Volume XVII Number 3 June, 1996
Page 2
In This Issue What's this place all about? An Afternoon on the Concordia Sloop First Years Rowing with One Oar The Pipe, A Heritage of the Sea Skylarking The Classic Six Metre OSLO A Voyage of Discovery, or Who Named Puget Sound? Voyagers - a Poem Photo Contest Ship - a Poem A Weekend with Martha What is a Barge? Seattle Boatshop Tour CALENDAR OF EVENTS MARINE SKILLS WORKSHOPS Festival Guide
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 13 14 15 16 16 20
The Center for Wooden Boats 1010 Valley Street Seattle WA 98109 (206) 382-2628 President:
Bill
Founding Director
Dick
VanVlack
Executive Director
Bob
Office Manager
Roger
Public Service Manager
Margaret
Boatwright
Dierk
Livery Manager
Xylon
Wagner Perkins Coulter Huchting
Yochim Salzman
Volunteer/Livery Manager
Meg
Trzaskoma
Youth Program Coordinator
John
Brennan
Cama Beach Coordinator
Marty
Festival Intern
Nick
Gregory Brown
Board of Trustees Celeste Archambault, William Blethen, Caren Crandell, Edwards, Steve Excell, Lin Folsom, Bill Keasler, L e n
Chuck
Marklund,
D e n n i s Palmer, R o n Snyder, D a n W a r n e r , Bill V a n V l a c k .
Shavings: This special 20th Annual W o o d e n Boat Festival issue of Shavings w a s published by T h e Center for W o o d e n Boats,
production
by Roger Coulter, ad sales by Nick B r o w n . Reproduction
What's this place all about? T h e Center for W o o d e n Boats b e g a n as an idea that w a s as
tial
of
materials contained herein without permission of the Center for W o o d e n B o a t s is e x p r e s s l y p r o h i b i t e d . T h e C e n t e r f o r W o o d e n B o a t s is a 5 0 1 ( c ) ( 3 ) n o n - p r o f i t c o r p o r a t i o n .
insubstan-
as the mist: A m u s e u m w h e r e people can play with the exhibits.
We
have been doing just that for so long ( B o a t Festival, Regattas, and works h o p s since 1977, S o u t h L a k e U n i o n site activities since 1983) that are
accepted
as part of Seattle's cultural fabric.
we
And we have become a
global leader in h a n d s o n heritage programs. B u t w e a r e still g r o w i n g . O u r first h a n d s - o n p r o g r a m s s e r v e d t h e latte and Birkenstock crowd. Today one finds an astounding spectrum of backg r o u n d s a n d a g e s at C W B , as casual visitors, livery clients,
workshop
students and volunteers. W e n o w reflect the diversity of our community. W h a t h a s m a d e t h i s all h a p p e n is t h e p a s s i o n o f o u r m e m b e r s to s u s tain this u n i q u e e n v i r o n m e n t o f education, adventure and friendly folks, wrapped around a bunch of good wooden
There are so m a n y individuals and businesses that put their time, t a l e n t s a n d f a c i l i t i e s t o w o r k f o r C W B t h a t is h a r d t o s i n g l e o u t a n y o n e o f t h e m , b u t t h e r e are a c o u p l e w h o c u r r e n t l y a r e r i g h t at t h e t o p o f o u r g o o d g u y list. T h e O a k m e a d f o u n d a t i o n , f o r its g r a n t to m a i n t a i n o u r
boats.
W i t h o u t our m e m b e r ' s support, through m o n e y , ideas and energy, as
build-
ings and i m p r o v e our facilities, K i n g C o u n t y Cultural resources for
s a i l i n g i n s t r u c t o r s , b o a t r e p a i r e r s a n d T r u s t e e s , w e w o u l d still b e a m i s t y
"Rolling H o m e " , our safety improvement grant, T h e
idea, drifting with the wind.
and Worthington families, for our C a m a Beach restoration
grant,
and Rudine Fund, Seattle Foundation, Discuren Foundation,
Corn-
T h e C e n t e r is o p e n f r o m 11 a . m . t o 7 p . m . d a i l y , J u n e t h r o u g h Day. T h e rest of the year, hours
are n o o n to 6 p.m. W e d n e s d a y
Labor
through
M o n d a y . T h e r e is n o a d m i s s i o n c h a r g e ( d o n a t i o n s c h e e r f u l l y a c c e p t e d ! ) M e m b e r s of the Center for W o o d e n Boats enjoy a variety of privil e g e s , n o t t h e l e a s t o f w h i c h is a w a r m f e e l i n g o f d o i n g t h e r i g h t t h i n g f o r a great c o m m u n i t y organization.
M e m b e r s also get a 2 5 % discount rent-
ing Incorporated Foundation, City o f Seattle, Dept. of
Hamailinen
Neighbor-
hoods, the King County Cultural Resources Division, C a p e
t e r y F o u n d a t i o n , a n d t h e D a v i s F o u n d a t i o n all r a n k a m o n g t h e t o p of our Foundation
donors.
Several Businesses have also g o n e well out of their w a y to s h o w
ing o u r exhibits for a sail or r o w o n L a k e U n i o n , a 1 0 % d i s c o u n t at the
support for our programs and special events. M a n y of t h e m
gift shop, 5 - 2 0 % discount on M a r i n e Skills classes, library privileges, a
donated several times during the year and s e e m eager to do
m o n t h l y newsletter, and invitations to great events. Annual
A m o n g the big business donors are Microsoft Corporation,
membership
rates are $25 for individuals, $40 for families and $10 for seniors
and
Flat-
have more.
United
W a y , D I S S y s t e m s Inc., N o r t h w e s t Y a c h t Brokers, Intersound
In-
vestment, and Seaview East Boatyard.
students. Livery rates are $8 to $ 1 2 an h o u r for r o w i n g craft and $ 1 0 to $15 an
A small group of Individuals have also given
extraordinarily
hour for sailboats. (Or b e c o m e a C W B volunteer and earn an hour free
generous donations: T e d Frantz, G e o r g e Galpin, L a r r y G r a h a m , Bill
boat use for every three hours of volunteer work; opportunities for volun-
Van Vlack, Will Blethen, Dick and Colleen Wagner, and
t e e r w o r k a b o u n d a n d all s o r t s o f
M e y e r to n a m e a f e w .
Kenneth
are
But by far the most important donors are our t w o thousand world
sail-
w i d e m e m b e r s w h o consistently give their small ($25 average gift),
ar-
and s o m e t i m e s large, (but a l w a y s heartfelt) donations. A n d of course
ranged with o n e of our staff; the
w e could not survive without the hundreds of dedicated volunteers
c h e c k o u t t a k e s a b o u t 15 m i n u t e s
w h o last y e a r c o n t r i b u t e d a total o f f o u r t e e n t h o u s a n d h o u r s .
and costs
m i n i m u m w a g e that a m o u n t s to nearly $ 7 0 , 0 0 0 in d o n a t e d time!
skills,
talents
and
time
needed.) Before using our boats,
a checkout must be
$5. T h e y
can be
ar-
ranged by appointment weekdays or anytime after noon on ends.
week-
H a t s o f f to y o u all. W e , a n d o u r f i f t y t h o u s a n d a n n u a l salute you.
At
visitors,
Page 3
An Afternoon on the Concordia Sloop By Marietta A Szubski The silhouette of a gaff-rigged vessel is a nostalgic icon of the hard working coast dwellers who sailed these sturdy, utilitarian boats for their livelihood. The 17'8" Concordia Sloop was conceived with that in mind. She was designed as a recreational craft that could give sailors a feel for the inshore lobster boats common on Cape Cod during the 1850's. I have to admit to sharing that nostalgia. I have been curious about gaff-riggers since I was a kid. There always seemed to be something mysterious about that second boom at the top of the sail; I imagined it took some magic seamanship skills to handle it So, I arranged to sail the Concordia Sloop, Kin with Dick Wagner, founder of the Center For Wooden Boats. We got a beautiful day - late afternoon sun and a southwest breeze. We peeled back Kin's brown cover, rearranged the floorboards and bailed out the Spring
rain that had managed to till her bilge despite the canvas. We got her rigged, caught the breeze and glided from the dock. As sailing karma would have it, The breeze turned into a breathless whisper as soon as we got out onto Lake Union. Not quite a day for hard-core sailing, but a rare opportunity to get Dick's full attention and hear the story of Kin. The Center For Wooden Boats own the 25th and last Concordia Sloop built in 1968 by Waldo Howland, former owner of the Concordia Company of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Kin was named for the builder's youngest son. Pete Culler designed the Concordia Sloop for the yard in 1963. Kin was constructed with special attention to detail to give sufficient beam for comfortable seating, sufficient freeboard for dryness and sufficient length of lines for good performance without requiring a large sail pan. I asked Dick, "So, if this little gem was built in Massachusetts how did she come to live in Seattle?" I somehow doubted it was a Trip through the Panama Canal. In 1969
when Dick heard from Waldo that Kin was for sale he bought her. A friend of Dick's from the Eastcoast was planning a transcontinental motorcycle trip and he convinced his friend to do the northern leg of the trip with his motorcycle and the Kin in a van. The Concordia found its home on Lake Union, and Dick's friend continued on to Mexico. The original carvel planking of the sloop was New England white cedar, the frames white oak and the decking yellow pine. Her mast, boom and gaff are all made from small, New Hampshire spruce trees with the heart of the tree left in the center of the spar to provide lightness, strength, and flexibility. Her mainsail, a gaff, is laced to the boom and mast "Bermuda style", and the jib is set flying - that is without a headstay. All blocks are the ropestropped wooden ones which are light and quiet. Wooden cleats are used throughout the boat. Seating was arranged so that the weight of the crew would efficiently supplement the 200 pounds of inside ballast. She carries 166 square feet of
sail area and sails best in a good breeze. After being lapped by some geese, we finally caught a puff and continued to the east side of Lake Union. We cruised by Gas Works Park, got buzzed by a few seaplanes and sailed by the famed "Sleepless in Seattle" houseboat. Her new owners were out on the deck indulging her in some R&R- repair and restoration. The Concordia Sloop was restored in March of 1994 by a CWB boat restoration class. The class replaced most of the frames with black locust, the transom and the coaming with white oak, and the centerboard trunk with white cedar. She'd be a good boat for the whole family to sail. Despite that mysterious, laced gaff, she is easy to rig, is remarkably dry, has an easy motion, and a light, responsive helm. "We gracefully slipped back onto the dock, tied her up, and that lovely gaff silhouette began flapping in a nice stiff breeze. That's sailing karma for ya.
