Tommy & The List
 
        Thanks for giving me the opportunity to report my last year and a half of progress and what a year it has been. The dates on our corespondance below are from May, 2005. The keel for our Diesel Duck 462-5 was laid in January 2005 and now it is just about completed. I came to the yard in Zhuhai, China for two weeks in March this year and Ruth and I spent six weeks in China this summer. Three days of that time we spent in Chongqing, then a seven day cruise down the Yangtze, then five days in Shanghai. We did spend quite a bit of time at the yard making decisions about this and that. We came back here on November 12th and we're putting the final touches on the boat before departing for Hong Kong sometime in January.
        When we agreed to take the next available 462 in December 2004 we did not have the money to pay for it and I thought we would have to sale our home to come up with the money. Its funny how things fall into place though. We were both still working at the time too. My wife Ruth retired from her job as a reference librarian in October 2005. I found willing buyers for both of my body shops and signed them over in February, 2006. The sale enabled us to retain our home and rent it out which contributes to the cruising kitty. I signed up for and attended the Chapman's School for Seamanship in Stuart, Florida in April and May. My Mom passed away on April 30th. She was a very strong willed Irish women who attended the same Baptist church from the time she was a small girl until her death. She also took care of herself until the week before she died at 96 years. Before she died she knew we were naming the boat, "Dora Mac" after her. Her maiden name was Dora McManaway. If Dora Mac the boat takes care of me like Mom did I'll have no worries.
        There have been quite a few changes at the boatyard as well. Bill Kimley has well underway 462 number 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. One of those is still available for contract but there is a guy coming from France on January 15th to have a look. There are three 382s well under way and three more started. The three just started are welded up and the faring has begun and are available. The 382 is a three-quarter version of the 462. There is a 462 Sedan well under way and the keel is being laid for four more with only one of those available. Late last year Bill started a web site just for duck owners and those interested in Diesle Ducks, its:
http://www.ducktalk.net/ <http://www.ducktalk.net/>  and I contribute to it sometimes.
        Bill has had so much interest in the 562 that he is actually thinking of opening a second yard to build just those. When he told me that it was the only time I can remember in my life wishing I were younger. I'd jump in with both feet. Not buying but helping to build, this is a wonderful industry. I think people are drawn to the 562 because of price because the boat is almost too big, especially for the type of cruising Ruth and I are planning on. I know its hard to decide what size boat and sometimes available money takes presidence over actual need. I've decided there will always be bigger boats, younger women, and older whiskey but I can little afford them or handle them very well, especially while docking.
 
Merry Christmas to everyone from Baijiao, China
 
Randal Johnson
 
 






Well, what has happened to you in this past year?
Tommy
PS.  I think I am buying a DD44, against my better wishes.
Write!!!!!
Tommy

   I didn't like those things about David Katz's 44' boat either.

