©1987 The Center for Wooden Boats —
Volume 9, Number 6 — Nov.-Dec.
1987
OCTOBER SONG A s far a s the m a t t e r o f w e a t h e r for o u r O c t . 4 t h R e g a t t a , y o u j u s t d o n ' t find a m o r e p e r f e c t a u t u m n day. A r e l a x e d e n d - o f - s e a s o n m o o d w a s t h e s p i r i t o f the few h u n d r e d R e g a t t a v i s i t o r s . T h e w a r m , s u n n y d a y e n c o u r a g e d t h e c r o w d s t o test t h e v a r i o u s C W B b o a t s a n d a s m a l l fleet o f v i s i t i n g v e s s e l s , w h i c h i n c l u d e d a 17' P i s c a t a q u a r i v e r w h e r r y , a 19' s c h o o n e r r i g g e d M a c k i n a w b o a t , a n 18' s c h o o n e r r i g g e d M a c k i n a w b o a t , a n 18' s c h o o n e r r i g g e d r o w - s a i l d e s i g n e d a n d built b y J i m S a n d , a 2 1 ' gig f r o m O l y m p i a , 2 gigs f r o m A n a c o r t e s a n d a 15' r o w - s a i l s l o o p w h i c h S c o t t H a u s e r d e s i g n e d a n d b u i l t . T h e 16' D o r y c y c l e c a m e , a p r o d u c t o f the g e n t l e g e n i u s o f P h i l T h e i l , U W Dept. o f A r c h i t e c t u r e Professor. M a n y had fun playing w i t h this nautical " t r o m p e d'oeil," a traditional B a n k s Dory, with bicycle power and a varnished w o o d e n propeller. O u r 2 1 ' gig Dan w a s e n t e r e d i n h e r 1st r a c e series. H o w clever we were to m a k e sure she f i n i s h e d last i n all — the m e n ' s , w o m e n ' s a n d m i x e d . N o w t h e w o r d i s o u t that w e a r e s l o w , a n d the c o m p e t i t i o n will be overconfident. M a r c u s L e s t e r d e s e r v e s o u r t h a n k s for w o r k i n g l o n g h o u r s to get Dan r e a d y . S i n c e the r e g a t t a , he h a s also been coaching whoever shows up at crack of d a w n o n S a t u r d a y s . T h e p r a c t i c e s e s s i o n s will c o n t i n u e : 8:00 a . m . , w o m e n ; 9:00 a . m . , m e n ; 10:00 a.m., m i x e d c r e w (4 plus coxswain). T h e r a c i n g attitude w a s " n o big deal, we're here for f u n . " M a r t h a R o g e r s s t a g e d t h e c o n t e s t s w i t h d i p l o m a t i c finesse. T h e O l y m p i a gig Cina Belle was winner in the M e n ' s a n d M i x e d t e a m races. Glide f r o m A n a c o r t e s w a s the b i g g u n i n t h e W o m e n ' s race. The Singles Rowing was w o n by Blue D u c k of O l y m p i a . M a r c u s Lester, in a Beetle cat, w o n the Half Fast Sailing class race a n d the v i c t o r o f t h e F a s t C l a s s w a s B i l l H u f f i n g t o n i n a 17' F a l c o n sloop. T h e awards were designed by M a r t h a Rogers; a potpourri of novelty s h o p animals, u m b r e l l a s , b o a t s , b r u s h e s , a n d r i b b o n s . If that isn't p r o o f of t h e c a s u a l n a t u r e of the R e g a t t a , it m u s t b e r e p o r t e d that t h e m a i n f e a t u r e o f o u r potluck l u n c h , the C h i l i C o n t e s t , was w o n handsd o w n b y B a r b a r a W i l s o n , w h o brought the only pot o f c h i l i . A n d d e l i c i o u s i t w a s . T h e r e a l s o w a s a fantastic variety of salads, pasta, b r e a k , sandw i c h e s a n d desserts t o k e e p intact o u r r e p u t a t i o n as a G o u r m e t S o c i e t y disguised as a M a r i t i m e Museum. — Dick Wagner
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J U S T IN TIME F O R GIFT GIVING. N e w m o n t h l y a n d a n n u a l p a s s e s for u s e o f C W B ' s fleet o f c l a s s i c r o w a n d sail b o a t s . NonMembers members Row — One month $ 35.00 $ 45.00 Row/sail — O n e m o n t h 50.00 60.00 R o w — O n e year 140.00 175.00 Row/sail — O n e year 200.00 240.00 P a s s e s a r e g o o d for 2 h r s . p e r d a y a n d y o u m a y c h o o s e the m o n t h y o u w i s h t o use the p a s s . W e feel this i s a n e x c e p t i o n a l b a r g a i n a n d a g e n u i n e l y f u n gift. O t h e r gift s u g g e s t i o n s f r o m C W B : B e l t b u c k les, T - s h i r t s a n d s w e a t s h i r t s , p o s t e r s , M a r t y L o k en's stunning " C l a s s i c Boats C a l e n d a r , " monographs. Gift certificates are especially appreciated. C W B merchandise, workshops and seminars, a n d u s e o f o u r b o a t s c a n all b e p r e - p a i d b y y o u r t h o u g h t f u l gift. G i v e u s a c a l l o r d r o p b y .
CHEM LAB O u r l a p s t r a k e w o r k s h o p s a r e like a l a b o r a t o r y e x p e r i m e n t . W i l l the e l e m e n t s o f w o o d , fastenings, t o o l s , s t u d e n t s , i n s t r u c t o r a n d a t i c k i n g c l o c k result in a boat at the w e e k ' s e n d ? O u r O c t . 10-17 e x p e r i m e n t i n b u i l d i n g a n a r c h a i c craft in a few h e a r t b e a t s of t i m e w a s successful. C W B n o w has a beautiful 9 ' 3 " L a w l e y T e n d e r t o s h o w off (it's a l r e a d y b e e n u s e d a s a Miller B e e r advertising prop). T h e students a n d t e a c h e r h a v e the s a t i s f a c t i o n of p a s s i n g a m o s t i n t e n s e i n t e l l e c t u a l , e m o t i o n a l a n d p h y s i c a l test, still s m i l i n g ! T h e class. H o n o r S t u d e n t s all: Perry O v e r t o n , Seattle, W A Nowell Freeman, Wayzata, M N Doug Holman, Salem, OR D i c k Stemwell, Issaquah, W A Terry Buckridge, Marysville, WA and Eric Hvalsoe, Instructor
compromising, wore overalls and chewed tobacco. E n t e r the m a s t e r Of c o u r s e , E r i c has none of these qualities. He a r r i v e d , i n t r o d u c e d h i m s e l f a n d t o l d u s a little a b o u t t h e h i s t o r y o f the N o r w e g i a n p r a m w e w o u l d be building. I h a d r e m e m b e r e d seeing a similar boat a t the C W B Folklife exhibit a n d was s u r p r i s e d that s u c h a b e a u t i f u l boat c o u l d b e built in a six day class. After the i n t r o d u c t o r y r e m a r k s , w e s t a r t e d t o w o r k . W e m a d e o u r b e v e l s t i c k s , set u p t h e b a c k b o n e , a n d s t a r t e d m e a s u r i n g the a n g l e s o n the t r a n s o m s . W e w e r e s w e p t right i n t o the e n t h u s i a s m of the p r o j e c t .
