Shavings Volume 9 Number 4 (July-August 1987) by The Center for Wooden Boats

2 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

WHY W O O D ? With a new love, one experiences the same senseless rush, the same boundless optimism we might feel with a beautiful boat . . .

Elegance's burden By Brion Toss The elaborations of elegance are at least as fascinating, and more various, more democratic, more healthy, more practical — though less glamorous — than the elaborations of power. — Wendell Berry

ooden

boats

are

particularly

burdensome

f o r m o f e l e g a n c e . T h e y n e e d n o t b e m o r e ex-

e x p e r i e n c e s t h e same senseless r u s h , t h e same b o u n d l e s s

pensive than other items of comparable elegance, but they

optimism we might

require

attention

and

refinement

feel

with

a beautiful

boat:

"My

g o o d n e s s , w h a t a h a n d s o m e vessel! (face); See h o w she

our

s t a n d s u p t o a breeze! (see h o w t h e b e l o v e d c a n t o l e r a t e

p a r t , i f w e are t o a p p r e c i a t e t h e m f u l l y .

m y c o m p a n y ) ; a n d w h a t lines! (what lines)."

I n c o n t r a s t , say t h a t i n s t e a d o f a s l o o p b y H e r r e s h o f f , y o u h a d a p a i n t i n g b y M a t i s s e . Y o u c o u l d just h a n g t h e

A n d as w i t h love, once that first endorphin-generating

p a i n t i n g on the w a l l a n d derive some pleasure f r o m a sim-

j o l t h a s p a s s e d , o n e i s left w i t h t h e o p t i o n s e i t h e r t o seek

ple, ostentatious display o f w e a l t h . A n d y o u m i g h t wait t o

further jolts elsewhere, or to

take the trouble to find out s o m e t h i n g about the t r a d i -

m o r e p r o f o u n d delights. Relationships between people

tions a n d techniques o f art i n general, a n d o f M a t i s s e i n

are — or s h o u l d be — far m o r e c o m p l e x , d i f f i c u l t , a n d

particular, in order to gain a richer relationship w i t h your

potentially r e w a r d i n g t h a n relationships between people a n d b o a t s , b u t t h e m a i n p o i n t h o l d s t r u e : t h e greatest joys

investment. Altogether y o u ' d be o u t a lot of cash a n d a m o d i c u m o f i n t e l l e c t u a l effort. B u t y o u ' d n e v e r h a v e t o

f i c e r s , etc.), a n d o f t h e vessel's t e m p e r a m e n t a n d h a n d l i n g

keep

characteristics, especially

buying

outrageously

spare

parts

overpriced

for

your

painting

Post-Impressionist

some

as compared

with

other

(in-

chandlery,

ferior) vessels o f h e r t y p e . " A h o l e i n t h e w a t e r i n t o w h i c h

never have to w o r r y about b e i n g r a m m e d by some d r u n k

y o u p o u r m o n e y " isn't t h e h a l f o f it; i n o r d e r f u l l y t o a p -

in a Jackson P o l l a r d , never have to replace a chafed

p r e c i a t e a w o o d e n b o a t , y o u m u s t also p o u r i n g e n e r o u s

b a c k g r o u n d , a n d of course y o u ' d never have to repaint it.

a m o u n t s o f m e n t a l a n d e m o t i o n a l effort, n o t t o m e n t i o n

But the Herreshoff sloop, or any other w o o d e n boat of e v e n tolerable q u a l i t y , is a sufficiently c o m p l e x , e v o l v e d ,

attune oneself to subtler,

b l o o d , sweat, a n d tears.

are r o o t e d , n o t i n i m m e d i a t e g r a t i f i c a t i o n , b u t i n t h e v e r y process o f r e l a t i n g . T h a t ' s a c o n c e p t w e h a v e d i f f i c u l t y w i t h , these d a y s . H a r d t i m e s f o r l o v e r s . P e r h a p s o u r b o a t s ( a n d o u r g a r d e n s , a n d o u r w o r k b e n c h e s ) are l e a d i n g u s back

tradition's

senseless,

elegant

means

of fixing

worth. T h e jolt p a t h i s u l t i m a t e l y c o r r o s i v e . I t t e n d s t o l e a d t o

T h e q u e s t i o n m u s t s u r e l y arise: "Is i t w o r t h i t ? " A n d b y

a c y n i c a l p e r s o n a l life a n d / o r fast, u g l y b o a t s . "This p a t h is

a e s t h e t i c a l l y w e i g h t e d artifact a s t o h a v e serious c l a i m t o

contemporary,

stan-

c o r r o s i v e because i t i s i n a p p r o p r i a t e , o n a p r i m a l l e v e l .

b e i n g a w o r k o f art. T h e o w n e r o f s u c h a b o a t , regardless

dards the answer must surely be a regretful, " n o " . Y e t

W e need c o m p l e x i t y , need a r i c h c o n t e x t i f w e aspire t o

o f its c a s h v a l u e , w i l l n o t s w i n g m u c h w e i g h t i n t h e

here w e are, a t h r i v i n g , w h o o p i n g s u b c u l t u r e , h a p p i l y i n -

long-term happiness.

showing-off department; the general p u b l i c , to the extent

volved

not

A l l o f t h i s t h e o r i z i n g isn't g o i n g t o c a r r y m u c h w e i g h t

t h a t t h e y are a w a r e t h a t w o o d e n b o a t s still exist a t a l l , i s

a l l — o f o u r interest c a n b e a t t r i b u t e d t o m a s o c h i s m . B u t

w h e n y o u find rot in your stem, or w h e n you're scrambl-

i n c l i n e d to regard t h e m as somewhat musty curiosities,

w h a t w e h a v e , a n d w h a t w e n e e d t o b e able t o r e c a l l a n d

ing to find an

like steam engines, men's clubs, a n d E s p e r a n t o .

a r t i c u l a t e w h e n t h e task o f c a r e t a k i n g seems t o o great, i s a

w o o d e n b o a t s are r i g h t u p t h e r e w i t h S o u t h A m e r i c a n

set o f v a l u e s g e n e r a l l y l u m p e d

with

bottom-line,

our

vessels.

investment-oriented

Some — but

probably

insurance c o m p a n y that doesn't t h i n k

under the term " t r a d i -

d i c t a t o r s i n t h e b a d risk d e p a r t m e n t , o r w h e n y o u feel a s

t h e vessel, w i l l n e e d t o b e w e l l - v e r s e d i n d e s i g n e v o l u t i o n ,

t i o n a l " . T h e s e values encompass m o r e factors, meanings,

t h o u g h the entire civilized w o r l d is p o i n t i n g at y o u a n d

the culture a n d waters i n w h i c h the design e v o l v e d , the

and

the techno-accountant¬

saying, " N y a h , n y a h , look at the w e i r d o in the antique

talents a n d p e r s o n a l i d i o s y n c r a s i e s o f t h e d e s i g n e r a n d

influenced w o r l d is l i k e l y to c o n s i d e r . It is a set of v a l u e s

t u b . " But d e v o t i o n to w o r t h w h i l e pursuits w i l l reward one

builder (invaluable knowledge, as a goodly p o r t i o n of

s o r i c h a n d i n t e r l i n k e d t h a t i t has n o " b o t t o m l i n e . "

T h e sloop's o w n e r , i n o r d e r t o d e r i v e f u l l p l e a s u r e f r o m

o n e ' s life w i t h t h e b o a t w i l l b e spent i n endless r e t e l l i n g o f t h o s e w o r t h i e s ' e n c o u n t e r s w i t h c l i e n t s , s t o r m s , p o l i c e of-

shades

meanings

T h e only comparable

than

phenomenon

I can t h i n k of is

that of falling, a n d staying, in love. W i t h a new love, o n e

w i t h m o m e n t s , a t least, o f peace. M a y b e n o t e n o u g h t o b e c o m f o r t a b l e a t b e i n g o u t o f step w i t h t h i s w o r l d . e n o u g h to feel in step w i t h a better o n e . •

But

July-August 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 3

L A K E U N I O N W O O D E N B O A T FESTIVAL PROGRAM

U s e r ' s guide to the 11th a n n u a l w o o d e n boat show

EVENTS

July 3, 4 & 5 — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Naval Reserve Center &. Center for Wooden Boats at the south end of Lake U n i o n

FRIDAY, JULY 3 11:00 a . m

R o w i n g race — s l o w b o a t s

12:00 n o o n The Quick and Daring boatbuilding contest now has a slow a n d cautious name, but here's the gist: six teams race to see who can build

Lake U n i o n Challenge C u p — Q u i c k and Daring Boatbuilding Contest

12:00 n o o n - 5 p . m

Folk music concert

12:30 p . m

a b o a r d M / V Arro

S t e v e P h i l i p p — t a l k a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n o n t h e m a r i t i m e crafts o f t h e Puget S o u n d Indians i n the d r i l l hall

in a short a m o u n t of time a fast, seaworthy,

1:00 p . m

R o w i n g race — fast b o a t s

includes time spent b u i l d i n g , speed under sail a n d oar, cost of

1:00 p . m

S a w m i l l d e m o n s t r a t i o n — F l o u n d e r Bay Boat L u m b e r

materials, beauty of design, simplicity of tools a n d so o n . Last year

2:00 p . m

E l T o r o s a i l i n g race

2:30 p . m

Lee Ehrheart — c a u l k i n g demonstration

beautiful boat. T h e winner is determined by a point system w h i c h

the fastest b u i l d i n g time was 57 minutes for a flat-bottomed d o r y w h i c h leaked u p o n entry into the water a n d tipped the m o m e n t

3:00 p . m

M a r i t i m e films — in the drill hall

built in a few hours w h i c h rowed perfectly a n d glided to an easy

3:30 p . m

S a i l i n g races — t w o classes: fast a n d half-fast

victory a m i d c h a m p a g n e corks p o p p i n g , crowds cheering a n d

4:00 p . m

S a w m i l l demonstration - Flounder Bay Boat L u m b e r

the sail was hoisted. But the overall winner was a beautiful skiff

elegant attire.

See

the

antique

tools

Bob

Kaune

Port

Angeles

SATURDAY,

brings. R a n g i n g from slicks, adzes a n d fros to w o o d e n planes a n d

11.00 a . m

brace a n d bits, the collection is a rather amazing look at one,

12:00 n o o n

sometimes two, evolutionary steps back from what are sold today.

The number of persons per square foot — a n d per saw and

hammer

—

the

toy

boatbuilding

area

JULY

4 R o w i n g race — s l o w b o a t s Lake U n i o n Challenge C u p — Q u i c k and Daring Boatbuilding Contest

12:00 n o o n - 5 p . m 12:30 p . m

F o l k m u s i c c o n c e r t — a b o a r d M / V Arro S t e v e P h i l i p p — t a l k a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n o n t h e m a r i t i m e crafts o f t h e P u g e t S o u n d Indians in the d r i l l hall

astound-

ing until you consider the size of the builders. E v e r y t h i n g happens

1:00 p . m

S a w m i l l demonstration — Flounder Bay Boat L u m b e r

here from the ridiculous to the sublime. T h e b o o t h is r u n by work-

1:00 p . m

R o w i n g r a c e — fast b o a t s

ing boatbuilders w h o offer help in design a n d execution u p o n re-

1:00 p . m

R a d i o - c o n t r o l l e d m i n i a t u r e 12-meter s a i l b o a t race — a t C e n t e r f o r W o o d e n B o a t s , W a t e r w a y 4

quest. T h a n k s to H a r d w i c k s for p r o v i d i n g the tools.

The Northwest R/C Shipmodelers will bring their radio controlled

subs,

tugs,

pleasure cruisers,

warships, barges a n d

2:00 p . m

E l T o r o s a i l i n g race

2:30 p . m

Lee Ehrheart — c a u l k i n g demonstration

sailboats to the C e n t e r . T h e boats are primarily electric powered,

3:00 p . m

M a r i t i m e films — in the d r i l l hall

as opposed to steam, a n d as this is a m o n g the largest crowds

3:30 p . m

S a i l i n g r a c e — t w o classes: fast a n d half-fast

they will strut a n d glide before all year, the owners are a show in

4:00 p . m

S a w m i l l demonstration — Flounder Bay Boat L u m b e r

themselves.

The rowing and sailing races offer a Herculean tinge to the otherwise calm atmosphere of the show. T h e rivalries c a n be intense, as the C e n t e r also hosts fall a n d spring regattas, so w h e n the race a n n o u n c e m e n t comes, head d o w n to the waterfront to watch.

The

floor

in,

the

building completely

finished

the

SUNDAY,

JULY

11:00 a . m

R o w i n g race — s l o w b o a t s *

12:00 n o o n - 5 p . m

F o l k m u s i c c o n c e r t — a b o a r d M / V Arro

12:00 n o o n - 2 p . m 12:30 p . m

R / C ship modelers a t C W B o n Waterway 4 S t e v e P h i l i p p — t a l k o n m a r i t i m e crafts o f t h e P u g e t S o u n d I n d i a n s i n t h e d r i l l h a l l

Pavilion on the C e n t e r ' s u p l a n d site. T h e weathervane atop is the

1:00 p . m

Bristol Bay sailing gillnetter, our flagship. T h e view of the lake a n d

1:00 p . m

R o w i n g race — fast b o a t s *

the fleet is wonderful from there, a n d concerts will be going on

1:30 p . m

A u c t i o n — b o a t s , gear, i n t e r e s t i n g g o o d i e s i n t h e d r i l l h a l l

d u r i n g the show. A g o o d place for tired feet.

Check out the new paint job o n Wawona. T h e creation o f Heritage H a r b o r will be the final boost she needs, but l o o k i n g at

S a w m i l l demonstration — Flounder Bay Boat L u m b e r

2:00 p . m

E l T o r o sailing races*

2:30 p . m

C a u l k i n g demonstration — Lee Ehrheart

the bright green planks a n d t h e n the partially redone forecabin

3:00 p . m

A w a r d — t h e D a l y C u p for best o w n e r r e s t o r e d b o a t

area says that the piecemeal, volunteer-intensive effort pledged

3:30 p . m

S a i l i n g races — t w o classes: fast* a n d h a l f - f a s t *

two years ago is b e g i n n i n g to pay off.

4:00 p . m

M a r i t i m e films — in the d r i l l hall

4:00 p . m

Sawmill demonstration — Flounder Bay Boat L u m b e r

The hundreds of classic wooden boats lining the docks are, of course, the whole point of the show. T h i s year Daly's is i n itiating an everlasting trophy for the best refurbishing. A blacksmith will be m a k i n g pokers, b e n d i n g i r o n , d o i n g fancy

work

the

forge

located

between

the

show

and

Wawona. Bob Pickett of Flounder Bay Lumber will again be r u n -

4:00 p . m

L a k e U n i o n C h a l l e n g e C u p — T h e race!

5:30 p . m

A w a r d s — r o w i n g , sailing a n d the Lake U n i o n Challenge C u p

6:00 p . m

Boat d r a w i n g — announcement of winners

* W i n n e r s o f F r i d a y a n d S a t u r d a y races.

n i n g his sawmill, cutting planks from trees. Y o u c a n watch or even

— Every day there w i l l be demonstrations of traditional boatbuilding, carving, o a r m a k i n g , half-models, knots,

have planks cut to size for your next project.

sailmaking, blacksmithing, a n d tool sharpening.

The Antique Gasoline Engine Society will return to the back of the parking lot with its members' collections of motors.

There are models a n d life-size Indian canoes as well as the tools used for their construction inside the D r i l l H a l l . T h e discussions led by Steve Phillips, a white m a n w h o has lived with the T u l a l i p tribe for 75 years, are the best part of the entire show. •

— The

101-foot s a i l - t r a i n i n g s c h o o n e r Adventuress w i l l b e o p e n t o t h e p u b l i c o n J u l y 3 a n d 4 . T h e 1897

s c h o o n e r Wawona w i l l b e o p e n e v e r y d a y , w i t h a stage p e r f o r m a n c e o n h e r h i s t o r y o n J u l y 4 a n d 5 at 1 2 , 2 and 3 p.m. — O n S u n d a y , J u l y 5 , t h e Seattle P u b l i c L i b r a r y w i l l h a v e its b o a t f i l e a v a i l a b l e t o t h e p u b l i c i n t h e d r i l l h a l l . — A t C W B , y o u c a n h a v e a w a t e r - t a x i r i d e a r o u n d t h e s h o w a s w e l l a s v i e w o u r facilities a n d e x h i b i t s .

4 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

MARITIME PRESERVATION

A Lake U n i o n maritime heritage park regained

Paradiselost By Henry Gordon

museum

theme park. Jim Bakker ran one.

really wants

needs the big boat c o m p o n e n t a n d

dull.

small

craft

B o t h are a b o u t fantasies o f life a n d

farthest

t h e space t o t e a c h t h e s k i l l s o r else

its m e a n i n g c o m p l e t e l y a s k e w f r o m

o u r p r e s e r v a t i o n w o r k w i l l b e just

anything

another

Heritage H a r b o r w i l l take people

island

maritime

in-

terest.

back

T h i n k o f i t : f o r a l o n g t i m e Seaticture

this:

south

shore

Lake

Union's

crammed

with dozens of the Northwest's classic

boats.

not

boat

show

tle h a s b e c o m e i n c r e a s i n g l y interested

sentiment

which

market,

its past.

saved

the

Pike

houseboats,

life

the

waterfront that was real. I'll t a k e y o u

on a w a l k i n g tour of the p l a n , b u t the

most

important

thing

greater

the

d o w n t o w n Seattle. T h e i d e a l was to h a v e it c o n n e c t v i s u a l l y as say V e r s a i l l e s does t o c a p its endless maze of gardens.

But Westlake is

t o o g e n t l e a slope — a n d t o o d e a d a thoroughfare. M e r c e r c o u l d be capped vista,

provide

that

but

that

means

startling federal

m o n e y w h i c h requires a President interested

the

nation's

in-

saved

our

r e m e m b e r i s t h a t w e are a s k i n g t h e

the

m a r i t i m e history has existed in a

city's help to c o n t i n u e s o m e t h i n g

sailboats,

v a c u u m . We have good exhibits at

w h i c h exists a n d c a n s u c c e e d . F o r

schooners, fishing boats

the M u s e u m o f H i s t o r y a n d In-

t h e past 1 1 years w e h a v e t u r n e d

dustry, the Coast G u a r d m u s e u m ,

the south e n d o f L a k e U n i o n into

Waterfront

and

a p a r k e v e r y year o n t h e 4 t h o f J u l y

e l s e w h e r e , b u t n o w h e r e is t h e r e a

w e e k e n d . C l o s e to 200,000 people

have come to that park for that

volunteers

event

t h e o t h e r w i l l a d d e x t r a space for

w h e n L a k e U n i o n was l a n d l o c k e d

public park at Waterway 4. O u r

classes.

throughout

the v a r i o u s y a c h t c l u b s were t h e r e

gatherings

power

cruisers,

steamers, and

examining tugs,

r o w i n g skiffs m o o r e d

Some

are

smaller

than

O t h e r s are bigger t h a n are

just

names,

there.

feet.

100. S o m e

others

are

heart

throbs. But what is unmistakable is

that

the

gathering

ground

But

Struck a deep cord.

