Current state of affairs in the carriage house. Working on the 1963 Alcort Sunfish CHIP. Keel laid for the Pascagoula Catboat. ALcort Sunfish ZIP and Alcort Standard Sailfish WINNIE are supervising.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Carriage House Update
30 Apr 19:
Current state of affairs in the carriage house. Working on the 1963 Alcort Sunfish CHIP. Keel laid for the Pascagoula Catboat. ALcort Sunfish ZIP and Alcort Standard Sailfish WINNIE are supervising.
Current state of affairs in the carriage house. Working on the 1963 Alcort Sunfish CHIP. Keel laid for the Pascagoula Catboat. ALcort Sunfish ZIP and Alcort Standard Sailfish WINNIE are supervising.
Oscillating Blade Sharpener
30 Apr 19:
We bought a Sharp Pog to get a few more uses out of our multitool oscillating blades, it works great
We bought a Sharp Pog to get a few more uses out of our multitool oscillating blades, it works great
Capn Jack Crossing the Bar
18 Apr 19:
It is with heavy hearts that we enter into the log the crossing of the bar of Skipper's Dad, Capn Jack. He taught us all he knew about all things Sunfish, O'Day, Drascombe, canoe and kayak. He also taught Skipper how to putty, to this day she would make a great bank robber because the putty stripped the top layers of skin off of her fingers. We are sure that he will continue to whisper in our ears with his sailor buddies Hazelwood and Lt. Hunter, watching and laughing from above. Thank you for your service Petty Officer Heuer, we have the watch.
Jackie Dean Heuer of Pensacola, Florida crossed the bar on April 18, 2018 at the gentle age of 80. Jack was born in Wyanet, Illinois on August 8, 1938 to Harold and Grace Heuer. He had a short, cold career as a newspaper boy and graduated from Wyanet High School in 1956. He served in the Navy as an Aviation Structural Mechanic (Hydraulic) and achieved the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class, finishing up his 3 year, 11 month and 8 day tour at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Texas. During his time in the Navy he flew as flight test aircrew and observer, and was awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal. In 1958 he married Adrienne Nelson and they had 4 children, who they raised in Corpus Christi. Jack had a long and successful career in Corpus Christi with Hoechst Celanese and retired as a Department Head from the Technical Center.
Jack loved canoeing and sailing and taught many others the joys of messing about in boats. He built a sailboat with his family and friend Hazelwood, and owned several classic boats, including the Sunfish, DaySailer and Drascombe Lugger. He was an accomplished square dancer and photographer, and was most entertaining when picking banjo and guitar.
Jack is survived by his wife Adrienne; son Rick (Karen), grandsons Ben and Chris; daughter Audrey Lewis (Kent), grandsons Timothy, Benjamin and John; daughter Sue Rees (Jeff), grandsons Jeffrey and Dylan; son Jeff (Lori), granddaughters Alexandra and Jessica, great-granddaughter Bailee; and brother Richard.
A private ceremony will be held at the Barrancas National Cemetery at Naval Air Station Pensacola Florida.
Jack and crew built a PETREL in the early 70s and named her ADRIENNE. They gathered parts each payday and his buddies at the plant MIGHT have made a few of the bits out of high grade stainless on night shift :)
About the same time he experimented with a sailing canoe. He designed the rig for a Grumman 17 double ender, fabricated the spars, leeboards and rudder and Ms Adrienne cut down a Sunfish sail for it. It made several trips to fun sailing spots.
Jack taught his buddy Tom to sail and together they commissioned a 1980 Drascombe Lugger, ONKAHYE. Tom transferred Command of ONKAHYE to Jack in 1982, and Jack transferred Command of Skipper in 1994. Together we have had fun sailing with family and friends, from Corpus Christi Bay, to Oceanside Harbor and the Pacific Ocean, Senators Wash off of the Colorado River by the Imperial Sand dunes, Marine Creek Reservoir, Lake Ray Roberts and Lake Worth near DFW Metroplex, and the Pensacola area.
Standing watch with EDUARDO, our first Florida restoration
Capn Jack supervising.
