Messages

1

Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA30 in Silverton Oregon

« on: August 09, 2023, 11:22:41 PM »

Is that the first fish in the boat?  Is it a Yellow Eye?

Great to see the family having great times together!

Nope, it was a canary rockfish, legal. Diana caught it, first fish on the boat (not counting a small black rockfish she also caught. She later caught a nice 28” lingcod so she kept is fed.

Did I mention how great that boat is?

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA30 in Silverton Oregon

« on: August 09, 2023, 09:41:45 AM »

So two days in the ocean and the verdict is: awesome boat on all counts. As my previous boat was a Thunder Jet which I owned for 20 years, that’s my primary comparison. “Millie” is more nimble, responsive, drier, comfortable and more fun. Towing takes a bit more effort because of the extra 10’ but not a huge deal. Dropping the axle off the end of the boat ramp made me late for my own christening but 10 or 12 40-pound rocks and problem was solved. (Be careful launching at low tide.)  New prop got me at 6,000 rpm, 37 mph and 3 mpg. I’m back home now and will continue hooking up some things.

I don’t know why, but I have discovered over the years that whenever I have a boat serviced, I have to review all the work and mostly make sure all the screws or bolts they touch got appropriately tightened. It’s amazing! There are always things to tighten up. I almost lost two screws on my engine cowl.

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: 30' GA in Elma Wa.

« on: August 09, 2023, 09:30:42 AM »

Good stats and nice job getting everything balanced out. Nice to see these boats getting out there.

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA30 in Silverton Oregon

« on: August 07, 2023, 10:08:13 AM »

I have to say, I was having doubts that the bow thruster was worth the trouble. Now I’d say I LOVE it. Just being able to give the bow a tweak to port or starboard as I ferry toward a dock makes landings safer and softer than ever. In combo with a little reverse or forward thrust and you can spin the boat in place. I think mine is the smallest one that Lewmar makes (110TT). I can’t yet attest to the longevity, and it is amazingly loud, but dang it’s a nice option when there is a current or wind. Installing it takes some large cabling, but it’s not complicated. Building it into the hull is just a process, not overly complicated. Food for thought.

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA30 in Silverton Oregon

« on: August 07, 2023, 09:42:01 AM »

The video.

https://youtu.be/PKrgBa4gRds

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA30 in Silverton Oregon

« on: August 06, 2023, 09:50:04 PM »

We had a fun christening yesterday for Millie. We did it at the boat basin in Toledo near the park and it worked well. Several good friends and family from as far away as Spokane Wa. We did rides down the Yaquina and put her through her paces. Only hitch was at launch during low tide - I dropped the trailer off the end of the boat ramp and the wheels were suspended over a 2 foot drop off. I had to wade up to my chest carrying rockks to drop them in front of the wheel to give the tire some lift. Made it out and was only a little late - and very wet - to the party.

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: Bob from Olympia, 28 GA build

« on: August 04, 2023, 06:08:50 PM »

Nice work. Really nice work. I’ll be doing the non skid paint this winter and polishing up some of the earlier finishing work. I had a HIN plate made and installed it with stainless screws and drilled out the slots so it can’t be removed.

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA30 in Silverton Oregon

« on: August 03, 2023, 08:37:56 PM »

I got my first 4 hours in and the boat handles beautifully! I’m really stoked. I followed the break in schedule carefully and my wife and I just spent the afternoon cruising around Detroit Reservoir. I did note at the end of the day that the max RPM was only 5300 so I worked with the dealer and have propped it down a bit to get closer to 6000. She gets right at 3 mpg which is on target. I’ll post the efficiency curve when I get it on Excel. 21 mph is best but it’s good all the way up to 25-26 or so. She tops out at 32 which I’m very happy with. She turns on a dime as well which I didn’t expect. With the bow thruster she spins nicely (slow, very controlled). It’s fun getting to know her.

Still lots of things going on. I got the windshield wipers wired in today, bled a bit of air out of the hydraulic steering, fabricated a good transom saver and worked on some other things.

Just for the fun of it, I’m doing a christening this Saturday at Toledo off the transient moorage at around 11 am. If you’re around, stop on by. 