This may or may not be our last opportunity, but it is certainly a situation we can't continue to ignore-

people

Square.

years

existed.

park

time, b u t even still the d o c k is fillwith

Pioneer

ever

It w a s t h e

saved

that

this

outpost

Awareness

c e n t r a l f o c u s t o o u r h i s t o r i c craft. Heritage

Harbor would

amalgam

private,

non-profit

maritimeniks have dreamed about,

groups

under the direction of a

planned

PDA,

for,

agonized

over,

Public

Development

d a m n e d , t h e n believed in again for

Authority, which would in turn be

so m a n y years is h e r e at last. It's

responsible to the M a y o r a n d the

Heritage

C i t y C o u n c i l . T h i s w o u l d not be a

Harbor,

paragraph sketch

and

this

and the accompanying

seem

just

d r a m a t i c d e p a r t u r e for t h e C e n t e r .

another

T h e C i t y o w n s o u r site a t W a t e r -

elaborate spasm, t h i n k again: this

w a y 4 a n d e v e r y year asks itself: Is

d r e a m i s a m a z i n g l y close t o c o m i n g

progress b e i n g m a d e ? I s t h e l a n d

true.

b e i n g c a r e d for m o r e l o v i n g l y t h a n

T h i s m u c h has b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d . T h e M a y o r a n d the C i t y C o u n c i l are w o r k i n g o n a p a r k for L a k e U n i o n ' s south shore. A consulting firm has been h i r e d to d r a w plans, t h e E v e r g r e e n f l o w e r b u i l d i n g has b e e n p u r c h a s e d , t h e N a v y has s a i d i t w i l l m o v e a s s o o n a s t h e C i t y has a definite p l a n , a n d the C e n t e r for Wooden south

Boats,

Lake

w h i c h began the

Union

renaissance

when

And

was

then

the

Similarly,

asphalt

lease

having

is a

dump?

renewed. PDA

ad-

minister public l a n d is something the C i t y does at the Pike M a r k e t , the G o o d

Shepherd

Center and

m a n y o t h e r places. But City

questions d o in

between

passive

parks

what

and

c e n t e r / b o a t l i v e r y to W a t e r w a y 4 has been

assured

place

the

park. But

just

enough.

place

Active

isn't

good

participation

what brings people to the C e n t e r ,

areas.

residential

area of

Trail,

and

the

Gaswork

sits

the

a n d far t o o r e g u l a r l y people's b o a t s

b u i l d i n g stock: D o u g f i r , western

got s m a s h e d b y s t o r m s . F o r t y eight

our

crowds to

our

see

our

local — historic

f a s c i n a t i n g , b u t we h a v e h i t a far deeper c o r d a s w e l l . Is the C i t y interested in saving heritage?

perfect

spot.

schooners

Then Barges

docked

here

the

early

boathouses

had

m o r e t h a n just b o a t s , o u r p a v i l i o n (already completed)

w i l l be

used

f o r b a n d c o n c e r t s , w h i l e t h e grassy area

near o u r s h o p is perfect f o r

croquet.

Hall

stay.

gatherings. T h e b u l k of the time it

Evergreen flower b u i l d i n g w i l l be

w o u l d be used as a h a v e n for t h e

razed, but the N a v a l Reserve D r i l l

area's

training would

s t e a m e r Virginia V . T h e t u g Arthur Foss, t h e

days-in-the-sailing-schooners

festival c o u l d b e a n a n n u a l e v e n t .

Sophia

M a r a t h o n r e a d i n g s o f Death Ship

o t h e r s w o u l d c o m e for s h o r t o r ex-

the

Center.

The

tour

the

architectural

stan-

d a r d for t h e e n t i r e p a r k w i l l b e t h e

Center's boatbuilding shop. By w o r k s design the b u i l d i n g fits w i t h what

T h e s o u t h e n d of the lake is very

scale

exemplifies

the

film

neither

w i s h to attract labor-intensive i n -

v i s i o n , the e d u c a t i o n center's t w o

rather

sensibly

stories

will

house

our

library,

if, a s o n e s c e n a r i o h a s it, t h e C i t y

wants

o p t s for a p a r k w i t h t h e C e n t e r a s

large

few

m e e t i n g r o o m a n d offices, l e a v i n g

its

jobs to keep f r o m exacerbating fur-

m o r e r o o m i n t h e s h o p for r e p a i r

T h e r e w o u l d b e n o docks for o u r

ther

w o r k a n d classes.

J u l y 4 s h o w , n o r o o m for o u r o t h e r

street,

sole

maritime

component?

special w e e k e n d s , n o real d i s p l a y f o r t h e v i s i t i n g h i s t o r i c craft. W e ' d c o n t i n u e t o s u c c e e d , b u t life w o u l d

high capital life

tech

industries

investment

the

state's

but

with

busiest

Mercer.

The

So a t h e m e p a r k is d i s c u s s e d , b u t

nearest

two the

buildings Center

you the

see

beach

theme parks can mean amazingly

a n d o n t h e grass are b o t h a p p r o x -

different things.

imately

D i s n e y l a n d is a

1000 s q u a r e feet. T h e o n e

Lake at

Union

Lake

Dream

Union

Dry

y a c h t Lotus, t h e s a i l i n g s c h o o n e r Christina stays.

and

the

dozens

tended

C o n r a d o r I v a n D o i g c o u l d get u s

g r e w , c o u r t e s y calls b y e v e r y classic

all t h r o u g h February.

w o u l d b e c o m e a r i t u a l , a n d t o give

Transient moorage.

this k i n d w o u l d have, people lined

collection

an idea of the support a display of

ways

dustry

built

b y B . T r a v e n o r Moby Dick o r

s m a l l scale s t r u c t u r e s o f t h e w o r k -

m u s e u m w i l l continue. But what

Lawana (a b e a u t i f u l l y

can't c o n t i n u e to ignore.

was,

there.

the

b u t it is c e r t a i n l y a s i t u a t i o n we

the

slips

along

In many the

water

the park.

active

would

calls

T h e f i n a l leg o f t h e o r i g i n a l C e n t e r

parks.

our

even

there,

D o c k ) , t h e fireboat Duwamish, t h e

start

potentially

P D A for r e c e p t i o n s . A h a r r o w i n g -

Let's

and

be the C e n t e r ' s e d u c a t i o n center.

sail-

m e e t i n g h a l l s , offices for t h e P D A ,

r e s i d e n t i a l base n o r does t h e C i t y

commitment

The

Adventuress

w i t h t o o l , boat a n d p h o t o exhibits,

classes, That

boats.

schooner

years

c o u l d be the most exciting part of

boats.

historic

the

i n g l a k e . A t t h e e n d o f o u r pier w i l l

toy

T h e docks w o u l d of course be filled by the C e n t e r d u r i n g the July

The

Seattle

steam boat rendezvous a n d other

Drill

different.

real

downtown

4 b o a t s h o w a n d i n part d u r i n g the

w h e t h e r it is to rent boats, take build

both

sailing

Burke-Gilman

benefit

and Heritage H a r b o r .

m a y n o t b e o u r last o p p o r t u n i t y ,

wonderfully. There

h o u r transient moorage w o u l d be o n e aspect o f t h e p i e r t h a t w o u l d

H a l l w i l l stay as a m a r i t i m e m a l l

here's and

red cedar, yew a n d O r e g o n oak.

the lake's s h o r e l i n e . T h i s m a y o r

viewing

Park

the c o m p l e t i o n o f the S h i p C a n a l

Heritage H a r b o r will be g o o d boat-

craft tell us t h a t t h e i n d u s t r y is

that

fleet,

have

lines

visiting — and

i t exists

Boat

B e c a u s e it serves a m a j o r

beginning

and

trees

be rented in the evenings by the

grass

and

docks

The

the

nothing

h e r e . E l l i o t t B a y w o n ' t d o : before

steam

i n o n e o f Seattle's f i r s t m a j o r i n the

refurbish

but

used

vessels

craft w e d i s p l a y are t h e o n e s used But

boats,

p a r k . T h e skills we teach a n d the

dustries.

will

inner

maintained

floating

benches

thousands

beach

Victoria's

chandleries. T h e m a i n hall c o u l d

G a s w o r k s i s a passive p a r k . L o t s o f and

historic

draw, the

way?

concessions

The

f o u r years ago w h e n w e m o v e d o u r museum/education

o f classic

and

brought

have created

other

h a r b o r is a v e r y p o p u l a r t o u r i s t

ago. P l e a s u r e a n d w o r k b o a t s w e r e

theme

boats

C o u l d the c o n n e c t i o n b e m a d e the

built a n d repaired u p a n d d o w n

remain.

its p l a n n i n g i s d i f f e r e n -

tiating

alone.

frastructure.

U n d e r s t a n d f i r s t t h a t the C i t y

u p d o w n t h e pier t o p a y $ 2 t o see t h e Golden Hinde. (It w a s s u r p r i s i n g l y m o r e p o p u l a r t h a n t h e Stars and Stripes.) T h e M y s t i c S e a p o r t

Shavings' Sweethearts Club adds two The architectural rendering of Heritage Harbor on this page was donated by Bassetti, Norton, Metier and Rekeviks. The drawing was done by Holden Withington III. What can we say? You're terrific. T h e type on this page — and every other page — comes to the Center at a fraction of the market cost due to donated equipment by Waterlines Magazine. This literally saved the Center $1000. A good way to say thanks is to send in $12 for a subscription to Waterlines, 2 Nickerson, Seattle, W A 98109.

July-August 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 5 M a r i t i m e M u s e u m i s t h e biggest tourist attraction i n C o n n e c t i c u t . Entrance

Heritage

Harbor

w o u l d be free, but a small admission to the ships w o u l d support the ship's w o r k , help keep the moorage rates l o w , a n d p a r t i a l l y p a y t o h i r e two full-time shipwrights to w o r k in the restoration s h i p y a r d . The

work

the

restoration

shipyard would be an important element of the display.

There's a

c o m m o n p e r c e p t i o n t h a t b o a t s are i n t e r e s t i n g o n l y w h e n t h e y are all f i x e d up, w h e n w h a t really counts i s t h a t the b o a t s b e s o u n d e n o u g h that

the

public

able

a b o a r d . M a i n t e n a n c e always was a part

of these

ships.

schooner

t h a t w e n t a r o u n d t h e H o r n , for i n s t a n c e , w o u l d h a v e a life e x p e c t a n c y o f a b o u t 2 0 years, a n d e v e r y f i v e years

major

necessary.

overhauls

C e n t e r v i s i o n : o u r n e x t steps

were

lifetime,

Wawona's

she was a t i m b e r s c h o o n e r , fished for c o d , w o r k e d as a barge, t h e n w e n t b a c k t o sail just t o k e e p u p w i t h the c o n t i n u o u s change in the nature

commerce.

Far from

detracting from the display to have t h e large vessels b e i n g t a k e n f r o m their

moorings

and

through

the

swinging bridge to the y a r d , the restoration

work

the display.

itself w o u l d

T h e shipwrights,

breaks, w o u l d e x p l a i n w h a t was happening.

People

would

come

a n d cheer for t h e i r f a v o r i t e r e s t o r a tion team. T h e restoration shipyard w o u l d

W h e n the M a y o r s ' C o n f e r e n c e was i n Seattle, C h a r l e s R o y e r

c u l t u r a l plexus a n d o n a n d o n . T h e crowds w h i c h gather a d d

brought some of the visiting dignitaries d o w n to Waterway 4 to

v i b r a n c y , b u t t h a t w o n ' t b e lost w h e n w e a d d m o r e r o o m . T h e

take a r o w at the C e n t e r for W o o d e n Boats. As it turns o u t ,

s h o p itself w i l l b e c o m e a d i s p l a y a s w e w a t c h t h e r e p a i r o f o u r B l a n -

C h a r l i e c o u l d use s o m e h e l p o n h i s s t r o k e , b u t h e w a s n ' t c o m i n g

c h a r d S r . a n d Jr. K n o c k a b o u t , o u r G e a r y 18, o u r R e i n e l l

f o r t h e e x e r c i s e . H e c a m e t o s h o w o f f o n e o f Seattle's best ideas.

r o w i n g skiff.

T h e C e n t e r ' s success h a s g i v e n t h e c r e d i b i l i t y n e e d e d t o m a k e t h e C i t y l o o k s e r i o u s l y a t H e r i t a g e H a r b o r . E l e v e n y e a r s ago w e

O u r July 4 festival w i l l c o n t i n u e . B u t w e w a n t t o a d d o t h e r

m a p a d r e a m . Since t h e n we have built o u r boatshop a n d establish-

special focus weekends d u r i n g the s u m m e r : rendezvous for P o u l s b o

e d o u r fleet. W e c o n v e r t e d a g a r b a g e d u m p i n t o a p a r k a n d e v e n

b o a t s a n d s t e a m b o a t s a n d cat b o a t s a n d d o r i e s .

a d d e d a V i c t o r i a n p a v i l i o n for b a n d concerts a n d p u b l i c v i e w i n g .

I n o u r e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m , w e w i l l a d d t w o classes f o r k i d s . O n e

N o w w e are d e v e l o p i n g a n E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r a t t h e e n d o f o u r

w i l l b e i n s m a l l boat sail t r a i n i n g d u r i n g the week. T h i s w o u l d b e a

p i e r . T h e E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r w i l l h a v e a 100 seat a u d i t o r i u m f o r

two-week s u m m e r c a m p w h i c h w o u l d teach e v e r y t h i n g f r o m sail-

s e m i n a r s o n s m a l l b o a t d e s i g n a n d h i s t o r i c vessel p r e s e r v a t i o n . I t

i n g t o h o w t h e b o a t s are m a d e a n d w h a t t h e y w e r e u s e d f o r .

w i l l h a v e a l i b r a r y s u i t a b l e t o h o u s e o u r g r o w i n g , yet largely i n a c -

T h e o t h e r class i s a n a d u l t / c h i l d b o a t b u i l d i n g class i n w h i c h a

cessible, c o l l e c t i o n o f b o o k s a n d l i n e s a n d h i s t o r i c p h o t o s . I t w i l l

L a k e U n i o n C l a s s sailboat w o u l d b e built b y parent-child teams.

h a v e offices. B u t t h e E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r w i l l a l s o b e a g o d s e n d f o r

w i t h yards a r o u n d the lake. Boats

t h e fleet.

have

extreme

T h e C e n t e r h a s a n u m b e r o f b o a t s i n its c o l l e c t i o n w h i c h are n o t

w h e n they develop the property o n w h i c h i t i s n o w m o o r e d they

i n t h e w a t e r a s t h e y a w a i t r e f u r b i s h i n g . T h e p r o b l e m isn't m o n e y .

have s a i d the logical o w n e r w o u l d be the C e n t e r . W i l l it be part of

there. Jobs l i k e r e p l a n k i n g a B l a n -

W e h a v e the supplies. T h e b e d r o c k o f t h e C e n t e r ' s g r o w t h has

H e r i t a g e H a r b o r o r p e r h a p s a n o t h e r o u t p o s t o n t h e lake?

chard

not

b e e n v o l u n t e e r s u p p o r t , a n d i n t h e case o f t h e b o a t s w e h a v e ex-

T h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s are e n d l e s s , b u t w h a t w i l l n e v e r c h a n g e i s t h e

beautiful,

cellent boatwrights each offering to refurbish a boat for us. But we

C e n t e r ' s s o l i d base o f p u b l i c p a r t i c i p a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s . W e w i l l a l w a y s

h a v e n o space i n w h i c h t h e y c a n w o r k .

reflect t h e h o n e s t , w o r k - e a r n e d P u g e t S o u n d s t y l e , w h e r e p e o p l e

36 w o u l d

because

the of

boat

because

repairs

rejected

isn't

others that

everything

W h a t else? T h e L a w r e n c e l i v e r y a t t h e f o o t o f U n i v e r s i t y W a y i s t h e last o f t h e f l o a t i n g b o a t l i v e r i e s . T h e U n i v e r s i t y o w n s i t , a n d

h i s t o r i c interest t o b e w o r k e d o n

but

T h e drawings for the E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r h a v e b e e n c o m p l e t e d . W e w i l l begin b u i l d i n g w i t h i n a year.

b e g a n as a g r o u p of fanatics w h o met in a houseboat l i v i n g r o o m to

not, however, be in competition would

12-1/2'

can

size.

could

handle

And

not

done

O u r b o a t b u i l d i n g shop i s n o w o u r office, classroom, livery nexus,

Heritage H a r b o r . B o t t o m p a i n t i n g

maintain

o n t h e large s h i p s w o u l d b e d o n e

m o n i t o r the p a r k i n g lot, rent the

at local L a k e U n i o n dry docks,

Maritime Mall,

a n d given the n u m b e r of ships that

c e r e m o n i o u s l y sit a n d r o t .

events. B u t the P D A w o u l d n ' t b e

w o u l d b e b e i n g w o r k e d o n , this

completely aloof from the project

c o u l d a m o u n t to o n e a year.

a n d as Wawona is t h e s y m b o l , I'll

either.

speak

the

common

plan promotional

Moorage

admission

areas,

rates — i n d e e d

Lake

Union

T h e r e are t w o responses t o t h i s , of her.

It's

irrefutable that

PDA not responsible for boats. T h e P D A w o u l d n o t b e

m a j o r progress t o w a r d s r e s t o r a t i o n

b o r — w o u l d be established by a

o f Wawona h a s n o t h a p p e n e d i n

d i r e c t l y r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e b o a t s .

public

system

E a c h of the individual organiza-

significance,

tions

would

refurbishing,

raise for

which

benefit,

considered historic

condition

years.

But

the

and

s i n c e she w a s o p e n e d o n w e e k e n d s

a b i l i t y t o k e e p r e p a i r projects o n

t w o years ago say t h a t she is s t i l l

insurance,

for

course.

q u i t e p o p u l a r . It's n o t a m a r i t i m e history

b a s i c a l l y be a m a n a g e m e n t g r o u p

Staying

which

i t e m is, o f c o u r s e , t h e C i t y ' s b i g

set

past

for

salary o f t h e staff. T h e P D A w o u l d would

the

t h o u s a n d s w h o h a v e c o m e t o visit

funds

its

age,

the

south

har-

point

into

fear: t h a t t h e b o a t s w i l l b e t o w e d

moorage

rates,

course.

The

last

question

prevented

progress,

estate o n e .

No one

can lay their hands on history. — D i c k W a g n e r

The architectural standard for the entire park will be the Center's boatbuilding shop.

forts at r e s t o r a t i o n b e g a n , Ivar offered t o p a y for t h e r e f u r b i s h i n g , b u t he wanted docked

Wawona t o b e

afterwards

Acres

Clams. T h e group balked, and so did and

Ivar.

Similarly,

foundations

corporations

have

expressed

interest, b u t t h e y w a n t t o b e g i v i n g to

projects

their

community.

W h y refurbish a boat w h i c h may end

Harbor

Ketchikan?

would

Heritage

eliminate

that

worry.

which

has

Wawona w i l l w i n d u p w h e n refur-

but

real

b i s h e d . F o r e x a m p l e , w h e n t h e f i r s t ef- negotiate a t i m e l i n e w i t h t h e P D A ;

knows where

Northwest

Seaport

would

continued on page 6

6/SHAVINGS/July-August

1987

continued from page 5

p e n s o n e i t h e r side o f t h e r e s t o r a -

swinging bridge o n w h i c h model

the P D A ' s job w o u l d b e t o h o l d

t i o n s h i p y a r d . T o t h e west w i l l b e a

yachts

t h e m to it. S i m i l a r l y , a f o u n d a t i o n

p o n d protected b y the b a n k a n d

Y o r k ' s C e n t r a l Park a similar p o n d

the p a r k u n f o l d i n g over the to a fiberglass shell or b o a r d . n e x t f i v e years. I n i t i a l p l a n s f r o m W h e t h e r i t w o u l d b e a f u r t h e r o u t t h e c o n s u l t a n t s w i l l b e g i v e n t o t h e post o f t h e C e n t e r for W o o d e n

might

Think of it: for a long time Seattle has become increasingly more interested in its past. It was the sentiment which saved the Pike market, saved the houseboats, saved Pioneer Square. But our maritime history has existed in a vacuum.

i s e x c e e d i n g l y p o p u l a r , b u t closer

C i t y C o u n c i l w i t h i n the next two

m o d e l r a c i n g g r o u p a t the J u l y 4

m o n t h s . B u t w h a t i f t h e N a v y re- clear. B u t p i c t u r e t h i s , a n d n o t just q u i r e s a few years t o m o v e o u t o r w i s t f u l l y : m o d e l s are r a c i n g , t h e

show.

our friends at

spring

save

H o w quickly

Duwamish.

the

would

progress h a p p e n ? It is d o u b t f u l t h e Wawona w o u l d ever b e c o m p l e t e l y f i n i s h e d . A c r e w w o u l d start a t o n e e n d a n d i n f i v e years h a v e t h e b o a t l o o k i n g n i c e ; b u t just a s w h e n she was a w o r k i n g boat, by the t i m e t h e last d e t a i l is finished, it w i l l be time

start

the

beginning

again. And

Seaport's

she

role

fails? is to

Northwest preserve

the

h i s t o r i c s h i p s , so p e r h a p s a r e p l i c a of

the

schooner

Exact,

which

brought the Denny's to A l k i could b e b u i l t . Wawona, l i k e e v e r y t h i n g else a t

the park,

w i l l be on the

water a n d c o u l d b e t o w e d away i n a m o r n i n g . E v e n the buildings — small, w o o d e n structures — in the w o r s t case s c e n a r i o — c o u l d p r o v i d e a testing g r o u n d for new fire department

r e c r u i t s i n t h e art o f

c o n t r o l l i n g fires right

before the

crew comes in w i t h the sod. But that w o n ' t h a p p e n .

