A place to share YOUR boat building story
Glen-L Marine Designs - 9152 Rosecrans Ave. - Bellflower, CA 90706
In this issue
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If I Can Do It Anyone Can Story & Photos
by Kurt Ayres
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Feedback: Fife by Lauren Banerd
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How to Build 20 Boats
- Changing stock plans by Ken Hankinson
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Feedback: Monaco by David Barrett
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Snow & Boat Building by ArtDeco
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Photos sent in since the last WebLetter...
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The Falls of Clyde by Ken Schott
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Shop Talk: We reiterate
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Recent email
GLEN-L Update
- Gathering update: Total coming per Boatbuilder Connection. Quite a few others have expressed an interest in coming to the Gathering and are waiting to "commit" until the event gets closer.
- Gayle and I will be heading out on a road-trip the end of this month to visit Ken Hankinson in Idaho... more details in the next WebLetter. If you have any questions you would like us to ask Ken, email them ASAP. We will do our best to get answers.
- This has been a busy month and we really appreciate those who have sent in photos and articles. It is only because of their contributions that the WebLetter made it out on time. Thanks to all who contributed.
Editor
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Ken Hankinson boat plans are now available from Glen-L. Don't hesitate, Click here to find out what everyone is talking about! |
If I Can Do It
Anyone Can
Story & Photos by Kurt Ayres
Winter 2006-07 Navigator, page 37
Below is an article I wrote about my Console Skiff, which my wife and I use in our work as members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. I just thought you'd like to know that at least one of your designs is being used in our efforts to promote recreational boating safety.
The "Navigator" is our national publication, and is distributed to about 35,000 Auxiliarists quarterly.
Thank you again for your excellent design, products and service!
Kurt Ayres
Avon, Illinois
A wide variety of watercraft is used in our
Auxiliary surface operations—everything from sailboats, to offshore
fishing boats, to Personal Water Craft. But one thing almost all of these
vessels have in common is that they were built in a factory, or at least
by professional boat builders.
One exception to this is Jubilee, a 16-foot plywood skiff built by the ultimate amateur boat builder—me!
Before I built her, I had almost no boating background whatever, save a couple of rides on friends' boats and renting the occasional rowboat at the local lake when I was a kid.
Feedback: Fife
by Lauren Banerd
This was my first boat-construction project. I chose the Fife primarily for its stitch-and-glue construction method. Since I am not a woodworker and have only hand tools, I felt that this was a method I could master. Also, I wanted a rowing boat that my wife and I could use together. A final factor was that the Fife came with full-sized patterns, which I hoped would help me avoid catastrophic mistakes. They did.
Seen on the Net
Solar Competition
How to Build 20 Boats
The "How to Build 20 Boats" series was begun in 1933 by Fawcett Publications. The first edition of the magazine was edited by Weston Farmer and published by W. H. Fawcett. Along with Farmer, J. Emmett, Sam Rabl, John G. Hanna, Hi Sibley, William Jackson, Alvin Youngquist, and later, editor Roland Cueva were among the regular contributors to the earliest magazines that continued into the 1960s (Issue #628 was published in 1966, don't know how many more there were).
Last month while
rearranging a book shelf, I came across "How to build 20 boats" #470 (1960) with the Glen-L Jet Cat on the cover. This issue also included Glen-L's Malahini, L. Dorado, and Mist Miss. I thumbed through the magazine to see what else might be included and came up with the following bits of history:
Glen-L Catalog only $.50
Jet Cat Plans & Patterns: $20.00
Frame Kit: $120.00
Our Competition:
Cleveland Boat Blueprint Co.
Science and Mechanics offered plans for $1.50 and $2.00
Stokes Marine was selling a 170 HP Hudson Hornet 6 for only $625.00 with
transmission
Trailer Products, Inc. selling an 800 lb capacity boat trailer kit for
$69.50 (buy the pipe locally)
Back cover: Evinrude "First in Outboards"
Feedback: Monaco
by David Barrett
I just wanted to give an update on my Monaco. I got the plans in January of 06 and studied them for a few months before I started the frames, which I completed later that summer. Took some time to clean out my garage and design a movable form, which by the way, hasn't moved since I started assembly in late September 06. I haven't logged my time and I would only be guessing at the time I've spent. All I can say is it has really been fun and I've managed to get my entire family (all five of us) involved even if it was just to hold the end of a board while I clamped it or pull-out staples. Some days I work a lot and well, some days I don't. I hope to turn the hull sometime this summer.
Snow & Boat Buildinga view from the west coast
They say it’s snowing in New York
Where the winter is somewhat colder
I wonder if there are boats a-building
To all Eastern Glen-L boat builders
We would greatly like to hear them
-ArtDeco |
Photos sent in since the last WebLetter...
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Hawaii: "The Falls of Clyde"
by Ken Schott
our roving reporter
A while back I had to take a contract job in Hawaii. This took me away from my Double Eagle project, but I had to put beans on the table. On any off time I could find, I perused the boatyards and marinas around Oahu island. I found the Honolulu Maritime Museum had a steel hulled tall mast cutter. I took the tour and found it very interesting. I have enclosed some pics that I took of it, 'The Falls of Clyde'. One interesting thing that I never thought of about sailboats (large tall masts anyway) is that all the rigging is steel cable. In the case of this one, all the rigging you see is heavy steel cables about 1 ¼" maybe 1 3/8".
As a power boater, I find it amazing for all the weight of all that cable being so high above the decks. A sizable area below decks is dedicated to making/repairing the rigging for the masts. A special vice is mounted (in one of the pics) for sailors to squeeze the eyes onto the rigging and then wrap it for corrosion protection.
The steering gear was very huge, it looked like a giant worm gear arrangement to turn the tiller.
