DEAR DYNAMITE,
"My son Noah and I
spent six mornings building our boat and were totally
delighted with the results. Thanks!" David D.
Hume New York, New York "Thank you for all
the pleasure your Instant Boat plans have brought to this
household (we finished our Kayak in September). The Instant
Boats, amazingly enough, really are within the ability of
people like me who are not expert woodworkers. Keep it
up!" Frank M.
Kahr Arlington, Texas "With a little help
from me, one of my friends recently built your Elegant Punt
in three evenings. We painted it and then launched it two
days later. I'm impressed... such an excellent boat so
quickly." Arthur
Weatherly Olympia, Washington "Teal was the fifth
boat I've built. I've previously completed two kit boats and
built a couple of plywood dories for my kids. All I can say
is that Teal went together easier than any of those. I could
even make progress with it on days when nothing else seemed
to be going right." "Building Teal has
been one of the most enjoyable boatbuilding experiences I've
ever had. I've built kit boats from plans in the past and
usually am not satisfied with the results for the labor
involved. I compliment you for returning fun to
boatbuilding." M.D.
Shedd Lithonia,Georgia "On Saturday, I went
out, bought the plywood, sawed it, glued it tacked it
together on Sunday, and haven't had such a good time in
years. Nice plans. Nice instructions. Thanks a
lot." Thomas
Wells Briarcliff, New York "I like your
straight-ahead approach and simple explanations You're
opening the door to sailing to people like me who would
otherwise be left to gaze with envy and awe at those who
have the wealth to buy and enjoy a boat. Thank
you." James E.
Parsons Thompsonville, Michigan [excerpt from Build
the New Instant Boats, by Harold "Dynamite"
Payson, an International Marine/McGraw-Hill Book Subject: Comments on
"Tortoise" Date: Sat, 6 Feb 1999 01:26:49 +1100 From: Colin Mooney I'm building the sailing version of the Tortoise punt
straight from your Instant Boats book - after building more
complex boats from more complex plans, it's a delight to
build such a great little boat using such simple
construction
metholds. Colin Mooney, 29 Crown St Lismore NSW
AUSTRALIA. Colcath@bigpond.com Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 From: "ian.booth" <ian.booth@xtra.co.nz> I built a windsprit last summer and made contact with the
harbour outside my window--- thank you. Date: Sat, 24 Apr 1999 00:57:14 -0400 (EDT) From: Rrosenzweig@webtv.net (Robert
Rosenzweig) Capt. Bob Date: Sun, 2 May 1999
14:39:18 -0700 From: "Riley Smith"
<voice_of_sonya@mindspring.com> I have built the instant catboat out of the book.Most
every thing went well.For a first time builder, I was
supprised how easy it was.Boat looks and sails great! Will
send Pix
when I get a scanner. (She is now 3 yrs old). Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 From: The Cat In The Hat
<mtorpey@cruzio.com> Mike and Willie Torpey My friend Philip (an experienced woodworker) and I banged
out Gypsy (we refer to her as "The Horrible Old Leopard") in
about five days from cutout to finished hull. I then carted
her from Trinidad, California to myhouse in Lincoln City,
Oregon and spent another 40 or so hours grinding and
painting. We modified her a wee bit ... after all, what good
are building instructions if one can't distain them? The
"tea-tray" mast partner thing was turned into a bridge deck
with (we think) much nicer curves. We also cut down the mid
frames to a more sculpted shape on each side of the sailing
seat and added a back cross seat which is built in. We
presently have her rigged with a quadralateral sprit-sail.
In any bit of a breeze she is a real hotrod, although with
the present rig tends to be a bit scary on a run. The next
plan is to try to go back to the specified low sprit rig and
return to sea (or at least bay) trials. Everyone who sees
this boat complements the sweetness of her lines ... on the
trailer or in the water. Lapman Sun, 4 Jul 1999 16:38:01 -0600 From: "MT TAYLOR AMBULANCE"
<mttayamb@7cities.net> Plans for the tortoise said it should be a weekend
project. I suppose if I ever got a weekend free it would
have. It took me 3 1/2 years to build by boat. oh well. I
thought the size a bit small for me and I had heard that the
brick was a bigger version of the tortoise so I got out my
scaling instruments and scaled up the tortoise. I now have a
4 x 8 hot yellow brick that is wonderful to sail. I did
however, make some modifications. First off, I put all the
"framing" members on the inside. That gave me space to put
in 1" styrofoam. The plans called for the leeboard to be in
a trunk on the inside. Well, I put mine on the outside on
the starboard side of course. I also mounted the rudder on
the starboard side. Works nicely there. I modified the
rudder to make it a kick up and then added a little feature
so that I could lock it in the up position. That has worked
well also. I goofed some how on the scaling of the sail and
came up with a bit more sail than my other sailors say I
should have on this boat. The triangle is almost 10' on the
bottom, 12' on the top and I forget what came out on the
back side. Point being, is that she is still easy to handle
in nasty winds or light. I have never sailed before, or for
that matter built a boat before so I wasn't sure what to
expect. It was great. The lake I sail at is a mess of winds.
One part will have light and variable while the main part of
the lake has whitecaps. I, being a total green horn, got
myself out in the middle of the lake with the whitecaps. I
couldn't figure out why everybody else was getting off the
lake. My boat never took on water from a wave although I was
soaked from the arms up from all the spray. Every time the
wind got too much the bow would just turn downwind, I'd let
out on the sail, recover and off I'd go again. I was later
told that sailing in 20 knot winds was not smart. If you
find a map of New Mexico and look on the western side of the
state, a bit above the midline, you will see a lake called
Bluewater. That's port for us. There are five of us out here
now with either the tortoise or a brick. Mine of course is
the best looking. (ahem) I don't have any way to put
pictures on this computer so I can't show you the fleet but
I can assure you, we do have fun. Please pass on to Mr.