Modern component. modern

component

There's a Heritage

H a r b o r , a n d significantly it hap-

can

home

you

raced.

can

see

New

Seattle's

T o t h e east o f t h e y a r d w i l l g o

see

keep

their

B o a t s o r r u n b y s o m e o n e else isn't

K u r t z e r d e c i d e t o Blue Peter is a r r i v i n g t o say h e l l o , o p e r a t i o n a t w o r k s h o p s are g o i n g o n a b o a r d

seaplane

chitects to determine h o w to m a k e

s o u t h e n d o f L a k e U n i o n ? Wawona as t h e c r e w p u t s t h e final T h a t ' s f i n e . I f t h e i n i t i a l c o m m i t - t o u c h e s o n the r e s t o r a t i o n o f t h e m e n t b y t h e C i t y t o a m a r i t i m e galley, s h a n t i e s are b e i n g s u n g i n

b o a t s fast a n d stable w i t h g o o d car-

park is m a d e , there is no reason

r y i n g capacity.

the l a n d currently c o n t r o l l e d by b e g i n n i n g at the C e n t e r , a n d as t h e C i t y c a n ' t b e d e v e l o p e d n o w , Adventuress takes o f f i n t o a l i g h t

the

underground

towing

tank.

T o w i n g t a n k s are u s e d b y n a v a l ar-

The

primary

use

w o u l d be c o m m e r c i a l boats, but it c o u l d also b e u s e d b y a l o c a l s y n d i c a t e w a n t i n g t o test a m o d e l f o r the

America's

Cup

even

h y d r o p l a n e designers. of

Washington.

T h e b u i l d i n g a t t h e far n o r t h e i t h e r a r e n t a l or storage f a c i l i t y for sailboarders,

canoes,

kayaks

and

Heritage H a r b o r w o u l d trade the

r o w i n g shells. T h e s e c o u l d r a n g e

land to b u i l d the tank in exchange

from a Willits canoe built on D a y

for p u b l i c v i e w i n g of the w o r k i n g

Island near T a c o m a in the

area

and

building

access shop.

to The

the

benefit significantly, a n d w h e n the was

625-4000 t o let h i m k n o w a n d c a l l t h e C e n t e r a t 382-2628 t o get i n v o l v e d . It's b e e n 2 0 years i n t h e m a k i n g , but this d r e a m is amazingly close to c o m i n g t r u e . •

Hands on history, ears on a song The Center for Wooden Boats

is, o f course, t h e o n l y

for

m u s e u m o f its k i n d w h e r e p e o p l e c a n a c t u a l l y p u t t h e i r h a n d s o n t h e

the

exhibits. T h e boats m a y be used from 12 to 7 p . m . on weekdays a n d

T h e ideal timeline for Heritage

i s $ 6 . 5 0 p e r h o u r for r o w b o a t s a n d $ 7 . 5 0 p e r h o u r for sailboats w i t h a

being

y o u r d r e a m , too, call the M a y o r at

used

testing,

not

1940s

t h e y r u n circles a r o u n d h e r . I f it's

model

University's

Naval Architecture School would tank

M a r i t i m e M a l l , a r o w i n g regatta i s

two teenagers on w i t h the remainder being added as n o r t h e r l y , sailboards h o l d on in a c r o u c h as t i m e goes b y . west c o r n e r o f t h e p a r k w o u l d b e

T h e tank w o u l d be built by the University

the

could

serve

ultimate m o d e l boat facility. Harbor

is to

have

completed

before the c e n t e n n i a l tourist p r o m o t i o n begins. But realistically, we

1 0 a . m . t o 8 p . m . o n w e e k e n d s d u r i n g t h e s u m m e r . T h e e x h i b i t use fee $1.50 r e d u c t i o n for members.

Louis Killen will sing

songs o f t h e sea i n a benefit a b o a r d

Wawona J u l y 31 at 7 : 3 0 p . m . T h e d o n a t i o n is $ 5 .

July-August 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 7

T E A C H I N G THE SKILLS

Turning six into seven By Simon Watts

h e n e v e r I suggest b u i l d i n g a n e w a n d different boat at the C e n t e r

the w h o l e experience.

with

by-step d e s c r i p t i o n o f the b u i l d i n g c o m b i n -

s n o w s h o e outriggers to sail the wintry t u n -

e d w i t h a set o f p l a n s a n d sources f o r t o o l s

something

W h y a c h o i c e o f s i x ( s o o n t o b e seven)

reinforced

concrete

workshop, Dick Wagner gives me

boats? T w o r e a s o n s : o n e s e l f i s h , o n e less so.

a look as if I'd just handed him his income tax re-

I q u i c k l y get b o r e d b u i l d i n g t h e s a m e b o a t

f u n d . H e gets o u t h i s c a l e n d a r , l o o k s f o r a

o v e r a n d o v e r a g a i n a n d w h e n I get b o r e d I

don't

d a t e a n d t h e n I ask h i m w h a t h e p l a n s t o d o

t e n d t o get c r a b b y . S e c o n d l y , I w a n t t o p r o -

discouraging

with

familiar,

vide entry points for people at different skill

evaporates in a year — or e v e n a m o n t h .

complete a n d detailed so

f a n a t i c a l g l e a m appears i n h i s eyes a n d h e

levels. F o r e x a m p l e t h e Petaluma r o w i n g

Unless

plus

w o o d w o r k e r , able t o f o l l o w p l a n s a n d d i r e c -

says w h a t I k n e w h e w o u l d say a l l a l o n g :

s h e l l i s a c o m p l e x piece o f w o o d w o r k i n g

p h o t o s it's d i f f i c u l t t o r e c a l l specific t e c h n i -

tions, c o u l d b u i l d the boat from scratch

"Keep it."

that

ques a n d the proper order o f c o n s t r u c t i o n .

w i t h o u t t a k i n g t h e class. I h a v e s t a r t e d w i t h

the

completed

boat.

The

even

professionals

find

challenging.

a n d materials. A p p e n d i c e s w i l l e x p l a i n such

dra. W h e n y o u learn something quickly a n d have

one

chance

find

out

to takes

practice, how

abundant

it's

much

notes

specific

techniques

as clench-nailing

and

scarfing c o m m o n to all lapstrake boats. I a i m t o m a k e these m a n u a l s s u f f i c i e n t l y an experienced

S o a t last c o u n t t h e C e n t e r o w n e d a b o u t

T h e p r a m a n d d o r y are m o r e s t r a i g h t f o r -

The

it's

Petaluma — t h e r o w i n g s h e l l — b e c a u s e

eight student-built boats: a sailing version of

w a r d a n d Raggedy Ann is f o r t h e L - p l a t e c o n -

b e y o n d m o s t people's c a p a b i l i t i e s — m i n e

t h e r e i s s o m u c h interest i n t h i s t y p e o f c r a f t

three

t i n g e n t . I w a n t a s t u d e n t w h o takes a n i n -

certainly — to learn n e w skills, take p h o t o s ,

today a n d no plans that I k n o w of to b u i l d

Her-

t e r m e d i a t e o r b e g i n n e r s class t o b e a b l e t o

k e e p a n eye o n classmates a n d w r i t e i t a l l

one in solid w o o d .

dory

c o m e b a c k , m a y b e a year o r t w o later, a n d

down.

the

Nova

Scotian

19-1/2' Petaluma reshoff

prams;

skiff Sea

Urchin;

r o w i n g shells; one

two

Chamberlain

a n d . . . I n e a r l y s a i d ' a p a r t r i d g e i n a pear tree' b u t a c t u a l l y its a 13-1/2' s a i l i n g p r a m Sea

b u i l d a more advanced boat. A n o t h e r advantage in offering a range of boats

the lines off a semi-retired C e n t e r veteran

A m e r i c a h a v e d i f f e r i n g tastes i n b o a t s . N o v a

that lives upside d o w n o n o n e o f the f l o a t s . B u i l t i n S a n Francisco i n the 7 0 s i t was used as

that

different

areas

North

are

pretty

intense

and

H a v i n g o n e o f these m a n u a l s i n a class than

w o u l d be an immense help to b o t h myself

m e m o r i e s t o t a k e h o m e after t h e class h a s

a n d t h e s t u d e n t s . It's d i f f i c u l t for t h e m t o

Lion (Walrus i n Seattle). M a r c u s Lester t o o k

classes

how

ended?

give

people

Divide t h e b o a t w i t h a h a n d s a w b y

v i s u a l i z e w h a t i t i s w e are t r y i n g t o a c h i e v e

t h e n u m b e r s o f students? H a v i n g s d i s c u s s e d

u n t i l t h e y see it. I t m e a n s fewer e x p l a n a t i o n s

Scotia m a y want to b u i l d a d o r y , S p o k a n e a

t h i s w i t h s e v e r a l classes I've c o m e u p w i t h

a n d m o r e t i m e t o c o a c h people i n d i v i d u a l l y

shell, S a n Francisco a sailing p r a m a n d I

the

i n t h e p r o p e r use, care a n d s h a r p e n i n g o f

d o n ' t yet k n o w w h a t c r a f t w o u l d e x c i t e S t .

w o r k b o o k s or shop manuals to cover the

t h e i r h a n d t o o l s — t h e r e a l m e a t o f t h e class.

repairs

L o u i s , Boise a n d B o u n t i f u l , U t a h . I n Bear-

e n t i r e b u i l d i n g f r o m start t o f i n i s h . E a c h

a n d i n t h e process t h e t w o t r a n s o m s w e r e

p a w , A l a s k a the locals m i g h t w a n t t o b u i l d

b o o k t o f o c u s o n a specific b o a t w i t h a step-

tender

Center's

pram

the s a l m o n needed

fishery.

substantial

The

r e m o v e d a n d the boat shortened by an i n c h o r so. T h e n e w t r a n s o m s w e r e set p l u m b w h i c h makes an o d d - l o o k i n g boat. M a r c u s t o o k a guess at t h e t r a n s o m angles b u t w e h a d n o w a y o f k n o w i n g just w h a t they were originally. O n m y r e t u r n t o S a n Francisco I made enquiries a n d f o u n d an almost

identical

pram

storage

the

M a r i t i m e M u s e u m . It was s o m e w h a t longer b u t h a d never been 'restored'. ( M a n y o l d b o a t s get v a n d a l i z e d i n t h e n a m e o f r e s t o r a t i o n a n d t h e r e b y lose t h e i r a u t h e n t i c i t y a n d so

much

of their

historical

value.)

The

s h i p y a r d w h e r e these w o r k i n g p r a m s w e r e b u i l t i s still s t a n d i n g i n the C h i n a B a s i n area o f S a n F r a n c i s c o . O n e c a n just m a k e o u t t h e n a m e Knease p a i n t e d o n t h e side o f the

building.

T h e first replica of this

line of sturdy

p r a m s was built at the C e n t e r by a b a n d of e n t h u s i a s t s i n M a r c h o f t h i s y e a r . T h e class n o t o n l y b u i l t t h e b o a t b u t t h e spars, centerb o a r d , r u d d e r a n d t i l l e r . T h e y also m a d e and

fitted

the

centerboard

case.

Barney

A b r a m s , that good friend of the C e n t e r , h a d already sewn up the sail so the boat c o u l d b e rigged a n d t r i e d o u t o n l a u n c h i n g d a y . T h e r e w a s n ' t a lot o f w i n d b u t i t w a s c l e a r l y a h a n d y a n d v e r y stable little b o a t . Its c a r r y i n g c a p a c i t y was d e m o n s t r a t e d b y c o a x i n g t h e e n t i r e class o f s e v e n p l u s the i n structor

into

the

boat.

Those

shore

c l a i m e d t h a t t h e sheer s t r a k e r e m a i n e d d r y . T h e class t h o u g h t , q u i t e r i g h t l y , t h a t t h e y ' d d o n e r a t h e r w e l l — n o v i c e b o a t b u i l d e r s goi n g f r o m a pile of planks to a c o m p l e t e d s a i l b o a t i n o n l y eight d a y s . I h a d a h u n c h i t could

done

but

needed

the

Center

laboratory a n d a b u n c h of willing guinea pigs to m a k e sure. In J u n e a class w i l l be b u i l d i n g a n o t h e r Sea Lion i n S a n F r a n c i s c o . The

dish

added

the

w o r k s h o p m e n u — also e i g h t d a y s — is a 12' r o w i n g p u n t o r s c o w . T h i s class i s for t h e n o v i c e w i t h little o r n o p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e in

woodworking.

For

some

reason

that

eludes m e t h i s project has a l r e a d y got s t u c k with

the

nickname

Kindergarten connotations

Raggedy

Ann.

perhaps?

W h y s o m a n y boats a n d w h y t h e m a g i c n u m b e r o f eight days? A c o u p l e o f t i m e s I've conducted

twelve-day

classes

and

found

t h e m d i f f i c u l t t o f i l l — p r o b a b l y because t w o weeks is a b i g c h u n k o u t of anyone's vacat i o n t i m e . I also f o u n d t h a t e v e r y o n e ( i n c l u d i n g me) gets e x h a u s t e d , t h e class slows d o w n a n d we're a l l t h a n k f u l w h e n it's o v e r . T o b u i l d a n y w o r t h w h i l e b o a t i n less t h a n seven or eight days means a constant scramb l e t o c o m p l e t e t h e project o n t i m e . It's h a r d t o a c q u i r e skills u n d e r pressure: o n e needs time to learn, time to m a k e mistakes, do t h i n g s o v e r , take notes, p h o t o s a n d a b s o r b

following

solution:

series

A first e d i t i o n o f 2 5 Petaluma w o r k b o o k s w i l l be available some time in the fall. •

8/SHAVINGS/July-August

1987

S M A L L WATER CRUISING

In search of pickle grass and other small joys By Chas D o w d

ne a f t e r n o o n my wife a n d I were sitting on a small gravel b a r that was

part of a very small San Juan island. We were eating

PB&J

sandwiches

while

watch-

i n g a h a r b o r seal p a r t l y h u n t i n g a n d partl y p l a y i n g i n t h e t i d e race t h a t h a d b u i l t t h e g r a v e l b a r o v e r t h e years. B e h i n d u s , a b e l l b u o y tolled intermittently. N o other boats w e r e i n sight. I f w e s t o o d u p a n d t u r n e d a r o u n d , w e c o u l d h a v e seen several r a t h e r spectacular

houses,

all

fieldstone,

cedar,

glass, a n d g r e e n b a c k s , b u t f r o m w h e r e w e

e v e n i n g s I s e a r c h m y m a p l i b r a r y for t h e

l o g b o o m s , a n d o i l barges. O v e r m y desk a t

junct to sailing, not as the purpose of the

sat

t h e shelter o f s o m e s t r a n d e d d r i f t -

smallest o f i n l e t s , f o r tideflats, stretches o f

w o r k is a p h o t o of my wife sitting in o u r

whole thing. A l s o , w h e n you row or paddle,

nothing much

salt m a r c h , for t h e m o u t h s o f r i v e r s , a n d f o r

boat. In the b a c k g r o u n d is a shoreline of

I t h i n k y o u m a x i m i z e the size o f y o u r c r u i s e .

i s l a n d s a l m o s t t o o s m a l l t o s h o w u p o n large

varicolored grasses,

An hour a n d a half of r o w i n g moves me

scale c h a r t s . S o m e o f m y f a v o r i t e d e s t i n a -

assortment of wildflowers. T h e water is so

m u c h f a r t h e r s u b j e c t i v e l y t h a n i t does o b -

o f w h a t I saw w h e n I v i s i t e d t h e S a n J u a n s

t i o n s o n l y exist

still a n d t h e r e f l e c t i o n o f b a n k , tree, f l o w e r s ,

j e c t i v e l y . S i n c e my goal is to go as far a w a y

25-odd years b e f o r e as o n e of a c r o w d of Sea

scraps o f useless

swamp

the

b o a t , a n d D e b s o perfect t h a t I c a n h a n g i t

f r o m m y e v e r y d a y life a s I c a n , that's a n i m -

S c o u t s . It also r e c a l l e d t h e s c h e m e , h a t c h e d

m i d d l e o f i n d u s t r i a l areas o f c e m e n t p l a n t s ,

upside d o w n a n d n o b o d y c a n tell unless

p o r t a n t f a c t o r . T h e r e ' s also n o t h i n g l i k e t w o

a m o n g my fellow scouts, to finance o w n e r -

they

h o u r s o f s t e a d y , r h y t h m i c exercise t o o p e n

s h i p o f a s h i p large e n o u g h . t o c r u i s e i n .

b a c k w a r d s . O c c a s i o n a l l y s o m e o n e w i l l ask

y o u r m i n d t o n u a n c e . It's n o t u n l i k e za-zen

wood,

h a d c h a n g e d since

G e o r g e V a n c o u v e r sailed b y . Part o f w h a t w e w e r e seeing r e m i n d e d m e

We'd

found

just

the

vessel

the

boat

b r o k e r a g e s e c t i o n of Yachting, a 90-foot teak t o p s a i l s c h o o n e r w i t h t w o f u l l suits o f s a i l , radar,

sonar,

iliary,

and

ship-to-shore, a

separate

diesel

generator

auxplant.

F i n a n c i n g included w i t h d r a w i n g any a n d all

college

funds

and

money-making

r o u n d voyage that included shipping U . S . W W I I M - l rifles f r o m O k i n a w a t o M a l a y a , bar gold f r o m H o n g K o n g t o C a l c u t t a , a n d I n d i a n H e m p t o N e w Y o r k . S o m e tenets o f t h e S c o u t O a t h were g o i n g t o t a k e a l i c k i n g , b u t t h e d e s i r e for a s h i p w a s h a r d u p o n u s a n d w e agreed t h a t i t w a s n o t i m e t o b e s q u e a m i s h . T h o s e were the days w h e n we a l l felt t h a t c r u i s i n g i n t h e S o u t h P a c i f i c w a s the o n l y cruising w o r t h w h i l e . T o d a y , I h a v e m u c h different ideas a b o u t w h e r e it's w o r t h w h i l e t o c r u i s e . W e e k d a y

h i g h t i d e , o t h e r s are forgotten

An hour and a half of rowing moves me much farther subjectively than it does objectively. Since my goal is to go as far away from my everyday life as I can, that's an important factor.

notice

that

small

the

tree,

boat

and

name

where the p h o t o was taken a n d I r e s p o n d

m e d i t a t i o n . N u a n c e s are i m p o r t a n t i n s m a l l

" K e l l o g g I s l a n d . " 1 may or may not tell t h e m

water c r u i s i n g .

that

Kellogg Island is in the D u w a m i s h

For

example,

consider

nature

study.

across f r o m w h e r e M a n s o n m o o r s its b a r g e

O n c e , e x p l o r i n g i n C a r r Inlet, D e b a n d I

cranes a n d is s u r r o u n d e d by container park-

w e n t u p M i n t e r C r e e k l o o k i n g for t h e State

i n g . Y a c h t s m e n view m y voyages w i t h dis-

Fish Hatchery. M i n t e r Creek winds d o w n

d a i n , g i v i n g t h e m the somewhat condescen-

past several l o v e l y h o m e s b u t s o o n gets t o o

d i n g n a m e " g u n k h o l i n g " . I prefer t o c a l l m y

shallow e v e n for o u r boat. We drifted back

passion "small water c r u i s i n g . "

to where it w i d e n e d out. Signs w a r n e d up of oyster beds a n d private beach, so we tied

Groundrules and Expectations. N o t just a n y b o a t is a s m a l l water c r u i s e r . A good

one

must

muscle-powered:

r o w b o a t , a k a y a k , or a c a n o e . E v e n a s m a l l o u t b o a r d is t o o m u c h . . . t o o m u c h n o i s e , too m u c h technology, above all, too m u c h d r a f t . S a i l i s m a r g i n a l . E v e n i f a s a i l b o a t has c e n t e r b o a r d o r l e e b o a r d s , there's a t e m p t a t i o n t o see s m a l l w a t e r d e s t i n a t i o n s a s a n a d -

o u r painter to an overhanging bush a n d in f i v e i n c h e s o f w a t e r , b e g a n o u r l u n c h . Part way t h r o u g h we were distracted by a buzzi n g t h a t s o u n d e d l i k e t h e w o r l d ' s biggest d r a g o n f l y . T h r e e feet a w a y f r o m u s o n t h e b e a c h was a f l e d g l i n g A n n a ' s h u m m i n g b i r d , b e i n g f e d b y its m o t h e r . S h e w o u l d fly a w a y , r e t u r n i n g e v e r y m i n u t e o r s o t o disgorge a c r o p f u l o f n e c t a r i n t o J u n i o r , h o v e r i n g just

July-August 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 9

Here was the great engine of natural selection churning away, with just as much importance for its actors as a more dramatic encounter between moose and wolves, or elephants and tigers, or Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons,

h e r f r a n t i c efforts. D o w n t h e b e a c h 1 0 t o 1 5

a n d f o r t h o n its b r a n c h . T h e n m o r e h u n c h -

yards away, three or four crows were t u r n -

ing and stamping up and d o w n . For two

i n g o v e r stones a n d f i g h t i n g o v e r scraps o f

m i n u t e s i t r e a r r a n g e d its w i n g s a n d m a r c h -

dead crab a n d defunct oyster. T h e i r s h i n y

b l a c k feathers s e e m e d to p r o p h e s i z e a b l a c k

a n o t h e r . T h o u g h we're not ones to attribute

e n d f o r J u n i o r u n l e s s h e c o u l d f i n d refuge i n

h u m a n actions or emotions to animals, the

about, facing first one way a n d then

b i r d was s o o b v i o u s l y p o u t i n g that w e b o t h

the u n d e r b r u s h . H e r e was t h e great e n g i n e o f n a t u r a l select i o n c h u r n i n g a w a y , w i t h just a s m u c h i m -

started laughing. When

you or

visit can't

get

places to,

other

overlook

encounter between

moose a n d wolves, or

wildlife is surprising. Y e t the V i r g i n i a Rails

e l e p h a n t s a n d tigers, o r N e a n d e r t h a l s a n d

a n d G r e e n H e r o n s w e ' v e seen i n t h e little

C r o - M a g n o n s . H o w d i d i t end? W e never

slough

k n e w . F a l l i n g t i d e m a d e i t necessary t o leave

m e n t are l o o k i n g for just w h a t we're h u n -

before a n y t h i n g was resolved.

t i n g : s o m e space a w a y f r o m t h e pressure o f

20 minutes drive

the

people

p o r t a n c e f o r its a c t o r s as a m o r e d r a m a t i c

from

amount

o u r apart-

h u m a n s , cars, T V s , a n d s h o p p i n g malls.

