Maiden Voyage

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About 10 years ago I got tired of dealing with the boat ramp crowds and trying to find places to sail that would let us sleep aboard on the water so I sold my sailboat and started buying RVs. Finally found the perfect trailer for us (fiberglass) but started missing having a boat. I looked at the “fold a bote” with the sailing rig but wasn't convinced it would sail very well plus it was expensive. So I figured we were limited to about an 8 ft boat that would fit on the truck when towing the Casita. Surfing the web turned up very few inexpensive boats this size but lots of free plans to build your own.

Took Jacob and I about a month of spare time and about $400 but now we're sailing again. Best of both worlds, and a fun family project.

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ee94bbff2b75IMG14resiz.JPG/>

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Jacob epoxying the wood

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ee94c2657be3IMG11resiz.JPG/>

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Ready to go

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ee94c61cfe7fIMG25resiz.JPG/>

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Gilligan and the Skipper starting

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ee94cb20c679IMG27resiz.JPG/>

on a 3 hour tour

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Sure wish there was some wind!

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ee94cfc10b18IMG26resiz.JPG/>

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Hi
Great job you did on boat.Will it take a small outboard motor?

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John S,

Is that a Sabot? Boy, it looks like you guys did a great job. My dad and I built a boat once from a kit. The plans said it would take a weekend. It ended up taking a whole week. (maybe we’re slow) I had that boat for years and it was tremendous.

Good on you for including your son.

PS: What lake is that?

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Thanks Michael for editing my posts, I'm just learning how to post pictures. The boat is called a D4 dinghy. Free plans all over the web for this and many others. The designer recommends a motor of 2 hp or less.
We are sailing on Spring Lake in Santa Rosa Ca. It's a small lake, no motors allowed, some picnicing and camping.

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The only boat i have ever built was for "The Great Cardboard Boat Race" They held it here in Austin, my daughter and I entered and won the "Best Father Daughter Team" award. Boat was fine the first heat , but during the last the water worked thru my layers of varnish and we finished very last rowing a huge wad of soggy cardboard. My daughter has more pride in that trophy than any other she has won over many years, and so do I. Total cost $25 (glue and varnish) life memories priceless. :sunny

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Awesome!