PocketShip.net

Pete,
Before you let Tatoo get away from you, I would appreciate it if you could post a sketch of your outboard cutout and its location on the transom. Many thanks for all of the enhancements to Pocketship you have shared. You have been a true inspiration to me and I am sure, many other Pocketship builders and owners.

Donm

Donm1753 asked about the transom cutout on Tattoo. It's located on the port side at a height (along the slope of the transom) of 7.5" above the cockpit deck. The opening at the top is 14.5". I installed a 3/4" x 6.5" hardwood "doubler" from port to starboard with its bottom edge at the level of the cockpit deck. I also fabricated a "pressure plate" to protect the "soft" transom plywood from the engine mounting brackets. It was fabricated by laminating two pieces of 1/4" maple with grain running perpendicular to each other. It is "indexed" to the transom with two 1/2" dowels that protrude into the transom just about 1/4". This is to keep the pressure plate from moving because of the engine vibration. The dowels are not glued into the transom -- the pressure is plate held in place by the engine mounting brackets.


Originally, I made the cutout down to a height of 6.5" about the cockpit deck. I discovered that this was too low -- the engine's drive shaft was so low that the prop would occasionally clip the rudder wing when the tiller was moved to starboard. The solution was to add back in the bottom 1" of the cutout (which I have saved). That raised the engine just so that its skeg just touches the rudder wing at the end of a move of the helm to starboard but the prop is above it.



I like the transom mounted engine for several reasons. The engine is forward and easier to reach which moves the boat c.g. forward. There is no heavy and ugly engine bracket to deal with. The engine is located such that it can be linked to the tiller (see one of my earlier posts). Every engine bracket that I saw on the market (in 2010) was not rated for 4-cycle engines under 25 hp (much more vibration because for every power stroke, the next stroke is a push in the opposite direction -- compression -- from the power stroke). And, if I want to give up on axillary power altogether, I've saved the cutout and could restore the transom to its original beauty (almost).

Concerning the FOR SALE of Tattoo -- I've had a couple of inquiries but so far no real action. Advertisement are purchased for the February/March issues of WoodenBoat Magazine and the Small Craft Advisor. I've also placed ads for the sale of my (extra) dinghy, a 7' 7" Nutshell Pram designed by Joel White (from a kit produced by CLC).

Pete McCrary
Builder and skipper of Tattoo

DanaDCole wrote:Wow! Great story. I've often wished I had started this whole thing at least 20 or 30 years ago--not waited until I was in my 70's to even start sailing. I built a 17LT about 8 or 20 years ago, but the Skerry I built a couple years back has been a revalation. Like you, I know I'm extending my life by building boats (and other projects). One of the greatest pleasures is in building the boat, but all the same I'll be really glad to get her on the water.

Let this be a lesson to you youngsters who are still procrastinating!

"Youth is wasted on the young." - George Bernard Shaw

Tatoo- Pete , I was wondering if you got my E mail. I sent it I think. Anyway, I am interested in building my pocket ship as a yawl. If your sails become available let me know if not I would be interested in buying the yawl sails through John at CLC. I have plenty of time as I wont start building until late May. Thanks, Mark aka Wood_Ogre.

Wood_Ogre: I don't think you sent me an email -- but rather you raised questions re the yawl rig on a posting on Dec 28 and I responded the next day with an "private" email thru the forum. It could be in your in-box. But if it isn't, this is what it said:

Hello W_O,...
I, too, like the yawl rig. Better even that PocketShip as designed. I got the sails from Douglas Fowler, the same sailmaker used by CLC. He was hesitant at first. But I suggested that he ask John Harris about it -- and with John's ok, he dealt directly with me. I'd consider selling the sails to you for what I paid for them. I've only used them on three outings. That's why I have so few photos while under way as a yawl. If you have just started building recently, then it will be a while before you need them. But work something out in advance with CLC regarding the jib sail -- because they ordinarily only sell the jib with their [designed] mains'l. Maybe you could get the jib sail (without the regular mains'l) from Fowler by special arrangement. I'm trying to sell my PocketShip with both rigs and have advertisements coming up in the next issues in February (March/April) of WoodenBoat Magazine and Small Craft Advisor. If there is no interest in the yawl rig, then I'd definitely want to sell them to you.

My opinion is that the yawl rig is actually a much better rig for PocketShip. The mains'l is slightly smaller and easier to handle for this 80 year-old solo sailor. And the mizzen (sprit boom) is so simple and useful. She easily does 3 to 4 knots with just mizzen and jib. The balance is such that she can be steered just with the mizzen sheet -- hands off the tiller. And she can be made to "heave to". Maybe she isn't as fast as the sloop -- but almost.

If you will email me your email address -- I'll send you my design sketches and construction photos of my set up. I made the mizzen mast out of Southern White Pine. It weighs only 5.5 lbs.

Incidentally, back in 1969 - 1972 we lived on Maui. I was the Site Manager of ARPA's 60" optical telescope at the top of Mount Haheakula. Our home was on Kimo Drive in Kula at about the 2,800 foot elevation. A lovely spot -- but too far from the water. A neighbor friend went sailing alone in the local waters and was "missing" for more than a day in stormy weather! We and his wife thought he was "lost at sea." But when the storm cleared out he was found ok.




Pete McCrary
[email protected]
703/369-6100
703/369-2962 fax

Fellow builders and forum visitors,
My FOR SALE ad in the next WoodenBoat Magazine (May/June) will show a PRICE REDUCTION down to $13,400.
Pete McCrary
Tattoo's builder

I hate to see you having to keep lowering the price on such a beautiful boat. I guess you're not getting any takers on this forum because we don't want to miss the fun of building, even though we will end up spending $13,400 or more by the time we're done. Have you thought about advertising in Small Craft Advisor? Maybe even Sailing also, although that is mostly read by the "bluebloods."

Fellow builders: It's almost been two years since I first listed Tattoo FOR SALE at $14,900. There have been a few nibbles, but not much action. I've been sailing her occasionally -- but haven't been trying too hard to sell her. But now, I'm building a Core Sound 20 Mark 3 -- a 20 foot cat ketch. So, to generate some greater interest, I've reduced the price down to $9,900. Maybe persons interested in building a PocketShip might want to consider buying one already built at a price that is much less than the total of materials, trailer, motor, etc -- without even considering the tender-loving-care labor provided by the original builder. Many details of her construction may be found by reviewing [the builder's] posts. Check out the posting of member "tattoo." Those interested could also check out CLC Builders' Forum section "Used-Boats-For-Sale" at http://www.clcboats.com/forum/clcforum/ ... ord%28s%29 Call or email Pete McCrary at [email protected] or 703/369-6100.