Fits and Starts

Perhaps smoldering best describes my infatuation with this “next boat”. Yes, it could be added to what’s becoming a long list. Some entries sparked. A few smoked long enough to produce half hulls. Others inspired a gathering of materials. And a couple even made it to the lofting floor. This one however has persisted and demands more. She currently has a set of finished spars hanging in the garage, foils and centerboard case reside on the bench and enough milled Atlantic Cedar for a hull rest in the shed. Pictured above is “Next’s” half hull prompting for clear garage space for lofting. Fingers are crossed. This is getting serious. Last week I installed a garage ceiling heater. Hmmm.

A little background: Near six years ago Off Center Harbor offered a video of Skorri, a 16’ centerboard sloop designed by Paul Gartside . Another double ender! Rob Denny of British Columbia had beautifully rendered Paul’s plan #165 accented with Rob’s added cuddy. Struck immediately, I contacted Rob within days of viewing his craftsmanship. Since then, he has humored me with many emailed replies. What a kind fellow.

So much of his Skorri reminded me of the prettiest thing I’ve ever owned, Luna, my L. Francis Herreshoff “Rozinante”. I parted with her in 2019 after 3 years of cruising her, but family, work and house renovations demanded attention away from that fine boat and she needed a better steward. Luna remains the finest Rozinante I have seen. It is all in the details and Luna had them all as Francis intended. I still hope to cross paths with her again, when life gets freer …

Back to Skorri. She stirred wonderful memories of Luna: her shape, grace, patina and scent of cedar. I reviewed the video now countless times. Her builder continued to email encouragement. After a year of pestering him, I bothered Mr. Gartside to see if he’d draw a 19’ version for me. With some back and forth, our answer appeared in WaterCraft issue 150 for December 2021 as design #257. Interestingly, in short order Paul designed a close 14′ sister #260, “Skraeling”. She’s shown blasting along WoodenBoat’s July 2023 cover. Recognizing a “pinup” of sorts, the magazine’s design editor Mike O’Brien reviewed our boat in September’s 2025 issue. And guess who is featured in Paul’s latest anthology, Volume III. Yep, this boat without a name.

I’ve no idea how many plans have been purchased thus far. Paul says the boat has driven quite a bit of interest. Obviously, I’m besotted. She has my attention. Last winter I made this model to study the hull’s volume.

So, we have a start. Several weeks have been invested this past Spring and Fall fabricating boat pieces. I feel like we’re building backwards. Are we 20% done? Now we only need a hull.

On December 14, 2025 By eebe4In 1/2 Hull Models, Wood Things8 Comments

10 Years After

“I’d love to change the world, but I don’t know what to do.”- 10 Years

Know that one? A tune can really yank you back in time. That summer I shared a Turnabout dinghy (aka a National 10) with David. We were 10 years old, took sailing class, but more often then not skipped out on the lessons part. His older brother Paul had a baby blue van with a prized Easy Boy in back with shag carpet floor. D and I would wrestle for that seat for the ride home. Why would you want shotgun? Of course there was an 8-track player and Paul had the music: Argent, the Guess Who, Creedance to name a few.

“I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?”- Creedence

Paul had the look of a long haired hippie. Gentle guy. Think Gregg Allman. Not sure if good Paul subscribed to the movement, but I suspected he knew something was happening. We were brats at times. He put up with it. Can’t leave out D’s brother Charlie. His white van had a large American flag on the side. No chair or carpet as I recall. He did keep us in check better. We knew better than to push his buttons too far. Not sure about Paul, but Charlie went on to med school. David was lucky to have them both.

“Cause it’s a good life, too hard to lose.”- 10 Years

Well, that’s a bit off track. My daughter sent this post of hers from almost 10 years ago. That was UNA’s first season and we had taken her for her first overnight. Even behind Milford Haven’s barrier beaches it was a rolling bucking night at anchor. I had given my girl the cockpit and stuffed my little frame into the bow. Morning couldn’t come soon enough though I recall many shooting stars.

My daughter is an original, a good one. UNA has been a good boat. So, here we are, 10 years after.

“And if it’s bad, don’t let them get you down, you can take it.” -Argent

On June 26, 2024 By eebe4In Sooty Tern, UNA sailing4 Comments

Water and Windows

UNA has been sailing for 10 seasons since that “leaky” maiden trip. Back then I had planned on tent windows, but didn’t put them in. There have been windy nights I’ve reluctantly stuck my head out in the driving rain to confirm the anchor’s hold.

Yesterday I put those windows in. I followed Sailrite’s video. I confess I was only partially successful. Sewing remains a mystery to me. Perhaps it is mostly a lack of patience? In any event the task is done. I believe the wrinkles in the ports are largely due to the stretchiness of the WeatherMax fabric. I did not cut the fabric until after the window and backing were sewn in. While it is lighter than Sunbrella, I’m not sure I can recommend it. Maybe this is all a dry run. I must say even without the mizzen deployed, the boat and tent weathervane quite well even without the bow canvass, the tent stands up to 40+ mph winds. I’ve yet to have a midnight fire drill with it.

UNA is now back in the garage. Putting lead in the centerboard and a road cover are the next projects in line. 10 years should be plenty of time to complete them.