20 minute read
Broker’s Best
BY RANDY WOODS
2007 Vicem 58 Flybridge
Available from Worth Avenue Yachts, this classic Downeast motor yacht is well suited for entertaining, extended cruising, and casual day cruises.
Newly available on the West Coast from Worth Avenue Yachts, the 2007 Vicem 58 Flybridge known as CHIN CHIN is certainly easy on the eyes and rides like a dream. Boarding her from the stern, you will find a large hydraulic platform outfitted for a tender or jet ski. To starboard is a boarding gate that opens to the spacious teak cockpit perfect for outdoor entertaining, with new upholstered seating, under seat storage, built-in ice maker, and elegant new teak inlaid table. Powered by twin MAN CR diesel inboard engines, the Vicem 58 cruiser lets a combined 1,800 horses take her up to 22-25 mph. Sidepower bow and stern thrusters (125T) give it maneuverability, while BCS hydraulic power steering makes piloting a snap. The boat also has an Onan/Kohler generator, a Lofrans windlass, Sealand macerator and grey water discharge pumps, and a Newmar battery charger. At the helm, CHIN CHIN is guided with a suite of Raymarine equipment, such as a GPS E120-KW radar, VHF 240, and a bi-data ST60 depth/speed sensor. Other helm features include an XM Weather system, a custom Rosewood Electrical panel, a magnetic compass, Speich windshield wipers, Hella navigational lights, and a custom teak wheel. Entering the salon, you’ll find a large sofa with beautifully custom upholstery. Custom matching side chairs provide additional seating. A desk on the port side provides a convenient reading, work, or navigation space. All new Hunter Douglas shades in the salon provide sun protection and privacy. For entertainment, the salon includes a 32” flat screen TV and a Bose Lifestyle 48 entertainment system. The open air flybridge is perfect for entertaining, with cushioned settee seating and bar area with a sink. A curved staircase leads from the flybridge to the aft deck, which features that aforementioned generous 60” swim platform and another wide settee with Sunbrella exterior upholstery. Other deck equipment includes a custom-made stainless steel anchor, four sets of nylon ropes, and six fenders. The master stateroom at the bow has an island centerline berth and an electric Tecma head with shower, while the guest berth includes two double beds. Another shower can be accessed in the cockpit. Light and ventilation is supplied via Lewmar/Bomar size-60 hatches and stainless steel Schmitt portholes.
Specs & Info
LOA 58’ Beam 17’ Draft 4’5” Tankage (Fuel/Fresh/Black) 1,000 gal. / 220 gal. / 120 gal.
Engines
Two 1,000HP Caterpillar C12.9s
Contact
Worth Avenue Yachts West Coast Locations in Seattle, Newport & San Diego (Boat Currently Lying in CA) Harold Kleiderman 415.298.6293 harold@worthavenueyachts.com worthavenueyachts.com
BROKER’S BEST
BY RANDY WOODS
Specs & Info
LOA 74’4” Beam 18’10” Min. Draft 5’2”
Tankage (Fuel/Fresh/Black)
2,050 gal. / 400 gal. / 150 gal.
Engines
Twin Caterpillar C-18 Diesel Inboard
Contact
Hampton Yacht Group Seattle, WA Robert Fiala 425.765.7850 robert@hamptonyachtgroup.com hamptonyachtgroup.com
2017 Hampton Endurance 720
Striking and sophisticated, comfortable and airy: This 2017 Endurance 720 now on hand at Hampton Yacht Group has plenty of room to play.