Watched eagle fishing. Saratoga

Passage,

A n o t h e r time i n

watched

Once,

in a scrap of s w a m p o n l y small

eagle

w a t e r cruisers c o u l d l o v e , w e s u r p r i s e d a

fishing. F l y i n g l o w over the water, it w o u l d

Great Blue H e r o n in full plumage h u n t i n g . I

skate its t a l o n s o v e r t h e s u r f a c e , o c c a s i o n a l -

could

l y l e a v i n g l o n g streaks o n t h e surface. F i n a l -

t o u c h e d h i m . O n h i s l o g h e w a s six i n c h e s

have

reached

out

hand

and

ly it c a u g h t a s m a l l fish. We s a w its legs

taller t h a n I w a s . S u d d e n l y I l o o k e d at his

s w i n g back as it h i t a n d s u d d e n l y , before it

foot a n d a half l o n g beak a n d remembered

c o u l d rise, a f l o c k o f f o u r o r f i v e c r o w s m o b -

h o w fast a h e r o n c a n w h i p its h e a d f o r w a r d

bed it, d i v i n g from above a n d b e h i n d , one

w h e n i t sees s o m e t h i n g e d i b l e . E v e r y t h i n g

e v e n c h a r g i n g i t h e a d l o n g . T h e eagle d r o p -

I'd l e a r n e d a b o u t t h e " f i g h t o r f l i g h t " i n -

p u s h i n g her l o n g

p e d its c a t c h , w h i c h o n e o f t h e attackers

stinct flashed i n t o m i n d a n d I remembered

b e a k d o w n his t h r o a t t o t h e p o i n t w h e r e i t

n a b b e d before i t h i t t h e w a t e r . T h e y i m -

the

was a m a r v e l h e d i d n ' t gag. W h e n she left,

mediately streaked a w a y , inches above the

a n a n g r y G r e e n L a k e goose w h e n I was t e n .

J u n i o r h o p p e d a b o u t a b i t , t r y i n g t o fly b u t

waves w h i l e o u r b e f u d d l e d N a t i o n a l S y m -

T h i s unique frog's-eye view provided me

n o t s e e m i n g able t o get u p e n o u g h s t e a m t o

b o l tried to figure out w h i c h o n e to chase.

w i t h a whole new appreciation of herons

m a k e it to t h e b l a c k b e r r y b u s h e s a few feet

Finally

and

a w a y . M o m kept s t o k i n g , J u n i o r k e p t t r y i n g

I s l a n d . F i r s t i t h u n c h e d its w i n g s u p level

a n d w e g r a d u a l l y u n d e r s t o o d t h e r e a s o n for

w i t h t h e t o p o f its h e a d , t h e n i t s h i f t e d b a c k

above the g r o u n d a n d

t h e eagle

lit o n

snag on

Baby

considerable

b a t t e r i n g I'd g o t t e n f r o m

considerable

respect

c a p a b i l i t i e s as p r e d a t o r s .

for

their

It w a s s a i d of a

continued on page 10

10/SHAVINGS/July-August

1987

continued from page 9 19th-century

deltas a n d a major way of t u r n i n g m a r s h to s o l i d g r o u n d . It's g o n e a l m o s t e v e r y w h e r e

n a t u r a l i s t t h a t h e c o u l d "see

the whole w o r l d in a grain of s a n d . " He

else,

w o u l d have appreciated s m a l l water cruis-

there's s t i l l t h i s l i t t l e c h u n k t o see.

but

if y o u ' r e

small-water

cruiser,

A y e a r ago, w e v i s i t e d C h u c k a n u t I s l a n d ,

ing.

another

Wilderness cruising.

Nature

Chuckanut

A rowing friend o f

Conservancy

Bay.

There's

area beach

in and

m i n e o n c e c o m p l a i n e d t h a t u n t i l h e got t o

you're not supposed to go ashore a n y w a y ,

A l a s k a , he c o u l d never find anyplace that

b u t d r i f t i n g close t o t h e c l i f f edge, w e f o u n d

w a s u n t o u c h e d ; a place w h e r e p o w e r b o a t e r s

a l i t t l e m i c r o - c u r r e n t t h a t c o u l d c a r r y us at

and

where

half a mile an h o u r a r o u n d most of the

c i v i l i z a t i o n d i d n ' t press i n . I t o l d h i m o f m y

island. W i t h o u r boat in this current, we

favorite stretch of K i l l i s u t H a r b o r between

c o u l d d r i f t 1 8 i n c h e s o u t a n d see c r a b s , sea

Indian a n d M a r r o w s t o n e Island.

anenomes,

others

would

absent

and

their plumes, t h o u g h what they c o u l d find

m i l i t a r y has o w n e d since t h e m i n d o f m a n

t o e a c h i n t h e g i n - c l e a r water w a s a m y s t e r y .

knoweth not contrary. Here, if you position

L o o k i n g o v e r t h e o t h e r s i d e , w e c o u l d see

y o u r b o a t just r i g h t , 1 8 0 Â° o f y o u r v i s i o n w i l l

the

see u n t o u c h e d s h o r e l i n e h e a v y w i t h u n c u t

that

island

stretching d o w n ,

d e e p e n i n g water. I w i l l never w o n d e r again

r h o d o d e n d r o n s are t h e o n l y u n d e r g r o w t h , thickets

roots of the

d o w n , d o w n u n t i l t h e y were lost i n t h e

f i r s t - g r o w t h D o u g f i r a n d cedar. Salal a n d blackberry

an occasional fish below.

orange a n d purple. Barnacles were w a v i n g

the I n d i a n Island N a v a l S t a t i o n that the

free o f t h e

and

S u n f l o w e r stars w i t h t h e i r 3 2 a r m s s h o n e i n

N e a r its h e a d , there's a l i t t l e p o r t i o n o f

grow

I s l a n d , w h e r e y o u c a n s t a n d o f f far e n o u g h

s u r r o u n d e d by some of the most intensively

w h e r e v e r m a n has c l e a r e d t h e b r u s h . T r u e ,

t o see t h e sunset o n R a i n i e r o v e r a n o t h e r

f a r m e d l a n d i n o u r state, l a n d t h a t p r o d u c e s

i f y o u d r i f t 100 y a r d s y o u ' l l see a b i g r e d

piece

9 0 % o f t h e w o r l d ' s beet seed.

N a v y , K e e p O u t , N o L a n d i n g , N o Fires

w i n d i s right a n d y o u c a n ' t h e a r t h e r a d i o s

of pre-Peter

Puget

shoreline.

If t h e

w h a t a n artist m e a n s w h e n she speaks o f ultramarine blue. A l l these r o w s , all these e n j o y m e n t s , exist w i t h i n a d a y ' s d r i v e o f m y h o u s e . A l l i t takes

s i g n . I f y o u h a d a t h i r d eye i n t h e b a c k o f

and

lotion

I n search o f p i c k l e grass. T h i s year D e b

to find t h e m is a s m a l l t r a i l e r a b l e b o a t (here

y o u r h e a d , y o u ' d see h o u s e s all a l o n g t h e

f r o m C o o n C o v e , it's a s n a t u r a l a s a n y b o d y

a n d I are g o i n g t o visit t h e h e a d o f S k o o k u m

I speak h e r e s y : it d o e s n ' t e v e n n e e d to be

shore. So what? In front of y o u is the u n -

c o u l d w a n t . Just d o n ' t t u r n a r o u n d .

Inlet.

wood), a chart, a n d a certain frame of m i n d .

trammeled

Northwest.

Seeing o n e of the

" N a v y deer" a l o n g the beach o n l y heightens the i l l u s i o n . There's a stretch of S q u a x i n shoreline,

a bit of m a r s h

n o r t h of H o p e

smell

the cocoa-butter s u n t a n

Here

the

Nature

Conservancy

has

T h e r e are leads i n t o t h e m a r s h a r o u n d

p u r c h a s e d 76 acres of w e t l a n d to preserve

I think

Ika Island at the m o u t h of the Skagit R i v e r

t h e p i c k l e grass/salt g r a s s / m a r s h grass p l a n t

c o m e b y t h a n t h a t 90-foot t o p s a i l s c h o o n e r

w h e r e y o u c a n l o o k u p t h e cliffs a n d w a t c h

community

and

eagles, t o t a l l y o b l i v i o u s t o t h e fact y o u ' r e

feature

that many

used

Washington

the

major

State

river

Scout

you'll

find

them

m u c h easier t o

all V e i l w i t h i n t h e strictures o f t h e Oath.

â&#x20AC;˘

July-August

June 20 &. 21 L O N G B O A T DISCOVERY O N DISPLAY 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., C W B , Waterway 4 This is a replica of the boat used by Peter Puget on the ship, Discovery, in charting Puget Sound in 1792. Free rides in the boat for those who join the Pure Sound Society at this time.

July 18-19 STEAMBOAT Winslow

June 21 B A N D MUSIC 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., C W B Pavilion Free concert of traditional band music by the Seattle Summer Concert Band.

July 19 POETRY READING 7 p m . to 9 p.m., C W B Pavilion Red Sky Poetry Society will have members read their works. Sunset over Lake U n i o n will be provided as a poetic background.

July 3, 4 & 5 L A K E UNION W O O D E N B O A T FESTIVAL Naval Reserve Base, Lake U n i o n The C W B ' s annual extravaganza at the south end of the lake â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the largest wooden-boat show in the West with dozens of exhibits, classic watercraft, seminars, rowing and sailing races . . . and just plain fun. Details: 206/382-2628. July 11 P A I N T S & FINISHES W O R K S H O P Port Townsend Instructors: Cary Nicely and Len Gerlach from International Paint C o . (For more information contact: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, 251 Otto Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368, 206/3854948.) July 11 PLANE MAKING WORKSHOP 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., C W B Boatshop Charlie Mastro will help students build their own plane, which they will then take home. Limited to six students. $60, C W B members; $70, non-members. Details: 382-2628.

July 11 & 12 SQUAXIN ISLAND ROWING R E G A T T A Shelton A rowing race around Squaxin Island will begin at noon. For more information call 426-7307.

July 12 V A S H O N ISLAND R O W Burton Peninsula This annual race is held in connection with the Vashon Strawberry Festival. T h e race starts at 10 a.m. at Jensen Point. Call 623-9497 for details.

July 13-July 18 LAPSTRAKE WORKSHOP 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., C W B Boatshop Eric Hvalsoe, instructor, and students will build a 9-1/2' Norwegian lapstrake pram, then launch it! T h e class is limited to 5 students. Woodworking skills are necessary. Cost: $325 for C W B members; $360 for non-members. Details: 382-2628.

July 18 B L A K E ISLAND R O W I N G M E E T Bainbridge to Blake Island Rowers launch from Fort Ward, Bainbridge Island, departing for Blake Island between 10 and 11 a.m., with a three-mile round-Blake row to begin at noon. Details, Sound Rowers: 206/324-5800.

RENDEZVOUS

A gathering of 10-15 of the Northwest Steam Society's boats at the City Dock. T h e best viewing time is Saturday afternoon.

July 24 C W B , M O N T H L Y M E E T I N G - Please note, this is a one-time-only change from the usual third Friday meeting. Building a replica of the 1935 Little Miss Canada IV, a Hacker design hydroplane. Eric Hvalsoe, builder, will talk of the history of the original. This boat will be displayed at our Wooden Boat Festival. July 25 STEAM BEADING WORKSHOP Port Townsend Instructor: Jim Ferris. For more information contact: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, 251 Otto Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368; 206/3854948. July 25-26 POULSBO BOAT RENDEZVOUS Poulsbo waterfront Fifth annual get-together for owners and aficionados of Poulsbo Boats, the salty inboard-powered launches built for decades by Ronald Young and other Poulsboarea craftsmen. T h e rendezvous includes a flea-market sale of marine related gear, sharing of information on Poulsbo Boats, free boat rides, casual boat parade around Liberty Bay, slide show and visits with local residents who share their knowledge of the boats.

July 31 W A W O N A BENEFIT C O N C E R T 7:30 p.m., on board schooner W A W O N A Louis Killen, Songs of the Sea. $5 donation.

August 1 & 2 STEAMBOAT RENDEZVOUS Anacortes A gathering of 10-15 of the Northwest Steam Society's boats at the Boat Basin in conjunction with the Anacortes Arts and Crafts Festival.

August 8 ' R O U N D S H A W ISLAND R O W San Juan Islands Rowers meet at 11 a.m. at South Beach, Shaw Island, to circumnavigate the island. Details from Sound Rowers: 324-5800.

August 17-21 LOFTING SEMINAR Port Townsend Jim Franken, professional loftsman, will lead this seminar which will cover beginning through advanced lofting and lofting problems. (Class will be geared to experience level and interest of participating students.) For more information contact: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, 251 Otto Street, Port T o w n send, WA 98368; 206/3854948. August 21 CWB MONTHLY MEETING 7:30 p.m., C W B Boathouse A subject of maritime interest. August 22 T H E G R E A T CROSS-SOUND R A C E , 6 MI A l k i Beach to Winslow This is the top banana among Northwest rowing events, drawing about 400 boats of all descriptions. Several classes, lots of winners, with a course that begins at A l k i Beach in West Seattle, and ends in Eagle Harbor in Winslow, Bainbridge Island. Food, T-shirts and awards at the finish. Details from Sound Rowers: 206/324-5800. August 24-28 SMALL BOAT CONSTRUCTION & M A I N T E N A N C E SEMINAR Port Townsend Ray Speck, boatbuilder, will cover the essentials of small boat construction, types of woods to use and dimensions necessary for sturdy yet not "over-built" small boats; and how to make them last. For more information contact: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, 251 Otto Street, Port Townsend, W A 98368; 206/3854948. September 12 & 13 OPEN HOUSE 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Port Townsend Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, 251 Otto Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368; 206/4948. September 18 CWB MONTHLY MEETING 7:30 p.m., C W B Boathouse Discussion of maritime issues. September 19 BAINBRIDGE M A R A T H O N R O W 11 a.m.. Fay Bainbridge State Park T h e 23 nautical mile row begins and ends at Fay Bainbridge State Park. Details: 206/324-5800. September 21-25 LOFTING SEMINAR 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

August 15-August 22

Eric Hvalsoe, instructs a course in five evenings in which students will get basic training in lofting. Each student will loft a flat-bottom skiff and round-bottom boat in small scale. The tricky stuff about rabbets, bevels, and raking transoms will be picked up from a full-size loft. The class is limited to 6 students. Cost: $175 for C W B members; $200 for non-members.

LAPSTRAKE WORKSHOP 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p . m , C W B Boatshop Eric Hvalsoe, instructor, leads the building of a wine glass transom 9-1/2' Lawley tender. This is an eight-day workshop for 5 students. Woodworking skills are necessary. Cost: $360 for C W B members; $400 for non-members.

September 26 NAVY BAND CONCERT 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., C W B Pavilion O u r pavilion was born for band concerts. The music of the Navy Band is as crisp and bright as band concerts should be. No charge.

1987/SHAVINGS/ll

1 2 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

FIRST

STROKES

E x p e r i e n c e starts w h e n y o u b e g i n . Pete Culler By Christopher Cunningham

and

left t h e s k y i n t h e i r o r d e r : r e d a n d o r a n g e

charts. M y d r e a m was t o b u i l d a boat

began

f i r s t , l a v e n d e r a n d i n d i g o last. A f u l l m o o n

and sail the Inland Passage of British Columbia to

illuminated

Alaska.

But

pouring

when

over

set

maps

out

late

J u l y o f 1980 i n m y f i r s t b o a t , o n m y f i r s t

Padilla

Bay

into the car.

around

Race

Point

and

accelerated

" A w c o m e o n , let's a t least t h r o w s o m e

t h r o u g h S e y m o u r N a r r o w s . T h o u g h I was t i r e d a n d m y h a n d s still b u r n e d f r o m t h e

monochrome

rocks at h i m . " T h e sixth disappeared into

a n d s p i l l e d its m e r c u r i a l l i g h t i n a streak

t h e o u t l i n e o f t h e car a n d t h e e n g i n e b l a r e d .

m o r n i n g r o w I was d r a w n i n t o t h e n a r r o w

u p o n the water.

Its r o a r e c h o e d f r o m t h e f l a n k s o f C a p S a n t e

corridor between

a s t h e car d i s a p p e a r e d , l e a v i n g a c l o u d o f

w a s t h e Inside Passage as I h a d i m a g i n e d it: l o n g a v e n u e s o f w a t e r w h e r e t h e tides r a n

passage I was less my vessel's m a s t e r t h a n

First visitors.

steep

cedared

slopes.

T h e tide was falling w h e n I

d u s t t h a t g l o w e d r e d i n t h e s h i n e o f its

14 f o o t d o r y w i t h s p r i t -

p u l l e d the boat to a r o c k y beach outside of

taillights. I d i d not slide b a c k d o w n i n t o the

l i k e s h u t t l e s b e n e a t h t h e s t o n e a n d s n o w ar-

rigged m a i n a n d j i b . I h a d a d d e d a f l y i n g j i b ,

t h e A n a c o r t e s m a r i n a . I set m y a l a r m t o

d o r y b u t sat i n t h e s t e r n w i t h m y eye o n t h e

chitecture

t o p - s a i l , a n d a j i b - t o p s a i l , so t h e m a s t w a s a

w a k e m e before the m o r n i n g ' s f l o o d w o u l d

shore w a i t i n g for the tide.

n e a r e d t h e crest o f t h e r i d g e t o t h e west a n d

her v i c t i m . Gamine w a s a

the

mountains.

The

sun

maypole of halyards a n d the h u l l a snake-pit

lift Gamine from t h e s l i c k c a r p e t o f s e a w e e d .

1 s o u g h t m o r e p e a c e f u l c a m p s i t e s as I p i c k -

its a m b e r l i g h t set t h e c e d a r p l a n k i n g a g l o w .

o f sheets w r i t h i n g b e n e a t h t h e f l a p p i n g sails.