Page 4
First Years By Dick Wagner Environments are the planting beds of ideas. The idea of a Center for Wooden Boats grew from my first 10 years of experiences in Seattle in the late 50s to late 60s. I had grown up in the area around New York City. Seattle was a totally different urban setting then. It was a brawny working town. Seattle people cut trees and caught fish. Recreation was not into la-de-da things. Recreation was Husky (University of Washington) sports and hydroplane mania. You could buy a couple of tickets to the Seattle Symphony on concert night
and be close enough to hear Glenn Gould singing to himself. I did. A couple of lonely, lanky guys named Lew and Jim Whittaker would sell you an ice axe or Trapper Nelson pack frame in a dingy walk up above a tavern on Pike Street. They called this place Recreational Equipment Co-Op It was the preschool of REI. Boats ruled Seattle then. Wooden Boats. Tug boats were everywhere. New wooden fishing boats were launched every spring gillnetters, trollers and seiners. Wooden pleasure boats were also being built - Frank Prothero, all by himself, was building the 65' schoo-
ner Alcyone from great hunks of Douglas fir and great gobs of Stockholm tar. The 80' Seaborn designed ketch Tatoosh was being built in the Vic Franck Shop. The sharp ring of live oak mallets on the caulking irons reverberated around the shores of Lake Union. The smell of cedar and fir sawdust was a navigational aid in traversing the boat yard lined shores between the Locks and Lake Washington. Maritime history was alive and well, and it had tattoos on its arms and chewed snoose. By the late 60s the wooden boat building frenzy had peaked and was fast sliding into a decline. One by one the great tugs like Mary Hume and Annie W. retired. The log booms
were so ubiquitous that stories of boats grounding out on them at night were common reading. By the late 60s the booms were rarely sighted. Yard after yard was switching to fiberglass or just closing: Blanchard, Monson, Grandy, Sagstad, Triple and Everett, Vesoja, Prothero, Willits, Young, Reinell. The curtain was going down on wooden boats as theater in Seattle and Puget Sound. And they had become an important part of my life. I lived in a houseboat close to the Fremont bridge where boats had to slow down waiting for the bridge to open. I hung out in the shops after work and watched in awe how, with the wordless skill, teams would cut, finish and fasten huge dimensioned timbers. They used hand tools a stone age person could be familiar with and machinery that came from the dawn of the Industrial age. I always carried a day pack on my shop excursions, and brought home choice off cuts of cedar, teak or Honduras mahogany left in the "free wood" bins. I missed the friendly waves from the tug crews that regularly passed by, the sounds and smells that were identifying signs of my watery neighborhood. But most of all I missed those masters of wood, rigging, carving and painting that had so much hard-earned knowledge stored in their minds and hands. Well, you can't keep things beyond their time. [Editor's note: Dick Wagner actually wrote that!] These were archaic boats, built with archaic skills. It bothered me that the scene I had accidentally stumbled into had ended, but I couldn't forget it. A simple idea came floating in from my wife Colleen. We could keep the spirit of that maritime heritage alive by renting traditional small craft behind our houseboat. Good wooden rowing and sailing boats that people could try out. That thought became a reality on February 21,1968, when we rented our first boat. It was a 14 foot Norwegian rowing boat, and a neighbor stopped by and asked to try it because he needed the exercise. This person became a regular rowing customer for a year. The next year he asked me to teach him Continued on page 12
Page 5
ROWING WITH ONE OAR By Norm Warsinski Having practiced for two years to row a gondola with one oar at right angle to the boat, I have wondered if it would be possible to do the same thing with my skiff. I am not sure it has great practical value but it is possible. The process involves slow movement to start and in paying attention to boat direction. Make your first stroke very gently and at the end of the stroke feather the oar under water and make the return under water and down pressure the oar. The down pressure of the oar is an up pressure of the blade at the end of the oar. The blade is in the feathered position on the return. You must be conscious in this process that the stroke does not take the boat too far off course. If when you start a stroke the boat veers drastically off course then feather the oar and down pressure your return and take another less powerful stroke. As you build up speed ( speed is the wrong word, progress in this manner is quite slow) the boat will track straighter. You can easily turn in a circle by making the return stroke out of water or turn in the other direction by making the stroke out of water and the return under water with oar feathered and down pressure on the oar as you return. The process involves the oar in the oarlock and can be done from either side. It is an easier process when standing up and facing the direction of movement as in a gondola. This summer I will have to try it sitting down and facing the direction of movement. Just more messing with small boats
Page 6
The Pipe, A Heritage of the Sea by Steve Osborn Aeons ago, w e s t e r n m a n k n e w n o t h i n g of the consolation the pipe. T h e r e w e r e n o C h a r a t a n s or Saseinis to lighten a m a n ' s labours or to c o n s o l e h i m at d a y ' s end. Saints, sinners, s a g e s a n d serfs had to live o u t their lives with n o other c o m f o r t than small b e e r and c h e a p gin. T h e n , in 1492, an intrepid b a n d of m a r i n e r s , the s w e e p i n g s of the g a o l s a n d w a t e r f r o n t s of Spain, led by the v i s i o n a r y , Cristobal C o l o n , set out across the trackless Atlantic to search out a direct route to C a t h a y . T h e y failed in their quest, but b r o u g h t b a c k a wondrous herb, ultimately of m o r e v a l u e than the gold they sought. It w a s the " h e r b a s a n t a , " tobacco.
m ofo n o p o l y o n spices to E u r o p e at any r e m o t e l y r e a s o n a b l e price. W e first see t h e m in paintings b y the D u t c h Masters. T h e y w e r e soon adopted by m a n y others on land and sea. S o m e are m a s t e r p i e c e s o f the p e w t e r and s i l v e r s m i t h ' s art. O n e rarely sees a B a v a r i a n p i p e w i t h o u t o n e , o f t e n m a t c h i n g the c a p on its a c c o m p a n y i n g b e e r stein. A n o t h e r w i n d b r e a k e r , f o u n d on British and A m e r i c a n pipes is cut f r o m the brier itself, b e f o r e the pipe is bored. Small holes are then drilled in the c a p to a d m i t air, but b a f f l e the wind. It is then refitted atop the b o w l w i t h a pin to swivel on. T h e w h o l e is then shaped, w a x e d and polished; a b e a u t i f u l e x a m p l e of ingenuity, indeed.
Sailors did not invent the pipe, of course. T h e Indians had d o n e that b a c k in the m i s t s o f t i m e ; sailors did take pipes a r o u n d the world, h o w ever and the i n v e n t i v e n e s s of m a n did the rest. T h e stories h a v e b e e n told m a n y t i m e s of the d i s c o v e r y of m e e r s c h a u m , " s e a f o a m , " and its artistic c o n v e r s i o n into pipes, and of the first " b r u y r e " pipe, m a d e by a carver in the South of F r a n c e , b u t h e r e w e are c o n c e r n e d only with pipes and the sea. Sir W a l t e r R a l e i g h is said to h a v e introduced the pipe, and s m o k i n g , to E n g l a n d d u r i n g the r e i g n o f Elizabeth I. W h e n h e later fell o n hard times, h e t o o k his p i p e w i t h h i m to the s c a f f o l d . H e w a s , a m o n g other things, a sailor a n d an adventurer.
T h e pipe, I understand, has, or had, a n o t h e r special place in British naval protocol. W h e n a y o u n g naval o f f i c e r received his c o m m i s s i o n , h e w a s presented with a s w o r d , a n d a quarter-bent squat bulldog; usually a C o m o y or Dunhill, d e p e n d i n g u p o n w h o h a d the s u p p l y contract with H e r M a j e s t y ' s n a v y at the time.
T h e p i p e is the safest w a y to take t o b a c c o , b a r r i n g p e r h a p s the habit of " C h e w i n g the q u i d " it is the m o s t pleasant w a y , b y far. Old ships w e r e h i g h l y f l a m m a b l e . T h e y w e r e built of s e a s o n e d w o o d , rigged with h e m p , and their sails w e r e flax canvas. T h e preservatives u s e d w e r e pine tar, linseed or fish oil, and turpentine. T h e only thing m o r e dreaded than the K r a k e n w a s a fire at sea. E v e n today, in a w o r l d of steel ships and w o o d e n m e n , it is a fire at sea that p r o d u c e s the m o s t terrible disasters. I m a g i n e it t h e n in the d a y s of w o o d e n ships and iron m e n , long b e f o r e radios and air-sea search and r e s c u e units. N a v y m e n h a v e all heard reveille piped aboard ship: "... h e a v e out and trice up. T h e s m o k i n g l a m p is lit in all berthing compartments."
Sailors b e c o m e quite attached to their pipes. ( W h o d o e s n ' t ? ) I rem e m b e r an old s h i p m a t e w h o u s e d to m a k e his living b y his rigging skills. H e h a d b e e n e n g a g e d b y a g e n t l e m a n y a c h t s m a n to s c r a p e and revarnish the m a s t of his sloop. H e rigged a b o s u n ' s chair o f f o n e end of a d o u b l e e n d e d halliard. H e pulled h i m s e l f to the m a s t h e a d , s o m e sixty feet o f f the deck and belayed the chair. W i t h his pipe in his teeth, h e b e g a n the j o b . T h e g e n t l e m a n y a c h t s m a n had t w o children frolicking on the deck. T h e other end of the halliard w a s m a d e fast to a belaying pin on the fiferail at the foot of the m a s t ; o n e of the children cast it o f f . M y shipmate dropped toward the deck while the gentleman yachtsman looked on in horror. A s he dropped, h e kicked o f f the m a s t and hit the w a t e r b e t w e e n the boat and the pier. A f e w s e c o n d s later, he s u r f a c e d , pipe still clenched b e t w e e n his teeth, grabbed a chainplate and pulled himself back aboard. W i t h o u t a w o r d , he stalked u p to the ashen faced o w n e r and p u l l e d his clean, w h i t e , shirt tail out of his p a n t s , carefully dried his pipe on it, then reloaded it.
" H e a v e o u t and trice u p , " dates to the h a m m o c k berths of the old navy. In the m o r n i n g the h a m m o c k s w e r e taken d o w n , rolled up and lashed - triced u p - and stored in the h a m m o c k nettings on the railings "If you want w h e r e they served to stop small a r m s fire f r o m e n e m y ships. T h e s m o k that mast varing l a m p dates b a c k e v e n further. you'll So great w a s the fear of fire a b o a r d ship that only t w o f l a m e s w e r e n i s h e d , h a v e those a l l o w e d . A c a n d l e f o r the C a p t a i n ' s table and a binnacle light for the c o m p a s s . A s sailors b e g a n to take u p the pipe, the s m o k i n g l a m p w a s g o d d a m n e d k i d s introduced. T h e r e w e r e n o lucifer m a t c h e s then, nor w o u l d sailors h a v e o f f this boat and been allowed t h e m if there w e r e . E v e n flint and tinder w e r e forbidden. o f f t h e p i e r , b e Instead, at several intervals d u r i n g the day, the s m o k i n g l a m p w a s lit and f o r e I g e t b a c k the n e w s w a s piped t h r o u g h o u t the ship. A s the h o u r neared, sailors would a l o f t , " h e s a i d , p r o d u c e their short pipes and s h a v e and c r u m b l e bits of coarse " t w i s t " or and w a l k e d back " p i g t a i l " t o b a c c o into t h e m . W h e n the l a m p w a s lit, the m e n w o u l d q u e u e to the mast, trailu p and take a light f r o m the lamp. W h e n the l a m p w a s put out, so w e r e i n g a c l o u d o f smoke. the pipes, until the l a m p w a s lit again. T h o s e r e a d e r s w h o h a v e s m o k e d a b o a r d ship h a v e o b s e r v e d that the w i n d q u i c k l y turns their p i p e into a m i n i a t u r e blast f u r n a c e . T h e r e is m u c h s p e c u l a t i o n a b o u t w h o d e v e l o p e d the so called " s p a r k arrester," but I think it m a y b e credited to s o m e u n s u n g m a r i n e r in the D u t c h EastIndies trade. T h e H o l l a n d e r s m a d e far m o r e leisurely v o y a g e s than other nations in t h o s e d a y s ; a f t e r all, f o r m o r e t h a n a century they had a virtual
Well, I think its time to k n o c k o f f , f o r n o w . Its my watch below and the s m o k i n g l a m p is lit.
