Gaff Business

I did not 100% followed the original Phil Bolger drawings when I built Bluster.  Most of the deviations involved raising and widening the cabin, changing the stern cut away and adding a mast tabernacle.  In hind sight, all good ideas.  One item I considered changing but did not is the straight style gaff horns (fork?).

The straight ones are easier to build but do not work as well or look as "gaffy" as the curved style.  This retrofit was on my to do list for this year.  

I started by cutting away the straight horns but leaving the base, where the one piece original horns were attached to the gaff.  

The new horns were cut out of 3/4" plywood and glued into place.

Epoxy sealing and a couple of coats of Interlux Brightside Polyurathane White.
Job done. Tick.

In place, working fine and looking good

Old Gaffers Association of BC - AGM

This past Saturday evening I had the pleasure of attending the Old Gaffers Association (OFA) of BC annual general meeting.  The Old Gaffers Association was started in the UK in 1963 to promote the gaff rigged and traditional sailboats (www.oldgaffersassociation.org) and has local chapters throughout the world.  The OGA of BC chapter  (gaffers-canada.ning.com) has been active for a couple of years and although a relatively small group they are quite active and very welcoming to this first timer.

Jamie pipes in the executive committee

The meeting was fun as the group observes traditions such as bag piping in of the executive committee and toasts to the Queen and Canada.  Discussed were plans for  the coming year and gaff rig related items locally and nationally.  After the official AGM we all sat down to a lovely pot luck dinner with much boat talk.  I enjoyed reconnecting with past sailing mates Jamie and Curtis as well as meeting some new keen trailer sailors.

Not Really Marine Equipment, But Useful On A Small Sailboat Post #3

Ice Fishing Rod

Ice fishing rod?  Yes, but not for ice fishing (not for me anyways).  I bought this several years ago with the idea that the boys could use it to try a little jigging for shinners and such while at anchor or from the dock.  It is made in Finland and though simple in design, quite well made.  The mini rod length would be easier to stow and should allow for fewer jabbing accidents amongst the  crew.
The fishing thing never took off but what I did was to attach a lead ball weight to the line and it has become a very handy depth sounder.  I just release the drag until the weight touches down and two cranks of the reel pulls in almost exactly one metre of line.  Count the cranks and divide by two.  Guess I always have the option of dropping a hook...

Looking Back - Launch Day 2002

After numerous weekends and Tuesday nights work, Bluster's launch day had finally arrived.  Most amateur boat builder would likely agree, finding the time (away from young family) and money to complete the dream seems oh so daunting at times.  I had never in my life taken on such an ambitious project so I was feeling rather proud of myself when the basic boat was done. 

Without yet spars, sails or rigging we decided to take her to the water.  We chose the public boat ramp at Stave Lake, not too far from my folks' farm where I had been completing the work.  Lisa, Jacob, Sam and my parents joined me for the occasion.  I remember being just thrilled as she settled smartly in the water at the dock and then easily carried the whole crowd for a short cruise around the end of the lake.

My parents are both now gone.  Jacob is now taller than me and Sam not far off.  We have had many happy family times with our little boat and expect many more to come. 

And I am still proud of her.

Cover Girl

While attending the Sucia Small Boat Rendezvous http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sucia/ back in July of 2006 we anchored Bluster in Fossil Bay while camping ashore.  Josh Colvin, editor of the wonderful Small Craft Advisor magazine http://smallcraftadvisor.com/ snapped this photo from the cockpit of his boat one morning.  I think it is just magical and apparently SCA did too as it graced the cover of the Sept/Oct 2006 edition. 
Thanks Josh, I bought eight issues!

Dock Time

As trailer sailors we rarely get to experience the "hanging out on the dock" scene those folks with the bigger boats enjoy.  This past summer I splurged and booked Bluster into a slip in the Gibsons Marina. This allowed for me, alone or with guests, take her out for a spin without the rigging, launching, etc. and spend the nights at our cottage just down the road.

The challenge is making a sharp ninety degree turn into our slip during a cross wind in an 20 ft.unballast centreboard sailboat with the five hp outboard mounted directly aft of the rudder (good forward, wanting reverse).  Dock her in one shot and you look like a pro. Anything other that this makes for good neighbourhood entertainment.  Grabbing our lines and fending us off is how we met a lovely couple with a Nonsuch 26 in the adjacent slip. 

Late one day we headed down to the marina for an evening of drinks and socializing aboard Bluster and to enjoy the bustle of the marina and those pesky Canada geese.

Not Really Marine Equipment, But Useful on a Small Sailboat Post #2

Shower Radio

This little battery operated portable AM/FM radio was purchased years ago at a local drug store for $15.  I enjoy listening to the radio and I thought that a radio designed to operate in the shower would be more likely to stand the rigors of a life a sea (so to speak).  When they were youngsters my boys would get a kick out of hanging out in the cabin and listening to music and so it was left on board and eventually lost in a bin for years.  Whilst on a recent outing I finally made time to tidy things up below and rediscovered the radio.  I cleaned off the surface mildew and was surprised to find it still worked.  Hanging it on the boom allowed me to enjoy local CBC talk radio while puttering away on Bluster in a pretty anchorage - smugly enjoying the rush hour traffic reports!