Testimonials

Bill,

I just wanted to thank you for the professional manner in which you firstly, located a buyer for my Mac Gregor 22 and secondly, completed the sale.

It was a pleasure to do business with you
regards
Johnny Albrow

Catalina Capri 22 Wing Keel

This Catalina Capri 22 with wing keel has been well maintained and has many extras -- including extra sails, solid trailer with extension and a "nearly new" 2HP Yamaha 4 cycle motor.

For more information or to make an offer, contact Bill Vokac (217) 369-0015 or email bvokac@hotmail.com

Moonlight Sail and Door County Cruise

On Saturday, July 17th, the CLSA Potluck -- thanks to everyone who brought something to grill and share -- and the Moonlight sail went well for all participants.

Until fellow CLSA Members Alex and Lucy joined me on the MacGregor 25 last evening, I had forgotten how AWESOME it was to do an evening sail with good company aboard !!

It was a rare treat to have an experienced sailor at the helm !
(usually, I bring people aboard who are new to sailing...because, as a retired schoolteacher, I ENJOY introducing new things to folks.)

Anyway, I was able to bring out the cockpit cushions and lay down -- quite content -- and watch the clouds drift past my masthead. Of course, every once in awhile, I popped my head up like a gopher to confirm where we were on the lake and viewed lake traffic.
(not much that time of evening...)

Since I'm usually racing, and/or "tweaking" whatever sailboat I'm on (I average 6 of them -- one for every wind velocity and type of event), last nite was kind of a "warmup" and preparation for our annual Door County Cruise !

This year, we'll have 4 cabin boats from CLSA coming up to sail Green Bay -- from Ephraim to Excanaba by way of Jackson Harbor on the NE corner of Washington Island.

I may become a "cruiser" yet...

Bill Vokac

NEW Gadget is a Laser Wind Indicator

To read the wind speed more accurately, check out this NEW device from a Sail Magazine article:

http://sailmagazine.com/gear-and-review/wind_data_from_a_distance/

This technology comes from Lasers that are being used to anticipate a gust that would damage a wind turbine. If the Laser detects a gust coming that would be excessive, the blades are "feathered" to keep the blades from reaching an excessive speed.

This new device would be fun and useful to have aboard, if you have someone to use it while somebody else is steering...if you've got the "spare change" to invest.

Of course, during our SailNow sailing instruction, the first thing I teach is how to read the wind gust velocity, duration and direction by looking at the waves to windward to anticipate possibly having to "round-up" when the next gust hits your sails.

"Reading the waves" visually gives more information with sufficient accuracy to be useful.

Let me know what you think, or how useful this wind speed by laser device is if you buy one...

Bill Vokac -- bvokac@hotmail.com

MN Disabled Camp

I annually tow my Flying Scot (http://www.flyingscot.com/, http://www.fssa.com/ )sailboat to Northern Minnesota (only an hour from International Falls...) because it is very stable and roomy for our campers, and can be launched off the swimming beach at Camp Courage North, near Bimidji, Minnesota.

The main purpose of Handiham Camp is for the campers to get their entry level ham radio license, or to upgrade their current license to a higher level -- which gives them additonal privileges to enjoy while operating their ham radio equipment back home and in future travels. We teach for 5 days, and the campers are tested on the 6th day by representatives of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), who donate their time for the ham radio exams.

Here you see me with 3 "happy campers," about to shove off on our 2 hour afternoon break from the 6 hours per day of classes in ham radio (aka Amateur Radio).

For the past 15 years, I have volunteered as an instructor to teach ham radio licensing courses to the severely disabled -- and I have received far more than I have given. Everyone, able-bodied or not, should volunteer a little time somewhere !! I've been interested in working with the disabled ever since helping my high school ham radio friend with his homework as he deteriorated with Muscular Distrophy. Most folks with MD pass on before they leave High School...as did my friend, K9FLJ. His Mom gave me his Morse Code key upon his passing and I still use that "straight key" when I'm not communicating world-wide by voice or some digital mode, on or off the internet.

The Handiham (short for "Handicapped Hams, http://www.handiham.org/ ) campers typically are physically disabled in some way from Cerebral Palsey, Muscular Distrophy, or brain injuries received at work or play -- or are also blind, and/or deaf either from birth defects or due to an accidental injury later in life. Most campers (and many of the regular camp staff) suffer from multiple disorders, which can be very challenging...AND REWARDING !

Because of their disabilities, some campers and staff cannot speak or write... , so they might use a computer punch board (often attached to an arm of their power chair) to spell phrases that a syntesized speech program will pronounce -- even when operating "voice mode" over ham radio equipment at home and at camp.

On breaks, campers have the opportunity to go back to their cabins to rest(many do...) -- or they decide to enjoy the usual camp activities. Campers can choose to waterski, fish, swim, drive a power boat or a Gator 4 x 4 (yes, even the blind campers -- with proper supervision at reduced speeds...) and SAIL because I bring my Flying Scot.

Teaching the blind to sail was easier than I thought possible the first year, once I got the campers to be totally aware of the heel (tilt) angle, wind direction (pressure), and the sound of the water gurgling past. I have also become a better sailor by closing my eyes to pay more attention to my senses other than sight.