LEARNING TO BE A B O A T BUILDER IN SIX D A Y S L a s t s u m m e r w a s the start o f s o m e t h i n g n e w for m e . I quit my j o b after a c o u p l e y e a r s of progressive burnout, a n d had put some m o n e y a s i d e for w h a t I h o p e d w o u l d b e s e v e r a l m o n t h s o f r e l a x a t i o n a n d s e l f - d i s c o v e r y . M y first v e n t u r e , a n d t h e m o s t m e m o r a b l e , w a s t o s i g n u p for t h e C W B boatbuilding workshop. I had long dabbled w i t h w o o d w o r k i n g a s a h o b b y , a n d for m a n y s u m m e r s h a d a d m i r e d the beautiful w o o d e n b o a t s that s a i l S e a t t l e ' s w a t e r s . I h a d e v e n m a d e a stab at p u t t i n g together my o w n boat, but somehow the three dimensions of lapstrake construct i o n w e r e t o o c o m p l i c a t e d for s e l f - i n s t r u c t i o n . T h e l a p s t r a k e c l a s s s e e m e d the right t h i n g t o d o . T h e w e e k b e f o r e the c l a s s I d e c i d e d t o m a k e a b o x t o h o l d m y t o o l s , b e c a u s e the letter o f i n t r o d u c t i o n to the class r e c o m m e n d e d we have s u c h a b o x . I e n d e d up p u t t i n g t o g e t h e r a large j o i n e r ' s tool case. W h e n l o a d e d with tools, the c a s e w a s
s o h e a v y I c o u l d b a r e l y lift it. T h e o n l y w a y 1 c o u l d m o v e it a r o u n d without t h r o w i n g out my b a c k permanently w a s by putting it on a s k a t e b o a r d a n d r o l l i n g i t f r o m p l a c e t o p l a c e . T h e first d a y o f the c l a s s I m a n a g e d t o m o v e the c a s e i n t o t h e boathouse with only minor acrobatics. I opened the d o o r , g r e e t e d the s e v e r a l that w e r e t h e r e , a n d s e c r e t l y t h a n k e d N e p t u n e that I h a d n ' t lost c o n t r o l o f the h e a v y c h e s t o n the b o a t h o u s e r a m p for a m o r e spectacular introduction into L a k e U n i o n . G a t h e r e d i n a c o r n e r o f the s h o p w e r e m o s t o f the o t h e r g u y s i n t h e c l a s s . T h e r e w a s R o g e r , a local university student on s u m m e r break; J i m , a m e c h a n i c a l engineer from C a l i f o r n i a ; J a c k , a retiring s c h o o l t e a c h e r ; a n d B o b , a n e x p o r t e r a n d schoolteacher from California. We gathered a r o u n d o u r t o o l s , d r a n k coffee, a n d after w e a s c e r t a i n e d t h a t n o n e o f u s w a s the t e a c h e r , w e w o n d e r e d what he w o u l d be like. Several suggest i o n s w e r e m a d e , b u t the g e n e r a l c o n s e n s u s w a s that a n y b o a t b u i l d e r w i t h the n a m e o f H v a l s o e w a s p r o b a b l y a b o u t 8 0 y e a r s o f a g e . a little u n -
2
T h e p a c e o f the c l a s s w a s v e r y e a s y - g o i n g a n d p l e a s a n t a n d t h e b o a t w a s built s t e p - b y - s t e p . E r i c w o u l d give e a c h o f u s a t a s k . H e w o u l d s h o w u s w h a t t o d o a n d t h e n w e w o u l d d o it. W h e n w e d i d it w r o n g , we w o u l d r e p e a t it a n d h o p e f u l l y get it right. E v e r y o n c e in a while E r i c w o u l d s t o p us a n d d e l i v e r l e c t u r e s — for e x a m p l e , h e w o u l d s a y " O K g u y s , w e n e e d t o talk a b o u t b e d d i n g " — b u t m o s t of t h e t i m e it w a s a s p e c i f i c t a s k - o r i e n t e d " s h o w a n d d o . " T h i s w a s m u c h like I imagine boatbuildi n g w a s t a u g h t i n o l d e r t i m e s . D a y b y d a y , the p l a n k s w e r e a d d e d a n d c l e n c h - n a i l e d , a n d a recognizable boat appeared. S e v e r a l t o o l s a c h i e v e d n o t o r i e t y d u r i n g the class. B o b had the cordless drill, quite a luxury w h e n the d r i l l i s p a s s e d b a c k a n d f o r t h b e t w e e n s i x p e o p l e i n a nine-foot s p a c e . J a c k h a d the rabbet plane, recently p u r c h a s e d because it was on t h e list of r e c o m m e n d e d t o o l s for the c l a s s . It was a beauty, but unfortunately not a necessity for this p a r t i c u l a r b o a t . J a c k w a n t e d t o justify h i s p u r c h a s e , however, a n d we were always on the l o o k o u t for s o m e a p p l i c a t i o n for the r a b b e t p l a n e . R o g e r h a d the R y o b a s a w , a J a p a n e s e t o o l t h a t i s great for t r i m m i n g p l a n k s . J i m h a d t h e u l t i m a t e tool — what was eventually t e r m e d the "killer r a s p " — e s s e n t i a l for the fine t u n i n g o f o u r t r a n s o m b e v e l s (fine = l e s s t h a n 20°). I n s h a r i n g o u r time a n d tools we b e c a m e c l o s e r day by day. S o m e o t h e r benefits T h e C e n t e r ' s hospitality extended way b e y o n d the u s e o f the s p a c e for b u i l d i n g a b o a t . B o b , the sailor in the g r o u p , w o u l d take others of us out in the C e n t e r ' s s a i l b o a t s d u r i n g the l u n c h b r e a k . R o g e r b r o u g h t i n a c a n o e h e h a d m a d e for e a r l y morning explorations of Lake Union. The C e n ter's l i b r a r y w a s o p e n t o u s a l l , a n d I f r e q u e n t l y
u s e d i t t o f u r t h e r p u r s u e i d e a s b r o u g h t u p i n the c l a s s . T h e v e r y o p e n n e s s o f the b o a t h o u s e m a d e u s p a r t o f o n e w e e k o f t h e d a i l y life o f the C e n t e r . W e m e t o t h e r b o a t b u i l d e r s i n the a r e a w h o s t o p p e d b y a n d w e h e a r d stories about their o w n b o a t s that w e r e b e i n g b u i l t . T h e c l a s s e x p o s e d m e to a life on S e a t t l e ' s w a t e r s that o t h e r w i s e I w o u l d have never seen. T h e f o u r t h d a y o f t h e c l a s s , w e w e r e t o l d that the K O M O - T V n e w s c r e w w a s p l a n n i n g t o film a s h o r t s e g m e n t a b o u t the c l a s s . I n p r i o r d i s c u s s i o n s , n o n e o f u s a d m i t t e d that the p r e s e n c e o f a T V c r e w w o u l d affect u s a t a l l , b u t w h e n w e all s h o w e d u p that m o r n i n g for t h e first t i m e c l e a n shaven a n d with clean shirts, we were r e m i n d e d h o w subtle the s u b c o n s c i o u s c a n be. W i t h the c a m e r a s rolling, we m o v e d with a military clip, c u t t i n g a p l a n k , a p p l y i n g the b e d d i n g a n d fasteni n g w i t h the c o p p e r n a i l s , a s i f w e h a d b e e n d o i n g this for y e a r s . E r i c a n d B o b w e r e i n t e r v i e w e d for their t h o u g h t s : I o v e r h e a r d E r i c s a y i n g s o m e t h i n g about boats being "beautiful" a n d B o b was talking about " w o r k s of a r t . " M e a n w h i l e , in a definitely u n r e h e a r s e d scene, I w a s seen sawing u n d e r the T V f l o o d l i g h t s w h e n I hit a n a i l w i t h t h e R y o b a s a w . D e s p i t e that d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f M u r p h y ' s L a w , t h e e d i t i o n o n that e v e n i n g ' s n e w s w a s v e r y favora b l e t o b o t h o u r c l a s s a n d the C e n t e r . It floats! W e l a u n c h e d t h e b o a t the e v e n i n g o f the s i x t h d a y . T h e c e l e b r a t i o n i n c l u d e d f r i e n d s , family, great f o o d a n d c h a m p a g n e . T h e b o a t , w h i c h h a d b e e n c h r i s t e n e d the Wee-five, w a s l a u n c h e d g r a c e f u l l y (it's e a s y for six p e o p l e to l a u n c h a n i n e foot b o a t g r a c e f u l l y ) a n d after s t r a w s w e r e d r a w n I t o o k it o u t for its first s p i n . Initially, it l e a k e d a little (or w e p t , a s w e w e r e told), b u t i n m i n u t e s t h e p l a n k s swelled a n d it b e c a m e water-tight. One-byo n e i t p a s s e d a l l the p e r f o r m a n c e t e s t s , i n c l u d i n g the c a p a c i t y test w i t h t h r e e a d u l t s a n d t w o g l a s s e s o f w i n e , a n d t h e e l a b o r a t e s e a w o r t h y test b y E r i c (e.g., c o u l d i t b e c a p s i z e d b y l e a n i n g o n the r a i l s ) . A s the e v e n i n g w e n t o n , the b o a t t o o k fewer a n d f e w e r t r i p s o u t f r o m the d o c k , a n d w e all s p e n t m o r e t i m e w i t h o u r w i n e , c o n v e r s a t i o n , a n d last times together. W h e n w e said g o o d b y e a n d headed h o m e , I w a s s o r r y to see the w e e k over. A b o u t twenty-five y e a r s a g o w h e n I w a s a b o y in NW Oregon, I used to sneak around an old man's w o r k s h o p w i t h a f r i e n d . Inside the s h o p w a s a large b o a t u n d e r c o n s t r u c t i o n , a n d I r e m e m b e r m y w o n d e r m e n t o v e r the b o a t a n d t h e o l d m a n ' s t o o l s . D e s p i t e m a n y v i s i t s , I n e v e r m e t the m a n , but I a l w a y s f a n t a s i z e d a b o u t w h a t it w o u l d be l i k e t o w o r k w i t h h i m a n d t o l e a r n all o f h i s s e c r e t s . I n a s e n s e , t h i s c l a s s r e a w a k e n e d t h a t fantasy. I s p e n t six days w o r k i n g , building a n d learning with others. I d e v e l o p e d a c o n n e c t i o n with the past, a time w h e n creative skills w e r e b o t h n e c e s s a r y a n d spec i a l , a n d n o w that I've l e a r n e d a few o f t h e s e s k i l l s , I feel a little bit m o r e s p e c i a l m y s e l f .
