Some Long Overdue Eye Candy

Courtesy of Cliff. First a what is it request.

Do you know what this knockabout is? It was labelled as a Tumlaren, but I believe that is incorrect. I thought they all had canoe sterns...




Anyone know this sweet little boat? She looks familiar but I can't place her.

Cliff also sent along some extra pics. First a nice shot of a Concordia Yawl.

And some pics of the recently restored R Class "Aloha".

1949 Sparkman & Stephens Yawl Bolero

BOLERO, 1949

Mystic Seaport, Rosenfeld Collection

Perhaps because we share a name and a common designer, I have always had an affinity for Bolero. But she is truly in a class of her own.

BOLERO, auxiliary yawl underway, 1954

Mystic Seaport, Rosenfeld Collection

I find that I like to compare boats to classics such as Bolero even though most fall horribly short by comparison. I have always been more comfortable looking towards greatness, and failing, than looking towards mediocrity and succeeding. Just my odd way I guess.  In any event the view is better. Much, much better.

Heading East, 1954

Mystic Seaport, Rosenfeld Collection

Bolero was built for ocean racing and I am still quite in awe of the time in history where racing boats were also works of art.

BOLERO – Large Modern Ocean Racer

Sparkman and Stephens Design No. 711

LOA 73’6’’, LWL 51’, beam 15’1’’, draught 9’6’’, sail area 2,480 sq.ft.

Designed in 1946 for John N Brown. Launched by Nevens in 1949.

This boat represented the new technology of the post war era and in many ways in size and scope was the prototype of the modern maxi yacht. It was considered by many to be the most beautiful S&S boat ever designed (a claim shared with her near sister, BARUNA).

Her interior is laid out for 8 guests and a crew of 4. It makes an interesting comparison with modern boats of similar size, allowing for spacious accommodations.

Her design plans are revealing for they show a quality of construction which would probably be impossible to match today. Of composite construction, double planked mahogany 1 ¾ inches thick on metal lightened web frames, she was extremely strongly built. The construction sections show the extensive use of metal reinforcement allied to wooden blocking, spruce beams, white oak partners round the openings, extensive use of metal tie rods and a Douglas Fir clamp 7 ¼ x 2 ½ inches thick. The metal work was entirely in Monel or Everdur Bronze, materials which would be prohibitive today, if at all available.

She was fitted with coal galley stoves, early forms of refrigeration and very extensive interior furnishings. The extreme elegance of her double-headed rig belies the amount of physical manpower needed to sheet a 170 % overlapping genoa measuring 1500 sq. ft. A coffee grinder winch is mounted amidships in the most stable area in order to sheet the jib sheets via turning blocks; the double runners would necessitate extensive manpower requirements during tacking; again the mainsheet is led downwards at mid-boom to control lift and back to the cockpit winch mounted on the cabin roof. The small looking mizzen stay sail is nevertheless 540 sq. ft., the size of many smaller boat’s genoa jibs. Both BOLERO and her earlier sister BARUNA were built to the maximum size allowed under the CCA (Cruising Club of America) racing rule for the Bermuda Race which worked out at approximately 72 feet overall.

In the 1951 Bermuda Race BARUNA and BOLERO found themselves racing against each other. Despite the almost 10 years that had elapsed between the two designs, the two boats both fought it out neck and neck arriving at the finishing line 466 miles later, only 24 seconds apart (the older boat winning on corrected time by 15 minutes).

COPYRIGHT 1999 PATRICK MATTHIESEN

Well apparently, thanks to Cliff for the heads up, Bolero got a make over at Rockport Marine. So she's good to go for another 60 years.

And she looks almost as gorgeous in color as she does in black and white.

1986 Mini 12 Metre J Boat

So perhaps the Rhodes Evergreen in the post below is bit more boat than you are looking for. But you still want you some long and skinny. How about this.

She is a 21 ft long mini 12 metre. You are going to have to act fast on this one as she is on the auction blocks of ebay. Her location is Pocasset, Massachusetts.

Check the full listing for more photos, but here are some teases.

Now I do think Bolero is looking a bit pudgy.

1947 Rhodes Evergreen Class Sloop

Bolero's spring launch, various projects and the weather has seriously dampened my postings on long skinny boats. But that hasn't kept Cliff, down in Oregon, for lighting up my inbox with leads and photos. So time for me to catch up.

First is a sweet 1947 modified Rhodes Evergreen Class Sloop.

She is for sale by the way and located in Seattle, WA

We have one up here that sails out of Friday Harbor and they are sweet, sweet boats.

Okay, more photos from the listing.

And I have to include a copy of the sail plan since I just love the plans found on older boats.

Occasionally folks ask me about ways to get into a "Knockabout" type sloop in a less expensive way than a full out conversion, or buying a new expensive Daysailor. Well I think this Evergreen might fit the bill.

She is a woody.

But boy howdy. Look at those lines. Someone go have a look at her and report back.

Or better yet buy her and sail her up to the San Juan's so I can have a look.

Faux Wood Transom on a Plastic Boat?

Recently I have been pondering the aesthetic challenges of including Bolero's registration info and name on her hull. I am just not a big fan of stickers no matter how nice. One morning over coffee my buddy Craig and I were discussing the merits of adding a faux wood stern with an engraved and painted name to the stern of a plastic boat. At the time it didn't seem right for Bolero.

A few days later Craig found this picture which I sure liked.

I still don't know if I see this on Bolero, or how one might get it to look right on a plastic boat, but it sure looks fine on this sexy daysailor.

