WoodenBoat 227 JulAug 2012
WoodenBoat 227 JulAug 2012
WoodenBoat 227 JulAug 2012
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US Sailing Team Athletes Paige & Zach Railey • Brimbles Sweater, Shipyard Short 1 Mick Anderson
AtlantisWeatherGear.com
Page 48
Page 78
54 The Seaclipper 10
A trimaran for the pure joy
Features of sailing Jim Brown
62 BENITO
33 Revisiting the Classics
Discovered on YouTube,
The terrapin smack Reuel B. Parker
built by Skype Bruce Stannard
40 Anchoring Under Sail
Sharpen your skills with
the motor off Bruce Halabisky
Page 40
2 • WoodenBoat 227
ReadeR SeRviceS
117 Boatbrokers
Page 69 120 Boatbuilders
109 Calendar of Events Subscription rate is $32.00 for one year (6 issues) in the U.S. and its possessions. Canadian
subscription rate is $37.00, U.S. funds. Surface rate overseas is $45.00, U.S. funds per year.
Periodical postage paid at Brooklin, ME 04616 and additional mailing offices. In Canada,
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MARION M Maynard Bray Canada Postmaster: Pitney Bowes, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2, Canada.
July/August 2012 • 3
design challenge iV
Rethinking the Wooden Runabout
July/August 2012 • 5
JU
12
21ST ANNUAL
WOODENBOAT
SHOW
MYSTIC SEAPORT
MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT
PRODUCED & PRESENTED BY
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To order tickets:
800-273-7447
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TM
8 • WoodenBoat 227
history a n d heroes.
0 1 2
2 ront Mari enter
L
e C
A
t i m
Bayf
FES T I V
10 • WoodenBoat 227
This is now.
This is now.
HM MARINE
soon as we started building BAGOR
HAMILTON in 2003, and finally got a slip on
the Vilaine in 2010. In Port du
Crouesty, we have crept up to about
FREE 700th on the list!
PORTLAND ROCKLAND SEARSPORT SOUTHWEST HARBOR JONESPORT Catalog! I would be very happy to hear
from anyone who is planning
to go and visit this wonderful
area of Brittany, and to help with
Boat Hooks Cap Fit information.
Boat hooks come with Sylvia Marlow
finished wooden handle. Punta Gorda, Florida, and
Baud, France
Flush Fit
Time Warp
Dear Editor,
I was walking around a local book-
Type Style Length Order# List SELL store when I saw a copy of Wood-
Brass Cap Fit 65" 732714 55.95 45.99 enBoat in their magazine rack. I
Brass Cap Fit 78" 732715 61.65 50.99 bought it, took, it home, and pro-
Stainless Steel Flush Fit 65" 739056 99.99 69.99 ceeded to go through it. It had
Stainless Steel Flush Fit 78" 739057 119.99 79.99 been a long time since I’d read the
magazine, and I was overwhelmed
Moose Point Laminated Varnished Spruce Oars with memories and recollections of
a past passion.
Over 30 years ago, I was deter-
mined to pack up and move to one
of the Eastern coastal states, take
a course in boatbuilding, and set
These beautifully crafted, up a new life working on wooden
Length Order# Each Length Order# Each
lightweight but strong oars boats. Alas, I purposely gave up that
are made from knot-free 5' 175572 33.99 7' 154041 44.99
5.5' 172614 35.99 7.5' 156016 49.99 desire due to pressing issues that
Eastern Canadian spruce. It
looks expensive, but it isn’t. 6' 154040 39.99 8' 154042 59.99 needed my attention. As I worked
By far our best selling oar. 6.5' 154049 42.99 9' 175573 64.99 my way through the magazine, I was
surprised to be swept up in a time
Debond warp. Past ambitions and fantasies
Marine Formula We stock a wide range flooded in. Things hadn’t changed
A specially formulated of colors, both traditional through all of the years that had
mixture that cleans and and bold and always passed. WoodenBoat brought back
removes adhesives and tasteful. These enamels, my memories just as fresh and com-
sealants. 4 oz. aerosol. monourethanes and two- pelling as they were originally. Pour-
1299
List 18.59 $ part polyurethanes are ing this out to you may relieve some
MFA-4 favorites of Maine boat- of the pressure, but it won’t satisfy
Order# 167283 builders and owners. the itch.
Allen Calvin
800-639-2715 Typographical errors are unintentional Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
and subject to correction.
hamiltonmarine.com
See Us at the WoodenBoat Show
12 • WoodenBoat 227
f • a 13’ ca
Iff
roLIna fI
shIng sk ✮ And so much more
d
explaIne
te r sk If
a 15’ LoBs t: deSIGn
Your Boa
CHooSInG
Making Friends with Your Build Your Own Build Your Own Build Your Own Traditional Wood-and-
Building the Caledonia Yawl
Marine Diesel Engine Northeaster Dory Greenland-Style Kayak Stand-Up Paddleboard Save A Classic with Eric Blake Canvas Canoe Construction La
with Geoff Kerr
with Jon Bardo with David Fawley with Mark Kaufman with Geoff Kerr with Rollin Thurlow
Build Your Own Building the Introduction to Stitch-and-Glue Build Your Own Bronze Build Your Own Plank Fine Strip-Planked
Woodcarving Boat Cabinetry with
Fox Canoe with Asa Thomson Skiff Boatbuilding with Construction with Salute Cannon with Duke Constructed Pond Yacht Boat Construction C
with Reed Hayden Dave Merrifield
Bill Thomas with John Karbott Bill Thomas Sam Devlin McGuiggan & Michael Caldwell with Thom McLaughlin with Nick Schade w
*May 13-19 and Inspecting Wooden Inspecting Fiberglass Elements of Elements of Seamanship Vintage Pond Yachts
Lofting with Marine Electrics The Art of Scrimshaw Bu
May 20-26 Boats with Boats with Seamanship with with Annie Nixon & Part II with
Greg Rössel with Patrick Dole with Ron Newton w
Alumni Work Weeks David Wyman Sue Canfield Jane Ahlfeld & Annie Nixon Steve Stone Thom McLaughlin
WANDERBIRD with The Skills of Coastal Bronze Casting for Metal Working for the Elements of Seamanship II
Coastwise Navigation L
Rick & Karen Miles Seamanship with Boatbuilders with Boatbuilder & Woodworker with Martin Gardner &
with Jane Ahlfeld Jane
(June 23-July 2) Andy Oldman Sam Johnson with Erica Moody Robin Lincoln
Gift certificates
Kayaking with with Martin Gardner & with Martin Gardner & ABIGAIL with
Bill Thomas Sue LaVoie Sue LaVoie Hans Vierthaler
WoodenBoat co
Sailing Downeast
Modern Welding with & Seamanship with Seamanship on ABIGAIL
with Andy Oldman
Doug Wilson & Will Dupuis Andy Oldman with Hans Veirthaler
Can’t make it to Brooklin, Maine? Try our courses at Chesapeake Light Craft Shop,
We’re very excited to be working with John Harris APRIL 2-7 BUILD YOUR OWN PASSAGEMAKER DINGHY
OR EASTPORT PRAM
and the good folks at CHESAPEAKE LIGHT CRAFT With Geoff Kerr
in Annapolis, Maryland, and, once again, to be able Materials: $1305 (dinghy) $1005(pram)
to offer courses at their excellent facility. APRIL 16-21 BUILD YOUR OWN ANNAPOLIS WHERRY
With David Fawley
Tuition for each of these courses is $750
Materials: $1429
Check our website for our entire 2012 program MAY 14-19 BUILD YOUR OWN CHESAPEAKE 17LT SEA KAYAK
www.woodenboat.com With Geoff Kerr
Materials: $1029
AUGUST SEPTEMBER
29 – 4 5 – 11 12 – 18 19 – 25 26 – 1 2–8 9 – 15 16 – 22 23 – 29
ld Build your own Build Your Own Wooden Boat Restoration Methods Advanced Fundamentals of Boatbuilding Fundamentals of Boatbuilding
on FAMILY WEEK Greenland-Style Kayak Shearwater Sport Kayak
with Walt Ansel with Greg Rössel with Wade Smith
with Mark Kaufman with Eric Schade
d- Build Your Own Build Your Own Build Your Own Glued-Lapstrake Finishing Out Build Your Own Willow/
Building a Dory Traditional Lapstrake Construction
tion Lapstrake Canoe with Skipjack Sailing Model Annapolis Wherry Plywood Construction Small Boats with Quickbeam Sea Kayak
with Walt Ansel with Geoff Burke
w John Harris with Alan Suydam with Geoff Kerr with John Brooks John Brooks with Bill Thomas
Build Your Own The Essentials of Elements of Boat Building the 12½' Boatbuilder’s Hand
th Building the Somes Sound 12½ The Art of Woodcuts Building Half Models
Chuckanut Kayak Fine Woodworking Design with Semi-Dory Skiff with Tools with
with John Brooks with Gene Shaw with Eric Dow
with David Gentry with Janet Collins Graham Byrnes John Karbott Harry Bryan
Elements of Seamanship Strip Composite Traditional & Modern Coastal Maine in Introduction to Introduction to Inspecting Fiberglass
aw Build Your Own Pram Rigging with
with Martin Gardner & Construction with Oar Making with Watercolor with Sailmaking with Canvas Work with Boats with
n with Bill Thomas Myles Thurlow
Dave Gentry Clint Chase Clint Chase Amy Hosa Marti & Jed Siebert Ann Brayton David Wyman
p II Elements of Seamanship Beach Cruising & Coastal Sailmaking for Pond Small Boat Voyaging Marine Photography
Learn to Sail with Lofting with
& (women only) with Jane Camping with Ross Beane Yacht Owners with with Jane Ahlfeld & with Jon Strout &
Jane Ahlfeld & Annie Nixon Ahlfeld & Gretchen Snyder Greg Rössel
& Bill Thomas Alan Suydam Bill Thomas Jane Peterson
Coastal Cruising Tallship Sailing and Craft of Sail on MISTY Elements of Coastal
t Sea Sense Under Sail
Seamanship on ABIGAIL Seamanship with Capt. (women only) Kayaking II
n with Havilah Hawkins
with Hans Veirthaler Barry King & Jane Ahlfeld with Queene Foster with Stan Wass
SEPTEMBER 10-15 BUILD YOUR OWN WOOD DUCK KAYAK Check our website for our entire 2012 program:
With Eric Schade www.woodenboat.com
Materials: 10’ - $954 12’ - $1029 or call Kim or Rich at
SEPTEMBER 24-29 BUILD YOUR OWN NORTHEASTER DORY 207–359–4651
With David Fawley To order a complete course catalog, call toll-free
Materials: $1425 (rowing) $2524 (sailing) 1-800-273-SHIP (7447)
OCTOBER 22-27 BUILD YOUR OWN STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD WoodenBoat SChooL
With Geoff Kerr P.O. Box 78,
Materials: $915 Brooklin, Maine 04616-0078
See Us at the WoodenBoat Show
16 • WoodenBoat 227
A
fter selecting the plans for your first boat particular style of wood plane or chisel might
and finding a suitable location for a shop, look the same, yet many manufacturers have in-
it’s time to round up the tools to build it. corporated subtle differences such as size,
No question about it—having the right tool weight, finish, or type of cutting iron that can
for the right job can make a project flow easily affect how the tool works or even how it feels in
and expeditiously. Most people contemplating your hand. The answer to the question, “Which
building a boat will probably already have some tool is best?” is usually, “Builder’s preference.” If
basic household tools, and some of these will be possible, try borrowing a tool first to see how
useful in boatbuilding. But setting out to build you like it.
a boat will probably mean supplementing your One of the most important tools is the one
tool inventory. that is often forgotten—a good, heavy-duty, long
Some tools—a few planes and chisels, for ex- workbench, which can be homemade, like the
ample—can be acquired even before choosing a one shown on the cover of this issue of Getting
particular boat to build. But if you’ve settled on Started in Boats. Nothing beats a rugged surface
a boat, the place to begin is with a look at the that is stable, resists movement, and has a com-
plans. If your boat is to be built from a quality kit fortable working height tailored to you. A bench
with just about everything accurately precut, you that is 36" high, 30" deep, and 8' long is a reason-
will need little more than what might be found able size. That’s longer than many workbenches,
in the kitchen tool drawer. For everything else, but the extra length comes in very handy when
you will likely need to own (or borrow) a small shaping the long pieces of wood that are com-
kit of dedicated woodworking tools. mon in boatbuilding, such as planks, rails,
The trick is to find a balance. The spartan backbone timbers, and lots more. Add a qual-
or minimalist approach is to grab a few tools ity woodworker’s vise (or two), and you’ll have a
from the $4 bin at the local discount store. At workstation to be reckoned with. It will beat any
the opposite end of the spectrum, you could store-bought bench that is meant to be portable
purchase every item in that glossy “investment- or is based on a foundation of sawhorses.
grade quality” woodworkers’ catalog, including Your bench may end up being among the least
all the bronze-bodied hand planes. If you’ve got expensive of your tools. It can be built from lum-
the budget, go for it—quality tools are a wise beryard materials—4 ×4s for legs, 2 ×4s for fram-
investment. But buying quality need not drive ing, and perhaps a 3/4" plywood top. The whole
you to the poorhouse. If buying new, look for business can be fastened together with carriage
reliable, time-tested brands for tools that you ab- bolts and deck screws. If you have a wood-floored
solutely need. Also, consider buying used tools shop, it can be fastened down. For a deluxe ver-
at tag sales, estate sales, or through eBay. Some sion, you can install a full-length shelf under-
antique stores carry, or even specialize in, old neath, on which to store your cache of tools and
tools. With a little effort, a reliable old tool can fastenings. This will not only provide storage
be brought out of retirement for a fraction of but also ballast the bench, making it even more
the cost of a new one. stable. If you want to be able to move the bench
Interestingly, like their users, tools are from place to place, just bolt on a set of wheels
individuals. In a catalog, various brands of a and you are on your way.
D B
C
D espite the increasing use of power saws of one
type or another (see page 8), handsaws will al-
ways have a place in the boatshop. Often, the best
way to trim off the projecting end of a piece such
as a just-hung plank, when a power saw would be
impossible or dangerous to use, is with a handsaw.
In a practiced hand, a handsaw can cut a compound
angle to very close tolerances quickly, with minimal
DH setup time. In choosing a saw, there are also some
EF West-versus-East philosophical decisions to be made.
G
• Traditional Western saws. Many boatbuilders still
prefer Western-style saws, which cut on the push
stroke. Their blades are comparatively thick, so they
W hether predrilling for screws, rivets, or bolts,
making limber holes for drainage, or a thou-
sand other necessary jobs, you will be making a lot of
are easy to keep on track, and they have a distinct ad-
vantage in that they can be sharpened (relatively) eas-
ily. A ten-point crosscut saw (I) and a five-point ripsaw
holes. (Small holes are “drilled,” large ones are “bored.”)
Although a list of recommended and optional power
(J) would be good choices. These saws are also good
for comparatively heavy work.
tools is on page 7, we’re including a power drill here
because this tool is so versatile that it should be con- • Japanese-style saws. Heading East, one encoun-
sidered essential for boatbuilding, small or large. ters the Japanese pull saw (K). Such saws, which
Granted, you could use an eggbeater-style hand drill have thin blades and cut on the pull stroke, are
for everything—and you still might want to use one sometimes called “a piranha on a stick” because
from time to time—but for the many holes you will of their aggressive sharpness and speed in cut-
be boring, you’ll soon learn that a power drill just ting. They make a thin kerf, can be very accu-
can’t be beat. rate, and with their fine teeth make a smooth cut.
• Good-quality, variable-speed, 3 ⁄8" hand drill. Ei- Some have blades with crosscut teeth along one
ther a cordless (A) or a plug-in version (B) can be edge and ripsaw teeth on the other. Japanese saw
used for predrilling for many kinds of screws, and blades hold their sharpness well, but they can’t be
also (with caution) for driving them. Single-hand resharpened effectively. When they dull, bend,
function, speed, ease of use, and light weight argue or have teeth broken off, it’s time to replace the
in favor of the cordless, especially for small boats. blade. An old friend once told me, “I resisted us-
We’ll address drills again in the power tool section ing them for years, but after using one there is no
on page 7. turning back.” Take one out for a spin.
• Set of twist-drill bits. “High-speed steel” bits (C), • Hacksaw (L). Essential for trimming bolts and
available at most hardware stores, are fine. metal rod to length.
• A few long twist-drill bits. For boring deep, straight
holes through stems, keels, and such, these bits (D),
sometimes called “installer” bits, are very useful and
readily available. They’re available in 12" and 18"
lengths; 1/4" and 3⁄8" would be good choices to start.
Auger bits ( E), spade bits (F), and Forstner bits (G),
can also be useful.
• Set of “Fuller”-style tapered drill bits with coun-
tersinks, plug cutters, and adjusting wrench. These
tapered bits (H) allow you to drill, in a single opera-
tion, a proper-sized tapered hole for a given size of
screw, and at the same time form a shallow counter-
sink for a puttied head or a deeper counterbore to fit
a bung. As a three-step, time-consuming alternative,
D B
H
aving already mentioned a light power drill • Router. This tool (D) has plenty of uses: shaping
as the first power tool to add to the toolbox, rails, milling bead-and-cove stock for a strip-planked
the next choices are infinite, depending on boat, manufacturing stock for a bird’s-mouth spar,
the shop space and budget you have available. This and lots more.
brief listing isn’t meant to be all-inclusive. • Power drills. Although cordless drills, as men-
Large stationary power tools are expensive, take tioned on page 6, are light and versatile for boat-
up a lot of floor space, may require upgraded electri- building, they lack the power for boring large holes.
cal wiring, and are difficult to move, whether across A larger, corded drill, with a 1/2" chuck and plenty of
the room or across town. You can buy a lot of hand power, can be valuable when boring keelbolt holes,
tools for the price of a single stationary tool. Plus, in for example, or using a holesaw to bore a large hole
some cases, a handheld power tool may be versatile for a mast.
enough—or even more versatile—for the boatbuild- • Power plane. These are versatile planes, commonly
ing job at hand. For instance, a sabersaw can do some 4" wide. They are often used even in large ship work
of the work of a bandsaw, and a circular saw can be for fairing sawn frames. For someone on a budget,
used in less shop space than required for a contrac- such a plane can be an effective substitute for a
tor’s tablesaw, and these can easily be taken where stationary thickness planer.
the work is, even outdoors. That said, if you have the
space and the budget to buy them, stationary power
tools definitely earn their keep. Whether considering Stationary Power Tools
handheld power tools or stationary ones, get the best • Bandsaw. The ubiquitous and highly versatile 14"
you can afford. version (E) has been a boatshop mainstay for over
half a century. If you can only afford one stationary
Handheld Power Tools power tool, this is the one to get.
