The Beginning
This Blog Contains Some Affiliate Links. These links are clearly noted.
This is the introductory blog post for my blog on boating. In it I will present the purpose and what to expect from this blog. It will likely be boring and poorly written (although I hope not). Regardless of my literary ability, I hope you will find something of interest and helpful. With that in mind, if you find errors in my posts, please let me know so I can make corrections / improvements.
Focus of Blog: Small Watercraft Building
Purpose: This blog will lay out my thoughts, considerations, experiences (successes and failures), challenges and so forth of my journey learning to make small boats -- in central Germany as an expat.
Background & Motivation: For over two decades, I wanted to build a wooden boat; however, my military career of moving around a lot and deployments contributed to never having the right time or place to start a project of that scale and expense. I purchased and used a ocean kayak. Flash forward 17 years and I wanted to get back on the water. I only had one Kayak and I wanted my wife to join me, so I decided to purchase a canoe.
Craigslist helped me find an old, beat-up, fiberglass canoe for $100. It needed some care. The internal reinforcement ribs along bottom were all busted. The gel-coat was very washed-out red. It had a half "kentucky" camouflage paint job inside and out.
As I started my googling for information on how to restore a fiberglass canoe. I found a lot of information that was very helpful in working on that Canoe. It became my project. I ultimately came across blogs, posts, youtube videos and other materials that made me aware of sailing canoes and rowing as options for a canoe. Things I had never considered but became my surrogate project for actually building a canoe as I first restored the canoe to a boat you are proud to be seen sitting in on the water and then going beyond to build rowing outriggers and even a sailing kit. The sail experiment was mixed opinion... but the journey was fun nonetheless. The Princess Echo. Now Forest Green Exterior, Tan Interior (Sand), and Brown Gunnels/fore/aft deck plates. I added tie loops in bow and stern and exterior connection points (flotation tie in and potentially canvas covers for the fore and aft decks). Mast and Mizen partners/steps. Row-kit out riggers are also visible in center and leaning on it is the lee board I hacked together to hang on the lee side of the boat with sails up. not attached are the outriggers I made and and the eventual and necessary addition of a rudder as I found using oars to steer and the sail plan of main / mizzen were just too much to deal with.
And on the water. Yes it looks very red-neck, but it was a fun journey and I would likely still be messing about with it if I had not taken a job in Germany and had to leave it behind. The Princess Echo gave me the sailing bug inadvertently. All I really was after was a canoe to paddle with my wife... but a whole new world of small craft opened up to us. Here is one of the last photos of us with canoe before having to pack for Europe. Below using single Balanced Lug sail and to the right a photo of my First Mate on look-out, "No Ice Bergs Ahead, All is Clear, Mark Twain!" At that point I was already eagerly considering a sailing dinghy or small cabin cruiser...
Now that we have arrived at our new location in Germany, our journey continues. I am now looking to build some boats as well as purchase a good dinghy for sail, row, and motor use in lakes, rivers and ocean. COVID-19 has certainly impacted my freedom to move about; however, perhaps it contributed to relapse on the boat thing. :)
Reflecting back on that and how the information was essential and accessible has motivated me to do the same as I go forward with building more boats.
Next Time: Next Steps. What is next on the horizon.
See below my affiliate links for references I used on my Princess Echo canoe journey. I encourage you to scan through them. Also, Please consider supporting this blog with any of the affiliate links I am providing below the following reference links.
Reference Information (Not Affiliated Links)
Canoe Information / Links: If interested in Canoe information, here are a couple of links that motivated me long the way. I may create other posts about my experiences with this boat and my progression through the process. Ask questions on the post if you have any. That may motivate to create a post about a specific aspect of the Princess Echo because I presently intend to focus on the journey ahead. Search for tag "Princess Echo (Canoe)" for blog posts that address this boat.
1. OutnBacker's photos helped considerably as they demonstrated his sailing rig for his canoe. They also had information about his rowing rig and outriggers. OutnBacker also has a YouTube channel that had very, very informative information his sailing canoe. One of my favorites videos on his canoe.
2. Toledo Boat House's post on a lug sail dimensions.
3. Jim Michalack's boat making new letter was very helpful. I got and used his plans for making making PolyTarp Lug-Sails. I also read and found very helpful the information on rowing. Third article contains plans for oars which I made my own set using his design. Rowing Information: #1, #2, #3
3. Storer Boat Plan's guide for rigging a Goat Island Lug Sail.
4. Song of Paddle. Outfitting a canoe post from one of it's memebers was very interesting.
5. Yankee Preper's Video on his Canoe referb gave me the information I needed to move forward with my glass repairs and paint jobs on the Princess Echo. Part 1. Part 2.
6. Another sailing canoe overview video. Open Canoe sailing is more popular in England than the USA.
My Affiliate Links:
SAVE A BUNDLE ON VPN! If you find my posts helpful and you are in need of VPN or looking for a different service provider, please consider registering using my referral link. TORGUARD VPN is an outstanding VPN that has been very reliable for me and with my subscription. It works with Amazon Fire stick also. If you use promotional code WIESBOATIN50, you will get 50% off your subscription FOR LIFE. Sign up for using this referral LINK.
If you are interested in getting several books or products, check these out by clicking the links or photos. All links direct to Amazon with my affiliate information:
Jim Michalak. He has a wonderful web site which I linked to above for a few of the articles I found useful. This is a more detailed book on building boats using common supplies. Boatbuilding for Beginners (and Beyond): Everything You Need to Know to Build a Sailboat, a Rowboat, a Motorboat, a Canoe, and More
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