Shavings Volume 14 Number 3 (September 1992)

Volume XIV Number 3 September, 1992

Wrapping The Presents The 1992 Lake U n i o n Wooden Boat Festival brought two important gifts to Seattle: a memorable collection of wooden vessels and the drought relief we all prayed for - though we positively d i d n ' t pray for the Mother of Monsoons that inundated our Festival.

H o w hard d i d it rain? The lake was so frothed d u r i n g the worst of the d o w n p o u r , it looked like milk. D i d it matter to the visitors? N o t to the kids I saw Saturday m o r n i n g , anxiously waiting in the rain for the wood and tools to arrive at the T o y Boat B u i l d i n g workbenches. They came to the Festival motivated to connect with their dreams and fantasies - just like the adults. No amount of rain w o u l d stop them.

M o r e than 100 vessels were moored at o u r piers or displayed on shore. W h i c h were the best? John Gardner once responded to that question by asking: "What's the best dog?" Actually, we let the public handle that issue by voting. This year's People's Choice A w a r d , sponsored by Northwest Yachting magazine, went to

Bijou II, a 40' 30 Square Meter Class sloop built by I. Beck & Sonne, Germany, in 1972 and owned by Russell De Lombard and Tina Gilbert.

The Boatbuilders' Choice A w a r d , sponsored by Fisheries Supply, went to Persistence, a 39' Gene Wells designed ketch, built by American Marine, H o n g K o n g , in 1966 and owned by Paul Williams.

M y m i d d l e name i s " P o l i t i c " so, of course, I l o v e d them a l l . H o w e v e r , I w i l l especially cherish the m e m o r y of seeing Kirin, the elegantly understated 24'6" L y l e Hess cutter of R i c h and Barbara Blacker. The justright p r o p o r t i o n s and d e t a i l i n g of the 23' Kutter class sloop Jaunty, designed by E r l i n g Christoffersen and o w n e d by B i o r n and Fred Sundt. The salty-as-an-old-geezer Friendship sloop Marie-Anne, D i a n e Echeverria's p r i d e and joy. My heart went to the classic Duchess, the 1934 S h a i n - b u i l t cruiser of P h i l a n d Ledjie Ballard and those Percherons of the sea, the tugboats Lorna Foss (1903), Challenger (1890) a n d Arthur Foss (1889).

Even if one doesn't like watercraft,

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the mass of 100-ton sailing vessels w o u l d give anyone pause. In the heavyweight category were the 1938 Sparkman & Stevens yacht Odyssey, 1913 Crowninshield schooner Adventuress, 1903 Danish ketch Krestine, 1924 W i l l i a m H a n d schooner Zodiac, 1983 Melbourne Smith schooner Californian, and 1989 brig Lady Washington.

Of course, there are always fixin's with the main course. The musicians outdid themselves; the food booths were a "gastronomic extravaganza.

Brion Toss, master rigger, charmed hundreds into believing that rigging was a performance art - a cross between "Pinafore" and "Chorus Line."

Rich K o l i n gave oarmaking seminars, Ron Mueller explained stitch and glue construction, Dennis Armstrong held court on knotwork and M i k e Oswald told us how to make a Seagull motor run (if English cooks made English engines and English mechanics made English food, wouldn't we have boringly simple engines and exciting, unpredictable cooking?).

Lee Ehrheart showed us how to

caulk, but he added a new twist to his act with caulking for kids! The kids got a reward of ice cream and cake aboard Lee's Havorn. There could be a stampede of kids next year at the Tiny Tots C a u l k i n g Board.

Lee initiated another new feature: a panel discussion on how to buy a wooden boat. Both his brainstorms deserve inclusion in future Festivals.

The Festival is not all historic information, but there was plenty of it available including a fair amount of 19th century vessels. Possibly the most intense historic experiences were in the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society's photo show of the most famous vessels of Puget Sound and the insights of Steve and Dorothy P h i l i p p on the daily life of the first people of Puget Sound - "Cedar Culture."

of them. I don't dare name names, though, or the one I inadvertently miss may put pine tar in my latte. However, the Russ Karns fan club has to be heard.

Russ comes down from Bellingham every year two days before the Festival and leaves two days after.

He is involved with setting up, keeping operational and tearing d o w n . Russ is Mister Cool, ingenious and inexhaustible. M a k e that a Super Saint suit for Russ.

The boats are and always w i l l be the main reason for the Festival. But something happened at our Q u i c k & Daring contest that might be a new spin on an old and lovable Festival event.