A f t e r a d a y ' s r o w o f 3 4 m i l e s I fell q u i c k l y i n -

e d m y way t h r o u g h the S a n J u a n a n d G u l f

M y a r m s a n d o a r s cast s h a d o w s t h a t d a n c e d

H a l f w a y across P o s s e s s i o n S o u n d I r e a c h -

t o a p a r a l y t i c sleep o n l y t o b e w r e s t e d f r o m

Islands. T h e e n d o f m y f i r s t w e e k b r o u g h t

t o t h e beat o f the oars t h u m p i n g a g a i n s t the

e d a n e q u i l i b r i u m w i t h t h e sails a n d sat i m -

i t a t 2:30 a . m . b y t h e d i n o f a n u n m u f f l e r e d

me to a h a r b o r at Newcastle Island c r o w d e d

tholepins.

mobile u n t i l I h a d r u n the d o r y up on the

e n g i n e . T h e grass o n t h e crest o f t h e b a n k

w i t h c a b i n cruisers a n d sailboats. T h e o n l y

I p u l l e d into E l k Bay at the n o r t h e n d of

f l a n k o f W h i d b e y I s l a n d . I s t o w e d the r i g i n

above the beach shone green as the roar

small boats a r o u n d were either stuck like

D i s c o v e r y C h a n n e l a t d u s k a n d s e c u r e d the

t h e 1 4 foot skiff a n d b e g a n t h e w o r k o f r o w -

g r e w l o u d e r . T h e b r i g h t d i a e r e s i s o f a car's

l i m p e t s t o t h e t r a n s o m s o f cruisers o r p r o -

d o r y alongside a log b o o m . As I was c r a w l -

ing north.

headlights

and

pelled by s m a l l o u t b o a r d s that s o u n d e d like

i n g i n t o m y s l e e p i n g b a g a c r u i s e s h i p passed

b l i n k e d out, leaving o n l y the glint of the

l o n g - w i n d e d B r o n x c h e e r s . N o o n e was r o w -

b y , a s h a d o w perforated w i t h bright port-

m o o n in the chrome grill-work. T h e doors

ing.

h o l e s . I p i c t u r e d m y s e l f o n t h e o t h e r side o f

I r o w e d G a m i n e i n t o L a n g l e y a n d set u p housekeeping along the beach. D i n n e r , it appeared, was n o t destined to a d d order a n d c o m f o r t t o t h e d a y . T h e stove w a s missi n g a b i t o f its m e t a l

anatomy,

and

l a r d e r , f o r reasons u n k n o w n t o m e , c o n t a i n e d o n l y p o t a t o e s a n d o n i o n s . T h e t i m e 1 lost in r e p a i r i n g the stove was m a d e up for in the brief m i n u t e or t w o it took to t u r n the o n i o n s b r o w n a n d gelatinous a n d char the potatoes w h i l e l e a v i n g t h e m as crisp as apples o n t h e i n s i d e .

popped

above

the

crest

o p e n e d , a n d the f i g u r e s o f six g r o w n boys arrayed

themselves a l o n g the b a n k .

They

l o o k e d f i r s t u p a t t h e m o o n . T h e i r praise o f it was brief a n d unrepeatable. I waited for the inevitable.

I c a m e a l o n g s i d e a sleek y a w l t h a t h a i l e d

L e t ' s t a k e it f o r a

looking

across

the

small boys a n d their parents l o o k e d on as I

w o u l d b e t o o s m a l l t o b e n o t i c e d . F o r the

fussed

f i r s t t i m e I felt l o n e l y . T h e s h i p ' s w a k e hissed

with

m y gear

about

and

answered

row.

The

their father

a l o n g the gravel beach a n d r o l l e d gently beneath the boat.

" T h i s m a n h a s c o m e just a s far a s w e h a v e

Just after m i d n i g h t I w a s s h a k e n o u t o f

a n d he's r o w e d a l l t h a t w a y i n t h a t little

sleep b y r o u g h w a t e r . A c o l d n o r t h e r l y h a d

boat."

scuffed t h e s o u t h side o f t h e b a y a n d p o u n d -

" N o w a y , m a n . It's a r o c k . " I t r i e d t o l o o k "It's a b o a t j e r k f a c e .

portholes

f r o m B a i n b r i d g e I s l a n d . F r o m its r a i l t w o

translated for his youngest, Bergie:

more like a rock.

of the

water t o E l k B a y . E v e n i n daylight the d o r y

questions

" L o o k , there's a b o a t ! "

one

ride."

" W h y ? " B e r g i e a s k e d , h i s eyes f i x e d u p o n

e d Gamine against t h e l o g b o o m . W i t h o u t

I i n t e n d e d t o c a m p o n t h e b e a c h a n d set

T h e six s c r a m b l e d d o w n t h e b a n k a n d

me. Suddenly mute, I rummaged through

g e t t i n g e n t i r e l y o u t o f t h e s l e e p i n g b a g I slip-

the boat at a n c h o r by means of a l o n g l o o p

s t u m b l e d across t h e s l i c k r o c k s . W h e n t h e y

m y m e m o r y : t h e r e m u s t b e a r e a s o n i n here

p e d t h e l o o p s t h a t h e l d t h e d o r y t o t h e logs

of line r u n t h r o u g h a pulley attached to the

w e r e a f e w y a r d s a w a y I sat up in t h e s t e r n .

somewhere.

a n d positioned myself o n the thwart t o r o w .

anchor

T h e rising of a mummy-bag-wrapped figure

b l a n k : " O h , B e r g i e , he's d o i n g i t because h e

brought t h e m to a q u i c k stop.

enjoys i t . "

float.

described

It a

was

boating

method

I'd

magazine.

seen my

Bergie's

mother filled in

the

I r o w e d u n t i l I h e a r d t h e s q u e a k of salt grass against t h e h u l l a t t h e n o r t h edge o f

m i n d ' s e y e was t h e t i d y i l l u s t r a t i o n o f a b o a t

I left M i t t l e n a c h t I s l a n d , m y last c a m p o n

the bay. L e t t i n g the boat drift away from

h a u l e d o u t t o a n c h o r l i k e l a u n d r y set o u t t o

the Straits, at 5 a . m . E v e n at that dark h o u r

the shore I sounded with the anchor u n t i l

d r y o n a c l o t h e s l i n e . B u t after 9 0 m i n u t e s o f

it was t o o r o u g h for r o w i n g , b u t I h a d it in

h a d t w o fathoms under the h u l l , e n o u g h

m i n d t o get t o t h e t o w n o f C a m p b e l l R i v e r

k e e p m e afloat b e f o r e m y a l a r m w o u l d r o u s e

o n V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d . Gamine s h o o k a n d

m e for t h e m o r n i n g ' s l o w r i d e .

t r y i n g to duplicate the d r a w i n g in the three dimensions of water, sand, a n d night, I h a d something that looked more like a m o d e l of a u r a n i u m atom's electron orbits. I picked the w i l d scribble o f line a n d seaweed o u t o f the water a n d d r o p p e d it d r i p p i n g i n t o the b o w t o sit u n t i l m o r n i n g w h e n I h a d m o r e l i g h t a n d w i t s t o u n t a n g l e it. I sculled the d o r y off the beach a n d d r o p ped the anchor.

Before slipping i n t o my

sleeping bag, I peed i n t o the bailer a n d e m p t i e d i t o v e r t h e s i d e . T h e w a t e r lit u p b l u e like a propane flame. Peering over the rail I s a w t h e fringes o f m a r b l e - s i z e d j e l l y f i s h s h i n e l i k e b r i g h t s t r a n d s o f t i n y pearls. F i s h t r a c e d meteoric trails of silver b e n e a t h the boat. It was the b o t t o m o f Pandora's b o x : there was hope. The

day

that

followed

was

Five walked away from the boat. The sixth, swaying over the port tholepins, stared at me. He turned suddenly and called after the others. "Let's kill him! Hey you guys let's kill him!";

rattled

as she b u l l e d i n t o the waves a n d

r e s t e d . T h e f r i n g e o f treetops b e t w e e n t h e

rails. T h e b l a d e s o f t h e o a r s , f i g h t i n g t h e i n -

g u n w a l e s a n d t h e s k y were s t i l l . I r o l l e d o v e r

ertia o f 600 p o u n d s o f boat a n d cargo, c l a w -

t o c a t c h a b i t m o r e sleep b e f o r e t h e a l a r m

e d t h r o u g h t h e w a t e r . I c o u l d feel t h e s k i n o f

s o u n d e d , b u t the b o a t d i d n ' t r o c k . I sat u p

my h a n d s d e l a m i n a t i n g â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the gritty sliding

a n d looked over the rail.

p l a n t e d i n t h e m i d d l e o f a n oyster b e d . T h e

dermis

and

epidermis

against

one

a l a r m h a d b e e n s h u t off. It w a s a q u i e t plea

t w e e n t h e m . I set my c o u r s e a b i t o f f t h e

f r o m m y b l i s t e r e d h a n d s t h a t I c h o s e t o ig-

w i n d t o ease t h e fall o f t h e b o w i n t o t h e

nore.

troughs.

T h e diagonal

h e a d i n g eased

the

p i t c h i n g m o t i o n , but the d o r y began to roll a s w e l l . I t w a s d i f f i c u l t t o sit u p r i g h t . A s I tired the gyrations of the boat w o r k e d my spine like a w h i p a n d snapped my head in a l l d i r e c t i o n s . T h e r o l l o f t h e g u n w a l e s alterwater in the m i d d l e of the stroke a n d d r o v e

u n e v e n t f u l . T h e air w a s s t i l l , a n d t h e w a t e r

the

w a s flat. T h e s u n h a d b u t o n e u n b r o k e n

" W h a t are y o u d o i n ' h e r e ? "

reflection, a small bright disk that s k i m m e d

" T r y i n g t o get s o m e s l e e p . " T h e y l i n e d u p

t h e surface o f t h e w a t e r a l o n g s i d e t h e d o r y

a r o u n d the gunwales, three to port three to

a s I r o w e d . W h e n m y b a r e legs b e g a n t o feel

starboard. T h e y asked about m y r o w a n d

the sting of the s u n I covered t h e m w i t h a

l o o k e d over the equipment in the boat.

Gamine w a s

a n o t h e r as if t h e r e w e r e a l a y e r of s a n d b e -

nately pried the blades of the oars from the

mercifully

A t d a w n t h e b o a t w a s still a n d 1 felt w e

w h i t e fans o f s p r a y b u r s t o u t w a r d f r o m t h e

handles

recovery.

against screamed

my at

kneecaps the boat:

the

Move

dammit!

I set t h e floorboards u p o n t h e s h a r p - e d g e d oysters a n d p i l e d m y gear u p o n t h e m . I p u l l e d o n t h e p a i n t e r a n d t h e d o r y rose f r o m t h e m u d w i t h a s o u n d l i k e t h e last o f a m i l k shade sucked up a straw. W i t h a painter t i e d i n a harness a r o u n d m y s h o u l d e r s 1 leaned f o r w a r d i n the shin-deep m u d a n d h e a d e d f o r t h e w a t e r . Gamine m o v e d s l o w l y o v e r t h e o y s t e r shells, l e a v i n g a w h i t e t r a i l o f p a i n t a n d c r u s h e d shells. O n eel grass she slipped along nicely.

A f t e r four h o u r s on the water I reached

I t t o o k a n h o u r t o get t h e b o a t i n t o the

W i l l o w P o i n t , where I p u l l e d the d o r y o n t o

w a t e r a n d r e l o a d e d . I d r i f t e d n o r t h w i t h the

c h a r t . I c o m p a r e d t h e S a r a t o g a Passage i n

" Y o u alone?"

a b r o a d , m a l o d o r o u s m u d f l a t . T h e anger I

e b b past a b a l d eagle l o o k i n g o u t o v e r the

m y l a p w i t h t h e S a r a t o g a Passage a r o u n d

" Y e s . " I l o o k e d i n t o the boat. It was too

h a d felt o n t h e w a t e r t u r n e d t o s h a m e a s I

c h a n n e l from a s i l v e r e d s n a g , past a b l a c k

l a n d e d . M y f i g h t against t h e w e a t h e r h a d

b e a r c o m b i n g t h e salal f o r b e r r i e s .

me. W h i l e the slow drift of the foreshore

s m a l l t o lie a b o u t t h e size o f t h e c r e w .

b e n e a t h the peaks of the C a s c a d e m o u n -

" W e l l t h a t ' s c o o l . L e t ' s let h i m get s o m e

been an even match, but while I had been

t a i n s t o t h e west a n d t h e O l y m p i c s t o t h e

sleep." Five w a l k e d away from the boat. T h e

at my l i m i t , the weather was o n l y m i l d l y

unaware

east m a r k e d m y m o v e m e n t o v e r t h e w a t e r ,

sixth,

foul.

w h a l e s . W h e n I saw w h a t a p p e a r e d t o b e a

m y progress o n t h e c h a r t w a s a s i m p e r c e p t i -

stared a t m e . H e t u r n e d s u d d e n l y a n d c a l l e d

ble as the clockwise pivot of shadows on a

after t h e o t h e r s .

s u m m e r d a y . Y e t the s u n m o v e d west, a n d w h e n it t o u c h e d the h o r i z o n I was 30 miles f r o m where 1 h a d started the d a y . C o l o r s

swaying

over

the

port

tholepins,

" L e t ' s k i l l h i m ! H e y y o u g u y s let's k i l l him!" T h e five crawled up the bank a n d ducked

I was l u c k y t h a t I h a d o n l y m a d e

myself miserable.

W h e n I r e a c h e d J o h n s t o n e S t r a i t s I was of the

area's

popularity

among

l e n g t h o f b l a c k plastic p i p e , b o b b i n g u p a n d d o w n i n the water, a n d heard w h a t c o u l d

Drifting through Seymour Narrows.

h a v e b e e n t h e w h o o s h o f air r u s h i n g i n a n d

A f t e r m y s h o p p i n g spree i n C a m p b e l l R i v e r

o u t o f a steel t a n k s u b m e r g e d b e n e a t h the

I drifted w i t h the d o r y on an ebb that swirl-

p i p e , t h a t is e x a c t l y

w h a t I t h o u g h t was

July-August 1987/SHAVINGS/13

q u i c k l y closing in on me.

I took

a few

island b e h i n d the m a i n . I dove for the floor-

strokes t o get o u t o f its w a y . W h e n i t surfac-

boards a n d the b o o m s l a m m e d over to port.

ed twenty yards away, the pipe h a d b r o a d -

T h e sprit h a d c r o s s e d f o r w a r d o f t h e m a s t

ened into the tall black scimitar of an O r c a ' s

a n d f o u l e d the sail a n d the b o o m jaws h a d

dorsal fin. I grabbed my camera a n d search-

come

e d t h r o u g h t h e v i e w f i n d e r for t h e w h a l e ' s

steered i n t o t h e lee o n t h e n o r t h side o f t h e

n e x t r i s i n g . F i f t e e n feet a s t e r n I saw a s l i c k ,

island.

b l a c k d o m e surface a n d d r i f t t o w a r d s t h e boat.

weightless

nothing

had

broken.

I p a d d l e d t h e s l i c k w a t e r of t h e lee to a b e a c h o f r o c k s t h e size o f b o w l i n g b a l l s . I

a d r e n a l i n as I s n a p p e d t h e s h u t t e r . So t h i s is

r e m o v e d the sprit from the m a i n a n d folded

it, I t h o u g h t . I l o w e r e d t h e c a m e r a i n t o m y

the sail from tack to throat, r e d u c i n g it to a

lap. 1 studied the black shape, n o w o n l y five

s m a l l l o w t r i a n g l e . T h e s t i l l air a n d w a t e r a t

feet a w a y . I t h a d treads; i t h a d w h i t e w a l l s .

the n o r t h e n d of the island lulled me i n t o

is a

turned

yet

with

There

body

loose,

m y t h o l o g y that has g r o w n

a r o u n d encounters w i t h killer whales. Peo-

thinking

p l e sense, I h a v e h e a r d , t h e i n t e l l i g e n c e o f the

whales a n d

the

wind

had

moderated.

hadn't. A h u n d r e d y a r d s from, t h e i s l a n d I d r i f t e d

t h e gentleness t h a t belies

o u t o f t h e lee. T h e w i n d s l a m m e d i n t o t h e

t h e i r size, s t r e n g t h a n d n a m e . U n f o r t u n a t e -

d o r y ; t h e sails t u r n e d r i g i d a n d t h e mast

ly 1 c a n n o t a d d to t h i s l o r e , s i n c e I f o u n d it

q u i v e r e d . Gamine a c c e l e r a t e d , a n d I r o l l e d

so difficult to distinguish

m y closest e n -

against t h e t r a n s o m . L i k e a passenger o n a

counter w i t h a whale from a r o w t h r o u g h

m o t o r c y c l e w i t h n o t h i n g t o h o l d o n t o , I felt

an aquatic j u n k y a r d .

t h e p r e c a r i o u s a c c e l e r a t i o n o f t h e d o r y racing out from under me.

A brief respite.

A t Port H a r d y t h e skip-

T h e d o r y c l i m b e d u p the backs o f waves

p e r o f t h e Rainbow, a n o l d 12-meter n o w

a n d reached over the maws of the troughs

carrying a ketch rig, invited me to come

before d r o p p i n g her b o w i n t o t h e m . A s the

along w i t h his c o m p l e m e n t of Sea Scouts to

cutwater d r o v e into the next wave I put my

t h e Q u e e n C h a r l o t t e Islands. W i t h Gamine

weight o n the c r o w n o f the t r a n s o m t o keep

i n t o w w e sailed o u t i n t o Q u e e n C h a r l o t t e

the stemhead from b e i n g swallowed by the

S o u n d . W e b e a t t o w i n d w a r d i n t o a 10-foot

t w i n curls of green water parted by the b o w .

swell that pitched the boat a n d c h u r n e d

I d a r e d n e i t h e r t o g o f o r w a r d t o r e d u c e sail

stomachs. T h e skipper, the first mate a n d I

n o r r o u n d up to the w i n d , fearing the d o r y

t o o k turns at the h e l m w h i l e some of the

w o u l d p i t c h p o l e o r capsize.

s c o u t s , w h o c a n b e f o r g i v e n f o r t h e i r ig-

I gripped the tiller w i t h b o t h h a n d s a n d

n o r a n c e of n a v a l etiquette, leaned over the

fought to keep the b o w from veering i n t o a

windward

with

b r o a c h . M y s h o u l d e r s b u r n e d w i t h t h e ef-

t h e i r b r e a k f a s t . T h e f i r s t m a t e set a p r o p e r

fort. W a t e r a r o u n d the d o r y rushed by in a

rail

and

painted

the h u l l

example by loosing his meal to leeward. We

raced

a l o n g at a steady

b l u r t h a t I c o u l d n o t b r i n g i n t o f o c u s . I stole

knots.

glances a t t h e c h a r t o n l y t o f i n d t h a t the

W a v e s w a s h e d g r e e n six feet u p i n t o t h e

s t r i p o f l a n d I w a s h e a d e d for r a n a l o n g a

genoa. W h e n the peak o f the m a i n blew out

fold in the paper that h a d w o r n away. I aim-

t h e d e c i s i o n w a s m a d e t o bear a w a y f r o m

ed f o r w h a t I h o p e d was a b r e a k in the

the Q u e e n C h a r l o t t e s a n d t u r n northeast t o

shoreline

the Inside Passage a n d p u t i n a t C a l v e r t

b e n e a t h t h e s t e r n sheets for t h e o r a n g e b a g

Island.

t h a t c o n t a i n e d a s u r v i v a l suit. T h e t i d e a n d

I t t o o k t h e rest o f t h e d a y a n d m o s t o f t h e next to repair the sail. T h a t night I reloaded the d o r y a n d said goodbye to the crew of t h e Rainbow. T h e y h a d r u n o u t o f t i m e f o r t h e i r t r i p t o t h e o u t e r i s l a n d s a n d w e r e going to return to Victoria.

of Porcher

Island

and

checked

the f l o w o f the S k e e n a R i v e r w o r k e d against the w i n d , p i l i n g u p sharp-edged waves that s p i l l e d i n t o t h e b o a t . G u s t s c u t across t h e water like jack planes, s h a v i n g the tops off the waves a n d streaking the troughs w i t h foam.

W i t h t h e Rainbow g o n e I felt t h e v a c u u m

I was c l o s i n g fast on t h e o p e n i n g to a

o f d a r k n e s s a n d s i l e n c e . T h e stars h a d b e e n

c h a n n e l a l o n g the eastern m a r g i n o f P o r -

m a s k e d by a black veil of clouds. I l o o k e d

cher. W i t h each gust, the d o r y y a w e d t o

o v e r t h e side o f t h e b o a t h o p i n g t o see t h e

starboard,

constellations of bioluminescence, water

was

flashlight

invisibly over

the

dark. side

from

the

spread

of the

the

mainsail a n d p u s h i n g m y course towards

aimed

t h e r o c k s o n t h e east side o f t h e c h a n n e l ' s

pushed

its

e n t r a n c e . I steered c a r e f u l l y t o p o r t m i n d f u l

and

away

but

s w i t c h . Its b e a m reflected a n u n l i k e l y pat-

t e r n o f large y e l l o w p o l k a d o t s . T h e b o a t

drummed

the

consequences against

the

gybe.

bottom

Kelp

a n d split

was s u r r o u n d e d by jellyfish that appeared as

against t h e edge o f t h e c e n t e r b o a r d a s t h e

eggs s p i l l e d from shells as b i g as b a s k e t b a l l s .

dory slipped in the channel.

