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Started:
Completed:
Type: 15'-2" x 6'-0" Open Day
Sailer
Location: Florida
Built By: Dave Nylen
Link to the Nancy's China
DC Page
in the Design Catalog |
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Building my Nancy's China DC “PAPOOSE” was a first
time experience for me although I have been sailing
and "messing around in boats" all my life. The job
stretched over three years, although I am away
cruising sometimes half the year. I followed the
plans and specifications as exactly as I could. I
used British Standard 1088 plywood, which is
beautiful stuff to work with and West System epoxy.
I used Honduras mahogany for structural pieces and
native Florida cypress for the bright trim. Out of
deference to the Florida sun, I have painted the
hull inside and out using linear polyurethane paint
(Interlux Interthane). The cypress trim is finished
with clear polyurethane. Although this was a first
experience in building, I had no big difficulties.
The stitch and glue method is really magic. Seeing
the flat pieces of plywood form the hull shape is
truly exciting. |
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I
found Sam's
book to be extremely helpful and would
recommend it to everyone. The coaming on PAPOOSE
varies from plan. I was unable to make the bend
forward of the cockpit " it appeared to be a
compound curve. I terminated the coaming at the
forward end of the cockpit and then added washboards
on the forward deck.
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I opted for aluminum
spars, thinking that they would be easier to handle
when trailer launching. I did not use the electric
motor, so, at Sam's suggestion, added 300 pounds of
lead shot in epoxy poured into boxes placed in the
dagger board compartment where the batteries would
have been. I have had the opportunity to sail
PAPOOSE several times and have found her to be a
responsive, fun-to-sail boat. I mostly sail on lakes
and rivers which a plentiful in my part of Florida
and most of which have launching ramps. I have been
sailing for over 60 years, so I had no difficulty in
handling the boat, but this is my first experience
in handling a trailer and I have a few things to
learn about that. I have purchased another design
from Sam's shop, but have not started on it. Now
that I have moved out of the garage, my wife would
like to use it for her car. Pretty unreasonable, but
maybe I'll sail what I have for a while. -- David W.
Nylen
You can contact me at
dnylen@AOL.com. |
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