Panope

You're welcome, Dogscout

Full disclosure: I welded NEW plates down the center of the bilge to cover the lead ballast. The original metal (not quite as shinny as the center plates) was cleaned up with a sanding wheel. Steve

Sounds like you have plenty of enthusiasm for the project, student driver. It will be worth the effort. I've got a 44 year old aluminum boat. Been in the family since new. A few years ago I gutted/cleaned the bilges and rebuilt the cabin sole with huge access hatches everywhere - highly recommended.

I wish Ron Howard would make one of his "accurate to the last detail" movies about it.

Maybe the lack of windward sailing ability and possibility of being blown away from the island (certain death) drove the decision.

Fair enough. Just don't muck it up with one of those dorky anchor prods (a proper bowsprit would be handsome).

A raked bow would help with the reserve buoyancy and keep the anchor from crashing into the topsides.

Max, Nothing scientific about it. I just like to overnight in tight little coves and frequently anchor at that scope (or less) so I wanted to test similar. I have also tested the larger anchors at 2.5:1 just to test the envelope. If an anchor fails at 3:5:1, I will re-test at 5:1 I am not interested in anchors that require more than 5:1 to function. Steve

Bollard Pull of the "small" test boat has been verified. Use the data to get an idea of the holding power of anchors that have been tested with this boat, such as the recent test of the 13 lb. Mantus Anchor. Steve

I'd do that test - if the water would freeze. Old timers have spoke of driving cars on iced over parts of the Salish sea. I always assumed they were full of shit, but there is this video from 1950:

I did. For better or worse, my geekness rubbed off on two friends: They adopted two of Pitot's puppies and named them EDO (airplane float manufacturer) and GYRO (short for gyroscopic instruments found in aircraft).

Ok, I'll play. Pitot (yes, an English dog with a French name)

Yep.

Jack Russell.