T h e i r b r i g h t y o l k s f l o a t e d i n a f i r m clear albumen.

far

sails a n d t h e sheets w e n t s l a c k . T h e d o r y

was cobÂŹ

coasted i n t o the s m o o t h water of a small

blestoned w i t h t h e i r g e l a t i n o u s lenses. I s t i l l -

c o v e a n d n u d g e d a g a i n s t t h e s h o r e . I step-

could

the

beam

the

bay

reach

I n t h e lee o f a s m a l l w o o d e d p e n i n s u l a the

flashlight

e d m y b r e a t h i n g a n d t r i e d t o feel t h e i r soft

ped over the side i n t o the m u d a n d w e l c o m -

t h u m p i n g against t h e h u l l , b u t I c o u l d feel

e d t h e c o o l squeeze o f t h e e a r t h a r o u n d m y

o n l y the tremors o f m y o w n heart. A f l o a t

feet a n d a n k l e s .

the

unstirred

makings

u n i m a g i n a b l e o m e l e t t e I settled i n t o sleep.

T h e w i n d b l e w u n d i m i n i s h e d t h e rest o f the day a n d into the night. S n u g beneath

Inside

t h e b o o m tent I c o o k e d s o u p i n t h e " k i t -

Passage w a s c o v e r e d w i t h a t h i c k b a t t i n g o f

c h e n " o n the r o w i n g thwart a n d b u n d l e d

grey c l o u d s . L o n g d a y s o f c o l d d r i z z l e t u r n -

m y s e l f i n t h e s l e e p i n g b a g s n u g b e t w e e n the

North

of Vancouver

Island

the

sternsheets. I felt n o n e o f m y u s u a l d r i v e t o

cauliflower. In the evenings I d r i e d t h e m out

be u n d e r w a y . A f t e r 35 days of travel I h a d

o v e r t h e stove b e f o r e c o o k i n g d i n n e r . I l i v e d

reached

b y t h e tides, r o w i n g i n t o t h e reaches a n d

t h a t it w a s n o t a p l a c e b u t o n l y a sense t h a t

channels w i t h the f l o o d a n d out the other

there was no need to r u s h a n y w h e r e .

hands

white

and

rough

e n d w i t h t h e e b b . W h e n a breeze m a d e itself useful,

w h i c h was about o n c e a week, I

s p r e a d t h e sails b e f o r e i t .

destination only

to discover

W h e n I w o k e the f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g the air w a s s t i l l a n d t h e s k y h e a v y w i t h d a r k c l o u d s . I r o w e d across M a r c u s Passage t o S m i t h Island a n d o n towards the t o w n o f

An August sail.

Near the e n d o f A u g u s t I

P r i n c e R u p e r t . Before I t u r n e d i n t o the har-

p o k e d o u t o f K u m e a l o n Inlet a t t h e n o r t h

bor I looked over the b o w to the n o r t h .

e n d o f G r e n v i l l e c h a n n e l . I t w a s still early i n

A l a s k a was just b e y o n d the h o r i z o n , a day's

the m o r n i n g w h e n a southeasterly funnelled

r o w away. " A l a s k a " h a d a nice r i n g as a

between

d e s t i n a t i o n . I h e a r d t h e last e c h o o f y o u n g

channel.

the h i g h

m o u n t a i n walls of the

Gamine m a d e g o o d speed u n d e r

Bergie,

asking why?

" T o get t o

Alaska"

t h e m a i n a n d j i b set w i n g - a n d - w i n g . T h e

w o u l d have made a sorry joke of his curiosi-

w i n d s t i f f e n e d , m a k i n g i t h a r d e r t o steer t h e

t y . I still h a d no answer, b u t I was no longer

d o r y against t h e t u r n i n g f o r c e o f t h e m a i n -

bothered by the question. In Prince Rupert I

s a i l . A s w e d r e w abreast o f G i b s o n I s l a n d I

r o w e d Gamine t o a

saw t h e l e e c h c u r l as a gust b o u n c e d o f f t h e

made my beginning. â&#x20AC;˘

final

landing. I had

1 4 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

T W O VISITORS Lake U n i o n discovered

bearer

for

Ingram,

Seattle's

good

causes,

c o m m o d o r e of the

Horace

Center

rental

f l e e t , G r e g Foster, w h o researched a n d built the l a u n c h replica, C a p t . A d r i a n R a y n a u d , a s e a s o n e d C a p e H o r n e r w h o , a t age 9 2 , c a n ' t resist a c h a n c e to p u l l a g o o d b o a t ,

By Dick Wagner

a n d Pete Seeger, effective a d v o c a t e o f e n vironmental

also

com-

h e N o r t h w e s t w a t e r s w e r e first c h a r t -

A c r o w d o f m e d i a , t h e Pete Seeger f a n

e d i n 1792. C a p t . G e o r g e V a n c o u v e r

c l u b , a n d d o c k s i d e loungers stood i n silent a d m i r a t i o n as the l a u n c h approached w i t h

conducted this voyage of exploration with the vessels

conservation.

poses a n d p e r f o r m s s o m e f o l k m u s i c .

Discovery

and

The

Chatham.

ac-

crisp strokes o f the t e n oars. T h e c o m m a n d

t u a l survey was d o n e in the ship's boats,

"boat

amidst u n k n o w n waters, a h a r s h climate,

b r o k e t h e stillness. A s t h e c r e w rested oars

the

oars" from cox, D o u g Dolstad

p o w e r f u l c u r r e n t s , a n d u n p r e d i c t a b l e twists

a n d the boat glided to the float, the inert

and

crowd

turns

of our corrugated, convoluted

became

happy

babble.

Seattle's

s h o r e l i n e s . W i t h o u t s e a w o r t h y b o a t s , easily

paparazzi swarmed over the crew, a banjo,

guitar,

have been done.

everyone exchanged congratulations for the

Lt.

Peter

Puget

was

charge

of the

l o n g b o a t o f t h e Discovery. B e c a u s e o f h i s

boat,

and the

autoharp

row,

the

began

sunny

playing,

weather,

the

discovery of Lake U n i o n .

diligence, V a n c o u v e r put his n a m e forever

T h e Pure S o u n d Society was d r e a m e d u p

o n o u r c h a r t s . Puget d e s e r v e d t h i s h o n o r for

by B r a d a n d D o u g . It is basically a p r o g r a m

his consummately accurate

o f s e a m a n s h i p t r a i n i n g f o r teenagers, w i t h a

work

surveying

our s o u n d . H o w e v e r , somehow he entirely

focus

missed f i n d i n g L a k e U n i o n , the m o t h e r o f

with

folk music,

N o r t h w e s t waters. Incredible!

S o r t o f O u t w a r d B o u n d w i t h less p a i n a n d

195

years

later,

May

21,

1987,

Puget

Sound

ecology,

seasoned

and Northwest history.

deprivation, and more fun and music.

the

Brad and D o u g imagined an incredibly

quirements if our planet

a n d the

l a k e . A l t h o u g h Puget u n d o u b t e d l y h a d a

b e a u t i f u l vessel f o r t h i s o p e r a t i o n — a b l e to

race

concluded

good crew, we don't t h i n k they c o u l d m a t c h

poke into

Discovery c a n b e t h e t o o l t o t e a c h t h i s .

Discovery's l a u n c h

finally

discovered

the

S o u n d ' s thinnest waters or

the varied credentials of the group that r o w -

thrash

ed this replica to her l a n d i n g at the C e n t e r .

W i l s o n . I t s h o u l d b e engineless. I t s h o u l d

A b o a r d t h i s vessel o f t h e P u r e S o u n d S o c i e -

have some N o r t h w e s t historic c o n n e c t i o n .

t y , besides t h e c o - d i r e c t o r s , B r a d W e t m o r e and

D o u g Dolstad,

were

Kathy Fletcher,

through

the

steep

chop

T h e d r e a m w a s a vessel t h a t n o t o n l y p r o by

Authority,

issues o f P u g e t S o u n d ' s e c o l o g y .

Bullitt,

relentless

torch-

Pt.

vides valuable i n s t r u c t i o n for the k i d s , but,

D i r e c t o r o f t h e Puget S o u n d W a t e r Q u a l i t y Kay

off

its

uniqueness, d r a w s attention to the

G r e g Foster was b u i l d i n g a schooner in a Center for Wooden Boats 1010 Valley Street Seattle, WA 98109 206/382-2628 President: Archie C o n n Director: Dick Wagner Assistant to the Director: Faye Kendall Commodore: Horace Ingram Editor: Henry Gordon Illustrator: Kelly Mulford Design: Jennifer Gordon Contributors: Simon Watts, John Marples, Chas Dowd, Charles Mauzy, Dick Wagner, Brion Toss, Holden Withington III, Chris Cunningham, Richard Golden, Winston Anderson. Shavings is part of the public education arm of the Center for Wooden Boats. This special issue was prepared for the eleventh annual Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival with the editorial assistance of Fremont Press, 633-3472.

f i s h b o w l last

summer.

moved

his

boatyard operation from a h i d d e n cove on G a l i a n o Island, B . C . , t o d o w n t o w n V a n c o u v e r a t E X P O , w h e r e h e was c o n s t r u c t i n g replica

19th-century

However, somehow Peter Puget entirely missed finding Lake Union, the mother of Northwest waters. Incredible!

human that

ment

for

Pure

Sound

Society

and

the

C e n t e r . T h e next wave of visitors that came down

the

ramp

was

the

U.S.-U.S.S.R.'s

Sister C i t y M a y o r s C o n f e r e n c e , hosted b y Seattle's

Mayor,

Charles

Royer.

Just

u n i q u e as the crew w h o l a n d e d Discovery at the C e n t e r , was t h e n e x t g a n g — t e n m a y o r s i n a boat. O f f c a m e t h e suit j a c k e t s ( I l i k e d C h a r l i e ' s s t r i k i n g r e d s u s p e n d e r s ) , ties w e r e l o o s e n e d , w h i t e s h i r t sleeves w e r e r o l l e d u p . A f t e r t h e u s u a l f i r s t - t r y c r i s s - c r o s s i n g o f oars a s t h e y

coasting

left t h e f l o a t , B r a d a n d D o u g s e t t l e d t h e m

s c h o o n e r w i l l b e a s a i l t r a i n i n g vessel.

down

mayors'

Brad and D o u g heard about G r e g from a L a n c e L e e article i n WoodenBoat t i t l e d " L e s s

survive.

T h i s d a y h a d a d o u b l e s c o o p o f excite-

b e f o r e t h o u s a n d s o f v i s i t o r s t h e Pacific Swift. This

can

T h e p r o g r a m : T e n teenagers a n d t w o i n -

steady

beat.

assistants,

plainclothes cops,

The

retinue

interpreters,

and

i n t h e i r d a r k suits a n d

is M o r e . " Lee advocated seamanship train-

structors

This

s h i n y shoes, all l o o k e d in e n v y as the gang

i n g i n small t r a d i t i o n a l boats. T h e article

s u m m e r P u r e S o u n d h a s b e e n assigned a

f r o m Seattle, T a s k e n t , K a n s a s C i t y , O d e s s a ,

c r e d i t e d F o s t e r w i t h b u i l d i n g just t h e s o r t

p r o j e c t — t o c o n d u c t t h e f i r s t ever s u r v e y o f

Peoria, a n d M o s c o w were out p l a y i n g in a

Lance had in m i n d .

k e l p a n d eel grass b e d s i n t h e S o u t h S o u n d .

boat.

The

Pure

Sounders

cornered

Greg

take

five-day

expeditions.

I f Peter P u g e t c o u l d , I ' m sure h e w o u l d h a v e

E X P O a n d t o l d h i m t h e i r d r e a m . I t seems h e

some

h a d a l r e a d y r e s e a r c h e d Discovery's l o n g b o a t

biomass was a resource in his d a y .

a n d s h o w e d t h e m h i s sketches. C l i c k . G r e g was c o m m i s s i o n e d . T h e boat:

25'X7'.

Douglas fir on sawn

salty

There

comments

about

adult

whether this

program,

T h e banjo a n d guitar folk started n o o d l ¬ ing w i t h

tune

that

matched

the

boat's

stroke, a n d came up w i t h a Russian folk too:

s o n g that fit perfectly.

w e e k e n d cruise w i t h special focus o n i n n e r

T h e mayors came back w i t h b i g grins. L i k e

renewal, leadership, a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n .

all crews

from

Pete P u g e t t o Pete Seeger,

living

they h a d learned the virtues of f o l l o w i n g a

Lapstrake. T h e r e is a two-mast s t a n d i n g lug

cooperatively, a n d relating to our natural

c o m m o n beat, a n d that it c a n be f u n to

rig a n d t e n d o u b l e b a n k e d oars.

environment

work

Alaskan

cedar

frames,

copper

riveted.

Pete

Seeger

has are

said both

that

absolute

re-

together.

•

July-August 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 1 5

T h e C u p , the yacht, a n d the committee

a n d m a r i t i m e festivities. T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e Committee

is to

p r o m o t e this v i s i o n

s p o n s o r i n g t h i s sort o f e v e n t , a n d p r o v e b y example

that

South

Lake

Union

maritime park. K e e p i n g i n m i n d that the America's C u p races w e r e still f r e s h i n e v e r y o n e ' s m i n d t h i s s p r i n g , a n d t h e g r a c i o u s statements o f t h e

By Dick Wagner

San

Diego

Yacht

Club,

the

Committee

r a n g u p t h e c l u b a n d a s k e d i f w e c o u l d ex-

h e A m e r i c a ' s C u p i s a n o l d , slightly d e n t e d , slightly askew silver casting,

designed in the manner of a giant's sized bulbous

Baroque

pitcher.

the

world's

o l d e s t c o n t i n u o u s s p o r t s t r o p h y . It is t h e reward for the most r e n o w n e d of internat i o n a l y a c h t d u e l s , s p a n n i n g 136 years. It is t h e fantasy g o a l o f e v e r y r a c i n g s a i l o r . Stars and Stripes is a 12-meter y a c h t — t h e k i n d t h a t r a c e d for t h e A m e r i c a ' s C u p i n 1986-87.

These

vessels,

their

crew,

sails,

t e c h n i c a l a d v i s o r s , t e n d e r s , h y d r a u l i c s , electronics,

and

bundles.

Y a c h t c l u b s s p o n s o r these b o a t s ,

but

cosmetics

corporate

bankers

consultants who

have

cost

Our attitude took a big turn when the guards set it on the Center's table saw, surrounded by tools and boats under repair.

m o n e y t h a t y o u o r I are necessary t o k e e p these h i g h l y d e v e l o p e d b o a t s i n c o m p e t i t i o n condition.

h i b i t Stars and Stripes a n d t h e C u p . euphoric

P r o b a b l y because n o o n e else t h o u g h t o f

w h e n t h e i r Stars and Stripes b r o u g h t t h e c u p

a s k i n g , o u r offer w a s a c c e p t e d . W h o c o u l d

San

Diego

Yacht

Club

was

and

h a v e bet t h e first p u b l i c e x h i b i t o f t h o s e o b -

g r a t i t u d e for t h e w i d e - s p r e a d n a t i o n a l s u p -

jects o f y a c h t i n g e x c e l l e n c e w o u l d b e f o u n d

home.

With

the

thrill

winning

p o r t o f Stars and Stripes, t h e y m a d e t h e

sandwiched

m a g n a n i m o u s d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t t h i s was t h e

vehicular

between

peoples' victory a n d

it s h o u l d be shared

d o w n t o w n waterfront, and in conjunction

traffic,

and

stream a

noisy,

of frenetic turbulent

w i t h the people. L o g i c a n d instinct dictate

w i t h t w o restaurants, a n d a m u s e u m that

case b e f o r e m o u n t i n g i t o n t h e p e d e s t a l i n

t h a t a p r o p e r place for e x h i b i t o f t h e h i s t o r i c

d o e s n ' t h a v e a single r e l i c u n d e r a glass case?

o u r p a v i l i o n . T h e C u p first c a m e e n v e l o p e d

n e i g h b o r h o o d w i l l never be the same. T h i s

c u p a n d vessel t h a t w o n i t s h o u l d b e a

i n m y s t i q u e — images o f h i s t o r y , s e c l u s i o n ,

p l a c e has v i b r a t e d w i t h t h e activities o f o u r

special s a n c t u a r y , a n area far f r o m t h e b u s -

that.

wealthy and

b o a t festivals, regattas, K i d ' s D a y , a n d t h e

tle o f c o m m e r c e a n d i n d u s t r y , a s e c l u d e d , park-like

corporate

campus

national

museum. T h e Lake U n i o n Host Committee is an

loony

a s i t s o u n d s , i t h a p p e n e d just l i k e

exclusive

yacht

clubs.

where they w i l l g o next. W e d o k n o w o u r

T h e e x h i b i t was a w o n d e r f u l attraction:

O u r attitude took a big t u r n w h e n the

Golden Hinde's v i s i t . E a c h h a s left a special

t h o u s a n d s c a m e t o see t h e C u p , v i e w t h e i n -

g u a r d s set i t o n t h e C e n t e r ' s t a b l e s a w , s u r -

m e m o r y . T h i s past s h o w i s a n o t h e r c h a p t e r

terpretive

and

r o u n d e d b y tools a n d boats u n d e r repair.

i n t h e saga o f S o u t h L a k e U n i o n . N e v e r w i l l

t e c h n i c a l d e t a i l s o f Stars and Stripes. C r e w

S e e i n g it in t h i s s e t t i n g it lost t h a t sense of a

a more unlikely group sponsor an America's

exhibits

past

races

property

m e m b e r s were a b o a r d t o tell h o w i t was. W e

cult

an ex¬

C u p e x h i b i t i n a m o r e u n l i k e l y site. O u r

developers, restaurants, a n d T h e C e n t e r for

e v e n g l i m p s e d t h e a w e s o m e p o w e r o f Stars

huberant expression

exertion,

friendly, accessible d o w n t o w n s e t t i n g gave a

W o o d e n Boats. As disparate a group as this

and Stripes w h e n s h e t o o k a f e w t u r n s

anxiety, a n d satisfaction of sailboat racing.

wide spectrum of people the o p p o r t u n i t y to

seems, w e h a v e a c o m m o n b o n d : besides all

around Lake U n i o n .

W e got s o f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e C u p , w e t o o k

get a c q u a i n t e d w i t h a n i n t e r e s t i n g aspect o f

ar-

turns mugging w i t h the m u g for snapshots.

o u r m a r i t i m e heritage. W h o k n o w s what's

m o r e d car f r o m a v a u l t . T h e g u a r d s t o o k i t

T h e C u p a n d Stars and Stripes h a v e n o t

d o w n t o o u r s h o p first t o p o l i s h t h e glass

gone back to S a n Diego. We don't k n o w

alliance

property

owners,

being located o n S o u t h L a k e U n i o n , w e all e n v i s i o n a S o u t h L a k e U n i o n P a r k a s a n active

place,

focusing on

maritime

heritage

T h e C u p arrived each m o r n i n g b y

worship

object

and of the

became fun,

next? against

However it.

•

improbable,

don't

bet

16/SHAVINGS/July-August

1987

T E A C H I N G THE SKILLS

Oars for rowing By Winston Anderson

W h y w o u l d a n y o n e waste p e r f e c t l y g o o d s p r u c e m a k i n g a n i m i t a t i o n o f these a s h

misnomers, complete w i t h r o u n d handles, r o u n d l o o m s a n d flat b l a d e s â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a n d a g a i n , r o d u c t i o n a s h r o w b o a t o a r s are g o o d t o o s h o r t . Y e t b o o k s h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n exfor p o l i n g o f f t h e b a n k , n o t b a d f o r t o l l i n g o a r s t h a t d o n ' t w o r k v e r y w e l l .

clubbing carp and they make excellent firewood.

