With my dwindling blog posts, it will come as no surprise that I am ending my KnockaboutSloops blog. All along this blog has been a personal resource that I have used to journal and organize my thoughts during the design and construction of Bolero, our custom engineless Knockabout Sloop.
I typically live a quiet private life that rarely draws attention to myself. On rare occasions one of my passions will draw me out a bit into the limelight. Such has been the case with long skinny sailboats and engineless sailing.
But in the end my real passion is sailing, not writing about sailing. And no amount of rants, or examples of engineless sailing will alter the conventional wisdom that sailboats need engines to be safe.
And no matter how many photos of gorgeous sailboats I post, and I have posted many, modern sailboats get beamier, the freeboard higher and the cabin taller and boxier. We are more and more a culture of convenience and luxury where beauty isn't valued.
So rather that try to convince others that sailboats sail just fine without engines, I will just go sailing.
And rather than post photos of long, sleek, gorgeous boats sailing, I will take ours out sailing.
For me it has always been about the sailing. Which is why we I envisioned this crazy project in the first place.
This blog has been a labor of love and I have enjoy the feedback and comments that I have received from the 90,000 or so visitors who have meandered in. I will leave this content up to provide whatever resource it may contain and I will also continue to moderate comments. Perhaps there are other "crazies" out there who will look at all this and see opportunity and not a bunch of sacrifices.
Cheers and Happy Sailing,
Bill
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20 comments:
Why sound so defeated? Surely you're an example of triumph.
Triumph over the omnipresent 'easy' entertainment in the living room. Over the inertia that keeps so many from pulling the trigger and getting out there. And most of all, a triumph over the motor-boat culture, which, even if they tried, could never realize something as beautiful as Bolero.
Thank you for the efforts; I will continue to appreciate these posts as time goes on, and my fantasies continue.
Defeatism, is that even a word, was not the purpose for my final post. All that I could say, or show, concerning the philosophy that inspired the design, building and sailing of Bolero has been said and shown. There really isn't anything more I can add.
I appreciate the encouragement in your comment, but it has never been my goal to be an "example of triumph". I just had a vision for a sailboat and sailing that was important enough for me to make happen.
As you may imagine, talking about Bolero is not nearly as enjoyable for me as sailing her.
Cheers, Bill
Sorry to see you leave. Enjoy the gorgeous water up there.
I've really enjoyed reading this blog over the last few years & hope the time you don't spend here is as fulfilling as you expect.
One of the reasons I've liked checking in is the photos of Fisherman Bay - I'm the one building the house on the meadow north of The Galley. It's a long-distance build for me - I'm in San Francisco until the house is finished - and the photos you post remind me of what my view will be after we move back to the NW.
Take care.
Thanks also for a wonderful blog about beautiful boats.
As a side note, I never got the impression that you were set on changing anyone's mind about anything: surely those who ended up here had one if not both feet in the water of this beautiful aesthetic already.
I for one hope that if it's not too expensive that the blog site at least stays up... I often return and ogle the all the pretty girls.
And FYI, because of this blog I may very well end up with one particular knockabout.
Cheers,
Peter
Hey Peter,
Currently there is no cost to keep this blog online so it will remain in it's present form.
I never set out to try and change anyone's mind. My goal was always to sail and enjoy. But through this blog I discovered that some folks can get uncomfortable when others choose a different approach to their own. Which is fine except when they need to discredit the choice they are uncomfortable with. Those conversations aren't much fun.
Good luck with your knockabout search. I feel, not surprisingly, that they are one of the sweet spots in the history of sailboat design.
Cheers,
Bill
Bill,
Love this blog, and despite what you said, in my mind I'm going to consider this a hiatus not an ending.