Olin Stephens, Simply Brilliant

I stumbled onto this Mystic Seaport video on Olin Stephens while I was digging for info on the Knickerbocker Class.



Which of course lead me from one sailing video to another.

North American 8 Metre Racing.



And Gerdny. A 95 Square Meter.

Knickerbocker One Design

One of the things I just love about have this blog is that out of the blue I get an email from someone showing me another great old Knockabout type boat that I had never seen before.

In this case Bob wrote in to introduce me to the Knickerbocker One Design.

Pretty funny that I never stumbled across these sweet little boats. First off, as Bob observed, they really look like a larger version of my old Bluenose Sloop. And second they are a Sparkman & Stephens design.

Here is what little history I could scour of the web:

The Knickerbocker One Design (KOD) class was designed and built for members of the Knickerbocker Yacht Club in 1965. 18 KODs were constructed. The KOD is a comfortable one design racer with very nice daysailer comforts with a large cockpit with full seating. The interior has two berths for possible short overnight hops.

The KOD has a very powerful sail plan with a large mainsail, marginally overlapping jib with adjustable leads and a large spinnaker with full spinnaker gear. It moves along nicely in the lightest breezes and can really get up and go in stronger winds

The KOD is very seaworthy being able to sail and race in strong winds. One of the KODS was singlehanded from Port Washington, NY to Mystic Seaport.

And as always, a quick check on how the specs compare to my old Bluenose Sloop and our new Shields conversion.

The feature that I like most about these old designs is the substantial fractional rig. By that I mean a small percentage of jib area per total sail area. All three of these sailboats put up a huge amount of sail area on a working sail plan without needing a large overlapping headsail. That's my idea of sailing fun.

Another Etchell's Conversion

I recieved a comment or two from Sam, who along with his brother Nick, are planning to restore and convert an old Etchells.

The idea, in their own words:

The idea is to change this racing sailboat into a comfortable day cruiser and so cruise her around Bantry Bay. Blazers and pipes will replace Mustos and wraparound shades and nettle ale shall be sipped from clay tankards…

Sam thought that my adding his blog to my reading list would help motivate him keep the blog up to date.

I hate to say it Sam, but I need more pictures and an update or two. How about a quick sketch of the new cabin design. Heck maybe just a nice photo of you guys throwing down a few pints at the local pub.

I hope this is what you meant by providing you a little incentive to keep us posted on your project? Not to subtle I hope.

Cheers, Bill

A Sweet Little Bluenose Sloop (Sold)

Long time readers of this blog will know that I quite like these little boats. The Bluenose Sloop was my first real sailboat and I reacquainted myself with sailing in it after a long hiatus. So when I received an email from the Bluenose Sloop digest mentioning that one was for sale, I decided to pass along the info.

Especially since the one for sale, Alure, is so choice.

These are sweet little sailboats that sail like dinghies but with a 44% ballast ratio they feel quite solid. They have a fabulously high SA/D ratio so they make excellent engineless sailboats. I single handed mine without an engine using 150% genoa and no winch handles.

Here are the specs.

There was also a pretty detailed forum thread about the Bluenose Sloop on the Sailnet forums.

John, the owner, spent a few years restoring this ole girl and I think she looks pretty sweet. Here is the description of his work that he sent along.

1977 Bluenose 24, hull number ZMBB1318076. Three year restoration, launched May 2008. Deck raised, cleaned and resealed with 3M 5200 and SS screws and bolts. Hull faired and professionally painted with awlgrip top sides jet black deck, mast and boom oyster white.

All New: 2008

Teak toe-rail, faintail and louver hatch board
SS Standing rigging,
Running rigging,
Harken blocks (all)
Harken traveler system
Harken roller furling 00AL
Jib track with Schaefer stand up blocks.
Minn Kota 80 lb thrust electric trolling motor.
Guest 3 bank battery charger with two group 27 AMG batteries.
New anchor light, deck/stemming light, navigation lights
All wiring (marine grade)
Sunbrella sail and tiller cover (toast color)
Tolly Tasker main and Jib. (linen color) coastal curising level 2009
In boom internal outhaul
Single axel trailer

  And more pictures.

She is located in Dallas, TX and if anyone wants more info just shoot me an email (the little envelope icon in the top menu) and I will pass along your message to John.

Happy New Year Ye Olde Skinny Boat Fans

A bit of the old stuff to go with the new year.

Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta 2006



J-Class - Shamrock



Classic Yacht Gerdny

Cover Girl

It is impossible to convey just how much research I did prior to and during Bolero's conversion project. I looked at countless old photos of Knockabout type sloops, read old articles, studied line drawings and sail plans, created comparison spreadsheets, constructed numerous drawings and color mockups etc. etc. etc.

So I was quite surprised to find, while summarizing some of this old data, Shields # 9 proudly displayed on the front cover of an old Chris Craft Shields Brochure.

Somehow I never noticed. Obviously a case of hiding in plain sight. That is if this is the same #9 that eventually became Bolero.

Heaven

If there was a heaven for long, sleek and gorgous sailboats it might just have to be Scandinavia. What with the Square Meters, Skerry Cruiser and the like.

I stumbled onto this little bit of boat heaven on the boatdesign.net forum. And the photo above was just the beginning.

But it just kept getting better and better.

We are not worthy.

IOD Temptation

No, I'm not tempted but someone should be tempted by Sagara an International One Design that is for sale

Okay, I know, at $72,000 she is a bit spendy. But just look at her...

She wouldn't quite fit under most trees, so maybe just wrap the tiller and park her with a big bow in the driveway.

Cheers and Happy Holidays