Built in 2017, this striking Endurance 720 LRC Sky Lounge boasts three staterooms with three en suite heads and crew quarters, plus plenty of room for on-the-water socializing and entertainment. The Sky Lounge and pilothouse have commanding views from all angles, thanks to the large, frameless windows and a Webasto electric sunroof. The combined area can be totally enclosed or open aft to access the boat deck. With twin Caterpillar C-18 diesel inboard engines producing a combined total of 2,272 hp, the Far Niente can achieve a top cruising speed of 20-plus knots. The Seatorque propulsion system and 12-square-foot TRAC stabilizer fins give the 720 a smooth ride, while the ABT 33-hp hydraulic variable-speed bow and stern thrusters provide precise control. Four pop-up wing stations, located on both sides, fore and aft, allow boaters to make thruster maneuvers from several vantage points. The helm station, with two Pompanette Platinum Series chairs, features a suite of Garmin products, including 7215 series radar, chart plotter, touchscreen monitor, and autopilot. The comfortable, airy salon includes an upholstered L-shaped settee and other moveable chairs. The entertainment system, stored in a recessed cabinet, includes a 49” LED HDTV with Bose Lifestyle surround sound system. A nearby built-in bar, with custom cherrywood paneling in a high-gloss finish, includes a U-Line icemaker, a wine cooler, a Miele coffee maker, and a Novakool refrigerator. In the forward main deck, the open galley layout provides an unobstructed view to the aft deck settee. Granite countertops and heated granite floors add a touch of elegance, with a large sink, a Grohe single-lever faucet, and a serving bar with bar stools. Other appliances include GE electric four-burner cook top, oven, microwave, and dishwasher. Up to eight people can be served on the cherry table in the adjacent dining area. Belowdecks, the full-beam master stateroom boasts a king-size bed with underneath storage, a walk-in closet, and an en suite head with a granite countertop and Corian shower stall. The berth also includes a port-side bureau, a starboard-side cherry vanity, a 40” LED TV, a stereo CD/DVD player, and a dimmer switch controls the LED overhead and indirect lighting. The VIP stateroom layout has an island berth, a 26” LED TV, a cedar-lined hanging locker, and a skylight with Ocean-Air screens. The VIP en suite head has a cherry vanity, an FRP-molded shower stall with a bench seat, and a granite countertop, while the guest stateroom has a custom bed, a nightstand, a 20” LED TV and a stereo CD/DVD player.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON IS RACING AGAINST TIME IN A BID TO RESTORE THE HISTORIC, 1918-ERA SHELL HOUSE ON THE MONTLAKE CUT, ONCE HOME TO THE OLYMPIC CHAMPION TEAM OF
, RACING SHELL BUILDER GEORGE BOYS IN THE BOAT POCOCK, AND COUNTLESS CREWS THAT HAVE ROWED OUR WATERWAYS.
OLYMP IC
BY KATE CALAMUSA
The ASUW Shell House circa 1947, complemented by the original plan elevation drawings from its 1918 construction.
SHELL HOUSE PHOTO COURTESY OF OLYMP IC ASUW SHELL HOUSE ARCHIVES; PLANS COURTESY OF UW SPECIAL COLLECTIONS 51 DREAMS
The Navy originally built the hangar to house seaplanes and act as a training ground for aviators, as seen here.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOHAI, PEMCO WEBSTER & STEVENS COLLECTION JUST TWELVE SHORT PAGES INTO DANIEL JAMES BROWN’S #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING BOOK THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, WHICH CHRONICLES THE REAL-LIFE STORY OF NINE MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON MEN’S CREW AND THEIR INSPIRING QUEST FOR GOLD AT THE 1936 BERLIN OLYMPICS, READERS ARE INTRODUCED TO THE TENTH CHARACTER IN THE TALE. THIS ALL-IMPORTANT SUPPORTING CAST MEMBER IS NOT A PERSON, BUT RATHER A BUILDING—THE ASUW SHELL HOUSE, HOME TO THOSE NOW-FAMOUS BOYS AND THE COLLEGIATE CREWS THAT CAME AFTER THEM AND THE WORKSHOP FOR FAMED RACING SHELL BUILDER GEORGE Y. POCOCK. NOT TO BE LOST IN THE PAST, THE SHELL HOUSE IS NOW INSPIRING A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT TO PRESERVE AND REJUVENATE THE HISTORIC SITE SO IT CAN BE ENJOYED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
Tucked along the lapping shores of the Montlake Cut on the edges of the UW in Seattle, the World War I hangar was originally built in 1918 by the U.S. Navy. Its purpose was to store seaplanes and act as a training ground for budding aviators, but the Great War ended before it was fully used. The building was turned over to the University of Washington in 1919, and given its proximity to the water, the college’s rowing teams adopted it as their home base. Over the next hundred years, the sight of the UW crew making their way up the Cut, stroke by precious stroke, would become as synonymous with the city of Seattle as the Space Needle, Mount Rainier, and both Union and Washington lakes. “The spirit of this place is incredible,” says Nicole Klein, the capital campaign