• Sabersaw. With a good-quality sabersaw, fitted with a • Drill press. For very clean-sided large, flat-bottomed
sharp blade, you can rough-cut a plank or the curve of holes like those made by Forstner bits, or for very
a transom, among many other tasks in fairly light accurate holes in either wood or metal, a drill press
stock or in plywood. Get blades appropriate to the is a worthy partner to the other drills you need.
task. The heavier-duty cousin, a reciprocating saw (A), • Tablesaw. For milling a lot of stock, ranging from
is good for rough work and very useful in removing frames to keels to spars, this machine will do the job.
old work during restorations. It is also is a machine that demands respect and is
• Portable circular saw. These saws (B) can do many unforgiving of operator inattention. If you get one,
of the jobs usually relegated to a tablesaw. A circular get a good one.
saw can rough-cut long, gentle curves surprisingly • Thickness planer. For a small shop, a bench-top
well and can be a preferred tool for a builder who planer that can handle widths of 12" to 15" is fine.
might otherwise be wrangling a heavy piece of oak This tool allows the builder to purchase rough stock
through a tablesaw singlehanded. Many boatbuilders and quickly transform it into precision components
consider the worm-drive versions the best. of exactly the desired thickness.
• Sanders. A random-orbit sander (C) can be very • Dust collection. Finally, consider a good vacuum
versatile, perfect for the subtle curves of boat hulls. system to capture all the dust these woodworking
Disc sanders can also be a good choice, although marvels will produce. Wood dust can not only be a
they are more aggressive and less forgiving. nuisance but also present fire hazards and health risks.
Getting Started in Boats is dedicated to those who are new to boats and boatbuilding.
Please tear out and pass along your copy to someone you know who will be interested.
Earlier volumes of Getting Started are available in past issues of WoodenBoat, and as PDF (electronic) files, from
The WoodenBoat Store. Please refer to the web pages, at: www.woodenboat.com/wbmag/getting-started
July/August 2012 • 17
18 • WoodenBoat 227
Treading lightly:
Zogo & WEST SYSTEM Epoxy
Zogo, a 29' hybrid launch designed by Stephens, Waring & White and built by French & Webb.
Zogo may be only the tip of the iceberg in the new generation of high-
efficiency, low-impact power boats. Her strong, light displacement hull
is cedar strip planked and sheathed in carbon fiber. She burns only 1.5
gallons of fuel per hour at 10.5 knots. Throughout Zogo's construction,
builder French & Webb of Belfast, Maine, relied on WEST SYSTEM 866-937-8797
Epoxy for superior performance and unsurpassed technical support. www.westsystem.com
July/August 2012 • 19
BOAT/DOCK SPIKES
20 • WoodenBoat 227
KRISTIN HEINICHEN
ing regular open-shop events, lectures, toerail, transom, and mast were dam-
workshops, plus we’ll have a grand aged, and more than 15 strakes of her
launch on Lake George this summer double-planked hull were charred. My
of the two restored Sound Interclubs,” father chose a close-to-home wooden
Cynde Smith reported. Reuben Smith’s boat craftsman, Billy McCaffrey of
Tumblehome Boatshop, 684 State Route 28, Waukegan, Illinois, to put things right.
Warrensburg, NY 12885; 518–623–5050; A Herreshoff Fishers Island 31 is That was nine years ago, and the work
www.tumblehomeboats.com. being rebuilt in Waukegan, Illinois, is progressing slowly, with McCaffrey’s
after a fire severely damaged the characteristic precision. My father, in
■ Kristin Heinichen writes from Chi- hull only three years after a previous the meantime, purchased a fiberglass
cago, Illinois, with news that her father, restoration. sailboat to keep himself in the running
Walter Heinichen, is—for a second for the Chicago–Mackinac Island Race,
time—restoring his 1927 Herreshoff which this July will mark his 56th year
Fishers Island 31 sloop. “In 2003, he after he had had FORTUNA completely as a contender. But he has not forsaken
received a phone call that came at 3 restored. An arsonist had taken issue the mothballed FORTUNA . Rather, he
a.m. to tell him that his classic wooden with that particular Chicago boatyard. muses that she is named after the god-
sailboat had caught fire, just three years FORTUNA , one of the few boats on dess of fortune who brings both good
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July/August 2012 • 21
Sperry Sails
A passion for sailing
.
“IYRS enabled me to turn my passion for boats into a set of skills that
changed my life.” Our students learn in an environment where a first-rate faculty, highest quality performance sails
a culture of craftsmanship, and deep connections in the industry create
professionals who embark on remarkable careers. To learn more, visit IYRS.org Specializing in custom design and
detailed finish work
Programs in:
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See Us at the WoodenBoat Show
22 • WoodenBoat 227
July/August 2012 • 23
EIRIK SK ÅLA
Am Industriehafe 5, 24937 Flensburg,
Germany; www.robbeberking.de.
Build Your Own SULTANA PROJECTS’ 12TH ANNUAL
Scamp Pocket Cruiser
with John Welsford and Howard Rice DOWNRIGGING WEEKEND
August 6–17th at the Northwest Maritime Center TALL SHIP & WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL
in Port Townsend, WA
Photo Courtesy: Small Craft Advisor Magazine
Learn more about John Welsford and the Scamp in the OCTOBER 26-28, 2012
March/April 2012 issue of WoodenBoat. Howard Rice is the
famed small boat adventurer and Cape Horn solo sailor.
CHESTERTOWN•MARYLAND
For more information or to register, please contact the School at
360-385-4948 or e-mail us at [email protected] TALL SHIPS WOODEN B OATS MUSIC
FIREWORKS BOATBUILDING LECTURES
The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding is hosting several
short classes this summer. Check out our web site for additional PUBLIC SAILS FAMILY DAY MODELS RACING
classes including “Build a Whitehall Pulling Boat” with Rich Kolin
Information & Boat Entry
/NWBoatSchool
www.nwboatschool.org /NorthwestMaritimeCenter W W W. S U LTA N A P R O J E C T S . O R G
24 • WoodenBoat 227
July/August 2012 • 25
Families or Groups:
T he maritime traditions of Estonia
are going through something of
a renaissance, we hear from Teet Laja
of that country. “On the island of Hii-
Find YOUR Opportunity to Build a Boat umaa, Estonia’s second-largest island
with 10,000 inhabitants, locals are
Family BoatBuilding Organizers: trying to restore boatbuilding tradi-
tions,” he writes. In Kärdla, a town on
List Your Event for Free the island, Ain Tähiste is leading two
boatbuilders, together with volunteers
and trainees, in the reconstruction of
www.FamilyBoatBuilding.com
a type of schooner used in the Baltic
Sea islands for delivering firewood. By
the end of 2009, engineer Enn Metsar
had completed plans, and soon after
the tree was felled for the keel timber.
The Motherlode of all “Our island habits and traditions tell us
Family BoatBuilding events it must take place in winter, just before
the full moon time,” Tähiste wrote. “No
will be taking place at the women can participate and even watch
WoodenBoat Show or see the process of the keel tree. The
tree must fall down to the north. Our
June 29–July 1, 2012 mission was complicated because the
keel tree, a 120-year old Siberian larch,
Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT was felled inside our town, so to fulfill
every rule, we started very early in the
Come build a kit in two and a half days during the show with morning. A traditional handsaw was
the help of expert instruction. Then take it home with you! used.” During 2010 and 2011, materials
NO previous boatbuilding skills are required. were gathered, including compass tim-
bers for oak sawn frames, which are used
We hope to have as many as 8–12 different kits to
in combination with laminated frames.
choose from. We will be posting available kits for you at During the summer of 2012, the oak
www.thewoodenboatshow.com. Click the floor timbers, keelson, and deckbeams
“Family BoatBuilding” tab at the top of the page. will be completed, and planking with
Siberian larch is expected to begin. The
We use the expression “family,” but you may form your own boat is 55' LOA , with a beam of 16'6"
group of friends, 4-H or Boy Scout troop, church group, or other and drawing 4'. See halulaev.ee for further
well-meaning organization. information (one section is in English).
A traditional Estonian motorized
fishing boat is being restored by the
Family BoatBuilding is produced by WoodenBoat magazine, same organization. The type, unique
online at www.woodenboat.com. to Estonia, was in use through the
1980s, and the one in for restoration,
26 • WoodenBoat 227
Do you know…
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and so on,” he said.
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See Us at the WoodenBoat Show
July/August 2012 • 27
28 • WoodenBoat 227
July/August 2012 • 29
Since 1982
Located In the
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Home of the
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WWII Tug “LT-5”
Open Daily —1-5
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30 • WoodenBoat 227
º º
41 21.57’N x 71 57.92’W
A
long time ago, while still a youngish fisheries in Florida
man, I came across a pair of marvelous and the Gulf of Mex-
books on wooden boatbuilding by Harry ico. I believed him, of
Sucher, Simplified Boatbuilding—The Flat-Bottom course, and for many
Boat, and Simplified Boatbuilding—The V-Bottom years I thought that’s
Boat, both published in 1973 by W.W. Norton & where they originated.
Co. Browsing through the second book I came across Two decades or so later, when I started my research
the “33' Modified Sharpie Terrapin Schooner.” Such- for The Sharpie Book, I turned up information (and a
er’s plan shows a flat-bottomed hull with increasing sketch) in Howard I. Chapelle’s The National Watercraft
deadrise in the quarters carrying on back to the tran- Collection (1960, U.S. National Museum Bulletin 219),
som. The little schooner has low freeboard, twin houses that he’d garnered in turn from Small Yachts: Their Design
(very low), and a self-tending gaff-schooner rig. The and Construction, Exemplified by the Ruling Types of Modern
bottom is cross-planked forward, and file-planked aft. Practice by C.P. Kunhardt (1886). It turns out that the
Sucher claimed that his design was based on the terrapin schooners were actually sharpie fishing smacks
“terrapin schooners” of the 1880s, used in the turtle used on Chesapeake Bay and waters south.
Above—The Terrapin 34, TOMFOOLERY, designed and built by the author and launched in 1989. Inset—This drawing of a
terrapin smack by C.P. Kunhardt was published in Forest and Stream in 1885.
July/August 2012 • 33
The one factor that defines a “smack” is a wet well, reference (other than Sucher’s) to suggest that the terra-
or fish hold, created by isolating the middle portion of pin smacks were so used. Nevertheless, it seems plausible
a vessel’s hull with watertight bulkheads, and boring that they were. I can envision these boats sailing along
small holes in the bottom of that portion to flood the the southeast Florida coast, harvesting the turtles as they
hold. This flooded section then provides a healthy envi- swam off the beach after laying their eggs.
ronment in which any caught fish can live until they can Chapelle also described the terrapin smacks, in
be taken to market; no ice required. This would work more detail, in Paper 25: The Migrations of an American
as well for turtles as for fish, but I have never found any Boat Type (1961, Library of Congress), and he included
34 • WoodenBoat 227
a lines drawing of one measuring 37'10½", 9' in the However, if you look closely at Kunhardt’s sketch, you
beam, and 1' 7¼" draft. Her wet well is divided in half can just see deadrise at the transom. It is also of note
lengthwise by the centerboard trunk. that a similar type, called the Hampton Flattie, existed
It is of note that Chapelle’s drawing shows no dead- on Chesapeake Bay, and did have a flat bottom forward
rise aft, which made me speculate that Sucher may and deadrise aft. These so-called “flatties” were smaller
have added this common modification on his own. than the “terrapin” models, according to Kunhardt,
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REUEl PaRKER
been wet-well smacks.
I
n the mid-1980s, two friends approached me
with a request for an extreme-shoal-draft,
low-cost, charter bareboat for the Indian River area excellent fishing there, clams and oysters can be col-
of Florida’s east coast. In response I designed my own lected in season, and the bird life alone is fantastic.
version of a terrapin schooner. My first hull lines were Wildlife enthusiasts could easily spend a week cruising
for a modified arc-bottomed sharpie, 34' between per- the Indian River from Stuart to Cape Canaveral, stop-
pendiculars, 10' in the beam and with a 2' 3" draft. I ping to anchor each night in protected coves. There are
later designed a second version of the same dimensions numerous parks and wildlife refuges right on the water.
but with deadrise forward (V-shaped bow sections), My Terrapin 34 would be equally at home in Florida
which I felt would be more seaworthy and would not Bay, the Keys, or the Bahamas, and she would be an
pound—always the nemesis of sharpie hulls. excellent choice for Georgia, the Carolinas, Chesa-
I designed it to be a simple cruising sailboat, hoping peake Bay, and the shallow inland waters of New Jersey.
that several would be built and rented as “bare boats” Unfortunately, the bareboat enterprise never mate-
out of Fort Pierce on the Indian River—a long, narrow, rialized (I still believe it was a great idea), and I rel-
shallow estuarine lagoon, protected by barrier islands, egated my design to the status of “stock plan.” But in
and teeming with wildlife of great diversity. There is 1989 I received a phone call from a retired colonel in
SALTWATER
by world famous sailing lanes and walking distance
to downtown in a historic, well-managed year round
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36 • WoodenBoat 227
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The Landing School
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ducation
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is not the filling of a pail,
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but the lighting of a fire.
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~ W.B. Yeats
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in historic
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Maine
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July/August 2012 • 37
AuThOR’S cOLLEcTIOn
gave him a removable basin whose contents he could
toss overboard. The head consisted of a similar arrange-
ment. There was also a large ice hold, and a two-burner
stove. Total materials cost, including outboard motor,
sails, upholstery, and rigging, was $24,000. Labor was
about twice that figure.
The outboard was a four-stroke 9.9-hp Yamaha
mounted in a well in the cockpit. Sails and running captain. The little schooner sailed fast, was stiff, bal-
rigging were Dacron; anchor rodes and docklines were anced, pointed well, and was quick in stays—she never
nylon (spliced to 5/16" chain); standing rigging was 5/16" missed a tack. I also thought she motored well, but the
stainless steel, with galvanized rigging screws and stain- colonel thought she should do better, and tried put-
less-steel chainplates. All exterior surfaces were cov- ting the outboard on a transom bracket. I recommend
ered with epoxy-saturated Xynole-polyester cloth—two against transom brackets as they tend to be fragile,
layers on the bottom. All exterior paint was linear poly- inconvenient, unprotected, and cause the propeller to
urethane over epoxy primers. Bulwarks were Douglas- lift out of the water when the boat pitches.
fir finished bright. When launched, TOMFOOLERY was
T
a pretty sight. o the best of my knowledge, there has never been
The colonel and his wife came for sailing trials and a revival of terrapin smack schooners. It seems
then to take TOMFOOLERY home to Texas with a hired that these beautiful, pragmatic workboats have
Marine ply
38 • WoodenBoat 227
July/august 2012 • 39
T
here is something about a boat maneuvering first choice, the default option, unless I have good rea-
into an anchorage under sail that makes people sons to start the engine.
stop and stare. Conversations taper off, drinks Sometimes this philosophy results in more of
are lowered, and all eyes trace the boat’s course. Unfor- an education than anything that could be called
tunately, it is a rare event to see a sailing vessel of any “fun.” Once, my wife, Tiffany, and I were approach-
size come to rest without starting her engine. ing an anchorage off the small island of Nosy Komba
There are, however, two strong arguments for anchor- on Madagascar’s west coast. We had been into the
ing under sail. First, anchoring under sail demands a anchorage before, it had plenty of room, and there
level of ability you might have to draw upon in earnest was a brisk, reliable breeze to propel us. There seemed
should the auxiliary ever let you down. The skills of no reason to disrupt a nice afternoon sail by starting
anchoring under sail may, in fact, someday save the the engine. I took in VIXEN’s jib to reduce speed as
boat. we approached the entrance. We cleared an outlying
Second, anchoring under sail is a lot of fun. On reef that was marked on the chart and could be seen
VIXEN, my 34' gaff cutter, anchoring under sail is the through the clear water. Tiffany picked a spot behind
Above—Once well anchored, VIXEN rides comfortably off Madagascar, but getting there under sail involved negotiating
a tricky current running contrary to the wind. Here, the rode’s tension is taken by a nylon snubbing line made off to the
bowsprit fitting, leaving the chain slack at the stemhead fitting. The author uses this system to eliminate shock-loads on the
windlass, prevent chafe on the bobstay, and minimize the boat’s movement while at anchor.
40 • WoodenBoat 227
a French catamaran, and I went forward to drop the in a bikini, sitting down to an aperitif, a canapé poised
staysail and ready the anchor. A few boat lengths to halfway to her mouth, which was opened in slack-jawed
leeward of the chosen spot, Tiffany turned into the amazement as she watched the gyrations of this unusual
wind and let the mainsail luff. I dropped the anchor anchoring technique. Was it perhaps some unknown
with a satisfying splash in 20' of water. Canadian method of corkscrewing the anchor into the
Normally the wind would then set us back until the sand?
anchor grabbed and that would be that. What I failed to Finally, during one of VIXEN’s impromptu tacks, I got
notice was a strong current of 3 or 4 knots setting con- the anchor up and Tiffany wrestled the mainsail down.
trary to the 15- to 20-knot wind. This current grabbed Full of shame, we started the engine, moved as far from
hold of VIXEN’s long keel and thrust her stern right up any witnesses as possible, and anchored properly.
into the wind. Simultaneously, the mainsail filled with The lesson learned? Never ignore the current, espe-
wind and hit the shrouds. Suddenly, we were pinned cially in a long-keeled, heavy-displacement boat. Look
in the awkward position of sailing full downwind over at any harbor with a cross-current and a dozen boats of
a bar-taut anchor chain with the hull refusing to turn different displacements and hull shapes lying at anchor.
into the wind because of the aggressive current. The multihulls will all point into the wind, swinging
Then the “fun” really began. back and forth with every shift. Fin-keeled sloops of
A law of physics—I’m still not certain which one— moderate displacement will heed the current and wind
took over, and VIXEN went into a jibe. Her boom about equally. The heavy-displacement, traditional tim-
crashed over, she turned upwind, tacked herself, and ber and steel boats will point into the current, often
then set off again downwind. Despite my efforts to get disregarding the wind altogether. I have had VIXEN
up the anchor and Tiffany’s pushing and pulling at the anchored in 50 knots of wind and seen a current push
helm, VIXEN kept doing pirouettes. Once, twice, three her stern into what I had thought to be an omnipotent
times we went around in this crazy manner. The anchor force. One can imagine the excitement of a catamaran
would not come up and the mainsail would not come and a traditional gaffer anchoring next to each other
down. on a river with strong tidal race.
