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David Mitchell

I have been saving some photographs for a quiet period on the forum. I hope you will enjoy this. I'll space it out a few at a time. It may seem like a lot, but I actually left out a ton of photos. And I was not taking photos at the beginning of the project. Sorry, that could have been inteteresting. 

A couple weeks ago, my friend Roger (the Cobra pilot and Al Gore's homebuilder - see previous posts) sailed away with a good friend on his 44-foot Catamaran sailboat. His wife will fly up and join him and they will live on it up in Maine until they sail back together around Thanksgiving. They have a dingy to get back and forth to the local town dock (from their place at anchor in the harbor) and folding electric bikes to get around town. (Note: I have ridden the bikes and pronounce them the coolest thing since sliced bread! )

The boat is huge, and he designed it in his head and built it from scratch - along with about a dozen of us who helped at various stages. It took him (us) 8 years from start to finish, and it has been done, and in use for a few years now. But this trip was the farthest they have gone since it was launched. (Note: Roger built a few boats before this. He and another friend sailed a 28-foot "Cutter" sailboat across the Atlantic about 25 years ago - 29 days to the Azores (including 3 whole days sitting right off this coast, becalmed - no wind).

I told you before he was a self-taught, weirdo, mechanical genius - best Cobra gunship pilot we we ever had and then best maintenance officer we ever had). And watching this project from beginning to end was amazing. I hope you enjoy my photos.

This fist photo is just a shot of three Vinh Long (Comanche Troop) Helicopter pilots and one wife, in the boat shed in their backyard. Left is a guy named Jack Abbott, a fellow "Loach" pilot who was shot down 5 times! He lived in Charleston and we saw a lot of each other at times. He had to move to a care facility in in Virginia to be near his step-son. He's having horrible Agent Orange issues with a blood disorder they cannot seem to solve. Next is me. Then Roger's wife Laurel, and last, Roger, the boat builder himself.

The second photo is me on a ladder showing some perspective of the boat's size. The "shed" is Roger's creation to enclose it while being built. It was built incredibly stong and is covered with the largest single piece of plastic sheeting available for purchase anywhere. It took 8 of us to unpack it from it's container in a neighbor's yard, unfold it and then re-roll it into a long "roll" and carry it back over to the site. Roger then had a series of ropes thrown over the roof srtucture, to be hooked to the plastic sheet and pull it over the top. He had heating in the structure for winter and a fan to keep heat somewhat under control in the summer. 

Below is a photo of the 2 "bows" with "bow sprit" protruding forward between them, shot while standing back on the side of the "pilot house". That "bow sprit" in the center is the forward attachment point of the sail. Fo rthose unfamiliar, a "Catamaran" has two hulls. That creates a wider balance, less "list" (tilt) and greater speed. It also makes for the need of larger dockage - read; more expensive dock fees.

The second shot shows Roger and Jack standing on the deck with the shed roof above them. I'll follow with some more later. (it's taking forever to load these photos)

David Mitchell

After 8 years, the boat was ready for launch (some items had to be finished once in the water). So the roof of the shed had to be dismantled (gone for a few days and I missed that completely). You see the twin outboard engines - for "motoring" in calm waters or manuevering in harbors. And you see the twin rudders, joined by a long connecting rod. 

The second shot shows Laurel and the back of their modest 2-bedroon house. This shows better perspective of the size of the monster.  

The next two shots show the mast (almost finished) and another shot of Laurel and the boat behind the house. The mast was 55 feet long and built in a unique way (Roger never did anything the easy way). It is hundreds of 6 or 8 foot long pieces of 1/2 inch by 1 inch pine strips, "splined" together lengthwise with gobs of epoxy. A nearly hollow length built around a shaped "mold" with some spaced interior bulkhead support pieces, and then wrapped in layers of "Kevlar", a towel-thick, woven flexible "mat" of bullet proof epoxy material that he bought in long 4-foot wide rolls. It's difficult to buy anymore as the military uses almost all of the existing supply. And over each layer of Kevlar he brushed more and more epoxy which we mixed in small batches and applied with sponge paint rollers while it was still soft. We mixed thousands of little plastic cocntainers of epoxy becaue it can only be made in small batches at a time before it "goes off" (hardens). And even quicker in hot weather - which made us work faster and in smaller batches. Once you mix "Part A" with "Part B" you only have a few minutes before it hardens. And plastic gloves and face masks and glasses or goggles are mandatory for your safety. Each little plastic bucket and brush and roller had to be thrown away. Once the epoxy hardens, those items are useless.

The mast was built inside the shed and weighed just under 400 pounds, and although made of wood, was stronger than anything made of aluminum. It took about 16 of us with the mast balanced on a dual wheeled "bicycle" rig to roll it through the streets of town (about 3 blocks) and down to the river, where a crane had to lift it into place. Before lifting it, a pully was mounted on the top so someone could be lifted up to the top to mount the four stays and a weather vane. I have videos of that and it's an amazing thing to watch.

Note: A few years later while Roger and Laurel were sailing with another couple in the Carribean, they encountered a fierce storm and the mast was broken. Lightneing struck - and broke - one of the 4 "stays" (wires that hold the mast up from the top of the mast down to the four corners of the ship), and the mast was floundering and being knocked across the top of the pilot house with great force until it broke. Roger spent almost a year on his own, building a newer, stronger (and slightly longer) mast in the back yard). Laurel later told me that she didn't think they were going to make it through that storm.  

More later.

