Category: News

Work on the Robert Allan began a couple of weeks ago with removal of the sacrificial keel and some of the centerboard fastenings.  Last Saturday, scraping of the interior got underway, in preparation for refinishing.  We found the stern knee was badly delaminated, so a new one of black locust will replace it.  The centerboard trunk was removed and examined, and will be remade.

We’ve received a couple of updates from the family who bought the Sam Mac, and they’ve been busy repairing her.  Thanks for the photos, Kirby!

And, remaining work on the Button Swan has been mapped out.

One of those items includes the word “repair” – yes, even a new boat needs some remedial work sometimes.  One of the laminations of the deck didn’t hold, and we found a split joint.  Some epoxy and screws should take care of that, and we thought of adding knees underneath for added support, in case the split was stress-induced.  All part of the break-in period!

A couple of photos sent in by another sailor (thanks Ron!):

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been chipping away at finishing up the Button Swan’s sailing rig.  The jib sail has been made by Bob, Nick, and Louise, and Bob did some finishing touches on Saturday.  We had a great day of working out the last of the rigging questions that we’d had, and got the boat set up with both sails!  And boy, does she look fine, and sail wonderfully!!

After a bit of a shake-down sail, we came back to the dock for some adjustments, and went back out for another test.  There are still some finishing touches left to complete, but we feel we’ve got the system set up pretty nicely now.

This boat really moves!  We had perfect conditions for testing her, a nice steady breeze and flat water, and were hugely impressed with her speed!  She has no problem beating to windward, her long keel doing a great job of keeping her tracking, and when tacking, the jib does its job splendidly, pushing the bow around through the wind – tacking was quick and easy.  She is a bit tender, and we’re curious to see what she’ll be like in heavier winds, but we do have two reef points to let us reduce sail for more manageability, so it should work out fine.

She is a delight to sail, and we are overjoyed with how she has turned out!  I hope that everyone will be able to get out and enjoy this wonderful boat!!!