The Q u i c k & D a r i n g Contest w a s a l w a y s p l a n n e d as a w o o d e n boatbuilding-as-a-spectator-sport

The rag race freaks got their kicks too. Twenty-two vessels were entered our second Classic Yacht Race. There were 14 last year. The course was set up so the folks on the N o r t h Q u a y could watch each leg. There were three classes. The winners: Racing: 1) Spellbound, Rhodes 33, Keith Lorance; 2) Bijou II, 30 Square Meter, Russell De L o m b a r d / T i n a Gilbert; 3) Yankee Doodle, Yankee O n e Design, Jeff Pintar.

C r u i s i n g : 1) Allure, Concordia y a w l , B e n / A n n e Niles; 2) Dorade, O l i n Stephens y a w l , 4 Winds C a m p ; 3) Nautilus, Seaborn sloop, Bill V a n Vlack.

Inshore: 1) Satori, Kings cruiser, Jim Sprague; 2) Tom Tom, C o l u m b i a River One Design, T o m Dyer; 3) Second Wind, 1964 Midget Ocean Racing Class, Ed Spaulding.

Spellbound also was first in elapsed time. This w i l l be forever recorded on the Center C u p Classic Yacht Race T r o p h y at C W B .

O u r volunteers all earned points toward sainthood, w h i c h , I assure them, is worth far more than material wealth. They hammered, sawed, painted, organized, hauled, fetched, called, wrote and organized. They answered questions, shook donation cans, sold merchandise, ran the races, made the announcements, emptied garbage, collected cans, fixed what broke, r o w e d , steamed and sailed their way through the Festival and then took it all d o w n and packed it away for next year. A n d they d i d it all with p i z z a z z and good cheer - even when they were soaked to the skin.

The honor roll includes every one

materials, c o n s t r u c t i o n , rigs a n d s h o w m a n s h i p . Just w h a t w e w i s h e d for: an event that stretched the i m a g i n a t i o n a n d i n g e n u i t y of the contestants a n d b r o u g h t h o m e to the spectators the message that w o o d e n boat b u i l d i n g is not an arcane m y s t e r y , is not necessarily e x p e n s i v e , does not necessarily take a m i l l e n n i u m to c o m p l e t e and the w o r k can b e f u n .

This year's diverse field led us to wonder if that's all there is to Q & D .

O u r contestants over the years have tried out designs that had potential for further development. There seems to be too much creativity in wooden boat design and construction to waste as a vaudeville side show. Can we take the Q & D rules to a new level that w i l l make this event into a think tank for small craft design? We're thinking about it.!

The 1992 Quick & Daring contestants: 1. Brave Duck - Signature TheÂŹ Ship and L o v i T r o c h e r n . A p l y w o o d scow w i t h d u c k - f o o t painted side paddles and a w i n d vane, both p o w e r e d by a cast-in-place concrete f l y w h e e l . S a i l i n g costumes were y e l l o w capes, y e l l o w d u c k - b i l l caps and d u c k d o w n s t r e w n over their a d o r i n g fans.

2. Careening Cardboard - Don Henderson and T i m Hendrickson. A 13 1/2' vee hull canoe with outrigger. Both consisted of a series of recycled cardboard rug cores with cardboard outer vee skin and nose cone. A bedsheet spritsail was decorated with Honey Bears and balloons.

event. O n c e u p o n a t i m e , the Q & D produced only p l y w o o d dories, skiffs and cement m i x i n g boxes.

T h e y were so festooned w i t h Sikaflex it seemed more like a cake decorating competition than a b o a t b u i l d i n g contest. Since then, the rules have e v o l v e d to encourage more v a r i e t y of cellulose fiber c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d d e s i g n . T h i s year nine teams entered the contest, v y i n g for cash a w a r d s , the coveted C h a l l e n g e C u p a n d m o r e respect than F l u f f i e , o u r pit b u l l w a t c h d o g .

The n i n e teams p r o d u c e d a w i d e and wild variety of designs,

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3. Salad Daze - Jon H o l z and Jefferson A l l e n . A classic 14' p l y w o o d skiff. N i c e sheer and well-developed chine. M a r c o n i rig. Visqueen mainsail decorated with painted carrot, tomato, lettuce, mushroom, radish and a serrated salad knife on the luff. Oars were two sets of salad spoons.

