Baptizing, Launch, Maiden Voyage,
and First Lake Trial of

OSS   Santa Maria

Delivery

The boat is a bit more than 2.3 m long, the bed of that mini truck about 1.9 m long. The max. length of boats that can be transported with that kind of truck will be about 3 m (10 ft.). The "truck" carries not only the boat in a special bag, but also table and chairs for the lake-side party.

Assembly

The structure for the sun roof is of Bamboo, joined with "O-screws". (click for image with details)

 

Left: The horizontal sticks support and hold the roof, the roof is secured to the hull by thin cords. Right: A temporary seat and the spring safety hooks that connect the cords to the hull. (click for image with details)

 

Left: Detail of the temporary oar mount (thole pins) Right: Ready for baptizing. Note the long "Safety Rope" and the bottle.

Baptizing

OSS Santa Maria was baptized by her new owner, Anna-Ly Probst, and her mother, Nguyễn Minh Thủy, smashing a small bottle of Lúa Mới (Vietnamese Rice Vodka) against the (C-clamp re-inforced) stem. Hoisted flags were: Germany (forward port: owner and builder), Canada (forward starboard: designer), Boos (aft port: German home village of owner and builder), European Union (aft starboard). Missing, since not yet arrived: ASEAN, Hanoi.

Launching

Despite spiteful comments of some onlookers, ... she floats! The bow takes all the forward weight without water spilling in. The stairs into the lake make a perfect launch site. Independent of the water level of the lake, it is always easy to board the boat, since she cannot sink in more than one step: she will ground on it and needs a bit of manual lift, and a push, and off she goes.

Maiden Voyage and First Lake Trials

Maiden voyage, secured via a "safety rope" to shore. Left: The bow is too far up, the stern too far down. Right: After moving the seat a bit more to the center, the thole pins are now too far aft.

 

Captain Anna-Ly exploring the West Lake in the other direction, now without safety rope. (click on the photo for larger, better quality images)

 

Left: First Officer Thành trying the Bamboo oars. Right: Chief Engineer Hưng racing with/towards sport rowing boats.

More, and higher quality pictures in the photo album in some days.