Another Review: Greatland Laser’s Rescue Flares

On January 12, 2015March 13, 2016 By eebe4In UncategorizedLeave a comment

I’ve had yet another opportunity to write for Small Boats Monthly. This month’s issue has my article reviewing some very impressive electronic laser “flares”. Any coastal or offshore sailor should consider these intense directed lights.

Small Boats’ Photo of the flares

Demonstrating the sighting of the flare.

“Keeping a Rescue Laser Flare tethered to your life jacket and at the ready would provide a brilliant, distinctive, and long-lasting emergency signal, a great addition to your survival gear.”

Annie – A Drascombe Lugger

On September 28, 2014February 28, 2016 By eebe4In UncategorizedLeave a comment

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to sail with new boat pal Curt Bowman in his Drascombe Lugger “Annie”. His boat is a cousin to the Webb Chiles open boat he crossed oceans in. I remember attending a talk years ago in Norfolk where Webb presented his journeys crossing the Pacific in “Chidicock Tichborne”. His talk made an impression on me then and no doubt was a contributor to my desires to build “Una”. I was struck by the range of adventure that could be had in a small boat. While I’ve no desire to replicate his journeys, I do appreciate the independence and reward of traveling in a small boat.

Dodger with a view toward Urbanna

Curt’s boat has lots of details to make her a good solo boat. She was built in Maine by a licensed builder (you apparently cannot obtain plans from the English designer). Curt had a very function cuddy added for “Annie”. From details to color to shear, she is a fine little ship.

Comfortable cuddy

A surprising amount of room.

All in all it was a delightful sail on the Rappahannock. Thanks for the experience and conversation Curt!

The proud skipper.

The Sailing Life Well Blogged

On July 6, 2014February 28, 2016 By eebe4In UncategorizedLeave a comment

Since I’m maybe one more post (1 week) from completion of this Sooty Tern, I thought I’d point out a couple local sailors who have, perhaps unknowingly, kept the dream going for me at times when the build became drudgery. On more than one occasion I’ve hit a wall and an email notified me of a new post from either of these guys. A quick read got me realizing I wanted to be where they were doing what they were doing. For those who follow blogs on small boat cruising, these two perhaps are not news. Both sail in my home waters, the Chesapeake. Both have boats of comparable “Sooty” size. And both have a real camera eye and the ability to tell a tale (I’m guessing mostly based on truth).

The first is Curt Bowman. His blog is Thin Water Annie. His boat is a wood built Drabscombe Coaster from Maine. Actually, he came by for a visit just last week to peak at my boat’s progress. He’s a very good chap. Curt also paints and is an accomplished artist. Here is a “self portrait” of him with his boat.

Curt and Annie.

The second blogger is Steve Early. He and his boat “Spartina” spend more time exploring the shores of the Chesapeake and Pamlico Sound than anyone I know. Spartina is a home-built John Welsford design called a Pathfinder. His blog is The Log of Spartina. Steve has a career in photography and his entries are always entertaining and wonderfully pictured. I’ve yet to meet Steve, but I know people who regularly spy Spartina sailing across the waterfront in Norfolk. I’ll catch him one of these days … soon.

Spartina at rest.

I truly appreciate the stories these fellows share. Their enjoyment of sailing is a journey and I aspire to have such simple, real, and pure adventures they regularly log. Thank you guys.

Brooklin, Maine (aka Boat Heaven)

On May 22, 2014March 1, 2016 By eebe4In UncategorizedLeave a comment

The boat progresses. The foils are being glassed and the interior is getting a coat of epoxy. There are loads of small details I won’t get into. I just wanted to post a few pics from the weekend. After Friday night seats at Fenway, my middle son and I rented a car and headed north. We saw beautiful boats in Rockport, Camden, and Belfast. We lingered longest in Brooklin, Maine where the Wooden Boat School resides and where Doug Hylan has a boatyard. Here are a few images.

Belfast- French & Webb renovation.

Camden schooner.

Boston- Rose.

Cape Dory.

12 1/2

Camden schooner.

Awaiting sponsors.

Ultralite canoe.

