Howdy from Inverness Florida

[Sandy Claws]

My name is Roger and I am an addict, hooked by a video of really neat looking teardrop trailers. Teardrops make perfect sense now with gas prices the way they are and since I just finished building a 20 foot flatsboat, I decided to build a trailer. I bought plans from kuffel Creek, but have decided to go with more of a rimple/woody design. I already have the frame finished built from scratch with utility trailer parts. I decided to go with a 5 foot wide box. Fiberglass and epoxy on the top and a wood finish on the sides. I hope I can finish in time to go to some Tearjerker activities this year. If not, I might just go anyway. I am looking forward to meeting and talking to all you folks.

[toypusher]

Roger,

Welcome to the board! If you have questions, just ask and someone is sure to have an answer (or a dozen) for you to help out.

[kerryd]

Hey Sandy Claws ! whats shake'n in Inverness ? We're live'n large in Brooksville . There is another new guy in Live Oak . Goodluck with your build . Kerry

[Sonetpro]

Welcome Sandy Claws, Like Kerry said lot's of help here. But there is a price, That is lots of pic's. So you have the frame and all done.
We want to see.
Have fun with your build.

[mikeschn]

Hey Claws...

Welcome to the forum...

You got any pics yet?

Mike...

[Miriam C.]

Welcome Roger,
No need to wipe your claws just join. If your a builder we will be glad of your expertise.

PS- what's a flatsboat?

[Woody]

Come to Anastasia State Park in Nov. with or without a teardrop and meet the people. Bring a tent and we will find room for you if need be

[Steve_Cox]

Hello Roger,

Good to see another Flawduh Teardrop in the works.

[KA]

Welcome Roger,
I think the same movie got me hooked. Hope you have fun with your teardrop adventures.
Kris

[Sandy Claws]

I would just like to thank everybody for the warm welcome! I now have some photos in the gallery( I finally figured out how to upload). I also have photos on a Flickr.com site but shortly after I entered my "Sandy Claws" tags, several folks started using my email user name for their tags too. But if you go there and search the tags for Sandy Claws, you will find my yellow banana boat that I recently built and my trailer photos. This forum has a family feel to it. I think I'm really going to like talking with you folks.

Catch you in the other forum areas,
Roger...

[PapaJ]

Hi Roger:

We must have seen the same video

I'm from West Palm Beach area and I just signed on earlier this week.

It has rained every afternoon for the last six days, so I may have to start work on my Ark first

My son suggeste fiberglass as well, so I'm sure I'll have some questions when I get going.


Tom

[Sandy Claws]

Tom,
Your son is right! Epoxy and fiberglass is the way to go. With aluminum you have to think about scratches, abrasions, dents etc. and with Epoxy and fiberglass, repairs are alot easier and you can paint it, or leave it bright with top coatings of a Linear polyurethane clear. I built that flats boat out of marine plywood and epoxy and fiberglass. It has strength you won't believe! Also I can't believe that there won't be a problem of the aluminum pulling away from the wood sooner or later, and that is if you can find it in a 5 foot width. I also think that bright wood sides and a tan top would look more retro or period, even though I realize the originals were aluminum.
Auntie "M",
A flats boat is a boat that is used here on the West or Gulf coast of Florida. It is usually wide(mine has an 8 ft. beam) and will float in very little water(Mine will float in about 2 inches) . The water in the gulf of Mexico is very shallow. It is described as dropping one foot in depth for every mile you travel out. Of course there are channels and exceptions, but the inshore fishing is in and around sand and oyster bars. Propeller repair and replacement is big business here. This shallow water does not keep the big fish away though! Sometimes you sight fish and look for their tails splashing to locate them.

Thanks to the 2 of you for writing!
Rog...

[surveytech]

Sandy,
Love fishing around the "Chaz". Just beautiful there. But like you say, shallow and rocky. And the tarpon are HUGE!!
Miss coming up there, always a good time.

Walter

[Sandy Claws]

Walter,
Haven't hooked into a tarpon yet, but I'm more into fish I can eat. I've only been in Florida for 3 years. Moved here from Tucson, Arizona. Still learnin' this fishin' thing! You say you miss coming up here? Doesn't your trailer tow in that direction? You built a Rimple! That's the basic profile I'm thinking of building. How do you like it? Would you build another? Do you belong to the Tearjerkers? Maybe we could meet at one of their festivities. Thanks for writing.
Rog...

[Miriam C.]

[Roger's quote]Auntie "M",
A flats boat is a boat that is used here on the West or Gulf coast of Florida. It is usually wide(mine has an 8 ft. beam) and will float in very little water(Mine will float in about 2 inches) . The water in the gulf of Mexico is very shallow. It is described as dropping one foot in depth for every mile you travel out. Of course there are channels and exceptions, but the inshore fishing is in and around sand and oyster bars. Propeller repair and replacement is big business here. This shallow water does not keep the big fish away though! Sometimes you sight fish and look for their tails splashing to locate them. [/quote]

Thanks Roger. One of these days I will get back to Florida to fish.

Aunti M