Classic Boat Fair

Janet and I belong to a small Boat club here on the Island, it's a great bunch of people and gaining in numbers every year. We hold events from time to time and yesterday there was a gathering of small boats members have built or come by. It was a great day with people I have so much in common with and share a love of small boats (big ones too but most of us only have small, manageable types).

On the grounds is a long standing restoration of a Gil Smith cat boat (only one large main sail; cat boat= one sail). We have built a house for it and it sits ready for more work as funds provide, originally a work boat around the Island it is one of the most beautiful, to my eye, boats ever built. One look transports me to another century when things were simple, clean and to the point. What do you think Peter?...



[i200.photobucket.com]

[i200.photobucket.com]

[i200.photobucket.com]

Senad is 25 1/2 feet long with an 8.8 foot beam (width). She is one of three built in the late 1800's.

Cheers, Rick



perseverance furthers

Where does the mast get stepped on that boat?
Surely it can't be up front as in a cat boat; the hull length to width ratio is wrong. Is this perhaps a sand bagger?

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Archeo-peteriX
Where does the mast get stepped on that boat?
Surely it can't be up front as in a cat boat; the hull length to width ratio is wrong. Is this perhaps a sand bagger?

The mast gets stepped way up front, if you look closely you'll see a red mooring ball stuck in the deck next to the bow.

Yeah, you'd think it was all portioned wrong but you'd be the one wrong on that one; cat boats were often stepped "way" up front. I'll do some research later on Gill's boats. There's one that sails with my friends Beetle cats on the pond every year, it's a cat boat too, similar to Senad, mast way up front.

It's a strange beast Cat boats, they don't point to well but are forgiving and easy to sail, a gentleman's rig B)

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rkj

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Archeo-peteriX
Where does the mast get stepped on that boat?
Surely it can't be up front as in a cat boat; the hull length to width ratio is wrong. Is this perhaps a sand bagger?

The mast gets stepped way up front, if you look closely you'll see a red mooring ball stuck in the deck next to the bow.

Yeah, you'd think it was all portioned wrong but you'd be the one wrong on that one; cat boats were often stepped "way" up front. I'll do some research later on Gill's boats. There's one that sails with my friends Beetle cats on the pond every year, it's a cat boat too, similar to Senad, mast way up front.

It's a strange beast Cat boats, they don't point to well but are forgiving and easy to sail, a gentleman's rig B)

The reason I questioned it is because a traditional cat boat is roughly L by W(1/2 L) or the width is half the length. That quality is what makes the cat boat so stable and able to handle weather that scares the livin bejeezus out of most other craft.

Another big advantage of the cat-rig is that a single sailor can manage the boat in just about any weather

If I ever build a cruising boat, or even a picnic sailor; it will be a cat for sure B)

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Archeo-peteriX

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rkj

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Archeo-peteriX
Where does the mast get stepped on that boat?
Surely it can't be up front as in a cat boat; the hull length to width ratio is wrong. Is this perhaps a sand bagger?

The mast gets stepped way up front, if you look closely you'll see a red mooring ball stuck in the deck next to the bow.

Yeah, you'd think it was all portioned wrong but you'd be the one wrong on that one; cat boats were often stepped "way" up front. I'll do some research later on Gill's boats. There's one that sails with my friends Beetle cats on the pond every year, it's a cat boat too, similar to Senad, mast way up front.

It's a strange beast Cat boats, they don't point to well but are forgiving and easy to sail, a gentleman's rig B)

The reason I questioned it is because a traditional cat boat is roughly L by W(1/2 L) or the width is half the length. That quality is what makes the cat boat so stable and able to handle weather that scares the livin bejeezus out of most other craft.

Another big advantage of the cat-rig is that a single sailor can manage the boat in just about any weather

If I ever build a cruising boat, or even a picnic sailor; it will be a cat for sure B)

It is an easy sail plan to handle and the boats are stable for sure. Most all these boats came from working class back grounds as I'm sure you know (can you say payload), and usually worked by one man. The owner. I just like them cause they're so darn pretty, but I was always an easy mark for a pretty face B)

I have plans for several different sizes ranging from 15' on up to 28'.

If I get the chance, I'm going to build one of the 15 footers. It will have a small cuddy for a head and overnight camping in inclement weather. And it will be trailerable

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Archeo-peteriX
I have plans for several different sizes ranging from 15' on up to 28'.

If I get the chance, I'm going to build one of the 15 footers. It will have a small cuddy for a head and overnight camping in inclement weather. And it will be trailerable

That sounds like the perfect boat Peter, I'm looking forward to the trailerable thing.

You sure know stuff about boats...
There is a Marina 10 minutes walking from where i am, but most boats there are boring fiberglass newish models.

[www.manorhouses.com]

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Jose Pinto
You sure know stuff about boats...
There is a Marina 10 minutes walking from where i am, but most boats there are boring fiberglass newish models.

[www.manorhouses.com]

Sadly, the industry sold fiberglass as the magic panacea, and the world bought into it

Fiberglass boats are appliances, just like stoves, refrigerators and toaster ovens. The fact is that no fiberglass boat has ever outlasted a wooden boat.

Why is that...because a wooden boat can be restored with new wood pieces while a fiberglass boat simply continues to disintegrate from age, the sun and basic chemical atrophy.

If you don't want maintenance and can replace your boat every twenty five to thirty years than maybe fiberglass is the answer...if you love your boat and want to hand it down to your kids or a deserving friend; then wood is the answer; it can always be restored!

On top of that, any sailor will tell you that no plastic boat ever sailed the same as a nice wooden boat; wood is warm in spirit while plastic is cold at all times

Sadly, the industry sold fiberglass as the magic panacea, and the world bought into it sad smiley

Progress, most people buy into it....


Fiberglass boats are appliances, just like stoves, refrigerators and toaster ovens. The fact is that no fiberglass boat has ever outlasted a wooden boat.

Couldn't agree more but Tupperware boats have put a lot of people on the water, which is a good thing; my last two boats were glass and I couldn't imagine more work!

Why is that...because a wooden boat can be restored with new wood pieces while a fiberglass boat simply continues to disintegrate from age, the sun and basic chemical atrophy.

True enough, but there are good and bad glass boats, some last a long time

If you don't want maintenance and can replace your boat every twenty five to thirty years than maybe fiberglass is the answer...if you love your boat and want to hand it down to your kids or a deserving friend; then wood is the answer; it can always be restored!

On top of that, any sailor will tell you that no plastic boat ever sailed the same as a nice wooden boat; wood is warm in spirit while plastic is cold at all times sad smiley

That goes for power boats too, wood is organic and it feels like it when it goes through water, really

You're such a purest Peter, I love it

I've built enough wooden boats to know that each and every one of them has soul(a little bit of the builder) in them. I just don't get that feeling from fiberglass or metal; although a ferro-cement hull must have a bit of soul since the molds that are needed to pour these hulls are built from wood by builders that put a little of themselves into them.

Don't get me wrong; fiberglass has it's place but if given a choice, I will take wood any time

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Archeo-peteriX
I've built enough wooden boats to know that each and every one of them has soul(a little bit of the builder) in them. I just don't get that feeling from fiberglass or metal; although a ferro-cement hull must have a bit of soul since the molds that are needed to pour these hulls are built from wood by builders that put a little of themselves into them.

Don't get me wrong; fiberglass has it's place but if given a choice, I will take wood any time

Me too, now that I'm retired and have way too much time on my hands but the Blue Jay I just got is glass, built in the good time period though

I'm still working on the trailer but next week, maybe, Janet and I will have our maiden voyage we're both looking forward to it. There will be pictures B)