O L D ENGINES, A R E T U R N TO CHILDHOOD I b e l o n g to a s p e c i e s of b o a t l o v e r w h o l o v e s n o t o n l y s m a l l w o o d e n b o a t s b u t the o l d e n g i n e s i n s i d e . A s a c h i l d g r o w i n g u p d u r i n g the late 1950's o n t h e s h o r e s o f G e o r g i a S t r a i t I fell i n l o v e w i t h the s o u n d o f t h e o n e - l u n g g a s o l i n e e n g i n e s that p o w e r e d f i s h b o a t s . I w o u l d sit o n the largest r o c k t o get the best v i e w a n d r e v e l i n the s t e r t o r o u s b e l l o w s c o m i n g f r o m the o p e n e x h a u s t p i p e . M y l o v e for the o l d e n g i n e s o u n d h a s n ' t d i m i n i s h e d i n t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s . I w o u l d still d e r i v e great j o y f r o m listening to those early engines. E v e n greater h a p p i n e s s for m e w o u l d b e t o o w n a w o o d e n b o a t with an old single-cylinder engine. N o w I n e v e r c o n s i d e r e d m y s e l f a c o l l e c t o r . In my youth I never collected stamps, models, or s p o r t s c a r d s , a n d w h e n I b o u g h t m y first e n g i n e , an 1898 S n e c k n e r , I n e v e r t h o u g h t I w o u l d be c o m e a collector. I o n l y w a n t e d an o l d engine to operate in a simple boat. T h r e e years a n d eleven e n g i n e s later I c a n n o l o n g e r c l a i m I a m n o t c o l l e c t ing. H o w e v e r , I a m n o t a l o n e . T h e r e a r e lots o f people collecting old farm engines, tractors, a n d machinery. T h e r e are even some people besides me w h o specialize in marine engines. M o s t of the marine collectors s e e m to be in the Mid-west U n i t e d States. T h e i r fresh water is not as h a r s h on cast i r o n a s o u r salt w a t e r . I still b e l i e v e I'm different f r o m o t h e r e n g i n e c o l l e c t o r s b e c a u s e I love w o o d e n boats w i t h a p a s s i o n . It is rare to find an engine c o l l e c t o r w h o s h a r e s e q u a l e n t h u s i a s m for w o o d e n b o a t s a n d old m a c h i n e r y . W h y there aren't m o r e w o o d e n boat l o v e r s o p e r a t i n g o l d e n g i n e s i s a m y s t e r y t o m e . B o a t s a n d g a s o l i n e e n g i n e s h a v e g o n e tog e t h e r for n i n e t y y e a r s . I w o u l d l o v e to see a r e n e w e d interest in gasoline engine use to m a t c h the r e v i v a l o f s t e a m b o a t i n g . Collecting around a theme W h e n I first b e g a n b u y i n g e n g i n e s a fellow c o l l e c t o r a d v i s e d me to h a v e a d i r e c t i o n , a t h e m e to follow. I m i g h t , he s u g g e s t e d , c o l l e c t e n g i n e s m a n u f a c t u r e d o n t h e W e s t C o a s t o r e v e n limit myself to British C o l u m b i a manufacturers. That p l a n w e n t a s t r a y w h e n I fell i n l o v e w i t h a 3 h p . G r a y ; before I k n e w it I h a d two G r a y s . By not i m p o s i n g strict limits on what I b u y I have n o t i c e d the e v o l u t i o n o f a t h e m e . N o w I c o l l e c t a n y m a k e of engine with special e m p h a s i s on rare engines generally c o n s i d e r e d b e y o n d n o r m a l repair-ability. B y this I m e a n a n e n g i n e s o b a d l y d a m a g e d t h a t a t least o n e m a j o r part m u s t b e r e c a s t : t h e c y l i n d e r , head, or base.
B o b put together a s c r a p b o o k with narratives and photographs d o c u m e n t i n g our w o r k together a n d the day-by-day c r e a t i o n of the boat. He sent e a c h o f u s a c o p y . It's n o w s e v e r a l m o n t h s later, a n d I have returned to another job very similar to t h e o n e I left earlier. F o r t h e t i m e b e i n g m y a d v e n tures h a v e e n d e d , but as I look at B o b ' s s c r a p b o o k a n d r e m i n i s c e , I feel a little bit different t h a n I did a year ago: I have whole n e w relationships w i t h people a n d w i t h w o o d a n d that, I guess, is w h a t it's a l l a b o u t . — Steve M c G e e
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A g o o d e x a m p l e of w h a t I m e a n is my V i v i a n , a s i n g l e c y l i n d e r 8 h p e n g i n e b u i l t i n t h e e a r l y 1930's in Vancouver, B . C . The Vivian Engine C o m p a n y w a s o n c e a r i v a l o f the E a s t h o p e C o m p a n y , a l s o from Vancouver, B . C . The Vivian Engine C o m p a n y w a s s o l d i n t h e late 1940's t o a B r i t i s h f i r m w h i c h c e a s e d p r o d u c t i o n o f the B . C . v e r s i o n s i n f a v o r o f i m p o r t i n g its o w n e n g i n e f r o m B r i t a i n . I n 1974, all r e m a i n i n g p a r t s , d e s i g n s , a n d l i t e r a t u r e were destroyed to e n d the existence of the V i v i a n Engine C o m p a n y . I k n o w of only o n e o t h e r single cylinder engine. B o t h engines have d a m a g e d cyli n d e r s , m i n e has m o r e than o n e leg in the grave. In o r d e r to restore it I n e e d to recast the cylinder, head, a n d manifold, but. before I c a n cast new parts I must build new patterns and coreboxes. It's this r e b u i l d i n g p r o c e s s I enjoy. In c a s e s where I must m a k e new patterns in w o o d , books h e l p me l e a r n p a t t e r n m a k i n g . If n e c e s s a r y , I t a k e c o u r s e s i n f o u n d r y w o r k . I've l e a r n e d s k i l l s s u c h a s c a s t i r o n w e l d i n g a n d l a t h e o p e r a t i o n . I've l e a r n e d that I c a n r e p a i r o r b u i l d a n y t h i n g a s l o n g as I have patience a n d apply myself. Another, secondary theme A n o t h e r k i n d of special engine is one I c a n a s s o c i a t e w i t h t h e o r i g i n a l o w n e r . M y 1898 S n e c k n e r w a s o r i g i n a l l y b o u g h t for f i s h i n g o n L a k e S u p e r i o r . It r a n faithfully u n t i l 1930 w h e n the o r i g inal boat w a s t o o o l d t o fish f r o m . T h e e n g i n e w a s r e m o v e d a n d p l a c e d i n a n e w b o a t b y the o r i g i n a l o w n e r ' s s o n . M y little S n e c k n e r c o n t i n u e d t o p e r f o r m h e r d u t i e s u n t i l 1954 w h e n the s e c o n d b o a t w a s t o o o l d for f i s h i n g . It s e e m e d s h e w o u l d be left o n the lake s h o r e t o rust away. B y c h a n c e W e s t o n F a r m e r , the notable naval architect a n d author, c a m e a c r o s s the e n g i n e , b o u g h t i t a n d t u c k e d i t a w a y until I bought it f r o m his s o n thirty years later. A f t e r a l l this t i m e s h e i s still r e p a i r a b l e a n d c a n be used in a w o o d e n boat. A c o m m o n a s p e c t o f a n y c o l l e c t i o n i s the a c c u m u l a t i o n o f s e c o n d a r y m a t e r i a l b a s e d o n the collection. I have a g o o d n u m b e r of early m o t o r boat d e s i g n s a n d p i c t u r e s . I h a v e b o u g h t a n y reprinted early m o t o r b o a t i n g material a n d I have x e r o x e d o r i g i n a l m a t e r i a l w h i c h h a s n o t b e e n rep r i n t e d . O b t a i n i n g t h i s m a t e r i a l c a n b e difficult, yet I find it is o f t e n as s a t i s f y i n g as b u y i n g a n o t h e r engine. S i n c e m y latest r o u n d o f a c q u i s i t i o n s I've p r o m ised myself not to b u y a n y m o r e engines. N o w I must begin b u i l d i n g a classic m o t o r b o a t s u c h as a h u n t i n g c a b i n l a u n c h , s o I c a n fulfill m y c h i l d h o o d fantasy of o w n i n g a o n e l u n g engine p o w e r e d b o a t . S t i l l , I'm a c o l l e c t o r w h o w i l l a l w a y s b e t e m p t e d b y just o n e m o r e o l d e n g i n e . — J o s e p h A. K o v a c s