My daughter is putting the name on my boat. She does good work!

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA30 in Silverton Oregon

« on: July 23, 2023, 09:57:48 AM »

My GA comes in about 6100 lbs I think. Certainly weight could be part of it. Don’t know about planing surface as you’re in displacement mode with the kicker. I assume you’ve tried different tilts? On mine the hydrofoil of the kicker is level with the very bottom of the hull vee. Make sure it’s getting plenty of fuel as well? Not completely sure what to tell you but hope you can figure it out.

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA30 in Silverton Oregon

« on: July 21, 2023, 01:53:15 PM »

Congratulations on the launch Randy!!! Shew looks beautiful!!! So rewarding!!!

Thanks Chuck! Appreciate it very much. Hope you’re having fun down there!

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA30 in Silverton Oregon

« on: July 21, 2023, 10:43:32 AM »

That’s good stuff right there!   What speed were you able to reach with the kicker?  My kicker makes things vibrate a bunch, the main is dead smooth!  I guess I’m trying to say I’m a bit disappointed with mine.  It does everything as advertised, but I wonder if I’d done better with a 9.9

The kicker is a 9.9 fuel injected and very smooth and quiet. It moved it at 6 knots but that wasn’t at sustained full power as I’m in the break in period. I’m guessing it won’t go up much more than that though, but that’s what I’d expected. I’ve found you can reduce vibration by trimming up slightly sea y from the hull. Also on the Suzukis, the 9.9 is exactly the same as 15 or 20 hp motors except for the engine control unit. It’s feasible to replace that unit on my 9.9 and get a 20. I won’t do it but it’s feasible.

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: 30' GA in Elma Wa.

« on: July 21, 2023, 10:08:50 AM »

The gal at the DMV tried to put home built on the title, so I had to correct her.  You gotta watch those DMV people (right Randy)

Yes you do! But if you get someone who’s going south, go find someone else! Your boat looks great Gary. Nicely done. Mine might go fishing but it’s not officially “done” yet, there are some loose ends I’ll be working on for a while. As such, I don’t think I’ll be doing Puget Sound in September. I owe my wife a trip to the Grand Canyon and will spend the winter getting the camping equipment on the boat fully operational, better upholstery, etc. I need a break from building!

That'll be great ... you'll love the Grand Canyon ... pictures do NOT do it justice!  And this is a great time to pause and take a well-deserved break for both of you!  Are you driving?  You could take the back way around the Rockies back north and pass through the Rapid City area ... see Mt. Rushmore too, another stop worth taking.

We’ve done Mt Rushmore on trips back and forth to Chicago. I’ve spend a couple hours at Grand Canyon village but not enough time. I think we’ll hit Zion on the way down. We’ll drag the trailer and take our time. Looking so forward to a road trip! We are in Newport now getting the trailer set up. Hopefully will bring the boat over next weekend for more trials.

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA30 in Silverton Oregon

« on: July 21, 2023, 09:08:48 AM »

Great to see for sure. I am very happy for you, what a journey. That waterway is beautiful as well, is it the Columbia?

That’s Detroit Reservoir. About an hour east of Salem Oregon. Part of the Willamette Basin flood control system. It is pretty up there. Nice to have good reservoir levels from last winter’s heavy snow pack.

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: 30' GA in Elma Wa.

« on: July 20, 2023, 10:41:30 PM »

The gal at the DMV tried to put home built on the title, so I had to correct her.  You gotta watch those DMV people (right Randy)

Yes you do! But if you get someone who’s going south, go find someone else! Your boat looks great Gary. Nicely done. Mine might go fishing but it’s not officially “done” yet, there are some loose ends I’ll be working on for a while. As such, I don’t think I’ll be doing Puget Sound in September. I owe my wife a trip to the Grand Canyon and will spend the winter getting the camping equipment on the boat fully operational, better upholstery, etc. I need a break from building!

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Projects - Glacier Boats of Alaska boat projects / Re: GA30 in Silverton Oregon

« on: July 19, 2023, 10:14:33 PM »

And the video…

[irl]https://youtu.be/eRRrKlIaUfA[/url]