(I pass this technique on to my SailNow students during lessons back home in Illinois...students really "tune in" to the boat and what it is doing as they make adjustments!)

Our Handiham Camp Courage Motto is "We can do that..." and we all do our best to make "wishes come true" at camp.

I look forward to Handiham Camp every year, eager to renew friendships and create new relationships.

*******************************

If you know someone with a disability (or someone "completely normal") who would like to explore ham radio, and possibly get licensed, either on their own or at Handiham Camp -- have them contact me...and I'll show them how to get started !

Bill Vokac - K9BV

(217) 369-0015

bvokac@hotmail.com

******************************

Predict new winds sooner...

A new LASER and sensoring device from a Virginia firm called Catch The Wind is designed to "anticipate" a change in wind direction and speed to increase the electricity production from giant wind turbines "by as much as 10%."

By detecting air particle motion up to 1000 ft ahead, a sailboat racer could benefit greatly?

Now, if only this Laser could fit on my LASER...

Bill

CLSA Door County Cruise

For the past decade, I've taken my MacGregor 25 north (8 hour drive) to Ephraim's Firehouse Ramp for cruisng the area for about 2 weeks.

In 2007, two sailboats from the Carlyle Yacht Club joined me for awhile and we circumnavigated Chambers Island (this island has a lake in the center with two islands -- visible on most charts...) for a perfect 8 hour sail.

It was also the year the Green Bay water was rather low -- you really had to pay attention to the channel markers and not stray from the channels!

Our 2008 Door Cruise was really special as Jim Coleman joined me as crew and guided us farther North than I had previously gone -- around Washington Island to visit Rock Island, WI. Thordarson's State Park Boathouse is truly amazing with interior concrete wharfs behind the stone arches, with an "open air" ballroom on the entire second floor!

In 2009, many of the same sites were visited ...and thoroughly enjoyed with the Budden's on their MacGregor 26S -- and they vowed to return in 2010...Yup, it's that nice a destination...nobody goes just once...!!!

In 2010, as promised, Joe and Linda Budden returned -- as did Jim Coleman, and we were joined by Joe and Denise Karbarz on their recently - purchased Morgan 22. They loved the awesome sailing and are considering their Door County return with a larger sailboat !

As for 2011, why not join us....?

Mercury 8 HP LONG Shaft

SOLD -- This Mercury 8HP motor is very clean and and comes with an external gas tank and hose with matching fittings.

Note the

L O N G

shaft...

For more information, contact:

Bill Vokac (217) 369-0015

bvokac@hotmail.com

A new MERCURY 8HP Long Shaft would cost you $ 1850...why not save $$$ and buy this outboard motor for only $550 -- less than 1/3rd the cost?

Windrose 22 CLASSIC Cruiser sailboat

SOLD -- This 1977 Laguna Windrose 22 (a.k.a. Balboa 22) was designed by W. Shad Turner (who also designed the Schock Santana 20) with a full 8 foot beam and draws only 15 inches keel up for easy launching and gunk-holing, yet draws a full 5.5 feet keel down for solid performance into the wind!


The dual drop-leaf table is ideally centered over the keel trunk for use by all when dining aboard and "virtually disappears" with the leafs folded down. There is a pull-out sink with hand-pump that slides aft under the starboard cockpit seat. There's plenty of light below from the large double windows on port and starboard.


The rounded cabin roof (like a Chrysler 26) provides ample headroom when seated below (you can wear your cowboy hat!), and the pop-top (with windowed "camping" canvas surround) gives standing headroom. For winter storage outside, there is a PVC frame (visible in photo above...) to make it easy to toss the winter cover over the boat and secure it.


This Windrose 22 is in excellent condition, has a NEW motor mount, NEW cushions for bunks and seating, and a recently re-painted interior, hull and DECK !! You can see your reflection in the polished hull and the blue bottom paint is in good to excellent condition.

I have the original gallon can
(feels like a little is still in it for any "touching up"), so you know what paint to add to it in a few years, if needed...

All openings to the cabin have screens for overniting "bug-free"
(except for "up-north no-see-ums...")

There are 3 over-sized chrome winches with PVC covers, the usual port and starboard pair, and one on the cabin roof for the halyards...run everything from the cockpit !

A sturdy Harken traveler gives you the option of mid-boom sheeting for a"performance / racing edge..." Owner reports indicate only 10 knots of wind is needed to get 6 knots of boat speed...

The cockpit has lazarettes on port and starboard for easy access to stored items AND the stern's interior while sailing or "on the hook." Sail single-handed or with your family on this cruising classic...

The trailer has been recently painted battleship grey and is road-ready with tires that have plenty of tread and no side wall "crazing..." AND, yes, there is a mounted spare in the same condition. There is a platform near the front for clamping an outboard when traveling. This adds tongue weight and you don't have lift the motor into the boat or towing vehicle (and smell gasoline during your trip...) when heading down the road... nice feature...

The boat sits quite LOW on the trailer for easy launching because when the swing keel comes up, nearly half of it snuggles into the keel trunk in the hull, leaving you with a secure shoal keel. But, rarely seen in a 22 foot cabin boat, there is also a tongue extension (10'?) so you can launch this boat on nearly any ramp !!


FOR MORE Information or additional photos, contact:

Bill Vokac (217) 369-0015 Mobile or bvokac@hotmail.com