4. Cannawurm - M a r k Bennett and Scan C o n n e l l y . Beautifully shaped d i n g h y - 1/4" p l y w o o d hull with darts cut to form r o u n d bottom bow section, w h i c h faired into a vee bottom r u n . L o o k e d like an O . K .

D i n g h y , but w i t h more graceful profile. A spritsail cat r i g . Sailed like a rocket.

5. Dual Viking Funeral Barge - Lars H e n d r i c k s o n and Pat Pielage. A 7'6" t w i n scow catamaran of p l y w o o d w i t h M a r c o n i cat r i g of clear visqueen and leeboard. V e r y economical use of

2 3 / 4 " sheets of 1/4" p l y w o o d .

S a i l i n g costumes were h o r n e d v i k i n g helmets.

6. Squaredrive - D a n C h a s e a n d L a r r y Stiles, aka "The H i p to Square Design C o n s o r t i u m . " A 16' decked p l y w o o d catamaran w i t h huge lateen blue v i s q u e e n square-rig on a b i p o d mast.

7. Flounder - Dave Parker and Scott Wolfe. A 16' p l y w o o d flat bottom double ender w i t h outriggers. A cat schooner rig with huge loose-footed clear visqueen genakers on each mast.

Sailing costumes of shower caps and goggles.

8. Unlimited - H u g h Evans and W a y n e Rice, aka "The D i n g h y Brothers." These guys came to the b u i l d i n g site w e a r i n g m a t c h i n g blue blazers, H a w a i i a n shirts, p i n k lame b o w ties, tan shorts and black h i g h t o p sneakers. W h e n the judges a n n o u n c e d , " G e n t l e m e n , start y o u r skilsaws," the Dinghy Brothers proceeded to first b u i l d a fancy, frees t a n d i n g coat rack on w h i c h they then c a r e f u l l y h u n g up their blazers.

They b u i l t a 16' x 2 1/2' p l y w o o d canoe w i t h h i k i n g b o a r d , huge Marconi s l o o p rig and deep centerboard. In s u b m i t t i n g their d e s i g n , they wrote: " W e anticipate that after s a i l i n g this boat, s a i l i n g a n y t h i n g else w o u l d be l i k e kissing y o u r sister." S a i l i n g costumes were the same as the start of construction, except that they were t o p p e d w i t h orange life vests a n d w h i t e painters caps.

Khyam - B r a d R i c e and N i c k L y l e . A 20' x 2 1 / 2 ' f l a t - b o t t o m c e d a r p l a n k e d canoe. A s p l i t s a i l s l i d i n g gunter r i g of white bedsheets.

D o u b l e p a d d l e s . Some tumblehome at the stern, subtle sheer, indescribable profile part P o l y n e s i a n , part N o r t h w e s t N a t i v e American.

The order of finish: 1) The Ruby Yacht of O m a r K h y a m ; 2) C a r e e n i n g C a r d b o a r d ; 3) D u a l Viking Funeral Barge; 4) Cannawurm; 5) Flounder; 6) U n l i m i t e d ; 7) S q u a r e D r i v e ; 8) Salad D a z e ; 9) Brave D u c k .

- Dick Wagner

9. The Ruby Yacht of Omar

National Trust Grant to CWB The Center for Wooden Boats has been awarded a S2,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help support a planning conference that w i l l develop a long-term alternative education program for troubled youths that focuses on traditional boat b u i l d i n g and handling skills.

In announcing the grant, N a t i o n a l Trust acting president D a v i d D o h e n y n o t e d , " W i t h these start-up d o l l a r s , Seattle and C W B join h u n d r e d s of other c o m m u n i t i e s and o r g a n i z a t i o n s across the c o u n t r y a c t i v e l y e n s u r i n g that A m e r i c a ' s architectural a n d c u l t u r a l heritage is preserved."

The program for dispensing small grants for local projects is administered by the National Trust's Preservation Services F u n d , w h i c h holds three competitive funding rounds annually.

Grants ranging from S500 to $5,000 are awarded to non-profit groups and public agencies and must be matched at least dollar for dollar with public or private funds.

The conference w i l l be held at C W B October 23-25 and w i l l include more than two dozen traditional small craft professionals, public school administrators and educators and human resource professionals from Maine to California. Conferees w i l l assist CWB in developing a comprehensive plan for the alternative education program.