T h e first time I saw asymmetrical c a r v e d oars

The

damage

they

have

inflicted

recrea-

I thought

they

were

some

k i n d of

N o r w e g i a n joke â&#x20AC;&#x201D; big c h u n k y inner l o o m ,

tional r o w i n g is incalculable. W e ' l l never

s k i n n y c u r v e d b l a d e a n d flat f o r w a r d a n d

know how

below a t the thole p i n . T h o l e p i n ! ! A n d

rowers

m a n y thousands of potential

have

been

discouraged

ill-

designed, u n b a l a n c e d , overweight factory o a r s t h a t are also i n v a r i a b l y t o o s h o r t . T h e term

h e l d in place w i t h a h e m p grommet! N o j o k e . T h a t w a s a d o z e n years ago a n d s i n c e t h a t t i m e I've m a d e a c o u p l e o f t h o u -

"ash breeze" is an attractive

e u p h e m i s m that really doesn't fly.

s a n d t r i p s across t h e G u e m e s C h a n n e l w i t h just s u c h a l a s h u p . T h e b e a u t y o f t h i s e v o l v -

T u r n e d o a r s w e r e d e s i g n e d f o r a l a t h e , ed d e s i g n n o t t h e h u m a n m a c h i n e t h a t has t o o p e r a t e t h e m . T h e r e i s n o better b a r g a i n i f y o u w a n t to

throw

them

the

bottom

the

is a c o n s t a n t s o u r c e of a m a z e -

ment. N o w w h i l e w e d o n ' t necessarily r e c o m m e n d thole pins, the principles that drove

r u n a b o u t for E v i n r u d e insurance. T h e y ' r e the e v o l u t i o n of the t r a d i t i o n a l N o r w e g i a n c h e a p a n d s t r o n g b u t t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p t o f i s h e r m a n ' s o a r ( a n d t h e t h o l e p i n ) are e v i r o w i n g is a d i s t a n t o n e . d e n t i n t h e best r e c r e a t i o n a l o a r s m a d e t o W o r s e , they have spread their ugly i n - day. fluence into the field of h a n d - c a r v e d oars.

Shapes m a y differ, the w o o d may vary

July-August 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 1 7

The first time I saw asymmetrical carved oars I thought they were some kind of Norwegian joke.

course,

ash.

Get

Sitka

spruce from

h a n d l e a n d h e r e i s w h e r e y o u c a n r e a l l y per-

you

can.

They

know

you

will

want

It is a g o o d idea to w o r k on b o t h oars at

b u t t o n , a d d o n e b o a t a n d y o u r are r e a d y t o row.

moderate r i n g c o u n t , 10 to 15 to the i n c h , o n c e if y o u c a n arrange it on y o u r b e n c h . for strength a n d l o w weight.

abrasive shaper s u c h as a S h u r f o r m t o o l . S a n d , v a r n i s h to suit, apply y o u r leather,

F l o u n d e r B a y B o a t L u m b e r i n A n a c o r t e s i f s o n a l i z e y o u r o a r s t o y o u r o w n g l o v e size.

•

F i n a l l y c u t a w a y t h e u n d e r s i d e (or " f o r -

Y o u s h o u l d design to a g o o d oarlock such

Winston Anderson and his partner Paul Schweiss operate North Island Boat Co. in a n Anacortes.

w a r d " side) o f t h e b l a d e w i t h t h e b a n d s a w

a s t h e plastic P a n t i a d o s i o r C o p p e r N a i l ' s (C) a n d finish o f f t h e t r a n s i t i o n from b l a d e b r o n z e offset. T h e s e h e l p y o u register t h e oar's

position

the

water

whether

throat

with

the

drawknife

and

you

feather or n o t . T h e size o f t h e t h r o a t i s c r i t i c a l for i f t h e

Festival potluck July 3

n o o n a crude pair of oars that w o u l d r o w

oar breaks, it w i l l usually be here. We favor

circles a r o u n d t o d a y ' s m a s s - p r o d u c e d " a s h

a teardrop or o v a l shape at this p o i n t . K e e p

breeze." H i s primary tools w o u l d have been

t e s t i n g as y o u c a r v e so as n o t to go t o o far.

a n axe, k n i f e a n d d r a w k n i f e . Y o u r s w i l l b e a

W h e n y o u b e n d t h e o a r w i t h pressure a t t h e

f r a z z l e d b y last m i n u t e d e t a i l s , t h e n d e l i g h t e d b y t h e success a n d pleasantness o f o u r first

p i v o t p o i n t , i t s h o u l d flex i n a fair c u r v e all

d a y , t h e C e n t e r w i l l h o s t its a n n u a l p o t l u c k d i n n e r for m e m b e r s , v o l u n t e e r s a n d festival

bandsaw,

block

plane,

body grinder a n d

drawknife.

the way into the blade.

If in doubt, go longer.

participants aboard

If y o u haven't been l u c k y e n o u g h to take S p a c e p r e v e n t s us

from presenting a f u l l - b l o w n c a r v i n g lesson here b u t y o u c a n t a k e t h e f i r s t step b y r e n -

And then comes the feast.

o n e o f R i c h K o l i n ' s w o r k s h o p s , here's a s u m m a r y o f t h e steps:

A t 7 p . m . o n J u l y 3, after a d a y o f b e i n g a l t e r n a t e l y

Wawona. T h e C e n t e r p r o v i d e s e v e r y t h i n g e x c e p t t h e f o o d a n d

d r i n k . There's music, d a n c i n g , a n d the k i n d of camaraderie w h i c h makes this a C e n t e r t r a d i t i o n . ( F o r h o t d i s h e s , please b r i n g a c a m p stove o r a h o t p l a t e . )

The auction in the Drill Hall on Sunday

at 1:30 p . m . is also n o t t o b e m i s s e d .

A f t e r g l u i n g up the stock, b a n d s a w out

B o a t s a n d o a r s a n d a t r i p t o t h e m o o n o n gossamer w i n g s a l l g o t o t h e highest b i d d e r , a s

t i n g a b o a t at t h e C e n t e r to t r y o u t a v a r i e t y

the inside of the s p o o n ( A ) . A raised spine is

d o a w i d e a r r a y o f m o d e l s , services, f o u l w e a t h e r gear, certificates f o r s a i l i n g lessons,

optional.

catered dinners a n d o n a n d o n .

oars.

Note

some

key

dimensions

—

l e n g t h , b l a d e size, cross s e c t i o n a t t h e t h r o a t

W e t h i n k i t interferes w i t h t h e

For those who want to help the Center during the summer

blade's a c t i o n .

— a n d e a r n free

— for the p a i r t h a t suits y o u best. T e s t t h e m

F i n i s h off the inside of the s p o o n w i t h a

o n a boat w i t h a b e a m a n d f r e e b o a r d s i m i l a r

b o d y grinder a n d if y o u want to glue in a

h o s t s . H o s t s h e l p b y a n s w e r i n g q u e s t i o n s , h e l p i n g b o a t s leave a n d r e t u r n t o t h e d o c k s ,

t o y o u r s . G e n e r a l l y , y o u r oars s h o u l d b e

h a r d w o o d t i p , t h i s i s t h e best t i m e , w h i l e

g i v i n g occasional tours a n d the like.

t w i c e y o u r effective b e a m p l u s a little m o r e

y o u still h a v e a g o o d s o l i d base t o w o r k

for h i g h e r f r e e b o a r d a n d c r o s s - h a n d e d r o w -

from. We like to rabbet the tip i n , others

ing. If in d o u b t , go longer.

test, is b e i n g s p o n s o r e d t h i s year b y five o f o u r f a v o r i t e

p u t i t r i g h t o n t h e surface a n d fair t h e edges.

Ivars S a l m o n H o u s e , R o u n d e r B a y B o a t L u m b e r , K E Z X a n d B u r g e r K i n g are e a c h p r o -

T h e tip can be as fancy as y o u have time

v i d i n g m a t e r i a l s a n d o t h e r s u p p o r t f o r t h e f i e l d o f six b u i l d e r s . O u r t h a n k s .

Once you

h a v e y o u r d e s i g n d o w n , get

s o m e w o o d , f u l l d i m e n s i o n 2 x 2s of t h e best y o u c a n a f f o r d . I h a v e seen s e r v i c e a b l e o a r s

The Lake Union Challenge Cup,

All members in good standing

for. N e x t b a n d s a w o u t t h e o u t l i n e (B).

t i m e i n t h e b o a t s a s t h a n k s — o u r c o m m o d o r e , H o r a c e I n g r a m , i s l o o k i n g for w e e k e n d

Use

made from good fir, western red cedar a n d

y o u r d r a w k n i f e a n d b l o c k plane to shape

e v e n m a h o g a n y . T h e w o r s t were t e a k , a n d

t h e t h r o a t , l o o m a n d g r i p . W e prefer a n o v a l

aka the Q u i c k a n d D a r i n g B o a t b u i l d i n g C o n friends.

Waterlines M a g a z i n e ,

are e l i g i b l e as n o m i n e e s f o r t h e C W B ' s B o a r d o f

T r u s t e e s . A l l t h o s e i n t e r e s t e d , please c o n t a c t t h e N o m i n a t i n g C o m m i t t e e , C W B , 1010 V a l l e y Street, Seattle, W A 98109.

1 8 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

N E W W A V E BUILDING

Intricate (but basically simple) boats By John R. Marples

v e n e e r s t r i p c a n b e s t a p l e d against t h e layer b e l o w . In short, it is a very l a b o r intensive

o p e r a t i o n s i n c e e a c h piece m u s t b e t a i l o r e d

o r years t h e p l y w o o d p r a m h a s b e e n

t o f i t a n d t h e n stapled m a n y times i n place.

the

S t a p l e s create t h e pressure t o h o l d t h e l a y e r s

mainstay

the

beginner's

together w h i l e the adhesive cures. T h e y c a n

backyard boat project. Introduced in the late forties

be r e m o v e d , later, w h i c h is a d d i t i o n a l l a b o r , o r left i n a n d t h e tips g r o u n d o f f i n s i d e . I n by a well-known boating magazine, it has stood the test of time and is still popular. I'm speaking of the El Toro, of e i t h e r case, t h e y cause v i s i b l e g r a i n d a m a g e c o u r s e , a n d its m a n y l o o k - a l i k e c o u s i n s . I t in the h u l l interior w h i c h is difficult to gained popularity by being simple to b u i l d , disguise. A d h e s i v e m u s t b e a p p l i e d t o b o t h a n d f r o m t h e easily a v a i l a b l e s u p p l y o f its sides o f t h e glue l i n e b e f o r e t h e s t r i p i s l a i d main building material . . . plywood. i n place t o assure c o n t a c t s i n c e e a c h staple P l y w o o d ' s cross l a m i n a t e d t h i n v e n e e r s p u s h e s o n l y o n a s m a l l area. T h e result i s m a k e t h e m a t e r i a l stiff, stable a n d g i v e it a t h i c k glue l i n e s a n d h i g h g l u e c o n s u m p t i o n greater s t r e n g t h t o cost r a t i o t h a n a n y o t h e r for the project. m a t e r i a l . B u t t i m e s are a c h a n g i n g .

h u l l f o r m s b u t t h e e a r l y e x p e r i m e n t s were s o

T h e strips n e e d n o t b e c o a t e d , s o a l l t h e

successful

v e n e e r s are h a n d l e d d r y . T h e o p e r a t i o n i s

that

dinghies a n d

we a

now

have

series

keelboat on the

drawing

b o a r d . T h e f i r s t p r o j e c t a b o u t Gull a n 1 1 ' 7 "

repeated u n t i l the entire panel l a y u p is c o m plete â&#x20AC;&#x201D; u s u a l l y t h r e e or f o u r l a y e r s .

Compound curve plywood panels. So

skiff w a s p u b l i s h e d i n Woodenboat Magazine

hull

h o w d o y o u m a k e w o o d e n boats i n a c o l d

numbers

shape. T h e y want to learn m o r e about boat

m o l d e d m e t h o d , w i t h less l a b o r , less g l u e , i n

July/August

p l a s t i c sheet, s u c h a s 4 m i l p o l y f i l m , w h i c h i s

building

boat

less t i m e , w i t h c l e a n , u n b l e m i s h e d surfaces?

c a n o e for t h e M a k a h I n d i a n s w a s p u b l i s h e d

sealed t o t h e m o l d edge w i t h a m a s t i c b e a d

epoxies,

T h e answer i s C o n s t a n t C a m b e r . T h i s new

r e c e n t l y i n Waterlines m a g a z i n e .

e p o x y fillers, fiberglass r e i n f o r c i n g tapes a n d

w a v e m e t h o d was o r i g i n a l l y d e v e l o p e d t o

Today's looking

nails.

backyard

for

than

Newer

builders

seem

sophistication

changing materials

bevels such

in and

and

(May/June

1985).

The

latest

and

project,

T h e w h o l e o p e r a t i o n o n l y takes a n h o u r o r so. T h e p a n e l i s t h e n c o v e r e d w i t h a t h i n

sealant, s u c h as M o r t i t e h o u s e h o l d c a u l k i n g

C o n s t a n t C a m b e r requires a simple m o l d

c o r d o r 3 M S t r i p S e a l f r o m t h e a u t o store.

or l a m i n a t i n g f o r m . It doesn't l o o k like a

A v a c u u m is d r a w n between the film a n d

available, sometimes f r o m local suppliers. I

C o n v e n t i o n a l c o l d m o l d i n g was t o o slow t o

boat;

t h e m o l d (that's w h y t h e surface h a s t o b e

m e n t i o n these m a t e r i a l s because I ' m w o r k -

p r o d u c e f o u r o r six h u l l sides f o r c a t a m a r a n s

p o u n d c u r v e d sheets o f p l y w o o d . T h e cross

a i r t i g h t ) w h i c h creates pressure o v e r t h e e n -

ing up to an explanation of a new cold

a n d trimarans. It eliminates the time con-

s e c t i o n c u r v e is e i t h e r a r a d i u s or a " f r e n c h "

tire p a n e l . T h e v a c u u m i s m a i n t a i n e d u n t i l

m o l d i n g m e t h o d . C o l d m o l d i n g has b e e n

s u m i n g h a n d f i t t i n g o f e a c h piece a n d a l l o w s

curve.

pure

t h e a d h e s i v e i s c u r e d . B e c a u s e t h e pressure

a r o u n d f o r years b u t s u i t a b l e a d h e s i v e s h a v e

mass p r o d u c t i o n o f v e n e e r strips a l o n g w i t h

r a d i u s , larger t h a n t h e crosswise c u r v e . T h e

is e v e n o v e r t h e e n t i r e surface less a d h e s i v e

not. T o d a y ' s m a r i n e quality epoxies c o m -

pressure

m o l d f r a m e w o r k i s p l y w o o d f r a m e s a n d str-

is required, there is no distortion of the t h i n

b i n e h i g h s t r e n g t h w i t h gap f i l l i n g a b i l i t y t o

squeezes t h e w h o l e l a y u p t o g e t h e r w h i l e t h e

ingers, a n d t h e t o p i s e i t h e r s t r i p p l a n k e d

veneers a n d the finished p a n e l is extremely

m a k e l a m i n a t i o n o f t h i n layers o f w o o d easy

g l u e c u r e s w i t h staples o n l y u s e d t o t a c k t h e

s o l i d o r m u l t i p l e layers o f t h i n w o o d . I t i s

fair a n d s m o o t h .

pieces t o m o l d a t e a c h e n d . T h e process p r o -

t h e n sealed w i t h e p o x y t o m a k e i t a i r t i g h t .

cloths,

and

thin

wood

veneers

are

all

to perform. Cold

molding

hull

construction

m e t h o d u s i n g m u l t i p l e layers o f t h i n v e n e e r s bonded

with

adhesive over a m o l d . T h e

o r i e n t a t i o n of t h e v e n e e r strips is u s u a l l y at a d i a g o n a l t o t h e sheer. T h e c o n v e n t i o n a l m e t h o d requires a m o l d or p l u g covered w i t h c l o s e l y s p a c e d stringers s o t h a t e a c h

answer

the

needs

continuous

of m u l t i h u l l

layup.

builders.

Vacuum

its o n l y

The

function

lengthwise

is to

curve

make

com-

duces c o m p o u n d c u r v e d p l y w o o d panels, not

boats.

perimeter

The

panels

are

shape â&#x20AC;&#x201D; t w o

halves â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a n d

bonded

then

cut

mirror

together

image two

halves of a p e a p o d w i t h stitch a n d glue c o n struction.

the

beginning,

Constant

C a m b e r was n o t i n t e n d e d f o r f o r m - s t a b l e

A f t e r the panel is cured the p o l y f i l m is removed,

Made of veneer.

the

panel

sanded,

and

the

T h e p a n e l is m a d e u p o f

p e r i m e t e r l a y o u t d r a w n w h i l e still o n t h e

v e n e e r strips l a i d d i a g o n a l l y o v e r t h e surface

m o l d . T h e panel i s pried u p f r o m the m o l d

w i t h staples a t t h e e n d s t o h o l d t h e m i n

(there i s a n o t h e r piece o f p o l y f i l m u n d e r t h e

p l a c e . W h e n t h e surface i s c o v e r e d , i t i s

p a n e l to prevent g l u i n g it to the m o l d sur-

coated w i t h epoxy a n d the next layer is l a i d

face) a n d b l o c k e d

i n t h e o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n o v e r t h e wet g l u e .

s a w n t o its f i n a l p e r i m e t e r s h a p e a n d t h e

up.

N o w the panel

July-August 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 1 9

I mention these materials because I'm working up to an explanation of a new cold molding method. b e a u t i f u l , has a c l e a n u n b l e m i s h e d i n t e r i o r , i s l i g h t w e i g h t , q u i c k a n d easy t o b u i l d u s i n g standard

sewn

seam

methods.

T h e only

new t h i n g to learn is v a c u u m bag m o l d i n g , w h i c h i s easy. S o far

there

from the

have

been

Constant

many

Camber

spin-offs

method

l a m i n a t i o n . V a c u u m i s a q u i c k a n d easy m e t h o d o f o b t a i n i n g pressure o v e r a large surface for d o i n g a n u m b e r o f o p e r a t i o n s . L a m i n a t i n g face veneers t o f u r n i t u r e , patching

hulls,

and

making

overlays

p l y w o o d d e c k s are just a few. T h e a d h e s i v e c u r i n g process c a n b e a c c e l e r a t e d b y a d d i n g heat; There

electric are

lamps,

many

discovered

which

blankets,

more adds

tricks

or yet

another

solar. to

level

f a s c i n a t i o n for t h e i n n o v a t i v e b u i l d e r . Constant Camber

a n d similar methods

offer t h e a m a t e u r o r p r o f e s s i o n a l b u i l d e r a change. A way to b u i l d our o w n p l y w o o d in a f o r m a t s u i t a b l e for s a n d i n g t h e i n t e r i o r surface, t h e p a n e l i s

sources are v a c u u m systems

ready to become part of a boat.

s u r p l u s h o u s e s a n d oilless v a n e p u m p s f r o m

to go to all that troubles to b u i l d a boat?"

b e a u t i f u l l y s i m p l e . It gives us

i n d u s t r i a l s u p p l y stores l i k e W . W . G r a i n g e r .

T h e answer is partly the f u n of w o r k i n g

select a n y w o o d w e l i k e , a n d t h e m o l d i s n o t

There

tricks

and

intricacies

the

are

many

Constant

ideal.