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"I L O V E C O F F E E , I L O V E T E A , I L O V E T H E J A V A JIVE A N D IT L O V E S M E " A Meditation on Sailors and Coffee C u r r e n t debates between Evolutionists and C r e a t i o n i s t s completely o v e r l o o k one of the most interesting questions in cosmogony. W h e r e did G o d get H i s c u p o f coffee b e f o r e b e g i n n i n g H i s great t a s k ? N o b o d y i n t h e i r right m i n d , n o t e v e n a S u p r e m e B e i n g , w o u l d start s u c h a n i n v o l v e d p r o j e c t w i t h o u t a hot s l u g o f n a t u r e ' s c e r e b r a l j u m p s t a r t a n d p l e n t y m o r e w h e n that r a n o u t . O f c o u r s e there is a g r o u p of peculiarly flat-headed r e l i g i o n i s t s i n T e n n e s s e e w h o c o n t e n d that G o d d i d t h e h o l d j o b without any coffee at all w h i c h , t h e y feel, fully e x p l a i n s the state o f t h e w o r l d today. U n i v e r s a l creation aside, we have always u n d e r s t o o d t h e n e c e s s i t y for coffee. W h e n t h e C W B Boathouse was designed, it was conceived a s a b u i l d i n g s u r r o u n d i n g a n e t e r n a l l y full coffeep o t . T h e D i r e c t o r u s e d t o b r e w the coffee. O n e m e m b e r s a i d that the coffee r e m i n d e d h i m o f his f i s h i n g d a y s . H e n e v e r s a i d w h e t h e r the m e m o r i e s were of c o o l , quiet A l a s k a d a w n s or of sleeping in a n o p e n b o a t d u r i n g a t h r e e - d a y s t o r m o n a shifting pile o f d e a d fish. O n e a p p r e n t i c e u s e d t o e x p l a i n i n a c o n f i d e n t i a l w h i s p e r that o u r D i r e c t o r h a d lost h i s t a s t e b u d s i n a b o a t i n g a c c i d e n t . A n o t h e r w e n t s o far a s t o s a y t h a t B o a t s h o p coffee w a s a l m o s t a s b a d a s n o coffee a t a l l . We always a s s u m e d it was what we'd heard a carpenter call " b u i l d i n g inspector coffee." Y o u always b r e w e d it w h e n the building inspector was going to c o m e by a n d the first t h i n g y o u ' d d o i s g i v e ( n o t offer) h i m a c u p . A f t e r a few s i p s h e w o u l d r e a l i z e t h a t r i s k i n g his j o b b y o v e r l o o k i n g s o m e m i n o r v i o l a t i o n s w a s w i s e r t h a n w r i t i n g u p the e x c e p t i o n s a n d r i s k i n g a n o t h e r c u p o f that coffee w h e n h e c a m e b a c k t o r e - i n s p e c t . O u r belief w a s s t r e n g t h ened w h e n we w a t c h e d an inspector from the c i t y ' s B u r e a u o f M i n e s c o n f r o n t his first c u p . T h e D i r e c t o r w a s r o o t i n g d i s t r a c t e d l y t h r o u g h a large crate of recently donated paint a n d refinishing supplies. He o p e n e d a c a n , peered inside, a n d said, " H m m , it looks like pine tar." " Y e s , " r e p l i e d the i n s p e c t o r , l o o k i n g i n t o his s t e a m i n g c u p , " b u t a t least i t s m e l l s l i k e c o f f e e . " W e l e a r n e d the i m p o r t a n c e o f a . m . coffee f r o m a fish b o a t s k i p p e r . He w a s a b u l k y , f r i g h t e n i n g m a n w i t h a n o s e like a tugboat's b o w p u d d i n g , designed to absorb many heavy impacts. Daunting a t t h e b e s t o f t i m e s , i n the m o r n i n g s b e f o r e h i s c u p p a , he w o u l d have made E d w a r d T e a c h quail. H e m a d e his coffee s c h o o n e r - s t y l e , filling the pot w i t h b o i l i n g w a t e r a n d d u m p i n g i n s e v e r a l heaping tablespoons of coarse grounds. W h e n t h e y s a n k t o the b o t t o m , coffee w a s r e a d y . W h i l e h e w a s w a t c h i n g the g r o u n d s s i n k , B o r t h (for t h a t was this w o r t h y ' s name) w o u l d carry on a dyspeptic monologue. " E a r l y i n the m o r n i n g i t w o u l d s u r e b e n i c e t o b e A t t i l a the H u n , o r C a l i g u l a , o r e v e n J o s e f S t a l i n , " he w o u l d intone, in a voice like D e a t h eating a c r a c k e r . " T h e n w h e n y o u felt l i k e t h i s , y o u c o u l d h a v e l o t s o f h e l p l e s s p e o p l e k i l l e d u n t i l y o u felt better." E m m a n u e l K a n t , the G e r m a n philosopher a n d a u t h o r of The Critique of Pure Reason, m u s t h a v e felt a little the s a m e w a y . H i s c o n t r i b u t i o n t o J a v i ¬ a n i a w a s t h a t " I n H e a v e n t h e r e i s n o coffee, a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y n o w a i t i n g for i t . " M i l d a s t h a t m i g h t s o u n d a t first r e a d i n g , t h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g i n t h a t p h r a s e that e c h o e s a T e u t o n i c s h r i e k d i r e c t e d at a
tardy housemaid. N o d i s c u s s i o n o f Java w o u l d b e c o m p l e t e w i t h o u t c o n s i d e r i n g t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n l o v e o f the beverage. People a s s u m e that b e c a u s e the majority o f S e a t t l e ' s c o m m e r c i a l f i s h i n g fleet a r e S c a n d i n a v i a n s , S c a n d i n a v i a n s live o n f i s h . T h a t ' s a s logic a l a s a s s u m i n g that b e c a u s e y o u a l w a y s see c o w s a n d c o w b o y s t o g e t h e r , c o w s live o n c o w b o y s . A c t u a l l y , S c a n d i n a v i a n s w e r e s e a r c h i n g for coffee a n d just s o r t a s t u m b l e d o n fish a l o n g the w a y . S c h o l a r s h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t the G r e a t S c a n d i n a v i a n E x p a n s i o n , the f l o o d o f V i k i n g s t h a t c h a n g e d the g e n e t i c m a k e u p o f E u r o p e , w a s a c t u ally a s e a r c h for a c u p of coffee. W h e n the S c a n d i n a v i a n G u a r d o f the last e m p e r o r o f B y z a n t i u m d i e d in the fall of C o n s t a n t i n o p l e , it w a s b e c a u s e they'd been led into that hot, u n - S c a n d i n a v i a n c o u n t r y b y r u m o r s o f T u r k i s h coffee. W h e n L i e f the L u c k y h e a d e d w e s t , i t w a s n ' t t o find V i n l a n d b u t t o s e a r c h for J u a n V a l d e z o r h i s f o r e b e a r s , b u s y i n C o l o m b i a ' s coffee fields. T h o u g h t h e y d i d n ' t k n o w w h a t coffee w a s , w h a t i t t a s t e d l i k e , o r w h y t h e y w a n t e d it, t h e y e a r n i n g w a s t h e r e . C o r w i n , a friend of o u r s , spent part of o n e s u m m e r as an apprentice fisherman aboard a N o r w e g i a n halibut s c h o o n e r . It is the c u s t o m in this h a r d - b i t t e n f i s h e r y t o set o u t t h e l o n g b o t t o m l i n e s , c a l l e d s k a t e s , a n d w h e n t h e y ' r e all a w a y , t o " j o g " for a few h o u r s a n d g i v e t h e fish a c h a n c e to bite. D u r i n g t h e j o g , the e x p e r i e n c e d c r e w m e n g o below and nap. T h e apprentice stays on deck, k e e p i n g a l o o k o u t a n d c h o p p i n g bait. A f t e r a b o u t four h o u r s , it's his t a s k t o w a k e t h e c r e w . T r a d i t i o n h a s e s t a b l i s h e d that the b e s t w a y t o d o this i s by t a k i n g a large p o t of e x c e e d i n g l y s t r o n g coffee a n d p u t t i n g it on the b a r r e l s t o v e in t h e f o ' c ' s l e . It was an unnerving experience. " T h e y ' r e a l l l a y i n g t h e r e fully d r e s s e d , o n t h e i r b a c k s , w i t h their a r m s c r o s s e d o n t h e i r c h e s t s , " C o r w i n r e p o r t e d . " T h e b u n k s a r e all s e a b u n k s , d e e p a n d n a r r o w , s o t h e y d o n ' t get t h r o w n t o t h e d e c k e v e r y t i m e the s h i p r o l l s . A s the coffee a r o m a fills the t i n y s p a c e , the c r e w sits u p , o n e b y o n e , a n d gets o u t o f t h e i r b u n k s . O n e b y o n e , t h e y file b y t h e p o t , p o u r a c u p , a n d g o o n d e c k w i t h o u t a w o r d . R i s i n g silently out of their coffinlike berths i t w a s t o o m u c h like t h e L a s t J u d g e m e n t . I felt l i k e the A n c i e n t M a r i n e r i n t h e C o l e r i d g e p o e m : " T h e y g r o a n e d , t h e y s t i r r e d , t h e y all u p r o s e . N o r s p a k e , n o r m o v e d their eyes; It had been strange, even in d r e a m , To see those dead m e n r i s e . . . " S o u n s e t t l i n g w a s t h e sight t h a t C o r w i n j u m p e d ship in A d a k a n d took up hog farming in Iowa, as far a s h e c o u l d get f r o m the N o r t h P a c i f i c . W h i l e the m i r a c l e o f the coffee b o t h e r e d o u r f r i e n d , it w a s the s a l v a t i o n of the B j o r g