Launch of the Goody E
Current Status
She floats! I sailed in 10-15 knots of wind at Corson's Inlet State
Park, on the New Jersey shore. There are still a few details to be
completed, such as knees and the nesting bulkhead reinforcing thwart,
but everything works so far. The boat is unbelievably stable (my
brother stood on the forward seat and held the mast while under sail)
and sails upwind very well. I need to convert the rudder to a kickup
style but it's easy enough to pop it out of the gudgeons and back in
again when you run aground on the sand bars. We even took a few waves
with no bad effects. What amazes me most is that the connecting bolts
don't leak a drop. I used bicycle inner tube for gasket material and it
really works well.
Some bugs to work out: in 20+ knots, the mast brace started
separating from the forward transom. I reinforced it with a screw and
will probably add some fiberglass tape. It's sort of a chicken-and-egg
problem. I didn't glue the forward seat on because I wanted to check
the mast brace, but the mast brace would probably not have failed if
the seat had been better attached. Epoxy doesn't work very well in
tension.
The stern half of the boat is surprisingly flexible (obviously
it's bigger than the bow half and doesn't have the seat or daggerboard
to stiffen it.) I think knees will help, but I'm not too concerned
since there doesn't seem to be any structural failure (and none of
those disturbing crackling noises you hear when epoxy or fiberglass
gives out). Again, the 1/4" plywood specified in the plans would
probably be stiffer, but since each half only weighs 30 pounds
(including oarlocks and other hardware), I can't complain.
 
 
 
 
What's next? Some minor further improvements. Eventually I
will get those aft knees in there. I might put small seats or box
seat supports in the transom instead, for floatation.
This boat has turned out so well that I'm thinking of the next one
already. This will be another nester, probably one of the
Spindrifts, also designed by B&B. I like the pram for volume
but I still like the aesthetics of a pointed bow. I will probably
build the next one from plywood for bottom and bulkheads and foam-cored
fiberglass for hull sides, to give bouyancy and make it unsinkable but
light.
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