, and foam core sides.  It might be worth commissioning a design, or I could modify Dave Gerr's Nestor to use foam above the chine.

In the fall of 2003, after playing with the idea of building a new type of folding kayak, I decided instead to continue building trimaran parts. I wouldn't be able to use the kayak until spring anyway, and the exchange rate forced the price of the F33 kit out of my range. I started a new job and had less time for building, but managed to build the forward beam CMM reinforcing bulkheads.