At one point during the chaos, I glanced up to see a Here are some suggestions for anchoring under sail
young woman aboard the French catamaran. She was and avoiding our blunder at Nosy Komba:
July/August 2012 • 41
A full-keeled displacement hull like VIXEN will be more affected by current than by wind, while light boats—such as a dinghy
at a mooring—will be more affected by wind. Observing how various boats lie in an anchorage provides clues about how to
handle anchoring under sail.
42 • WoodenBoat 227
A
nother more cavalier approach to anchoring boat on which the anchor was released.
under sail, which you won’t read about in books, We use this “drop it on the run” anchoring technique
is to sail into an anchorage and drop the hook often because it allows for more precise placement of
while barreling along at full speed. Let the chain run. the hook. Sometimes with the traditional approach it is
Just before you hit the beach, snub it off and you’re difficult to judge how much room it will take the boat to
done. The main drawbacks here are that if the anchor stop once pointed head-to-wind; inevitably after turn-
doesn’t grab, there isn’t much of a back-up plan, and ing into the wind VIXEN will stop 10 or 20 yards short
there is a good chance of raking the paint from your or go shooting past the mark. Anchoring on the run is
boat’s topsides and bottom as the chain runs out. This like dropping a dart on a board and not so dependent
can be minimized by turning toward the side of the on boat speed. —BH
be upon when the tide changed. Out went the 35-lb CQR, headway, I sailed VIXEN into the cove in the lee of the
and with that VIXEN was quite stationary lying to three headland. Seth went forward and readied the anchor.
anchors inside a ring of coral. I will admit, however, For a moment it hung over the side, the tip raising a
that that was one anchorage we didn’t sail into. ripple on the still water, then he backed off the brake
and let 15' of chain rattle off. I could see the anchor hit
T
he calamity of anchoring under sail at Nosy the seafloor with a puff of sand. Slowly VIXEN contin-
Komba was an exception. More typical was a ued on her trajectory as Seth let loose an additional 80'
clear summer evening on New Zealand’s east of chain. Then he snubbed it, and VIXEN spun around
coast. Aboard VIXEN were my sister Meghan and her to face what little remained of the dying breeze.
husband Seth. We had left Whangamumu under blus- As I went forward to drop the mainsail, I looked up
tery conditions that morning, but the wind had died off to see a couple standing on the beach. They were gazing
in the afternoon. With the current in our favor and just out at VIXEN, her sails silhouetted by the setting sun. I
enough of an easterly breeze to ghost along, we sailed wasn’t sure what had caught their attention, but I’d seen
the last mile toward Whangaruru Harbor and the that look before. They seemed mesmerized by the sight
anchorage off Raukoura Point. Although the sun would of a boat maneuvering into an anchorage without an
soon be going down and there wasn’t much wind, I kept engine, the beauty of a boat anchoring under sail.
the motor shut down to preserve the peaceful stillness Bruce Halabisky is a freelance writer and traditional wooden boat
of the evening. builder. Six years ago he left Victoria, British Columbia, with his
Under full sail, VIXEN cleared a rocky headland cov- wife, Tiffany, for Hawaii on the first leg of a circumnavigation.
ered with thick grass and gnarled Pohutukawa trees. They—now with two daughters—expect to resume their voyage this
Inside the harbor a sandy beach stretched north, the spring from Rockland, Maine, where the boat wintered while they
shore aglow in the low-angled light. Barely making visited the West Coast. See www.VIXENvoyage.com.
July/August 2012 • 43
I
ndia, a nation of one billion people, is requires a frame, a manageable context
a surfeit of color, enterprise, language, around which to order sensual stimulus,
spirituality, and politics, all suffused observation, and glimpses of understand-
into a daily life that is tumultuous, not ing of a society so challenging and com-
always comprehensible, and frequently plex. To that end, let me show you the fish
overwhelming. To gain perspective on market at Sassoon Dock, Mumbai, where
a reality that is so vast in its length and boats, fishmongers, sorters, and sellers
breadth, and so different from one’s own, offer a microcosm of Indian society.
O
ne does not necessarily think of India as a impromptu launching ways on mud banks and breaks
maritime nation. And yet it has a coastline in the shoreline where fishing boats and other small
4,671 miles around, bounded by the Arabian craft are simply built and repaired. These little ves-
Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. It has sels make voyages that demand true offshore skill in
had a long tradition of seafaring, exploration, and navigation and seamanship without modern aids and
maritime trade, of near-shore artisanal fishing, and with ultimate faith in crew, boat, and any number of
of water transport along a vast network of inland riv- India’s myriad deities and saints. Like all such utili-
ers, both sacred and profane. It has a navy. It is better tarian vessels, the design has been determined and
known today for ship-breaking than ship construction, refined through experience with resultant low cost,
and one does not look for yards per se, but rather for demonstrated seaworthiness, and undeniable beauty.
44 • WoodenBoat 227
OfflOAding
Squid—
A THree-dAy HAul
July/August 2012 • 45
I
f men provide the catch, then women restaurant chefs come early for the best
control the rest of the process from examples of this or that, but they consti-
sea to table. The stone floor is awash tute a tiny minority of purchasers. There
with fish, here mostly shrimp, but other is little evidence of record-keeping or
species elsewhere. Every piece is cleaned money changing hands; payment is made
by hand, sorted by size and quality, and by a small commission of product retained
allocated to yet another group of women by each woman, sorter or distributor, for
who assemble small amounts of different herself and her family. The system is
varieties and depart the market on foot, astonishing: simple, cheap, efficient,
to distribute on daily routes inside Mum- fair, and effective as a means to provide
bai’s vast slum communities. Hotel and protein to a city of 12 million.
46 • WoodenBoat 227
T
he state of the world’s fisher-
ies is in crisis, and the catch
evident from this voyage pro-
vides pathetic evidence. These men
live aboard, the boat their workplace,
house, and home; many rarely come
ashore. There is no supportive infra-
structure, association, union, auction,
or regulation; Sassoon Dock appears to
be an example of a pure free market,
responsive only to the harsh reality of
daily supply and demand.
B
eneath the chaos, nevertheless,
there is an order here that defines
a community of the sea. The col-
ors, the flags, the ubiquitous blue tar-
paulins reveal the visual animation of a
society that, despite its challenges, is on
the move, as dynamic as the ocean itself.
The hardships are met with collective
labor. The resources are never adequate.
The goal is survival. Success provides
food for another day. Failure renews the
cycle of hardship. The next voyage will
be better.
One feels value at Sassoon Dock: of
work, frugality, honesty, utility, humility,
unity, and shared purpose. India teaches
these things and one wants to bring them
home as souvenirs to keep and gifts to
pass along.
July/August 2012 • 47
BRyAn GAGneR
by Harry Bryan
I
n recent years, the choice of a steering system for a without blocks or sheaves. The helm unit comes ready
small powerboat has consisted of either a push-pull to mount with a shaft machined to accept the steering
cable or hydraulics. Rope and wire-rope steering, wheel. Outboard motor manufacturers provide easy
which were found almost everywhere in the past, have connection for cables. Hydraulic steering systems are
almost disappeared. also designed to be easy to install and service.
The reasons for this shift are not hard to find. Why, then, should we consider rope as a means of
Older readers of this magazine will remember wire transmitting steering control from the helm to the out-
steering rope with cracked plastic coatings that board motor or rudder? There are at least three good
allowed salt water into the core, where it would cor- characteristics of this older technology that recom-
rode the wire. The clamps that held the wire rope mend it over the newer systems. The first is the elimi-
tight often slipped. The rudimentary pulleys—it nation of “play” in the steering. Second, rope steering
doesn’t seem right to give them the proper nautical uses simple components. And third, it is adaptable for
name of turning blocks—were barely strong enough a variety of steering setups.
to do their jobs. Steering for inboard motor installa-
tions tended to be built with stronger components, Steering play—I have compared the slack in doz-
but these could be expensive to buy and to install. ens of push-pull and hydraulic systems by measuring
A newer push-pull cable system can be installed how far the rim of the steering wheel travels before the
Above—One advantage of a rope-steering system is that it can be used with a variety of steering devices. By running the rope
around a drum on a shaft, as shown on page 50, standard wheel steering can be used. In this garvey designed by the author,
however, a stick-steering system uses inexpensive shop-built components and keeps the after cockpit clear.
48 • WoodenBoat 227
BryAN GAGNer
motor or tiller begins to move. All of them had 1" or
more of play in the steering wheel, most had 11/2", and
some more than 2". No one would accept this amount
of play in their automobile steering, yet it seems to be
almost universal in powerboats.
In push-pull cable systems, play is mostly caused by
the bends that the cable must make on its way from the
helm to the motor or tiller. Cables are constructed with
an outside casing covering a movable wire core. To
reduce friction, the core can’t fit too tightly within its
outer case. The core presses against the outside of
bends in the push mode, then moves to the inside
of bends when it is pulled. The more bends the cable
must make, the more slack there is in the system.
Hydraulic systems are also subject to slack steering,
although with less play than in cable systems, usually
about 1/2" to 1" for a 16"-diameter wheel. In these sys-
tems, expansion of the hoses under pressure is the cul-
prit. The longer the hose, the more slack is felt. Using
HArry BryAN
Kevlar-wrapped hoses can minimize the problem,
although at greater expense.
In contrast to these systems, carefully designed
steering using low-stretch yacht rope can have almost
no slack at all.
July/August 2012 • 49
HArry BryAN
Constructing a Rope Steering System lock to lock, that the wheel will make. The range for
today’s push-pull cable and hydraulic units is from two
Wheel Steering —The usual arrangement for to four rotations of the wheel. For boats under 30' long,
wheel steering relies on a shaft set in bearings and I find that between two and two-and-a-half rotations is
turned by a wheel fitted to one end of the shaft. The about right. If the drum is too small in diameter, with
steering rope is wrapped around a drum mounted in many turns of the line round it, the wheel will have to
the middle of the shaft. Sometimes, a sprocket takes the be spun around a lot when docking or maneuvering
place of the drum, and a short length of chain engages through a crowded anchorage. If the drum is too large
the sprocket while the rope attaches to the ends of the in diamter, with too few turns of the line, making slight
chain. These units, called bulkhead steerers, can be course adjustments is difficult.
purchased, but they are expensive, often more than To calculate the diameter of the working part of the
$500. Wilcox Crittenden used to make a simple unit drum—not counting the lips worked into each end to
with a galvanized wheel, a wood drum, and bearings, keep the rope from sliding off—you will first need to
and it may be possible to find one second-hand. This know the distance the rope will move in turning the
article, however, is directed to those who wish to build rudder or outboard from full right to full left. For a
their own systems at a considerable saving in cost. two-rotation, lock-to-lock system, the drum diameter
Drawing No. 1 shows a 3/4" shaft with one end will equal the distance of rope travel divided by 6.28
tapered to have a keyway and also threaded for a nut (which is 2 × π). The diameter of the rope chosen will
to secure the steering wheel. For freshwater use, a change the effective diameter of the drum, and since
steel shaft will do. If the boat is intended for use in I recommend 1/4" rope for this system, you will need to
salt water, then stainless steel, bronze, or brass would subtract 1/4" from this calculated diameter to get the
be better. Good, inexpensive bearings can be made final dimension of the drum.
of wood blocks bored out to accommodate sleeve If you wish to avoid the math, you can estimate that
bearings. Such bearings are made of a porous, oil- for a common tiller length or quadrant radius of about
impregnated bronze. They will last for years without 8" to 10", the drum diameter can be 11/2". The old Wilcox
lubrication and are easily replaced. Crittenden drum was 3" in diameter in order to accom-
The drum, which in this case is made of aluminum modate wire rope. If you use a drum this large, you will
turned on a lathe, must be fixed to the shaft, which need to lead the steering rope through single turning
I’ve done here using two large set-screws. The steering blocks attached to the outboard or tiller in order to
rope, in turn, must be fixed to the drum, in this case reduce the too-quick “action” a larger drum will give.
using a common plastic cable tie run through a hole
bored through both the drum and the shaft. Stick Steering—A helm for stick steering is usu-
The diameter of the drum and the length of the til- ally easier to design and construct than a wheel-steering
ler’s swing at the rudder or outboard motor determine system. To steer while standing up, the top of the stick
the minimum number of turns that the line must take should be 30" to 36" above the cockpit sole. If you will
around the drum, and also the number of rotations, often steer while sitting, you can simply grip the stick
50 • WoodenBoat 227
July/August 2012 • 51
HArry BryAN
Drawing 3—Quadrant on rudderstock Drawing 4—Tiller with “T” as alternative to quadrant
If the wheel-steering console is mounted on the Connecting to an Outboard —The old wire-
centerline, the ropes can lead down to two turning blocks rope-and-pulley system made its connection to an out-
directing them aft beneath the cockpit sole through holes board motor at the center of the carrying handle a
bored in the floor timbers. Two more turning blocks near few inches forward of the transom clamps. This point
the transom will redirect the ropes outboard to turning acts as if it were the end of a short tiller arm pivoting
blocks at either quarter, thence to the motor or tiller. at the outboard’s center of rotation. Large outboards
For stick steering, one part of the rope will go were made with fittings on the handle to accommodate
straight aft to a turning block, then directly to the tiller turning blocks on each side, thus giving a two-to-one
or motor, while the other will go forward a short dis- mechanical advantage.
tance to a turning block before running aft to go past This system is subject to the same variable tension as
the stick, through another turning block at the quar- a tiller without a quadrant on a rudder-steered boat.
ter, then across the boat and through another turning Play in the steering of such an arrangement can be min-
block at the opposite quarter before ending at the tiller imized by placing the quarter blocks carefully. They
or motor. Usually, with a starboard-mounted stick the should be directly abeam of the motor attachment point
lines are led so that pushing the stick forward turns the when the motor is midway between straight ahead and
boat to port, and pulling back turns to starboard. hard over. It is a good idea to add a spring to the steer-
ing rope to take up slack when steering and to allow for
Connecting to a Tiller—Powerboat rudders stretch when tilting the motor clear of the water (see
usually have a short metal tiller if the rudderstock is drawing No. 5). Springs called “tiller rope springs,”
inboard of the transom. Outboard-hung rudders which have the proper tension for this purpose, are
often have a short tiller extending through a cutout in available from marine supply stores. These springs
the transom. If the steering rope runs directly from change the tension in the rope to compression in
the quarter turning blocks to the end of the tiller, the the spring, making them much less likely to fail
rope’s tension will not be constant throughout its than tension springs.
range of motion. In most cases, the quarter blocks will A quadrant can also be made to fit an outboard
be aft of the tiller’s forward end. When the helm is motor, allowing more latitude when placing the quarter
hard over, the distance from a quarter block to the til- blocks. This will be particularly useful if the outboard is
ler then on to the other quarter block is shorter than mounted in a well, since a quadrant allows the steering
when the tiller is amidships. The usual method for rope to come from the quarter turning blocks at a con-
eliminating this problem with an inboard rudder is to stant angle, so that the well only needs small holes for
use a quadrant mounted on the rudderstock instead the steering ropes to pass through. The photo on page
of a tiller (see drawing No. 3). 49 shows a quadrant fitted to a 20-hp Honda outboard.
If you have an outboard rudder, you may find it dif-
ficult to install a quadrant that clamps or bolts to the Drawing 5—Tiller rope spring
tiller. An alternative, shown in drawing No. 4, can be
constructed to accomplish the same result. Attaching a
crosspiece to the tiller’s inboard end makes a T-shape
that allows the steering ropes to be connected some dis-
tance from either side of the tiller’s centerline. As the
tiller swings to port or starboard, the T introduces a
jog in the steering rope, thus taking up the slack that
would otherwise occur. The length that the crosspiece
HArry BryAN
52 • WoodenBoat 227
For a garvey that needs ample carrying capacity for passengers and goods, stick steering keeps the cockpit as clear as can be.
T
ROUT was designed to be used as a general util- Steering lines connect to the engine through a quad-
ity boat for a large freshwater fishing camp that rant. Because nothing “modern” was to be seen, the
is inaccessible by road. In frequent communica- shift and throttle are controlled by a second, shorter
tions with the architect designing the camp for the cli- stick that operates a single-lever engine control located
ent, I came up with a design that would meet a wide under the after starboard hatch.
variety of needs. The boat had to be capable of car- The hull’s V-bottom below the chine is laminated
rying 10 to 12 adults when used as a ferry, but it also of two layers of Northern white cedar, laid on oppos-
had to be capable of carrying a 55-gallon drum of fuel ing diagonals, while the topsides are traditional riveted
or an all-terrain vehicle. Wheelchair access was also a lapstrake. The V-sections forward allow for dry, reason-
priority. To accommodate these loads, I settled on the ably soft progress upwind against a chop while the rock-
traditional garvey hull, with a wide foredeck. A hinged ered keel gives good maneuverability at low speed and
ramp at the bow mates with a purpose-built dock, while assures easy powering when loaded.
removable secondary ramps lead from the foredeck to We had ample time for sea trials before delivery. This
the cockpit sole. included carrying (in a calm anchorage) 18 adults and
A workboat feel was wanted, and to that end the children. Even with this load, TROUT felt stable and
hull is painted a semigloss brown, while surfaces to be had a good reserve of freeboard. The ramp, although
walked on are unpainted Northern white cedar. Galva- kept short in order to mate with the dock, also worked
nized pipe stanchions support cargo restraining lines well on a steep beach. A longer ramp should give easy
and synthetic manila line serves as a sheer guard. access to almost any shore. Though designed as a work-
For this boat, stick steering was the most practical ing vessel, she also fits my definition of a good picnic
way of maximizing the working area of the cockpit. boat. —HB
The quadrant itself is made from two layers of 1/2" MDO push-pull cables and hydraulics will undoubtedly assure
plywood and has provision for adjusting the length of their continued market dominance, a safe, reliable, low-
the ropes, as well as a release lever to give the system tech steering system that has no play can be custom-
the slack necessary when tilting up the outboard. The built in the boatshop. In a world where fewer and fewer
motor’s tilt lock is located directly under this release things are designed to be repaired by the consumer, at
lever, so it is unlikely that the operator will forget to add least some people will find rope steering an appealing
slack before tilting. If the outboard has a remote power concept.
tilt, it would be wise to add a spring in the rope. In any
case, the slight stretch in the braided polyester line will Contributing editor Harry Bryan lives and works off the
prevent damage to the system if the slack-lever is not grid in Letete, New Brunswick. For more information, con-
deployed. tact Bryan Boatbuilding, 329 Mascarene Rd., Letete, NB,
Although the availability and ease of installation of E5C 2P6, Canada; 506–755–2486.
