TX-18 Started

[Daniel Huckleberry]

David

You can do it in 11 months, if you have the time to dedicate to it. I did NOT. Somehow I found the time to do it because I wanted it. If you look at my posts you will see I had large gaps of very little progress.

While I was building I had a new baby (my wife did most of that work) which kept me tired and busy. I also built a new 20x30x10 workshop on my own. I also have a full time M-F job, and a small flooring business on the side with myself as the sole employee. Oh yeah, I built a boat in there, too!

I feel like a life less hectic would lend itself to boatbuilding much easier. familyman must be the toughest guy I know with the work he has done with 4 kids!

I agree with Tom on his point about Jacques and Shine. They are the go-to guys when you have any questions on structure, method, etc. I am only helpful in that I have been there on this particular boat.

Good luck, great building.

Huck

[Daniel Huckleberry]

Forgot to report my trip last night. Had a beautiful sunny but cool afternoon so I took advantage of what I could. Boat ran great as usual. Ran next to a buddy with a GPS and we were getting about 35kts with my bad wheel. Slipped out into the bay and found some rollers. They were big enough that they would bottom out in the tunnel. It is a strange sound to hear all that water build up "inside" the hull. The great thing is that I had no evidence of a sneeze. I think the bow is So buoyant and when you are running normally most of the tunnel is out of the water so the sneeze has a lot of places to go and the bow lifts above it, or something like that.

Spent 30-45 min talking to a guy at the ramp after taking him for a ride. By then it was dark, cold, and I was out of beer. Time to go home.

Huck

[familyman]

Huck: I hope we can get together when I am in Foley. Unfortunately I will not be able to bring the "Heather J" , but the family is a possibility. Your boat is so cool. I haven't been following for a while and wow that must be something. I bet you can barely get away from the ramp to launch it with all of the questions and gawkers.

My email is bellsworth@tampabay.rr.com and I will be in your town starting Dec 20th. My phone # is 813-448-9223. Send me your info so I can call when I get there.

Later,

[Daniel Huckleberry]

Familyman, sent you an e-mail. My address starts with bornwet so you might find it in your spam filter. I don't know why these filters had such dirty minds. We were all Born Wet, weren't we? I think that's why I can't get away from the water

Hope we can get together, your family is welcome in my home.

Huck

[SFC Hall]

how about some finished pictures? any of it in the water? I am really curious about this boat. I have read this thread and I thank you for taking the time to let us know.

[davidtx]

how about some finished pictures? any of it in the water? I am really curious about this boat. I have read this thread and I thank you for taking the time to let us know.

Check on page 19 of this thread for some pictures on the water. Also, see Huck's gallery - http://gallery.bateau2.com/thumbnails.php?album=533 - there are lots of pics there. I've now been through both the thread and gallery several times and find something new each time.

[davidtx]

Forgot to report my trip last night. Had a beautiful sunny but cool afternoon so I took advantage of what I could. Boat ran great as usual. Ran next to a buddy with a GPS and we were getting about 35kts with my bad wheel. Slipped out into the bay and found some rollers. They were big enough that they would bottom out in the tunnel. It is a strange sound to hear all that water build up "inside" the hull. The great thing is that I had no evidence of a sneeze. I think the bow is So buoyant and when you are running normally most of the tunnel is out of the water so the sneeze has a lot of places to go and the bow lifts above it, or something like that.

Thanks for the update!
On the ride in the rollers - can you compare the ride to other boats?
Good to hear about the sneeze. I read somewhere that sneezing in cat's generally happens as you are slowing down - I assume, from the the boat is lowering on the air cushion and snorts water out the front. I'd be interested to hear from others about what conditions induce sneezing. (but its definitely good to hear that it doesn't happen in in normal operation)

[Daniel Huckleberry]

That's a tough comparison to come up with. A lot of the ride will have to do with the captain. Obviously not a Deep-V boat. My younger brother had a 16' Wahoo (aka B*st*n Whaler) It is gentler than that. Up to a 1.5-2' chop, it does great. It seems to "bridge" them. The boat is very light and buoyant in a VERY GOOD way.

I had several conditions where we were sliding off the front side of a roller and pushing the next. No sneeze there and our speed was definitely changing.

Huck

[davidtx]

I just ordered the TX-18 plans - one step closer to joining this club.

[Daniel Huckleberry]

Very Cool!