Cedar stack.

Carvel and steamed ribs.

Rozinante.

Old and new.

A Sailing Respite

On April 19, 2014March 1, 2016 By eebe4In Beneteau First 42, Emily's Grace, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Sooty Tern sat alone for a good week while I took my 2 younger boys for a first sail of the season with Emily’s Grace. The weather was a mixed bag. Fantastic for 2, rain and blowing for 2, and finally sun and blowing. Not quite the idyllic run of days the weatherman had predicted last week, but even a bad day sailing … (you know the rest).

A break from routine and turning away from winter was rejuvenating. Here is a different way to wake up:

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With southerly breezes we jumped from Mobjack to Poquoson and on to Norfolk.

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Then the fair temps and sunshine stopped. With the edge of a front due to force the winds northerly, we decided to ride a gale back north in the rain. The thought of a cold bash to windward home and a rolling Norfolk harbor persuaded us to go. Winds stayed 20-25 and gusted to 30-35. With just the jib flying and a following tide we escorted a large tanker from downtown to Sewell’s Point. There the ship rounded east, got up her steam, and shot past forts Wool and Monroe. By the time we reached them, the tanker had dissolved in the rain. Hugging the western shore to avoid the seas, we were back in Mobjack Bay in a few hours and reached far up the East River to drop anchor in Woodas Creek.

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An hour later the winds veered 180 degrees to the north pushing gusts to 35 kts. Cold and wet, but with a sense of accomplishment, a warm dry cabin was welcomed.

Chesapeake Deadrise Build

On December 27, 2013February 28, 2016 By eebe4In UncategorizedLeave a comment

East River – Mobjack Bay

In St. Michaels Chesapeake Bay Museum

The watermen on the Bay have some of the most elegant vessels which, in many cases, are build by themselves though now perhaps not so much. The Mariner’s Museum in Newport News, Va did capture one such build all done by eye, no plans. Amazing really.

See here:

Billy Moore: Chesapeake Boatbuilder

Sparkling Diversions- Fall on the Chesapeake

On October 26, 2013March 1, 2016 By eebe4In Beneteau First 42, Emily's Grace, Uncategorized3 Comments

The Sooty progress has been nil of late. The food and shelter thing keeps pressing its demands. However, I was able to steal away a week to journey on my favorite bay and thought I’d share some photos and a last day video as some recompense for build regression.

Reaching homeward.

I do believe this is my favorite time of the year for boating. The air is crisp. The light quality is brilliant. The wind generally fair and, of course, there are those colors. Add to that the passing of Labor Day turns off the traffic of other boaters and quaint towns along coast can once again hint at a long ago charm. Without brash tourists at every turn, the less frequent sailor is now welcomed.

Sunday afternoon.

Sunday evening.

Monday morning.

My father once said power boating is about points “A” and “B”. Sailing is about the journey in between. While I heartedly agree, there were a couple “points” where we lingered and just enjoyed the world. One was the town of Onancock on the Eastern Shore and the other, Reedville on the western shore’s Great Wicomico. Both seem to be hanging in limbo. Steamboat ferries and oyster boom days are long gone. Far too many outsiders have moved in, but thankfully the boutique rabble had gone with the summer. What is left is a genuine charm and proud history for any who’d slow down to take notice.

The replica “Godspeed” at Onancock’s wharf.

Some late afternoon essentials on the Occohannock Creek.

A Reedville Captains home. Classic form.

Lovely skiff details.

Scenery on Cockrell Creek.

Reedville’s landmarks.

Part of Reedville’s (Fleeton’s) menhaden fleet.

Hard workers of the menhaden fleet.

Our neighbors in Reedville.

Me first matey. None better.

So, there you have it, just a taste of a poorly photographed week, but perhaps you get a hint of the beauty experienced. I leave you with a portion of our last sail home. Enjoy!

//www.youtube.com/get_player

The Cup!! and Mast Building

On September 25, 2013October 7, 2016 By eebe4In Sooty Tern, UNA build & projects, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Well, first a big “Hurrah!” Well done Team Oracle USA. What an amazing spectacle. From being almost out at 8-1 (including a 2 race penalty from pretrials?!), they won 8 straight. Magnificent duel in flying machines.

