ELROW LA ROWE'S MICRO NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER #12 Oct. 1985
A third plan has gone to Tasmania, a first to New Zealand, and a first to Japan (Tokyo).
Both an OldShoe and Micro plan have gone to one man in Hong Kong.
My syntax problem again! Bernie's (Wolford) idea of main sheet in hand instead of cleated
down: The gust would have torn it loose from his hand, or he could release it so the sail
would luff off' to leeward, spilling the wind, and avoid the knock-dawn. --Says he's
always
looking for boats comparable to Micro (there aren't any!) for some informal sailing com-
petition, and a recent victim was a Winter Wren (I seem to recall it is a larger boat--
more of a pocket cruiser}, badly beaten on ALL points! Micro had 3 heavies and 'Wolford
aboard. Small cruisers aren't, racing boats, but Micro goes as well as a boat of such pro-
portions can. All her curves are "correct".
Let's start early with this. Newsletters will be $3, covering all of those issued for
1986--probably 9-10 letters. There will be more boats and activity during 1986 for sure.
By including non-subscribers in the one mailing, I discovered that a few of you aren't a
bit better than I--procrastinators too! So a number who "forgot" or "put it
off" joined
in as a result of that reminder, and a number included subscription for 1986 at the same
time, and sending out back issues has become quite an activity. We don't expect to have
to ever increase above the $3, as it will cover costs of at least 7 letters. The $2 only
covered 4-1/2 issues,postage and printing costs being what they are today.
When you send the $3, send a note bringing me up-to-date on your boat activity, if any.
While CA has by far the largest number of plan owners, it has the fewest newsletter sub-
scribers. The Northwest is strongest in boats in progress, with TX, FL, MI, and NC fol-
lowing. Lots of plans out in New England too, but have no progress reports, nor from
Ont. and Que., where there are numerous plans. But, the "brotherhood" expands.
Ron Pearson of Houston is anxious to finish his boat--thinks he also might fit into the
brotherhood, a private pilot, who rebuilt a 1947 Luscombe and a 1954 Piper Tri-Pacer, and
is a HAM radio operator (KA5HZV). Kensett is doing a Micro II and is well along with
Micro,
Never heard of the western Lake Erie islands? Put-in-Bay, historically famous, is where
Commadore Perry's warships put in way back, the harbour and village on Middle Bass Is.
I haven't been there in 30 years, but suppose they still have the yacht regattas and
races, the little ferrys from Port Clinton, and the world's smallest airline, a couple of
ancient tri-motored Fords, kept running by a hangar full of parts, and inhabitants only
tie to the outside during winter (mostly fisherman and wine growers). Most have a sand
or gravel spit beach or two, though mostly rock bound, but the largest (7000 acres) is
the Canadian island Peelee, which has has magnificent beaches the whole east side, with
a backdrop of tall popular trees! A great week-end (or longer) spot for Micro owners
near by--. It was on the ferry, on a rowboat camping trip with my 6 year old daughter,
that, I taught her the evils of gambling! The slot machine spilled coins to another kid,
so she was determined to use her one and only nickel. I held her up to the slot and help-
ed her pull the lever. The $2.75 it spilled bought us hamburgers for a week, and now,
34 years later, her philosophy on gambling varies somewhat from mine, or course. Yeah,
we'll have less folksy stuff next letter.
Yes, there are different kinds of lead for the keel. Bolger used some slightly lower cost
stuff that was slightly radioactive. You may want to ask and avoid such. Also, foundries
may not understand watergrass and wood molds; you only want it hot enough to melt--not
hotter. E. La Rowe