Stevenson Mini-Cup Changes

I am about to begin assembly of the cockpit and bulkheads on my two
Stevenson projects Mini-Cup sailboats and have been considering some
possibilities.

Our coastal area is mostly wildlife refuge with saltmarshes and tiny
islands surrounded by shallow water and estuaries; ideal sea kayaking.
I have never been comfortable in the sitting position of a kayak and
much prefer a canoe where I can kneel.

Would it be possible to paddle a Mini-Cup like a canoe? Maybe with a
long double Kayak paddle? When we want to go in shallow water or if
the wind dies, take the mast down, pull up the board, bungee the
rudder amidships and paddle. Would it go straight? Would it be too
much effort? I sort of envision either kneeling in the cockpit or
sitting on the deck on the aft end of the cockpit with my feet inside
the cockpit.

Further, what do you think of making the compartment just forward of
the cockpit watertight and installing a hatch inside the cockpit with
a rubber seal for carrying some cargo, say, food, water, skeeter net,
etc.?

Hmm, maybe rig foot controls for the rudder for when I sit on the aft
end of the cockpit.

"Parallax" <dbohara.TakeThisOut@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:792abaf9.0404120800.411f57f1@posting.google.com...
 > I am about to begin assembly of the cockpit and bulkheads on my two
 > Stevenson projects Mini-Cup sailboats and have been considering some
 > possibilities.
 >
 > Our coastal area is mostly wildlife refuge with saltmarshes and tiny
 > islands surrounded by shallow water and estuaries; ideal sea kayaking.
 > I have never been comfortable in the sitting position of a kayak and
 > much prefer a canoe where I can kneel.
 >
 > Would it be possible to paddle a Mini-Cup like a canoe? Maybe with a
 > long double Kayak paddle? When we want to go in shallow water or if
 > the wind dies, take the mast down, pull up the board, bungee the
 > rudder amidships and paddle. Would it go straight? Would it be too
 > much effort? I sort of envision either kneeling in the cockpit or
 > sitting on the deck on the aft end of the cockpit with my feet inside
 > the cockpit.
 >
 > Further, what do you think of making the compartment just forward of
 > the cockpit watertight and installing a hatch inside the cockpit with
 > a rubber seal for carrying some cargo, say, food, water, skeeter net,
 > etc.?
 >
 > Hmm, maybe rig foot controls for the rudder for when I sit on the aft
 > end of the cockpit.

The MiniCup doesn't paddle worth beans. HOWEVER, I've seen one rigged for
oars where the sailor sits on the forward part of the cockpit and rows out.
They stowed the oars on the fore-deck.

I used standard deck plates on my boat to have two hatches on the forward
bulkheads and one of the aft bulkhead. Very handy for storing the rigging
when not sailing, and storing my wallet etc when I am. They aren't very
accessible when you are underway though.


--
Andrew Butchart
andrew.TakeThisOut@floatingbear.ca
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