Page 7
by Peter H. Spectre
A u g u s t day s e e m like a Swiss alpine k n e w w h a t s u r f b o a t s a n d d a v i t s m e a d o w . O u r scalps itched. O u r w e r e supposed to do. W e just h a d n ' t Y o u , m e , a n d a r o w b o a t . C o n - w o o l e n shirts stuck to our b a c k s . d o n e that with t h e m before. O u r n e c k s rah with sweat. I ' m not g o i n g to d e s c r i b e the sider the possibilities: W e c a m e to a w h a r f that ran panic, the agitation, the c o n f u s i o n I ' m at the oars; s h e ' s sitting in the s t e m . I c a n look into her smil- about 50 feet into the creek. At the that ensued. S u f f i c e it to say that ing eyes. S h e c a n h e a r m y w i t t y e n d of the w h a r f w a s a pair of dav- for the first minute, m i n u t e a n d a banter. I can s h o w o f f m y rippling its. Slung in the davits w a s a double- half, there w a s a lot of theorizing m u s c l e s . S h e can see t h e m . Is there e n d e d M o n o m o y s u r f b o a t , an an- about the u s e s of blocks and tackles, a n d a a better w a y to i m p r e s s a date? Is c i e n t l i f e lot of arthere a better w a y f o r a date to b e saving icon, g u i n g as p o t e n t a impressed? a b o u t I d o n ' t k n o w h o w m a n y ro- s y m b o l to how to t h e C o a s t m a n c e s o r i g i n a t e d in a r o w b o a t , or get that as how many, c o m m e n c e d elsewhere, G u a r d boat in w e r e b r o u g h t to a h i g h e r level there, t h e h o r s e -
R o w b o a t s w e r e for w o r k , not f o r f u n , and the h a r d e r the w o r k , and in our case as trainees, the m o r e instructive, the better. Grunt, sweat, s u f f e r , a n d learn. T h a t ' s w h a t r o w boats w e r e for, and d o n ' t y o u forget it f o r a m i n u t e , Buster. O n e d a y a f t e r n a v i g a t i o n class, o r w a s it f i r e f i g h t i n g ? (I c a n ' t remember), our platoon was marching d o w n a path that ran a l o n g s i d e a c r e e k . W e w e r e e n g a g e d in an exercise called Project X. T h e gent in charge w a s one of those red-faced warrant o f f i c e r s w h o had e a r n e d a h i g h - s c h o o l e q u i v a l e n c y certificate by c o r r e s p o n d e n c e c o u r s e a n d w h o had risen through the r a n k s and w h o y e l l e d all the t i m e b e c a u s e he c o u l d n ' t believe h e h a d to w a s t e his precious t i m e w i t h a b u n c h of effete college kids w h o d i d n ' t k n o w a 3-inch gun from a 10-foot boat hook. P r o j e c t X w a s an i n t e r m i t t e n t m a r a t h o n intended to bring out latent leadership potential in the officer c a n d i d a t e s . Call it O u t w a r d B o u n d w i t h a m e a n streak. It consisted of a series o f s e e m i n g l y imp o s s i b l e tasks, i n d u c e d r a n d o m l y , that in t h e o r y w o u l d s e p a r a t e the r u n n e r s f r o m the j o g g e r s , the m e n f r o m the boys, the leaders f r o m the followers. T h e d a y w a s o p p r e s s i v e l y hot, with a relative h u m i d i t y i n d e x that by comparison would m a k e N e w Y o r k City at high n o o n o n a m i d -
"Eight minutes for a simple fivem i n u t e t a s k ! " the w a r r a n t o f f i c e r shouted, not without a certain smirk of satisfaction, a f t e r w e w e r e finally l i n e d u p at a t t e n t i o n n e x t to o u r M o n o m o y surfboat. " M r . Spectre! ter!"
Front a n d c e n -
" A y e , A y e , Sir." " T e n demerits, M r . Spectre," he said. " F i v e for taking too m u c h time a n d five m o r e for s k y l a r k i n g . " "Skylarking?" " T h a t ' s right, college b o y , " the w a r r a n t o f f i c e r said w i t h a sneer. " Y o u looked like y o u w e r e h a v i n g too m u c h f u n . "
the water, w h o should use w h a t oar, and how the oar should be used ( m o s t of m y c h u m s d i d n ' t k n o w h o w to r o w ) . H e l l ' s b e l l s ! W e wasted at least 2 0 seconds, m a y b e O n e w o u l d think that after an exmore, in a heated dispute over which end w a s the b o w and w h i c h w a s the p e r i e n c e like that a n y o n e w o u l d be incapable of h a v i n g f u n in a r o w " O k a y , y o u o v e r e d u c a t e d stem! j u g h e a d s , " he shouted with a touch But I w a s in charge, so I d r e w b o a t a g a i n . A t least n o t w i t h o u t many, many hours of psychological c o u n s e l i n g to raise o n e ' s self e s t e e m . But such was not the case with me. S k y l a r k i n g in a r o w b o a t h a d been habitual since I w a s a little kid. N o w a r rant o f f i c e r w i t h a h i g h - s c h o o l e q u i v a l e n c y certificate could ever w h i p s a w m e into l o w self e s t e e m in a rowboat. Not a chance.
but I d o k n o w that t h e r e ' s something d r a w n caisson is to the A r m y . enervating about the c o m b i n a t i o n of T h e w a r r a n t o f f i c e r called the water, boat, f r e s h air, and thou. platoon to a halt, stomped to the end W h e n I w a s in training to be- of the w h a r f , threw a life ring as far c o m e an o f f i c e r in the U.S. C o a s t as he could into the creek, turned Guard, this kind of thing w a s k n o w n a r o u n d , put his h a n d s on his hips, as skylarking and w a s strictly for- a n d addressed u s thus: bidden. A n y aimless pursuit of happiness, especially with a m e m b e r of the o p p o s i t e sex, could get y o u into big, big trouble. Especially if it w e r e in a r o w b o a t .
in the p r o c e s s w a s — h o w should I s a y ? — m o r e p r o b l e m a t i c a l than I had thought. T h a t part of the operation took an extra f o u r minutes.
of m e n a c e in his voice. " T h a t life ring is a d r o w n i n g m a n . Y o u m a y l o o k l i k e a b u n c h of s i s s i e s b u t y o u ' r e still c o a s t g u a r d s m e n , a n d your task is to rescue him. Y o u must d o it with the s u r f b o a t and only the surfboat. H e will be dead in three m i n u t e s . Y o u m u s t rescue h i m in u n d e r that time, and you m u s t return the boat to the davits. Total time: 5 minutes. Mr. Spectre, y o u ' r e in c h a r g e . " M r . Spectre? M e ? T h e r e w e r e a lot of landlubbers a m o n g us. W e had heard of M o n o m o y s u r f b o a t s , and w e h a d also heard of davits. T h e best you could say w a s that w e w e r e indeed college educated; the worst you c o u l d say w a s that w e w e r e theorists. B u t at least w e could read. F r o m o u r p e r s o n a l c o p i e s of the Coastguardsman's Manual, we
N o t long after I strapped those E n s i g n b o a r d s on m y shoulders and blew that training center in a c l o u d of dust, I w a s easing d o w n a river w i t h m y lady love in a s k i f f , s k y l a r k i n g to b e a t the band.
m y s e l f u p to f u l l h e i g h t , told all those greaseballs to shut up, sorted out the b o w f r o m the stern, the lifeb o a t falls f r o m the painter, m a d e quick, arbitrary assignments, got the boat in the water, the c r e w in the I w a s s h o w i n g o f f m y rippling boat, and shipped the steering oar. I w a s a M a n l y M a n in Training, w a s m u s c l e s . She could see t h e m . I not? W e had the d r o w n i n g life ring in hand in u n d e r three m i n u t e s , and w e had the surfboat alongside the w h a r f by m i n u t e four. T h e real p r o b l e m c a m e in getting the boat falls two-blocked in the davits. Actually, w e had little difficulty with the t w o - b l o c k i n g part (if this is too technical, look it up). Getting the bitter ends of the falls tied o f f on the cleats without d r o p p i n g the s e v e r a l - h u n d r e d p o u n d boat o v e r b o a r d and developing a severe case of r o p e b u m
Copyright
1994 Peter H. Compass Rose
Spectre,
Page 8
The Classic Six Metre OSLO By William Blethen If w h i l e c r u i s i n g in t h e S a n Juans this s u m m e r near Friday Harbor, you should see a b e a u t i f u l Six M e t r e w i t h ivory hull, green deck, and N - 2 2 on her m a i n , y o u h a v e f o u n d OSLO. S a v o r and r e m e m ber the sight o f her u n d e r sail, because O S L O is f a m o u s in northwest yachting. M a n y p e o p l e r e m e m b e r her as the oldest o f the h a r d - r a c i n g Six
Metres in Seattle during the 1 9 6 0 ' s and 7 0 ' s . Her skipper and o w n e r w a s the legendary Hans-Otto Giese, w h o b r o u g h t O S L O to Seattle in 1937. G i e s e w a s a m a j o r f o u n d e r of the fleet here. His O S L O w a s the second boat to arrive. F r o m 1934 to 1950 the Six M e t r e s w e r e about the m o s t internationally active racing yachts in the world. After World W a r II a l a r g e n u m b e r o f S i x e s ended u p in Seattle. T h e " o r i g i n a l " small and active group also included
HANKO, SAGA, L I G H T S C O U T , ALARM, L U L U and MARS. T h e r e w a s a later " s e c o n d w a v e " that included YLLIAM VIII, MARGUERITHA, R I S K E N and I N D I A N S C O U T . E X I T a r r i v e d in 1961, and G O O S E and MAYBE VII in 1964. T h e r e w e r e an additional half dozen Sixes in the area in V a n couver and Victoria. R e c o r d s indicate a 16 boat Seattle fleet in 1964, 18 boats in 1968, and 25 boats registered in 1970 for the North A m e r i can C h a m p i o n s h i p s in S e a t t l e (see photo of O S L O on the starting line of o n e race). Classic designers r e p r e s e n t e d in the fleet included Johan Anker, B j a r n e Aas, and Olin Stephens. Through the years O S L O w o n her share of races, i n c l u d i n g the Sir T h o m a s Lipton Trophy on four occasions. HansOtto had a reputation f o r u s i n g good-natured cunning and trickery to belie her n i c k n a m e of
"Old Slow". The OSLO w a s b u i l t in 1 9 2 6 f o r C r o w n Prince Olaf of N o r w a y . S h e has a small foretriangle and is c o m paratively short ( 3 6 feet) and beamy. The fleet r a n g e d in length f r o m 35 to 3 8 feet. T h e i m p o r tance of the Sixes in yacht racing design could be seen in the Seattle fleet. The early Sixes were short, carried lots of mainsail, and small foretriangles. OSLO, designed by Johan A n k e r , is an excellent prototype exa m p l e . N o r w a y built the first Sixes. B e c a u s e o f North Sea conditions, these early Sixes w e r e designed to h a n d l e a b l o w , yet c o u l d m o v e well in light conditions. A m o n g the longest boats, and und e n i a b l y the best h e a v y w e a t h e r boat, w a s SAGA. M a n y have called her the loveliest Six M e t r e e v e r built, b a s e d on her lines (see sketch of SAGA). S h e has a d e e p forefoot, beautifully rounded sections, and h e r t r a n s o m has the conventional wine-glass shape. Shorter and m o r e radical boats c a m e later, such as Ylliam VIII designed in 1951. H a n s - O t t o insisted on k e e p i n g the O L S O ' s rig original. T h e r e f o r e to fly a spinnaker, the forestay had to be released and m o v e d out of the w a y -interesting w h e n you recall the Sixes h a v e r u n n i n g backstays. Today O S L O still looks very m u c h the same. She is o w n e d by the six Giese children. Peter Giese, the y o u n g est, is s p e a r h e a d i n g the restoration efforts. T h e y are c a r e f u l l y w o r k i n g t h r o u g h the p r o c e s s in stages (see p h o t o of O S L O recently in the yard f o r sole and r u d d e r w o r k — the hull s h a p e is u n m i s t a k a b l e ) . W h e n y o u talk with Peter, his p r i d e q u i c k l y c o m e s through, such as w h e n h e des c r i b e s the t w e n t y g o o d c o a t s o f varnish on the bright w o r k you too get to see O S L O .