e n s o n s , just d o w n the s t r e e t f r o m w h e r e w e u s e d t o live a s a b o y . L a r s h a d b e e n feeling p o o r l y a n d t h o u g h Inge had been relentlessly c o o k i n g everything from lefse to lutefisk in h o p e s of a c u r e , he s l i p p e d i n t o a decline. T h e n o n e night, peacefully, he drifted a w a y . Inge c a l l e d the d o c t o r w h o c a m e i n a n d s i g n e d the d e a t h c e r t i f i c a t e . S h e c a l l e d t h e Lutheran minister and made arrangements. S h e called a select g r o u p of neighbors, her relatives, and the i n s u r a n c e c o m p a n y . W h e n e v e r y o n e h a d p a i d t h e i r last r e s p e c t s a n d h a d left, s h e p u t a b i g p o t o f coffee o n t h e s t o v e a n d s a t i n t h e k i t c h e n n o o k s t a r i n g o u t the w i n d o w at the r o b i n s a n d w o n d e r i n g if she s h o u l d b u y n e w o i l c l o t h for t h e k i t c h e n table. A b o u t five m i n u t e s later, L a r s w a l k e d u p c a r r y i n g t w o s t e a m i n g c u p s , sat d o w n , a n d p u s h e d o n e a c r o s s t h e table to h e r . T h e y ' v e lived e v e r s i n c e o n the a n n u i t y f r o m his life i n s u r a n c e , s i n c e t h e y h a v e a b u n d a n t p r o o f that h e w a s c o m p l e t e l y d e a d . — Chas. Dowd •
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S A M DEVLIN BUILDS B O A T S - BUILDS A N D BUILDS BOATS AND BOATS S a m D e v l i n h a s built s o m e 270 w o o d e n boats i n the last eight y e a r s . H e ' s not s u r e , b u t h e t h i n k s he's designed b e t w e e n 30 a n d 40 boats d u r i n g the s a m e p e r i o d . H e i s s u r e that h e ' s n e v e r b u i l t a d e s i g n that w a s n ' t h i s o w n . A n d a l l t h a t b u i l d i n g has p r o v i d e d s t e a d y w o r k for a full-time set of a s s i s t a n t s . I n the f e a s t - o r - f a m i n e , u p - a n d - d o w n world of wooden boatbuilders, S a m ' s record is o n e for G u i n n e s s . H e a t t r i b u t e s p a r t o f i t t o his m e t h o d a n d part of it to the unique market niche that m e t h o d h e l p s h i m fill. S a m is a stitch-and-glue or "taped s e a m " b u i l d e r . S i m p l i c i t y itself, s t i t c h - a n d - g l u e r e q u i r e s no moulds or setup. There are no complex comp o u n d c u r v e s . If a s t e m p i e c e n e e d s a c u r v e , it's a matter of laminating, but S a m doesn't have a steam box. Explaining h o w stitch-and-glue w o r k s , Devlin likes to use the analogy of building an orange. T h e r e a r e four w a y s t o b u i l d a n o r a n g e , h e s a y s . " I n p l a n k - o n - f r a m e t h e y ' d b e n d b o w s i n t o the s h a p e o f a n o r a n g e a n d h a n g a s k i n o n t h e m all m a d e o f little p i e c e s o f c a r e f u l l y - s h a p e d w o o d . C o l d - m o u l d e d they'd do it essentially like plankon-frame e x c e p t instead of m a k i n g a b a s k e t of w o o d that b e c a m e p a r t o f the o r a n g e t h e y ' d u s e a d i s p o s a b l e set o f o r a n g e - s h a p e d m o u l d s a n d b o n d several thin layers of w o o d o v e r one another to m a k e the s k i n . In fiberglass, they'd m a k e a m o u l d that w a s a n i d e n t i c a l r e p l i c a o f a n o r a n g e a n d pour in a p l a s t i c material a n d m a k e a s k i n of that a n d i t w o u l d n ' t m a t t e r w h a t t h e y p u t o n the i n s i d e of it. "In stitch-and-glue we'd take an orange a n d peel it. T h e n w e ' d t a k e t h e p e e l i n p i e c e s o r i n o n e l o n g s t r i n g a n d lay i t o u t flat. T h o s e w o u l d b e t h e panel projections. W e ' d cut them out of plywood a n d s e w t h e m t o g e t h e r w i t h little w i r e ties t o h o l d t h e m i n p l a c e . W e ' d drill p a i r s o f m a t c h i n g h o l e s i n the e d g e s a n d t a k e s o m e m i l d s t e e l w i r e a n d s t i c k it t h r o u g h the h o l e s a n d twist it tight w i t h a p a i r of p l i e r s . T h e n w e ' d m i x e p o x y a n d w o o d flour a n d m a k e a p a s t e a n d m a k e a fillet on the i n s i d e of the s e a m . W h e n i t w a s d r y , w e ' d heat the w i r e e n d s with a propane torch until they glowed red. S i n c e it's m i l d s t e e l , t h e w h o l e w i r e g e t s hot v e r y r a p i d l y . T h e n w e ' d just r o c k the d y k e s a n d the w i r e w o u l d s l i d e o u t easily. " W e ' d tape the outside of the joint. In our boats we s h e a t h the entire boat w i t h glass c l o t h a n d e p o x y resin with e x t r a cloth on high wear areas a n d o n the j o i n t s . . . h i g h s t r e s s a r e a s . " T h e r e a r e n ' t a n y m o u l d s . C u t p r o p e r l y , t h e flat p a t t e r n s take their p r o p e r shape w h e n they're held in c o n tact w i t h o n e a n o t h e r . A n d o n c e t h e y ' v e b e e n e p o x i e d a n d taped, there's no break in the strength of the s t r u c t u r e . S a m i s a n a d v o c a t e o f r e m o v i n g t h e w i r e ties. H e s a y s t h a t e v e n t h o u g h t h e Mirror d i n g h y , the first s t i t c h - a n d - g l u e d e s i g n , left the w i r e in t r i m m e d close. " W h a t we've f o u n d is that over the y e a r s as t h e b o a t w o r k s a bit — all b o a t s do — that the m e t a l begins to c l i m b out. R a t h e r t h a n h a v e t h a t , w e p u l l i t o u t . T h e ties a r e o n l y a c l a m p , nothing more." O u t s i d e the s h o p , o n e o f S a m ' s d u c k b o a t s w a s in for a r e p a i r , " a b o u t as c l a s s i c a t a p e d - s e a m as y o u c a n g e t , " h e s a i d . I n s i d e , a l l o f the e d g e s m e t w i t h a u n i f o r m , n e a t l y m a d e fillet. T h e r e w a s n o u n e v e n n e s s , n o s i g n o f a d d i t i o n a l t h i c k n e s s a t the tidy, well-finished joints, no evidence of a n y t h i n g o t h e r t h a n the h i g h e s t c o n s t r u c t i o n s t a n d a r d s . A n d n o fastenings. S a m s h o w e d u s the d a m a g e t o the e n g i n e w e l l where the owner, an oyster farmer, had m a n a g e d t o w e d g e a d e a d h e a d b e t w e e n o n e s i d e a n d the
o u t b o a r d . O t h e r w i s e the b o a t s h o w e d v i r t u a l l y n o s i g n s of w e a r . It h a d b e e n u s e d h e a v i l y , left to g r o u n d o u t t w i c e a d a y o n the o y s t e r flat, a n d g e n e r a l l y t r e a t e d l i k e a w o r k b o a t for five y e a r s . T h a t excellent market niche Besides being a good example of taped seam building, the d u c k boats are a g o o d e x a m p l e of Sam's market. O n c e a hunter, S a m understands a d u c k hunter's requirements. "These d u c k boats get u s e d o n d a y s that n o n o r m a l y a c h t s m a n w o u l d t h i n k o f g o i n g o u t o n the w a t e r , " h e c l a i m s , t h u m p i n g o n the boat's solid deck. " A g o o d d u c k h u n t i n g d a y i s w h e n it's b l o w i n g 35-40 o u t a n d it's a b o u t 20°." B e s i d e s b e i n g w i d e for s t a b i l i t y a n d d e c k e d for d r y n e s s , the b o a t s h a v e l o t s o f little e y e s a l l o v e r t o f a s t e n c a m o u f l a g e to. S a m m a k e s fake r e e d s b y l o o p i n g s t r a n d s b e t w e e n h i s h a n d y tie-offs. T h e r e ' s r o o m for the faithful d o g . L a s t year S a m shipped two d u c k boats to N e w Y o r k , two to O r e g o n , two to O k l a h o m a , a n d one each to Vermont, Minnesota, Texas, and Utah. T h e s e hunting boats are highly specialized, a n d S a m m a k e s s e v e r a l different v e r s i o n s . H e t h i n k s that h i s a b i l i t y t o v a r y h i s d e s i g n s t o m e e t s p e c i f i c c u s t o m e r n e e d s i s w h a t m o s t b u y e r s h o p e for i n a w o o d e n boat. Y e t his e c o n o m i c a l b u i l d i n g techn i q u e m e a n s he doesn't price himself out of a group without e n o u g h c a s h to finance plank-onframe. " I s o m e t i m e s refer t o t h e m a s the e x - B a y l i n e r p e o p l e , " S a m s a y s . " I ' m not g o i n g t o s a y a n y t h i n g u n k i n d a b o u t B a y l i n e r s . T h e y give a lot of f o l k s a
