Hello from Spencer/Bloomington Indiana

[Brushy_Bill]

I have been a member since late July.
Spent countless hours reading build threads,
following many links to other information.
(Many of those links are dead now unfortunately)

While I have posted in a couple of threads, I
have held off posting in this one. Main reason
is I was not sure what I wanted to tell you folks.

I have never seen a teardrop in person, but that
is going to change this weekend as I get to go
to a gathering at Salomonie State park here in
Indiana. I won't be camping, but will be there with
camera and notebook in hand.
Really looking forward to it.

I was lucky to have parents who loved to camp
and fish. Was born in August and went on my
first camping trip at the ripe old age of 4 weeks old.

Been doing it every since, mostly loading up a canoe
and finding a nice place to camp on the local rivers,
or the head waters of lake Monroe.

Spent the last 40 years doing toolmaking work.
Have built a couple of stitch and glue canoes
many years ago. Other than that, not much
woodworking.


I hope to start building a teardrop in the spring
of 2016. After many hours of looking at profiles
and build threads. I have pretty much decided on
a Grumman profile. 10x5 wide.

After looking over the trailer options,
looks like I will have one built from scratch.
Using the traditional torsion axle.

At 57 years old, and my mispent youth catching
up with me health wise. I don't want to have to build two, and don't think I have the years left anyway.

I have done a lot of camping at a canoe livery
on sugar creek near Rockville Indiana the last
couple of years.
Hope to spend many weekends in the years I have
left camping there. I think a teardrop will be perfect
for me and my girlfriend.

This winter will be spent lining up the special
woodworking tools I don't already have. And
studying Steve Fredericks shop manual which
I downloaded last week. (Wow, what a nice publication)

Then deciding what method I want to build, skeleton
plywood or as in Steve's method.

So many things to plan out. Just have to have a solid
plan before the sawdust flys.

Well, didn't intend to turn this into an essay.
Hope to post some photos when I get started.
From what I have seen here, there will be no shortage
of encouragement and help.

Thanks to all of you who have made this site
the resource that it is.

[corymike756]

Welcome Bill,
I will be getting my first real in person look at these 'drops myself this weekend. I look forward to seeing you there....I'll be the other guy with camera and notebook in hand My design so far is based heavily on the grumman profile also, though going a foot shorter. Maybe we can compare notes while we meet and greet this weekend. Save travels to you.

[Brushy_Bill]

Thank you corymike.
I too am looking forward to seeing
everyone.