The concept for the program was

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formulated by C W B director Dick Wagner as a w a y for the Center "to reach out to y o u n g adults w h o are out of the social mainstream. M a n y lack any idea of where they came from, where they are and the ways to find a dream. I think C W B ' s resources of traditional small craft construction and a fleet of heritage boats ready to cast off can provide the w i l l , direction and wherewithal for these y o u n g people to steer toward a meaningful life.

"I envision a program in w h i c h high school age dropouts learn traditional boat b u i l d i n g and small craft handling using our traditional wooden boats. This program w o u l d be a means of p r o v i d i n g a dynamic learning experience and developing manual and mental skills, self-esteem, good work habits and a lifetime interest in our maritime heritage."

- Judie Romeo

Cruising Steamboat Slough SL Puffin The P u f f i n , a 1906 steam launch built by the Truscott Boat Manufacturing Company of St. Joseph, Michigan, has been delighting visitors to CWB all summer - both with the opportunity to see an old steam boat close up and the chance to take a ride on her. "Puffin" is owned

by CWB members Bob and Annette Evans of Bozeman, Montana.

The Northwest Steam Society had their annual meet A u g u s t 7-9, 1992, at Langus Riverfront Park on Smith

Island near Everett, Washington.

I arrived there Friday noon and was pleased to see several steamboats already there. I helped Bart Smaalders launch his Otter and was invited to ride with him to the boat dock. (Bart came all the way from San Jose, California.)

Otter's engine is a converted 2 cylinder refrigeration p u m p (which must have come from a really big refrigerator). It ran quite smoothly.

On Saturday morning, Steve Gilman and crew arrived with Puffin.

We had some difficulty launching, due to the water depth required to float Puffin off her trailer, but we soon got her steaming. After a hearty lunch, w h i c h everyone attended, we started the cruise up the Snohomish River to Steamboat Slough, then to Ebey Slough and back to the river again.

Because of the distance and the large appetite for wood that Puffin's boiler has, the crew had decided to use coal. This had been carefully packed in small paper bags by some of the C W B volunteers. The paper bags were a good idea as they kept the boat and our hands relatively clean.

We "poured on the coal" and were really making knots, passing all the other boats, until the grate plugged up with coal cinders. Meanwhile, the boiler was losing pressure and the Puffin was going slower and slower. In fact, all the other boats passed us up.

About that time it started raining; steam pressure was d o w n to 20 lbs. but we kept m o v i n g . Steve finally cleaned the grate and we burned wood the rest of the trip.

Traveling through Ebey Slough was like being in a wilderness; the clouds and rain only added to that effect. I 4

kept looking for alligators and thinking of the African Queen.

Up ahead, we were joined by another boat, outboard powered, whose operator was a rather toughlooking bearded character who said he knew the w a y and w o u l d guide us i n .

He also had a rather suspicious bulge under his shirt at the waistline, which looked a lot like a pistol.

As we steamed on, the pressure rose and things began to look better.

We rounded the next bend and saw another steamboat beside the bank. It turned out to be D a n Martin's Mosquito. He is the g u y w h o planned this cruise and had been standing by to make sure all the boats came through O K .

While standing by, he had run into an underwater piling and holed his boat.

They say he turned toward the bank and gave full steam ahead, putting her on the shore. (No ignition to short out here.)

Fortunately, it was full tide and so his boat was only half under water. I understand D a n refloated Mosquito Sunday afternoon.

After finally getting back to the dock, we cleaned up Puffin and Steve and crew departed, taking all the remaining coal with them.

Sunday morning, Leroy Mietzner and I loaded up with wood, generously provided by one of the Northwest Steam Society members. We took aboard four passengers and decided to go look at the sunken Mosquito. The tide was very low but all went well until we got to the entrance of Steamboat and Ebey Sloughs.

We were in what looked like deep water, only it wasn't. While moving slowly, we ran over a log, doing no damage but leaving us stuck in mid-channel.

T w o guys in t w o small outboard motor boats volunteered to help. We passed them a line and all of us climbed into the bow as they tried to p u l l us off without success. We just had to wait for the tide.

About 30 minutes later, the tide turned; however, the incoming current was washing us further up onto the sunken log or whatever it was we were stuck on. It was then I remembered I had seen an anchor under the forward seats.

We got out the anchor and patched together some line. A passenger gave a mighty heave and threw the anchor out about 40 feet over the stern. (His adrenalin was really flowing). The anchor held and, with several hands p u l l i n g , we got off and got underway.

We made several short trips, taking passengers but staying in the river in deep water.