c h a n c e t o s e e h o w t h e y feel a b o u t b o a t i n g . I f t h e y ' r e g o i n g t o get s e r i o u s , it's n o t g o i n g t o t a k e t h e m l o n g b e f o r e t h e y ' r e g o i n g t o w a n t a different b o a t . " By p r o v i d i n g a c u s t o m boat at less than c u s t o m prices, S a m is the next logical step. A g o o d e x a m p l e is the " r e t i r e e ' s b o a t . " A little o u t b o a r d - p o w e r e d c a b i n c r u i s e r , the boat r e p r e s e n t s a w h o l e life s t y l e S a m f o u n d . " T h e k i d s h a v e
m o v e d a w a y a n d M o m a n d D a d live i n a c o n d o m i n i u m . T h e y ' v e a big S u b u r b a n , so they trailer this boat d o w n to the s o u t h in the winter a n d c r u i s e the I n t e r c o a s t a l W a t e r w a y . T h e y meet l o t s o f o t h e r r e t i r e e s d o i n g the s a m e t h i n g . T h e y d o n ' t n e e d l o t s o f s t o r a g e s i n c e the n e x t m a r i n a w i t h s h o w e r s , l a u n d r y , a n d f r e s h f o o d i s j u s t a few h o u r s away. In the s p r i n g , they trailer the boat back up here. T h e y haven't h a d to w o r r y about the lawn o r the garden going w i l d . " A n d S a m says retirees are g o o d c u s t o m e r s . T h e y k n o w what they want. T h e y u n d e r s t a n d quality w o r k a n d are p a t i e n t e n o u g h t o w a i t w h i l e t h e y get it. W h e n t h e y ' r e p l e a s e d , t h e y tell t h e i r f r i e n d s . L o o k i n g through the D e v l i n designs, either in h i s office o r i n h i s e x c e l l e n t d e s i g n c a t a l o g , w e w e r e s t r u c k b y the v a r i e t y , the v e r y g o o d c h a n c e that " j u s t the right b o a t " w a s o n t h e n e x t p a g e . S a m s a y s that s i n c e t h e y ' r e r e a l l y all " o n e - o f f s " it's easy to modify a n d rethink a design into precisely w h a t ' s n e e d e d . I n fact, m a n y o f h i s d e s i g n s h a v e b e e n the r e s u l t o f j u s t that k i n d o f e v o l u t i o n . C h a s i n g the b u s i n e s s A n d y e s , that w a s n ' t a figure o f s p e e c h . . . S a m does indeed publish a very g o o d design catalog. ( S e n d $ 5 . 0 0 t o h i m a t 2431 G r a v e l l y B e a c h L o o p #1, O l y m p i a , W A 98502.) S a m sells i n d i v i d u a l d e s i g n s for s t i t c h - a n d - g l u e a s w e l l a s s e l l i n g b o a t s . He will also teach y o u the r u d i m e n t s of the technique if y o u want to build y o u r o w n . T h e secret to s u c c e s s , says S a m , is selling e v e r y t h i n g . It's a l s o m a k i n g s u r e the m o n e y i s available w h e n s o m e b o d y w a n t s t o buy. W h e n h e first b e g a n h i s s h o p , S a m h a d e v e r y e n t r e preneur's view of b a n k e r s . It didn't take h i m long to figure o u t that e v e n if t h e y ' r e not g o i n g to l o a n h i m m o n e y directly, they are going to loan m o n e y t o the p e o p l e w h o a r e g o i n g t o use i t t o b u y b o a t s . N o w a d a y s S a m has a little p r e s e n t a t i o n for b a n k e r s that t a l k s a b o u t v a l u e a n d c r a f t s m a n s h i p i n w o o d e n b o a t s , w h a t ' s a g o o d bet t o f i n a n c e , a n d t h e g l o r i e s o f s t i t c h a n d glue a n d g o o d m a r i n e plywood. A s for t h e f u t u r e o f h i s d e s i g n s , S a m s a y s h e ' s w o r k i n g o n s o m e l a r g e r m u l t i - c h i n e b o a t s that h e h o p e s w i l l g o b e y o n d t h e 30-foot limit w h e r e s i n gle-chine v e r s i o n s l o o k "awful c l u n k y a n d slabs i d e d . " F o r t h e f u t u r e o f b o a t b u i l d i n g h e offers the w r y d i c t u m that i f " y o u ' r e d o i n g o k a y , y o u ' l l b e here next year." "I have a heritage of being self-employed. A l l my family h a v e t h e i r o w n b u s i n e s s e s . D a d n e v e r d i d have a n y b o d y else's p a y c h e c k . I didn't ever see h i m l e a v e for a nine-to-five. J e e z L o u i s e , I've got a very special thing going on here. W h o k n o w s h o w l o n g it w i l l l a s t . " — Chas Dowd
5
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HARTSTENE
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W h e n I left the n a v a l s e r v i c e a n d r e t u r n e d , w i t h m y wife a n d d a u g h t e r , t o the P a c i f i c N o r t h w e s t a d o z e n or so years ago, we c a m e with the idea of a c q u i r i n g a B r i s t o l boat or its c l o s e a n c e s t o r , a C o l u m b i a River boat a n d with an a p p r e c i a t i o n of the l u g r i g . I n the last y e a r s o f m y n a v a l c a r e e r , w e h a d l i v e d o n the C h e s a p e a k e . Influenced b y T o m C o l v i n a n d a B r i t i s h friend w i t h a lug-rigged B r i t i s h d i n g h y , we h a d r i g g e d a 25-foot s k i p j a c k w i t h a s t a n d i n g l u g r i g , a n d h a d fallen i n l o v e w i t h the rig. W e h o p e d t o f i n d a n u n a l t e r e d h u l l w i t h the c e n t e r b o a r d c a s e still in it, but s e t t l e d for a c o n v e r t e d b o a t w i t h a single big gaff m a i n s a i l , a l o n g s h a l l o w k e e l m a d e f r o m a 10-inch " I " b e a m , a n d a reasonably small cabin up forward. O u r b o a t . Optimist, w e n t t h r o u g h a v a r i e t y o f e v o l u t i o n s o f her r i g a s w e r e s p o n d e d t o the c a l l s of two gods: " F a s t e r " a n d " H a n d l e Easily." T h e annual Bristol boat races provided incentive to go faster, t h o u g h o p e r a t i o n b y s a i l a n d o a r a l o n e a l s o p r o v i d e d i n c e n t i v e for m o r e s a i l a n d l e s s o a r . T h e boat was almost always sailed s h o r t - h a n d e d a n d f r e q u e n t l y s i n g l e - h a n d e d . It w a s i m p o r t a n t , f r o m a c r u i s i n g s t a n d p o i n t , that s a i l c h a n g e s c o u l d b e m a d e easily a n d quickly. T h e boat evolved from cat boat to sloop, to s l o o p w i t h j a c k y a r d t o p s a i l , t o y a w l w i t h gaff tops a i l a n d s t a n d i n g l u g m i z z e n . Optimist w e n t faster a s t h e s a i l a r e a w a s i n c r e a s e d . L a z y j a c k s , the split r i g a n d k i t e s that w o u l d c o m e i n p a i d h o m a g e t o the " H a n d l e E a s i l y " g o d . W e h a d the gaff rig a n d b e c a m e s o i n v o l v e d w i t h i t that w e p r e t t y m u c h forgot a b o u t the l u g . Last M a y , the m a i n m a s t went over the side in a B e a u f o r t eight b r e e z e in C a s e Inlet. It w a s t i m e for the l u g . W e w a n t e d a t w o - m a s t e d r i g , not o n l y b e c a u s e it w o u l d p r o v i d e a l o w e r c e n t e r of effort, t h o u g h that i s a n a d v a n t a g e w i t h a n a l m o s t n o ballast b o a t , b u t b e c a u s e i t offers s o m a n y a d v a n t a g e s i n h a n d l i n g the b o a t . T h i s h a d b e e n b r o u g h t h o m e t o me by a c o u p l e of small sharpie s c h o o n e r s I h a d o w n e d , a n d m o r e recently by a cruise in a schoon e r - r i g g e d B r i s t o l b o a t . T h e m a s t s o f that little s c h o o n e r w e r e s h o r t e n o u g h a n d light e n o u g h that a m a n c o u l d r a i s e a n d l o w e r t h e m , i f n e e d b e , w i t h o u t the a i d o f s h o r e facilities, a n d t h e y c o u l d stand without s h r o u d s o r stays. Y o u s e l d o m had t o reef, a s y o u c o u l d s h o r t e n sail b y just d r o p p i n g w h o l e sails. We r i g g e d her first w i t h t h e l a r g e r s a i l aft, as a s c h o o n e r d o e s . A s p r i t w a s r e q u i r e d s o that t h e mainsail c o u l d be properly sheeted. After a cruise t o the S a n J u a n s w i t h this r i g , w e c h a n g e d t h e sails a b o u t , s e t t i n g t h e l a r g e r s a i l a s a d i p p i n g l u g o n t h e f o r e m a s t . T h i s last e v o l u t i o n got r i d o f w h a t p r o b l e m s there were w i t h the sprit, a n d p r o v i d e d a d e e p o v e r l a p t o m a k e h e r g o o n the w i n d .