July/August 2012 • 53
All smiles, Stephanie Evans of Oakland, California, puts a Seaclipper 10 through its paces. The 10’ LOA, epoxy-plywood
trimaran is designed by John Marples.
ABNER KINGMAN
by Jim Brown
W
hat is it about the Seaclipper 10 trimaran, the laugh. And when half a dozen of these whimseymarans
wooden-hulled 10-footer that John Marples get together, it’s a regular Soap Box Regatta and an
first developed while living in the Puget Sound intuitive laughing gas for big kids.
area, that makes even seasoned sailors laugh with joy? Marples, who lives in California these days, conceived
Well, maybe it’s the whimsy of the thing, the proverbial his Three-Meter Class in 1979 as a trainer. He had
one-horse open sleigh, o’er the waves we go, laughing noticed that many of his clients for bigger cruising boat
all the way. More likely, it’s because they’re sailing in designs were beginning sailors, and he realized that
tiny boats that they literally put on like a body sock, they needed something small to build first—something
settle into like a reclining chair, and command with all that could kick-start their building skills and their
fours from the very pit of their pituitaries. When thus sailing confidence. Something that could be built in
kicked back, with just their heads above the deck, their maybe just a hundred hours and for just a thousand
vantage point on the hydrosphere is so low down that dollars (see “Building the Seaclipper 10,” page 58).
it seems to them that they’re driving a 90-footer in a “This was a tall order,” Marples says. “I wanted stu-
North Sea gale. But they know they’re not, and so they dents to be totally free of sailing’s usual gymnastics so
54 • WoodenBoat 227
S
ailing, in and of itself, is not exactly intuitive. directionally to said propulsive force.
Beginners of any age are asked to manage a vehi- For steering, Marples relied on feet, which are
cle that gains its mobility from the movements of inherent to bipeds but often underutilized by sailors.
two cosmic fluids, one at least 600 times denser than Foot-pedal steering (see “Armchair Sailing,” page 56),
the other, both of them in motion at widely varying as used in aircraft and many kayaks, could free the
speeds and directions relative to one another as they student from both the gymnastics of hiking out and
slide across their common interface. the tyranny of the tiller, leaving both hands free for
Now, put a gas-breathing, terra-firma biped squatting trimming sheets.
in the bilge of half a cockleshell that is buoyed up by the
B
dense liquid to hold it largely in the gas. Then, to this ecause racing several boats together greatly
cockleshell affix a large supple airfoil upward into the speeds learning, the Three-Meter trainers were
gas and two small rigid hydrofoils downward into the intended to race. So Marples started an open
liquid and allow the relative motion of the two fluids on class with a tight rule: Boats could be no longer than
With no tiller to tend and no need to hike out, the pilot can give full attention to the set of the sails.
ABNER KINGMAN
July/August 2012 • 55
56 • WoodenBoat 227
July/August 2012 • 57
JOHN MARPLES
Working in his small shop, Marples developed the Seaclipper 10 to be easily built using 1/4” plywood, which fit in the tight
space because the outer hulls, called amas, and the crossbeams, called akas, were designed to be easy to remove.
58 • WoodenBoat 227
T
he boats sail well, tacking dependably
Racing, a great way to learn, proved not only instructive but an awful and steering crisply even downwind
lot of fun for the early owners of Marples’s 10’ trimarans, built using the in waves, and they readily achieve 7
Constant Camber construction method. The first fleet took root in the or 8 knots, roughly half again the speed of
Puget Sound area. non-planing dinghies of their size. A rank
beginner can go out alone with no more
instruction than “don’t try to sail directly into
The daggerboard trunk is robustly mounted between the wind.” Anyone can get back to the beach without
the hull’s bottom and deck, between the pilot’s legs. the neophyte’s usual yelling, rescues, and embarrass-
The daggerboard itself emerges through the deck just ment. Even blown tacks and wild jibes in strong winds
forward of the dashboard, easily within reach. When are of little consequence, and this absence of intimida-
removed from the trunk, the board is long enough to tion gives positive reinforcement to learning more.
span the distance between the crossbeams, where it Frostbiting—that venturesome sailing on fine but
may be stowed when the craft is nosing into a beach. cold winter days—is encouraged by the minimal risk
A study in simplicity
J ohn Marples originally designed the Three-Meter
trimarans to be built using the Constant Camber
method, using vacuum-bagging to streamline the
cold-molded method of construction (see “Bagging the
Gull,” WB Nos. 64–65). The early boats were built this
way in the mid-1980s, but vacuum-bagging seemed to
impose a steep learning curve on the owner-builder,
and as a result the class found little traction at first.
In the early ’90s, Marples developed a simplified sheet-
plywood version, called it the Seaclipper 10, and plans
for that version have been selling worldwide. One con-
centration of boats was in Marples’s then-home region
in Puget Sound, where in the mid-’90s roughly half a
dozen boats regularly arrived at laid-back gatherings.
For economy and availability, the Seaclipper version
of this 10-footer is built entirely of 1/4" plywood—an
extremely rugged thickness for so small a boat. Ram-
ming docks and channel markers, and even minor col-
lisions with other boats of the class, are usually survived
JOHN MARPLES
July/August 2012 • 59
ABNER KINGMAN
for transport. Because the boat
is 8’ wide overall, it doesn’t need
to be dismantled for trailering
of capsize, and by the ’biter’s body being down out of Suddenly, the laughter was mixed with more atten-
the wind. Of course, for that type of sailing adequate tion to finesse, which is what the boat was meant for,
gear is assumed, perhaps complete with a motorcycle and in time several of our crowd would make signifi-
helmet and full faceplate, and with a piston bilge cant cruises or become successful racers in the intense
pump fastened to the trunk and plumbed to discharge F-boat regattas,” in larger trimarans. (Marples also
overboard. Now you can take on the North Sea. designed a larger version of the 10-footer; see “The Sea-
clipper 20,” below.)
A
lthough the Three-Meters are easy to sail, it has “I’m satisfied that these Three-Meters really do per-
become evident that these trimarans are not form as trainers, but they train you in the truth about
easy to sail well. “Most boats that are easy to sail sailing: There’s a whole lot to learn, and if you want to
are rather ho-hum for anything else,” Marples says. get good, it takes lots of patience and practice.”
“They don’t show a distinct response to tweaking, and Well, practice is easy when it’s fun, and the best evi-
so don’t encourage learning. And most boats that sail dence of fun is laughter. Oftentimes, the grandest gig-
really well are not easy. They make rather drastic physi- gles heard from the practicing Three-Meter fleet are
cal demands and so can be discouraging especially to surprised remarks made by floating passers-by. Like, for
beginners and the not-young.” instance, “Hey, those are adults in those boats.”
Nevertheless, as the Three-Meter class developed
Jim Brown, a longtime contributor to WoodenBoat, is the designer
momentum, some of the sailors became competitive. of the Searunner series of ocean cruising trimarans, the inventor of
Because trailering was so easy, they raced on lakes, the Constant Camber construction method, and the co-founder of
bays, sounds, and on more challenging courses to keep OutRig! The Modern Multihull History Project (www.outrig.org), a
the interest up. “We thought we were getting pretty private initiative that collects, preserves, and disseminates the history
good,” Marples says, “until Jack Christiansen, our local and lore of modern seafaring multihulls, their creators, and their
sailmaker, showed up for a regatta and blew us all away. crews. He lives in Foster, Virginia.
The Seaclipper 20
T
he Seaclipper 20 (reviewed in WB No. 217) is to arrive in March to “break her in.” During a week of
the latest of a series of eight simple, inexpen- sailing and celebrating, some wordy wag exclaimed,
sive trimarans that John Marples designed to be “This is not just ésprit de corps, this is joie de vivre!”
owner-built. At WoodenBoat School in 2011, Marples As with the 10-footer, the Seaclipper 20 is a sheet-
and I worked with seven highly motivated (some said plywood, get-it-done special, but it has some unusual
frenzied) students to build one, and she was about 85 features:
percent complete when we launched her nine working • Simple and economical “swing-wing” crossbeams
days later. allow easy folding for trailering, motoring in narrow
Purchased by student Val Cox for the price of mate- waters, berthing, camping aboard, and storage. The mast
rials to that date—$2,400—she was hauled off to Key can be up or down, since folding does not affect the rig.
Largo, Florida, where Cox has a canal-side home. He • “Combo Steering” uses a standard tiller but also
completed her just in time for the whole class, save one, allows foot-pedal steering from either of two cockpits.
60 • WoodenBoat 227
VAL COX
Left—With the Seaclipper 20 design, Marples translated
the concepts of the 10-footer into a boat capable of more
adventuresome cruising, even accommodating a dome tent
set up on deck. Left top—In 2011, Marples and the author
led a course at WoodenBoat School to build and launch the
trimaran in two weeks. Above—Val Cox, one of the course
students, bought the boat, took it home to Florida to finish it
out, and reunited most of the class for a maiden sail in early
2012.
high winds, hot sun, cold snaps, and biting bugs. Cus-
tomizing the tent by cutting out its floor in way of the
footwell allows the crew to sit comfortably, and a 2' × 3'
table can even be secured to the raised daggerboard.
• The thick, flat bottom of the main hull, sheathed
• All specified plywood, framing, and crossbeam in polypropylene cloth set in epoxy, not only endures
lumber is available at any lumberyard. repeated beachings but also accommodates the use of
• All fastenings and hardware for the crossbeams, skids, rollers, trailer bunks, flatbed trailers, and direct
rig attachments, and sheet leads are of inexpensive on-the-hard storage.
galvanized steel. Depending on the owner-builder’s focus and will-
• Any of several “beach cat” rigs (or other readily ingness to scrounge, costs and building times can vary
available rigs) can be fitted. Spars, sails, and standing widely. Based on early evidence, the Seaclipper 20 mate-
and running rigging for these rigs are commonly rials cost about $6,000 and it takes about 1,200 hours to
available second hand. A Hobie 16 rig is recommended. build. —JB
July/August 2012 • 61
T
he idea of building a custom cruising boat for carved and painted toy fishing boats sent to him from
an owner living far from the building site is a faraway Denmark by his godmother. With their sweeping
tough assignment, since such a project requires sheerlines and sturdy wheelhouses, the traditional style
myriad small details to be discussed and fussed over and proportions of the miniature North Sea trawlers
between the owner and builder. But Peter Kass and his embodied the handsome good looks that were to
team at the John’s Bay Boat Company in South Bristol, encourage his lifelong passion for honest working
Maine, recently completed the magnificent 44' cruis- vessels. In his 20s he restored, designed, and built
ing lobsterboat BENITO in just that way. Owner Will several of the shapely 26' gunter-rigged Couta Boats
Baillieu, you see, lives at Cape Schanck on Australia’s that had been the mainstay of Victoria’s fishing fleet
Mornington Peninsula, but thanks to the wonders of throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries (see
the Internet, he was able to keep a hand in the building WB No.137). And although he kept a weather eye open
of his dream boat—a project that had taken root in his for an opportunity to acquire a traditional Tasmanian
childhood—from the other side of the world. fishing smack or ketch still working the waters of Bass
As a small boy growing up at seaside Sorrento on the Strait, a suitable boat never hove into view.
southeastern approaches to Port Phillip in southern After a distinguished sporting career as an Olympic
Victoria, Baillieu amused himself with a tiny fleet of oarsman and as a member of AUSTRALIA II’s AMERICA’s
Above—When Australian Will Baillieu decided he wanted a Maine lobsterboat, he came to Maine to have one built. Tracking
the details of the project via Skype, Baillieu worked closely with builder Peter Kass while living on the opposite side of the
planet. Inset—While BENITO, as the new boat is called, is built to the tough standards of a Maine lobsterboat, her interior
layout is for cruising for a family of four.
62 • WoodenBoat 227
dent among the lobstermen who had gathered to wish mind. The smoke head seen
her well. “I was enthralled by the boat,” he says, “and here is plumbed to a cozy
by the tiny window it opened on life in Maine. I gradu wood stove in the saloon
ally embraced the idea of doing something really crazy, (see photo, page 67).
PETER CHAMPION
July/August 2012 • 63
T
he Baillieus found the John’s Bay Boat Com-
pany—with its small, shingled shop and marine
up the winding coast roads that were to take them all railway at the water’s edge and the Kass family
the way north to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The idea was to home behind it—hidden among the trees near the mid-
meet boatbuilders and look at lobsterboats along the coast Maine town of South Bristol. There, Will Baillieu
way. “The northeast coast of America is spectacularly found he had an immediate rapport with Pete Kass.
beautiful and very romantic,” he said, “and to our Aus- “Pete is a strongly built man with a ready smile and a
tralian eyes, Maine is pure magic. The places we saw deep but soft voice,” Will said. “He showed us the 24'
were so beautiful and the people so wonderful. We saw gunkholer he was building for himself. Wooden boat
it as wooden boat heaven. We looked at all the boats shops are always irresistible for me, and Peter’s shop was
and boatyards and tiny lobster towns, and we took hun- fascinating. There were lots of big old machines with
dreds of photos, but in the back of my mind I was think- photos and calendars tacked up, a big old woodstove
ing that I would probably never find a good wooden for heat, and plenty of lumber racked out to dry.”
boat, and if I did it would be way too expensive. Then In their discussions, Peter Kass was candid enough
there would be all the problems importing one into to admit that for the first time in 30 years he did not
Australia with our strict quarantine laws. have an order for another boat. The global financial
“On the other hand, I was determined not to go up crisis had spread gloom and doom across America, and
the Maine coast without seeing the beautiful AGAMEN- money had simply dried up. Nobody was ordering new
TICUS. Ed Grant’s wife, Rosie, agreed to meet us in the boats, and once he finished the 24-footer, Kass told
Stonewall Kitchen in York, and after coffee she took us him, he faced shutting up the shop.
down to meet Ed on the boat at York Harbor. We hit Out on the slipway Baillieu found another beau-
it off with the Grants right away. They are a wonder- tiful Peter Kass creation, the 42' lobsterboat SALLY
ful couple, so friendly and informative and so happy in ROCHELLE , which was hauled out for a paint job. He
64 • WoodenBoat 227
P
he told the eter Kass lifts the lines of his lobsterboats from
Baillieus that his own half models. He agreed to stretch one
Kass’s boats of his 42-footers to 44' for the Baillieus and later
were “the arranged for naval architect Spencer Lincoln to do
Cadillacs of some scale drawings from the half model to help plan
the sea.” the layout. Early on, Pete had suggested that they could
WILL BAILLIEU (BOTH)
July/August 2012 • 65
WIll BAIllIeu
her own bottom to Baltimore, Maryland, where she was
loaded onto a ship for transport to Australia. Inset—The
John’s Bay crew admires BENITO, pre-launch.
communicate via Skype and discuss things face-to-face Will says he was even able to watch the seasons come
as construction progressed. Although Pete is not par- and go through the Skype camera, which was upstairs
ticularly computer savvy, his teenage daughter, Annie, in the Kass family’s home. “I could see a window behind
showed him how to go about it. “Our Skype sessions Pete when he sat at his desk,” he said, “and except for the
were pretty regular,” Will recalls. “One of us would dead of winter when it was dark and they were covered in
email the other and suggest a time. It was nearly always snow, I could see something of what it was like outside.
five in the morning in Maine, which was eight in the The face-to-face contact made an enormous difference.
evening at our home on Cape Schanck. Pete is an early I could see if Pete was tired or worried or happy. I felt a
riser, and he liked to get the sessions done so he could very important physical contact with him and the boat. I
walk across to the shop before his crew arrived. don’t think I could have done the project without it.”
“At first we would spend up to two hours at a time Will received by email scanned, handwritten invoices
going over the details. I usually wrote a list of items to for each fortnight’s work, with details of every purchase
be discussed, and Pete did the same. We became bet- and all hours worked. “I think Nina was the one doing
ter at it, and soon the sessions were more like an hour all the accounting,” Will said, “and it certainly made it
each time. We covered everything, and lots of decisions easy to keep track of the progressive cost. Pete always
were made via the Skype camera. I lost track of the gave me warning if there were larger items coming up
hours that were put into following up every decision. so I wouldn’t get too much of a shock. Along the way
There was an enormous amount to be done to keep there were some hiccups and changes of plan, but I
pace with Pete’s building schedule. I seemed to be for- always felt that Pete was in there batting for us. Some
ever parked at the computer, searching suppliers and things we asked for he said he could not buy because
prices, writing emails, and making orders. Pete’s wife, the price was just too high. He spent a lot of time find-
Nina, took lots of digital photographs, and these were ing alternatives that would be better or less expensive.”
emailed to me. If I needed to see something in particu- The next time Baillieu saw Kass was in April 2011,
lar, I requested it and Nina photographed and sent it. about halfway through the project. “I had followed
I really wanted to be there, and indeed, if I had been a everything closely up until then through Nina’s photo-
single man I couldn’t have stayed away. But the Skype graphs,” he said. “I thought I knew it pretty well, but
sessions were a pretty good compromise given that I nothing prepared me for what I saw when I walked
was needed at home with my family.” through the shop door. The boat looked enormous, far
66 • WoodenBoat 227
exercise. We ate lobsters and clams together and went was up on the bow when his wife christened the boat
walking to look at the bird life. We learned about the with champagne, and he only just managed to scram-
history of the place. We met many of the other Kass ble back to the helm as the boat hit the water. “My
boat owners, and we received generous hospitality. mind went blank at that point,” he said. “I thought,
The whole experience was life-changing. We both ‘What do I do now?’ Then one of Peter’s guys said very
feel we have left a piece of our hearts in South Bristol. calmly, ‘Let’s get her started!’ I gave a long blast on
There is certainly a large piece of Maine gracing the the twin air horns and fired her up. It was so exciting
waters off Sorrento.” to be driving the new boat. She felt just great.”