Sunday afternoon we pulled the Puffin out of the water, using Bart's boat trailer as a link between Leroy's truck and the Puffin's trailer. It takes about four feet of water to get the Puffin on the trailer. Leroy then took Puffin to Hansville to re-install her White steam engine, w h i c h had been overhauled.

There were 16 steamboats in attendance for the cruise and no two

of them were alike. Some engines were homemade, some were old and others new. There was even a steam-powered outboard motor boat.

Also in attendance was A n d r e w V a n Luenen and his Flyer, on which many people received rides d u r i n g the 1991 Lake U n i o n Wooden Boat Festival.

We all had a good time - and a little excitement. I w i l l be looking forward to next year's meet.

- Russ Karns

Advanced Sailing Program In the almost three years since its inception, C W B ' s Sail N O W ! program has graduated nearly 400 new sailors who have demonstrated their proficiency in handling our fleet of small craft on Lake U n i o n . Successful completion of the course entitles the graduates to use any of our small boats from the Beetle Cats to the Blanchards.

But, until now, our larger boats such as the Yankee O n e Design Yankee Clipper and the C o l u m b i a River One Design Mistee weren't available to the graduates unless a Sail N O W ! instructor was aboard. The introduction of the C W B Advanced Sailing Program w i l l change all that.

The program w i l l consist of three four-hour sessions aboard the y a w l

Resolute and one checkout session each aboard Yankee Clipper and Mistee. U p o n completion of the course and all its requirements, graduates will be certified to sail Yankee Clipper or Mistee on a "solo" basis (without an instructor aboard).

The program includes instruction in wheel steering, setting sails on a split rig sailboat, sail trim, tacking, gybing, points of sail, compass courses, chart reading, balancing the boat for hands-off sailing, use of different sails and sail combinations, Rules of the Road and, when applicable, locks passage.

Classes w i l l be held on Sundays through November and are limited to six students. Training w i l l take place in Lake Washington or Puget Sound. The fee is $125 per student or $45 per single session. C a l l the C W B office to reserve your place or for more information: (206) 382-2628.

Sail Away Challenge They may have been mostly firsttime racers but the 14 sailors who raced in the first annual Sail A w a y Challenge August 9 on Lake Union were as competitive a bunch as you're likely to find on any race course.

The racers had all spent the weekend at C W B participating in a sailing clinic for people with disabilities. The clinic was sponsored by the Footloose Sailing Association (Seattle's pioneering organization for sailors with disabilities), S K I F O R A L L (a Seattle group that provides sports opportunities for those with physical, visual or developmental disabilities) and C W B .

The clinic was the next logical step after the "Freedom on the Sound" program, held last year at C W B to introduce people with disabilities to the pleasures of small craft boating.

M a n y of the racers were new to sailing - and many developed a passion for the sport before the weekend was over. Three sessions of on-the-water instruction preceded the races. Some sailed in FSA's two C o l u m b i a 21s equipped with adaptive gimbaled seats that allow physically limited sailors to handle all the tiller and sheet tasks any other sailor could.

Others, using ingenious cushion placement and the helping hands of volunteers to get themselves braced in the boat, ventured forth in the stalwarts of C W B ' s fleet: the Beetle

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Cats, the Blanchard Jr., the Lightning, Yankee Clipper and the Herreshoff 12 1/2 Sara.

On race day, north-northwesterly winds of 8-10 knots and sunny skies provided the perfect environment as the seven-boat fleet surged over the starting line, headed for a triangular course that spanned the full length of Lake U n i o n . Equipment failure forced one Beetle Cat out of the race, but the other boats sped through the usual busy afternoon traffic on the lake to all finish w i t h i n 50 seconds of each other.

T a k i n g first place on corrected time was the Lightning, skippered by C W B volunteer sail instructor Christian H o l t z and crewed by Susan Stross, John Denoyer and D o u g Macquarrie.

Second place went to F S A ' s Salt Chuck with skipper T o m C o n n e l l y of F S A and crew Paul B r o w n and Bly P a u l l .

C W B volunteer instructor E d Clark and his crew of T o m Goessman, Ralph Johnson and Zach Bender brought Ed's Blizzard across the line for the first-tofinish honors and third place overall.

A l l winners received Olympic-style medals,with similar awards going to all the other racing crews.

Special hosts for the clinic were Karen Braitmayer and Bob E w i n g , F S A ' s nationally competitive racing team, fresh from a fourth place finish in a 10-boat field at the N o r t h American Challenge C u p on Chicago's Lake M i c h i g a n . The d u o also scored a fourth place finish at the Coors ShakeA - L e g Challenge C u p in M a y in San Diego - their first outing as a racing team.