Jeanine Eilers (Decker)

Dave--I have been to all 50 of these United States and to many, many foreign countries.  In the foreign countries, especially where the people are Asian or brown, the things that stand out are the tourists.  They are American, WHITE and fat.  I'm allowed to say that because I am, too.  So, I think if you look around the Golden Corral you might see some white folks who meet your description in addition to the black folks.  If not, hop on a plane and see the world.  You will find fat people of all races and genders.  It's probably not a good idea to make disparaging remarks about one race or gender.  Yes, I was offended.  I'll get over it.

David Mitchell

Jeanine,

My sincere apologlies!

I had no intention of offending anyone, let alone a cherished classmate. I was responding to something that I think Mike said and had no idea it would be taken wrong. I should have been more careful explaining my point. The phenomenon that I said was "frightening" is in fact frightening to local health experts and is the subject of much study and conversation. 

And I am the last person on earth to imply anything racially demeaning. I live in Coastal South Carolina, between Savannah GA and Charleston SC, the home of generations of systemic racism & predjudice (=unemployment), oppressive heat & humidity (= a lifestyle of inactivity), and poor diets (= widespread diabetes). My few good local Black friends would bear this out. 

I should have taken more care in wording that post. 

Jeanine Eilers (Decker)

Done.  Thanks.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike and other tree aficionados,

I learned an interesting fact about Ponderosa Pines (probably true of all coniferous trees) this past week. Each fall we have a tree service trim and shape our trees and bushes and, in the summer, spray them for insects and the pine beetle. I had observed that last year our Ponderosas produced literally hundreds of cones but this year relatively few. The arborist told me that last year's bumper crop was due to the spcies being under stress (drought) and, therefore, needed to spread more seeds (which is what pine cones do) wheras this year the trees are healthier and do not need to propagate as much.

Never knew that, you learn something new every day!

Jim 

Michael McLeod

Jim: Further proof that evolution plays out in the plant kingdom just as surely as it does with animals. 

Long time ago I interviewed a scientist who studied fossils to track the early appearance and evolution of flowers.

John Maxwell

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike,

Plant life definitely evolves...sort of makes one wonder what the Cretaceous Period ancestors of the Venus Fly Trap plants ate! Pterodactyls???

Jim 

Mark Schweickart

Dave -- Thanks for making us all feel bad! Just as we are beginning to acclimate to retirement years, and hopefully finding something somewhat productive to do in our free time, along comes Dave and friends to show us that we might want to muster a little gumption and try something like building a boat in our back yard. And then trust it to be seaworthy enough to sail around the open seas just for fun. So, Jim and Bob, put  away your nature photograghy. Larry, put away your pencils and brushes. And I will put aside my scribbling (can one scribbe on a computer?) and let's all head out to Home Depot. Meet you in the lumber yard! Let's build something, something big. And then let's figure out a way to transport it somewhere else. All kidding aside, Dave, I have to ask-- how did you get that monster out of the backyard, and through all those trees, down to wherever the launching point was?

Fred Clem

Jeanine,

As a person who has battled a weight problem for over 50 years, I'd like to echo Jocko's bravo.

If they ever figure how to disconnect the president's Twitter account they should then go to work on Dave's internet service.

Fred

James Hamilton, M. D.

Yeah, Dave, how did you all get that ark to the water and how many cubits long and tall is it? 

Jim 

John Maxwell

James Hamilton, M. D.

Jack, don't you think Matthew, Mark, Luke and John would have been the documentary film makers?

Jim 

Lawrence Foster

Mark, Dave, et al...

Let's see ... boats are made of wood that is cut up.  So earlier today I went out and honed my skills in wood cutting (yes, pun intended).  Here are 3 pics of  before, during, and after of my afternoon work with my axe.  Not sure I'm the best guy to be around boat building, but I think Dave should make the final call. Now, boat tearing down?  Yeah baby...I'm in!!!

Lawrence Foster

And here are two pencil sketches of boats that I saw in a book and I copied them.  The book is called Soundings.  It deals with people and the sea and was published back in 1966.

David Mitchell

Fred,

Again my sincere apologies!   

but if I lose my internet connection, you won't be able to send me your steady barrrage of poliitical cartoons by email.

David Mitchell

Jack,

I doubt if He could have done a better job than Cecil B. De Mille. Film School was another educational opportunities He never had.  

David Mitchell

Mark, Jim, and Larry,

There's more to come on the boat photos. I just thought the "weather" was getting a bit rough for now.

Fred Clem

Eleanor Walker, the wife of coach Dick Walker, died last week.  May she rest in peace.

Brian McNamara & I have volunteered at St. Lawrence Haven over the last several years.  Eleanor was also helping up until about 6-8 months ago.  What a nice lady.   

Here's a link to her obituary:

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dispatch/obituary.aspx?n=eleanor-walker&pid=193495256&fhid=12137

Jeanine Eilers (Decker)

Thanks, Fred.

John Maxwell

Michael McLeod

Just noticed your leaf-raking comment, Dave.

Yes. Piles of leaves were fun. Just jumping into them made it a good day.

I swear, being a kid is the next best thing to being a puppy.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Rake 'em and JUMP IN!

Rake 'em but DON'T JUMP IN!

Jim

Mark Schweickart

Dave (and everyone else for that matter) – Given your fascination with building a boat, I guarantee you will be blown away by a documentary I just saw today in my local art-house theater. It is called Maiden, and is about the 1989 Whitbread Race – 33,000 nautical miles, nine months, around the world, from South Hampton, England and back. For the first time, an all-woman crew, in a second-hand boat entered the race to achieve something quite harrowing and spectacular. (Not mentioned is how they managed to assign one or two crew-members to film much of the ordeal, but somehow some of them obviously did, which has made this documentary possible all of these years later.) Here's the trailer. You will not be disappointed if you get a chance to see this. Extraordinary. I don't think I will ever want to get on a boat again.