Dear Richard,

Daytime temperatures of 10ºF, not friendly to epoxy work, have brought
my building progress to a halt.  I've tried electric blankets, a small
electric heater under the boat running 24 hours a day, but it's still
below freezing in my uninsulated garage.

I started in April of 1993, as I see from the letter Phil Bolger sent
with the plans. I decided on lapstrake construction, which I was
already used to.   Building has been slow, as work and family
obligations take precedent, but I am close to flipping the hull at
last.

  I lofted the boat full size, simultaneously working out the planking
layout, using the method Iain Oughtred describes in his lapstrake
building manual.  I was able to loft the permanent bulkheads with the
plank lands, so I could build them into the boat.   I'm using meranti
ply from Noah for all the lower strakes and the bulkheads - anything
which may end up being submerged in water.  The rest will be occuome.  
  The meranti is a little splintery, but I believe it has more natural
rot resistance than occuome, and I've actually found fewer voids in the
meranti than the occuome.

The stem and the transom are locust.  I happened to have some lying
around, otherwise I wouldn't recommend it - it's very hard to work
with, and of course very heavy.  However I'm  confident that the stem
on this Chebacco will never rot and will demolish just about everything
that it meets.    The transom runs straight across to include the motor
mount, like Brad Storey's boat.  I didn't understand the implications
of this until I found out that the 10º angle on the original design
accommodates the default mount on most outboards!    For me that's
still not a dealbreaker, as it'll be stronger, and I think it looks
better.  The boat will have an 18" bridge deck.    I'm toying with idea
of an electric propulsion system, and I'm still wondering whether or
not to build a small bowsprit, partly for use with a jib, but mainly as
a cathead for carrying an anchor.

As soon as the weather warms up I'll be putting dynel on the bottom and
garboard, and I'll paint the whole using Kirby's enamel.

The name I'm not sure of yet.  Loosey Goosey springs to mind (along the
lines of Itchy Scratchy).

Love the website.

All the best,


Howard Sharp.