it...."
I had not planned to do this however many of you fellow " potterers " hav=
e
asked how I like my brand new Bay Hen shoal draft catboat. [ note I us=
e
a small " P " ] to denote the dictionary meaning of " pottering " to be
messing around in small boats without _ serious_ objectives. =
Historically, the Bay Hen catboat has been in production for over ten
years...howbeit by quite a few various manufactureres. The latest
boatbuilder of Bay Hens is Nimble Boats, Inc in Florida.
I don't know the business details of it, but I understand they started
building the Hen Series [ Mud Hen, Marsh Hen and the 21 foot Bay Hen ] i=
n
October 1997. =
Nimble builds both sail and power boats for many years [ some large ocean=
going, motorsailers, and even two pretty slick outboard powered mini =
trawlers....they look like little tug boats ! ]. I understand that some=
of their boats have won various nautical awards.
When my brand new Nimble - built Bay Hen was delivered a few months ago =
it
was however [ in my opinon ] with quite a few seious =
problems....probabily production learning curve problems as well as
attempts to improve the existing design, etc. My Bay Hen was only Nimbl=
e
# 006. =
To make a long story short I was not at all happy with it and with the
removal of one bolt [ a mast hinge on the tabernacle ] and four set screw=
s
[ that hold down a mast/boom gallows on the stern] I converted this boa=
t
into a shallow draft [ 19 inches ] , "inboard " [ ie...my 5 HP 4 cycle
Honda is in the motor well ], cruising [ ie....lots of cabin space for
overnighting for a weekend or longer ], MOTOR cruiser !
Gads! A stinkpot ! I have mothballed the mast, sail and rigging.=
=
I would guess this boat could be converted back to a sailboat in a few
hours time. =
However I can say that I'm really having an excellent time [ pottering ]=
about on my local rivers and streams, etc. The cockpit is really roomy=
for four adults without hitting knees. With the bimini up it really is=
great to get out on the water for a day with friends and just have a good=
time. I do miss sailing a bit but then I sailed my 1994 P -15 # 2060 "=
Just Wight " almost 1,000 miles in two seasons...and not being a die-hard=
sailor [ ie...as to sailing.....for the time being..."been there...done
that " ] I'm enjoying my modified Bay Hen. There is a photo of my
conversion on the ECPA web site.
I still " sail " [ note: the QE2 " sails "....an aircraft carrier "
sails "... ] with the East Coast Potter Association as their " Courtesy
Launch "...to be around to help grounded sailors, help with any capsize,
etc. I try to stationkeep a bit away to keep the noise down and keep a
visual and VHF watch over the Potter " fleet ". =
So....if the bottom line is to be having a good time on the water, I'm
doing so in spades...howbeit not exactly what I had originally intended.
For you techies.....with my 5 HP / 4 cycle flat out at max rpm I get abou=
t
7 knots out of this flat bottom sharpie displacement hull. At crusiin=
g
rpms I go about 5.5 knots. At crusing speed I burn about 1/3 of a
gallon of regular gasoline per hour. Not bad for 5 HP ! The Honda
external tank holds 3 gallons. You can figure out my no-tidal- current
range yourself. I have a good friend with a twin diesel trawler. He ju=
st
filled up with 320 gallons of diesel. I stop by the gas station and get=
three gallons ! " Different boats for different folks".... I think it
goes.
Of course the boat can go over 65 MPH on the trailer and it fits in and
under my carport. It is exceptionally easy to launch and retrieve...even=
easier then my old P -15.
So that's the story folks.
October is usually excellent boating here in the Delmarva area so I'll be=
out there...you bet ! I hope to do a solo cruise up [ and back down ] t=
he
Delaware River from Wilmington, DE to Trenton, NJ [ about 60 miles each
way ]. My teriffic wife wants me out of the house for a few days [ ;-=
D
]...so I guess I'll just have to get my supplies on board and go do it. =
And besides....somebody has to do it, so it might as well be me ! ;-D>
Like Water Rat said....." there really is nothing like messing about in
boats ".
Bill Zeitler
In a modified Bay Hen 21- " Shyacht- Z "
Wilmington, Delaware
=