A Boat to Chase the Models In

When I first sailed Constellation back in 2011, her battery failed and she sailed into someone's dock about 50 yards down the creek from where I was. I was very fortunate she didn't go away from where I was, the creek was 1/4 mile wide there, and ran East for almost mile before it turned North. Still, I had to swim to retrieve her. I'm not a good swimmer, and didn't think to take a flotation vest along, but after that I made a point to take one along when ever I sailed the models. Even so, that wasn't the best solution, and wouldn't even be an option, like when it was cold out. What I wanted was a small car-topable boat, I could handle alone to chase the models around in.

I watched for such a boat for some time, but when something came along, it was often more expensive than I could justify. I was beginning to resign myself to building one, but even that would be pretty expensive. Since the models are still a ways off from being sailable, I wasn't in a great hurry. But then, in early June 2023, someone over near Cambridge Maryland was giving away an International Optimist pram, and I pounced on it like a cat on a bird.

I was looking for a pram in paticular, because it would be the most stable and buoyant for it's size, and for my size, while still being light and small enough to get on and off the top of my car alone, and to launch without needing a boat-ramp.

There's some minor repair work to do, and I bought oars and hardware to set her up for rowing. She'll probably need a skeg so she'll track better when rowing, and I'll put a pad on the transom for the electric trolling motor I hope to get eventually.

Yes, I was hunting for Red October, but she will not be keeping that name. I'm thinking since she's built in Denmark, I might name her Fangst.

The boat didn't have it's sailing rig, rudder, dagger-board, though that's not a priority for me. I'll will keep an eye out for a used set, and will probably make a small 50-75 square-foot sprits'l so I can sail along with a model without dealing with her racing antics at the same time. A rudder and dagger-board I can make.