WHITE-WING gets a wider cockpit

Steve Sanford

Well-known member
All~

I built WHITE-WING a couple of years ago - cut down from a 17-foot O'Day Daysailor - to serve as a 2-man scooter (aka layout boat). I told the tale here and at:

https://stevenjaysanford.com/white-wing-2-man-scooter/



Here she is as-built on Flanders Bay.

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She came back home to PENCIL BROOK BOATWORKS for:

1. Wider cockpit. I was too conservative when I laid out the original cockpit width. Using her showed that she needed about 6 more inches through the shoulders.

2. Stronger Oarlock Stanchions. I had added - pretty much as an afterthought - a pair of oarlocks screwed to the half-inch coamings. One failed with heavy use - because the coaming split. So, I mounted a pair on their own stanchions, bolted through the deck.

3. Canvas. I had never completed the sewing on the storage cover. I replaced grommets across the front with turnbuttons (Common Sense Fasteners) and replaced the strap eyes + lashings along the sides with shock cord loops + hooks - for handier use when afloat. I also straightened the bent bow on the "cowling".

4. Safety Stick. After re-mounting to the new coamings, I added shock cord + loops to hold the safety stick in place. It was too easily dislodged with 2 gunners in the vessel.


* * *

Here she is ready for surgery - adding 3 inches to each side. I play around with the batten so I can get a sweet, fair curve.

I had to cut out the forward half of the cockpit carlin (longitudinal framing member) and replace it with a section I laminated from 3 layers of 1/2-inch AC plywood - so I could cut a tight curve that had been impossible in the Dougfir I had used on the original carlins.


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Note the Strap Eyes + Lashings - to be replaced later.



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Here are the new coamings. I used 3/4-inch PVC lumber - because it would take the tight bend through the shoulder area. They were set in 3M 5200 and fastened with deck screws. (The Safety Stick is in place for measurements.).


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Note how the port side of the cowling bow has been bent down. I had used half-inch (EMT) conduit. It probably needs additional support - or stronger tubing - because gunners tend to put their weight on it as they climb down into WHITE-WING.


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Here you can see the lower port side. I removed it and re-bent it in a vise.



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Here I have re-installed the chocks for the Safety Stick (which keeps gun barrels pointed up and out of the cockpit).



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This is the first set of Oarlock Stanchions I made. Sweet lines - but I changed my design.


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I decided to 1) locate the Stanchions outboard of the Lap Cover and 2) make them taller than the Coamings - so the oars could always be lifted well clear of lumpy seas.

As usual, the "cut-offs" from each block will serve as the backer board below decks - so the fender washers and nuts on the carriage bolts make up square.


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So, that sleek set of low-profile Oarlocks Stanchions (pads?) - all sealed and primed - now hangs on the wall - waiting for the right boat to come along.....



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Here are the new Stanchions - bedded in 5200 and fastened with s/s carriage bolts. The wood is Black Locust and the socket is bronze.



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Note the height of the Stanchions - well above the Coamings - and the oars fastened in their clamp-on oarlocks so they almost touch amidships. I used the clamp-on style because these oars are made from Basswood. I do not trust such a soft wood with conventional pins bored through them at their fulcrums. As discussed elsewhere, I prefer "pinned/fixed" oarlocks on a gunning boat - especially in cold, wind, ice, mittens and the stop-and-go of tending decoys, et cetera.



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These clamp-on oarlocks are not hot-dipped galvanized - just zinc-plated. So, I primed then heavily and replaced their plated-steel fasteners with s/s machine screws + lock nuts.



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This shows how the Lap Cover lays inboard of the Stanchions.



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The Cowling canvas has been re-installed - once again nice and taut thanks to the straightened bow.



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Here are the Common Sense Fasteners (stainless steel variety) around the forward end of the cockpit (I had to add a new hem to the cover) and the shock cord loops + nylon hooks along the sides.



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The taller Stanchions pose a significant risk of chafe in the Storage Cover.


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Although I would have preferred leather, I did not have any on hand - so I sewed 4 layers of cloth (Sunbrella Marine) on the underside for protection.


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I also reinforced an area across the foot of the cover that mice had attacked previously.



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Because I dare not run a conventional "belly strap" over the ridge-pole, 2 lines from the trailer hold down her stern. I spliced some 3/8-inch nylon line to galvanized shackles - to avoid chafe.


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And, I whipped (and melted) the ends that lash to the stern cleat.


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I replaced the rusted machine screw (on one side) and dry-rotted decoy line (on the other) with s/s hardware. A fender washer to cover the notoriously weak holes in the license plate....








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...and a lock nut (nylon insert) and washer on the flip side.


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Here she is ready-to-hunt (although I still need to check the air in the tires - including the spare - and grease the hubs):


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The "hide"......


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These wooden Thumb Cleats free the shock cord more easily than the nylon hooks.


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I added shock-cord + hooks to keep the Safety Stick in place. The white arrows show the forward position - because the ends of the Stick are beveled to match the angle of the Coamings.



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I reinforced the "ridge pole" with an upper "rib" - to withstand rough-handling. The aft end sits between 2 chocks on the aft coaming.


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The forward end is held in place up on the Cowling with shock cord.


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Here is the cover - ready for the highway and Winter Weather.....

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Now WHITE-WING can rest easily, content that All Is Well....

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All the best,

SJS




 
Will~

The Safety Stick is a rest for the gun barrels - to make sure the muzzles are always pointed above the coamings (and toes). They are not as critical in a one-man layout because the gun can be rested across the port and starboard coamings. Safety Sticks (I'm sure there are other names) are a MUST in a 2-man with a full-length cockpit.

All the best,

SJS

 
Paul~

I will have to measure tomorrow to be sure. It is longer than 6-foot because at least a couple of the intended occupants exceed the One Fathom mark - at 6'5 or so. WHITE-WING herself is close to 16-feet LOA - with a maximum beam of 70 inches.

All the best,

SJS

 
Steve,

Do you prefer a fully open cockpit rather than having one's feet tucked under the aft deck? If so, why?

I am exploring an idea.

Paul
 
Paul~

I have built both styles. I prefer the full-length cockpit for 2 reasons:

1) I feel a bit claustrophobic - should the boat ever swamp and require a hasty exit.

2) If the boat will be used to tend stool, there is more room for rowing and stowing and working, especially with 2 gunners aboard.

and 3) -

IF the boat were STRICTLY to be used as a layout boat - to be towed, anchored, and removed by a Mother Ship - the smaller cockpit is probably the better choice. It certainly minimizes the risk of an inboard discharge from a shotgun.

WHITE-WING is a very able vessel. She rows beautifully and can handle any seas one would want to gun in. She would make a handy boat for messing about in the warmer months - fishing, crabbing, clamming and the like.

Best of luck in finding the Model Perfect Duckboat!

SJS

 
Paul, most of the layout boats on LI were open. Don't want your feet under a gunnel in seas. Most did not have canvas either. When the birds were flying we would BOOT them, before flags.
 
Good morning, Rich & Paul~

I just noticed that I never completed my #3....(interrupted before I hit post). I was going to add: "It's traditional on Long Island" - just as Rich said. I say that with a very traditional Jersey Sneakbox in the shop. Their short (4-foot was typical) cockpits feel confining to this Long Island boy.

All the best,

SJS

 
Thanks guys.

Steve, I really like what you have done with White Wing and having been a sailing hull I am sure it rows exceptionally well. As for pinned oars, I don't care for them but your comments about wearing gloves and mitts make sense. It could make it hard to feather the oars.
 
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