Sailboat Building – March 24, April 1 2012

by friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.comEvents, Programs, Puddle Duck, sailingPosted on Comments are Disabled

A Puddle Duck Racer “hatch” is scheduled by the Friends of Yellow Creek for March 24th and April 1st, 2012.



The PDR is an economical, safe, and easy-to-build box boat designed for beginners and families, as well as being suitable for experienced sailors who wish to build XL sails and race. Six Indiana families built them as FOYC projects during 2011 and sailed at Yellow Creek State Park this past summer.

FOYC volunteers will lead a group-build next month.  The basic hull can be completed in one day; families then take home the boats for sanding and painting.  Cost is approximately $200; only basic carpentry skills are required. Currently 2 slots remain for families who would like to be involved.

FOYC co-chair Ken Sherwood observes “it is a great winter project.”  “This year the Friends will also be sponsoring free learn-to-sail sessions for Puddle Duckers.”

 

“So if you have always wanted to learn to sail, this is your chance.”

Contact friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.com for more information or to reserve a spot.

Puddle Ducks Launched – July 3rd, 2011 – Yellow Creek Lake

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The Launch

On July 3rd, 2011, Yellow Creek Lake was the scene for an happy if unusual launching.  Six new, homebuilt sailboats made of wood took to the water. These six Puddle Duck Racers were built by groups fo Indiana families in a project organized by FOYC with the help of Moraine Sailing Club’s John Bridges.  We gathered as a group for construcion oft the hulls in February and  sail building in March.  Now after much sanding, caulking, and painting, we had sailboats.

There were last minute questions about rigging. Is this boom supposed to be 8 or 10 foot?  Some of the builders had never sailed, so we held a 20-minute crash course.  How do you sail up-wind?  What if you capsize? What is the main-sheet for again? But the winds were gentle, and even first-time sailors made it off the shore and back again! Our sails made as cheaply as possible from Tyvek and stuck together with carpet tape held!  Not only did the boats float but, thankfully, but they sailed pretty well and only mine leaked!

In the picture below, you can also see a pair of wooden Optimist sailboats and a Weekend Skiff that came along for the ride.  In the gallery, you can see that we launched from shore. The soft mud is gentle on boat bottoms, but you sometimes need a push to get “unstuck.”  We found ourselves having to launch the boats into deeper water before hanging on the rudders.

Building and sailing a PDR offers a few chances to be create.  Our PDRs sport some  colorful, custom paint jobs.  For our first build, we suited up the six boats with a popular sail style called the “Leg-o-mutton” which is efficient and easy to build.  You may see other PDRs with very different sails, since while the boat hulls should conform to the same shape, sail design is totally open to experiment.

 

 

Puddle ducks, and other wooden boats; Optimist, far right. Yellow Creek Lake 2011 –  From PDR

Sailboat Building Opportunity – 2 Spots Left

by friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.comPrograms, Puddle Duck, sailingPosted on Comments are Disabled

A Puddle Duck Racer “hatch” is scheduled by the Friends of Yellow Creek for March 2012.

The PDR is an economical, safe, and easy-to-build box boat designed for beginners and families, as well as being suitable for experienced sailors who wish to build XL sails and race. Six Indiana families built them as FOYC projects during 2011 and sailed at Yellow Creek State Park this past summer.

FOYC volunteers will lead a group-build next month.  The basic hull can be completed in one day; families then take home the boats for sanding and painting.  Cost is approximately $200; only basic carpentry skills are required. Currently 2 slots remain for families who would like to be involved.

FOYC co-chair Ken Sherwood observes “it is a great winter project.”  “This year the Friends will also be sponsoring free learn-to-sail sessions for Puddle Duckers.”  “So if you have always wanted to learn to sail, this is your chance.”

Contact friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.com for more information or to reserve a spot.

What is a Puddle Duck Racer?

by friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.comPrograms, Puddle Duck, sailingPosted on Comments are Disabled

According to the designer,Shorty Routh:

*   The PDRacer is a one design racing sailboat that is basically a plywood box with a curved bottom, and is the easiest boat in the world to build. . . .  A simple hull can be made from 3 sheets of plywood, titebond II glue, and latex house paint. If you work hard for 2 weekends, you can go sailing on the 3rd weekend.

*   We use the same shaped hulls and go play with them together in fun and goofy ways, and sometimes for very serious racing.

*   Our boat is not just for racing, she is great for all sorts of other purposes – and in most states a boat this small does not need to be titled or registered. The hull shape carries 630 lbs. [A launch permit good for all PA State Parks costs $10; it can be purchased online or at state park offices.]

Want to know more?

*   FOYC’s Puddle Duck Flier

*   History, free plans, sail design, and more at the official Puddle Duck Racer Website: PDRacer.com

 

Always wanted to learn to sail?

*   This Summer 2011, Indiana Puddle Duckers will learn to sail through free, informal lessons at Yellow Creek; build yourself a boat and come join us.  Contact friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.com for more information

*   Interested in more formal learning? Moraine Sailing Club in Butler offers 12 Sunday lessons throughout the summer at a budget price. The MSC has US Sailing certified instructors and has offered this program for 20 years.

 

Puddle Duck Events 2011 – Yellow Creek State Park (Penn Run) and Moraine State Park (Butler)

by friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.comPrograms, Puddle Duck, sailingPosted on Comments are Disabled

Sat, Feb 19 – PDR Hatch

Indiana, PA

Sat, July 2 – Yellow Creek “Fleet” Launch

sailing lessons(optional)

Yellow Creek SP

Sat and Sun, Aug 6, 7- Regatta at Lake Arthur

Sat: PDR Race (Le Mans start)

Sun: PDR Fancy Dress Party

Moraine State Park, Butler

(Contact John Bridges: brimor@aol.com for more information)

Sat, Sept 24 FOYC SeptemberFest

PDR parade and race

(Contact friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.com for more information)