BENITO’s helm station, and a glimpse below. While Kass primarily builds workboats, his shop is no stranger to this level of finish. In
fact, many of his lobsterboat customers use their boats for pleasure, too, and finish them to a high standard.
PeTeR CHAMPION
July/August 2012 • 67
WIll BAIllIEu
hen the Portuguese pirate Benito Bonito
successfully plundered shipping off the
Pacific coast of South America in the
early 19th century, he was not alone. British pri-
vateers also preyed upon Spanish treasure ships The shrinkwrapped BENITO shortly after being unloaded
homeward-bound with their plunder from Peru- from the ship that carried her to Australia.
vian temples. Bonito is said to have seized an
English ship that had previously taken a Span-
ish prize whose treasures included an enormous Peter Kass now has five years of orders lined up for new
golden cross encrusted with precious gems. The boats (see accompanying article). “Maybe the chance we
booty was eventually brought to Port Phillip, the took with our decision to build BENITO at John’s Bay had
vast bay in southern Australia where the City of some bearing on this,” Will Baillieu says. “I like to think
Melbourne now stands. we helped, because high-quality wooden boat building
Queenscliff is a small town at the entrance to businesses are fast disappearing everywhere, and life-
Port Phillip Bay. In Benito Bonito’s time, the area time experience like Pete’s can never be replaced.”
around Queenscliff was a wild landscape inhab-
A
ited only by Aboriginal tribesmen. An escaped week after the Baillieus returned home to
convict, the Englishman William Buckley, who Australia, Pete Kass and two of his crew, Andy
had lived with the Aborigines for some 30 years, Dickens and Andy Angelico, took the boat 600
watched and listened as the foreign-speaking miles south to Baltimore in a window of good weather.
pirates brought boxes ashore and buried them. There they prepared the boat for shipping, overseeing
Bonito sailed on to continue his piracy but was a lift to the dock and then cleaning and shrink-wrapping
killed soon after in an action with a British man- her after she was secured in a custom-built steel cradle.
of-war. Buckley told his story to the first white The boat was then loaded inside a roll-on, roll-off cargo
settlers at Queenscliff, and since that time there ship and taken through the Panama Canal and across
have been countless unsuccessful searches for the the Pacific, a six-week trip that ended in Appleton
treasure. The searches are still going on. Dock, Melbourne. There she was lowered into the Yarra
The Baillieu family started life in Australia as River still in her white shrink-wrap and towed to
humble fishermen in 1854, when Will Baillieu’s Hobson’s Bay, where she was unwrapped and her engine
great-grandfather James, a seaman, jumped ship started. “That,” said Will Baillieu, “was a truly amazing
in Port Phillip. Sixteen children were born in the feeling. A great day to remember.”
tiny family cottage at Queenscliff. One of them
was Baillieu’s great-uncle Willy, a prize fighter Bruce Stannard is a regular contributor to WoodenBoat.
and government boatman who left home to seek
his fortune in Melbourne. Years later when Willy
returned a wealthy man, the suspicious local The Baillieu family aboard. Will is behind the camera.
fishermen began to speculate that he must have
found Bonito’s treasure. The rumors were given
credence by Willy’s friendship with a strange old
man, Giovanni Carrosini, known locally as Kero-
sine Jack, who was said to have been left ashore as
a boy to guard Bonito’s treasure. It was believed
that one of Jack’s many tattoos held the key to the
secret location of the buried treasure.
Years ago, when Baillieu was building a Couta
Boat at Newhaven on Phillip Island, a couple of
local fishermen came into his shed uninvited
and proceeded to look the boat over in silence.
As they were leaving, one of them turned to Will
and asked, “What are you going to call her, Benito
Bonito?” The name of his beautiful new boat is a
WIll BAIllIEu
68 • WoodenBoat 227
T
hree years ago, for the first winter since open- the shop had had only a few repair jobs, Kass and his
ing its doors for business in 1983, John’s Bay Boat wife, Nina, spent the bulk of that season building their
Co. didn’t have a new-boat customer. “In the own 24' lobsterboat of Kass’s design, and by spring-
winter of 2009–10, we basically closed,” says Peter Kass, time, as that boat neared completion, “we had people
the company’s founder. “I had to lay everyone off.” The knocking on the door for repair.” And then Will Bail-
recession had hit the South Bristol, Maine, shop, and lieu came calling from Australia with an order for a 44'
hit it hard. yacht (see article, page 62), and the company’s fortunes
I visited Peter Kass at his shop in April this year, just suddenly reversed. Kass hired back his crew, Sam Jones
days after the launch of his 63rd boat—a beautifully and Andy Dickens, launched his own boat, and put his
proportioned 38-footer called DELUSIONAL . I hadn’t shoulder to the wheel on new orders. He also hired two
spoken with Peter since the autumn of ’09, when he more crew: Andy Angelico and David Severance. Today,
called me with the grim forecast for the coming winter. John’s Bay Boat Co. is again thriving, with orders for
During our recent visit, Peter seemed undaunted, in seven boats to build—six of them working lobsterboats
retrospect, by his shop’s uncharacteristically slow pace of at least 42' LOA , and the other a yacht in the 36'–38'
three years previous, recalling that “We had a nice win- range. And there’s an inquiry for another yacht from a
ter. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did.” While potential customer in Austria.
Above—Peter Kass, proprietor of John’s Bay Boat Co. in South Bristol, Maine, recently received his 70th lobsterboat order.
The Company has been in business for 30 years.
July/August 2012 • 69
P
eter Kass finished high school in 1977. He was (see WB No. 166) built everything from Alden yachts to
good with his hands, but didn’t care for the class- Navy minesweepers, and specialized in sawn-frame ves-
room, and was considering enrolling in a boat- sels. In Kass’s short time there, he learned invaluable
building school when he found work in the Urbanna, lessons by repairing “a lot of big ol’ wooden draggers.”
Virginia, shop of Joe Conboy. “Joe offered us work From Goudy and Stevens, Kass went to work in the
experience instead of us having to pay for school,” Kass Round Pond, Maine, shop of Bruce Cunningham,
says of the gang of young “apprentices” in that shop. building a 31' Atkin cutter that would circumnavigate
“We were such cheap labor that he had us straightening the globe. He did a lot of repairwork on the side, and
nails when things were slow.” But this youthful group— built three peapods. With his skills honed, his confi-
“cons,” they called themselves in deference to their dence boosted, and his nascent customer base estab-
employer’s surname—also built and repaired boats, lished, he one day declared: “I could do this myself.”
and learned the ways of a working boatyard. “Prime shorefront was already pretty expensive,”
Armed with these months of experience and itching Kass says of the Maine real-estate market in the early
to be an “ex-con”—to try something else—Kass spent 1980s. Looking out over the small, spruce-fringed bay
that year’s Christmas holiday driving the Maine coast that his 5 acres abut, he smiles the smile of a contented
Peter Kass in the shop. John’s Bay lobsterboats are framed in white oak and planked in Maine cedar.
70 • WoodenBoat 227
man and says, “But you could buy this backwater stuff Kass says. In fact, Kass’s design aspirations caused a rift
pretty cheap. Best deal of my life.” Up went a shop, between the two men, though the division was healed
and down went a set of inexpensive skids leading into by the time Lowell died in 1997.
shallows of John’s Bay. How did he learn, then? Was it purely by observation?
By books? “Observation,” Kass said. “That’s the key to
“W
e built a lot of little boats,” Kass says of his it. If you see a nice boat, study it. See why it’s nice.” Kass
first three years in business. These ranged has clearly studied a lot of boats, and seen why they’re
from a Whitehall pulling boat to a 24' nice. His designs are beautifully proportioned, and are
cruiser. “Our first big break was a 42' Carroll Lowell finely detailed without being overwrought. During our
lobsterboat in 1986.” Carroll Lowell was the grandson visit, I asked him if he could distill the elements of a
of Will “Pappy” Frost, roundly considered to be the Kass boat, but soon realized that I was asking him for
dean of Maine lobsterboat builders—a mantle Car- a formula that doesn’t exist. A typical Kass boat has a
roll assumed with the establishment of his Even Keel carefully eyed sheerline, a perfectly proportioned “eye-
Marine in Yarmouth, Maine, in 1963, where he built brow” overhang protruding forward of the pilothouse,
to the designs of his brother, Royal—and later, in the a flared bow, a gentle tumblehome aft, and a low-slung
1980s and ’90s, to his own designs. Like Kass, Lowell trunk cabin that fits so well it looks as if it grew there. It
had been born in Massachusetts—in Medford, just 3 has custom metalwork, including bow chocks cast to a
miles from Kass’s hometown. In 1986, Lowell had an pattern Kass developed when he couldn’t find aestheti-
inquiry for a 42-footer, but didn’t want to take on so cally and functionally appropriate stock hardware. It
large a project. He nominated Kass for the job, because also has a Kass-designed rudderport, designed to not
Kass’s work had impressed him over the past several loosen under load and start leaking. But a Kass boat is
years. That boat, SHARON ROSEANN, was launched something more than the sum of these things. There’s
on a railway Kass built at his shop in 1984, and is still a transcendent whole here, a look and style developed
working from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with the by an intuitive grasp of proportion, detail, and func-
original owner’s son. tion that wasn’t absorbed in a classroom, but rather was
On the heels of that first boat came a 38-footer, learned though experience, through the hands.
DESERET, for John Karbott in Massachusetts. It wouldn’t Kass struggled with my question about the elements
be long before Kass began designing boats himself. Did of his boats for a moment, and then we let it go. Per-
Carroll critique his early designs? I wondered. “No,” haps a better way to determine what draws a person
July/August 2012 • 71
N
athan Jones, Kass tells me, says he’d be out of 1994. And soon there will be several more, including a
business if it weren’t for his move from a fiber- 44-footer for John Williams, which will be the next boat
glass hull to a Kass-built wooden boat. It’s a built at John’s Bay.
common sentiment for Kass’s working fishermen cus- Although we didn’t get into actual numbers, given
tomers, who outnumber his pleasure-boat customers the custom nature of his work, Kass was frank about
considerably. The reason is simple: A wooden boat, his position in the lobsterboat market: “We cannot
these fishermen say, is easier on the body than a fiber- compete with a fiberglass boat with stock molded
glass one. parts. But for a high-end custom-finished ’glass boat,
Bob Williams of Stonington, Maine, had always we’re about the same.” Naturally, thoughts then turn
had wooden boats before buying a fiberglass 35-footer to the differences in maintenance between the fiber-
about two decades ago. “I thought, less maintenance...,” glass boat and the wooden one. Kass maintains a num-
he recalls of that decision to transition to ’glass. But, ber of the boats he’s built—as well as lobsterboats
“it bothered my legs. You get a lot of vibration [from built elsewhere. He dismisses concerns over the cost
the engine], and wood absorbs the vibration. Fiber- of this being excessive. “It’s $5,000 for a shave and a
glass transmits the vibration. You get a hum at different haircut in the spring,” he says. He also notes that the
rpms of the engine. It bothers many guys’ legs,” he said, seakeeping abilities of his wooden boats allow extra
observing that he’s seen this often in fishermen as they fishing days in conditions that might jar the bones of
reach age 50. a person working a fiberglass hull, and this offsets the
“I was desperate for a wooden boat. I hunted around cost of maintenance.
for secondhand ones. I was going to have a fellow on The planking in a John’s Bay lobsterboat is of cedar,
the island [Deer Isle] build a boat, and I got the cedar and it’s Maine grown. Despite anecdotal reports of
and oak together. Then I learned about Kass. I hauled diminished quality of timber over the years, Kass says
my material down there in 1989, and he built mine that that it’s actually been consistently good over all the
winter.” That boat, JAMIE K , was the first Kass boat to years he’s been building, and it remains so now. The
fish out of Stonington. “‘I was reborn,’” Kass recalls same appears to be true for the white oak, of which
Williams saying of the boat’s effect on his health. Now Kass has enough stockpiled for the keels, frames, stems,
MY DIVA , built by Peter Kass in 2004, is run by Joel Billings of Stonington, Maine. Here, with spectators aboard, she’s
attending the 2011 Stonington lobsterboat races.
72 • WoodenBoat 227
Peter Kass’s latest launching, the 38’ DELUSIONAL , lying at the Harvey Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, Maine; she’s
receiving her finishing touches from the John’s Bay crew.
and other timbers of two more 42-footers. This he gets Keurig coffeemaker. “We don’t usually do Corian coun-
from a sawmill in Connecticut. Some of his boats are tertops,” said Kass as he pointed out galley details.
given shaftlogs of angelique, rather than of white oak, We poked our heads into the engine space, which
if they’re to be run in areas where marine borers—the was operating-room clean. Later, while standing on the
dreaded teredo and gribble—wreak their havoc. “We float as we regarded the boat’s shape, Kass directed my
used to line the shaftlogs of the boats,” says Kass, “but attention to the exhaust port in the transom. “You can
it’s easier to just use a resistant species.” buy one off the shelf,” he said, “but with the transom
The decks of Kass’s boats vary with their intended rake it’s going to be the wrong angle. Why not weld a
use and the tastes of the owners. For many, Kass flange onto a piece of pipe and get just the right angle?”
rips vertical-grain Douglas-fir dimensional lumber That’s what he’d done here, not because he had to, but
into planks for stable and durable laid and caulked because it’s just a little bit better this way.
decks. Other decks are built of plywood and epoxy. That, it seems, is Peter Kass’s point of difference:
And still others—including his own—are built of laid People buy his boats because he takes the time to build
iroko, a species that he says “would fool a lot of people them a little bit better than they have to be. Some
that it’s teak”—while costing about one quarter the fishermen buy them because they’re easy on the body.
board foot price of the better-known species. Kass is And other owners buy them because they’re a good
resourceful—but he is so in the name of quality, and value and rewarding to maintain. But I think Peter was
not at the expense of it. on to a deeper truth when he looked at the new boat,
smiled, excused himself for sounding boastful, and
K
ass’s resourcefulness became most evident when said, “They’re good looking.”
we visited aboard the newly launched DELU- “It’s an emotional response, isn’t it,” I asked rhetori-
SIONAL , which was floating at the docks of the cally.
Harvey Gamage Shipyard, just steps from the shed that And he said, “I think that’s a big part of the reason
housed the job that brought Kass to Maine all those years people buy them.”
ago. Kass is an even-keeled man, but his tempo increased
as we approached the boat. We visited below, where I was Matthew P. Murphy is editor of WoodenBoat.
surprised and delighted at the level of fit and finish—
varnished mahogany deckbeams, shower, bolted-down An earlier article on John’s Bay Boat Co. appeared in WB No. 115.
July/August 2012 • 73
The 88' ketch SINCERITY was designed by Vincenzo Baglietto and built by the Baglietto yard in Italy in 1928.
Refurbished in 1998 (see WB No. 188) and sailed for years from Oslo, Norway, she now hails from Camden, Maine.
74 • WoodenBoat 227
C
ory Silken began shooting classic yachts profes- Opera House Cup in Nantucket, the following year.
sionally in 2001 but had discovered cameras Editorial and advertising commissions followed.
years earlier when he was in the eighth grade. In the spring of 2003, he attended and photo-
“I came to photography through the Boy Scouts,” he graphed his first Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, and
says. “It was a great way to show family and friends hasn’t missed the annual event since then. Antigua
where I was going and what I was doing. I blame my Classics,” says Cory, “is certainly a special event. A lot
parents for the sailing. I’ve been sailing since I was of the people down there are liveaboards...and there
less than nine months old—first on the southern Mas- are more larger yachts than at other classic yachting
sachusetts coast, and later in Newport, Rhode Island.” events.”
During his college years, Cory drove a launch in Antigua, a former British colony, is a sort of cross-
Newport, and later worked on the vintage 12-meter roads, for it attracts sailors and classic yachts from
sloops INTREPID and HERITAGE. Those sailing jobs both Europe and North America. “It seems to be the
were his entree into the world of classic yachts, and event,” says Cory, “that classic yachts look to as the
he’s never looked back: He was graduating college debut for a restoration or new construction.” On the
with a degree in economics just as the dot-com bubble following pages are just a few of the hundreds of
was bursting, so realized he “wasn’t missing any oppor- images Cory made at the 2012 Antigua Classic Yacht
tunities there.” He opened his photography business Regatta—and a small sample of the 55 boats that
right out of college and shot his first regatta, the 2002 sailed in the event.
July/August 2012 • 75
76 • WoodenBoat 227
Above—The Fife cutter TUIGA was shipped to Antigua for this year’s Classics regatta—her first.
“Obviously,” says Cory Silken, “this is not a boat you could take out for an afternoon cruise with
a couple of friends.” She finished second in class, bested by the Fife yawl MARIELLA and, in a
true act of sportsmanship, her crew stood and saluted MARIELLA’s during the prizegiving.
Above—The Gannon & Benjamin–built, Nat Benjamin–designed schooner JUNO sails to leeward of the first-rule 12-Meter
yawl KATE. JUNO was launched in 2003. KATE was launched in 2006 as a yellow sloop, and profiled in WB No.197.
Cory Silken recently opened a gallery in Newport, Rhode Island. For details, visit www.corysilken.com.
