Cabinet progress...

On the sides of the cabinets, there is supposed to be a curved foot well that allows someone to stretch out and provides access to the locker that's in there. There was also meant to be a small opening for dishes and plates.


I didn't have these pieces, so for the last couple of days I have looking at old photos/brochures and doing a lot of measuring and cutting (and re-cutting) to get just the right look. I think I finally have what I want with only a small modification from the original. On the Starboard side cabinet (where the stove was) there was a control panel placed into one of the openings. This was a change made later (maybe in the 78 rebuild?). I liked the look of it, thought that it was as good of a place as any and left it as is. I made the cabinet side to go around it and there is still enough room for a foot well for sleeping.


The openings for the dishes will fit plates up to 10 inches which should do. This photo shows the sink that will be going on the Port side. There is also a small removable cutting board which matched the counter top. I have the arms that are attached to the sides so that a leaf board can extend the counter top.

The sides themselves were coated with West System, especially the edges and then sanded. Next, I have to Fillet these in to place, tab them to the hull, make brackets for the shelves, bottom and counter tops, then paint/varnish and I'll worry about the plumbing later in the Fall.

Early Flyer Photo....

This was sent by Jonathan at Cheoy Lee. It's the earliest picture of the Flyer I've seen.
A bright hull, fraction rigged Pacific Clipper.

You can seen that it is from the same booklet as the 1955 drawing. This must be the first brochure they had.

Still looking for a Dragon...

I sent a letter to all the known Flyer owners listed on the Cheoy Lee Association website. Unfortunately some of the Email addresses are no longer working and were returned so I will also post the letter here hopefully reaching some other owners....

Here is a OS 27/Cadet Dragon. Too big for a Flyer III but a good example of a Dragon.

This is Denise's from 1965 OS 27/Cadet

Still not the right size but its a great detailed photo.


This is an email to all registered Cheoy Lee Association Frisco Flyer owners/members,

I am restoring my 1965 Type III Flyer* and will hopefully it will be in the water for the first time in 16 years summer of 2008.

While my boat has almost all of the original hardware, equipment and other small details, the one thing it doesn’t have is the intricately carved dragon plaque that was once mounted overhead in main cabin area. I have looked high and low for one over the last five months or so (including Kowloon China where they were first made) and if their out there, no one wants to part with them. It seems that when these boats are sold or otherwise passed on from one owner to the next these beautiful dragons go missing and end up mounted over a fireplace somewhere.

I then spent my time searching for someone to recreate one for me and found a company based out of Los Angeles CA that does just these kinds of carvings. After talking with the owner, they have stated that not only could they will be able to carve an exact wooden replicate but that they can also make a master mold to make as many synthetic copies as are ordered.

Having had spoken with some of you already, I know that there are other Frisco Flyer owners who’s boats are also missing these dragons and would like one.

So, if someone would be willing to temporarily part with their dragon, a carved wooden copy could be made by this LA company but what would likely be more affordable and ultimately faster would be to use this company (or another resource) to simply make a mold and then make synthetic copies for the rest of the boats out there that need them.

Does anyone know of a resource to use and who would be willing to donate their dragon to the cause?



Looking forward to hearing from all of you,

Matt



*This email was intended for the kind of dragon in the Type III Flyers but there is no reason why the same thing couldn't be done with Pacific Clippers or Cadets as well.
A 1965 Flyer III Dragon. This one would fit...

You can send responses to Friscoflyer@comcast.net.

There's worse ways to spend a Sunday...

The plan was to get Sac in at Rye harbor and take her up to Pepperal cove to the mooring. While backing her in, the flags and trees were blowing but that was only until the boat got wet. Then it was a slow 10 tacks out of the harbor and another slow but frantic couple of tacks to get out of the mouth of the harbor to let the lobster boats, whale watchers and sailboats (with motors) go by. Our motor, a couple of Shaw and Tenney oars were working over time to find wind. We found a puff or two and were making our way to Bermuda when we came about to try for Maine.

We got as far as Wallis sands and called it quits, turned tail and tried to make a run home. The only fair wind we had was taking us dangerously close to some breaking water, when we heard Dylan yell "Charlie!".

