Is this FREE boat an expensive distraction?

[@Helliconia54]

Nice little dinghy. Can't wait to watch the sailing videos

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

More to come!

[@queirozdrone]

Beautiful place my friend 🎉 watching you from Rio de Janeiro Brazil 🇧🇷🎉

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Yes it sure is, and coming from Rio you understand natural beauty. No wonder they put the statue of Christ the redeemer there. Thanks for reaching out. Stay in touch Chris

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Just watching your Surfer Tatiana going for Gold. Hope she does well.

[@queirozdrone]

@@SmallSailboatCruising thank you so much for your attention friend 🤝 I'm sharing your videos 👏

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

@@queirozdrone Thanks that is appreciated. I’m a bit slowed down at the moment with my wife’s health issues. Also pretty cold and wet here. Hoping for another burst of activity soon. I’m desperate to get at least one of my boats back in the water. Both laid up at the moment. Nothing major that time and chance won’t Overcome.

[@queirozdrone]

@@SmallSailboatCruising God bless you my friend and your wife, I'm here praying for that 🙏

[@stevewolf7205]

That looks to be a good find chris next project begins your a busy man Chris good way to be. love the waterfront boat sheds can't do that anymore in aus shame should be great camp dinghy tow everywhere no hassle you must miss moonlight .your place is really nice chris great views over river still to cold for me love your videos cheers Steve

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Every other day I come up with a plan to get Moonlight down here where she belongs. Nothing has crystallised so far. 2000 k is a long haul.

[@danhackmusic]

Hello again Chris! Have been waiting for the update to inform us of the next project boat. She looks like an ideal Tassie camp cruising dinghy. Researching building something similar at the moment. Before moving to Launnie, we lived just round the corner at Connellys Marsh where I kept our boats on a mooring. It's a beautiful part of the world. Sing out if you need an extra set of hands on the new project. Cheers, Dan

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Hi Dan. Thanks for reaching out. I’m keen to get like minded people together in the North of the State. Mat Conboys group is very active but involves a lot of travel. Feel free to connect on Facebook and messenger. Cheers Chris.

[@danhackmusic]

@@SmallSailboatCruising Thanks Chris, sounds like a good plan, though we're boatless these days. I'm not on FB, but my wife is so don't be surprised if you receive something out of the blue :)

[@tomboooty]

Hello from Saugatuck, Michigan in the United States. I live in a small coastal town on the shore of Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes. I love your little boat! I have a 16 foot rebel sailboat that I would like to turn into a cruising dinghy. I also have two old wooden snipe sailboats, both about 15 feet long. Also a wooden Bluejay sailboat about 13 feet long and various other small boats. I have a 27 foot Catalina sailboat I keep moored in Southhaven, which is about 20 miles south of Saugatuck. I look forward to your next video with great anticipation. Good luck with everything!

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Sounds like you have a decent dose of the good addiction! The lakes have always fascinated me. Great cruising grounds by the sound of it. I like the notion of a boat for all conditions. Thanks for reaching out Cheers Chris. Stay in touch. Facebook is where I post real time updates.

[@AJDavis-t9e]

Nice little boat Chris. I would just add a small dodger, maybe a furler. And some seats running fore and aft, nothing to step over. AJ.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

I’ve taken the two fwd thwarts out. Loving the space.

[@duncan18663]

Lovely little boat. I'm sure she'll look great with a fresh coat of paint.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Can’t wait to see her freshened up. I’m dreaming up a Color scheme. Bit of work involved in getting the hard anti foul off and plenty of stress cracks to deal with on the deck but will be well worth the effort. Cheers Chris.

[@davelawrence6777]

That's a really nice little day sailor Chris broad beams sits high in the water, we're it I I think I'd just make my storage under the bow and then add a raised cover for shelter far less likely to change the balance of the boat. Just a thought great find and a really nice project. Sometimes God helps us out by just placing what we need right in front of us. No idke hands for you.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

They got a bit carried away with the anti fouling which is 8” above the waterline. I will be relocating that. Forward locker is very roomy. Takes anchors lines fenders lines and full set of sails. I’m going to replace the side hatches with fabricated pocket bins for all the other paraphernalia.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Interesting thing. I’ve experienced Gods provision on my last 3 boats. Seems he is giving me something enjoyable to keep the vision alive while I care for my very sick wife. I’m thinking I’ll get hold of an old sewing machine and some nice fabric to make up a custom boom tent. Nice coaming to attach to.

[@servantofgod5642]

Seeing that gantry reminds me of early 1960’s scallop dredge gantry’s. Remember when there was scallops ?

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Still plenty of scollops there but we can’t use a little dredge as we did back in the day. Instead we have to compete with the great whites. Not for the feint of heart.

[@liwoszarchaeologist]

"The only thing more expensive than a cheap boat, is a free boat." -old sailor's proverb Glad this one seems to be an exception for the most part.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

I’ve had a cheap boat project that went totally pear shaped so I’m going in with my eyes wide open. No surprises with this one, thankfully.

[@TimsBitsnPieces]

I love his boat ramp.. great stuff.. Many years ago I used to help out at the Williamstown boat ramp as a kid when it was at the end of Gem Pier... I have on occasion moved boats about with just an oar... Sarah did well to row around with Bess behind her.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

She sure did. It was harder than it looked with the wind swirling things around. Idyllic setting my grandfather had a boat shed just around the corner at dodges ferry so very nostalgic for me. Cheers Chris

[@robkunzig5795]

Hello Chris, my first thought would be a dogger back to the mast but the jib foot is quite low. For camp cruising the dogger would keep some spray out of the boat and an area to duck a down pour plus attach a tent for the night. You could even "V" it back to the shrouds. Would it be worth raising the clew of the jib14 inches? Hope she is sound and doesn't take on any water when dockside - best wishes, thanks for taking us along! Rob

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Thanks for connecting Rob. The dodger idea is a good one. I was toying with the idea of building a cuddy cabin but maybe too big a project. I’ll sail her for a season and who knows? Certainly can see a boom tent going forward around the mast while at anchor. She is definitely sound. Cheers Chris

[@AllanKing-om3ur]

I would have expected rollick blocks in a scout boat. I think I would put a furler on the jib cause it's fairly large. Perhaps she was built off the mould the scout assn had. Hope you gave that trailer a good hose down before you gave it back.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Row locks are normally part of the deal for sure but not on this one. Sailednby the 1st Paynesville scouts back in the early 80’s. I’m thinking of putting a set in. Furler is a good idea. Headsail is not hanked on so quick to swap over. She has 3 headsails. Good for 30 knots Trailer has been heavily rained on but today I plan to pressure clean of the rain lets up. Thanks for connecting regards Chris

[@servantofgod5642]

Questions without notice mister speaker: So if I buy a trailer sailer and keep it in the water for months then out for months what sort of anti foul?????? Or do I just careen Abdul Jabar it in the shallows every 2nd day?

[@dreamtimesv]

Trailer sailers need a hard anti-foul to withstand on off trailer activity. I have done with a shipwright’s advice on a Sonata I once owned. Worked a treat.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Dreamtime has good advice for you. Mine have never been in the water for long periods of time so I have gotten away with two pack polyurethane which just needs a hose down and a car brush.

[@Helliconia54]

What would I do? First thing I'd do is make a GOOD boom tent. She looks fantastic. At the most? work out a sleeping platform. That's it. No more.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Keeping it simple is a challenge. I keep seeing big things!