The "BLACK FLY" Dinghy 6: First Launch and Test Row.

(Please click on any image to see a larger picture.)

Before doing any work on the sailing rig, I felt the need to test the boat in the water to see how it handled. It weighed in at 35 lbs, a little more than the advertised 28, but that's probably because I built with oak and, ash rather than softwood. Anyway, lifting on and off the car racks was very easy!

And she looked pretty in the water, too.

And rowed really well :-)

In fact, on the way to the mothership, the winds were aft and gusting to 20 knots, so I shipped the oars and used one as a rudder to steer. Rowing back to the launch area was another matter.

Coming next: Part Seven, the First Sail