manager for the University of Washington’s The Next 100 Years initiative now leading the charge for restoration. “The sounds and smells here give you an immediate sense of place. You can hear the seaplanes flying over, boats idling by, geese honking, a coxswain yelling commands on the Cut... There’s this smell of lingering sweat, the bright sunlight streaming through windows, an almost palpable presence of history.” That history is long and rich. The Shell House played an integral role in the story of that 1936 team that ultimately won gold—it was the place where they built camaraderie and confidence under the tutelage of coach Al Ulbrickson. The upper loft is the stuff of legends, a sparse space once filled with the smell of wood shavings as George Pocock labored away on his renowned wooden racing shells crafted from Northwest-felled timber. From here, Pocock built a racing dynasty, his shells dominating consecutive Olympics to garner 21 gold medals from 1920 to 1964 (wooden shells were replaced by fiberglass ones starting with the ‘68 Olympics). Yet another UW crew rowed from here and won gold in the 1948 Games. It was also the original home to the Lake Washington Rowing Club (LWRC), whose illustrious women’s team won the first-ever National Women’s Rowing Association Championship in 1966, and then again in 1969. But, during the early ‘80s, the building fell into disuse. The crew and Pocock had moved to the new Coniber Shellhouse at the far north end of Union Bay near Husky Stadium in 1949. It then spent 30 plus years known as “The Canoe House,” hosting the LWRC. A family even lived upstairs for a while, renting out vessels
for students to venture out on the Cut. In 1976, the Waterfront Activities Center opened and vessel rental activity was headquartered there, and the Shell House was relegated to boat storage. Dust gathered, the doors were rolled shut. The distinct frontage became a familiar landmark to yachters cruising past to tailgate at football games, a quiet giant that overlooked the kayakers and canoeists paddling by. Even after an era sitting at slumber, the Shell House today still closely resembles the iteration that Joe Rantz, the primary subject in The Boys in the Boat, first laid eyes on during the inaugural day of tryouts in 1933; the weathered, shingle-clad exterior walls pitch inward as they rise, drawing the eye up to the unique gambrel-style roof. At water level, two enormous sliding doors, the upper halves adorned with massive windows, open to reveal an interior defined by soaring wooden beams and sun-dappled concrete floors. In ‘33, a wide wooden ramp ran down from the doorway to a launch dock for the shells; nowadays a much narrower path leads directly into the Cut. When The Boys in the Boat book debuted in 2013, it was a sensation. The rights were quickly optioned for a movie, drawing national and international attention to the Shell House, and bringing fans to Seattle (these eager tourists even inspired a local The Boys in the Boat tour). That all prompted discussions amongst UW staffers, with then-new Recreation Director Matt Newman asking: Why wasn’t this historic building being better utilized, both by the university and by the community at large? Thus was born The Next 100 Years campaign, the $13 million initiative to restore the historic hangar. Klein, who had been involved in fundraising at UW since 2006, came onboard the project in 2017. She has spent the past four years working towards building the plan for the future and raising the funds that would allow UW to create what they envision would be a flexible, multi-use space; one used for special events and gatherings, but also that acts as a “welcome mat” and historical cultural center for the public to come, learn, and reflect. “It will truly be the ‘front dock’ to the UW campus–greeting students, and welcoming the public to experience our rich and complex waterfront history,” states the campaign’s website. In 2018, the building was granted historical landmark status by the city as it celebrated its centennial birthday. The team has since worked with design firm SHKS Architects on the initial feasibility studies and renderings, with both parties working towards preserving what makes the facility so special already. “The goal of the restoration is to preserve the magic, the patina, and the authenticity of the building as it is,” Klein explains. The plans include restoring the historic Pocock loft, dedicating that and other additional space to the display of historic boats and informative exhibits on the local military, aviation, rowing, and sailing stories the building holds dear. They expect to draw in first-time Seattle tourists, curious locals, prospective and current students, fans of the book and the future movie, and even draw from the many Pocock aficionados found in this rowing-savvy region. (Look no further than Port
THIS PAGE: An early Pocock racing shell from 1920. OPPOSITE: The 1936 eight-man University of Washington crew that won gold in Berlin.