About the author and CWB connections William Blethen (Board Member) was a regular crew on YLLIAM VIII for many years, and twice raced on OSLO with Hans-Otto.... Scott Rohrer (Former Secretary and Board Member) has consulted on the restoration of OSLO, particularly regarding the rigging.... Peter Giese is a new member of the Center For Wooden Boats.
Hope
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A Voyage of Discovery, or Who Named Puget Sound? By Colleen Wagner
voluted coast f r o m lower California to C o o k Inlet, Alaska. In M a y 1792 he entered Puget S o u n d i d e n t i f y i n g , m a p p i n g , and n a m i n g m o s t of our p r o m i n e n t w a t e r w a y s and landmarks. M a n y of the n a m e s w e r e given to h o n o r British N a v a l O f f i c e r s , Captain V a n c o u v e r ' s friends and family.
C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s a n d a gold star if y o u k n o w ! Sadly, f e w p e o p l e can a n s w e r this question. B e f o r e I tell all of y o u the a n s w e r , let m e try a few other questions. W h o named o u r m a j o r m o u n t a i n s : Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, Mt. H o o d , Mt. St. Helens? W h o named Dungeness, P e t e r P u g e t w a s o n e of t h e s e W h i d b e y Island, Vashon Island, H o o d C a n a l , Port T o w n s e n d , Bell- o f f i c e r s on b o a r d D i s c o v e r y . H e , i n g h a m B a y and Point R o b e r t s ? Let with a c r e w of eight m e n set o f f in a small ship's boat from Restoration m e give y o u s o m e clues. If y o u s u s p e c t t h e n a m e s all P o i n t w h e r e D i s c o v e r y w a s a n c a m e f r o m o n e person, a ship's cap- c h o r e d . T h e y b r o u g h t t w o w e e k s tain w h o entered our N W w a t e r s in p r o v i s i o n s a n d p l a n n e d to c o m e ashore every evening to camp. Their 1792 y o u are right! If y o u g u e s s e d his 9 6 f o o t sail- c h a r g e w a s t o s u r v e y t h e l o w e r ing vessel w a s called Discovery with sound. Captain V a n c o u v e r w a s so a 53 f o o t escort ship C h a t h a m y o u i m p r e s s e d with their survey w o r k that he n a m e d it Puget's Sound! T h e are right! If y o u say that these t w o ships, their C a p t a i n and c r e w m o s t l y using small ships boats o n the inland w a t e r s did an excellent s u r v e y i n g and charting of our intricate coastline. T h e y w e r e t h e r e f o r e r e s p o n sible f o r accurately p l a c i n g the Pacific Northwest on World Maps. Portions o f these charts w e r e still b e i n g u s e d u p to the 1920s. N o w , o n e last clue and y o u will h a v e g u e s s e d . M i l l i o n s k n o w his n a m e but f e w k n o w w h o he w a s or w h y t w o m a j o r N W cities and o n e m a j o r i s l a n d w e r e n a m e d in h i s honor. If y o u g u e s s e d C a p t a i n G e o r g e V a n c o u v e r , you're R I G H T O N ! T h e v o y a g e of D i s c o v e r y started in E n g l a n d in 1791 w h e n C a p t a i n V a n c o u v e r w a s c h o s e n as leader of the expedition w h i c h w a s sponsored b y the H o u s e o f L o r d s and the British A d m i r a l t y to explore, chart and s u r v e y the P a c i f i c N o r t h w e s t , settle a dispute w i t h Spain and look for a N o r t h w e s t Passage. C a p t a i n V a n c o u v e r ' s naval career started at age 14 w h e n he signed o n as ship's b o y w i t h C a p t a i n C o o k and spent t w o v o y a g e s to the Pacific gaining valuable experience. B y the t i m e he w a s 36, he had w o r k e d his w a y u p t h r o u g h the ranks, and w a s q u a l i f i e d to lead the P a c i f i c coast v o y a g e of exploration. T h i s v o y a g e w a s to last four and a half years from 1791-1795.
n a m e n o w includes m u c h m o r e than w a s originally intended. Captain Vancouver named 388 geographic locations on his v o y a g e and ninety percent of the n a m e s h a v e survived. His charts of the P a c i f i c C o a s t l i n e c o v e r 4000 miles. Only seven men w e r e lost o n the four and a half y e a r v o y a g e w h i c h is an outstanding record in itself.
Arriving b a c k in England in 1795 he b e g a n w o r k on his j o u r nal of the V o y a g e . Despite p o o r health, he left only the last 100 p a g e s of his j o u r n a l incomplete b e f o r e his death at age 41. His b r o t h e r a n d several D i s c o v e r y C a p t a i n V a n c o u v e r and his t w o O f f i c e r s finished the Journal. ships circumnavigated the globe Captain Vancouver's reputac o v e r i n g well o v e r 100,000 miles tion as a surveyor, m a p m a k e r , u n d e r sail. E q u i p p e d with little m o r e explorer, and geographer is even than a sextant, a f e w c h r o n o m e t e r s g r e a t e r t o d a y than in the 18th and a g r a s p of basic t r i g o n o m e t r y C e n t u r y b e c a u s e at that time he he charted the h a z a r d o u s and con- w a s o v e r s h a d o w e d by the m o r e
f l a m b o y a n t and w i d e r a n g i n g C a p tain C o o k . Captain V a n c o u v e r w a s n e v e r honored b y his country for his outstanding w o r k on the v o y a g e b e c a u s e of w a r and political f a v o r itism. Our Puget Sound area has a m a r i t i m e h i s t o r y s e c o n d to n o n e . Ships of every type, size, and s h a p e and every p u r p o s e f r o m c o m m e r c e to smuggling, from tugboats to ferries, f r o m fishing and pleasure boats, to military vessels ply these waters. Our inland waters o f f e r s o m e t h i n g f o r all.
not only C a p t a i n V a n c o u v e r , but all the sailors w h o contributed and h e l p e d to m a k e it a "Great N o r t h west". If w e are to s a v e this p r e c i o u s m a r i t i m e history b e f o r e the k n o w l e d g e , artifacts, p a p e r s a n d p h o t o s d i s a p p e a r , a m a r i t i m e m u s e u m is urgently n e e d e d . P u g e t S o u n d Historical Society is p l a n n i n g to create the P u g e t S o u n d M a r i t i m e M u s e u m in t h e N a v a l R e s e r v e A r m o r y at South L a k e U n i o n in Seattle w h e n the building b e c o m e s available. That location will also provide a h o m e f o r o u r historic ships and an a r e a f o r a N a t i v e A m e r i c a n cultural center. A d j a c e n t to the C e n t e r for W o o d e n B o a t s and N o r t h w e s t Seap o r t , t h e S o u t h L a k e U n i o n site s e e m s an ideal location for telling the o u t s t a n d i n g N W story of Marit i m e heritage.
W e should not forget h o w important the heritage w a s and still is to the d e v e l o p m e n t of Puget S o u n d . O u r cities and t o w n s w o u l d not b e T o learn m o r e of o u r m a r i t i m e what they are without this important history visit the interim m u s e u m at maritime heritage. W e should honor 901 F a i r v i e w at C h a n d l e r ' s C o v e at South L a k e U n i o n ( O p e n Daily). O r c o m e to o u r display in the A r m o r y at t h e F e s t i v a l . I n f o r m a t i o n a n d membership 624-3028.
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Voyagers by Lauren Bain Arc of russet wing subtends its skipper's fir post. Standing still, he flies. Fair wind to her cheek, his fere sings low on the prow; his smile toasts the brine Sail luffs in new wake; they land to kingfisher trills: this new world is theirs. They compose their play, mystery their bold usher, on a big-screen sea. Wood and adventure: more ancient than magic, love in a roost at sea.
Photographers! ning a contest for the photograph that best captures the flavor of this year's Wooden Boat Festival. The lucky winner will receive credit, recognition, the adulation of millions and Free Sailing lessons for you or a friend. Color or monochrome slides should be sent to Roger Coulter at the Center for Wooden Boats office by August 15. The Photographs may be used to publicize future Wooden Boat Festivals and other CWB publications. Who knows where such exposure could lead!
How Many Boatbuilders does it take to screw in a light bulb? Answer Page 12
Page 11
By Christian Holtz
Ship by Lauren Bain Facile steel cuts clean lines despised by nature, rails jousting tidal flux. Power and function in elemental sea meld tension and reverence. Cells return to brine. Ocean is a memory; Carbon is the mind. Flux reveres tension; creation reveres nothing — but matter and mind.
Page 12 Answer to Joke on Page 10 Well, it's a broken all right.... Looks like the socket is dead too... heck, we a'might as well replace the whole roof so long as we're goin' in.
were accessible, many took f o l k s for rides, and there w e r e rich r e s o u r c e s o f h i s t o r y and technology information. A f t e r the s h o w , w e b e g a n conducting seminars and workshops on maritime heritage skills, p u b l i s h i n g a newsletter, Spring and Fall regattas and p l a n n i n g our first site. O u r first W o o d e n Boat Festival, 2 0 y e a r s ago, m a r k e d a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n f o r m e . It all b e g a n with the w o n d e r m e n t of w i t n e s s i n g a vital w o o d e n boat industry that I thought h a d died out generations before. The m e m o r i e s of t h o s e experiences crystallized into a backyard trad i t i o n a l b o a t rental b u s i n e s s . The throngs of enthusiasts drawn to the Old Boathouse like m o t h s to a candle, e n c o u r aged u s to think b i g about a living historic smallcraft m u s e u m . A n d that t h o u g h t p u s h e d u s on to d o a B o a t Festival as a trial balloon.
