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Steve Lusardi
 
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Default Want A Free 56 Foot Schooner?

Doug,
Ah HaH the real reason comes to the fore! Of course, the hull is finished,
now the boat project really starts. Advise to those builders that think they
want to build themselves is to build backwards. Acquire all the hardware,
fittings, engine, mast, rigging and sails first, then build the boat. If at
some time, you cannot handle the cost, you can back out by simply selling
the unused, new equipment and you haven't invested in the overheard of
maintaining a construction site. Failure becomes affordable.
Steve
"DSK" wrote in message
...
auerbach wrote:
Interesting story in today's (5/11) Wall Street Journal, pg. 1. Jack
Christenson, of Marshfield, Mass., spent 17 years building a 56-foot
schooner in his back yard. He's finished it, but now he can't afford to

pay
to have it trucked to the sea, can't find docking space at any price,

can't
buy insurance because he has no sailing experience, and can't find a

school
or other charity to take it for free.


Wait there's more. It's too deep, and apparently he can't afford to
finish commissioning it with all the rigging & other equipment it needs.

The guy is an MIT grad, now 68, and apparently he is a masterful

craftsman.
The hull, masts and sails are all beautifully made, but sailing schools

are
afraid to accept it because they can't be sure he didn't make some major
structural error. What a shame.


IMHO the shame is that he didn't think ahead. Doesn't MIT teach it's
students how to plan properly? Oh well at least he had fun building it.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King