July/August 2012 • 77
ELISA KREY
T
he soaring sails of Sydney’s Opera House and designer Cliff Gale was happy to give a set of plans to
the distinctive “coathanger” bridge are icons of anyone who asked for them. At least twelve Rangers have
this Australian city’s harbor. A yachtsman who been built—one of them fairly recently—and there are
appreciates wooden boats might well add a third item rumors (hard to pin down) of one or two more that
to that list: the Ranger-class sloop. Everyone who sails may have been built without acknowledgment.
on the harbor knows the Rangers. Generally around This isn’t a strict one-design class; no two of these
24' long, with signature raised decks, large cockpits, boats are exactly alike. RANGER , for example, was
generous beam, heavy displacement, gaff rig, and vir- launched with a centerboard, as was VAGRANT, built in
tually no overhangs, they are not exactly greyhounds 1935. They were the only two centerboarders, and both
of the sea. In fact, I have heard them described, affec- were later converted to have fixed keels, in side-by-side
tionately, as “tubby.” Yet there is a mystique surround- projects in Vic Hoyle’s boatshed at Drummoyne, on
ing them that you normally associate with far more Sydney Harbour. In the early 1950s, Cliff Gale changed
glamorous yachts. RANGER’s lug rig to gaff.
RANGER , the boat for which the class was named, RANGER bears sail number A1, and has raced with
was launched in 1933 off the beach in front of Billy the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club (aka the Amateurs;
Fisher’s yard at Botany Bay, and rigged with a standing see sidebar) for 78 years. She has always been cited as
lug mainsail and a non-overlapping jib. In the years to the first of the line, but that, as we shall see, is a subject
come, her racing success begat new constructions, and of some argument.
Above—The Ranger-class sloop CheRub (A4) in her element on Sydney harbour, Australia. The class debuted in 1933 with the
launch of the eponymous RANGeR.
78 • WoodenBoat 227
R
acing was the last thing on Cliff Gale’s mind tides behaved. Local knowledge gained this way would
when he designed RANGER . He wanted an all- become a big factor in his later success as a racing skip-
round boat—one that would be good for fish- per. When he was 14 he started making model sailboats
ing, motoring, picnicking, short hops, and exploring in order to teach himself yacht design. He told his son
the east coast river systems. Bill that he’d made 150 of them, and after five years of
Although he had no competitive ambitions for it, he knew all he needed to know. At age 21 Cliff bought
RANGER , Cliff did love his racing, and he was very his first boat, the 17' LORELEI. Two years later he joined
good at it. He was born in 1886 at the harborside sub- the Amateurs and began his long and successful racing
urb of Balmain. The first boats he built were sailing career with that club.
July/August 2012 • 79
S
imon Sadubin, a respected Sydney-
based wooden boat builder (see
WB No. 197), owns a later Ranger
named ETRENNE, built in 1946. He has
done extensive research into RANGER’s
genesis, and points out that if you look
at WANDERER and KAROO, you can
trace the evolution that culminated in
RANGER in 1933. WANDERER was a 26'
raised-decker that Cliff sold soon after
launching because she did not perform
as well as he wanted. His next boat,
KAROO, was a 20' centerboarder, created
because Cliff wanted a boat that he could
nose up onto the beach instead of having
to anchor and row the family back and
forth in the dinghy. “She’s a classic Gale
shape,” says Sadubin, “a lovely, dishy, Syd-
ney Harbour shape, with more of a skiff
influence than RANGER .”
KAROO still survives as a raised-deck
launch. In her day she had a reputation as
a nimble sailer, but her flush deck limited
her accommodation. Sadubin speculates
that Cliff used her as a starting point,
ELISA KREY
80 • WoodenBoat 227
with buttock lines which rise up well to the transom to boats from half models, which he shaped by eye. Bill
release water easily. KAROO was full-bodied up forward, Gale has the half model of RANGER and also a set of
which is very much the basis for RANGER.” plans that he believes were drawn by a friend of Cliff’s,
As was common practice in the 1930s, Cliff built his the naval architect Archie Barber. Simon Sadubin and
fellow shipwright Ian Smith lifted the lines off the half
model and off RANGER herself. By comparing these two
sets of lines with the plans reputedly drawn by Archie
Barber, Sadubin has been able to speculate on how
the design further evolved during RANGER’s construc-
tion, for the actual boat differed slightly from the half
model. The model shows a flush-decked hull. The plans
show the actual raised-deck profile. The shape was then
further refined during construction as Billy Fisher set
up her molds, as it was common in those days for owner,
designer, and builder each to put in their ideas during
construction.
RANGER is typically credited with being the first of
the line. However, according to records in the Austra-
lian National Maritime Museum, a near sister, MALUKA ,
was launched in late 1932. RANGER was launched the
following year. If you define a Ranger as the standard
24-footer, then you could argue that RANGER was the
prototype for the boats to follow. On the other hand,
there’s no denying that the quite-similar MALUKA
was the first boat of the series to be launched. It’s a
July/August 2012 • 81
jOHN jErEMy
the hands of a humble sail-
ing club. Soon after the club-
house was completed, a letter
from the Colonial Secretary
I
f you want to race a traditional boat in Sydney, informed them that the land was required for the
the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club is the one to development of Circular Quay, the site of today’s
join. A strong fleet of classics exists happily here ferry terminus. The club unhappily accepted £650
alongside their modern counterparts. The club- compensation and began looking for another site. It
house is an unremarkable structure at Mosman Bay, turned out to be a very long search. It was not until
one of Sydney’s most exclusive suburbs. The origin 1962 that the club purchased The Cremorne Club
of the Amateurs, however, was strictly blue collar. and an adjoining boatshed at Mosman Bay, opposite
The club was founded in 1872 by a bunch of rec- Bennelong Point.
reational fishermen who would sail to a renowned As clubhouses go, the Amateurs’ is not fancy; it
bream and snapper ground in Middle Harbour, could easily be mistaken for a private home. There
known as The Blackwall. To make life interesting, are no slips, and boats are hauled on an old-fashioned
the “Blackwall Boys,” as they were called, would race slipway whose days are numbered due to today’s strict
home, often wagering a few shillings on the out- anti-pollution laws—though the club has approval for
come. They eventually began calling themselves the a modern hardstand to replace this feature. There
Blackwall Sailing Club. are only a few paid staff, and much of the mainte-
These open-boat enthusiasts, along with a sprin- nance is carried out by volunteers. Nowadays, nobody
kling of yacht owners, eventually began holding cares what members do for a living.
dedicated races, and in October 1872 they formed The membership has remained steady for decades
The Sydney Amateur Sailing Club. There were other at around 400. Cliff Gale, who was an honorary life
more elaborate yacht clubs in Sydney, but almost all member, is often held up as an exemplar of the
the open-boat racing in the late 1800s was carried club’s spirit. In one notable incident, he and another
out by the Amateurs. Eight years after the club’s member, Stanley Spain, leading the rest of the fleet,
founding, in an effort to limit the expense of hav- were beating to the finish in a howling westerly when
ing paid professionals aboard racing boats, the rules Cliff’s tiller broke. Stan immediately luffed up and
were amended to exclude “all fishermen, oystermen, threw him a spare tiller, shouting, “See if this fits.”
boatbuilders, sailmakers and persons gaining or It did, and they raced on neck-and-neck. Cliff just
having gained their living on the water…” beat Stan to the finish, but instead of crossing the
The club’s early meetings were held at various line, he sailed on the wrong side of the committee
hotels around the city, but in 1879 the Amateurs were boat, allowing MISCHIEF to get the gun. Telling the
granted land at Bennelong Point, where the Sydney story in 1950 on the occasion of Cliff’s retirement
Opera House now stands. Four years later a club- as Commodore, Stan Spain commented, “Nothing
house financed by members’ donations was built. more need be said.”
82 • WoodenBoat 227
C
liff Gale spent all of his 81 years around salt
water. He left school at 11 and eventually
became a dental mechanic—a dental techni-
cian in modern parlance. He had a poor grasp of
mathematics and no formal training in yacht design,
yet he had an uncanny ability to look at a boat’s lines
and sail plan and alter them to improve performance.
A celebrated case was the 32' yacht HOANA . In
the staggered starts of the Amateurs A-class races,
in which slower boats are sent off ahead of faster
ones, she was so slow that her rating had her starting
14 minutes ahead of the scratch boat. Owner Lex
discussion that generates some heat among Ranger northern headland of Sydney Harbour, they noticed a
owners. boat that had been driven hard against the rocks and
At 28', MALUKA is bigger than a standard Ranger. was sinking. While attempting to rescue the two men on
Cliff Gale designed her for the Clark brothers, a cou- board, VAGRANT also struck bottom. The three Lang-
ple of ex-graziers, as ranchers are called in Australia, mans had to abandon ship but were quickly rescued by
who had moved to Sydney and wanted to do some a passing naval vessel. Although VAGRANT was badly
ocean cruising. Which they did: 3,400 nautical miles damaged, the insurers elected to rebuild her. Shortly
to Cooktown in northern Queensland and return, fol- after she was relaunched, Langman’s father was posted
lowed by a cruise to Lord Howe Island, 370 miles east to far northern Queensland. So the boat was sold.
of the Australian mainland. On the return leg they “I remember the day she sailed away,” he recalls. “I
recorded in their journal that “the wind became excep- started crying then, and I think I cried for a month.”
tionally strong.” The jib shredded, and they were forced About 20 years later, in 1993, Langman woke up one
to heave-to under storm sail and sea anchor. Despite night after having a vivid dream about VAGRANT.
having green water filling the cockpit, the boat came He supposes he must have caught a glimpse of her
through unscathed. on the harbor recently. He tracked down the owner.
Next the Clarks attempted to sail to Tasmania. In When Langman told VAGRANT’s owner who he was,
Bass Strait they were battered by another storm, and the owner replied, “I knew you’d get in touch with me
MALUKA was driven ashore. They cut off the keel, one day.”
patched the hull, refloated her, and limped round to VAGRANT was in a sorry state. She had rot, broken
the Snowy River where they patched her back together. frames, and maladies that readers of this magazine
After a refit in Sydney, they tried again a year later and have heard many times. These days Sean Langman
made it to Hobart and back. owns a thriving group of boatyards and shipyards oper-
ating in three states. Back then he was struggling to
S
ean Langman is a world-class helmsman best build the business. He was sailing Olympic classes,
known for skippering state-of-the art maxi-yachts. skiffs, and ocean racers, but he’d never lost his emo-
When he was growing up, the family boat was a tional attachment to VAGRANT, and getting her back
Ranger named VAGRANT. In the winter of 1973 Sean, held deep significance for him. “It was a real turning
then aged eleven, and his brother Rory, nine, set off point in my life. I’d had my business then for 10 years.
with their father, Peter, to sail from Pittwater down the I knew about hard work. I just had this belief that I was
coast to Sydney, a 17-mile passage. As they rounded the working toward doing what I’d always wanted to do. For
July/August 2012 • 83
84 • WoodenBoat 227
me it was a pivotal time. VAGRANT gave my life a lot of well. The rig was converted to cutter, and since the
meaning, so I worked extra hard.” minimum length for the race was 30', they tacked a
Langman’s shipwrights restored VAGRANT to pris- removable “knee” onto the bow.
tine condition. He raced her now and then with the On race day a heavy southerly wind opposing a strong
Amateurs, having some close tussles with Bill Gale and south-setting current was stacking up big, steep waves.
RANGER. After ocean racing at the highest level, this was The first night out, two maxis broke their masts. The
good fun. He was already in love with Rangers when Bill following day, another competitor sank. MALUKA fin-
informed him that the legendary MALUKA was for sale. ished eighth on handicap and beat half a dozen mod-
Sean Langman bought MALUKA in 2005. The bilge ern boats home. It was an amazing result, and the boat
was full of oil, the engine had had it, the hull needed had given them not a moment’s concern. At the dock
refastening. MALUKA was, in Langman’s words, “a bas- in Hobart, Langman pumped out only half a bucket of
ket case.” He’d read the Clark brothers’ journals about water from the bilge.
their trip to Hobart 10 years before the first Sydney to Since then, MALUKA has emulated the Clark broth-
Hobart race, and thought it was a great story of human ers’ trip to Lord Howe Island, complete with a horrible
endeavour. “I thought, I wonder if we could do that, gale where she was thrown onto her beam ends. Lang-
take a 28' boat in the actual race? Let’s get this thing in man is unrepentant about the contemporary methods
the 2006 Sydney to Hobart.” he used in the boat’s refit. He doubts if she would have
With the race deadline nine months away, the ship- survived the sea voyages, especially the one to Lord
wrights set to work. They reframed the entire hull and Howe Island, without them.
installed two extra stringers. They put in an extra-large
T
maststep and ran laminated ring frames under it. They he Sydney-based architect John Crawford is also
added a full bulkhead and sheathed the hull in triaxial a Ranger fanatic. In 1991 he bought VALIANT,
fiberglass. The cockpit was reduced in size for safety built in 1939 by Hoyle Brothers. When Crawford
at sea. The boat’s draft was increased by 6" and the purchased her, she had spent her later years gently
rig made taller with a roached gaff mainsail set on a pottering about Sydney Harbour and Pittwater. When
carbon-fiber mast. The gaff was of carbon fiber as Crawford started racing her with the Amateurs, the
July/August 2012 • 85
other Rangers were all being upgraded with contem- Wooden Boat Festival, without incident. Crawford reck-
porary gear to make them more competitive. “Everyone ons that she has everything he wants in a boat. He espe-
was moving ahead, he recalls. “There were lightweight cially enjoys the simplicity. The forward third of the
rudders, aluminum gaffs, folding propellers…. After boat is for sail storage and a head; the next third con-
our first foray with bigger sails and winches and modern tains two bunks, a few shelves, and not much else; and
gear, she started to crack up. That’s when we wheeled the after third is a commodious cockpit with two quar-
her into the shed.” ter berths tucked under its seats. True to the original
The shed was in Langman’s boatyard. VALIANT was concept, Crawford has kept things simple; although he
rebuilt and emerged good for another half a century. installed some essential electronics for the Hobart trip,
By now Crawford had decided that Rangers had every- he took them out as soon as he returned home.
thing he wanted in a boat. It wasn’t too hard for Lang- John Crawford’s obsession with the class continues:
man to persuade him to build a new one. He recently bought PENGUIN, a Ranger in poor condi-
VANITY was the result of the persuasion, and she tion. He didn’t need another boat, but wanted to make
is yet another evolution of the Ranger concept. Lang- sure that this one doesn’t die through neglect, and is
man first took the lines off the original half model of actively seeking an owner prepared to restore her.
RANGER . He then pulled four boats out of the water: Langman entered MALUKA in the 2012 Sydney-to-
RANGER , KILKIE , VAGRANT, and CHERUB. When he Hobart contest with his 18-year-old son skippering and
compared their shapes, he discovered that none of the elder Langman navigating. They had hoped to set
them matched the half model, although VAGRANT and a new record—the youngest skipper sailing the old-
KILKIE were identical to Archie Barber’s plans. “Out of est boat—but Jessica Watson of solo-circumnavigation
all the boats, RANGER actually sits apart,” says Lang- fame also competed, and she was younger. MALUKA
man. “ VANITY has what I saw as the best features of all finished last, but her performance in that race against
the boats.” her modern rivals is of little consequence to the legacy
VANITY, launched in 2001, is 24' on deck and not as of Cliff Gale’s inspired design. Rangers have become
full underwater as RANGER . She’s a bit slimmer for- much sought after, but they rarely change hands. They
ward. She was strip-planked and sheathed with fiber- are an ideal boat for their intended purpose, which is
glass. She’s deeper than RANGER , and the weight saved not to race or make epic voyages. No, Gale’s intent with
through wood-composite construction meant they RANGER was simply to spend time in quiet pursuit of
could place half a ton more ballast in the keel. Her gaff enjoyment on Pittwater or Sydney Harbour. And by that
rig is controlled with modern winches and jammers. measure, it’s hard to beat a Ranger.
Not surprisingly, she is about five minutes faster than
RANGER around the Amateurs’ courses. John D. Little is a regular contributor to WoodenBoat. He wrote
In 2008 VANITY sailed to Hobart and back for the about the fleet of Halvorsen motor cruisers for WB No. 218
86 • WoodenBoat 227
Shore
The ICW Liner48
and
Gunkholer
A Dick Newick
monohull cruisers
Shoal-draft
Commentary
Commentary by by
Mike O’Brien
Robert W. Stephens
Designs by the Atkins
and Jay Benford
July/August 2012 • 87
Shore Liner
Particulars
LOA 24'
LWL 22'
Beam 9'
Draft 1'
Sail area 363 sq ft
Displacement 3,000 lbs
William and John Atkin’s 24’ Shore Liner, with a draft of only 12”, sails easily across the flats. She stands up well to her
low and powerful sloop rig. Broad decks provide lots of sprawling space, and the raised deck amidships lets us lean back
comfortably in the cabin.
the skeg, rudder, and hard-chined drawing table, the family ties to they provide ample opportunity for
hull also help to keep Shore Liner her slightly larger cousin from the showing off in the harbor…partic-
from sliding off to leeward. Atkin office will seem apparent. Of ularly if we fit our Gunkholer with
This hull’s ample 9' breadth course we’ll notice the gaff-headed tandem centerboards.
allows for a comfortable double mainsail in place of Shore Liner’s Judging by the relative size of
berth way forward. The center- jibheaded main, and that dog- these tandem boards and their
board trunk partly divides the berth house certainly stands apart from extreme separation, we might sus-
at its head. Whether this separa- the older boat’s raised-deck amid- pect that Benford drew them so as
tion proves desirable would seem ships. But these cruisers share com- to avoid intrusion into the accom-
to depend upon the situation. Two mon intent, and they sail on similar modations. The forward center-
sumptuous chairs sit on either side hulls: flat-bottomed, beamy, and board trunk hides under the foot
of the main cabin, and we’ll find shoal-draft. of a V-berth, and the after trunk
the galley and head amidships hard If, for some reason, you don’t fits below the self-bailing cockpit.
against the main bulkhead… about want to build a gaff-rigged sloop, In return for an unobstructed
as far as can be from the berth. please read on. Designer Benford interior and fine control of bal-
That’s good. offers us a choice of six differ- ance under sail, we will need to
The “flush deck seats” at the ent rigs, three lateral-resistance raise the after board as we come
cockpit offer comfortable platforms arrangements, and two hull shapes. about.
for afternoon naps and all-night In general, the ketches provide For sailors with less concern about
sleep in pleasant weather. greater control but with higher draft, Benford has drawn an optional
materials cost. These split rigs let fixed keel for this flat-bottomed hull.