Other

from

aircraft

r o u n d e d h u l l s . The

refrigerator

Intricately simple.

compressor

design m e t h o d is difficult a n d somewhat

staple r i d d l e d edges are d i s c a r d e d . A f t e r

p l a n set f r o m t h e d e s i g n e r . Y o u m a y ask " W h y w o u l d a n y o n e w a n t

r e s t r i c t i v e , b u t t h e vessels are b e a u t i f u l a n d freedom

A t t h e m o s t , it w i l l cost a b o u t $ 2 0 0 , a n d at

with a new technology, but maybe more i m -

r e s t r i c t e d t o o n e d e s i g n . M a n y shapes a n d

the

dead

portant, this is a m e t h o d of m a k i n g fancy

d e s i g n s are p o s s i b l e from a single i n e x p e n -

least

(if

comes

from

C a m b e r system b u t it is basically simple.

refrigerator), f r e e . O t h e r c o m p o n e n t s s u c h

l o o k i n g b o a t s for p r o f i t . Y e s , p r o f i t . T h e r e

sive m o l d . T h e p a n e l s are f l e x i b l e , easily t o r -

T h e c o m p o n e n t s c a n r a n g e f r o m f i r s t class

a s t h e plastic t u b i n g , p o l y f i l m a n d p e r i m e t e r

aren't m a n y m e t h o d s today suitable for p r o -

tured

(expensive) e q u i p m e n t t o j u n k y a r d q u a l i t y

s e a l c a n b e f o u n d a t t h e h a r d w a r e store f o r

d u c t i o n of w o o d e n boats in a c o l d m o l d e d

e n o u g h t o b e self-supporting a n d fair. W e

into

variety

o f shapes,

yet

stiff

stuff. In e i t h e r case t h e parts are easy to find.

less t h a n $ 3 0 . V e n e e r s are a v a i l a b l e from a

format. U s i n g C o n s t a n t C a m b e r a o n e - m a n

have discovered a new material; a double

T h e key c o m p o n e n t i s the v a c u u m p u m p .

n u m b e r o f s o u r c e s a t a b o u t 25c t o 3 5 c p e r

s h o p can manufacture b o t h h u l l halves for a

c u r v e d p l y w o o d for a new wave in boat-

For

s q u a r e f o o t . A list is i n c l u d e d w i t h e a c h

dinghy

building.

small

dinghy

molds

household

o n e d a y . The

finished

boat

â&#x20AC;˘

2 0 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

TEACHING

THE

SKILLS 3. On

M a k i n g

block

piece

shape

o f p a p e r d r a w out the

accurately

using the

proper

d i a m e t e r sheave a s a basis. T h e a c c o m p a n y ing

drawing

gives

basic

scantlings

for

v a r i o u s size b l o c k s . U s e i t a s y o u r g u i d e .

b l o c k s

M a k e sure t o leave r o o m a t t h e b o t t o m o f t h e sheave for f r e e r o t a t i o n . S i d e c l e a r a n c e for t h e sheave s h o u l d b e n o m o r e t h a n 1/16 i n c h t o t a l . R o o m a b o v e t h e sheave i s deter-

By Richard Golden

m i n e d b y l i n e size â&#x20AC;&#x201D; give y o u r s e l f p l e n t y o f p l a y for t h e l i n e . O n c e y o u h a v e d r a w n t h e ave y o u ever h a d t o g o o u t a n d b u y

block out,

blocks? T h e y ' r e certainly w o r t h the

shell. Include on this pattern pilot holes for

your

own

instead?

considerable many

sum

blocks

You

can

depending

you

a plastic p a t t e r n o f t h e

t h e axle a n d t h r e a d e d r o d (see d r a w i n g ) .

money you pay for them, but how about making

make

construct,

save

upon

how

and

enjoy

Cut

table

the

saw.

cheeks

You

and

can be

spacers o n

sloppy

with

the the

b u i l d i n g s o m e t h i n g b e a u t i f u l a n d useful a t

c h e e k s , b u t t h e spacers n e e d t o b e a c c u r a t e .

the same time.

Y o u w a n t t h e r e c t a n g u l a r shapes h e r e , n o t

You

have to be inclined

towards w o o d w o r k i n g , a n d y o u w i l l need

f i n i s h e d yet. T h e c h e e k s t h e n m u s t h a v e a

s o m e basic p o w e r t o o l s . B u t d o n ' t let l a c k o f

dado

e x p e r i e n c e s t o p y o u . B l o c k s are r e a s o n a b l y

T h i s slot i s s l i g h t l y w i d e r a n d deeper t h a n

simple to

the w i d t h a n d thickness o f the strap y o u w i l l

moderate

make,

even

woodworking

you skills.

have only Here

are

s o m e tips t o get y o u s t a r t e d :

(slot) c u t d o w n t h e center o f e a c h .

use. Y o u s h o u l d h a v e t h e strap b y t h i s t i m e t o m a k e sure t h i n g s h a v e e n o u g h p l a y .

1. D e t e r m i n e the l i n e size you intend

5 . Y o u n o w h a v e a p i l e o f c h e e k pieces

t o use a n d p u r c h a s e t h e sheaves s u i t a b l e .

t h a t are r e c t a n g u l a r i n s h a p e w i t h a slot

N y l o n o r d e l r i n sheaves are r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e

down

hole

t h e size o f t h e t h r e a d e d r o d a n d , u s i n g a n

Bronze roller

t h r o u g h each cheek at the appropriate spot.

electric d r i l l m o t o r , thread the r o d t h r o u g h

the b l o c k t o a v o i d alignment problems. C u t

sheaves c a n b e p u r c h a s e d t h r o u g h G o l d e n

U s e your pattern to determine the l o c a t i o n .

e a c h b l o c k . I f y o u c a n o n l y get s o l i d r o d ,

t h e a x l e m a t e r i a l t o l e n g t h w i t h a h a c k saw.

m a r i n e h a r d w a r e stores.

Dove

Marine.

You

the

middle.

Drill

the

axle

w a n t t h e sheaves i n

r o d c a n b e h e l p f u l h e r e . D r i l l t h e strap i n

t h e n d r i l l t o size, s l i d e t h e r o d t h r o u g h t h e

h a n d so y o u have accurate d i m e n s i o n s from

w h i c h to design your blocks.

together. U s e a bolt t h r o u g h the axle holes

Next,

glue

the

spacers

and

cheeks

b l o c k a n d p i n t h e e n d s t o fasten h a r d .

1 0 . L a s t l y , assemble t h e b l o c k s . A d d e n d caps o v e r t h e h o l e s w h e r e t h e a x l e sticks

y o u h a v e d r i l l e d t o h o l d t h e a s s e m b l e d parts

the

t h r o u g h t h e s h e l l . T h e s e c a n b e just a b o u t

for t h e c h e e k s

w h i l e t h e glue d r i e s . T h i s i s t h e t r i c k y p a r t ,

blocks. U s e your pattern to draw the block

a n y t h i n g , b u t o l d f o r e i g n c o i n s are q u i t e t h e

a n d spacers. H a r d w o o d s are p r e f e r a b l e . T h e

s i n c e d i m e n s i o n s are s o m e w h a t c r i t i c a l i n

o n each shell. C u t o u t the shape, s a n d a n d

best. T h e little e n d caps c a n b e c o u n t e r s u n k

grain runs the length of the b l o c k cheek a n d

blockmaking.

b e v e l t h e edges, d i p t h e m i n v a r n i s h a few

if y o u prefer, b u t it is n o t necessary. â&#x20AC;˘

2. C h o o s e

your woods

across t h e spacer. A t t r a c t i v e b l o c k s c a n b e 7 . A f t e r t h e g l u e has set, lay o u t t h e l o c a -

a n d spacers,

t i o n s for t h e t h r e a d e d r o d u s e d t o h o l d t h e

spacers,

lignum

spacers,

locust

spacers, etc.

vitae cheeks

cheeks

with

ash

w i t h mahogany

are

now

ready

shape

t i m e s , a n d t h e shells are d o n e . It's a piece o f

m a d e w i t h c o n t r a s t i n g w o o d s for t h e c h e e k s i.e., teak c h e e k s w i t h m a p l e

You

b l o c k t o g e t h e r (see d r a w i n g ) . Y o u r p a t t e r n i s u s e d a g a i n for l o c a t i n g t h e h o l e s t o b e d r i l l e d . N o w d r i l l t h e h o l e s 1/64 i n c h u n d e r

cake!

Richard Golden has been building blocks since 1976. If you have any questions he can be 9 . N e x t y o u m u s t b e n d a n d d r i l l t h e reached at 206/842-7250 or write: Golden s t r a p . B e n d t h e stuff h o w e v e r y o u c a n . A Dove Marine, 14492 Sunrise Dr. N . E . , Bainv i s e , a h a m m e r , a n d v a r i o u s sized pieces o f bridge Island, Washington 98110.

July-August 1987/SHAVINGS/21

BOAT LIVERIES

A few random notes on boat culture By Henry Gordon

lfred H i t c h c o c k said that a dreamscape, particular-

that

ly a scary one, is always a place

may

undefined,

but

cer-

t a i n l y f a m i l i a r . Y o u are w a l k i n g d o w n a c o u n t r y r o a d just a s t h e c o r n i s s t a r t i n g t o t a s s e l , y o u are i n t h e alley b e h i n d y o u r h o u s e , you

are o u t o n

a n oyster

bed.

W h i c h one? T h a t m i g h t not b e clear b u t it is y o u r s just t h e s a m e . A plane swoops o u t of the sky and

the

only

way

protect

yourself is to dive to the g r o u n d . Y o u get

up,

w a l k a few steps,

t h e n r u n , but the plane is c o m i n g for y o u again. I bet a lot of d r e a m s in

1909

s t a r t e d o n piers t h a t a m b l e d o u t i n t o the water like the o n e in the photo of the Ballard Boathouse.

s o m e . M o r e b o a t s are m a d e n o w

d r u d g e r y o f e a r l y years i n S e a t t l e .

H e r e was that c o m m o n l a n d . I n

t h a n ever b e f o r e , s o t h e r e s e n t e d

T h e w o m e n c a m e i n dresses a n d

d e s c r i b i n g it I c o u l d say t h a t t h i s

i m p l i c a t i o n is that o n l y the o l d

plumed

is w h a t B a l l a r d l o o k e d like before

wood

w i t h boaters o r b o w l e r s t o t a k e

boats

t h e S h i p C a n a l was c o m p l e t e d , I

Look

c o u l d talk

magazines

deep

water

perfect and

about the protected,

harbor a

fishing

holding

port

was

for schooners

boats,

pond

which

for

ideal

the

many

How

were how

boats.

many

boat

hats,

the

men

suits

a n elegant r o w o r p a d d l e o r r i d e

have,

they

say.

Jacobsen

Boat

and

crowded

come

really

rural

Mercer

Island

steamboat. like

The

M o t o r s i n B a l l a r d w i n s e v e r y few

boathouses

years a s t h e n u m b e r o n e B o s t o n

Seattle's f i r s t r e a l p a r k s .

Whaler

larger

Leschi

were Leschi

country?

h a d Seattle's f i r s t z o o a n d t h e r e

B a l l a r d m i l l s . B u t t h e p o i n t here

Y o u can even go further a n d a d d

were e v e n i n g b a n d concerts a n d

is there is no w a y to look at this

that m o r e people w i l l go to D u c k

grounds w h i c h were m u c h m o r e

picture

Dodge

carefully

a n d say w h e r e p l e a s u r e

dealer

this

the

summer

than

the

manicured

stopped a n d w o r k started. T h i s

R i n g , just as m o r e w e r e at S w i f t -

muddy

was

sure

architecture

boat

culture:

amid

the

dozens of livery boats a n d water taxis u s e d for w e e k e n d cruises o r rides across t h e b a y t o M a g n o l i a is a boat being repaired on the ways

(probably

CEO), a

the

livery's

mast b e i n g t u r n e d , a

r u d i m e n t a r y freighter a n d f i s h i n g boats r a n g i n g f r o m the t r a p p i n g s c o w o n t h e r i g h t o f t h e pier t o the double-ender gillnetter at the far left side o f t h e p h o t o .

than

anything

the

Sym-

torian

p h o n y produces. T h a t ' s all true, but the d r i v i n g i m a g e o f o u r society n o w i s t h e computer

and

the

computer

w h i z . A t the t u r n o f the century boats means

were

the

work

of recreation,

tool, the

the

escape

into the future — even if that o n ly m e a n t a gale at T a t o o s h . N o t all t h e l i v e r i e s , h o w e v e r , were

streets

plain.

The

Leschi

T h e n o t i o n of boat culture as

B o a t h o u s e was a c o m p l e t e — a n d

b e i n g s o m e t h i n g i n t h e past i r k s

q u i t e f a n c i f u l — escape f r o m t h e

the The

was

style,

chance.

than

downtown. of

and

high not

Vic-

just

H e r e was t h e s h r i n e o f

boat culture. D u r i n g the Depress i o n m o v i e theatres w e r e t h e o n e a f f o r d a b l e escape so great steps were

taken

perience

n o t just

make

the

another

exafter-

n o o n with C l a r k Gable, but a real trip somewhere. T h e M o o r e T h e a t r e o r the E g y p t i a n are g o o d examples equivalent

of this.

The

is the mall

modern with

its

continued on page 22

22/SHAVINGS/July-August

1987

continued from page 21 h i g h ceilings, atriums, a n d expansive

design.

boats.

But

For

builders,

back

most

small

of the

boats

the

major

were built

o n l y d u r i n g the l u l l periods as a stabilizing boat

income.

builders

apprentices. brothers before

for

the

Monson

small be the

Grandy

small

boat

Blanchards

o p e n i n g their

Marty

the

worked

builders

The

tended

shop,

worked

and the

s m a l l b o a t b u i l d e r for t h e G r a n d y s before o p e n i n g h i s ,

and on

and on. B u t t h e rise o f t h e l i v e r i e s also created row

m a r k e t for b u i l d e r s of

boats

Willits

and

brothers

canoes. on

Day

The Island

n e a r T a c o m a were o n e . A n o t h e r was H . A . L o n g . I n 1935, H e n r y Foss, t h e s c i o n o f t h e Foss d y n a s t y ,

approached

L o n g l o o k i n g for a g o o d - l o o k i n g , easy

r o w i n g b o a t for

operation Tacoma

Salmon

Narrows.

his rental Beach

Long

d e v e l o p e d a 12 foot l a p s t r a k e a n d built 25 that first year. T h e pic-

July-August 1987/SHAVINGS/23

ture

here

shows

those

25,

but

w h a t m a t t e r s i n t h i s p i c t u r e isn't the boats or the b u i l d i n g , but the car.

The

there

photographer

doubt

put

frame of

reference i n t e r m s o f size. B u t t h e rise o f t h e a u t o m o b i l e w a s r e a l l y t h e d e a t h k n e l l f o r liveries a n d boat

culture.

Boats

were

l o n g e r t h e m o s t elegant m e a n s o f escape.

Young

wealthier

people

families

worked

get

from

longer

boat,

they

w a n t e d a car. A

final

spasm

1940s w i t h This

was

came

the

the s a l m o n derbies. an

almost

Seattle

phenomenon

brought

last

fling

uniquely which for

the

l i v e r i e s . T h e T i m e s gave a w a y a free

D e S o t o t o t h e p e r s o n cat-

ching

the

biggest

salmon.

The

d o c k s were c r a m m e d g u n n e l t o gunnel. T h e p h o t o here is t a k e n at the o r i g i n a l R a y ' s C a f e . W h a t ' s different n o w ? T h e m e n n o l o n g e r w e a r h a t s . T h e smallest s a l m o n on the table is everyone

12 p o u n d s a n d

caught

one.

Seattle

t h e n was a u n i o n t o w n w i t h h i g h wages a n d l o n g - t e r m j o b s e c u r i t y . A n d o f c o u r s e , R a y ' s just b u r n e d to the g r o u n d . â&#x20AC;˘

24/SHAVINGS/July-August

1987

EINSTEIN AT THE H E L M

A mind that was elsewhere By N. Brooks Clark

most people to learn to pay atten-

went out, righted a n d bailed out

tion,

but

the

"His

mind

not

him," just

Fisher

seemed

says.

boat,

showed

then

diplomatically

E i n s t e i n h o w t o use t h e

pro-

e l s e w h e r e . " E i n s t e i n ' s f a m o u s letter

reef p o i n t s , t h e s m a l l l i n e s u s e d t o

fessor A l b e r t E i n s t e i n , t h e n 6 0

t o President F r a n k l i n D . Roosevelt

r e d u c e t h e a r e a o f a sail i n h e a v y

concerning

the

summer

1939,

years old, spent a vacation on Nassau Point,

N.Y.,

tiny

l a n d off the N o r t h

neck

Fork of L o n g

Island. He h a d a

14-foot c a t b o a t

named

Tinif — Y i d d i s h

"junk" —

a n d almost every d a y ,

weather

good

would pull

and

for

bad,

back his l o n g white

the

feasibility

weather.

and

producing

a n d t h a n k e d t h e m . T h e next day

— bright s u n s h i n e , little w i n d —

On land, Einstein and a w o m a n

shortened as if he were beating i n -

developing

a t o m i c b o m b was d a t e d A u g .

1939, N a s s a u P o i n t . believed

were often

seen

the evenings,

t o t h e t e e t h o f a gale. Grant

Harrison,

that sum-

Point's narrow roads, both always

t h e west side o f P e c o n i c B a y , t r y i n g

dressed

t o sail h i s b o a t d i r e c t l y i n t o a n east

was

crowned

says

along

sail

Tinifs

t h e n set o u t o n t o P e c o n i c B a y . " H e happy,"

stroll

Maja,

with

hair, wrap it in a newspaper a n d and

sister,

appeared

listened

m e r , f i r s t c a m e across E i n s t e i n o n

merry

for

his

professor

Nassau

out

The

tennis

with

whites,

both

abundance

w i n d t o get h o m e . " W e t r i e d t o ex-

Constance D a r b y M o o r e , one of a

long

g r o u p o f teenagers w h o also s p e n t

y o u c o u l d n ' t t e l l w h i c h was h e a n d

f o r t h , " says H a r r i s o n . " H e c o u l d n ' t

that

w h i c h w a s s h e , " says M o o r e .

get t h e p r i n c i p l e . W e t r i e d t o get

summer

vacationing

N a s s a u P o i n t . " H e ' d just g o . " was

external

evidence

hair.

"From

behind,

Nassau

Point's

Old

Cove

and

Peter B e r g e n , n o w a m e m b e r o f t h e

sailors.

back

and

h i m to follow us at an angle to the

throwing

teenage

tacking

w i n d . H e kept p o i n t i n g t o w a r d his

sitting

another

the

about

crest o f a b l u f f o f s a n d o v e r l o o k i n g

enjoyed

t h a t h e d i d , " says R o b e r t F i s h e r , of

plain

the

Einstein

D i d E i n s t e i n k n o w h o w t o sail? "There

white

stones

" A f t e r p u s h i n g Tinif o f f f r o m t h e

New

beach, he mostly drifted a r o u n d in

remembers

York

into

the

Stock

water.

Exchange,

regularly

bringing

h o m e a n d saying, ' N o , I want to go over there.' " A s the s u m m e r progressed, E i n stein

became

friendly

with

his

and

teenage

Coast

the bay." T w o brothers, Bruce a n d

some o f his mother's T o l l H o u s e

J o h n L o c k w o o d , 16 a n d 18 at the

t i m e , h a d a b o a t o n h a n d for the

b l u f f a n d t h r o w i n g stones i n t o t h e

Tinif w o u l d l u r k b e h i n d t h e fleet,

occasions

o c c a s i o n a l l y c o m i n g u p a n d cross-

when

the

wind

Einstein

out

that

G u a r d . W h e n the k i d s set u p races among

themselves,

Einstein

and

died

water

with

him.

d o w n and Einstein had to be tow-

there

and

watch

i n g the s t a r t i n g l i n e , t o o . " H e ' d just

e d i n , w h i c h was a f a i r l y r o u t i n e

p l o p , a n d w e ' d t a l k , " says B e r g e n .

w a v e t o u s , " says M o o r e . " H e was

occurrence.

" I was six a t t h e t i m e . T o t h i s d a y 1

always very c h a r m i n g . " E v e n t u a l l y

can't

the g r o u p decided t o f o r m a n i n -

remember

about,

Mind

seemed

elsewhere.

F r o m time to time Fisher went saili n g w i t h E i n s t e i n , a n d o n those occasions he attempted to impart to

other

throw.' very

much,

of the

especially

What

struck

Fisher

fessor's

persistent

inattention

didn't

w o u l d sit stones

talked

say,

'Nice

adults

offered E i n s t e i n a m e m b e r s h i p . He

children

didn't

declined

talk

deter

him.

"He

attracted

w i n d s , " says M o o r e .

formal yacht club, but

and Harrison

graciously

made

d o n a t i o n to the k i d s ' project.

E i n s t e i n n e v e r let his s a i l i n g d e f i ciencies

sport.

what

than but

the

seem t o b o t h e r h i m . "

t h e scientist s o m e o f t h e subtleties most on those outings was the pro-

"We

was heavy

"I think he

"It

was

persevered Fisher,

remarkable in

his

"and

remarkable that

how

sailing," even

he says

he d i d n ' t appear

to be any better at it by the e n d of

the swinging b o o m . " O n e w h a c k

breeze c a m e u p a n d t i p p e d Tinif

the s u m m e r t h a n he'd been at the

in the h e a d is usually e n o u g h for

over.

beginning."

liked

the challenge." O n e day The

Lockwood

brothers

•