That first cut is the deepest,,,,

One of the things Brudda B and I discussed while camping, (thats open for public release, not all of what we talked about is,,,) was ‘what to do with Lizzy,,,,’

Final solution is, Do as ye will. I have been watching three other ‘sales’ of a Nordkapp HM (what Lizzy is) and they ain’t movin’ for love or money

I bought a white elephant.

SO, whats the White Elephant solution.

Cut that Cockpit coaming out, make it a keyhole arrangement as I prefer. This isn’t as nightmarish as it may seem, I won’t even need Gelcoat ‘to hide’ my cuts.

My biggest problem with Lizzy is that cockpit. It feels restrictive as all hell. Can get in it, but getting out, I bind up just above the knees and that concerns me ‘in the event of a wet exit’. I’ve one other boat that does something like that and I did get bound up on an emergency exit: Duh!Kee. (and part of me is thinking that was the birth of my flat water anxieties) I did get out, but only on second try and already half out of the boat to begin with. Very disturbing situation that could have been much worse if there had been waves/swells. She even stole my shoes, right off my feet during that fiasco. As an example of why this is an issue, I will illustrate an wet exit I experianced in the ARC on BuckCreek. When the boat went over, It happened FAST; so fast, I was IN the water before I could even react and never felt the boat leave my hips or the skirt come loose from the boat. So fast that I came up with the paddle in both hands still paddling,,,, Much safer situation than being in a boat that could trap you in itself in such a way that you couldn’t effect a roll (like when I capsized Duh!k.)

SO, cut that coaming out, build anew, and give her a go again. Her value is what I make of her at this point, not what I can get out of her. (and if someone reading this feels otherwise, get with me in email or comments and let’s talk. I would rather leave her intact and to someone with love for the boat than destroy her intrinsic value of X to become Y)

BUT,,,, What to do about the skirt and cover I have for her. They won’t fit with the new cockpit. Sell those, there IS a market for them as I found the last time I listed Liz for sale. Sell that bloody bilge pump too as there is a market for them as well. (that WILL need gelcoat to ‘hide’ the hole it would create, OR I make a day hatch out of that hole )(will do that)

WHY? Lizzy (gonna have to change that name) is no tippier than Duh!k, very similar in handling. Duh!k has only put me in the water that once and in hindsight, was circumstancial: high winds, wide blade paddle in wrong position, green newb in cockpit. I have more experiance under my belt now, do have a roll and practicing it, and I don’t use a euro blade anymore (except on white water which these boats don’t see)

And I DO want a 17’+ long boat. Maybe her hatches are too small for winter camp gear, but they are solid, no leaks. She is FAST, and that is what I want far more than a battle barge that will haul all of my gear (thats BJ’s job)

AND (2nd WHY) I want a race boat. Lyssa is a great little boat, but I am technically TOO big for her. My wieght is just below that max payload she is rated for and so putting anything in her along with me maxes her out. And it shows in her performance when I do. She’s an all arounder dayboat for me.

I know, I know, I am talking in circles trying to “justify what screwed me up more and left me breathless on a shredded bed‘ here. Fact is, there is the “you let a boat defeat you” vibe I would have to deal with if just up and sold her. And I can still turn around and sell her later if I find I still don’t like her (have never been able to get comfortable enough to really get to know her, due to that ocean cockpit .) Her value as a boat won’t change any (seeing how they aren’t moving anyways,, zero is still zero) and maybe with a keyhole cockpit, someone would find her interesting at least,,,,

and that gives me a project that I can play with over the next couple of months when things are less than conducive to paddling (will still, especially after that drysuit comes in,,, but you know what I mean.)

Bzzzzzz goes saw! No turnin’ back once that first cut is made.

Posting this on Dec 27th 2023, First cut starts 01072024. IF you would like to buy an original ’92 Nordkapp HM that is sound, contact me before then!