88 • WoodenBoat 227
Gunkholer
Particulars
Flat bottom V-bottom
LOA 22' 22'
LWL 20' 20'
Beam 8' 8'
Draft 1' 4" – 2' 6" 3'
Sail area 199 – 330 sq ft 310 sq ft
Displacement
(cruising trim) 4,750 lbs 4,500 lbs
Jay Benford’s 22’ Gunkholer offers alternatives. The construction profile above shows
framing for a sheet-plywood boat. The section (right) describes a plank-on-frame hull.
We can choose from several design options (below): cat-rig with tandem centerboards,
cat-ketch with fixed keel, gaff-sloop, gaff-ketch, ketch, and V-bottomed cutter.
float, and she won’t take the ground toilet) to our left. A nice seat/berth are simple, yet striking, boats that
bolt-upright. sits to the right. The open view in will look fine in any company. We
If we hold thoughts of sailing off- most directions should prevent any can build them in the backyard
shore, we might build the V-bottomed notion of claustrophobia. A good- either plank-on-frame or of sheet
variant of this design. With its small sized V-berth rests up forward. In plywood. Then they will take us
self-bailing cockpit, tiny ports in an alternate layout, half of that bed to the best places: a hidden salt-
place of picture windows, and full gives way to a locker and generous marsh creek off the Chesapeake; a
keel ballasted with more than 1,200 sail stowage. coastal Maine cove that dries out at
lbs of lead, this topsail cutter will Gunkholer offers so many half tide; or the unwanted, hence
ease our minds as the shoreline options that we might consider it a deserted, corner of almost any
drops below the horizon. It does, custom design at the low price of anchorage.
however, share little with its center- a stock plan. We can mix rigs and
board sisters other than the “Gunk- hull shapes and lateral-resistance Mike O’Brien is boat design editor for
holer” name, as this boat draws 3' devices. But some combinations WoodenBoat.
and dries out at an angle that would might better remain on the draw-
do credit to a tough ski trail. ing table. For example, let’s not Shore Liner plans from Atkin & Co., P.O.
Box 3005, Noroton, CT 06820; www.atkin
Benford, who has a particular drop that tall topsail-cutter rig into boatplans.com. Shore Liner Drawings cour-
genius for designing imaginative the shallow centerboarder. Yet most tesy of WoodenBoat Books, from Practical
yet workable accommodations, matches will work fine. For relaxed Small Boat Designs, by John Atkin.
gave this little cruiser a simple and (read lazy) sailing, I’d like to stick
pleasant arrangement. In the main the cat-ketch rig into the flat- Gunkholer plans from Benford Design
cabin, under the doghouse, we find bottomed tandem-board hull. Group, 29663 Tallulah Lane, Easton, MD
the galley and a seat (which hides a Shore Liner and Gunkholer 21601; 410–745–3750; www.benford.us.
July/August 2012 • 89
I n my columns, I usually for Selected Woods from oven-dry to 70%. Change in specific gravity mirrors reduction in wood strength
provide specific-gravity val- 1.1 with increasing moisture content, while density does not. (Modified from Siau, J.F. 1995.
ues for wood rather than den- Lignum Vitae Wood: Influence of Moisture on Physical Properties. Virginia Tech.)
sity. Readers might wonder 1.0 Water at 4ºc 0.9
why. The answer is rather com- ipe
plex—but quite important— 0.9
0.8
so I’m devoting a column to
the subject. greenheart 0.8 y (g/cc
)
0.7 Densit
Density is defined as the Tropical Oak
g. or Density
mass per unit volume of an 0.7 Specifi
object. Mass and weight as c gra
Black Locust 0.6 vit y
defined by physicists are two Angelique 0.6 White Oak
different things, but for our Teak White Ash
Longleaf Yellow Pine 0.5
purposes of defining the den-
0.5
sity of a solid object at rest in y (g/cc
)
True Mahogany Douglas-Fir (Coastal) Densit
Earth’s gravitational field, Spanish Cedar 0.4 Bald Cypress 0.4
we often use the terms inter- Specific gravity
changeably. Specific grav- Okoume 0.3
ity—or relative density—is most 0.3 Western red Cedar 30% approximately equals
Northern White Cedar
often defined as the ratio of fiber saturation point
the density of a material to 0.2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
the density of water at 4oC. At Balsa Percent Wood Moisture Content
this temperature, water has 0.1
a density of 1,000 kilograms
per cubic meter (Kg/m3) or
1 gram per cubic centimeter (g/cc). By commerce, from mining to maple syrup harbor, their plan was to dump the
convention and convenience, we refer- production. lumber close in and then tow it ashore.
ence 1 g/cc of most solid materials to Although doing away with units and Astute readers may already have guessed
the same volume of water. Thus, any creating a globally understood measure the disastrous outcome—as the crew
object that has a specific gravity of less may be compelling enough, an even more watched in horror, the wood rapidly
than 1.0 will float in water, but above 1.0 important justification for using spe- sank to the deep ocean floor. Air-dry
it will sink. cific gravity can be made for materials Borneo ironwood has a specific gravity
Because specific gravity is simply a that are porous to moisture, especially that averages between 0.96 and 1.08, but
ratio, it has no units. Water, the elixir if the material not only absorbs and it can be as high as 1.2.
of life, is well known in all societies and loses water, but also shrinks and swells By knowing the specific gravity of
cultures. Thus, if we say that a chunk while doing so—like wood. commonly used woods, boatbuilders can
of iron has a specific gravity (G) of 7.8, Bricks and concrete blocks are porous readily compare an unknown wood to a
anyone would know that it is nearly eight to water but don’t change dimensions favorite such as oak or cedar. I find it
times heavier than water, and therefore with moisture uptake or loss. When stat- useful to create a vertical graph, as in
won’t float. Density, on the other hand, ing the specific gravity of these kinds of figure 1. This can be made fairly large
has units, and these are expressed differ- materials, the moisture content should and hung on the shop wall. Over time,
ently in various parts of the world. In the be noted. Wood and other hygroscopic you can add new woods and instantly see
United States, we often express density materials not only absorb and lose mois- how they compare with already familiar
in pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft3) even ture but also increase or decrease in ones. For convenience, I put imported
though, to be correct, the units should be volume with moisture content changes. woods, most of them tropical hardwoods,
slugs/ft3, since pounds are really a mea- This adds additional complexity. on one side and native woods on the
sure of force rather than mass. In Canada other. Recently, I had to predrill a teak
and Europe, density is measured in kg/ Usefulness of G handrail for lag bolts. I didn’t have any
m3, or if specific weight is being measured, Knowing the specific gravity of a par- scrap teak to test for optimal hole size, but
the units are Newtons/m3 (N/m3). ticular wood gives us considerable use- a quick look at the chart showed me I
Thus, one of the advantages of using ful information, and may even avoid could use ash as a reasonable surrogate.
specific gravity rather than density is our economic heartache. I’m reminded of This let me test a couple of drill bit sizes
ability to have universal understanding a story connected to a 4-acre island in before finally drilling holes in the teak.
without having to laboriously convert Penobscot Bay, Maine. The Coast Guard
from one system of units to another. decided they wanted to automate the Predicting Strength
Historically, specific gravity came into lighthouse and build a wooden platform Based on many research studies, we
common usage in the 17th and 18th to serve as a landing pad for helicopters know that density is an excellent pre-
centuries as mining operations became bringing in maintenance crews. They dictor of wood strength—the relation-
larger in scale and metals of different purchased a load of Borneo ironwood ship is nearly linear. However, this
densities were routinely being separated. (Eusideroxylon zwageri) and shipped it relationship holds only for wood den-
Today, specific gravity is widely used in to the island. Since the island had no sity that is measured for dry wood.
90 • WoodenBoat 227
Dip Stick
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www.betamarinenc.com
e-mail: [email protected]
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See Us at the WoodenBoat Show
July/August 2012 • 91
RALPH MoRANG
e-mail us at [email protected].
Include the following information: (1) length on
deck; (2) beam; (3) type, class, or rig; (4) boat’s name;
(5) names and contact information (include e-mail or Above—In December 2011, the nonprofit Gundalow Company
phone) of designer, builder, photographer, and owner; launched PISCATAQUA , a 64' 9" × 19' gundalow, a shallow-
bottomed lateen-rigged barge, that will become a floating
(6) port or place of intended use; (7) date of launching classroom on the Piscataqua River between New Hampshire and
(should be within the past year); (8) brief description of Maine. Harold Burnham based her design on drawings of the last
construction or restoration. commercial gundalow, the FANNY M (1886), while Paul Rollins
led a crew of professionals and volunteers in her construction.
See www.gundalow.org for more information.
www.selwayfisher.com.
SUSAN CoRKUM-GREEK
ford took the lines for this skiff from a derelict hull. The crew
planked this boat with silverballi on hackmatack naturally grown
frames. For more information, see www.doryshop.com.
92 • WoodenBoat 227
CHRISTOPHER SPALDING
Above— OSPREY is a 14' 6" × 5' 6" Little Moby skiff built by Bob Spalding and
designed by Charles Wittholz. Spalding built her hull with plywood over oak
frames, and ’glassed throughout. He eliminated the center thwart making
it easier to move about the boat. The Spalding family will cruise in OSPREY
MARILYN OLSEN
July/August 2012 • 93
Peter ChesWorth
Below—the international Boatbuiding training College (www.
ibtc.co.uk.) in lowestoft, england, just built the 23' 4" aleXan-
Dra shaCkleton, a replica of the JaMes CairD, now displayed
at Dulwich College, london. ernest shackleton and a crew of
five sailed the JaMes CairD from elephant island, antarctica, to
south georgia, in 1916. Modern adventurer tim Jarvis will be re-
enacting that voyage next year. see www.timjarvis.org.
hui Jiang
nat Wilson
he trimmed nutMeg with mahogany and made the tiller
from ash. this Paul Fisher 14' × 5' 9" design displaces 300
lbs. Joe sails nutMeg in the Potomac river in Washing-
ton, DC. Plans are available at www.selway-fisher.com.
94 • WoodenBoat 227
MAC SCHuEPPERT
Above— SHAMROCK III is a 1962, 17' 2" Thompson SeaLancer
recently restored by Keith Kolberg and Richie Hall at Yacht Resto-
rations in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. They reinforced the stringers
and replaced the transom, seats, deck, and windshield. Owners
Tom and Mac Schueppert replaced her motor and enjoy puttering
around Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
BROOKLIN BOAT YARD
JAN MASON
recently underwent an extensive refit at MFN Boat Works
in Palm Beach, Florida. This included adding a retractable
carbon-fiber keel/rudder and bowsprit, teak decks, four
watertight compartments, and a hinged carbon fiber mast; Above—After buying a used 14' Philip Rhodes–designed Bantam
and redesigning the cockpit seating and backrests. For in 2010, Steve Mason started a six-month restoration that included
more information, contact [email protected]. rebuilding the centerboard trunk, replacing the plywood sides,
adding wider rails, and building a new mast. He believes the boat
dates from the 1950s. MAGIC is 14' long, 5' 6" wide, and carries 125
sq ft of sail. Mason sails MAGIC in northwest Florida.
July/August 2012 • 95
Grommet Kits
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which include two-piece inserting die, punch, hardwood
block (base), 3 dozen solid brass grommets, and instructions.
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Dozen Extra Grommets: #835-083G $2.00
1/2˝ Kit #835-084 $32.95
Taper Drills Boxed Set Dozen Extra
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blunt-ended) drills with #835-084G
counter-sinks for #6, #8, $3.00
#10, #12, and #14 sized
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Hacking
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The blade is a
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#835-100 Ship Wt. 1 lb $24.95
BOOKS
Building, Design, Repair, Nautical History
Classic Classes
by Vanessa Bird
Packed with more than 150
designs, the focus is on the well-
known and still active class boats,
yet covers over 125 years of boat-
ing. Handsomely designed, color throughout, the book is divided into
three sections: Dinghy/Keelboats, Olympic, and Yacht classes. Entries
NEW! include profile drawing, photographs, basic specifications, background,
plans availability, class contact, and more. Plus there’s a sail insignia
guide, and an index. Author Vanessa Bird is a freelance writer and for-
mer Classic Boat magazine production editor, where she began this series.
She sails a 1933 Scottish lugger out of Chichester Harbor, in the south
of England. 160 pp., hardcover, 7-3/4” x 10” #325-152 $24.95
The WoodenBoat Store • Naskeag Road • PO Box 78 • Brooklin, Maine 04616 USA
See Us at the WoodenBoat Show
G.L. Watson
The Art and Science of Yacht Design
G.L. Watson: The Art and Science of Yacht Design, by
Martin Black. Published by Peggy Bawn Press, c/o
Copper Reed Studio, 94 Henry St., Limerick, Ireland;
www.peggybawnpress.com; 2011. 495 pp., hardcover,
89 Euros.
W
ho is the greatest of all yacht designers?
That question rolls through the mind dur-
ing moments of rest and speculation, such
as when nursing a beer in the company of other sailors,
or when reading the book under review here. The ques-
tion is impossible to answer. First, the pool is very large.
There are 525 biographies in the Encyclopedia of Yacht
Designers that Lucia del Sol Knight and Daniel Bruce
MacNaughton edited and W.W. Norton published in
2006. Some of those names are well known (at least to
some of us), but most of the people were, at best, one-
hit wonders. They might have benefited from the advice
that James A. McCurdy, a fine naval architect and a
multi-hit wonder, once offered a romantic fellow who
wanted to design boats for a living. Said Jim, “I would
advise having a good long talk with one’s investment
banker.”
When John Hattendorf asked me to be the yachting
editor of The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History, I up to the balcony of the New York Yacht Club’s model
addressed the “greatest designer” issue by waffling. The room and pointing out the half model of Watson’s 1891
history is long and diverse, with too many rating rules DORA , which in her profile, proportions, and name
and other idiosyncrasies for any one designer to be is a dead ringer for Olin’s 1930 DORADE . The fact is, for
king. I came up with a quartet of crown princes: George a period of some 75 or 80 years the ideal ocean racing
L. Watson, Nathanael G. Herreshoff, Olin Stephens, yacht was designed on the Watson model, with a deep
and, most recently, Bruce Farr, who developed the first keel derived from the ones he developed when he was
successful light-displacement boats of many sizes. Each just starting out in the 1870s, when external ballast was
took design as he found it and improved it. Sometimes extremely rare. With their deep lead, narrow beam, and
there were overlaps. Olin Stephens delighted in going large sail areas, these boats had the stability, low wetted
July/August 2012 • 99
VASA
A Swedish Warship
E
ver since her uppermost futtocks broke the sur-
face when she was raised from the bottom of
Stockholm Harbor in 1961, the warship VASA has
captivated the world. The 64-gun ship famously heeled
excessively in perfectly fair weather, took water through
her lower gunports, and sank less than a nautical mile
into her maiden voyage in 1628. VASA has been con-
served and examined for 50 years, and her story is no less
captivating today.
The analysis continues. Like many such discoveries
in nautical archaeology, the publication of findings has
seemed a long time in coming. The science is complicated
and time-consuming; the more significant the find, the
longer it takes, and VASA is among the largest. The first
volume of a long-antic-
ipated compilation,
VASA I: The Archaeology
of a Swedish Warship of
1628 was published
in 2006 (also avail-
able through Oxbow
Books), with three
more volumes yet to
come. In the mean-
Since 1790 the
half-hull has
W hen the artistry time, American archae-
ologist Fred Hocker,
becomes the mastery who is editing the series, has also produced a fine single-
been used to volume account of VASA for a general readership. VASA:
study hull design.
of form. A Swedish Warship fills a longstanding need.
Today it has become Those who will want—as I do—to know about the
a possession to be
arrangement of futtocks, the sequence of construction,
details of scantlings, and the fastening schedule, will
cherished a lifetime.
not find satisfaction in the new book. Those details are
For further details 9214 15th NW
more likely to come in subsequent volumes of the series,
please visit our Seattle, WA 98117 which will cover, in order, armaments, engineering, and
(206) 789-3713 onboard life. I’m especially watching and waiting for
web site.
www.halfhull.com that third volume.
Hocker’s new book is a fine presentation of the
ship and her history, cleanly written and well illus-
trated. He includes shipyard history in good detail.
Lake Pontchartrain Basin The section on early salvage is fascinating, and fore-
MaritiMe MuseuM shadows the complications of her eventual recovery.
presents the He draws extensively on historical documents, and
historical artworks and modern photographs of the
23nd Annual ship enhance his text. A multi-page foldout shows, in
mercifully large size, photographs of her spectacular
Wooden Boat Festival beakhead, with its lion figurehead, and of her tran-
som, where the most stunning examples of the ship’s
famous carvings reside. These are grave and serious
images of dark, monochrome wood. But archaeology
has also divined which areas were gilded and the com-
position of paints used for every one of VASA’s hun-
dreds of sculptures. More photos show close-up the
museum’s 1:10 scale model accurately painted to rep-
resent the colors of the original ship. It’s a gaudy spec-
Madisonville, tacle, by modern tastes—the ship was tarted up like
Louisiana the most raucous circus wagon or amusement park
carousel imaginable, with sculptures painted vibrant
Saturday & Sunday colors over a background as bright red as the worst
kind of lipstick.
October Hocker’s summation of the sinking is well informed
13 & 14, 2012 by primary-source documents ranging from confused
and contradictory construction contracts to inquest
For Boat Registration testimony. One fascinating detail, for example, is that
Information
Call 985-845-9200
before the ship left the dock, the captain had 30 men
run back and forth from side to side, which by itself
caused enough heeling that an admiral halted the dem-
Visit www.lpbmm.org or
onstration. “It is also clear that most of the participants
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information, Carolyn Schofield, The eRR itself will be August 4. Event 860–569–5948 or Charlie Raymond,
[email protected]. Sponsored information, Eggemoggin Reach Regatta, 413–562–8442. Bay State Woodies
by the MacKenzie Boat Club, 23 Rayfield P.O. Box 333, Brooklin, ME 04616; Chapter, Antique & Classic Boat Society,
Rd., Marshfield, MA 02050; 781–223– www.erregatta.com. www.baystatewoodies.org.
