Malahini Launch - my boat to be named later.

[rbrandenstein]

This is not an official launch because the Admiral was not present. It was merely a pre-launch sea trial. Friends argued that the Meramec River is not the "sea", but it is wet.

The "boat to be named later " had a very successful sea trial. Everything went well; it floated, the motor started and worked in all gears and it cruised very nicely. As you can see in the video the seating is not yet complete but I hope to have it soon.

I am also waiting for the Missouri DOR to get the darn thing a HIN and registered. I've had the paperwork in for over a month and still no paperwork.

http://youtu.be/oDX5G_uAOiE

[Bill Edmundson]

That GRIN says it all

Bill

[ttownshaw]

What a great feeling it is...right Bob?

[Roberta]

Yup!!! There's the RV grin for us former airplane builders and pilots and the Glen L grin for us boat builders. Both are impossible to rub off. Congrats!!!!

Roberta

[upspirate]

Yea! Looks great!

[jeffh]

Congratulations Bob! I know you're gonna love it.

[areame]

Nice job! What kind of wood did you use for the decking? Looks sharp.

[DanaOverall]

Yup!!! There's the RV grin for us former airplane builders and pilots and the Glen L grin for us boat builders. Both are impossible to rub off. Congrats!!!!

Roberta

Yep Roberta, I noticed the grin as well. If it is anything like my KR and two RV first flights, that grin happens every time you fire it up

Big Congrats, looks like she runs true and smooth!!

[rbrandenstein]

Thanks for the congrats.

It seemed to run real smooth and held a straight line. I didn't detect any porpoising. I do not have the "no feedback" steering, but there was no pull on the wheel. Very easy to hold a line. I was expecting all kinds of issues and there were none. The biggest problem was getting it back on the trailer.

The decking is african mahogany (2.75") and maple (.25").

[rbrandenstein]

More video of the same test run. My friend Hank took a bunch of pictures and AVIs with his camera and he just gave me the DVD. So I edited them into another video. Shows more cruising and also the fun of getting it back on the trailer. And I'm only showing to good parts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPtsdxNrA-Y

[jeffh]

Hi Bob,
You and I both have similar Karavan trailers. I see that you added a bow roller which I do not have. Is that what caused your difficulties getting it back onto the trailer? I have not had any trouble getting onto the trailer, but I do have to be sure that the winch is connected and cranked in before I pull out of the water or the boat may drift sideways a little.

[Iggy]

Darn the motivation... all these launch annoucements are just killing me!

That... and you built yours faster, and it has the same color scheme as mine, and about the same hardware, same looking windshield pattern, and damn it looks good!!!

I can't help but be a bit jealous, but only in the best possible way! Looked like a perfect day for a test/launch... and it looked like it ran smooth as silk on the water.

As much as I want to groan about it, I just can't help but be happy for you Bob. I hope to see more video of her in operation... and a BOAT NAME slapped on the side somewhere soon

[Lowka53]

on launching and retrieving our boats from the water when I was a kid we always floated the boat on and off the trailer we never winched it on. after we had the boat positioned we would tighten the winch up. I don't know if that will help you or not. also extending the guide poles and padding them will help wear and tear on your boat.

[rbrandenstein]

The bow roller was not an issue. I'm not sure if it is needed or not. Several folks had issues with the bow section riding hard on the bunks as the stern floated up at launch so I added a roller to match what they did.

The problem I had initially was that the trailer was not quite straight and the concrete ramp had a drop-off. So, one side hit the drop-off and the other did not making one side lower than the other and causing line up problems. I finally restarted and made sure the trailer was perfectly straight (I still need more practice) so both wheels stayed level. The video is of the last attempt which was successful.

We did not winch too hard as we didn't want to break anything. If it got hard, we lowered the trailer to get a little more float.

[Tim Major]

Very nice work Bob. I think I recall a similar smile at my first run
I particularly like your dash layout along with the line of maple through the middle, a very smart and neat job, well done.
Enjoyed your video's too, good job Hank I say.

Tim