Little boats = More exciting

 Settled fine and warm weather enable this little craft to be enjoyed to the full and what a blast it is on the water. 20 knots feels quite fast enough.  The first video shows me and Andrew planing along the coast from Teignmouth to the Parson & Clerk stack of red sandstone and along the exposed rail line that is hving to be strengthened at Dawlish by loads of ugly concrete walls. The engineering of which is quite inferior to Brunel's original masonry. At intervals of approximately 20 feet the use of rubber expansion inserts have been used all along the wall so far built. Those rubber inserts are already degraded and hanging loose all along the wall where recent storms have hit.

 

And the next video is taken the same week at Babbacombe where the crowded beach is being enjoyed .

Soon I am off to Brixham and across Torbay past the Arcadia and Queen Victoria liners moored up and polluting the atmosphere and emptied of the bow tie brigade and cocktail gowned guests.
 

And here is where the lunch box sandwiches and coffee flask are emptied. Beneath us there are plenty of Bass and Mullet swimming in the harbour.

And the very next day Matthew and I are Bass fishing and enjoying the little cove just south of Dawlish known as Shell Cove. Its only here that one is able to find the little Cowry shells sometimes used as necklaces or wristlets. 

Seals were basking on the rocks near here

Landing on the deserted beach and looking for some shade - but there was none.

Still waters edge this deserted cove

30 degrees or more of heat - It was here that a yacht carrying illegal immigrants was found in distress only eighteen months ago.  The crew are now serving time in prison.

Woody Runabout - Sea Trial

 With two well built crew this little craft performs beyond expectations with it's 20 hp Honda outboard (4 stroke).

The youtube video here was taken in Labrador Bay, South Devon where there are a several cruise liners anchored with zero passengers and nowhere to go.

The sea state was only slightly choppy and with a gentle ground swell. The wind was light and the run shows us about two miles offshore, between The Ness and The Oar Stone. Just around the headland is Torbay, Torquay and Brixham.

Woody Runabout stage 14

 Pressing on with the topside. The deck layout can be seen in the rough stages of fitting the carlins and deck beams. The cut out transom with very little freeboard, but relieved by the fitting of an inner transom and outboard well in between the two.
I have settled for the idea of having a false floor of 5mm ply;  easier to bale out and may even be self baling if the waterline is not too high.

The inner transom will be faced with ply infil tp provide a flotation chamber and motor well