It is with heavy hearts that we enter into the log the crossing of the bar of Skipper's Dad, Capn Jack. He taught us all he knew about all things Sunfish, O'Day, Drascombe, canoe and kayak. He also taught Skipper how to putty, to this day she would make a great bank robber because the putty stripped the top layers of skin off of her fingers. We are sure that he will continue to whisper in our ears with his sailor buddies Hazelwood and Lt. Hunter, watching and laughing from above. Thank you for your service Petty Officer Heuer, we have the watch.
Jackie Dean Heuer of Pensacola, Florida crossed the bar on April 18, 2018 at the gentle age of 80. Jack was born in Wyanet, Illinois on August 8, 1938 to Harold and Grace Heuer. He had a short, cold career as a newspaper boy and graduated from Wyanet High School in 1956. He served in the Navy as an Aviation Structural Mechanic (Hydraulic) and achieved the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class, finishing up his 3 year, 11 month and 8 day tour at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Texas. During his time in the Navy he flew as flight test aircrew and observer, and was awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal. In 1958 he married Adrienne Nelson and they had 4 children, who they raised in Corpus Christi. Jack had a long and successful career in Corpus Christi with Hoechst Celanese and retired as a Department Head from the Technical Center.
Jack loved canoeing and sailing and taught many others the joys of messing about in boats. He built a sailboat with his family and friend Hazelwood, and owned several classic boats, including the Sunfish, DaySailer and Drascombe Lugger. He was an accomplished square dancer and photographer, and was most entertaining when picking banjo and guitar.
Jack is survived by his wife Adrienne; son Rick (Karen), grandsons Ben and Chris; daughter Audrey Lewis (Kent), grandsons Timothy, Benjamin and John; daughter Sue Rees (Jeff), grandsons Jeffrey and Dylan; son Jeff (Lori), granddaughters Alexandra and Jessica, great-granddaughter Bailee; and brother Richard.
A private ceremony will be held at the Barrancas National Cemetery at Naval Air Station Pensacola Florida.
Jack and crew built a PETREL in the early 70s and named her ADRIENNE. They gathered parts each payday and his buddies at the plant MIGHT have made a few of the bits out of high grade stainless on night shift :)
About the same time he experimented with a sailing canoe. He designed the rig for a Grumman 17 double ender, fabricated the spars, leeboards and rudder and Ms Adrienne cut down a Sunfish sail for it. It made several trips to fun sailing spots.
Jack taught his buddy Tom to sail and together they commissioned a 1980 Drascombe Lugger, ONKAHYE. Tom transferred Command of ONKAHYE to Jack in 1982, and Jack transferred Command of Skipper in 1994. Together we have had fun sailing with family and friends, from Corpus Christi Bay, to Oceanside Harbor and the Pacific Ocean, Senators Wash off of the Colorado River by the Imperial Sand dunes, Marine Creek Reservoir, Lake Ray Roberts and Lake Worth near DFW Metroplex, and the Pensacola area.
Standing watch with EDUARDO, our first Florida restoration
Capn Jack supervising.
1963 Alcort Sunfish CHIP 30 APR 19 Bulkhead Repair and Patterns
30 APR 19:
A video of some of today's fun.
We made a couple of errant cuts when we sliced the bottom off of CHIP with a reciprocating saw, so it is time to repair those areas. The cuts are on the cockpit bulkheads, and those need to be watertight. We used TotalBoat THIXO thickened epoxy to fill the void.
We grabbed some painter's paper and made patterns from the bottom panels. Also marked the location of the stringer screws.
Side plank pattern.
Marked location of stringers and stringer screws.
On the aft panel pattern we also marked the location of the bulkheads, the panel gets nails there also.
Made patterns for the floorboards.
Current state of affairs in the Carriage House, 2 wooden Sunfish, 1 wooden Standard Sailfish, 1 KM Paddleboard and a keel longeron for a Pascagoula Catboat.
Log of CHIP.
A video of some of today's fun.
We made a couple of errant cuts when we sliced the bottom off of CHIP with a reciprocating saw, so it is time to repair those areas. The cuts are on the cockpit bulkheads, and those need to be watertight. We used TotalBoat THIXO thickened epoxy to fill the void.
We grabbed some painter's paper and made patterns from the bottom panels. Also marked the location of the stringer screws.
Side plank pattern.
Marked location of stringers and stringer screws.
On the aft panel pattern we also marked the location of the bulkheads, the panel gets nails there also.
Made patterns for the floorboards.
