Thread: Solo Sailing for Goat Island Skiff

Originally Posted by arbordg

Seriously, I'm sure that a lesser weight, well situated, would work OK too. When my youngest was about 90#, adding him as ballast worked a treat.

How did you get him into the sand-bag, Dave?

(and have you let him out yet?)


(maybe when he's 18?)

No way I'd ever get him into the bag, but I've been tempted at times. The recipe would go like this: First divide into pieces no larger than a soccer ball...

The 20 year old is grown into a fine young man. At 15, this one is even more of a trial & a worry than his brother was. Might not make it till 18 before I sell him to the cannibals... or maybe the pirates - he'd fit in well there.


"Sickness and healing are in every heart. Death and deliverance in every hand" -- Orson Scott Card

Originally Posted by Daddles

Mate, you're over thinking it. Just build the thing and put in a few reefing points - you'll soon work out which ones you don't need and which ones you do. It's probably dead easy to add another if you discover you need it.

As for sandbags? You now know they can help but also that the boat goes quite nicely without them. They aren't built into the hull, you can decide to get some at any time. Similarly, they aren't expensive so if you get them and never use them, it doesn't matter.

The main points are - the GIS WILL work for a solo, inexperienced sailor. That learning period is probably fairly short if you get out regularly and after that, the GIS is a GREAT boat for experienced sailors. Only build a beginners boat if you're planning to build another boat or plan to stay a beginner forever (like I seem to be doing ).

There are reasons for not building a GIS (eg, it was designed by a vegetarian leprechaun who's reluctantly given up launching new boats over live sacrifices), but suitability for you and your situation are not among them.

Richard

Richard,

You're right, of course, and this is a brilliant post.

However... I can understand his caution. The buddhaman is just trying to gather information, create some context, and develop a level of comfort. I can relate. I know when I started thinking about building a boat for the first time, I felt pretty ignorant, and had no idea how to begin the process of even deciding which boat might be suitable. Since I have a bit of academic background, I shifted into research mode... and soon came up with a list of potential designs. Then I went out and solicited opinions. The buddha is simply doing his version of the same process. I'm certainly willing to help him along the way.

In the end, we chose to build the Goat Island Skiff. I've written at length about how well she fitted our expectations. My biggest disappointment is that the boat did not come with hot & cold running redheads. Actually, the redheads do appear every so often, but it's sporadic, and then the next thing you know, they are indeed running! All in all, it's just not working as I'd imagined it. Despite that design flaw, I've been more than pleased with the boat. Additionally, I've gotten to know Mik a bit. Certainly an unexpected bonus.


"When someone asks you, a penny for your thoughts, and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?" -- George Carlin