SHELL PHOTO COURTESY OF ASUW SHELL HOUSE ARCHIVES; 1936 TEAM IMAGE COURTESY OF THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER & MOHAI
THIS PAGE: Clockwise from top, coaching the boys from the launch; a feature on George Y. Pocock appeared in The Seattle Times in February, 1937; taking a dip in the Cut circa 1930; and, at work in the Pocock loft. OPPOSITE: A post-renovation rendering from SHKS Architects–and a vision for the future of the Shell House.
COACHES LAUNCH AND POCOCK AT WORK IMAGES COURTESY OF ASUW SHELL HOUSE ARCHIVES; 1930 PHOTO FROM RONALD K. EDGE COLLECTION; NEWSPAPER FEATURE COURTESY OF THE SEATTLE TIMES(FEBRUARY 28, 1937); RENDERING BY SHKS 56 ARCHITECTS (2018) AND COURTESY OF UW RECREATION
Townsend’s Rat Island Rowing & Sculling Club, a group of purists that rows almost exclusively on the antique Pocock creations that have found their way to the clubhouse.) Other key features will include a café; a classroom for student use and lectures; gift shop; and an expansive open events space available for rental. The signature sliding doors will be restored to full working order, rolling open to create outdoor access across a stunning 65-foot-long expanse open to the water. After a pandemic lull that prompted the halt of the popular tours and with the much-anticipated movie mired in production delays and changing of hands, it seems as if the project is poised to gain a stroke or two here shortly. After being recently acquired themselves by hometown Amazon, MGM Studios now controls the movie rights and the script. And, none other than A-list star George Clooney is set to direct the feature film with his production company Smokehouse Pictures alongside producer Grant Heslov. (The film release date was TBD at press time, but is expected to start filming next April.) But there’s much work left to be done: The campaign is well shy of the $10 million needed to start construction, and that goal needs to be fully funded by next June in order to move forward. Klein points to a story woven into the very fabric of the Shell House story as a source of optimism. In 1936, the UW boys were complete underdogs in Berlin. It was an Olympics that, much like the one currently occurring in Tokyo, was fraught with anticipation, not caused by a pandemic-related pause as now, but by burgeoning tensions in Europe due to the rise of the Nazi party in Germany. For Hitler, the Games were supposed to be a show of German strength and superiority, and the young, scrappy Americans had no place in the plan. The boys rowed through a political firestorm, drawing the far outside lane for the race, balking at the start after missing the flag drop, and even powering through stroke Don Hume almost passing out during the leg. “And yet, they prevailed,” Klein says with a smile. Back in 2013, it was much ballyhooed that the book saved the building, but in 2021, Klein now hopes it will be the community that rallies around the cause to restore it. “This building has a heartbeat, a soul, and layers and layers of story to it,” Klein concludes. “And it’s a heart that deserves to keep beating, for the university, for the city, and for all of us.”
For more information on the ASUW Shell House, or to give to The Next 100 Years Campaign, visit asuwshellhouse.uw.edu.
WATER, WATER
And plenty a drop to drink: How the two longtime pals behind Guzzle H2O are ditching plastic bottles and redefining water purification for boats and beyond.
EVERYWHERE
BY KATE CALAMUSA
Sailboat photo on page 60 courtesy of James Lyne; all other feature photography courtesy of Guzzle H20
OPPOSITE: Tyler Bech and Sean “Doogie” Couvreux using one their portable Guzzle H20 models. THIS PAGE: A built-in Stealth series system. OPPOSITE: Tyler Bech and Sean “Doogie” Couvreux using one their portable Guzzle H20 models. THIS PAGE: A built-in Stealth series system.