Current state of affairs in the Carriage House, 2 wooden Sunfish, 1 wooden Standard Sailfish, 1 KM Paddleboard and a keel longeron for a Pascagoula Catboat.
Log of CHIP.
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Sunfish Sailboat Cover Repair
13 Apr 19:
A squirrel chewed a hole in one of our Sunfish covers, we repaired it with 2 pieces of adhesive backed Challenge sailcloth from Sailrite. When we have time we'll throw a zig zag switch around the edge.
Some of these covers are over 5 years old, they are holding up well. We purchased them from SLO Sail and Canvas, the ones we like the best are Pacific Blue Sunbrella with adjustable straps. We like the Spars-On-Deck option, but with our squirrel issue we will go back to storing the sail, boom and gaff inside the garage. That will be better for the sails long term as well, they can get a little damp when the covers get soaked. There is a treatment we can spray on the cover to renew water repellency, right now we are okay with them being able to breathe and let any dampness dry over a few days. Be certain you order the material that is right for you. Sunbrella breathes great, but is can wear quickly during trailer rides. We are not fans of the "waterproof" fabric options, the water gets trapped inside as well and mildew can form quickly. SLO has a page with information on different cover materials, give them a call for more info.
Rinsed them off a few days ago with the pressure washer.
A squirrel chewed a hole in one of our Sunfish covers, we repaired it with 2 pieces of adhesive backed Challenge sailcloth from Sailrite. When we have time we'll throw a zig zag switch around the edge.
Some of these covers are over 5 years old, they are holding up well. We purchased them from SLO Sail and Canvas, the ones we like the best are Pacific Blue Sunbrella with adjustable straps. We like the Spars-On-Deck option, but with our squirrel issue we will go back to storing the sail, boom and gaff inside the garage. That will be better for the sails long term as well, they can get a little damp when the covers get soaked. There is a treatment we can spray on the cover to renew water repellency, right now we are okay with them being able to breathe and let any dampness dry over a few days. Be certain you order the material that is right for you. Sunbrella breathes great, but is can wear quickly during trailer rides. We are not fans of the "waterproof" fabric options, the water gets trapped inside as well and mildew can form quickly. SLO has a page with information on different cover materials, give them a call for more info.
Rinsed them off a few days ago with the pressure washer.
Sunfish Shack Current State of Affairs
14 Apr 19:
AMF Sunfish BOOMER headed off to her new homeport, time for Shack Tetris. Super Sailfish ZSA ZSA moved into the open stall and PHOENIX landed back on her dolly.
(L-R) Penobscot 14 ST. JACQUES, Alcort Super Sailfish ZSA ZSA, AMF Sunfish MADISON, AMF Sunfish PHOENIX, KM SUP PINKY and the ship that started it all, Alcort Sunfish WAVE. To learn more about each boat click on their page link off to the right.
Sunfish Shack Log.
AMF Sunfish BOOMER headed off to her new homeport, time for Shack Tetris. Super Sailfish ZSA ZSA moved into the open stall and PHOENIX landed back on her dolly.
(L-R) Penobscot 14 ST. JACQUES, Alcort Super Sailfish ZSA ZSA, AMF Sunfish MADISON, AMF Sunfish PHOENIX, KM SUP PINKY and the ship that started it all, Alcort Sunfish WAVE. To learn more about each boat click on their page link off to the right.
Sunfish Shack Log.
Friday, April 12, 2019
Alcort Super Sailfish ZSA ZSA 12 Apr 19 Weigh In
12 Apr 19:
During the restoration of ZSA ZSA we found styrofoam inside and some extra framing, we removed that to bring her weight down a bit. Turns out we dropped 8 pounds down to 134! Factory kit weight advertises 102 pounds for marine grade plywood and Phillipine mahogany, that would be for a dry boat. We left some of the added framing inside under the seating area and added a toe rail and rub rail. Plus primer and paint. We also discovered that the deck had been replaced, that plywood seemed to be fir and a little thicker. Regardless of a few extra pounds, she sails great!
Regardless of a few extra pounds, she sails great!
Log of ZSA ZSA.
During the restoration of ZSA ZSA we found styrofoam inside and some extra framing, we removed that to bring her weight down a bit. Turns out we dropped 8 pounds down to 134! Factory kit weight advertises 102 pounds for marine grade plywood and Phillipine mahogany, that would be for a dry boat. We left some of the added framing inside under the seating area and added a toe rail and rub rail. Plus primer and paint. We also discovered that the deck had been replaced, that plywood seemed to be fir and a little thicker. Regardless of a few extra pounds, she sails great!