Tommy & The List Thanks for giving me the opportunity to report my last year and a half of progress and what a year it has been. The dates on our corespondance below are from May, 2005. The keel for our Diesel Duck 462-5 was laid in January 2005 and now it is just about completed. I came to the yard in Zhuhai, China for two weeks in March this year and Ruth and I spent six weeks in China this summer. Three days of that time we spent in Chongqing, then a seven day cruise down the Yangtze, then five days in Shanghai. We did spend quite a bit of time at the yard making decisions about this and that. We came back here on November 12th and we're putting the final touches on the boat before departing for Hong Kong sometime in January. When we agreed to take the next available 462 in December 2004 we did not have the money to pay for it and I thought we would have to sale our home to come up with the money. Its funny how things fall into place though. We were both still working at the time too. My wife Ruth retired from her job as a reference librarian in October 2005. I found willing buyers for both of my body shops and signed them over in February, 2006. The sale enabled us to retain our home and rent it out which contributes to the cruising kitty. I signed up for and attended the Chapman's School for Seamanship in Stuart, Florida in April and May. My Mom passed away on April 30th. She was a very strong willed Irish women who attended the same Baptist church from the time she was a small girl until her death. She also took care of herself until the week before she died at 96 years. Before she died she knew we were naming the boat, "Dora Mac" after her. Her maiden name was Dora McManaway. If Dora Mac the boat takes care of me like Mom did I'll have no worries. There have been quite a few changes at the boatyard as well. Bill Kimley has well underway 462 number 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. One of those is still available for contract but there is a guy coming from France on January 15th to have a look. There are three 382s well under way and three more started. The three just started are welded up and the faring has begun and are available. The 382 is a three-quarter version of the 462. There is a 462 Sedan well under way and the keel is being laid for four more with only one of those available. Late last year Bill started a web site just for duck owners and those interested in Diesle Ducks, its: http://www.ducktalk.net/ <http://www.ducktalk.net/> and I contribute to it sometimes. Bill has had so much interest in the 562 that he is actually thinking of opening a second yard to build just those. When he told me that it was the only time I can remember in my life wishing I were younger. I'd jump in with both feet. Not buying but helping to build, this is a wonderful industry. I think people are drawn to the 562 because of price because the boat is almost too big, especially for the type of cruising Ruth and I are planning on. I know its hard to decide what size boat and sometimes available money takes presidence over actual need. I've decided there will always be bigger boats, younger women, and older whiskey but I can little afford them or handle them very well, especially while docking. Merry Christmas to everyone from Baijiao, China Randal Johnson Well, what has happened to you in this past year? Tommy PS. I think I am buying a DD44, against my better wishes. Write!!!!! Tommy > > From: "Randal Johnson" <RJohnson@roanokewreckrepair.com> > Date: 2005/05/26 Thu AM 09:52:11 EDT > To: <circumnavigate06@bellsouth.net> > Subject: RE: RE: PUP site > > Tommy > > I didn't like those things about David Katz's 44' boat either. > As a matter of fact, I told him at the end of our trip up the coast that > I would probably not get a Diesel Duck. David's boat was more along the > lines of a sail boat as far as the interior was laid out. > The 462 is a much different boat though. I agree that the > outside space is limited. I would like to have a covered back porch, or > aft deck. The 462 compensates with the cockpit area fairly well though > and I just like the appearance of the boat. If I was going to use the > boat for coastal cruising only I would probably go for one with bigger > windows, less draft, covered aft deck, more outside space, and probably > less tankage. A watermaker and flopper stoppers wouldn't be needed > either. > Our plan is to take it mostly around the world. > Sorry to hear about your house and car. > Now that I think of it, there was talk at the yard of building a > sedan on the 462 hull at some point. That would be a good coastal > cruiser. > > Randal Johnson > Phone 540-362-8499 > www.roanokewreckrepair.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: circumnavigate06@bellsouth.net > [mailto:circumnavigate06@bellsouth.net] > Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 9:01 PM > To: Randal Johnson > Subject: Re: RE: PUP site > > No, my questions cannot be answered that simply. Yes, I am more than > interested, but going to China is out of the question. In fact, if I > purchase one, I will order it without ever seeing the factory. The > opinion of "guys like you" is enough for me. I'm still in Alaska and > won't be home until the 30th. I had planed on writing to you then, but > I have been notified that my home was broken into and our car (and what > else?) was stolen, so I suppose that will take a few days to clear up. > Basically, my questions were going in the direction of why you selected > the Diesel Duck and what options you selected and why. Scott at the PUP > site told me his wife thought it was inadequate in creature comforts. > Another fellow said the windows were too small, the above deck space too > small and the quality of the joinery poor. > Tommy > > > > > From: "Randal Johnson" <RJohnson@roanokewreckrepair.com> > > Date: 2005/05/25 Wed PM 03:25:47 EDT > > To: <circumnavigate06@bellsouth.net> > > Subject: RE: PUP site > > > > Tommy > > > > Did the PUP post and sub sequential responses answer your Diesel Duck > > questions? If you think you may be interested in one, go to China and > > have a look. > > > > Randal Johnson > > Phone 540-362-8499 > > www.roanokewreckrepair.com > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: circumnavigate06@bellsouth.net > > [mailto:circumnavigate06@bellsouth.net] > > Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2005 10:10 AM > > To: Randal Johnson > > Subject: PUP site > > > > You were aboard a Diesel Duck? For how long? > > > > Care to take a shot at answering some questions......I have great > > interest in those boats but most people are "chasing" me away, even > > though they have never been aboard one. > > > > Thanks MUCH! > > Tommy