- Ron Singleton

Once Upon An Isle The Story of Fishing Families on Isle Royale Paintings and C o m p a n i o n Stories by H o w a r d Sivertson 111 pages, S20.95. Wisconsin Folk Museum I thought the book I was getting to review w o u l d be a fussy, annotated, scholarly dissection of a slice of Great Lakes life. When I first unwrapped the book, it looked like a children's story, complete w i t h N o r m a n Rockwell-like illustrations. After I opened it up and read it, I discovered it is BIG T R E A S U R E in a small package. This book is about fishing families the way the O l d Testament is about travels in the M i d d l e East!

There are three exciting messages and hundreds of fascinating side trips in this hardcover jewel.

First, I have never come across anything that so well captures the complex harmonies and rhythms of a small band of people s u r v i v i n g in a wilderness setting.

The story is about Isle Royale on Lake Superior. The words and paintings are the experiences of Howard Sivertson g r o w i n g up there in the 1930s and '40s. The main body of the book has full-page reproductions of his paintings on one page and the story of the event depicted on the facing page.

Studying the painting and reading the text keeps the eyeballs swivelling back and forth, evoking a cascade of sensory memories.

Y o u can sense the biting pre-dawn air as the fishermen leave to row out to net herring for bait, smell wool clothes and hip boots hanging near the wood stove, hear the tinkle of "night ice" breaking under the skiff's h u l l .

The paintings and stories irresistibly draw one into the seasonal rhythms of the island and the fishermen. The stories are of the author growing up on a virtual small planet. A l l of the wonder and magic and awe and admiration of the child are captured in this book.

That w o u l d be enough to call this publication a classic, but there's more: a message for all historic museums.

Museums yearn to have their artifacts come alive. The curators and historians know that the d i m e cowboy novel, old kerosene lamp, pair of hip boots and pint of whiskey they have are elements of a fascinating moment of our past.

They agonize about how to make these relics affect the public as more than "old stuff from dead people."

I find this book a guide to creative museum interpretation. H o w each scene captures a part of the big picture, how sounds and smells and colors add to the sense of being there. This book is not a technical manual for curators but it is an inspirational trip that shows how seemingly insignificant items can be utilized to create scenes of history one is not likely to forget.

The last message I received was in the " A f t e r w o r d " by T i m Cochrane, former Park Service ranger on Isle Royale.

Isle Royale was a fishing place since pre-history. The ancestors of H o w a r d Sivertson and the 100 or so families mentioned in this book fished there

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from the 1890s. Isle Royale is now a National Park. C o m m e r c i a l fishing, i n c l u d i n g the homes, fish houses, docks and boats, is gone by decree of the National Park Service to enable the public to experience an "untouched wilderness."

T i m Cochrane questions whether the public might be better served by visiting a community of people in a wilderness site w h o have learned how to comfortably survive by l i v i n g in harmony with their wilderness environment.

It's an interesting idea and relevant to these times when we are most sensitive about preserving our environment. In the case of Isle Royale, after reading this book, I feel the public has lost much by evicting the fishing families. Of course, a museum could be built there, w i t h displays of hip boots, wool underwear and kerosene lamps that convey the flavor of a former time. But it w o u l d be a pale imitation of a l i v i n g historic district with real people continuing their daily routines at home, in the fish houses, oft the docks and in their boats. A n d it w o u l d be a lot less trouble than burning the buildings d o w n and evicting the families.

- Dick Wagner

Little Toot Goes to the Party T a k i n g your vessel to the Classic Boat Festival at Victoria, B.C., is like going to a dress-up party. Everyone there is informal and relaxed, but the setting is so "just right," you know y o u ' d better polish the brass and slap some more varnish on the rails.

The annual Classic Boat Festival (this year was the 15th) takes over the Victoria's Inner Harbour. The harbor is surrounded by the stately Parliament B u i l d i n g , the venerable Empress Hotel and other formal office and shop buildings of the elegant and exuberant Victorian A g e , all made-up and manicured like prize pigs at the fair.

This environment puts a certain pressure to conform on the boats in the harbor. On top of that, the prizes for the "best" boats are awarded by a bunch of hand-picked judges w h o roam the fleet w i t h white gloves and magnifying glasses to see who has the cleanest bilges and most glowing varnish.

