C-Forum

Well, the plug is almost done. Sanded all the way up to 800 this weekend (couldn't find the right buffing wheel to go higher...early this week I hope).

I had kicked around a lot of names, but someone calling it the Mentor just seemed right during my hours and hours and hours of sanding.

The "shine" will really start to appear once it's buffed...as it was there was some dust on it when I took the images (I used this to my advantage with one, as the duratec is awefully "flat" and it is difficult to see all the contours of the deck (even in the image...).

The "spots" you see are either where it's sanded through to the fairing compound, or if it's white it's just dust. The boat itself is much "truer" than the Maven (not to mention wider...), but it's still just my second attempt. The more I work on boats the more respect I have for folks like Pete Hornbeck (the 'mentor' that has been helping me along, though not so much with this one until we build the mold (I'm pround to say that other than spraying the duratec, I've done it all with me in charge (Sara helped with the cutting, Kenneth helped with some fairing work:) ).

It will definitely be an interesting boat...I'll be curious to see how it is in "full cut"...especially vs. taking 1" out of it;)



Deck and Hull profiles

Bow and center sections (ooo...shiny even at 800 grit)

Deck 9with dust so you can see more contours) and Hull again

Another image I like of the hull


The Mentor is 28" wide and 8.5' long . The hull should surf nicely on a good wave, and the bow is turned up just a hair to help keep from pearling. 4" of "rocker" bow and stern (ok, a touch more bow obviously...4.5" perhaps).

There are several ideas I'm working out here regarding mysteryability:
1) plenty of tool area (to say the least!)
2) wing effect
3) very rounded edges for less turbulence (not as rounded as Jim Snyder's latest, but a far cry from the Maven or Acrobat)
4) Concavities bow and stern to reduce volume dramatically, while still keeping rocker and hopefully surfability
5) straight seam line for engaging currents
6) Width and hull shape should allow wheelboy or Sith-like comfort, even with a relatively low saddle. That's the goal, anyway! (if you haven't sat in a Sith or Wheelboy, your really owe it to yourself. Both (but esp. the Sith) are amazingly roomy and comfortable)
7) Low deck volume, large cockpit (Cascade sized, skirts from the Wheelboy should also fit:) )

Obviously the plug is missing the cockpit cutout and rim...to me the boat looks weird without it, but the completed boat has been bouncing around in my head since last fall, so anything that is not quite "right" to me with how it looks does seem odd. It is a lot of work making reality match a vision!!!!

Questions, comments, or anything else are welcome!

Looking GOOD I can't wait to strap in & take a lesson from the Mentor

Better a lesson from the Mentor than a whooping by the Maven .

They are no doubt two VERY different boats. The Mentor will be MUCH MUCH slower, but I suspect the increased stability will make up for that in part.

Thank you for your words of encouragement!

For those not aware from previous posts, MikeW and PAC have helped brainstorm for this boat, and acted as a sounding board (as has PS Composites, who very graciously spent several hours talking to me on the phone).

Yes, I do remember taking my whooping from the Maven

Stability is definetly a GOOD thing!

SirAdam, I agree with Mike W, that's one HOT looking boat, I think even I might not look like a total fool in it (which I did in the Maven ).
I like to hear that the cockpit will have Sith-like comfort, that boat is still the benchmark in terms of C1 comfort for me.
Will you have one for the Csquirt at the NBP Armada with you for folks to have a look at and maybe take a spin in? PLEASE say yes !

martin a.k.a. the great gonzo!

That is one very nice looking ride! I think it will be very enjoyable and as for speed don't worry about that. What's speed when you can't stay up right! LOL

I did have fun in the Maven during the last roll class. Still can't get it thru the "test". But I'm an TOG member and lack the tummy for it! Its still a fun boat!

Keep us posted! Paul C.


PS: Oh Mike I think Adam wants you to take the Maven proto for a while for feed back!

Adam,

It looks great. You are a saint for doing all this work (although I suspect you enjoy it). I can't wait to try the Mentor. Of course, when using personification with my boats (or cars) I typically go for the female thing ("she surfs pretty well") but I suppose that a mentor is a pretty neutral idea. Of course - Riot already made the Dominatrix. But I'm thinking with those new, rounded edges there (hopefully) won't be any talk about that! (as I slip underwater, nice, and, smoothly).

I've definitely got everything else checked off on the "able to begin squirt boating immediately" list - a couple of awesome home spots to try, friends willing to make road trips just to park and sink, places to do illegal drugs next to the river, a glittery helmet, an eccentric image around town, several Grateful Dead albums . . .

All I need now . . . is a mentor . . .

Alden

We'll see how it comes along... My original goal was to have one done in full cut for the Cquirt event...but at this point I'm at the mercy of the fellows helping build the mold, and what they feel is a reasonable time table.

I'll keep y'all posted (practising my southern for the Armada;) ).

MikeW (and Alden, for that matter) - you SHOULD try the full cut Maven prototype out...muhahahaha....actually, methinks you'll be surprised how much more stable it is with the knee cutouts.


I suspect the oddest thing for the Mentor is a lot of folks will feel likey they are sitting ON the boat rather than IN the boat due to the cockpit rim height.

Thank you all for your kind words!

Adam

Is that a surfboard?


Looks nice Adam!!!

Good work Adam!

P.S. During my brief sojourn on the dark side, I bought my first kayak from Pete in the early 70s when I worked summers at a boys camp in the Saranac Lake region of the 'dacks. I went with a high volume "slalom" boat (everything was a 4-meter slalom design in those days) instead of the "low-volume" Lettman Mark IV. He used all glass then, so the boat was brittle as hades. Glad to hear he's still in the business.

Looking forward to trying both the Mentor & Maven proto. The only Maven I tried last year was LEW's I'm with PAC on the stability, the fastest thing I could do in the Maven was to flip!

Says he who had a stomach or chest deep mystery in the Maven;)

You may have felt unstable in LEWs Maven, but you looked great!

Hopefully we'll be able to swap out boats this year too...perhaps including a Mentor:)

LEW's Maven was most stable when it was about 18" under the surface. It's kind of hard to flip when the boat is down deep & you're wearing a life jacket.

Mike you'll find the Maven MUCH more stable with the knees out! Paul C.