Well, I'm here, I guess you're stuck with me.

[DinghyHoosier]

Hi from New Albany IN . Been lurking and reading this forum for a couple of years, so I finally gave up and joined.

I've only done gunkholing, my bi9ggest boat ever was a Daysailer II, and I have never raced.

Boatless now, I've a basement full of meranti ply and epoxy, and am lofting my next boat--so I can get back to dinghy cruising. It's fun. Plus, I'm too broke to anything else!

My dream boat? Cape Dory 30...but I live in Indiana, and the family isn't going to move to the coast..so how would I spoil the grandkids?

In any event, here I am.

[Tingum]

Welcome!

[siamese]

And, welcome aboard. I used to do some lake sailing down in Indiana, but further north of you. Always had fun.

Good luck with your new vessel.

[boatman61]

Welcome to CF..
Nothing wrong with dinghy cruising.. there's 4 guys in the UK with Mirror dinghy's spend two weeks every summer doing the S coast.. sail from anchorage to anchorage days then sling a boom tent for the night.. have themselves a ball

[DinghyHoosier]

Yep, that's been my pattern. I did some lakes in IN--Monroe and Potaka, Raccoon lake...

My best so far was 6 weeks in Florida, gunkholing the stretch from Pensacola to Apalachicola....Sail by day, boom tent at night, listen to the transistor radio for weather and music. Try to find a cheap marina on the weekends to miss the power boat stampede, do some laundry, get a restaurant meal, by groceries.

It was lots of fun.

[Tayana42]

That's a great way to enjoy dinghy cruising. I used to trailer a 26 ft fight sailor all over Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and finally Arizona. Enjoy the freedom, flexibility and economy if not the comfort.


S/V B'Shert

[Schooner Chandlery]

You're on the Ohio river. Where there is water there is boating including sailing at some scale.

Best of luck.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[DinghyHoosier]

Originally Posted by Schooner Chandlery

You're on the Ohio river. Where there is water there is boating including sailing at some scale.

Best of luck.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

There's sailing here--and sailing clubs! They even have races. We're on the "McAlpine Pool"--79 miles long, and the widest point of the Ohio. I cross the river a couple of times a week, and I just couldn't stand seeing all that water going somewhere, and not following. Hence, the meranti and glue...

I've done some in an open pwer boat--my buddies duck hunting and fishing boat, and realized rust belt river or not, there is some really cool stuff to see! (I watched a buck swim across 17 mile Creek--I knew they would do that, but had never seen it!) If the river's not up, the current is about 1.5 mph--so yeah, you can sail! Just not when it's up! Not only current but lots and lots and lots of "stuff" floating down stream it would be no fun to hit....

[JPA Cate]

Welcome aboard, DinghyHoosier,

I'm wishing you great success with building your new dinghy. May she bring you much pleasure.

Ann

[uncle stinkybob]

Welcome Dingy!
It sounds like your starting the project that could give tons of fun to those grandkids!
Making memories, thats the good stuff right there! I wish you good luck!!!!
Fair Winds

[HopCar]

Welcome aboard! Please post some pictures of your build as it progresses.
What boat are you building?

[DinghyHoosier]

I'm building Paul Fisher's "highlander 14". I'll try to post pictures. I have all the ply--1/4" meranti BS1088 and epoxy, and most other stuff on hand, but the build has been in suspended animation for a bit--too cold in the basement, and there is one curve that has to be pretty exact on the ply panels, and it's been hard for me to loft! figured out a method a couple of days ago, and it's warming ups so.....

You can see his write up of it here: GP Dinghies over 13' .

I asked him if I could modify it to have a "decking" arraignment like a mirror dinghy and he OKd that... building the apron bow version, just to keep it simple, and going with the standing lug sloop rig, because the shorter mast is easier to deal with, and the lower center of effort helps with stability, IMO.

The plan is to fit it with oar locks (I've never owned an out board, and have no idea of how to maintain one!) and a tent.

MY biggest concern with it as a "cruising dinghy" is lack of a nice back rest for lounging at anchor....

[Don C L]

Well, Welcome! And if the Cape Dory is your dream boat maybe you should join the Plastic Classics group! Cruisers & Sailing Forums - Plastic Classics