Continued from p a g e 4 card f r o m the West Coast of M e x i c o - a stop on his o n g o i n g round Pacific sailing cruise. W e c a l l e d o u r rental b u s i n e s s T h e Old B o a t h o u s e . W e b e g a n with about 10 small c r a f t a n d eventually had a w o r k i n g fleet of 20. T h e y w e r e a w i d e r a n g e of t y p e s and origins Whitehall, w h e r r y , and p e a p o d , from Puget Sound, British Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, and N o r w a y , gaff and sprit, lug, lateen and m a r c o n i rigs. T h e r e w a s n o a d v e r tising, no merchandise sales, no commercial building. Our houseboat kitchen was the place most gravitated to a f t e r a turn in a boat. They knew there was fresh coffee and b e e r in the f r i d g e . P e o p l e c a m e
like l e m m i n g s with a traditional boat mission. They came from everyw h e r e , s o m e at d a w n , s o m e a f t e r dark, s o m e stayed overnight in our houseboat, after the c o f f e e w a s gone and the beer drained. It w a s in this e n v i r o n m e n t that m e m o r i e s snapped into focus learning to sail in old w o o d e n boats, learning to build them, w a t c h i n g the t o w n boatbuilder d o his magic, sailing f o r p a y to A l a s k a , a c r o s s the P a c i f i c a r o u n d the Horn. A flood of people c a m e to not only see the boats and u s e t h e m , but to share and soak u p traditional small craft inform a t i o n . T h e boats and their setting, afloat and in use, w a s the catalyst f o r gathering and bringing history b a c k to life. Here, in the vest pocket
T w e n t y years, h u n d r e d s of boats, t h o u s a n d s o f m e m b e r s , a million m e m o r i e s , a gazillion ideas f o r the future. W e h a v e g r o w n f r o m a h a n d s - o n history m u s e u m to a c h e r i s h e d c o m m u n i t y r e s o u r c e and h a n g o u t . W e h a v e received a w a r d s from T h e Seattle D e s i g n C o m m i s sion f o r our built e n v i r o n m e n t , the G o v e r n o r o f W a s h i n g t o n for our public schools program, U.S. Sailing f o r our c o m m u n i t y outreach in sailing instruction, C e n t e r f o r C a r e e r Alternatives for o u r at-risk y o u t h p r o g r a m s and W a s h i n g t o n O f f i c e of Arc h e o l o g y and Historic Preserh a r b o r b e h i n d o u r h o u s e b o a t , the vation for passing on Maritime Herie s s e n c e o f Seattle's w o o d e n b o a t tage skills to at risk y o u t h . T h i s is a c a u t i o n a r y tale. T r a v past had b e e n r e v i v e d . F r o m this c a m e C o l l e e n ' s n e x t b r a i n s t o r m : els to strange lands will give y o u life Create a full service smallcraft m u - lasting decision i n f l u e n c i n g m e m o s e u m based on m o d e l of T h e O l d ries. T h e s e m e m o r i e s can b e stored Boathouse. Another simple step for- a w a y like s n a p s h o t s in an a l b u m , b r o u g h t into m o r e o r d e r as a spare ward. N e x t c a m e the question - is the time h o b b y , or, t h r o w a w a y the cork c o m m u n i t y r e a d y f o r t h i s ? W e and let t h e m f l o w out. T h e m e m o n e e d e d to d o m a r k e t research. Lets ries c a n metamorphose into an all invite p e o p l e to bring their w o o d e n c o n s u m i n g passion, c o m p l e t e with boats to an exhibit and see if p e o p l e staff, budgets, and t e l e p h o n e s hangc o m e . That w a s July 1977. W e put ing f r o m b o t h ears. T a k e y o u r pick. o n our first W o o d e n Boat Festival. In fact, the first in the country. T h o u sands c a m e to this event at the N a val R e s e r v e Base. W e p r o v e d our instinct w a s right about the p o p u l a r appeal of w o o d e n boats. T h e boats
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A Weekend with Martha Stephen M. Osborn T h e c r e w reported aboard, eager as a litter of C o l l i e p u p s , and r a r i n ' to go. T h e S k i p p e r b r o u g h t out the m a i n stays'1 sheet b l o c k s for a s s e m bly and the larnin' began. The blocks w e r e assembled and the sheet r o v e o f f . T h e c o o k got c h e c k e d out o n the v a g a r i e s of the galley stove (he thought) and stowed the g r u b . D i c k arrived f r o m the inevitable m e e t i n g , leaped a b o a r d in a classic "pier h e a d j u m p " and, t o w ing a p e a p o d b e h i n d us, the v o y a g e w a s under weigh. W e headed for the Fremont B r i d g e , the first of three obstacles to o u r m a k i n g sail, T h e c o o k d e m onstrated his operatic talent, o p e n ing the bridge by sheer voice p o w e r and w e w e r e passed through amidst a c r o w d of other boats of v a r y i n g size and description, T r a n s i t i n g the locks went s m o o t h l y due to the S k i p p e r ' s excellent directions and w e finally m e t the sea T w o c r e w m e n w e r e assigned to get the G e n o a up, the c o o k assisting. W h i c h end is u p w a s the first question asked " L e t ' s take a look," said Cookie. ' T h i s e n d s a y s ' H E A D ' , " reported the bowsprit m a n and Cookie said to send that u p first, as he sorted out the sheets. T h e rest of the crew busied t h e m s e l v e s with setting the m a i n , and the m a i n and f o r e stays'Is. T h e gaskets w e r e cast off, halliards bent on, topping lift hauled and the crutch s t o w e d . U p rose the sails and the cook demonstrated "swigging o f f the halliards. M a r t h a heeled gently to the b r e e z e and w e reached across Puget S o u n d , feeling like the original discoverers. T h e Skipper, Dick, and the c o o k passed on a bit of lore about the h a n d l i n g of schooners and the advisability of k e e p i n g an eye o u t to w i n d w a r d f o r s q u a l l s a n d w h a t to d o about it w h i l e the c r e w got u s e d to the h e l m , T w o or three tacks were m a d e and the crew handled M a r t h a very smoothly. T h e only p r o b l e m w a s the G e n o a , w h i c h set like a potato sack. T h e c o o k cast a sage e y e on it and decided it m a y h a v e b e e n o f f a d i f f e r e n t boat at o n e time. F i d d l i n g w i t h the sheet leads h e l p e d a bit, but not m u c h , W e fell in w i t h a p r e t t y little B l u e M o o n r e p l i c a a n d s a i l e d in c o m p a n y with her for a while, then the c o o k and a c o u p l e of c r e w m e m b e r s h a d b o a t drill, b o a r d i n g t h e
p e a p o d f r o m M a r t h a and rowing o f f to t a k e s o m e p h o t o s , T u r n s w e r e t a k e n r o w i n g and the c r e w t e a m e d about f o l l o w i n g the " s t r o k e " oar to get the c a d e n c e - L u n c h had b e e n b r o u g h t aboard " b r o w n b a g g e d , " so e v e r y o n e snacked and yarned. T h e weather cooperated magnificently with sun and a few "puff ball" clouds. O n e black squall crossed to t h e S o u t h , b u t that w a s d o w n by T a c o m a so it j u s t a d d e d to the scenery and p r o m o t e d m o r e discussion a b o u t h a n d l i n g a s c h o o n e r in a squall. W e headed into Elliott Bay, then turned and reached back out.
bor, w e r e d u c e d sail and cleared the anchor for letting go. With a n i m b l e and splash, the a n c h o r bit into the m u d of the a n c h o r a g e and the first d a y ' s adventure had ended, we thought. A c o u p l e of c r e w m e m bers took the p e a p o d on a v o y a g e of exploration.
sack, the c o o k v o w i n g to bring his o w n stove and skillets next time.
C o o k i e a w o k e to the s o u n d of the early birds m a n n i n g the a n c h o r w i n d l a s s and the S k i p p e r lighting o f f the iron topsail- H e s t u m b l e d u p on d e c k to ask w h a t ' s up, to find w e were getting under weigh for T h e rest of the tired and h u n g r y W i n s l o w and breakfast! A w e l c o m e crew trooped below, reliving the day suggestion, indeed! and asking questions. The cook T h e trip around to W i n s l o w w a s a s k e d h o w F i s h e r m a n ' s C o r n e d b e a u t i f u l . Seattle w a s silhouetted B e e f H a s h sounded. H e received a against the rising sun and the clouds r e s o u n d i n g a f f i r m a t i v e and b e g a n w e r e all in g l o w i n g pastels. T h e c u t t i n g u p t h e s p u d s , o n i o n s , M u n i Pier in W i n s l o w w a s c h o c k ' s h r o o m s a n d g a r l i c . A s e a r c h a-block with p o w e r boats, so w e tied As the day wore on, w e followed turned up a limited a m o u n t of sil- u p at the Y a c h t C l u b pier, N o o n e w a s a b o u t , so w e p r o c e e d e d into t o w n a n d g r e a t o m e l e t s at t h e S t r e a m l i n e Diner. Replete, w e all w a d d l e d b a c k to M a r t h a to find the gate locked. A g e n t l e m a n f r o m the Yacht Club turned up and questioned our p r e s e n c e . W e explained that w e w e r e j u s t distressed mariners relieving o u r h u n g e r and that There w a s n o tie u p but theirs. H e accepted out a p o l o g y and hade us a good day,
the Westering sun toward our e v e n i n g ' s a n c h o r a g e in P o r t Blakely. T h e c o o k had been t w e a k ing the G e n o a o f f and on all day, to no avail. T h e Skipper c a m e forward and said, " N o t to tell you your business, but perhaps next time you should try setting it right side u p . " " T h a t ' s w h a t w e did this m o r n ing," replied the cook. "I can read ' T A C K ' f r o m here," said the Skipper. The cook squinted aloft, "By G o d , y o u ' r e right, w e ' l l try it the other w a y , t o m o r r o w , "
ver and only a small skillet and pot, so he prepared to m a k e d i n n e r in relays. T h e stove w a s cranked u p to m a x and a skillet filled with ingredients to s i m m e r , A n o t h e r pot w a s put on to boil water for c o f f e e and tea. Tales of v o y a g e s past w e r e spinning back and forth on the loom of r e m i n i s c e n c e w h e n the c o o k noticed that the water w a s o n l y approaching r o o m temperature. T h e c o o k reset the stove c o n t r o l s and l o o k e d at t h e f l a m e , a s m o k i n g sickly yellow, T h e Skipper crawled about under lockers finding and opening valves. Each time, he asked, " H o w ' s that?" N o encouragement.
