on hard work smart sailing and how the two dont belong in the same sentence

How mystery meat just became a whole lot more mysterious, a quick primer on inequality, and nope no problem here...

Theres an opinion held by a great many that sailing is really hard work and judging by the way some people talk and outfit their boats you might even begin to believe it.

I dont.

The thing is, Im the first to admit that Im a pretty lazy guy. Its not so much that Im against hard work in a good cause but hard work for the sake of hard work when its not needful just isnt smart. Or to be a little bit clearer... Seriously dumb.

A well-designed boat should not involve a lot of hard work to sail it and, if youre having a hard time, there is a goodly chance that you have simply set the boat up badly, not sailing the boat correctly, or just doing something stupid.

By all means call me opinionated...

There is an excellent little video over at Off Center Harbor (you really do need to subscribe) showing a guy single handing his schooner in a no-muss-no-fuss-trauma-free fashion that shows just how easy sailing could be when you let the boat do most of the donkey work and keep things simple.

Listening to some Americana raga

So it goes...

Read More..

Isla Isabel to Mazatlan

The Honcho departed Isla Isabel in the late afternoon heading in a northerly direction toward Mazatlan on starboard tack. Almost as soon as we cleared the island the wind piped up to about 20 knots so we put a reef in the main and had a nice sail for about 40 miles. Around midnight we were about 3 miles off the beach just north of Teacapan and tacked to port.  This put us on on a course of due west and we got a taste of punching into the short, steep waves common to this area... a fairly bumpy ride. By 0100 the wind had settled down a bit and shifted so we were able to tack once again an sail a course nearly directly toward Mazatlan. Just before the moon rose at about 0330, the wind died completely and we motored the last 35 miles to the city, coming to anchor in the lee of Isla Piedra with about ten feet of water under our keel. The distance traveled from Isabel was about 90 miles. This is a well protected anchorage and we secured the boat and slept for a few hours.

Later that day we went ashore in the dinghy and walked down the beach a mile or so, looking at dozens of deserted beachfront palapa restaurants. We finally found one that looked open and wandered in. I asked why all the palapas were deserted and the waiter said this beach used to be very busy until a few weeks ago, when the cruise ships stopped calling at Mazatlan. There has apparently been enough drug cartel related violence to cause them to suspend calling at this port until they get a better handle on security here. Mexicans say its Americas fault, because if the demand for drugs in the US didnt exist, Mexico wouldnt have a drug war on its hands. Either way, the mahi mahi tacos were excellent, the service good and the Pacificos were frosty. Speaking of frosty, weve been in temperatures that ranged from the 70s to 90s day and night for the last three months. Here the highs are in the mid 70s and low last night was 51. Weve had to bundle up in fleece at night for the first time since leaving Long Beach.

The next day we went out to Isla de los Chivos and hiked to the top of the island. The views of the city and surrounding countryside were beautiful. Chivo is Spanish for kid, or young goat, and we got lots of pictures of the feral goats that live on this craggy little island.

After a couple of days in the peaceful tranquility of the anchorage, we got the anchor up and sailed around the west side of the city and took a berth in Marina Mazatlan, where well stay a couple weeks and explore the city and surrounding area.

The volcanic rocks around Isla Isabel. This one is called Isleo Mona Mayor

Looking east from the top of Isla de los Chivos toward Isla Cardones

A deeply laden purse seiner enters the harbor.

It looks like the goat is in the tree but hes not.

A chivo surveys the rocky path below.

This little guy seemed happy to pose for the camera.

Itty bitty chivo hooves

Read More..

Fleet launched

Fleet has had her launching day, and so far the performance report has been very satisfactory. Launching was said to have been as hectic as such occasions usually end up being, and the owner/builder thinks that at least thirty people had a go in the boat.

The engine used was a brand-new-out-of-the-box Suzuki 6hp four-stroke, and it was able to get the boat onto what felt like a plane with three heavy adults aboard. As there was no GPS available, accurate speeds were not recorded. As hoped, the ride was very smooth in a chop and through boat wakes, but there was no opportunity to get out into the ocean waves outside. What I find very satisfying is that the boat trimmed nicely when throttled back somewhat and remained dry throughout the tested speed range.

Tight turns at speed were stable and predictable.