I know with my own blogging, work/school/parenting/life have gotten in the way, and I haven't posted in AGES. At the same time, I never say never. When time permits, I know I'll blog again... :-)
- Ari
Bill,
You have certainly been an inspiration to me. This week, or Columbia Sabre, 32' loa, and 6'3" beam, is going to the painter. We spent a lot of time fixing fiberglass problems from sitting in the water, and hard sailing since 1965. She will have a sparkling new life this summer. It has a 2hp Evinrude, which, thanks to you, I will make every effort to leave behind this summer. We even obtained a slip at the lake in Eugene which will allow us to sail in and out under most conditions. All this is intended to counter the efforts of my friend, James Ferris, who will launch his V-12 Riva, freshly restored, on Lopez, in May.
You work and vision is truly a delight to me, and draws me towards all that is wonderful and challenging about sailing. It is timeless.
Sorry to see you go- I used to check in much more often to stoke the flames of my dreams of owning a sailboat of my own, and now I find you are gone. I understand completely though, and best of luck to you!
Bill: Your blog has inspired me to take the plunge. I'm buying a DH 20 and trailering it back to Vancouver BC. I'll be sailing her off a buoy at jericho beach. Hope to see you on the water.
cheeres
barry
Great and informative blog. I've been reading it for a while now.
I understand that after a while you can just 'run out of steam'. Most people don't like to admit it to themselves and others. Still, I hope it's just a 'haitus'. In any case, glad it will still be here for the time being.
Cheers.
Randy Browning
Norwalk,CT USA
@Sailboatdata,
Not at all about running out of steam, the reason for this Blog was just past done so rather than make up things to post about I stopped.
@barryL
A Dark Harbor 20 coming to the sound.... Sweet. Please let me know if you have a desire to increase our odds of seeing each other on the water. I would love see your DH20.
Cheers,
Bill
thanks for all your work here really great.I've become inspired to build my self a knockabout but I have not much experience with this type of boat I ve built and owned 2 gaff cutters heavy displacement and a Atkins tally ho major Burundian rig.see atkins page for pics its called Gallifrey. so I,m wondering what your short list would be as far as top 10 knockabouts .I do like the Camden class sloop .Any throught would be appreciated thanks Adrian
Bill:
I am a personal friend of Jay,and much influenced by him(he was my construction partner and drinking /sailing buddy for several years here in Bellingham), though I still have an engine in my Alberg 37. Because of Jay, and blogs like yours I use the damn engine less and less!
By the way, my band, Salvadore Dali Llama, used to sail out (well OK, motor sometimes if the wind died) out to Lopez and play the Galley back in 2008 & 09. I wonder if we ever met you at that fine watering hole? Local Lopez Islander Ronnie Lopez did our recent CD cover! I look forward to seeing you out on the water!
Yours,
Mike Rostron Galena (1970 Alberg 37)
Are comments still open? Rest assured that you are not alone in thinking sailboats sail just fine without an engine. What tickles me is how anyone can dare to sail in an engine-only-boat? That's crazy. Anyways, beauty is valued in places you'd never expect. The Bolero is very popular in virtual sailing. I've wrote a few posts about it - with pictures for those who care... Cheers
True sacrifice, personally I prefer engine-less sailing which is much adventurers and conservative, beauty is so precious compared to luxury. All the best though, in your future plans.
I wish I still could post a comment. This is my first visit to your blog. And I enjoy reading this blog because very informative.
I'm sorry to hear you leave. I hope you will blog again anytime.
Although I no longer post I still moderated and publish all comments, well except for spam.
In addition I still use this blog for my own personal use as it is my storage place for everyone I know about Bolero, engineless sailing and Knockabout Sloops.
Cheers,
Bill
Any idea what this kind of sloop costs to purchase and maintain? I've been sailing 24 ft Ensigns and I need something a little edgier. And of course I'm seduced by these classic lines.
M Henri C,
If you are asking about what our boat, Bolero, costs, she is a custom one off modified Shields One Design. With respect to her cost she was comparable to a really good deal on a used Alerion 28. Maintance is the same as any other sailboat of her length and displacement. Well expect we don't have any of those pesky engine related costs :).
Cheers and email me if you have any other questions.
Bill
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