A trip to the end of the bowsprit r e v e a l e d b o t h H E A D and T A C K stenciled on the sail at the tack. T h e s a m e w a s f o u n d on the head w h e n It w a s getting late and the c r e w w e furled the sail. w a s a b o u t r e a d y to eat the c o o k . W e reached u p between Blakely Another crew m e m b e r took the ' p o d R o c k and Restoration Point, giving to scout, returning later to report that t h e f o r m e r a w i d e b e r t h . P o r t Pizza deliveries had ceased about B l a k e l y is a beautiful little harbor, f i f t e e n m i n u t e s earlier, T h e store of s h i e l d e d f r o m e v e r y t h i n g b u t an s h i p ' s biscuit and l u n c h e o n g o o d Easterly gale, a rare bird in these ies for t o m o r r o w were c o n s u m e d for waters. As w e sailed u p into the har- a late supper and all h a n d s hit the
W e got under weigh in a m u c h cheerier f r a m e of m i n d T h e c o o k and the foredeck: crew swapped ends on the genoa- The cook m a d e a three foot tack line to get the tack u p clear of the pulpit and w h e n it w a s hoisted this time, it set s m o o t h and pulled like a M i s s o u r i m u l e . W e s p e n t m o s t of the day, tacking back and forth across the sound, racing a ketch on o n e leg. M o s t of the c r e w took turns at the helm, gaining exp e r i e n c e steering and e v e r y o n e had f u n t w e a k i n g :he sails to get the m o s t out of her w h e n dueling with the ketch. W e felt the lack of the big f i s h e r m a n s t a y s ' ) in the light air. A s the d a y w o r e on, w e reluctantly put the h e l m d o w n and ran for the locks, d r o p p i n g the sails j u s t o f f S h i l s h o l e B a y - U n d e r p o w e r , the sails w e r e harbor furled and the covers replaced. L o c k i n g t h r o u g h took a little less t i m e than o u t b o u n d and w e w e n d e d our w a y u n d e r the t w o b r i d g e s and across L a k e U n i o n to the C W B . It w a s with g e n u i n e regret that w e all s h o o k hands, b a d e g o o d - b y e to M a r t h a a n d p a r t e d f r o m e a c h other, W e had j o i n e d her t w o days p r e v i o u s l y as a g r o u p of individuals with an interest in sailing and w e parted as a c r e w , with a c r e w ' s love f o r a fine vessel and m u t u a l respect. E v e r y o n e e x p r e s s e d a desire to do it again, and so w e shall.
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WHAT IS A BARGE? by Muriel H. Parry Of course you know what a barge l o o k s like and w h a t its f u n c tion is. O r d o y o u ? Y o u ' v e seen that ugly clumsy craft being pushed around a harbor, o f t e n w i t h a questionable and s o m e t i m e s smelly load. But did y o u realize that t h e w o r d b a r g e h a s b e e n a p p l i e d to a host of w a t e r c r a f t , s o m e truly elegant, others m u n d a n e but important hard-working craft. State b a r g e s w e r e the pride and j o y of m a n y monarches, e a c h uniquely and intricately carved and heavily gilded; the participants, usually highranking government officials or visiting dignitaries w e r e p r o t e c t e d from the weather by fringed canopies. The royal b a r g e s of T h a i land, still u s e d on special o c c a s i o n s , are as m u c h as 46 m e t e r s long and paddled by 50 m e n in a p p r o p r i a t e l y fancy attire. T h e c o m p a n y b a r g e s of m a j o r E n g l i s h liveries a n d g u i l d s w e r e less elaborate t h a n that of the m o n a r c h , but w e r e called into service to a c c o m p a n y the m o n a r c h as he proceeded d o w n the T h a m e s . T h e b a r g e s of the D o g e o f V e n i c e w e r e so c o l o r f u l that they w e r e the subj e c t of n u m e r o u s w e l l - k n o w n paintings.
B a r g e s as s h i p ' s boats for m e n o f - w a r w e r e solely for the use of the f l a g o f f i c e r . T h o s e of the British R o y a l N a v y w e r e propelled by as m a n y as 14 oars and w e r e especially sleek fast craft. B e t w e e n 1830 and 1859 the b a r g e w a s also a s h i p ' s boat of the U.S. N a v y ; by 1870 it w a s s c h o o n e r - r i g g e d but r o w e d by 12-24 oarsmen. Sliding gunter lugsails w e r e u s e d until the early 20th century. In both the British and A m e r i c a n navies, the barges h a v e
on t h e H u d s o n R i v e r w e r e p r o n e to e x p l o d e , so an u n p o w e r e d c r a f t s i m i l a r in d e s i g n t o t h e steamboat was towed, closely but loosely c o n n e c t e d to the steamboat. The passengers r o d e in style, w i t h all the a p p r o priate amenities, safely behind In eastern Canada the term barge t h e p o t e n t i a l l y d a n g e r o u s s t e a m c a n r e f e r to a host of w a t e r c r a f t , b o a t . D u r i n g the 19th century b a r g e s ranging f r o m small fishing boats to local w h a l e catchers to large lum- p r o v i d e d l o c a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n t h r o u g h t h e D i s m a l S w a m p in ber carriers. southeastern Virginia. L o n g and narrow, with a sharply raking square bow and straight sides. An arched canvas shelter covered the central part. Prop e l l e d b y a m a n at each end who walked along the shore with a long pole inserted
tury k e t c h - r i g g e d l u m b e r carriers w e r e called barges. O n the M u r r a y River bordering N e w South W a l e s and Victoria, s i d e w h e e l e r s t o w e d w o o d / i r o n barges loaded with w o o l and timber b y m e a n s of a pole located amidships to reduce w h i p p i n g on the sharp river bends.
b e e n m o t o r i z e d but retain the term In the British Isles b a r g e s w e r e barge. important for the t r a n s s h i p m e n t of O n c a n a l s t h e b o a t s m a y b e cargo to and f r o m upriver t o w n s to called equally canal boats or canal offlying ships. M a n y of these sailed, barges. In the British Isles the term being ketch- or sloop-rigged. b a r g e w a s a p p l i e d to c a n a l b o a t s T h e French f o u n d the term usew h i c h w e r e twice the b e a m of the ful for m a n y types of watercraft. In m o r e c o m m o n n a r r o w boats. old French, the term applied basiT h e college b a r g e s of the u p p e r T h a m e s w e r e the p r o p e r t y of the r o w i n g clubs being m o o r e d along t h e r i v e r b a n k to provide a clubh o u s e and grandstand f o r v i e w i n g the races.
t h r o u g h a loop in the top of the gunwale. O n the O h i o a n d Mississippi from about 1800 the sharp-ended and relatively fast barge was popular with businessmen, officials, and land speculators. Cabin usually covered most of the hull, often b u l l e t - p r o o f . P o l e d , w a r p e d , or sailed. Special b a r g e s transport logs to a mill. Steel or w o o d , f l a t - t o p p e d or open d e p e n d i n g o n type o f loading and u n l o a d i n g s y s t e m used. G e n e r ally t o w e d in a line, but on the M i s sissippi they are lashed together and pushed. Self-dumping barges are used in s o m e areas; tipped to 30° b y f l o o d i n g special tanks.
cally to a skiff. T h e N o r m a n b a r g e of the 16th century e n g a g e d in fishing for herring and carrying salt and required as m a n y as 100 m e n ; the Loire barge, also a fishing boat, w o r k e d until recently with only 3 to 4 m e n . O n the Seine the t e r m w a s reserved for two steel vessels w h i c h O n C o o s B a y in s o u t h w e s t e r n w e r e coupled together, the f o r w a r d O f f i c i a l l y , in vessel being the barge, the stern ves- O r e g o n r e c t a n g u l a r b a r g e s w i t h the United States, sel the p o u s s e u r ; the c o m b i n e d unit r a k e d ends transport seed and m a ture oysters. A n outboard m o t o r proa barge is any ves- m i g h t be 127 meters long. sel that h a s n o In 18th and early 19th century p e l s s m a l l b a r g e s , t h e l a r g e r a r e propulsion p o w e r A m e r i c a a barge w a s o f t e n a g u n - t o w e d . o f its o w n . T h e B r i t i s h of t h e Thames area made a distinction between a barge and a boat, the latter being less than 70 tons. Australia has adopted the term barge for a number of diverse c r a f t . In T a s m a nia, the 19th cen-
boat with varying physical feat u r e s — r o u n d or flat b o t t o m , d o u b l e - e n d e d or t r a n s o m sterned, carvel or lapstrake. Sailed or rowed. During the W a r of 1812 a r m e d r o w ing galleys, designated barges, w e r e used on L a k e s C h a m p l a i n and Erie. A class of four- and six-oared barges b e c a m e popular racing craft in mid-19th century America. T h e s e had a sharp b o w , p l u m b stem, a high n a r r o w transom, end decks, and an outboard rudder. T h e boilers on early s t e a m b o a t s
In s o u t h e r n California a n c h o r e d b a r g e s s e r v e d as floating hotels for sport f i s h e r m e n ; t h e m a j o r i t y w e r e c o n v e r t e d yachts. In t h e H i s p a n i o l a a r e a a r m e d dugout canoes went by the term barge. A r e n ' t your sorry you asked about b a r g e s — o r did y o u ? B u t next t i m e y o u look at o n e of t h o s e s e e m ingly u n k e m p t and c u m b e r s o m e craft b e i n g p u s h e d or t o w e d a r o u n d t h e h a r b o r , r e m e m b e r t h a t it h a s m a n y m o r e interesting m e m b e r s in its f a m i l y tree.
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Seattle Boatshop Tour This Spring, Dick Wagner led a tour of the great old Boatshops of Seattle. The following story was written by one of the participants to share with all the jealous people who couldn't make the trip. By Dean Raffaelli
I should start by explaining that I am a flatlander from Chicago who is just visiting Seattle for a month. I've built a few small wooden boats, so I was drawn to the center and heard about the boat shop tour that way. It's really a great resource, I wish we had the like in Chi-town. I think this tour was really more about people, intelligent, talented, strong willed people who decided on a path and through sheer will power have made it work for them. With all the negative role models out there, this group of five boatbuilders should have the national press at the door begging for an interview. I wish I could bottle what these guys have and take it on my bad days.
Dave Mullin the head instructor at the Seattle Community College had a profound understanding of educational principles and how not to force his students into one mold. The whole time I was standing listening to him, I was thinking, "How could I convince my nephews to come and take his course. Andy Wichert from Seattle Marine was very organized. He knows the business end and although it occupies more of his life than he would like he understands that to do what he loves he's got to be practical. His shop was a beautiful houseboat on Lake Union. He had many hand tools which he was caressing while he talked to us, but he usually uses large abrasive power tools because at $50.00 per hour the jobs got to move on efficiency. Rip Knot at Ultra Marine also has a shop the size of a one car garage on a houseboat. His shop was so unstable that once we all got in it and managed to stop it from
interested. The people he does work osc couldn't move lest we start the pro- for need to have some emotions, cess up again. Rip confided in us feelings or whatever tied up in their that his first name was a childhood boat. If they don't have that then nickname, and that Knot was a name he just not interested. Period. he acquired in the navy because he Over at Bakketun & Thomas was "always tying knots". I think Boat Company we saw a more inRip had the best life-style. 20 feet dustrial strength shop. Operating away from his shop was his home. out of an old plywood factory diA large teak Swedish designed rectly across from the Fisherman's double-ender with a 50 foot mast Wharf. We saw a massive tug boat and 14,000 lb. lead keel. He stated slowly being rebuilt along with a that if he doesn't get out sailing for grand old Bristol finished yacht. We at least one month a year he goes actually got to roam around on a crazy. Rip gets my man-of-the-year working Halibut Schooner, which award. was much smaller inside than it Next on to Brad Rice - The Boat looked and was an interesting comWright. Brad was the artist of the bination of pre-W.W.II construction group. Being quickly bored by his with up to date electronics. Jon own admission he requires diversity. Thomas got a twinkle in his eye He works on boats- power, sail, when he showed us his wooden houseboats, houses, projects for power boat which was moored bemajor motion pictures and new- neath the massive shop pilings. fangeled contraptions such as a hyAll of these builders work in an droplaning electric powered kayak, environment of authenticity and He was in the process of lofting aquality. A direct reflection of their new boat for the Wooden Boat Shop own personal integrity. As Rip Knot when we arrived. Brad stated he said, "I guarantee all my work. If needs to know the story behind their not satisfied I'll do it over. My the boats he's working on. If reputation is worth more than any there's no story then he's just not monetary gain."