Back to a more “primitive” boat and building: no carbon so far.

The main yard and mizzen mast birdsmouth spars were lead ups to the “biggie”, main mast. The practice was needed and I believe it paid off. While all spars need the final sanding, they have been 16 sided for that step. The other steps were:

for the 16′-10″ spar 8 staves were cut on the table saw out of a 5/4x6x18′ douglas fir board. Stave width, height, and taper were derived from Duckworks’ Calculator Program.

ganged together the staves were then tapered with a jack plane. Some sort of jig using either the table or circular saw would have been quicker, but I wanted to sneak up on the final taper. I also like planing.

a thin coat of epoxy was painted onto what would be the interior face of the staves.

then thickened epoxy was brushed onto the “beaks” of the staves.

the base octagonal plug with feathered or crowned ends was inserted between the staves and actually aided in the glue up.

a second pair of hands helps tighten zip ties every 4-6″.

I spent perhaps an hour confirming the straightness of the glued and zipped spar. A tight string run over the mast proved very helpful toward keeping things true. For something larger I’d want to make a more exacting jig to hold everything true.

I left the setup overnight. Cut the ties this morning.

Abstract No. 2

Knocked the stave edges to 8 sides. With a spar jig turned that to 16 sides. Those residual corners were hit lightly with the plane.

Almost 17′ and, thankfully, true.

Sap streaks I had intended to turn in, but didn’t catch it.

8 sided cherry plug.

Overall. Final base plug yet to be added.

I almost forgot to add that I had estimated the weight of this spar to be 22 lbs. The unsanded/ unfinished spar is 19 lbs. 4 oz. On target!
And so, sanding remains to suit for finish. I haven’t decided on this method: drill with drum, sanding longboards, or hand sanding by “shoe shine” with a sanding belt. Perhaps all of the above? I’d like to figure a simple way to rotate the mast like a lathe. We’ll see … I now need a boat for these sticks.

What’s Next?

On September 18, 2013February 28, 2016 By eebe4In Uncategorized3 Comments

With the kayak done and Summer temps winding down, I decided to construct another boat. This is actually the end of a rather meandering path of fitful beginnings without any starts. For several years now the idea of sailing an open boat closer to shore for extended days has poked and prodded for my attention.

For this type of cruising, there are many suitable boats. Not all are a suitable builds and not all evoke the perhaps romantic notion of slipping along a reedy creek on some crisp Fall afternoon. For countless hours I’ve dreamed and studied this design or that building method. A library now resides in the upstairs hall dedicated to this pursuit. However, if I had to pinpoint the initial spark, it likely came when I stumbled upon Ross Lillistone’s “Periwinkle”, a cat ketch with balanced lugs (video here). She has that historical reference, yet with new construction techniques is a fresh original.

Lillistone’s “Periwinkle”

Not long after, research turned up another boat from down under, Mickey Floyd’s “Salty Heaven”.
Say what you will about the name, this yawl lugger’s workboat lines make her a beauty.

Floyd’s own “Salty Heaven”

Somehow the New Jersey gunning skiff dropped in there most likely due to Barry Long’s exquisite “twins” he crafted in his basement (video). These got my longest attention, but ultimately they lacked the volume I hoped for to take 2 or 3 sailing. His blog Marginalia is a great history of his builds.

Long’s Melonseed “Aeon”

The long search and dragging of feet ended with a double ended balanced lug yawl by Iain Oughtred called the “Sooty Tern”. Perhaps his 100th design, she is the inheritor of a long evolution of his yawls. Details are here (Sooty Tern). Max Filusch has one of the best sets of photos of this boat. This blog’s current background photo is one of his. Here’s another:

Max’s “Sooty”

Oughtred’s designs are some of the most built boats out there. With a large following, resources abound on WoodenBoat Forum. For that matter, any wooden boat of note is virtually catalogued there. Sooty fits the bill. With a nod toward history, an evolution of ideas, and simplicity of design, this boat proves to answer a dream …