AD-14

[bondo]

Hi Karl. The $70 tri-masthead light (Navisafe-Navilight...Navilite?) uses 3 AAA batteries.
They claim a few days of continuous use.

The light must be "continuously on" from mast raising until lowering the mast.

The unit itself seems high quality. Lightweight and bright.
And satifies the local 2 mile requirement.

(In practice I have only used the mastlight for one night at a time) (and to be safe I changed the batteries after a couple uses)

This was supposed to be a temporary solution but it works so well that I will get around to it...when I get around to it. (If you know what I mean)

[terrulian]

How do you operate it ?

My question as well. Navisafe makes them but I can't see how you remotely turn them on and off.
Navisafe Navilight Tricolor 2NM w/Navimount Base

If you can't do that remotely then you'd have to pull down your mast to do it which is pretty impractical. Plus, I don't understand the benefit. You can install regular deck lights which can be wired to the boat or battery operated; you don't need a tricolor at the top of the mast. You can get a battery operated steaming light to attach to the front of the mast where you can reach it for motoring. An anchor light is not required to be at the top of the mast, just be white and 360 degrees. I hang mine from the boom.

Your cabin floor is also the DWL of the boat (I believe)

This may be true of the AD; I've never seen one in person. But it is not true of any other boat I've been on. The sole is below the waterline.

the cabin floor, and the retracted centerboard, and the bottom of the keel, and the seats and the windows are all parallel with each other AND they are all level when the boat is in trim.

I must not be understanding you here. Sailboats do not sail level; exactly how much heel they have when sailing to windward varies with conditions and preference of the skipper. But in extremely light winds, the crew sits to leeward to create heel. The only times the boat is actually level is when it is not underway or motoring in a calm sea. Downwind the boat may level on an average but I've never heard it put that way; normally she's rolling.

I'm guessing you must mean that the trim is level forward and aft, not port and starboard--in other words it is not down at the head or down at the stern. This is correct in a flat sea but of course the boat will pitch when it's choppy.

I'm pretty sure I'm not following something.

[bondo]

Everyone will have different solutions to powering the boat, this is mine:

short shaft, 4stroke, with self-contained fuel tank.
(mine happens to be a Suzuki 2.5 hp)

Forward, neutral...360 deg. swivel reverse.

Retractable motor mount.
(15" from fully up to fully down)

These retractable units are heavy (12 lbs.) Replace the heavy plastic mounting plate with a plywood one and reduce 5 lbs.

[bondo]

Terrulian, I missed your post...sorry.

When talking about baseline and levels and windows.... I was trying to explain some basics of the design in a way that might help someone building?

The AD cabin floor = the sole = DWL
(Not comparing to orher boats....only for builders understanding)

[bondo]

Now THIS is a "pocket cruiser"

[youtube]https://youtu.be/ROAmkScY_qQ[/youtube]

[Bogieman]

Nice!

[Jeff]

Yes, very nice!! Jeff

[bondo]

Thanks.
An important thing I might point out:
Be careful when changing from Jacques'plans.
You can do it but...

It's really hard to get video of a sailboat. (Put the fenders away, turn the radio off)
In the first and the last videos I posted I wanted to show the "cruising" comfort feeling that the design affords in a really short boat.

(Been a few years since I decided a flush-deck boat should have its "deck" painted the same color as it's "flush" in order to look right. I still haven't repainted my deck and it bothers me)

[bondo]

Many people will talk to you about your boat.
I mean the thing is a "middle-aged dude" magnet.
(Aren't you a middle aged-dude?)
One person (seeing it on the trailer) asked me if "it was a submarine".

Anyway, I have had a few encouraging reports from passers-by who also sail (they dont say it looks good) but they say it looks fast.

I still have no GPS readings.
(But at the least, I dont feel she is slow for her size)
I unofficially race every boat I see...unofficially the boat has done well.

Check that! I shouldn't say fast. You can't win a race upwind with this boat. But she moves-out when trying to catch them on any other point of sail.

[terrulian]

I think I had to turn in my middle-aged cred when I turned 70, and that was pushing it.

"If you can see another boat, you're racing."