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS June 21, 1996 THIRD FRIDAY SPEAKER 18th Century Ship's Boats Tools of the Trade; Their Construction & Use. 8 p.m. CWB Boathouse
W o o d e n B o a t M a g a z i n e in 1992. T h e W O O D Regatta utilizes an equitable m e a n s of h a n d i c a p p i n g the total s p e c t r u m of classic w o o d e n racing classes.
T h e r e will be a w a r d s by classes S a m J o h n s o n is a b o a t b u i l d e r as well as an overall trophy. A w i n e and cheese reception and and m a r i t i m e historian. H e h a s researched a n d s u p e r v i s e d construc- registration will be on Friday night. O n Saturday there will be a m o r n tion of A m e r i c a n , English and Spaning registration, skippers m e e t i n g ish 18th C e n t u r y s h i p ' s boats. T h i s and a f t e r n o o n races. O n S u n d a y lecture g i v e s a clear u n d e r s t a n d i n g there will b e m o r e races, f o l l o w e d of n e e d s that small c r a f t served in by a dinner and a n n o u n c e m e n t of the golden a g e o f c o m m e r c i a l sail, the race results. A continental breakand h o w t h e y w e r e d e s i g n e d and fast will be served on Saturday and built to fulfill their f u n c t i o n s . Sunday.
MARINE SKILLS WORKSHOPS All year 'round (classes every day in the summer!) LEARN TO "SAIL NOW!" Fee: $125 per person (includes a one-year C W B membership). Students will graduate w h e n able to sail a variety of keel, centerboard, sloop and catboats by instinct. Y o u m a y begin any Saturday, space permitting. Please call ahead for reservations. For the student w h o is only f r e e on w e e k d a y s , or prefers to oneo n - o n e instruction, w e continue to o f f e r individual lessons ($20/hour) on w e e k d a y s . Call for an appointment.
at C W B . T h e sessions will leave C W B on Saturday M o r n i n g and return S u n d a y evening. C r u i s i n g ins t r u c t i o n will i n v o l v e t i d e s , tidal current, navigational aids, rules of the road, radio and engine operation, a n c h o r i n g and transiting the locks. T h e r e will be o n e licensed captain, t w o sailing instructors and six students per trip. W e will also o f f e r w e e k e n d r a c i n g instruction in the M a r t h a in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h local races of classic yachts.
June 1-2, 1996 LOFTING WORKSHOP C o n t a c t C W B for further inforAlmost Every Weekend Spring Fee: $115/$125 July 5-7, 1996 (Friday-Sunday) m a t i o n . (206) 3 8 2 2 6 2 8 . 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CWB & Summer, 1996 20TH ANNUAL LAKE UNION Boathouse SCHOONER SAILING WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL December 29, 1996 (Sunday) Instructor: Eric Hvalsoe Fee: $135/$150 T h e A n n u a l p a n o r a m a o f about FROSTBITE POTLATCH Students will loft a classic boat 9 a.m. CWB 150 w o o d e n Boats, m a r i t i m e skills This is one of our 4 m e m b e r s h i p from a table of offsets. This workC W B is o f f e r i n g w e e k e n d add e m o n s t r a t i o n s , b o a t rides. Q u i c k gatherings, but o p e n to all guests of v a n c e d sailing o n the c l a s s i c 68' shop will enable students to read and Daring Boatbuilding contest, T o y Boat Building, Ed Clark M e morial Yacht Race, and lots of w a r m t h , f u n , f r i e n d s h i p , and shared know-how. Suggested donation $3 Individuals $5 F a m i l i e s $1 Seniors and Students
September 27-29, 1996 WOOD REGATTA This is a regional event in the WOOD Regatta series begun by
m e m b e r s t o o . T h e p u r p o s e is to S c h o o n e r M a r t h a , w h i c h is m o o r e d s h o w o f f our collections, give a run d o w n on our plans and h a v e s o m e recreational sailing. M e m b e r s and guests are w e l c o m e to bring their boats. T h e r e will be a pot luck dinner. A $5 donation is requested for the use of our boats.
SAIL NOW: A First Hand Experience
By Kate Thompson Sailing's the hardest thing I've tried to learn in quite awhile. It comes with its own language, physics unlike anything I've ever encountered in any other vehicle, it requires constant attention and awareness to surrounding conditions, and, apparently its own wardrobe-although dressing appropriately has never been my strong suit. And the payoff is an intangible. You don't sail because you want to go faster than anyone else or because it's an exercise in the latest technology. Maybe it's about it being one of the oldest technologies. Something about the wind and the way a sail can catch it, and the cant of the boat and the need to be aware of all those things at once. I'm not there yet, but I can imagine that every sailor who's been around a boat for awhile hasn't felt the presence of a million sailors before her, squinting at stars and calculating the distance to the next new land. I'm getting a little woowoo here I suppose, so let me come back to earth and tell you about this place. Everybody at the Center for Wooden Boats has been a total mensch. People here seem to simply love what they do and so you never feel that sense of superiority that invades some sports lifestyles. My inability to grasp concepts like "leeward" in what seems like a normal learning curve has been met with fabulous patience and humor. From Vern, I have learned to scan the banks of Lake Union for the direction the cows are facing in order to detect the wind direction (he gave me other clues as well in case there was a dearth of cows). From Leif I learned to tie a bowline or, as we used to call it in Girl Scouts, the "little-squirrel-goes-around-the-tree" knot. And from Bob and Mike and other instructors I get a variety of teaching styles that have all taught me something about setting my sails, stowing gear, handling the tiller, checking the wind direction (a LOT harder than you would think), building up speed (the key to maneuverability), tacking and jibing and beating and running before the wind and sailing on a close reach. I'm not ready to solo yet, but I know that when I am, there'll be solid set of sailing mechanics under my belt and a good crew on the dock cheering me on.
Page 17 plans and understand the arcane mysteries of bevels, rabbet lines, deductions and construction drawings. Eric Hvalsoe is an experienced boatbuilder and designer. He has conducted lofting and boat building workshops for more than 10 years. This class is highly recommended as a prerequisite for our boat building workshops. Limited to 6 students. June 8-16, 1996 LAPSTRAKE WORKSHOP Fee: $550/$575 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CWB Instructor: Eric Hvalsoe Lapstrake construction utilizes overlapping planks in the great tradition of the Viking long boats. It is one of the best ways to build a dinghy or tender. Students will build a classic Swampscott Dory from John Gardner's Dory Book. This dory will initially go into our fleet of pulling boats, but eventually will be completed as a sailboat. The instructor, a nationally recognized boat builder, has run dozens of CWB Workshops. Basic woodworking skills are required. Limited to 7 students.
July 27, 1996 WHERRY ROWING WORKSHOP Fee: $25/$30 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CWB Boathouse Instructor: Roger Coulter Everyone who has been to the Center has admired the slim Wherries hanging from the ceiling downstairs. They were built in CWB workshops back in the early '80s and have only been rowed a few times since. Roger, who has been rowing and teaching since high school, will start the students rowing the Dan, our 21' Gig, and progress to the Wherries when everyone is comfortable. The Wherries are relatively stable and an excellent steppingstone for more delicate racing shells. Limited to 4 students.
of years. Boats have been identified by their name from those earliest times. And some sign painter has lettered each one of those millions of boats, one stroke at a time. This makes sign painting an important part of a finished craft. And it is a time honored tradition, even in the age of computers. Art owns and operates a sign painting shop in Seattle and still letters the old fashioned way, and the newest-latest way too.
August 10-13 CANOE RESTORATION Fee: $450/$500 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CWB Boatshop Instructor: Bill Paine We plan to find a canoe that needs a new canvas, a few new ribs, and planks and a maybe even a new stem. Then fix it. Everyone who has or appreciates true classic wood and August 3-4, 1996 SIGN PAINTING WORKSHOP canvas canoes should know how to fix them. If you have a canoe that Fee: TBA needs fixing, maybe yours can be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CWB the class project. Boatshop Instructor: TBA Wooden Boats have been a ve- August 5,7,12,14,19,21, 1996 hicle of exploration, travel, com- MODEL SHIP BUILDING merce and recreation for thousands SEMINAR Fee: $80/$100 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. CWB Library Instructor: Jim Gass Jim makes the models that sit in museum cases and on mantelpieces all over the world. This course is an introduction to the art of model making to guide one past the hurdles and quicksand that often stop a builder from even completing the project. In six days Jim will cover the basics of model ship building from research to materials and go over some of the pitfalls you are likely to encounter. For the aspiring model builder this is a must. Limited to 7 students. August 17-18, 1996 RIGGING AS IF IT MATTERS SEMINAR Fee: $100/$110 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CWB Boatshop Instructor: Brion Toss Master rigger and author Brion Toss unlocks the secrets of tuning, double-braid splicing, rigging fundamentals including design, fabrication, maintenance and more and adds one more important element: fun. Innovative, easy-to-remember techniques will help you learn knots and splices specifically adapted to
modern-day applications and materials. Sail plans, examination of boats in the water and a sort of "mob mime" will help you understand the nature and intensity of the forces that act on rigs and how good rigs translate those forces into boat speed. Limited to 18 students. August 24, 1996 WHERRY ROWING WORKSHOP Fee: $25/$30 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CWB Boathouse Instructor: Roger Coulter Everyone who has been to the Center has admired the slim Wherries hanging from the ceiling downstairs. They were built in CWB workshops back in the early '80s and have only been rowed a few times since. Roger, who has been rowing and teaching since high school, will start the students rowing the Dan, our 21' Gig, and progress to the Wherries when everyone is comfortable. The Wherries are relatively stable and an excellent steppingstone for more delicate racing shells. Limited to 4 students. September 1, 1996 BOATBUILDERS' TRICKS SEMINAR Fee: $25/$30 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CWB Library Instructor: Joe Trumbly Joe has been teaching boat building for longer than most of us have been alive. He taught at Bates for 25 years, before taking the world's only known "boatbuilder's sabbatical." Joe traveled to the heartland of wooden boat building along the coast of Maine and later traveled on to Europe, only to find that the Northwest Boatbuilders were the ones who had perfected the art. Joe is an encyclopedia of boatbuilding shortcuts and skills. This class is scheduled right before the Boatbuilding workshops so the participants can get a little head start, but this class is open to anyone interested in the finer points of boat building - or a couple of great sto-
Page 18 ries told by a w o n d e r f u l storyteller. Limited to 2 0 students.
September 7-8, 1996 LOFTING WORKSHOP Fee: $115/$125 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CWB Boathouse Instructor: Eric Hvalsoe Students will loft a classic boat f r o m a table of offsets. T h i s w o r k s h o p will e n a b l e s t u d e n t s to read plans and understand the arcane m y s t e r i e s o f b e v e l s , r a b b e t lines, d e d u c t i o n s and construction d r a w ings. Eric Hvalsoe is an experienced boatbuilder and designer. H e has c o n d u c t e d lofting and boat building w o r k s h o p s for m o r e than 10 years. This class is highly r e c o m m e n d e d as a prerequisite for our boat building w o r k s h o p s . Limited to 6 students.
