Building White-Wing - 2-man scooter - Part 3 of 3

Steve Sanford

Steve Sanford

Well-known member
[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]As in Part 1, here is an abbreviated version of the process. The full show is at: http://stevenjaysanford.com/white-wing-2-man-scooter/

White-Wing's "sea trials" were conducted on 2 different waterbodies - over 200 miles apart.

The first step was to get her fitted to her trailer:

[/font]
10Profileontrailer_zps4d3086c5.jpg


She floats! Her first trials were on the Hemlock Swamp - right here at the farm. The Swamp is maybe a third-fathom deep - even on a moon tide - but she serves her purpose. Most important, I now know that she trims as I had imagined/designed/hoped....

4Shefloats_zps4f40d4dd.jpg


Cap'n Nemo provides half of her designed "ballast"....

5Firstnap_zpsb8d1c82e.jpg


Here he is, lulling all local fowl into a false sense of security....

6Onthealert_zps4f03bb50.jpg


This pair of Mallards actually sat in the back of the Swamp until we were well into our "sea trials" (photo shoot" is a more accurate term).

7Agoodsign_zpsd0aeaa66.jpg


We are never too old to play - the season is closed right now - and my Model 12 is unloaded - but Cap'n Nemo folded both the Drake and the Hen with two crisp shots - at least in his sweet imagination.

8TheShot_zps4626aa82.jpg


Here is White-Wing under tow - her first taste of salt water on Peconic Bay - between the North and South Forks of Long Island. She met all of our expectations. We did not pull her along "at speed" because I still need to make her full cockpit cover and we saw no need to get any spray in her. She tracks perfectly, without any yawing or rooting, and her foreward sections turn the seas away from her. There seems to be no need for a towing bridle - a single line from the starboard quarter worked just fine.

13-Towingtrue_zpsd0025893.jpg


Here she is with Cap'n Kessler as her first occupant in the marine realm. (We still have not had two gunners in her.)

16-Readytogo_zps176eb790.jpg


Although the chop is light, she feels like a grand piano beneath you - thanks to her 6-foot beam and flat sections.

17-Thehide_zps01fd3408.jpg


Even saltwater gunners never grow up - note the imaginary "forward allowance" on the imaginary "belly shot". We saw bunches of Oldsquaw and - sure enough - White-winged Scoters - but the Special Sea Duck Season Zone is about a mile east of here. And, just so you know, we do trust Cap'n Kessler with more than a short paddle when we are actually gunning.

18-TheOverhead_zpsfecc6129.jpg


We had a glorious morning for these trials. A warm, crisp southwest breeze, a few clouds passing in front of the brilliant but low winter sun, and wonderful light. I could not get enough of the backlighting. This picture of Craig pulling the bow anchor was my favorite image - reminds me of Winslow Homer's "The Herring Net" (in my all-time Top Ten).

19-Pullingthebowanchor_zpsb36134bd.jpg


We savored a nice slow ride back to the barn (the ramp, actually).

20-Towinghome_zps53128d99.jpg


The first hunts are planned for next month. I will have my camera along.

All the best,

SJS
 
Excellent job on her Steve. I love the lines. You're going to like that belly canvas, I had one in my layout and it worked great though I like your design better.
A couple of questions:
Any idea how much it weighs?
Did you put in a drain plug or are you going to rely solely on sponges?

What is your method for retrieving the stern anchor? I can't imagine the occupant reaching all the way over and into the water to grab the anchor rope on the far side of the fairlead. I have used an open top type of fairlead before with great success on a sneak box. On my layout I didn't have a fairlead, just a cleat, and it really helped if the gunner needed to reposition due to a changing wind/current direction.
 
Pete~

Thanks! Glad you like her.

re the stern anchor: I had the same concern at first - but no longer do. On our Great South Bay Scooter, we have a big pad eye for a fairlead - so it's closed. But, we also have a short (36"?) "pick-up stick" for picking up stool and managing both the bow and stern anchors from the cockpit. I still have to make a flag for White-Wing, so maybe I should make a pick-up stick as well (although picking up the stool will most likely be performed by the crew on the "mother ship").

Because White-Wing is so broad across her fantail, she has remarkable buoyancy. Here is a picture of Craig rigging the stern anchor - her tail is not awash. So, I think having the gunners grab the anchor line will not pose a problem. We would normally reeve her line through the fairlead before we put her in the water - we were just a little rusty on her maiden voyage. Ordinarily, I would keep her line through the fairlead (with a figure-8 knot in her bitter end) for the season. ( I once lost a nice 6-pound stern anchor in my youth - so I'm a bit mindful of losing either anchor. The bow anchor line has a float and a ring.) I expect we will trail and tow her with both anchors in the cockpit - but in a milk crate to keep the interior from getting beat up.