This year, C W B sent the Steam Launch Puffin to the Festival. She had a snazzy crew. Bob and Annette Evans,

the owners of "Puffin," came over from Bozeman, Montana, and Russ Karns, a member of the "Puffin's" Steam Gang, came up from Bellingham. They all fell victim to the Victoria Classic Boat Syndrome and dressed up in Victorian boating clothes. Russ played engineer and had black pants, shirt and cap and smudges of soot on his face. Bob and Annette played the role of the carefree couple on a holiday, dressed in light colored summer clothes and w i d e brimmed straw hats.

They told lots of visitors about the mysteries of steam engines, let lots of kids p u l l the whistle cord and took many out in the harbor for rides.

W h e n the awards were announced at the dinner Sunday night, "Puffin" took the honors as "Best O p e n Power Boat."

A n d they didn't even bribe the judges.

- D. W.

CLASSIFIEDS MISSING: A blue/gray ceramic casserole dish with lid and silver serving spoon. Last seen at the Friday evening potluck at the Lake U n i o n Wooden Boat Festival. Casserole (has letters " E N " on bottom) and spoon have sentimental and heritage value to owner (finder may keep contents of dish). Please return to C W B . Thanks.

F O R S A L E O R T R A D E : 18' Poulsbo Boat. Traditionally built in Poulsbo in early '60s with cedar on bent oak.

Includes 15 hp M i c h i g a n Marine Hercules engine with gearbox and freshwater cooling, new decking, mahogany seats and coaming, good trailer and extras. Some easy work needs to be completed and I don't have time to finish her. Over $6,000 invested, all offers considered. C a l l N i c k Hughes in Y a k i m a , (509) 966-4377 (evenings) or (509) 248-2337 (days, leave message).

FOR S A L E : 1913 C a d y Jr. 1 l / 2 h p , 2 cycle inboard with variable speed drive. G o o d condition. Excellent for 14'-15' launch or similar boat. $1,000.

C a l l N i c k Hughes in Yakima, (509) 966-4377 (evenings) or (509) 248-2337 (days, leave message).

F O R S A L E : 24' U S G S M o n o m o y Surf Boat. Shelter cabin, Gunter sloop, PO cedar on oak, 5' steel centerboard, 1978 8hp Renault diesel. Excellent condition and well-done, tasteful conversion.

Easy reconversion to original if desired.

S4,500. Terry M c E w e n , Bellingham, (206) 733-4548.

F O R S A L E : Marine engines. O l d slowturning 1 and 2 cylinder direct reversible gasoline marine engines from 3 hp. Box 5000, Lunenburg, N o v a Scotia B0J 2C0, Canada.

S E E K I N G four retirees to explore sharing ownership and use of classic cruiser. Al Arnason, (206) 821-5503.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS October 4 (Sunday) THE COLUMBUS REGATTA 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Explore the excitement of a regatta it took us 500 years to schedule: The Lake U n i o n One-Design Championships.

Navigate your way through three regatta classes - Large (21' and over), Small (daysailers) and M i n i (up to 14') - and then land and discover the gastronomic delights of the potluck supper. Registration begins at 10 a.m., skippers' meeting is at 12:30 p.m., racing starts at 1:15 p.m. and the potluck and awards presentation begins at 4:30 p.m. If you're attending the potluck, bring a hot dish, salad, cold platter or dessert to feed six.

Beverages, breads, etc., are also welcome; check with Judie (382-2628) if you're unsure what to bring.

October 16 (Friday) CWB ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND MONTHLY SPEAKER 7:30 p.m. Boathouse The new members of the Board of Trustees and new Board officers w i l l be introduced at the A n n u a l Meeting, which will be followed by a presentation on "Canoeing d o w n the Missouri Breaks."

John Rundberg, Seattle's wood-canvas canoe g u r u , w i l l give a slide talk on canoe camping on the 150-mile stretch of the Missouri River that L e w i s and Clark wrote so g l o w i n g l y about almost 200 years ago.

This is the stretch in m i d - M o n t a n a , beginning at Fort Benton, and it is as beautiful and untouched as ever. John w i l l provide history of the area and valuable tips on how we can make the trip in this pristine wilderness.

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MARINE SKILLS WORKSHOPS A l l year ' r o u n d (Saturdays and Sundays) L E A R N TO "SAIL NOW!" 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday C W B Boathouse Fee: $125 per person (includes a oneyear C W B membership) Students w i l l learn to sail small classic craft in one session of classroom work and four (or more) sessions of hands-on instruction in our small boats. Students w i l l graduate when able to sail a variety of keel, centerboard, sloop and catboats by instinct.

