In a message dated 9/3/03 11:32:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:


>

I think this craft - which would fit on a boat which would fit on a boat
which would fit on a ship -- is too small to have "gunnels", hence I call them
rubrails.   1" x 3x4" bent at a radius of (I estimate) 15 feet.  That is,
extending the curve would create a circle 15' round.    A coracle!!!    Everybody's
invited, we sail for Ireland tom'w.

Yrs.  St. Brendan

PS Let me tell you a story about the Edgartown Yacht Club.  They are
generally excellent and serious sailors but are a bit ... formal, even stiff, at least
by reputation, which also includes a snobbish cast.   They produce crack
sailors, and there is nothing fake about them, but still ....

Three weeks ago the members - at dinner in their mahogany dining room
overlooking Edgartown Harbor from their prime spot - saw the following:  one big
(about 100') fiberglass $50,000/week charter "bloat" "lost electricity" (many of
the EYC have boats that have no electricity) and inexplicably veered to the
left - nicely dividing a Newport-style sailing vessel which was tied up at the
EYC dock.   Then, I think on the next day, a similar charter bloat (white vinyl
upholstery, Donald Trump-like name, etc.) backed out of its slip in a reverse
turn, then the "cap'n" floored it, and wash sank 3 trim little EYC dinghys,
complete with Honda 4-strokes on their transoms.

The down-market nature of the offending craft, plus the crow's-nest-eye view
offered to club members, will provide much dinner conversation for the
succeeding decades, perhaps centuries.