" V " IS FOR V O L U N T E E R S B e h i n d a n y m u s e u m that has living e x h i b i t s is an army of bright, creative enthusiastic volunt e e r s . A z o o w o u l d b e i n d e e p t r o u b l e w i t h o u t its cage-cleaning volunteers. T h e A q u a r i u m volunteers h o s t t h e f e e l y - t o u c h y t a n k s for t h e p u b l i c . I n o u r c a s e , the H e r c u l e a n t a s k s o f p u m p i n g , c l e a n i n g , r e p a i r i n g , p a i n t i n g the b o a t s ; fix u p , c l e a n u p o n t h e s i t e ; a n d t a l k i n g , t y p i n g a n d filing i n the office a r e m a i n l y h a n d l e d b y the finest k i n d o f people, o u r volunteers. H e r e are s o m e e x a m p l e s of C W B ' s heros and heroines: • T h o s e w h o rent o u r boats o w e m u c h of their h a p p y e x p e r i e n c e t o the u n f l a p p a b l e Horace Ingram, w h o s e t s t h e s a i l s , s h o v e s off, a n d alw a y s h a s a l a n d i n g s p o t r e a d y for the r e t u r n i n g boat. • T h i s s u m m e r o u r S a i l i n g I n s t r u c t o r w a s Blake Lewis, g i v i n g o u r fast a n d effective o n e - o n - o n e p r o g r a m , w h e r e a t o t a l s t r a n g e r t o sail i s r e a d y to s o l o in a b o u t 4 h o u r s . • T h e least a t t r a c t i v e p a r t o f C W B h a s b e e n t h e little cliff o f b r o k e n c o n c r e t e a n d b l a c k b e r r y bushes separating water a n d upland. To soften this r a w , ugly e d g e r e q u i r e d a n e x p e r t e n g i n e e r a n d m o u n t a i n climber. T w o retired ladies, Nona Sullivan a n d h e r s i s t e r , Helen Lang, t o o k on this formidable task and have m a d e a marv e l o u s s t a r t i n t r a n s f o r m i n g the b a n k f r o m a desolate s c a r to a green oasis. • T h e t e l e p h o n e , 1st l i n e of i n f o r m a t i o n for the C e n t e r , this s u m m e r w a s h a n d l e d w i t h c o o l s k i l l b y Catherine Wilson, o u r " w u n d e r k i n d " w h o just t u r n e d 16. • W h o i s the m a n w i t h the w h e e l b a r r o w , c h a i n saw or pick and shovel, keeping our d o c k s and u p l a n d s c l e a n ? It's David Erskine, C W B ' s r e d headed tornado.
CHRISTMAS SHIP CELEBRATION AT CHANDLER'S C O V E W E D N E S D A Y , D E C E M B E R 16th 5:30 t o 7:30 p m At H e n r y Pier at C h a n d l e r ' s C o v e , s o u t h e n d of L a k e U n i o n o n the w a t e r i n front o f B e n j a m i n ' s . V i s i t a t i o n of C h r i s t m a s S h i p S p i r i t of Seattle, w i t h p a r a d e o f b o a t s a t 6:00 p . m . It's a p a r t y ! O p e n to the p u b l i c . T h e Spirit of Seattle w i l l b e a b l e t o d o c k a t H e n r y P i e r , a l l o w i n g f a n t a s t i c v i e w i n g a n d l i s t e n i n g for the p e r f o r m ance by Northwest Girls Choir. H o s t e d by tenants of H e n r y Pier: Benjamin's, L a k e U n i o n ; Burger K i n g , Fairview & Valley Streets; C h a n d l e r ' s C o v e Associates; Rafn C o n s t r u c t i o n . R e f r e s h m e n t s c o m p l i m e n t s of: B e n j a m i n ' s . L a k e U n i o n (hot s p i c e d c i d e r a n d C h r i s t m a s c o o k i e s ) ; B u r g e r K i n g (apples a n d c a n d y canes). M u s i c a l entertainment o n H e n r y Pier: T h i r d grade c h o i r , J o h n H a y E l e m e n t a r y S c h o o l ; Instrumental group, Hamilton Middle S c h o o l ; Chorale, Roosevelt High School. B o n f i r e for w a r m t h & a m b i a n c e . S a n t a a r r i v e s a t 5:30 p . m . ; t a k e f a m i l y p h o t o s w i t h the jolly o l d gent. B r i n g your umbrella, in case it rains. There's a m p l e p a r k i n g a t the C e n t r a l P a r k i n g l o t s o n t h e s o u t h s i d e o f V a l l e y S t . a n d the lot t o the east a n d north of Evergreen Wholesale Florists.
Bill Van V l a c k m i n d s o u r m o n t h l y f i n a n c i a l rep o r t s o n C W B ' s c o m p u t e r . W e give B i l l a sheaf of c h i c k e n scratchings every m o n t h a n d the
n e x t m o r n i n g , s l i p p e d u n d e r the b o a t h o u s e d o o r , a r e o r d e r l y c o l u m n s o f i n c o m e a n d expenses. • John Lowe d o e s o u r q u a r t e r l y r e p o r t s for I R S , State Depts. of Revenue a n d Dept. of L a b o r a n d I n d u s t r i e s . T h e s e i n v o l v e t h e s o r t o f statistics that o n l y an a c c o u n t a n t loves, a n d we are d e e p l y t h a n k f u l for J o h n ' s l i m i t l e s s thirst for o u r statistics. J o h n also expertly c o m p o s e s o u r m o s t v a l u a b l e y e a r l y r e v i e w o f a s s e t s a n d liabilities. It w o u l d be a b o o k of h o r r o r s for n o r m a l humans. O u r small a r m y of dedicated volunteers, giving their t i m e a n d t a l e n t s , m a k e s o u r d r e a m s b e c o m e reality. — Dick Wagner •
square-rigged with a balanced helm a n d no d a n g e r o f a g y b e . T h e l o o s e - f o o t e d sails c a n b e b r a i l e d t o the m a s t , m a k i n g the s e t t i n g a n d f u r l i n g
o f the sails far q u i c k e r a n d s i m p l e r t h a n w i t h b o o m e d rigs. — John Erickson •
T h e C e n t e r also has a c o r p s of invisible volunt e e r s . L i k e the t o o t h fairy, t h e y l e a v e g o o d i e s for us while we are asleep. • Barney Abrams, a r e t i r e d s a i l m a k e r , fixes o u r t o r n sails a n d m a k e s n e w o n e s i n h i s b a s e m e n t " h o b b y " loft. T h e latest f r o m B a r n e y i s a n e w set o f sails for o u r H a m p t o n O n e D e s i g n , r e p l a c i n g a v e r y t i r e d , b u t u s a b l e m a i n a n d jib w h i c h B a r n e y h a d o r i g i n a l l y m a d e for the b o a t 40 years ago. •
T a c k i n g a boat with an overlapping, d i p p i n g lug f o r e s a i l (or is it a m a i n s a i l ) s o u n d s difficult. T h e r i g i s c e r t a i n l y not s e l f - t e n d i n g ; b u t , o n the o t h e r h a n d , the m a n e u v e r i s n o w h e r e n e a r l y a s c o m p l i c a t e d as t a c k i n g a b o a t t h a t is flying a b i g g e n o a . If the b o a r d s are s h o r t , she c a n be sailed witho u t d i p p i n g t h e l u g . D i p p i n g the h i g h - p e a k e d lugs is not difficult. I f r e q u e n t l y sail the b o a t singleh a n d e d a n d , w h i l e 1 a m b u s y w h e n the b o a r d s a r e s h o r t , the j o b g e t s d o n e . I f i n d the l u g r i g sails the b o a t as w e l l or b e t t e r than o t h e r rigs. It r e q u i r e s m o r e attention in tacki n g t h a n m o s t r i g s , b u t not s o m u c h a s t o b e p r o h i b i t i v e . I t a l l o w s the u s e o f s h o r t e r m a s t s a n d l e s s , a l m o s t n o , s t a n d i n g rigging. O f f the w i n d , t h e t a c k s c a n b e l e d a c r o s s the b o a t , m a k i n g h e r
6
CALENDAR OF
EVENTS
Monthly Meetings in the Boatshop F r i d a y , D e c e m b e r 18, 1987 C W B Monthly Meeting 8 p.m., C W B B o a t s h o p C h r i s t m a s O p e n H o u s e — refreshments, good cheer, good friends, good c o m p a n y . S t o p by a n d say hello! F r i d a y , J a n u a r y 15, 1988 C W B Monthly Meeting 8 p.m., C W B B o a t s h o p B o b M c N e i l w i l l give a film talk o n a s a i l p a s s a g e he m a d e f r o m S a u s a l i t o to S e a t t l e in a 50-foot cutter.
