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Saturday, September 27, 2014

Float test



Here's the Ooze Goose at the boat ramp. It looks out place on the trailer for my Oday 19. Good thing I live close to the launch site.



Originally I had the less than brilliant idea of moving the boat using my canoe portage wheels. The Goose is 3 times the weight of my canoe, so the wheels were not up to the task.

Plan B, always have a plan B, was to use the Oday trailer. Some scrap lumber made a pretty decent ramp. The trailer winch pulled the boat right on up. A couple of times I had to lever it straight as the boat barely fits on the trailer runners.

Once in place ropes and straps held it in place. Most of the trip to the ramp was at 15 mph with a top speed of 30. I had a horror thought of it bouncing off the trailer and rolling down the road. No problems, so that was a relief. It's a good thing I paid attention in Boy Scouts when they taught knot tying. If I do decided to use this trailer to transport the Goose any distance some modifications would be in order. Side boards to hold it on would be good and the big white guideposts would have to go.

I had a nice row around the lake. The boat has a very shallow draft and is quite stable for a boat its length. Now my efforts go towards building the sailing rig. I may even install it down to the beach rather than bring the boat back up to the house.

Too bad I was alone and there was no one to take photos of me on the lake.


-Sixbears

14 comments:

  1. CONGRADULATIONS ! ! glad you had a good launch and maiden voyage.Your boat and me have the same problem we are so damn ugly were CUTE.Hope you and the wife get to spend many days sailing and showing it off.

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    1. Anyone can have a normal looking boat. It takes effort to get ugly and cute. Thanks Gary.

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  2. It IS a tad "unusual" looking; isn't it? Then again, I used to hear the saying "Pretty is as pretty DOES!"

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    1. It's shape packs a lot of displacement in a short package. Plus I get the advantage of a solid cabin in which to get out of the weather.

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  3. Yes, unusual but compact. Would like to see more pics. You'll have to let us know how she does under sail.

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    1. I'll get the sailing rig made up and then run some more tests. More pics too.

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  4. Is the cabin large enough to sleep you and your wife? What is the beam, about 3 to 4 feet?

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    1. It's 4 feet wide and over 7 feet of usable lie down space. It's tight, but doable. Of course, wouldn't hurt if I took off a few pounds either. :)

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  5. Looks like a fun little craft.
    Phil Bolger would be proud of you...

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    1. It is a fine little slab sided boat. I got to take my lovely wife and the dog for an evening row around the lake. Very comfortable.

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  6. The boat looks like just plain fun! Glad you got it in the water for a test. Now on to the sails before the snow fly's!

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    1. The beautiful weather we've had lately has lulled me into a false sense of security. It could turn cold any time. Hope to get the sailing rig done soon. Probably will have to master it down to FL.

      It's is a fun little craft!

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  7. Slab sided boats are good! Congratulation on launching. There is a couple of videos of this boat somewhere on the net, I remember watching them some while back. It sails well.

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    1. Good to hear from you Joel. Can't wait to get the sailing rig on it. Slab sided boats are good!

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