15-Riggingthesternanchor_zps177752d0.jpg


I should have weighed her in my shop - I have the deer scale and rings in the ceiling - it's just a little tough to get her balanced by myself. I would guess around 150 pounds - she certainly comes up onto the trailer easily enough.

I had planned to install a drain plug but ultimately opted not to. On the other hand, one could be added at the rear of the cockpit, right down through the skeg if we find the need for one. The primary reason I did not put one in is because I do not have the special flaring tool needed to install the tube properly - and did not want to do a poor job - especially if it were to leak. Now that the boat is on Long Island (and not here in dairy country), Craig could probably find a boatyard that could do it for him.

Also, in addition to a big, thirsty sponge (a piece of old 4" foam mattress I have found to be best), White-Wing also has a canvas bucket. It stows easily but is there just in case the cockpit ever got swamped.

All the best,

SJS
 
Very nice Steve! I really enjoy looking at these step-by-step boat builds. Maybe someday I'll be able to try one.

Looks like it'll be a great layout. Have fun with it this season!
 
Hi, Bill!

Cost is one of those fuzzy math things....

I had a bunch of materials and supplies on hand (boat nails, screws, bolts, cleats, lumber for keel, fairlead, thumb cleats, canvas fasteners, anchors and lines, etc) - plus the old hull and the nice Douglafir framing I got from my neighbor. Here is what I jotted down thus far:

Plywood (4 sheets 1/4" AC, 1 sheet 1/2" AC, 1 3/8" CDX): $160
Coamings (treated SYP) 20
3M 5200 50
Fibreglass 35
Epoxy resin (+ fillers, etc) 100
Canvas 50

Misc supplies (abrasives, mixing cups, chip brushes) 35

I still have to make a full cockpit cover (for hauling, towing, storage) and am surprised to see that Sunbrella is up about 50% in 3 years.

Of course, the fun I had over the past 6 weeks is incalculable!

All the best,

SJS
 
Isn't it funny how we can instantly form an opinion of someone not knowing a thing about them...I saw those first shots of that boat getting cut down and I thought..."what a mess...why would anyone even think of cutting down a boat like that?". Well I'm the idiot...that is an incredible build!!! I bet that thing would oar well too.
 
If I read the build correct you are using air chambers not foam floatation.
Did you fill the boat with water to test for level floatation?
 
Sounds well thought out Steve. Nice thing about your own build is if it doesn't work you can change it, something I have done several times.

Again, a very nice build and to have a towable layout is really nice. Congratulations.
 
Bill~

Correct - no foam. I want air to get next to all that enclosed wood. On the other hand, Cappy Kessler can pour some in if he prefers.

I did not sink it. Like the rest of my design, I rely on the intuitive method - based on experience and some simple math. Each chamber holds several cubic feet of air - each foot of which is going to float sixty-something pounds of dead weight - and they are distributed at the ends of the shape. I believe I have way more floatation than I need - unless the hull were holed. And, it certainly has better floatation than any other of my fowling vessels!

All the best,

SJS
 
Keith~

re rowing potential: I am certainly leaning toward putting oarlock stanchions on her before next year. Her underwater shape is really clean, with a fairly fine entry and a run that sweeps up above the waterline. Once we got back inside the canal, I snubbed up the towline and held it in a loose grip - I was impressed how little resistance she presented.

Next year.....

SJS
 
Steve,

I really enjoyed this build and particularly liked the fact that you salvaged an old hull to do it. That back-lit picture you liked really does it for me as well. It is amazing how well the boat "hides" in flat grey on the big water.

I checked out your build site and the only thing missing was a few aerial shots. :)
 
Steve,

Great build. I am almost complete with the Sunfish project we spoke about a few months back. I chose to have a removable motor mount on the Sunfish with the thought of the ability to remove the motor mount and bolt up a "fan tail" if it were to be towed or rowed.

I am often tempted by the online ads where you "pay for the trailer and get the old boat for free." Like you, I see more in what the hull could be transformed into rather than landfill material.

Keep up the good work!
 
Steve,

No wonder you've been too occupied to carve much.

Thanks for posting the early steps of your process.
 
What a great looking layout boat,it is obvious you have skills and more important imagination. My hat is off to you sir.
Hmmmm i wonder if tonyh would like to pull a mold off your White-Wing-----with your permission of course.
Thanks for taking us along.
Bill.
 
Steve,Thanks for posting your build......you do some awesome work and have a beautiful shop.......I will post some of my projects some day if I can ever figure out how to resize and post my pic with this IPad
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top