Texas 200 / Magnolia Beach

photograph by Tom Pamperin

Okay, I know, I haven't posted anything lately. Other projects have made it to the top of my "To Do List". But, I am back to working on the Paradox. My goal is to have it 3D by the end of November. We'll see.

But, there is something I have to share. Wooden Boat Magazine published an article on the Texas 200 that takes place on the Texas coast every June. Dale and I did not enter, but we drove to Magnolia Beach and met the boats as they all made it to the finish. We took iDuck, the PDRacer (with the yellow sail) that I built last spring, and sailed it in the bay. Today, we learned that iDuck, Dale and I are all in the two page picture above the article. Wow. I had heard there was a PDRacer in the picture, but never dreamed it was MINE!

My Boat Building Journey

I started building things from wood about 20 years ago; shelves, bookcase, towel racks. I love to create things with my hands. In 2007, Dale and I moved to Houston from the desert (Midland, TX). We met a guy with an Irwin 41 sailboat, and started sailing with him. We enjoyed being on the water, and then in 2009 I decided I wanted to build a boat. Wanting to start off small, I decided my first boat would be a PDRacer (PDRacer.com). Yeah, it's small, but it is a lot of fun!

After looking at a lot of plans and reading about the different boats, I decided my next boat would be a Matt Layden design, Paradox. With plans and build manual in hand, I bought the plywood and started cutting. The bulkheads, transom, rudder and rudder blade are cut out. The mast, boom and yard will be next. I should have the solid lumber by this weekend, and get to work.

I am hoping to have this boat completed by June 2011. That might be unrealistic, but I need a deadline. My progress will be posted here for anyone interested to follow.

Lezlie