Due to the business of the day, organised photography was not carried out, but here are a few snap shots. We plan to carry out more serious testing with 2.5hp, 4hp, 6hp, 9.8hp and oars.

A good view of the general proportions

Trim at rest with two adult men aboard

Running with the weight of two adults, under the urge of a new (and therefore tight) 6hp four-stroke Suzuki

Read More..

Developing the Calendar Islands Yawl Daysailer

Be part of the Calendar Islands Yawl project this winter

Calendar Islands Yawl daysailer

New design

the brief:

      Hull above will be modified to create more of a daysailer hull form with ample freeboard and some deadrise for choppy water. Narrow flat bottom will be retained for beaching.

�         Capacity will be up to 4 people maybe 5

�         Loa ~18�8� x ~6�6�

�         Weight estimate ~200lbs

�         Plywood stitch and glue bottom and lapstrake topsides 9mm ply

�         Large foredeck with coaming and high bow make it a dry boat

�         Lug-awl rig or gunter-sloop configurations w/ centerboard

�         Auxiliary power by oars or small OB motor

�         Interior layout with side benching and a thwart across to stabilize cb trunk and provide a spot to row from

�         Motor well aft, 2.5-4hp

�         Side benches aft and forward compartment provide positive flotation

      The idea is to find an interested group of people to help fund this work. If you are interested in having a fantastic daysailer that you can have an influence in the design, please email me at boatkits@gmail.com

Read More..

Early Summer 2015

Early Summer Activities and Updates

Prep, prep, prep!

Mostly my work focuses on watching four Deblois Street Dories getting finished, one of which has hit the water. Compass Project's Dory launched successfully with a a bunch of excited students who helped build her. Compass is looking for another big project commission to use in their work with at-risk youth.

2015 Compass Project launch of the DSD.

I am busily preparing the cutting of more Echo Bay Dory Skiff kits which will be built in Maine. This is the very latest version of the Skiff and any tweaks in the design demand a lot of attention to make sure all the details get done correctly. Those files are done and ready for more customers. It is hard to believe over 30 Echo Bay's have been built now!

Also in the works are the files for cutting the first ever St Lawrence River Skiff kit for the Bain & Co. Annie model. I am back in the computer model after quarter scale modeling the hull.

Quarter Scale Model of the St. Lawrence River Skiff, Annie to be built at ABM in an August 10th workshop.

Here is the information for my workshop in August. Spread the word! Contact me for more info.

NEW! St. Lawrence River Skiff Building

Clint Chase, an instructor at the WoodenBoat School, The Landing School, and The Compass Project, will teach how to build a St. Lawrence River Skiff. This boat is plywood and strip-composite constructed. One kit will be built in the class and raffled off to one student on Saturday. The boat will have some finish work to still be completed by the raffle winner.  Participants must register by July 27 to make sure the class will run.  For more information about the boat visit: clintchaseboatbuilder.blogspot.com/p/st-lawrence-river-skiffs.html

Instructor: Clint Chase

Session 1: August 10� 15, 9 AM- 5 PM

Tuition: $1000

Read More..

Updates and Launches

I'm slowly updating the webpages on the blog. In the meantime, three Deblois Street Dories are slated to launch in the next several weeks, including two in Maine and one by a woman who teaches college Geology in Indiana. The first Drake19 rowboat will launch midsummer. I will do sea trials with Walter Baron, the builder. An Echo Bay or two should launch. And a Caravelle sailing skiff will also launch this season. Lots of activity!

Read More..

My Favorite little boat

The Echo Bay Dory Skiff

I recently built another quarter scale model of the EBDS as part of an eventual workshop. Unlike my first model of the boat, which was just hull panels stitched together to check the lines, this one is a full build; all parts are scaled down to one quarter size. Additionally, the rig was modeled. It was fun to build I have a nice addition to my living room space!

Echo Bay quarter scale model with sprit rig

Boothbay High School students are making progress on their second EBDS build from plans and full size patterns. These two boats they built were actually the first ones of the MkIV version of the boat. Their first boat was sold to a couple in Gardiner and the second one will also be auctioned off.

Boothbay Regional HS students' build as of April 2015

The Echo Bay Dory Skiff is about as much fun as I have ever had in a 12' boat. It sails and rows beautifully, weights just over 80lbs, and can be built within a week from a kit with two people, I miss my skiff but will build another!

EBDS at rest in Mystic, CT.

Read More..