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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Port Stephens
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    Default Michalak Scram Pram

    Hello all,

    Ross Lillistone, a professional boat builder from Esk in southern Queensland (Bayside Wooden Boats) has been working on the Scram Pram that I started building over ten years ago and has now completed the boat to his usual very high standard. I had simply just ran out of steam and couldn't see it getting completed and asked Ross if he'd be interested in rectifying my mistakes and completing the boat. So Ross enthusiastically took on the project and the boat now looks terrific.

    Ross put up a Youtube video of the boat sailing on Lake Wivenhoe about a week ago and Jim Michalak has just put a link to that 17+ minute video on his web site but Ross has edited that video down to a better length and here is the link to that modified video:

    Scram Pram Wivenhoe YT - YouTube

    I am sure that Ross has put way more time, effort and skill into fixing and finishing this boat than I have paid for - a true professional. Thanks to him for making a silk purse out of a sow's ear!

    GregF

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    NSW, Australia
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    Default

    Not my cup of tea, but interesting.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Port Stephens
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    Default Cup of tea

    Thanks Sumbloak,

    Well, I guess it's an an usual design; it's funny, but "boat people", not to be confused with boat people, generally don't seem so keen on the design concepts, which are, of course, pure Bolger Birdwatcher.

    Ross Lillistone is a very experienced and skilled boat-person and he is totally enthusiastic about the concept and it's potential, though.

    Ross has posted on his Blog a version of the video without the music and that is interesting too; as the somewhat amplified (by the camera mike) sounds of the water hitting the hull make things interesting.

    Here's a link to the video: Scram Pram Music Removed due copyright - YouTube

    Link to Ross's web site & blog: Ross Lillistone Wooden Boats

    GregF

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    NSW, Australia
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    Default

    Yeah I can see why it would appeal to some people. The concept is not without merit. Personally though, I'd just find myself thinking it'd go better if I sat on the gunwale. It all comes down to preference.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Blaxland, Australia
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    65
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    Default

    That's fantastic, pindimar! As a Birdwatcher-class (nee Bolger) boat, she gets along pretty friskily for something (mostly) intended for leisurely inland-waterway cruising and - birdwatching. What a great effort by you then Ross! I'm envious - or would be until I stop to think about the amount of effort that would have to go into building such a craft. My 'Duck was bad enough!

    Congratulations :).

    Good video, too.

    Cheers,
    Alex.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Port Stephens
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    245

    Default Thank you Alex

    Quote Originally Posted by AlexN View Post
    That's fantastic, pindimar! As a Birdwatcher-class (nee Bolger) boat, she gets along pretty friskily for something (mostly) intended for leisurely inland-waterway cruising and - birdwatching. What a great effort by you then Ross! I'm envious - or would be until I stop to think about the amount of effort that would have to go into building such a craft. My 'Duck was bad enough!

    Congratulations .

    Good video, too.

    Cheers,
    Alex.

    Hello Alex

    Thanks for the kind words! .... although Ross Lillistone's boat building rescue efforts have made this boat possible, I just ran out of steam after ten years building the boat 200 kms from home and being able to work on it every few weekends for a day at a time. But it is good to see that all the effort didn't come to nothing. The boat is a Scram Pram in terms of the hull but the rig is taken entirely from Jim Michalak's Blobster design (cabin and cockpit version of basically the same hull). Apart from the rudder, that is, (which is Ross Lillistone's design) but the rest of the sailing rig is all Blobster.

    The mast and spars were built by Ross L from Hoop Pine, all of the plywood in the boat is Hoop Pine and the solid timber is a mixture of NZ grown Oregon (Douglas Fir) and some recycled Kauri. The main longitudinal cabin beams are Fijian Kauri from Anagote Timbers in Marrickville.

    Thanks for the kind words though Alex

    GregF

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Port Stephens
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    245

    Default Scram Pram pick up

    Hello any and all,

    Just got back from Esk in Queensland where we picked up the Scram Pram that Ross Lillistone completed for us.

    Here is a picture of the boat at Glen Innes on the way down down to Port Stephens.

    In what must be a rare encounter, when driving down the New England highway and about twenty minutes south of Uralla with the boat towing well at 90kph what should fly past in the opposite direction but a Bolger Birdwatcher, by the colour scheme it looked as though it was the boat called Dawn Song, I think. need to take a lottery ticket!

    GregF
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  9. #8
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    Dec 2009
    Location
    Glenbrook NSW
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    Default

    Often, when we get something new we start seeing them everywhere.
    But I predict that that's about it for a Bolger.
    Makes a neat package on the road and the videos really showed off her character.

    Happy sailing.

  10. #9
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    Default

    Nice tale . Congratulations on the whole deal!

    Cheers,
    Alex.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Port Stephens
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    Default Fluke or what

    Hello Colin and AlexN

    Thanks for the replies, it must be one in ......what? ........ a thousand, or more..... passing the Bolger Birdwatcher, I mean.

    Ross spent five hours with us explaining the way the boat is rigged and getting the boat ready to travel on the trailer and we videoed that so that we can repeat the rigging performance! - fingers crossed. But the wind was way too strong here on Port Stephens today for us to risk trying to put the sail up to get used to the way it all works. A simple rig a balanced lug may be..... but ......!

    Best wishes

    GregF
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  12. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Port Stephens
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    Default In the water

    Hello any and all

    Well the Scram Pram Nellie has finally been launched on Port Stephens, so in saltwater for the first time. Rigging was fine, especially using Ross's videod instructions!

    Have had a few positive comments from locals which is great.

    Best wishes

    GregF
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  13. #12
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    Dec 2009
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    Glenbrook NSW
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    Default

    Looking good.

    You have the perfect craft for navigating those local sandbanks.

    Colin

  14. #13
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    Aug 2008
    Location
    Port Stephens
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    Default Sandbanks

    Quote Originally Posted by colinpr View Post
    Looking good.

    You have the perfect craft for navigating those local sandbanks.

    Colin
    Ah Colin; sandbanks we have!

    Greg
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  15. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Glenbrook NSW
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pindimar View Post
    Ah Colin; sandbanks we have!

    Greg
    You sure do. Still have nightmares from 25 years ago getting a hired motor sailer from North Arm Cove back to the marina at Nelson Bay, in one piece and before dark on the due day.

    Having gone up the creek to the lakes and back was the easy part of the holiday.

    No place for faint hearts!

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