ELROW LA ROWE'S MICRO NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER # 3: Sept. 1984
Still too soon for another letter, right? But--I am still trying to catch up to you all.
for those more recent plan buyers, earlier NEWSLETTERS you haven't seen are available free
of charge upon receipt of your self-addressed stamped envelope. Tossing modesty aside,
they are probably bargains, and even necessary, being full of MICRO construction and sail-
ing tidbits.
To correct my boo-boos, one has kindly pointed out that epoxy glue can be mixed to extend
its working time, so, for instance, follow the mixing constructions (less hardener as it
will always finally set up)for such jobs as the lead keel ballast where more working time
is very helpful. Fortunately, as a design MICRO has attracted a number of professional
boat builders and even a larger group of knowledgeable and experienced amateur builders
--people who understand design, which is all very flattering to this Bolger design--
and keeps me up-to-date with corrective information, since l am a beginner, like most of
you. Nearly 100 plans sold in 5 months--best small cruiser plan sales program presently!
On that keel problem again, like Bolger says, it is easier to do than leeboards or center-
boards, but on the logistical problem, he probably had an equipped boat shop in mind, and
not your garage. My hoisting method of inserting and fastening the lead into the keel
sheathing was worked out by a local boatbuilder who has done it many times, and I have the
facility to do it that way. My second thought is that many would do better with Martti's
method (not, having hoist room) of simply getting in a bunch of friends to pick the boat
up and set it on its side, get the lead up on horses (wood ones,of course), jack it up or
wedge it up as necessary, and work it into the sheathing, for fastening.
Something I forgot at the front: When Bolger gets letters from clients of clients, like
Micro plan owners, he sends them to me to answer--and we do now have an awful lot of ans-
wers, and quick sources for others when we need professional advise. SO, send your quest-
ions to me. Upon reflection this isn't hard to understand. He has several clients like
me, plus even more of his own for whom he is designing major yachts, all of which runs to
long hours of correspondence and phone conversations. It simply isn't physically possible
for him to do more, much as he would enjoy it.
One plan is out on the edge of the planets Anyone got time to drop one of those PO 13
cents
Air-letter forms to G. D. Tyson, c/- Gravelly Beach PO, W. Tamar, Tasmania 7251,
Australia?
and welcome him to the human race and the MICRO brotherhood? The Capetown inquirer, not,
nearly so far away, didn't buy, but the Peace Corps kid in Tunis did. Ft. Myers area has
largest "club", Seattle-Tacoma 2nd, New Port Richey-Clearwater (my area) 3rd,
with several
also in south TX, south CA, MI, OH, Ont., NJ-LI-eastern PA area, and many others here and
there and most everywhere One plan has gone to a retired Naval Architect--a local man!
He's
presently studying it from his hospital bed and chuckling over Bolger's cleverness!
Yes, we can have numbered boats, as they are completed and launched. I will probably
paint mine on, and maybe the word "MICRO", high on the main sail, probably with
that
waterproof felt marking pen unless I find something better and of minor cost. As to
alternate sail rigs for Micro, the trick is to do the one designed for it, and then if
you want to.experiment do a Chinese Lug or whatever as an extra, mounting on the same
mast, after learning where the sail has to be for the same center of effort location.
Bolger went all through this problem before settling on the present rig. As he said,
"the sliding gunter reduces mast height, but looks and works a lot better on paper
than
on a boat"-though he used it on hie Prince William Sound yawl (for other reasons).
Just don't want you stuck with an alternate rig only,, and others of the brotherhood sail-
ing right by you--!
Yes, we omitted a "materials list" deliberated from the plan material. While
some buy
plans for recreational reading (my files are full of them ), most others want to build,
but it just doesn't get done in too many cases. Payson in his book made much of plan
study, with scale ruler in hand, following Bolger's Key; with this pleasant study pro-
gram, the designer's work becomes clear when it at first looked complicated, and con-
struction becomes simple when at first it appeared difficult. With pencil and pad handy,
in less than 3 hours I figured the boards needed, had them ripped into boat widths at the
lumber. yards To do this, I was sort of forced to study the plan, right? E. La Rowe