Labor day weekend I decided come hell or high water I was going to sail my boat. Even if i meant holding the mast up by hand, and using a pillow as a sail.

I got all the docs together that everyone has sent me and printed off all the posts so far and figured out what i thought i needed, and started the long drive up to maine (where our lake and the boat is) with my girlfriend.

I found a west marine about 2 hours into the trip in Portland Maine and went in, met some nice guys, and got to work. I got blocks, line, and other fun stuff, and even made the shrouds with my girlfriend even though i didnt really know what i was doing and they werent allowed to help. But I think they came out ok. 3 hours later we were ready to check out.

Back on the road, after about another hour it dawned on me, that maybe, when i had brought the boat up to maine with all the equip I had accidentally left the rudders in NH (why you might ask? I have no idea.). I called my parent at the lake and they looked around and didnt call me back so i figured i was in for it.

That night i got to the camp and there were no rudders to be found. I talked my dad into helping me rig the boat the next morning so at least other than rudders i could find what i needed for the future.

The next morning, while wallowing in my own idiocy, my dad said "hey why dont i try to make you some rudders? Ill run to the store and get some wood, and then at least you can sail!" Well my dad has never been on a sailboat before and bareley even seen one, but hey, he wanted to help me out, so i said yes!

He was going to go to the hardware store (about 45 mins away) but we looked inside and found a perfect peice of wood in the shed!

He got to work:



he ever routed the edges to make it more aerodynamic!



so i stepped the mast and we were both shocked at how high it was! My brother and I started trying to figure out the rigging:



Then we attached his rudders, and launched the boat!



There wasnt very much wind at all, but enough for me to putt putt around our cove.

(btw im going wing on wing there, do you do that on a cat?)

So there were some issues with my boat. My sails are a little patchy and have some issues, so i wanted to get new ones, but found a deal on ebay, and got a whole 'nother gcat! Now I have 2! I just have to go pick this one up!
[img]http://www.edwardaten.com/boat/newcat.jpg[/img]

Thanks so much for your help!

Eddie