MAGIC's Craig

Just for the fun of taking part in this discussion, this last image teases my boat design thoughts enough to offer the idea that it looks to me to be the stem and forefoot of a (possibly) lapstrake craft, quite full in the bow, in order to be able to carry weight (See the size of the arms on that crew member) and perhaps it was simply some small craft which was scooped up inexpensively to be useful if needed. I have no more knowledge than anyone else though as to whether that was the case. Back to you, Keith.

Thank you, Gary. Those are kind words from a craftsman, indeed.

Magnificent in its tiny-ness!! Oh my, i would have to put on some serious magnification glasses to see all of your details. Really inspiring, Keith.

Thank you, John for the support. I am beginning to see the lighthouse through the fog...

Welcome aboard, James! Thank you for the compliments and I am (of course) delighted that TWILIGHT has appealed to your eyes as a worthwhile model to build. As you may have noted by the dates of the postings, I tend to update the build log on a more or less monthly basis, but please feel free to drop by anytime. Craig

Always a treat to see the development of your model(s), Keith. They open my mind to new techniques and possible future models. Carry on!

Giorgio: Welcome aboard and thank you for sharing this history and your construction of the model of LUISITO. I will follow along with great interest. Craig Johnsen

Ah ha! I must be doing something right, then! These are dream ships in their own ways. The late Bill Garden in his senior years, would carve 4 identical half hulls, complete with cockpits and cabin shapes. He would then send 3 of them off to some of his far-away close friends and on some cold, wet winter night, the 4 of these geezers would hook up on a group-call to share their impressions of how those craft would sound...and sail or motor... and then come to an anchor in a sheltered cove while the winds overhead rattled the branches in nearby trees. They would hoist a tot to each other and their long friendships. If one's time at sea has passed, this is a fine way to still dream yourself aboard. Thank you for your compliments and the tips, Keith.

Thanks, Paul. I quite admire your excellent version of Wapama!

Wonderful detailing, Keith! Another fine old rough craft brought to life for all of us to respect and appreciate.

August 18, 2025 update: The handrails for the ladder up to the roof deck were bent and fitted to the ladder which was then positioned on the aft deck. The mast installation began with the layout for the mast support beam. This structure was built up as a hollow box beam spanning the width of the main cabin top. A soldered brass mast step was fabricated to hold the base of the mast and after being filed smooth, was painted and installed on the support beam. Fittings were also fabricated to fit the ends of the support beam to provide pivots for a pair of boat booms, port and starboard. The mast was tapered and then rounded from spruce square stock. The round forebraces to the top of the mast were fashioned from birch dowel stock as well as was the necessary bracing for the radar mount. A kind friend printed up a set of water-slide decals for TWILIGHT's name placements. Fortunately, he made spares because I had to go "back to school" on how to properly install and seal the slippery critters. After they were thoroughly dry, they were (later) sprayed with flat, clear acrylic to better blend them in to the existing paint job. The upper "Maneuvering Station" pedestal and a searchlight were installed atop the pilothouse. A pair of pivoting boat booms were made from spruce square stock, tapered and rounded. Goosenecks were soldered for the forward(inboard) ends and brass sleeves were positioned on the aft ends of the booms for later rigging connections. The boom crutches were bent from 1/16" rod and padded with split pieces of black wire insulation. The basis for the elliptical-shaped funnel supporting the exhaust stacks was laminated from small pieces of AYC, then band-sawed to a close tolerance. Once sanded to the final section shape, a piece of AYC was cut to tightly fit around the top of the funnel and this was beveled to give the desired upper flange shape. The shaped funnel was placed on top of the removable main cabin top hatch to check clearances whenever the hatch was to be lifted clear in order to avoid future conflict with the mast's fore-braces. Card was used to create the two portions of the deck flange for the funnel. Suitable sized pieces of brass tubing were beveled and then soldered together to represent the tubes of the dry exhausts exiting up through the funnel. These tubes were glued into the funnel after also checking that they would not hinder the hatch removal (and in the real world, not send the diesel exhaust directly up into the bottom of the radar). A non-skid "grating" was glued together and the bottom beveled to level out the slope of the pilothouse roof in order to provide secure footing whenever the "maneuvering station" was to be utilized. A brass safety railing was soldered together and bent to the necessary shape for security on top of the pilothouse. (I see that I will have to go back to slightly torque the alignment of the steering pedestal.) A "hinged" hatch cover above the access ladder to the roof decks was the next item on my list. This was glued up from 1/16" birch ply and trimmed with mahogany to match the hatch coaming. I decided that it would be mounted in the braced open position. Joinery "cabinets" have been constructed to contain the 3 VDC and 6 VDC battery holders out of sight in the pilothouse and the main cabin. And that will bring us current. As with nearly all boats, there remains a list of projects/tasks yet to be completed. My heartfelt thanks to you for your all of your suggestions, support (and patience). My best to you all, Craig

It is always fascinating to see your work, Keith but the good news about your health is so very special. Press on!

My quaking hand starts to shake just looking at the exquisite details of your project and trying to imagine the necessary precision which would be required. What a treat that you also take such excellent and revealing photos! Many thanks for sharing your progress to us all. Craig

Jacques: This build has been a delight to follow and I have particularly enjoyed your explorations of the methods to secure the mainsail to the spars. One tiny point I would raise because of our own gaff cutter experiences is that the throat of the sail at the gaff (sometimes referred to as the "knock") will have a strong tendency in a breeze to want to sag away from the mast and move a bit up along the underside of the gaff if there is any slack in the throat halyard. Because of the taper to the gaff jaws, the line around the jaws would tend to slide aft and loosen a bit. This is the reason that some method of attaching a piece of line from the throat of the sail to well forward , either to an upper mast hoop or to thumb cleat on the underside of the gaff (or sometimes through holes going up through the gaff jaws) helped and was also simple. Do any of your photos show a method of keeping the throat of the sail forward toward the mast? I noted that on the enlargement of this photo: https://www.memoriasdelsigloxx.cl/601/w3-article-86076.html There appear to be one or maybe two lines involved at the throat. Unfortunately, I do not have a good image from our boat of that area. Craig

Good morning, Gary: I do not think that I would have had it in me to have had to go back to start over. No, wait. Then I could have perhaps avoided some of the goofs I built into her... I am delighted that she is still here, teaching me new techniques as well as patience. Thanks for the compliment, Craig