Y o u may begin any Saturday, space permitting; maximum of six students.

Please call for reservations.

For the student who is only free on weekdays, or prefers to have one-onone instruction, we continue to offer individual lessons ($15) on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.

October 10 - 18 (Saturday through Sunday) L A P S T R A K E W O R K S H O P $550/5600 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. each day C W B Boatshop Instructor: Eric Hvalsoe The instructor has had extensive experience in building and teaching traditional wood boat construction. The class w i l l build a classic Rushton-style double paddle canoe, approximately 16 feet long. This boat w i l l be round bottom, bent frame vessel, dealing with mystical shapes and joinery - which w i l l be demystified by de maestro. Basic w o o d w o r k i n g skills required.

M a x i m u m 7 students.

November 12 (Saturday) BASIC WOODWORKING FOR WOMEN Fee: $40/$45 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. C W B Boatshop Instructor: Charlie Mastro An introduction to the art and use of w o o d w o r k i n g tools. Charlie shows you how to do the basics: sharpening and maintenance of your tools and simple joint making. H i s genial manner and teaching style w i l l have you using woodworking tools like a pro in no time at all. Limited to 6 students.

December 5 (Saturday) INTERMEDIATE WOODWORKING FOR W O M E N Fee: $40/$45 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. C W B Boatshop Instructor: Charlie Mastro

The natural f o l l o w - u p to C W B ' s Basic W o o d w o r k i n g for W o m e n . The comfortable atmosphere and teaching style remain the same but, this time, Charlie will guide the students through more complicated joinery.

Limited to 6 students.

workshop w i l l enable students to read plans and understand the arcane mysteries of bevels, rabbet lines, deductions and construction drawings.

This class is highly recommended as a prerequisite for our boatbuilding workshops. Limited to 6 students.

January 9 (Saturday) PLANE M A K I N G Fee: S70/S75 9 a.m. to 5 p . m .

Instructor: Charlie Mastro Students each w i l l create their o w n planes under the guidance of the tool maestro himself. Charlie w i l l cover the basics of the blade - sharpening and maintenance - and lead the class through the intricacies of shaping and forming the body of the plane and inserting the blade. Each student w i l l take home a tool that w i l l last a lifetime. Limited to 6 students.

February 10, 17, 24, 1993 (Wednesdays) CELESTIAL N A V I G A T I O N Fee: $50/55 7 p . m . - 10 p . m . C W B Boathouse Instructor: Randal Franke This course is designed for the small boat cruiser: understanding and using the sextant, based on sun sightings.

Previous coastal navigation skills helpful but not necessary. Handout materials included. Limited to 12 students

January 16 - 17, 1993 (Saturday and Sunday) LOFTING WORKSHOP Fee: $115/$125 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p . m . (each day) C W B Boathouse Instructor: Eric Hvalsoe Students w i l l loft a full-size dinghy from a table of offsets. This

A p r i l 10 - 15, 1993 (Saturday through Thursday) M A I N E G U I D E C A N O E WORKSHOP Fee: $360/400 8:30 a.m. - 5 p . m . each day CWB Boatshop Instructor: Jerry Stelmok Students w i l l b u i l d a classic canvason-wood canoe and paddles. Jerry Stelmok of M a i n e is the premier builder of this type of canoe, has written the

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definitive book on canvas and wood canoe b u i l d i n g and has taught several classes on the subject. Students must have w o o d w o r k i n g experience.

M a x i m u m 6 students.

A p r i l 21-25, 1993 (Wednesday through Sunday) CANVAS ON CEDAR CANOE REPAIR A N D P A D D L E M A K I N G Fee: $360/400 8:30 a.m. - 5 p . m . each day C W B Boatshop Instructor: Jerry Stelmok This course w i l l be a combination of repair, recanvasing and paddle making. The instructor is a wizard at the most effective way to get an old canoe into shape.

Woodworking experience is required. M a x i m u m 6 students.

N O T E : Fees indicate member/nonmember costs.

A $100 nonrefundable deposit is required w i t h registration for a l l boat b u i l d i n g w o r k s h o p s , w i t h the balance payable one week p r i o r to the w o r k s h o p . Prepayment i n f u l l w i l l insure your place in a l l other w o r k s h o p s .