In one of the pics you can see a view looking over the bowsprit and a large bus passing by the waterfront, WELL below the bowsprit. This ship is floating, not drydocked. Another view was from a staircase 6 flights up to a small observation deck, and these flights of stairs were tall. I guess I was about 8 regular stories up and still the camera cannot see the top of the masts. (and to think that some poor sailor would get up there and hang a top sail!)
Notice the pic with the cruise ship in the next dock to get a sense of scale, and how tall a Tall Ship is!!
This ship was built in Scotland and ferried to USA for merchant shipping from mainland to Hawaii. At one point it was demasted and used as a oil tanker in Alaska. Some time later it found its way to Honolulu and masts were restored. Story has it that the oil tanker life (with all the spills and mess) did help preserve the steel hull to this day.
The anchor windlass is visible in several pics, you can see some tourists on the foredeck to see the size of the windlass.
Wikipedia: Falls of Clyde
Aloha Hawaii: Falls of Clyde
National Park Service: Falls of Clyde
Clyde Built Ships
From the Boatbuilder Forum: Glen-L Fiberglassing Boats DVD
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razopp
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
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Posted: 02 Feb 2007 04:16 am Post subject: Glen-L Fiberglassing Boats DVD (Best $35 I have spent yet..) All, I wanted to let everyone know that our sponsor's have given me the best and most inspirational tool for my boat yet. I recently ordered the $35 Glen-L DVD of "How to Fiberlass a Boat." I already own the Glen-L Boatbuilding with Plywood and Inboard Motor Installations books and the Building the Console Skiff VHS. However, this DVD was the best Glen-L purchase yet (behind my Minuet plans of coarse.) A little history follows first. I decided to order this after a rather trying experience at fiberglassing the centerboard trunk for my Minuet. I experienced all sorts of fiberglassing malidies. It was obviously my first experience with fiberglass and epoxy, and there was no way I was going to attempt to cover my beautiful hull without some serious training. Do not get me wrong, it is not that hard to use fiberglass and epoxy. I was just a fiberglass idiot. So, I just wanted to let everyone know that the Glen-L DVD is worth EVERY PENNY I paid for it. I no longer consider myself a fiberglass neophyte after practicing some of the techniques I observed in this GREAT DVD. To be fair the DVD quality is not High-Definition by any means, but it does a WONDERFUL job of covering the subject. It covers everything from tools, applications, epoxy and polyesters, and all kinds of hints and tips that I would never have thought of in my newbie state of boatbuilding. As a wonderful side benefit it helps keep my dream alive. I have been traveling so much lately for work that I cannot spend much time actually working on my boat, but I can definitely tell you this DVD helps to keep me motivated while I am away. I would encourage anyone wanting to learn more about this subject to buy this instructional DVD. It will no doubt save me hours of time and heart-ache teaching myself through the trial-and-error process. Thank you GLEN-L! Robert |
Shop Talk: We reiterate
Back by popular demand, from WebLetter 54 - "Metric" and "Bending chines and sheers"
Recent email:
Subject: Web Order
Date: 14 March 2007
Greetings...
Just a quick note to let you know that my order was received 3-13-07. Thank you. The complete transaction was fast and equally as important...accurate. As a repeat customer, I appreciate the communications, follow through and ease of conducting business with Glen-L.
Keep up the great work!
Rodger Tate
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Subject: Re: Tom, Build your Dream Boat #3
Gayle
Have started construction on 'Sweet Caroline' with the plans
from you. I found everything great so far. The building form will be
anchored this weekend I hope. Including the form in the drawings was a
terrific idea. Saved a lot of headwork which is not my strongpoint
anyhow.
Even though I'm not ready for it I had to try tracing and cutting
one of the REAL boat parts. You'll be happy to know that the
Breasthook actually LOOKS like a Breasthook. I will be needing the Glue
and Screws soon (not soon enough for me) so put some away for me.
Sincerely,
Tom Hess
Subject:Subject: Re: Glen-L Family Information
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Gayle;
Thanks for the update. My wife Kathi and I were just out on the Indian
River Friday night for a star filled cruise. I built the Squirt two years
ago and we use it almost every weekend. I built it for my grandson's
4th birthday. However he has gotten so big and tall that it is difficult
for all 3 to fit into "PostMan" so either he or I go out or
"Nan" and I sneak it out now and then. We have permission! Love
the boat... can't go anywhere without comments and conversation.
Maybe another one bigger some day.
Thanks again. Bob Weems (Captian Weemo)
Subject: Audeen video
14 February 2007
Posted this on youtube for easier sharing. Have Fun,
Frank Tamanko
Subject: Swish Runabout pictures
Date: Monday, February 26, 2007
Barry, Find attached pictures of the Swish Runabout that my dad built in the basement in the winter of 1958-59. Hope you enjoy them.
Terry Chapman
Subject: Information
Date: 15 February 2007
Dear Glen-L people,
Thank you for taking care of my recent order. I wanted to let you know that I have built about 12 boats: a runabout, strip canoes, row boats and a 21 foot sloop. The first boat I built was from a Lugar boat kit when I was in high school. That was almost 50 years ago. We put a Scott-Atwater 40 horse power motor on it and it could go about 31 mph. My family really enjoyed that boat for many years. The other boats I have constructed have all been from scratch.
One year (1960) while we were camping at Eighth Lake in the Adirondack Mountains and we saw the Zip. It could really go and I have had an interest in that boat ever since. The Zip will probably be my last boat. I have ordered Mahogany plywood and framing lumber from Boulter Plywood of Boston. I am planning to put a 50 HP Evinrude motor on it. The boat should be beautiful and it will move. Thank you.
Jeff Chapple
Canajoharie, NY
GLEN-L boats, of course