I've been enjoying my Yost Sea Tour 15 R. It has the feel I've been seeking in a skin-on-frame. It came in at 30 pounds with 12 oz. nylon skin (non-dyeable Gladiator) and Corey goop, with Keepers foot braces, and before adding flotation bags. I extended the stems enough to get 15 1/2 feet of length.

For a small increase in foot room, I modified the 3 front bulkheads slightly, to raise the front of the coaming by 2 cm, and taper down to an unmodified bow position. So, for any interested builders, the deck ridge HAB of frame 3 = 29.92 cm; frame 2 = 28.72 cm; frame 1 = 27.33 cm.

The skin on this boat came out less tight and less satisfactory than the very same material did on the Sea Otter. I did not have benefit of the same temperature and humidity conditions during the stitching phase. NOW I know what is meant by sagging of nylon skin. Since I really like the frame and lines, I regret not having it perform at peak efficiency, with the slack skin. At least I have new skin and a "new" boat to look forward to at some point in the future.

The rigging attachments on the gunwales work well, with one caveat: when edging the boat, the attachments are down in the water, and create some measure of drag.

It's time to clean the shop and get out of boat building for a while. I'll keep reading here, to continue learning, and seeing everyone else's fine craft.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwfloyd/4636925785/in/photostream/