September 18, 25, October 2, 1996 CELESTIAL NAVIGATION SEMINAR 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. CWB Library Fee: $50/$55 Instructor: Randal Franke This three-evening course provides the student with basic s k i l l s in c e l e s t i a l n a v i g a t i o n . T o p i c s include the use of a sextant, sight reduction using the Nautical Almanac and H O 249. Students will learn h o w to plot lines of position based on sun sightings. T h e final class will include a d a y ' s w o r k in celestial navigation while on route to Hawaii. Bring plotting instrum e n t s and an ability to p e r f o r m b a s i c m a t h . P r e v i o u s coastal navigation skills h e l p f u l but not n e c e s s a r y . H a n d o u t materials included. Limited to 12 students
September 14-22, 1996 CARVEL WORKSHOP Fee: $550/$600 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CWB Boatshop Instructor: Eric Dow C a r v e l b o a t b u i l d i n g is a technique that originated in the Mediterranean. T h e planks are fastened edge-to-edge with cotton caulking filling the seams. T h e i n s t r u c t o r is a B r o o k l i n , M a i n e boat builder with extensive experience in building traditional wooden boats and teaching others h o w to do so. T h e class will build a carvel planked dinghy of classic design, incorporating all the challenges of traditional boat building but on a m a n a g e a b l e scale. T h e c o m pleted boat will be launched on Sunday afternoon, September 22. Basic w o o d w o r k i n g skills required. Limited to 7 students.
October 5, 1996 FO'C'SLE ARTS (FANCY KNOTWORK) SEMINAR Fee: $100/$ 125 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CWB Library Instructor: Dennis Armstrong T h r o u g h o u t history sailors have passed the long hours on ocean c r o s s i n g s by i n v e n t i n g d e c o r a t i v e and functional knots. B e f o r e World W a r II these knots adorned nearly every handle and bar aboard the big ships. T h e f o ' c ' s l e arts include such f a n c y k n o t s as M o n k e y ' s F i s t s , T u r k s Heads, Sennits and the Star Knot. A s in all g o o d knot classes, s o m e basic and practical knots will be covered. M a s t e r y of basics will lead to the construction of M o n k e y ' s Fists and T u r k s Heads. B y the end of the first session in the m o r n i n g , enough basic concepts will have been learned that in-depth studies will ensue. O t h e r f a n c y w o r k will be discussed as t i m e allows. L i m ited to 10 students.
September 28, 1996 PLANE MAKING WORKSHOP Fee: $70/$75 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CWB Boatshop Instructor: Charlie Mastro
October 11 -13, 1996 MARINE CABINET MAKING Fee: $100/$115 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CWB Boatshop Instructor: Craig Kirby
Students each will create their o w n planes under the guidance of the tool maestro himself. Charlie will cover the basics of the blade - sharpening and maintenance - and lead the class through the intricacies o f shaping and f o r m i n g the b o d y of the p l a n e and inserting t h e b l a d e . Each student will take h o m e a tool that will last a lifetime.
T h e p u r p o s e of the class is to e x p o s e the students to the intricacies o f m a r i n e cabinetry. A plan is presented of a wall cabinet that is to fit into a c u r v e d wall space on the interior o f a boat. Students will use the p l a n to d r a w a m o r e s p e c i f i c design during the design p h a s e of the course. S t u d e n t s will w o r k in pairs to build their w o n cabinet designed specifically to introduce
Page 19 t h e m to yacht joinery. Rabbets, d a d o e s , tenons, raised panels, plugs, a n d sea rails will all be a part o f the design.
November 2-3, 9-10, 1996 SAIL MAKING WORKSHOP Fee: $100/$125 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CWB Boatshop Instructor: Scott Rohrer Scott Rohrer, a former N o r t h s a i l m a k e r , will lead this class in b u i l d i n g t w o sails for C W B Boats. T h e sails will be determined by the state and n e e d s of our f l e e t ' s sails. L i m i t 10 Students
November 16, 1996 BASIC WOODWORKING WORKSHOP 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CWB Boatshop Fee: $40/$45 Instructor: Charlie Mastro A n introduction to the art and use of w o o d w o r k i n g tools. Charlie s h o w s y o u h o w to d o the basics: sharpening and m a i n t e n a n c e of y o u r tools and s i m p l e j o i n t m a k i n g . His genial m a n n e r and t e a c h i n g style will have you using w o o d w o r k ing tools like a p r o in n o t i m e at all. L i m i t e d to 6 students.
November 23-24, 1996 BOAT CRADLE MAKING WORKSHOP 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CWB Boatshop Fee: $175/$200 Instructor: Bob Lincoln W h e t h e r in the m o v i e " T h e Secret o f R o a n I n i s h " or in the touristy fine wood shops, w e ' v e all seen those a d o r a b l e boat cradles. A n d even those of us w i t h o u t children h a v e t o y e d w i t h t h e i d e a o f m a k i n g o n e (a cradle). H e r e ' s y o u r c h a n c e .
December 14-15, 1996 HALF MODEL WORKSHOP Fee: $115/$125 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CWB Boatshop Instructor: Rich Kolin
B o b L i n c o l n is not only an excellent boatwright, he w r o t e ' t h e book on building b o a t - s h a p e d cradles. Whether for your own child, a niece or a f r i e n d ' s n e w b o r n , T h e old w a y of a traditional art: y o u will be g i v i n g s o m e t h i n g that s h a p e a half m o d e l of a hull and will n e v e r be left b e h i n d ! Limited f r o m those lines scale u p and build to 4 students. a boat. Countless thousands of schooners, skiffs, s m a c k s and othDecember 7-8, 1996 ers w e r e thus crafted, even the great TOY BOAT CARVING yacht America. T h e n e w w a y of this WORKSHOP traditional art: find a boat w h o s e Fee: TBA lines and history are pleasing and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CWB c a p t u r e its g r a c e a n d e s s e n c e b y Boatshop scaling d o w n and constructing a half Details to b e a n n o u n c e d later. m o d e l of the hull. In t w o c o n s e c u tive days, Rich Kolin, a boat builder
f o r 25 y e a r s , will t e a c h s t u d e n t s start-to-finish h o w to bring their favorite boat f r o m plans to the fireplace mantel. Limited to 6 students. N O T E : Fees indicate m e m b e r / n o n - m e m b e r costs. A $ 100 non-ref u n d a b l e d e p o s i t is r e q u i r e d w i t h r e g i s t r a t i o n f o r all b o a t b u i l d i n g w o r k s h o p s , with the b a l a n c e payable o n e w e e k prior to the w o r k shop. P r e - p a y m e n t in full will insure y o u r place in all other w o r k shops. Classes with f e w e r t h a n 4 students will be canceled or postponed.
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20 th Annual
Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival Guide To Events Ask the Professionals - A wide variety of short sessions on all the secrets you wanted to know about maritime stuff, including: lining off and spiling planks, steaming, oarmaking, restoration, painting, knots, brightwork, and tool sharpening. Sessions will last about 15 minutes and run from 1 - 3 pm every day in the Armory. Schedule available at the Festival. Artwork - Watercolorist Dutch Mostert will display his work.
who can build a fast seaworthy boat in the shortest amount of time. Then they race them on (and sometimes under) the water. Building begins at high noon Friday and Saturday in the West Tent. Racing begins Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Radio KMTT AM & FM "The Mountain", our exclusive radio sponsor will provide announcements of the Festival and other CWB good neighbor programs, and call ins from the show.
Aleut Kayak Demonstration - Corey Freedman will have several kayaks Real Live Boatwright - Like every day at the Center, a professional from different Arctic regions, two Aleut Umiaks that people can have boatwright will be at work on a small boat in our Boatshop. Boatwrights rides in and will demonstrate building an Umiak. are famous talkers and will gladly stop working to chat with visitors. Caulking with Lee Ehrheart - Master Shipwright Lee Ehrheart will show you how to do it right, including hands on instruction. Each day.
Rope Work - CWB member and friend Steve Osborn will be showing his marlinspike handywork in the Armory
Caulking for Kids - Master Shipwright Lee Ehrheart enlists the aid of young "apprentices" to show that caulking can be done by anyone.
Rowing Races - Crews in ship's boat and rowboat classes will also compete in singing sea chanties. Saturday, July 6; registration at the CWB information Booth on the west side of the Armory at 1:30, races start off the North Quay at 2:30 p.m.
Cedar Culture - The Maritime Skills of Puget Sound Native Americans. Steve and Dorothy Philipp describe how the native peoples of the region utilized their natural resources. Ongoing exhibit of canoe models, tools, artifacts, - even a model longhouse. Special presentation daily. Clancy Racing - World Championship Clancy racing. The Clancy is a new 10' training dinghy designed by CWB's Rich Kolin. Bob Pickett, who has built several, will be on hand to answer questions. If you would like to race, check in at the Flounder Bay Lumber display. Ed Clark Classic Yacht Race - The Northwest's finest classic wooden boats race here on Lake Union for everyone to see. This is an official Wooden Yacht Racing Association Event.
"Ships of Puget Sound" - Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society will show some of their 70,000 historic photographs, artifacts and records. There will be kids activities, models and model making demonstrations. Steam Boat Puffin - Our 1906 20' launch will give rides to visitors who are partial to boats that toot. Strip Plank Kayak Construction - Paul Ford's display is a how-to on building strip plank kayaks.
Sunday Breakfast - Begin the last day of the Festival with a hearty breakfast in the West Tent for $5. The awards for the Saturday Ed Clark Espresso Marinaro - An espresso bar will be open in CWB's Boathouse. Memorial Yacht Race will be announced. Folk Music - A lively offering of songs and merriment for land and sea, featuring a host of talents. Half hour shows every hour. The Schedule available at the Festival.
Toy Boat Building - Come build a toy boat! We supply the wood, glue, nails, tools, masts, sails and everything you need. This is one of the favorite events of the Festival so don't miss out.
Food Booths - A gastronomic extravaganza will be set up along Taylor Avenue, the entrance to the Naval Reserve.
Vaudeville Show and Movie - A talent performance and old time maritime film on Saturday evening. 6-10 p.m.. Donation of $4.99. The food and beverage vendors will stay open an extra hour. Movie to be announced later.
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Gas, Hot Air and Steam Engines - A working display of some unique early day engines. How to Buy a Wooden Boat - A panel discussion with an expert marine surveyor, a banker and an insurance agent. Learn what to look for, how to finance and what to do about insurance.
Water Taxis - Take a ride in a variety of traditional wooden rowboats a plethora of sailboats, and some classic powerboats. Board at CWB or the North Pier of the Naval Reserve Center.
165' 1897 Schooner Wawona - Welcome aboard the last Lumber SchooLaminating Boat Frames - Art Thomas will demonstrate how to build ner in the Pacific Northwest. up bent frames out of thin pieces of hardwood - a handy technique in tight Wooden Boats - The whole reason for the Festival! Expect to see over spaces. 100 wooden boats of all sizes in addition to our own fleet of nearly 100 People's Choice Award - Visitors are encouraged to find their favorite small wooden boats. Vessels of all sizes will be in port including tugs and sail, power and "Quick & Daring" boats and submit their votes for the two 23' Cape Anne dories, Patience and Spirit, built in Olympia and People's Choice Award. Pick up your ballot at the CWB information rowed from Olympia to Lake Union by kids in the Sound Opportunities booth at the entrance to the Naval Reserve Center. youth program. Quick & Daring Boatbuilding Contest - Two-person teams race to see