Regardless of a few extra pounds, she sails great!
Log of ZSA ZSA.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Sunfish Sailing
10 Apr 19:
Spring Commissioning for a few boats, we wanted to rinse off the covers and check and make sure squirrels were not nesting under the boat covers. Sprayed off the covers with a pressure washer and uncovered the boats to dry out the sails. Found one squirrel nest being built, no damage to sails, yay. Evicted squirrel. We cleaned all the boats up and since they were pulled out already decided to go for a sunset sail and get a new Skipper checked out. The next boats up for sailing were 1965 Sunfish WAVE and 1984 Sunfish MADISON.
Wind died so we got to scull back in with the rudder.
Spring Commissioning for a few boats, we wanted to rinse off the covers and check and make sure squirrels were not nesting under the boat covers. Sprayed off the covers with a pressure washer and uncovered the boats to dry out the sails. Found one squirrel nest being built, no damage to sails, yay. Evicted squirrel. We cleaned all the boats up and since they were pulled out already decided to go for a sunset sail and get a new Skipper checked out. The next boats up for sailing were 1965 Sunfish WAVE and 1984 Sunfish MADISON.
Wind died so we got to scull back in with the rudder.
1963 Alcort Sunfish CHIP 10 Apr 19 Scarfs and Keel Strips
10 Apr 19:
Worked on the bottom panels and keel strip for CHIP. For an 8:1 scarf on 1/4 inch plywood mark a 2 inch scarf line (8 x .25 = 2). The end of the panel is then planed to a slope, with a feather edge on the end up to full thickness at the 2 inch line. And since we want this stern panel scarf to fit underneath the bow panel scarf, we cut the scarf on the top face of the panel as we look at it. For the bow panel, we cut the scarf on the underside face.
120 grit belt on a Black and Decker belt sander a Stanley #5 jack plane to cut the scarfs into the 4 bottom panels. We lined them up on the 2 inch marks and cut the slope, looking for the ply glue lines as we shaved wood away. The goal is to get them as evenly spaced as possible, with the big picture being that the panels are being glued together. and no one will see that part while you are hiking out.
Cut 3/4 inch bottom panel centering strips from pine on the Ryobi table saw. They are sized to fit in the center notch on the keel strip centering jig. The weathered piece above the calipers is the old keel strip, used as a guide to find measurements for the centering strips and new keel strips. The strips are in two pieces, one to fit ahead of the daggerboard and one behind, and that means they can also be cut from an 8 foot piece of lumber. In ohter news Push Stick v1.0 is holding up pretty well.
Attached centering strips temporarily with #10 silicone bronze screws, drilled the pilot hole with a Fuller combination pilot hole and countersink bit. Those bits are tapered and work well for the softer silicone bronze screws, the same ones we'll use to permanently attach the keel strip. Bottom panels will be fit, glued and nailed, then centering strips come out and permanent keel strips wit overlapping edge attached. And the Kobalt drill and impact driver have held up well, we especially like the impact driver to put these screws in. Battery life has been great for our projects.
Attached centering strips temporarily, panels will be fit, glued and nailed, then centering strips come out and permanent keel strips wit overlapping edge attached. Keel strip is on the left, you can barely make out the T shape where the strip will nestle between and overlap the panels.
Log of CHIP.
Worked on the bottom panels and keel strip for CHIP. For an 8:1 scarf on 1/4 inch plywood mark a 2 inch scarf line (8 x .25 = 2). The end of the panel is then planed to a slope, with a feather edge on the end up to full thickness at the 2 inch line. And since we want this stern panel scarf to fit underneath the bow panel scarf, we cut the scarf on the top face of the panel as we look at it. For the bow panel, we cut the scarf on the underside face.
120 grit belt on a Black and Decker belt sander a Stanley #5 jack plane to cut the scarfs into the 4 bottom panels. We lined them up on the 2 inch marks and cut the slope, looking for the ply glue lines as we shaved wood away. The goal is to get them as evenly spaced as possible, with the big picture being that the panels are being glued together. and no one will see that part while you are hiking out.