SOME BUSINESS IDEAS EMERGE AS A DOODLE ON A DINNER NAPKIN, OTHERS BROUGHT TO LIFE WHEN PITCHED TO VENTURE CAPITALISTS IN A BOARDROOM, AND STILL OTHERS ARE BORN AFTER MONTHS OF DABBLING AWAY IN A GARAGE. BUT FOR GUZZLE H2O (GUZZLEH2O.COM)—A HOOD RIVER, OREGON-BASED COMPANY THAT DESIGNS EASY-TO-USE WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEMS SPECIFICALLY FOR OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS—THEIR STORY BEGAN WITH A WIDELY SHARED POST PENNED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
The post author was Sean “Doogie” Couvreux, a longtime sailor and professional bowman for several racing teams, who was fed up with what he saw as the overuse of one-time plastic water bottles during sailing events, often spotting trash and recycling bins piled high both onshore and onboard. He took his concerns to Facebook in late fall 2017, arguing for the ban of plastic bottles on racing boats, which would effectively force the sport to adapt, change, and lessen its carbon impact. Backing up his argument, World Sailing had at the time recently instituted a policy to suspend the use of yarn and wool on race boats for similar reasons. (Crews would use yarn to keep their spinnakers under control while sails were being hoisted; the yarn would break as the sail started to fill, but then usually just fell into the water as waste.) “The sport quickly found new solutions and now those are way better than when we used to use yarn,” Couvreux explains. “It just took a push with the rules for the sport to innovate and come up with a better idea. My argument with water bottles was the same. Make a rule and the sport will come up with a solution.” Heart icons were double-tapped and share buttons were clicked, his post soon circulating amongst his connections around the world. One of those connections was Tyler Bech, longtime family friend, fellow biking aficionado, and a frequent collaborator with Couvreux on sailing parts development projects. After spotting his pal’s post, he posed a big question in response: What if they developed a way to make it simpler for people to get clean water so no one would bother to buy cases of water ever again? So, they set out to do just that, building their first prototype in 2018 and testing out their initial purifying systems on the boats racing the Transpac 52 Super Series circuit in Europe. It was a resounding success. “The teams quickly saw the light in being able to use water available at the dock to fill all the water tanks and bottles for a day’s worth of racing” they explain. “Our system is easily carried by one person, and it is fully self-sustainable with its own power source. They didn’t need to bring power cords. A single charge was enough to provide filtered water for several days of use. So the simplicity of our system was very attractive in a fleet that is very logistical intensive.” The product line grew from there, and today, the brand offers two portable options enjoyed by campers, fishing fans, and outdoor enthusiasts, in addition to options built-in at point of use. First is the compact “Spigot” system that connects to the standard hoses found at campgrounds, parks, and marinas and filters water through premium carbon blocking to remove a wide range of chemicals, chlorine, lead, mercury, bacteria, cysts, and microplastics. The powerful, but still totable, “Stream” design can attach to those same hoses, or, pull water from any creek, stream, or lake thanks to the onboard pump, filtering water at an astounding rate of 1.1 gallons per minute. An LED-based UV system working in combination with powerful LiFePO4 lithium batteries allows this high volume treatment system to still fit in a compact case. And then there is the “Stealth” series. These built-in systems are ideal for any vehicle with an on-board, pressurized water tank and can be installed in camper trailers, RVs, and, of course, what inspired it all—boats. The collection is available in three levels of filtration depending on your water needs aboard: carbon block, UV, and both UV and carbon block combined.
The carbon block alone will make water quality improvements that you can both see and taste, removing sediments much like a screen door filters bugs, absorbing chemicals, and improving flavor. The UV method acts as an additional sanitizing step in the process, sterilizing water with UV-C spectrum light and inactivating 99.99% of all microbiological hazards including viruses. Together, they pack a one-two punch to produce super clean and fresh-tasting H20. Also of note for the seafaring set, Guzzle H20 seems to have solved a long-running grievance amongst boaters: The chore of schlepping, carting, and carrying heavy, bulky cases of plastic bottles down the docks every time you’re due for a stock-up. After install, this cumbersome job can be replaced by a simple turning of the tap. They acknowledge the systems are a long-term investment, ranging from $215 to $750 prior to install, but that “once people see our systems in use, the light bulb switches on, and they can see the logic behind it and quickly become customers.” For Bech and Couvreux, those climbing customer numbers mean fewer plastic pollutants, each system allowing them to chart a course to a more sustainable future— for racing, for the planet, and for Guzzle H20. “The future is very bright…We believe that if we make our systems easy to use and install, customers really will be more willing to use the water that is readily available instead of purchasing it.” We’ll certainly drink to that.
>> For more information, or to purchase a purification system, visit: guzzleh2o.com.
-SEAN “DOOGIE” COUVREUX
