Thistle is Finished! Now we're off to the Show.

[imported_Steven Bauer]

Here is the Thistle:


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29f7600595800000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29e64b8f89500000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



The truck is packed, we're off!


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29ee323b8d500000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


I'll try to take lots of pics for all who can't make it in person.


the pedals



http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29ed9beb85500000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


the fin


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29f0d93196e00000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



most of the fin doesn't show because it's clear lexan


I hope to have in the water pics as soon as I get it near some water! I guess the maiden voyage will be in Rockland.



http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29f0c12d84700000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/




Steven

[Bruce Hooke]

Lookin' good!
See you there...

I'm planning to be there on Saturday.
- Bruce

[John B]

Looks great Steven.
errrrmmm for us unenlightened down under types, umm what is/ how does it/ how fast do you think?.

Gazing endlessly at the fin , assuming flex, noting pedals, I'm making the cognitive leap that it sculls along and that if you give it extra , say , extra left foot power and less right foot power , it'll turn to port.

Am I on the right track?
should cause a bit of a sensation I would think. It certainly would here.

[Wild Dingo]

What John said!!! :confused:

Take it easy
Shane

[On Vacation]

I see you have dogpower on a sawhorse frame. People are always reinventing the wheel. :D

[Rich VanValkenburg]

I saw something like this at the '94 show in Southwest Harbor. This thing moves pretty quick!

Nice job, and I like the green.

Rich

[kpenokie]

THISTLE and SHAMROCK green. tongue.gif

Gorgous vessel- enjoy the fruits.

[imported_Steven Bauer]

I decided to name her MINNOW - in spite of the Gilligan's Island connotations. I launched her at the town park in Rockland and pedaled her over to the WoodenBoat Show. Here are the pictures.

close up of the fin drive:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29e0fd4396400000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


all assembled:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29e3ae5f8e700000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

heading for the water:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29f1e4c592000000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

look, no hands!:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29eaab7f8fd00000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



pedaling around the show:


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29e1d1739ae00000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid25/p6f325155cc85a047ba39d961632eefa4/fd8907dd.jpg

[JLM]

was at the show today(sunday)but must have missed you wish i'd have seen her looks great.
JLM

[Don Olney]

Congratulations Steven! Boy, you really work fast. I saw your comments on the other thread about the color. I think the color you were going for is the Malachy Green by Interlux. Its much darker. I used it on my Fiddlehead. Kirby's "Bottle Green" is similar.

I saw Harry pedaling a Thistle around in Mystic a couple of years ago. It moved right along. I would appreciate some more photos or info on Rambler if you have any.

-Don

[Wild Wassa]

Congratulations Steve. You look too resplendent. The image of you pedaling belies the work.

I'm surprised the original band of helpers allowed you to have a go first, though. You will be lucky to get a go in future. smile.gif

Warren.

[Mike Field]

Pedalling? PEDALLING? Don't you guys believe it.

Look at the wake he's leaving. That nicely-varnished afterhatch isn't just there to keep his sandwiches dry, you know. No, under there there's a battery connected to a little electric trolling motor with a shaft projecting bottomwards acting as both propulsion-unit and centreboard. Pedalling, indeed. (Snort.)

You've got to get up early to fool us Aussies, Steven.

[ 07-15-2002, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: Mike Field ]

[skuthorp]

Nah, I reckon it's a rotary cage, 4 squirrel power unit under there. Just toss in a few nuts and an apple or two and bingo!

[imported_Steven Bauer]

Mike, I'm glad you're feeling better, we've been sending positive thoughts your way.
The Coast Guard in Rockland feels the same way you do. I had to pass by two huge cutters on the way to the Show and one Coastie yells out to us "you can't DO that!".

Thanks for the nice comments, all.
Steven

[Bruce Hooke]

Steven let me try out his thistle, Minnow, at the show and I can attest that she's a beautiful little boat and great fun too! Sitting in her, you're in about the same position as you would be in a lawn chair -- very relaxing; and the peddling action is surprisingly easy and does move you right along. The green looks just right out on the water and the lacewood (silky oak) hatch covers are stunning!