Cut 3/4 inch bottom panel centering strips from pine on the Ryobi table saw. They are sized to fit in the center notch on the keel strip centering jig. The weathered piece above the calipers is the old keel strip, used as a guide to find measurements for the centering strips and new keel strips. The strips are in two pieces, one to fit ahead of the daggerboard and one behind, and that means they can also be cut from an 8 foot piece of lumber. In ohter news Push Stick v1.0 is holding up pretty well.
Attached centering strips temporarily with #10 silicone bronze screws, drilled the pilot hole with a Fuller combination pilot hole and countersink bit. Those bits are tapered and work well for the softer silicone bronze screws, the same ones we'll use to permanently attach the keel strip. Bottom panels will be fit, glued and nailed, then centering strips come out and permanent keel strips wit overlapping edge attached. And the Kobalt drill and impact driver have held up well, we especially like the impact driver to put these screws in. Battery life has been great for our projects.
Attached centering strips temporarily, panels will be fit, glued and nailed, then centering strips come out and permanent keel strips wit overlapping edge attached. Keel strip is on the left, you can barely make out the T shape where the strip will nestle between and overlap the panels.
Log of CHIP.
Monday, April 8, 2019
NC-4 Medal First Across
08 Apr 19:
The NC-4 Medal was first awarded as a non-portable medal on 9 February 1929, to the crew of the NC-4 flying boat for their successful completion of the first transatlantic airplane flight. This medal measured 2 1/2 inches in diameter and was struck in 14 karat gold. Later on 25 April 1935, a bronze miniature, the same size as a full size campaign medal, was authorized for wear on the uniform.
The Navy Curtiss flying boats were organized as a Division and placed under the command of Commander John H. Towers. The three planes were scheduled to attempt the first transatlantic airplane flight on 8 May 1919. Navigational errors and rough seas prevented NC-1 and NC-3 from completing the flight from Rockaway Beach, Long Island to Plymouth, England.
The NC-4 medal was awarded as follows:
Commander John H. Towers, USN
Lt. Commander Albert C. Read, USN
Lt. Elmer F. Stone, USCG
Lt. Walter Hinton, USN
Lt. James L. Breese, USN
Ensign Herbert C. Rodd, USNRF
Chief Machinist Mate Eugene S. Rhoads, USNRF
The red, white and blue represents the colors of the United States, while the green and red bars represent the colors of Portugal.
NC-4 ribbon found in Pensacola, Florida antique mall. Acquired 2019.
FMI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NC-4_Medal
The NC-4 Medal was first awarded as a non-portable medal on 9 February 1929, to the crew of the NC-4 flying boat for their successful completion of the first transatlantic airplane flight. This medal measured 2 1/2 inches in diameter and was struck in 14 karat gold. Later on 25 April 1935, a bronze miniature, the same size as a full size campaign medal, was authorized for wear on the uniform.
The Navy Curtiss flying boats were organized as a Division and placed under the command of Commander John H. Towers. The three planes were scheduled to attempt the first transatlantic airplane flight on 8 May 1919. Navigational errors and rough seas prevented NC-1 and NC-3 from completing the flight from Rockaway Beach, Long Island to Plymouth, England.
The NC-4 medal was awarded as follows:
Commander John H. Towers, USN
Lt. Commander Albert C. Read, USN
Lt. Elmer F. Stone, USCG
Lt. Walter Hinton, USN
Lt. James L. Breese, USN
Ensign Herbert C. Rodd, USNRF
Chief Machinist Mate Eugene S. Rhoads, USNRF
The red, white and blue represents the colors of the United States, while the green and red bars represent the colors of Portugal.
NC-4 ribbon found in Pensacola, Florida antique mall. Acquired 2019.
FMI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NC-4_Medal
Sunday, April 7, 2019
AMF Sunfish BOOMER 07 Apr 19 Change of Command
07 Apr 19:
BOOMER has a new Skipper, off to continued adventures in Alabama! Always fun to meet someone excited about small boats and the awesome Sunfish. We had an awesome time with the restoration and are eagerly awaiting reports from her new homeport.
to be continued...
Log of BOOMER.
BOOMER has a new Skipper, off to continued adventures in Alabama! Always fun to meet someone excited about small boats and the awesome Sunfish. We had an awesome time with the restoration and are eagerly awaiting reports from her new homeport.
Log of BOOMER.
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