8014; www.mackenzieboatclub.com. 3–5 Antique Boat Show & Auction 17–19 Presque Isle Bay Messabout
28–29 Antique and Classic Boat Rendezvous Clayton, New York Erie, Pennsylvania
Mystic, Connecticut Now in its 48th year; view over 100 A TSCA Small Boat Festival with
A gathering at Mystic Seaport for antique boats exhibited dockside. presentations, fireworks, cardboard
restored classic boats built before Event information, Margaret Hummel, boat regatta, and more. The city’s
1965. Boat parade on Sunday. [email protected] at 315–686–4104. Celebrate erie festival is going on at
Event information, Mystic Seaport, 75 Sponsored by Antique Boat Museum, 750 the same time. Sponsored by Bayfront
Greenmanville Ave., P.O. Box 6000, Mary St., Clayton, NY 13624; 315–686– Center for Maritime Studies, 40 Holland
Mystic, CT 06355–0990; 860–572– 4104; www.abm.org. St., Erie, PA 16507; 814–456–4077;
0711; www.mysticseaport.org. www.bayfrontcenter.org.
3–5 Mahone Bay Pirate Festival and
28–29 Lake Winnipesaukee Antique and Regatta 2012 18 National Boat Building Challenge at
Classic Boat Show Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia Belfast Harbor Fest
Meredith, New Hampshire Children’s activities, skirmishes Belfast, Maine
At the town’s public docks. More than between pirate ships and more. Teams receive plans, building
100 boats on display. Event information, Sponsored by Mahone Bay Wooden materials, and workspace; and compete
Bill John, [email protected] or 603– Boat Festival, P.O. Box 609, Mahone for cash prizes. Event information, David
569–5824. Sponsored by New England Bay, NS, B0J 2E0, Canada; Crabiel, 207–322–5805. Belfast Harbor
Chapter, Antique & Classic Boat Society, www.mahonebayclassicboatfestival.org. Fest, P.O. Box 74, Belfast, ME 04915;
www.necacbs.org. www.belfastharborfest.com.
28–29 Lunenburg Wooden Boat Reunion 3–13 Up the Bay Chesapeake Bay Oyster
Buyboat 2012 Reunion Cruise 18–19 Antique and Classic Boat Show
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia Kingston, New York
Hosted by the Fisheries Museum Various Cities, Maryland
The cruise starts in Crisfield, Includes an in-water boat show, judging,
of the Atlantic. See marine trade and displays at the Hudson River
displays, demonstrations, and lots and visits the ports of Solomon
Island, Annapolis, Chester River, Maritime Museum. Event information,
of racing. Event information, Michael David Price, [email protected]. Sponsored
Higgins, [email protected]. Chestertown, and Rock Hall.
Event information, David Wright, by Hudson River Chapter, Antique &
To participate in the Reunion, Angela Classic Boat Society, www.acbshrc.com.
Saunders, [email protected]. Sponsored [email protected], or Kevin
by Lunenburg Wooden Boat Reunion, Flynn,[email protected]. Sponsored 18–19 Antique Marine engine exposition
B0J ZC0 P.O. Box 1363, Lunenburg, by Chesapeake Bay Buyboat Association, Mystic, Connecticut
NS, Canada; 902–634–4794; www. www.oysterbuyboats.com/cbba.html. A celebration of steam, gas, and
lunenburgwoodenboatreunion.com. 4 Naples Antique and Classic Boat Show diesel. Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville
Naples, Maine Ave., P.O. Box 6000, Mystic, CT
29 Red JACket Youth Sailing Regatta 06355–0990; 860–572–0711;
Rockland, Maine The 19th annual show on Naples
Causeway. Related events leading www.mysticseaport.org.
Young sailors from Penobscot Bay
sailing programs compete in races up to the show include Long Lake 25 Antique and Classic Boat Rendezvous
starting at 11:30 a.m. The public is and Sebago Lake cruises, and a Lake George, New York
welcome to watch the races and join benefit ride for Camp Sunshine. At the village docks. Event information,
the post-race barbecue. Hosted by The Event information, Jeff Murdock, 207– Tom Carmel, underwriterssurvey@verizon.
Apprenticeshop, 643 Main St., Rockland, 655–7510, mountainviewwoodies@gmail. net, 914–248–6413. Sponsored by
ME 04841; 207–594–1800; org. Sponsored by Mountainview Woodies Adirondack Chapter, Antique & Classic
www.apprenticeshop.org. Classic Boat Club of Maine, P.O. Box Boat Society, P.O. Box 1377, Clifton Park,
271, Naples, ME 04055; NY 12065.
29–4 NSSA Annual Schooner Race Week www.mountainviewwoodies.org.
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada 25–26 Antique and Classic Boat Festival
Start the week with the Heritage 4–5 Wooden Lightning Get together Salem, Massachusetts
Cup Schooner Race as part of the Syracuse, New York To be held at the Brewer Hawthorne
Lunenburg WoodenBoat Reunion, on Low-key racing exclusively for 19' Cove Marina, with classic boats of
July 28 and 29. Other races continue Lightnings built of wood. Restoration all kinds. Event information, Pat Wells,
through the week. Event information, help and ramp or hoist launching. Antique and Classic Boat Festival, 16
Nova Scotia Schooner Association, Hosted by the Onondaga Yacht Club. Preston Rd., Somerville, MA 02143; 617–
www.nsschooner.ca. Event information, Craig Thayer, 315– 666–8530; www.boatfestival.org.
882–6798. Sponsored by Wooden Lightning
31–August 1 Melville Marathon Get Together; www.lightningclass.org. 31–Sept. 3 Gloucester Schooner Festival
Mystic, Connecticut Gloucester, Massachusetts
A 24-hour reading of Moby-Dick 10–11 Lake Champlain Maritime Festival Historic schooners and replicas will
aboard the CHARLES W. MORGAN. and Antique and Classic Boat Show race on Saturday and Sunday, deck
To reserve a space, contact Central Burlington, Vermont tours, fireworks, and a parade of
Reservations at 860–572–5331. Mystic The festival is jointly sponsored by the sail. Sponsored by Cape Ann Chamber
Seaport, 75 Greenmanville Ave., P.O. Box Lake Champlain Antique & Classic of Commerce, 33 Commercial St.,
6000, Mystic, CT 06355–0990; Boat Society and the Lake Champlain Gloucester, MA 01930; 978–283–1601;
www.mysticseaport.org. Maritime Museum. Event information, www.capeannvacations.com/schooner.
Mike O’Brien, [email protected]
August or www.lcacbs. Lake Champlain Maritime September
Festival, 9 Taft St., Essex Junction,
1–4 eggemoggin Reach Regatta Week 1–7 Schooner Racing
VT 05452; 802–482–3313; www.
Castine, Camden, and Brooklin, Maine Gloucester and Provincetown,
lakechamplainmaritimefestival.com.
On Wednesday August 1, the Massachusetts
Castine Yacht Club will host a Fife 11 Baystate Woodies Boat Show Immediately following the Gloucester
Symposium. Feeder races start with Northampton, Massachusetts Schooner Festival, the Fishermen’s
the Castine Classic Yacht Race from At the Oxbow Marina on the Cup Race on September 4, starts in
Castine to Camden on August 2, Connecticut River. Judged show with Gloucester Harbor at noon and
and the Camden Feeder Race from river cruise, raffle, and barbecue. finishes in Provincetown. The Rhodes
Camden to Brooklin on August 3. Event information, John DeSousa, 19 Fishermen’s Series Races are on
September 5 and 6. The week finishes Door County Maritime Museum, 120 N. Antique & Classic Boat Association, 533
with the Long Point Schooner & Madison Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235; W. Grand Ave., Port Washington, WI
Yacht Race on September 7. Sponsored 920–743–5958; www.dcmm.org. 53074–2102; 262–284–3650.
by The Great Provincetown Schooner 4 Classic Boats on the Boardwalk
Race, 333 R. Commercial St., P.O. Box July Traverse City, Michigan
559, Provincetown, MA 02657; 508–487– Lots of classic boats on display at
SAIL; www.rovincetownschoonerrace.com. 6–8 Antique and Classic Boat Show
Gravenhurst, Ontario the Boardman River Boardwalk.
7–9 Shuffle Off to Buffalo Event information, Laura White,
Over 100 boats on public exhibit at
Buffalo, New York 517–669–2029, or [email protected].
Muskoka Wharf. Event information,
A judged antique and classic boat Sponsored by Water Wonderland Chapter,
Rita and Paul Adams at adamsfw@
show at the Buffalo Launch Club, Antique & Classic Boat Society, 2521
sympatico.ca. Sponsored by Antique &
Grand Island. Event information, Rich Chippendale Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49009;
Classic Boat Society, Toronto, P.O. Box
DeGlopper, [email protected] or www.wwcacbs.com.
675 Canada Post, 169 The Donway West,
716–-946–7246. Sponsored by Niagara
Don Mills, ON, M3C 2T8, Canada; 4 Boats at the Barns 2012
Frontier Chapter, Antique & Classic Boat
416–299–3311; www.acbs.ca. Hickory Corners and Richland, Michigan
Society; www.oldboatsbuffalo.org.
14 St. Clair Antique & Classic Boat Show Presentations at the Gilmore
8 Premiere Lake Quinsigamond Car Museum, then to the Gull
Antique & Classic Boat Show St. Clair, Michigan
In-water show on the St. Clair River Lake Country Club to launch
Worcester, Massachusetts the boats. Event information, www.
At the Regatta State Park. Hosted by at the Municipal Marina. Event
information, Patrick Chaps, 810–326– GilmoreCarMuseum.org or Chuck Nagy,
Regatta Point Community Sailing and Kalamazoo Antique Auto Restorers Club,
Bay State ACBS. Event information, Art 3575, or [email protected].
Sponsored by Michigan Chapter, Antique P.O. Box 532, Oshtemo, MI 49077; 269–
Rubino, 508–885–3400. Sponsored by Bay 373–2826, [email protected].
State Woodies Chapter, Antique & Classic & Classic Boat Society, www.michacbs.com.
Boat Society, www.baystatewoodies.org. 21 13th Annual Wooden Keels & Vintage 11 Ottawa International Antique and
Wheels Classic Boat Show and Cruise
8–9 2012 Traditional Sailing Craft Manotick, Ontario
National Regatta Indian Lake, Ohio
A non-judged classic boat and car Historic, antique, and classic boats
Solomons, Maryland will be on display alongside the Long
Annual model yacht regatta for show at Russells Point Harbor. Event
information, Jim Foeller, [email protected], Island Locks on the Rideau Canal.
vintage sailing model yachts. Event Event information, Ray Saunders, 613–
information, John Snow, U.S. Vintage or 614–325–0840. Sponsored by Indiana
Chapter, Antique & Classic Boat Society, 749–4396, or [email protected].
Model Yacht Group, 78 East Orchard St., Sponsored by Manotick Classic Boat Club,
Marblehead, MA 01945; 781–631–4203; www.indianaacbs.com
P.O. Box 948, Manotick, ON, K4M 1A8,
www.swcp.com/usvmyg. 21 Antique and Classic Boat Show Canada; www.manotickclassicboatclub.ca.
8–9 Antique and Classic Boat Show Clear Lake, Iowa
At the seawall in downtown Clear 11 Les Cheneaux Antique Wooden Boat
Tuckerton, New Jersey Show
The gathering of classic boats is co- Lake. Welcoming classic boats of all
types. Event information, Cary Diekema Hessel, Michigan
sponsored by the Tuckerton Seaport Combined with the Festival of
and the Philadelphia Chapter of the at 641–891–5615, cdbodyshop@yahoo.
com or Curt Gause at 515–264–1372, Arts, this judged show is one of the
Antique & Classic Boat Society. Event largest antique wooden boat shows
information, Tuckerton Seaport, P.O. [email protected]. Sponsored by Clear
Lake Chapter, Antique & Classic Boat in the nation. Event information, Les
Box 52, 120 West Main St., Tuckerton, Cheneaux Historical Association, P.O.
NJ 08087; 609–296–8868; Society, www.clearlakeacbs.org.
Box 301, 105 South Meridian Rd.,
www.tuckertonseaport.org. 22 Lakeside Wooden Boat Show Cedarville, MI 49719; 906–484–2821;
15 Barnegat Bay Antique and Classic Lakeside, Ohio www.lchistorical.org.
Boat Show This largely on-land show is held at
Point Pleasant, New Jersey the 1870s Hotel Lakeside overlooking 17–19 Lyman Boat Owners All Classics
A judged show at the New Jersey Lake Erie. In conjunction with the Weekend
Museum of Boating. Free admission Ohio Plein Air artists’ painting Huron, Ohio
and parking. Stu Sherk, 610–277–2121 competition. Mame Drackett, mame@ A family-friendly celebration of classic
or Bob O’Brien, 732–295–2072. drackett.cc. Sponsored by Lakeside Wooden boats and vintage cars at the Huron
Sponsored by Barnegat Bay Chapter, Boat Society, c/o 5805 Wahl Rd.,Vickery, Municipal Marina. In conjunction
Antique & Classic Boat Society, P.O. OH 43464; 419–684–9804; with the Great Lakes Wooden Sailboat
Box 143, Bay Head, NJ 08742. www.lakesidewoodenboatsociety.com. Society. Event information, Lyman Boat
Owners Association, P.O. Box 40052,
15 Short Ships Rowing Regatta 28 Lake Superior Wooden Boat Show Cleveland, OH 44140; 440–241–4290;
Rockland, Maine Superior, Wisconsin www.lboa.net.
The Apprenticeshop and Rockland Held at Barker’s Island Marina.
Community Sailing co-host these Free to the public. Event information, 18 Antique and Classic Boat Regatta
small-craft rowing races. Awards contact Doug George, 612–889–9142, Buckeye Lake, Ohio
ceremony follows race. Event [email protected]. Sponsored by The 34th Annual Antique & Classic
information, The Apprenticeshop, 643 Woodies on the Water, 345 Canal Park Boat Regatta welcomes all boats to
Main St., Rockland, ME 04841; 207– Dr., Duluth, MN 55802–2315; 218– this judged show. Event information,
594–1800; www.apprenticeshop.org. 722–7884. Chuck Wadley 740–929–9941. Sponsored
by Buckeye Lake Chapter, Antique &
CeNTRAL August Classic Boat Society, 5109 Northbank,
P.O. Box 867, Buckeye Lake, OH 43008;
Continuing through August 5 3–4 Madison Area Antique and Classic www.buckeyelakeyc.com.
Summer events at the Door County Boat Show 18 Pewaukee Lake Antique and Classic
Maritime Museum Madison, Wisconsin Boat Show
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Includes Friday boat cruise to Pewaukee Lake, Wisconsin
On July 4, a new exhibit, “The War Wisconsin state capitol and governor’s At Lakefront Park, along with a
of 1812: Naval Battle for the Great mansion. Event information, Mark waterfront art fair, classic cars, and
Lakes,” opens, continuing through Walters, 608–224–0815 or waltswoody@ children’s events. Event information, Wil
November. The 22nd Annual Classic charter.net; or Andy McCormick, 608– Vidal, 262–695–2994 or [email protected].
and Wooden Boat Festival takes place 222–0018, or andy@mccormicklumber. com. Sponsored by Glacier Lakes Chapter,
on August 4–5. Event information, com. Sponsored by Glacier Lakes Chapter, Antique & Classic Boat Association, 533
For more information on The Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc. www.acbs.org Phone: 315-686-2628 Email: [email protected]
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877–965–1800 or tarsmell.com.
Composite fasteners for:
No need to remove
Sawable, sandable, planeable, stainable
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W W W.DA BBLER SA ILS.COM—
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Box 235, Wicomico Church, VA,
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sails since 1977. Traditional sails a E XC E P T ION A L BRON Z E a nd order. Custom design and fabrication
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Dacron in stock. 1182 East Shore brackets; navigational lighting; Tuf- U.S., state, foreign, historical, marine,
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ball bearings and 1 ⁄2" fastening cen- craftboats.com. Toll-free phone:
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white oak (Quercus alba), up to 50'
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H AV EN 12 1⁄ 2 , NEW—Joel W hite
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KAThY BrAY
ndine lies afloat in Palatka, Florida, all rigged with slightly larger
and nearly ready to go. She’s been cared for by frames, kerfed and
the same owner for over 40 years, but his health and riveted. Besides need-
age require that this double-ended, Colin Archer–type ing new frames, this boat
cruiser be passed on. Although she’s been idle for has a rotted trunk cabin and few floor timbers that also
about three years, her sheathed, cedar-planked hull require renewal. her planking looks good, her sheer
should be worm-free, and according to her owner, her is fair, and her main deck has been sheathed in fiber-
upperworks have but two small areas of rot that need glass and is watertight. She’s afloat and rigged, and her
attention. (She was completely rebuilt in 1978, given a varnished spars look fine. She’s really quite origi-
new deck in 1983, and her hull was splined and epoxy- nal and complete, still having all her custom bronze
and-dynel sheathed in 1993.) hardware, so would
Like the other Atkin ingrids, Ondine was origi- make a great resto-
POcahOntas
nally a ketch, but her present owner converted her to Particulars ration candidate. At
a cutter, which among other things involved relocat- LOA 30' 6" under $5,000, she’s
ing the new mast farther aft. You can check out her Beam 6' 6" a bargain.
design (except for the rig) on the Atkin website. The draft 4' 6"
Sail area 312 sq ft For more information or
equipment list is long and includes usable sails, abun- to view the boat, contact
displacement 4,775 lbs
dant ground tackle, a sailing dinghy, and a couple of designed by W. Starling Burgess Chuck McGhinnis, Delta-
inflatables. Photographs indicate that Ondine has Built by Quincy Adams Yacht Yard, ville (Virginia) Maritime
been well cared for. She’s not free like some of the Quincy, MA, 1945 Museum, 804–776–7200
previous boats i’ve featured, but the asking price is or 804–694–6449 (cell).
reasonable.
A
City, FL 32112. nd, finally, here’s a late arrival that’s in immediate jeopardy: South
Street Seaport Museum in new York City is actively seeking a good
Ondine home for the 1932 chandlery
Particulars lighter MAriOn M, 62' LOA ,
LOA 37' 6" 22' beam, 5' draft. The museum
LWL 30' acquired her for service as a
Beam 11' 4" passenger vessel, a duty she could
draft 5' 6"
yet perform after significant
displacement 25,000 lbs
Power 36-hp Volvo Md3B diesel
repairs and certification.
designed by William Atkin Contact Capt. Jonathan Boulware,
Built in nova Scotia by an unknown
builder, 1954
waterfront director, 212–748–8772
or [email protected].