Launch Date

[Bill Perkins]

I’ve had Otter down at Margo’s shop for several months to do the finish work . I had the boat down at Thunderbolt Ga . over the Winter and Spring having the engine and controls installed and some canvas work done (endless delays on this ) . As I looked around for a covered ,secure space ; with lights and power ; in which to work on the boat myself again I recalled the Large Empty space along Sarahs’ Port side visible in Margos’ web pics , and realized that St.Augustine really wasn’t that far away . Margo generously agreed to rent me the space , including the use of the stationary machines ,which was huge .

. This is a fantastic place with Space (3000 SF) and light in which you can really see what you’re doing when prepping and painting .I had allot of sanding and painting to do . My 33 foot long boat & trailer combo slipped right in , and I began work , spending 1 week in 3 back in Atlanta .
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/pbb19eaa1411cd3b0bf897a19b68da128/ec5df69c.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/p7d6551b62d1d5fdb68618f84249d9323/ec545b5b.jpg
Sarah dominates the space of course . I’ve not seen a fine yacht stripped down to the ribs on the interior before ; very interesting . The rest of Sara is ranged along one wall. This makes for interesting browsing too as the Concordias are well detailed . Great to get a close look at the deck hardware ,varied cleats ,venting , coat hooks ect. ,ect. ,of a classic .


All good things must end (including 95 degree shop temps in August ) and 3 weeks ago I saw I was indeed wrapping this project up . I called my friend Gail in Atlanta and arranged for her to fly down to Brunswick Georgia to meet me for the launching and first cruise . Gail has spent several late nights helping me with the boat back in Atlanta : notably when forcing the 1/2 in.ply deck down , which required us both to stand on top , me blasting away with a pneumatic stapler .Also applying the Xynole fabric over the deck , which required some tricky fitting around the bench seat supports . She's smelt the epoxy googe ,even coming away with some in her hair -so, it wouldn't do to be late picking her up at the airport .

Loading all my gear on my groaning pickup took longer than I thought and I left in a bit of a flurry . As it was I didn’t have time to drop the boat at the marina and arrived at the airport with the whole rig , which I was also forced to park at the motel that night .
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/p331c2b1bb0da2a58d1762a903bd46840/ec544f3a.jpg

No pictures of the actual launch .
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/p5f425dda3bea3af1dcb0aa281d74a6ca/ec61d418.jpg

We could only stand and gape as the boat was whisked away by an immense forklift and plopped in the water . We got some pictures out in the marsh the next day .

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/pcd342f842d240e8280175bca5ac884c2/ec6251b8.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/pf67b477d5f38a429a65d73eb9a4b7150/ec621a33.jpg

and when the boat was retrieved .
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/p3674bafab13849ee60e812ac83ce087f/ec5df2fb.jpg

This last pic was on an overcast drizzly day . It's underexposed ,but I had other things on my mind . The boat is narrower than most boats her size and the lift operator had the forks a bit too far apart .The fork is dangerously close to the chine on the Starboard side . If the fork had slipped off the bottom it could have come to bear on the relatively thin ply lapstrake planking , which I don't think can bear such a concentrated load .I'm going to add vertical marks on the transom to mark the fork placement ,my heart can't stand this .

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2100388762

[Donn]

Very nice! Interesting boat, and the photo next to Sarah is striking.

What's the design?

[uncas]

Heck.. not to mention Sarah being striking as well...
Way to go Margo....

[Bill Perkins]

Donn the boat is Pete Cullers' 24 foot Fast Launch . I got the plans from Mystic for the hull shape ,converted the traditional construction to glue laminated, and designed my superstructure for my use in the South .

There are snap on windows ,door, and top, so I can use the boat all year long down here . I bought an "Origo Heat Pal " a cross between a huge sterno can and an alcohol stove . I'll rig this with a non tip base , install a carbon monoxide alarm (right type?) and be good to go .

[Donn]

The truck appears to be riding a bit low on it's suspension in that photo in the parking lot. Great looking boat, though. What's the power?

[Concordia...41]

Congratulations on making it to the water. You've worked awfully hard, now enjoy!

Cheers!

- M

[Bill Perkins]

Donn ; my Ford Ranger is carrying all the tools and left over material from the building of the boat , plus the significant tongue weight from boat and trailer . I've got brand new heavy duty shocks on , but the suspension is maxed out in that shot . I think air shocks are the logical next step .I don't want to buy a muscle truck for the occasional tow .Good thing the Southern coast is flat .

I put a 115 horse Yamaha 4 stroke on the boat . The 90 weighs the same (400 lb.!) so I felt I might as well have the extra power . I'll carry lots of people and gear at times .I'm still breaking it in and actually haven't opened it all the way up yet for more than a moment .I'm on engine hour 6 . At 10 hours I change the oil and run as I please . The open water is usually not smooth enough to run full tilt this time of year .

When I got back to Atlanta last Friday I lit my furnace .Some time later my carbon monoxide alarm went off . I live in an old Bungalow from the 20's and there was a flu blockage . I just got someone to clean it out tonight . I've been using the Heat Pal ! Not bad .

Thanks Margo! I clipped the curb a little on my way out of your lot ,but apparently no damage done to the tire . Getting a flat at speed with that setup is not an experience I want to have . Our cruise of the inner and outer harbor was allot of fun , thanks again .

[Paul Pless]

Bill, that's a neat boat, thanks for posting.:)

[pipefitter]

Nice boat. How does it ride sofar?

[Bill Perkins]

Pipefitter ; (been away from the computer ) she handles fine . Although the 22 foot keel is dead straight , the boat makes stable tight turns .She's sharp forward and I think it's important that I trim the boat level or slightly down by the stern when at rest . I carry a small bullet level to make sure I get this right with various loadings . There were small craft warnings one day (15kts) and I got to try heading her into a steep wind chop. Slowed way down she sliced through with a minimum of pounding . She runs dry ,with allot of flare forward and a set of spray rails .

There's still a bit of operator error going on .She's heavier and longer than any outboard I've run and is slim for her length ,carrying her way much further . This has made for some abrupt arrivals when docking , but I'll get the hang of her .The boat doesn't have the sharp deceleration when coming off plane that most production boats seem to ; in general she just swims better at displacement speeds than they do .

Found a few more shots.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid223/pf546a857dafc0a788e13c515693d36d8/eace460d.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid223/p0040281e27737ec47b54c80d44f2a214/eace460e.jpg