I've actually been done for a month (to the day), having defended my dissertation and getting my "official" hand-shake on November 12th. Since then I've had plenty of time to fix and refix issues with my dissertation (which was accepted on the 7th), visit my parents in Pennsylvania, and play around with future projects. At some point in the near future I will be heading back to Pennsylvania to work at the University of Pittsburgh, but that is for a later post. For now, let's get into some background on the boat-related project I've been toying with.
I can't remember if I've posted, but a few weeks after selling White Raven we purchased a completed Chesapeake Light Craft Passagemaker Take-apart rowing dinghy (I am not affiliated; I just think their boat kits are cool). Now, rowing may sound like fun, but I'm into the "hanging out on a sailboat" thing more, so heaven knows I'm planning to convert this vessel into a sailing ship. She is currently located at a friend's house... in Florida... so of course the work on the vessel is a little out of reach currently, but I've been busy with other things. I bought a Sailrite lugsail kit (~$250, way less than the $600 for a pre-made sail) and put together the sail (mostly) the weekend after my dissertation. I will post more after I finish the sail but a mockup of what it will look like in the end is below.
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| A mockup of my sail on the lug rig Passagemaker, with a very small human model. |
I wish I could say that I finished, but I have to do/redo the 3 rows of stitching on the edge material on the head of the sail, sew the 3 rows on the bottom of the sail, add the leather to the corners, and place grommets in all positions. All in all the project was pretty easy, though frustrating on occasion, and has taken me maybe 8-10 hrs so far. (Side note: I may have broken the sewing machine I was using while trying to go through 12 layers of sail cloth). It would have been nice to have a large work area, but I built it on the floor of our living room, which is less than half the size of the finished sail. I also modified the 1 reef kit I bought to incorporate a design I found on Wooden Boat Forum for a second diagonal reef, which turns the lug into a lateen rig, picture below.
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| Depicted is a standing lug reefing arrangement that keeps the center of effort at the same point on the vessel, but I am trying it on a balanced lug rig. |
Anyway, I've felt bad not posting, even if my wife is my only reader. As I get closer to putting everything together, or have time to finish the sail (which are currently in Pennsylvania), I will update more. If you read this and happen to live/sail in Pittsburgh, send me a shout out. I will be hunting down a way to sail on the river after I get to town.
Fair winds,
Capt. Dr. Geruntho