Payson my most heartfelt thanks for the plans. Dave Thu, 12 Aug 1999 12:46:11 -0400 From: "John Caliri"
<fhchfoper@mindspring.com> I built a Surf about two years ago. It is a great
project. I've sailed it in everything from small lakes near
home to the Pamlico sound in NC to the Chesapeke. Sails
great and under oars it is a great fishing platform for me
and my daughter. Tell Dynamite thanks. John Caliri From: Bob South <bsouth@uswest.net> Bob South Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 From:
"Scott Wood" <mylstone@mindspring.com> Just a quick note to add my thanks to Dynamite Payson for
his patience and his genuine interest in helping other
people get started in boat building. I had the chance to
visit Dynamite on a day in February some years back while in
Maine on a business trip. He showed me around his workshop,
showed me how the plans for the boats could be worked into
models first to help with the building process and gave me
the confidence to finally get sawing and build something. I
started in on my Cartopper, Ivy, that spring. Sometime later
-- longer than I planned, but each step was a learning
experience -- I launched her. Built the whole thing myself
including the oars and the sail from a kit. Ivy turns heads
on Lake Lanier in Georgia and even in the gas stations
perched in the back of my pick up truck. I'm going to move on to other plans soon. But I have to
take this time to thank Dynamite Payson for getting me
started. Scott Wood Lawrenceville, Ga. Gypsy - A "Dynamite" sailer. Wed,
15 Dec 1999 23:01:12 -0500 From: John Taylor <jwt@sentex.net> Just a short note regarding my experience with Payson's
instant boat "Gypsy": After reading "Build the New Instant Boats", by Dynamite
Payson, I fell in love with the concept of building my own version of
"Gypsy". I set to work and in three months (I work for a living) I had
completed her. I did, however, add a cockpit style deck which included
foredeck, coaming and aftdeck. This deck, made from mahogany
doorskin, added minimal weight and provided her with a stately and
functional appearence. "Diddicae's" trials proved to be the adrenaline rush of
my life! In a local lake, I set her close hauled to an 18 knot fresher
and couldn't knock her over! Later, I sailed her the entire distance
of the Trent - Severn Waterway in Ontario.Ca Thanks for the best time of my life! JWT. Subject: Teal Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 09:48:51 -0600 From: <nnicholls@earthlink.net> Built the boat from your book and plans. Did it in about
three months part time May to July (work a 60 hour week and
suffer from chronic procrastination!!). Have sailed numerous
times last year and plan to today. Working in a ball of
sweat does make painting difficult but year round access to
the water sure makes up for it. Thanks from a bodger for a Bolger Noel I have bult a Teal, the 8' pram, the 10' dinghy and the
Cynthia. All easy to build, all were efficent in cost and
use. The cynthia was too light for our open rough waters,
the bottom would ripple with each wave. Phil Ventura 4553 Pender Drive Ferndale, Wa 98248 popbear@telcomplus.net p.s., liked both yours and phil bolgers books, well
done! Sun, 9 Apr 2000 From: "Phil Ventura" <popbear@telcomplus.net> I have bult a Teal, the 8' pram, the 10' dinghy and the
Cynthia. All easy to build, all were efficent in cost and
use. The cynthia was too light for our open rough waters,
the bottom would ripple with each wave. Phil Ventura p.s., liked both yours and phil bolgers books, well
done! Wed, 19 Apr 2000 From: "Student 36" <studnt36@oit.edu> I have built one of Mr. Payson's boats about 15-16 years
ago while living in Maine. In fact, we even went to visit
him before building the boat and toured his workshop. I toted this boat to western New
York and used it there on our own little lake. I left for
college and shortly thereafter moved to Alaska. As far as I know, the boat was left in
the barn for the new owners to enjoy. I am now in southern
Oregon attending yet another college and truly wish I had that inexpesive boat around
here. Back in Alaska I have upgraded a few years ago to a
Alumaweld jet boat for transportation. Brian Karcheski June 10, 2000 From: "toby.churchill"
<toby.churchill@virgin.net> God bless Harold Payson for all the pleasure he has given
so many of us. He finally convinced me I could build a boat. My june
bug, which I am building right out of the book, is upside down in my
garage right now with the firstcoat of polyester resin drying waiting for
its seams to be glassed in the morning. Started 20 May, deadline 22 July
for the Open Canoe Sailing Group meet at Ullswater in the English Lake
District. The web site is great and really encouraging to us
novices. Thanks. Toby Churchill Saltcoats(right opposite the isle of Arran) Scotland. Sun, 11 Jun 2000 18:16:22 -0500 "Don H. Reed" <donhreed@mlc.net> Tell, Dynamite, that Don Reed in St. Louis, MO. built a
"Gypsy"
using his book. Took two months part-time. Had a great time
building her. She sails like a dream. Built homemade sail with reef
points. God, is she fun!!! I'll be sending photos when I get
to scanner at work, on vacation now. Also built launching dolly using 1/2" emt conduit, and
rear (14") wheels from old lawnmower. Having a ball with
her. Thanks. bylandorsea, Don Reed 38 34N 90 16W new boat after sanding. Thanks for the help! Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 19:39:40 EDT Raydon550@aol.com My sons and I are building a Diablo in New Hampshire. My
oldest son, Matt, created a web site to post progress in
pictures. We hope to finish the project in September and try
her out. There is a ton of bass fishing in her future. The address is "www.diabloboat.homestead.com/home.html" Thank you to Mr. Dynomite!! Joe, Matt, and Ray Dionne
John Dimick Madison, Wisconsin
|
|
