DSK wrote

Bart Senior wrote:
3" Long Leaf Yellow Pine planking, custom milled for Dolphin by
New England Naval Timbers.


I bet that was not easy to bend to shape.

I've always thought pine was easy to work. After looking at that
lumber I have to agree with you. They are using 1/2" or bigger
galvanized bolts to fasten them to the steel frames, and then
plugging the counter sunk holes with wood, and then caulking.

I've read that big slow moving props are more efficient that smaller
faster turning props.

Yes, that is definitely the case. It's why big ships all have large,
slow turning props. Naval ships, for example, usually hit WOT around 200
RPM... the reduction gears are the most expensive part of the power plant.

Have you read about regenerative motor sailing? I ran into this
yesterday while researching props. Big props are key to making
that work. I think it only makes sense when you have a light boat.

http://www.solomontechnologies.com/S...20motor%20sail
ing.html

... Perhaps they are running into financial problems.
A boat this size must cost $5000 for winter dry storage. I figure
it costs about $780 a month just to sit there--not to mention
repair work and materials. They are trying to sell shares in the
boat at $100,000 for 1/10 share. I don't think there are many
takers.

Might be fun, depending on what you could do with your share. I bet they
wouldn't let a 1/10th share owner actually take the boat out
independently for 1/10th of her season though.

That would be attractive, if you could do that. Unfortunately, wooden
vessels like this cost so much to maintain, that purchasing shares is an
opportunity to lose money.

The Quinipiac, a schooner, is getting some maintenance work done.

http://www.schoonersoundlearning.org/siboat.html

There are many volunteers helping. This schooner has a shallow
draft and looks like it won't sail to weather until you find out it has
a 12' centerboard. I'm going to see if I can get a ride on her later
this year. Without donations, non-profit status, and volunteer
help, she would probablly be rotting or sold for scrap.

Bart