Cicada was behind us. (We knew Steve was working on his boat in the river and had called him earlier to tell him, we had no wind, no motor, the bilge was on the fritz and worst of all we were almost out of beer.) Cicada pulled up, we got on board and motored up to Maine.

Charlie checking the tow rope..

We had a brief but nice bit of sailing in Pepperal cove while looking for the mooring.

It was all worth it and I would do it again (with two or three more beers next time) because there are definitely worse ways to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Yours truly,

This picture came out better than the one from last year....

Also got to get a closer look at a nice Cheoy Lee named Pooka. Looks like a 1965 Bermuda 30.

Table...

Put the table on the boat for the first time.

It's a smart design and reminds me a lot of the kind of the original equipment that came with my 1971 Volkswagen camper bus. The bus was designed as the Folks-Wagon and this design was commissioned as the Folks-Boat and each made the best economical use of small space. Its a coincidence that my bus had some original parts which made it a stand out among the other restored old buses. One thing in particular was the small table that went between the front seats. In the Flyer, I also have the original table and haven't seen it on any of the other restored Flyers. There is an opening in the cockpit sole for the leg and another opening in the sole of the Salon for eating inside. (I( think the opening that was there was incorrect and a mistake was made when it was restored last...more on this later). There are two brackets which were meant to stow the leg when its not in use. I have to find a nice out of the way place to stow this. There is also a bracket to stow the table itself. I'm not sure where this could go, maybe in the closet or under the companion way step? The table has a "toe rail" around the edge to keep things from sliding off and there are two settings when opening it. All the way open for eating and partially open for looking at charts???. There is also a long drawer with two compartments for holding charts or silverware etc...

Looks like four people could sit around it comfortably and even my long legs fit under it.


Now to eat breakfast....

Salon painted....

It was another great day working on the boat. I was able to get some paint on the ceiling , the bulkhead, the berths and then put up the mahogany slats that make up the seat backs. Everything still needs another coat of paint but it looks a lot better than it did in January!

The back slats had to be trimmed a little to accommodate the new knees. I think I put at least four coats of varnish on them this winter so they should be all set. I'll have to take them back down to finish the work on the cabinets but I really couldn't wait to see what it look like with them and the sole in place.

I also wanted to the kid to be able to get in there and play a little before I move forward into the next section and start using epoxy, glass etc. again.

She fits in the berth and likes her room a lot. She looking forward to decorating it. She also wanted to find a place to keep her bears/toys and decided on the small space intended for the head. This could be setting her up for a bad mistake down the road.

I also put the grates in to see how they looked...and they look great!

This thing is really starting to look like a Frisco Flyer.

In other news, Maki continues to wage her "Land campaign". Today before she went climbing up north, she gave the kid a lesson in arranging your climbing rack and what all the pieces are called.

Maya came up with her own names for pieces, like "The mommy hex nut and the baby cam....

More salon progress....SEATS!

There's a problem with adding photos to the other post re the salon progress, so I had to make a new post to add these.....

I started tabbing the settee berths into place and put the plywood seats on top to make sure it was all going to fit. I had to rebuild some of the drawers slides and frame because the older pieces were damaged or rotten. I used the old ones as a model and made new pieces out of Oak. I still have to finish building the rest of the supporting structure but its finally starting to look like a boat in there and not just a hollow shell!

The drawers fit perfect. Cant wait to fill them up with junk!

The profile of the new knees was copied from the existing knees supporting the cabin house and to me, they match the boat much better than the smaller, straighter knees I've seen on other rebuilt Flyers. The bulkhead (like everything else in there) needs some finish coats of paint.

Now to add the side cabinets...

LDP kids....

This is from the LDP annual summer xmas party.....


Nice reading material.

Sac is in...then out

Lucy (the dog) and I went down to watch Charlie put the boat in the other day but she was taking on water around the centerboard. It was more than would be helped by swelling, so she came right back out, will get a quick tune up and hopefully go back in ASAP.


The boat still looks great though (and Kiki).