1/2
G R E A T BARGAINS F R O M T H E C W B LOCKERS!!! We're cleaning house and want to get rid of the following items. A n y offer accepted. Call 382-2628. or just come on down and check them out. Items marked " p a r t s " are probably not repairable. Everything "as is." 4" Jig Saw, 18" clearance. Sears, Roebuck — for parts 4" Jig Saw, 18" clearance. Sears. Roebuck — needs motor Elgin T w i n Outboard motor Evinrude 2 5 H P SN2501 41731 — thought repairable Montgomery Wards, electric start " S e a K i n g " 3 5 H P — repairable Johnson T w i n , 3 H P (?) — parts only H o n d a 10HP 4-cycle T w i n — runs great 3-gal. OB motor (Honda) fuel can w/hose and tool kit
2- cyl. water-cooled inboard — parts Remote control outboard engine throttle unit — F r i d a y , F e b r u a r y 19, 1988 thought to operate C W B Monthly Meeting Briggs and Stratton powered 40 amp. 12V auxiliary 8 p.m., C W B B o a t s h o p generator. rigged for water cooling and remote start ing — runs O n e o f the p r e m i e r h i s t o r i a n s o f W e s t C o a s t 6 gal. outboard motor plastic fuel tank, no hoses m a r i t i m e h i s t o r y . C a p t . H a r o l d H u y c k e . will g i v e a T w o 6-gal. OB motor steel fuel cans w/hoses talk a b o u t i n t e r e s t i n g v o y a g e s , v e s s e l s , a n d the T w o 5-gal. plastic gas containers colorful character involved. 13-gal. steel fuel tank (fix mounted) 3- gal. fixed-type steel fuel tank F r i d a y , M a r c h 18, 1988 Hydraulic pump w/reserve tank, power steering C W B Monthly Meeting type — parts F r a m oil filter canister type 8 p.m., C W B B o a t s h o p Autolite generator. 30 amp. 12V gear drive - parts P a u l F o r d w i l l g i v e a s l i d e talk o n his e x p l o r a t i o n Autolite starter, 12V - parts of L a k e P o w e l l by houseboat a n d k a y a k — boatHP Electric Motor, capacitor type — parts i n g a m o n g the m o u n t a i n s .
BOARD OF TRUSTEES T h o s e e l e c t e d b y the m e m b e r s h i p o n N o v . 1 1 t o s e r v e a 2-year t e r m a s m e m b e r s o f o u r B o a r d o f Trustees: Corrine Anderson, D a n Hinckley, Blake Lewis, Steve Nogal, T o m Parker, B o b Pickett a n d Bill V a n V l a c k . T h e T r u s t e e s c u r r e n t l y c o m p l e t i n g the s e c o n d year of their t e r m are: J o h n Black, Archie C o n n , Caren Crandell, A l i Fujino, Rick H e n d o n and A n d y Wichert. A t their first m e e t i n g o f N o v . 18, t h e T r u s t e e s e l e c t e d t h e s e o f f i c e r s o f t h e C e n t e r , for a o n e y e a r period: President: D a n Hinckley Secretary: Ali Fujino Treasurer: Bill V a n V l a c k
C W B MEMBERSHIP If y o u r m e m b e r s h i p is a b o u t to expire (see d a t e o f e x p i r a t i o n o n y o u r m a i l i n g label), please renew s o o n ! T h e annual membership dues are as follows: Student Senior Citizen $ 10.00 Individual 20.00 Family 30.00 Contributing 75.00 Benefactor 150.00 Sustaining 500.00
Dear Santa, M a n y thanks to you for all the wonderful gifts we've received all year long. There are a few things we need down here at the Center, though, and sure would like it if you'd consider any of these items for a special Christmas gift: A fiberglass (lightweight) dock carl Bilge pumps (indestructible) Desk-top copy machine 35 m m . camera 15-20HP outboard motor in good condition Carousel slide projector 16 mm. film projector Squaredrive screwdrivers Measuring tapes Drill bits Circular saw C h a i n saw Binoculars Pliers, vise grip, and crescent wrenches Smooth sailing, happy flying and good tidings to you from the crew at C W B .
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WIND A N D S H O R E " M a n y people who have taken our Power and Sail S q u a d r o n Seamanship-Sail e x a m d o not k n o w w h i c h i s a lee s h o r e a n d w h i c h i s t h e w i n d ward one as seen from a boat," reports J o h n M o r a n , a frequent C a n a d i a n c o n t r i b u t o r to S H A V I N G S . " A n A m e r i c a n c a n o e i n g text further c o m p o u n d s t h e c o n f u s i o n b y s t a t i n g t h a t , for safety i n r o u g h g o i n g , ' k e e p n e a r t h e lee s h o r e ' . " T o clarify t h e t e r m s o n c e a n d for a l l , J o h n s e n t us this e x p l a n a t i o n : " T h e r e a r e t w o p o i n t s o f v i e w for n a m i n g t h e shore in relation to the w i n d . F r o m the point of v i e w o f a p e r s o n o n the s h o r e , s a y a n i s l a n d , t h e s i d e first s t r u c k b y t h e w i n d i s the w i n d w a r d s i d e a n d the o t h e r is the l e e w a r d side. T h e w a t e r will b e r o u g h e r o n the w i n d w a r d s i d e t h a n i t i s o n t h e leeward side. " T h e t e r m i n o l o g y r e v e r s e s for a p e r s o n o n a boat. If the w i n d b l o w s t o w a r d s the s h o r e from a b o a t , t h a t s h o r e i s r e f e r r e d t o a s a lee s h o r e b e c a u s e i t lies o n t h e l e e w a r d s i d e o f t h e b o a t . S i m i l a r l y i f t h e w i n d b l o w s f r o m the s h o r e t o w a r d s t h e b o a t t h a t s h o r e i s c a l l e d the w i n d w a r d s h o r e b e c a u s e it lies to w i n d w a r d of t h e b o a t . A lee s h o r e i s the o n e o n t o w h i c h a b o a t w i t h o u t a n y m e a n s of p r o p u l s i o n will be d r i v e n by the w i n d . T h i s i s t h e r e a s o n for t h e i n f a m y o f t h e w e s t c o a s t of V a n c o u v e r Island. Vessels s e e k i n g the entrance to the Strait of J u a n de F u c a were often unsure of their positions a n d s o m e sighted land to l e e w a r d t o o late t o a v o i d t h e o u t l y i n g reefs a n d b r e a k e r s . T h e d a n g e r o u s lee s h o r e c l a i m e d a n o t h e r v i c t i m . A w i n d b l o w i n g parallel to a s h o r e w o u l d r e n d e r the t e r m s w i n d w a r d a n d l e e w a r d shores meaningless."
With the wind "W" blowing as shown, sloop "A" is windward of island "I." This means shoreline "L" and rocks "R" are the sloop's lee shore. Sloop "B" is snugly anchored in the of island "I." Shoreline "S" (out of sight behind "I") and rocks "R" are a windward shore, protecting
sloop
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