[ 07-15-2002, 04:55 PM: Message edited by: Bruce Hooke ]

[Jim Goodine]

Steven, thanks so much for letting me try out the Thistle. I was very impressed by the smooth action and ease with which it moved. And, I think most of the people at the show were impressed. When we stopped at your house on Wednesday evening, I was not at all sure we'd see your boat at the show since you had so much work to do on it. I guess that the old saying is true; "There is nothing like a deadline to make a man productive". The show was geat and the weather was perfect. I enjoyed putting faces to a lot of the names that keep posting on this forum.

[katiedobe]

Steven,
I am bumping this thread because you built a beautiful little boat and I want others who were not around in 2002, like me, to see it.

Great job and your album link is still good.

[imported_Steven Bauer]

Bump 'cause I fixed the picture links. And while I have you here you may as well check out this little youtube video of Minnow in action. It's pretty easy to get up to 5 knots but 2.5 is more comfortable for any distance. :D


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3PdOIXvfB3g




Steven

[StevenBauer]

A couple of years after this thread I built a Ruston style bat wing sail for Minnow. She sails right along, you just use the pedals for steering. :)

This is the only pic I can find:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29f9d4098c500000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[bob easton]

Thanks for the bump. It's good to have the pictures back.

[Paul Girouard]

This is the only pic I can find:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29f9d4098c500000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Why does it appear your wake is off your bow (in front of the boat) ? Paddling backwards?? :confused: Following another boat?

[StevenBauer]

Why does it appear your wake is off your bow (in front of the boat) ? Paddling backwards?? :confused: Following another boat?

Pedaling backwards is not an option. I carry a small canoe paddle for that. :) "Following another boat?" - Bingo!


Steven

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Nice:)

[StevenBauer]

Rob, she does fine in shallow water but not too shallow as she has those two fixed fins on the bottom. Without them she'd just wiggle in place and not go anywhere. You probably need 12 - 14 inches of water. The drive fin would just pivot up, it would still drive the boat.


Steven

[Tom Robb]

Steve, is the fin transparent for a reason?

[StevenBauer]

Steve, is the fin transparent for a reason?


No, I suppose you could use tinted Lexan if you could find some. The white part of the drive fin is just 5200 which glues the 3/16" cheek pieces to the 1/8" fin. Harry later told me the 5200 could be omitted. The rivets are enough.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc24b3127ccec29e0fd4396400000010O00AbNnLhizaOW IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Rob, I don't see any problem with stepping out of the boat and walking it along until the water is deep enough again. The fins stick down 7 or 8 inches below the boats bottom.

Somewhere I have some more sailing pics. If I can find them I'll be sure to post them.


Steven

[StevenBauer]

The hard part for me was the metal working in stainless steel for the fin and pedals. It was my first lapstrake boat. Harry provides an instruction manual with the plans. Very helpful.

Steven

[davidrparker]

Rob,

I have a set of plans for Thistle and when I ordered them from Harry I asked him about the sail rig that he shows on his web site. When they arrived he had included a seperate sheet that details that rig.

Harry's also a very helpful gentleman if you have questions after the purchase of the plans.

Best regards, David

[Tom Robb]

Harry is one of the good guys, but you probably noticed that, and a font of useful information.

[StevenBauer]

Steven , see what you think of what I propose doing.
I have a river to fish , and at times , I can get over a sandbar in shallow water to the sea.
My hands/wrists/forearms at times suffer from arthritis , but my legs are fine , so a peddle boat is a good thing.
I'd like to develop a sailing capability.
I like the hands free operation , perfect for fishing.
Any comment ?.
How easy is it to get in/out of ?.
Regards Rob J.

I think it your plan sounds good, Rob. It's easy to get in and out, the cockpit is very much open.
My only concern is that it is a small boat. No room for a passenger, even kids or dogs. It is a canoe, not a skiff. The hands free aspect is really cool. It is a fun boat to pedal or sail.

Steven

[botebum]

Jeez Steven, those girls sure have grown in six years!

Doug

[StevenBauer]

:D, Gavin, too. He's 6'3" now. :eek:

I remember now, Rob, that Harry told me that the Thistle he used to bring to shows was his wife's. :)



Steven

[StevenBauer]

Steven , how easy is it to access the storage areas in the boat , on the water ?.
Regards Rob J.


I'm thinking not that easy. Maybe if you are really flexible. ;)


Steven

[StevenBauer]

If? :) I'd hang 'em over the side on a stringer.


Steven