William Garden Ketch - 1967 Hardin Sea Wolf

[David G]

I'm working on a project now with this lovely boat. 40' LOD. Apparently they came stock from Hardin with SS stern dinghy davits and a nifty norwegian-looking lapstrake dinghy.

Does anyone have any info on that dinghy?

My client would like to replace the davits and hang an original looking dinghy from them. We've got some (bad) fotos, but no more to go on.

Thanks for any help y'all can offer.

[Dave Gray]

David, you might see if the library has any info. I just checked the Multnomah County library and I see they have both "Yacht Designs" and "Yacht Designs II" listed. Even better, both are available.

[David G]

Thanks, Dave. I'll take a peek there.

[David G]

Ok, I've ordered both books. Anyone else have any knowledge at all of this tender?

[Paul Pless]

Ok, I've ordered both books. Anyone else have any knowledge at all of this tender?You've never read these books before?

You're in for a real treat.

[David G]

I'm reading the two books now. Turns out I've read the original before... just didn't recall. Unfortunately, it appears that neither book includes the design that became the Hardin Sea Wolf. And there's naught but the slightest suggestion of a tease of a hint about the lovely dinghy I'm curious about.

Anyone have info on that dinghy?

Anyone at all?

Anything?

[Thorne]

Looks like a pram but pretty basic / ugly design. See if you can sell the owner on something similar with more strakes and lotsa varnish.

http://www.sailboatlistings.com/sailimg/m/12843/boat.10.jpg

Here's davits on a 45, but possibly not original -
http://newimages.yachtworld.com/1/9/6/9/8/1969843_41.jpg?1229657220000

Here's a link to the building blog for the Guppy at the Spaulding Center in Sausalito. Nice 8-strake pram that carries two adults well -
http://www.spauldingcenter.org/ybb_blog/
http://www.spauldingcenter.org/ybb_blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/DSC_1794_2.jpg

[David G]

Twin,

Yup, that's the best image I have so far, too. According to the owner, the actual pram was more developed than this sketch.

The original SS davits were also... apparently... much more shapely than the image above. But that's his baby... I don't do metalwork (unless I really have an urge to see my own blood and get my shop greasy... yuk <G>). Thank goodness there are people who love to do it!

If it comes down to finding another design, I suspect we'll have no problem. It's just that he's aiming for as much "original" as he can in this re-do. There are several nifty prams available that would serve. I thought I'd first offer him Dulcibella or Sherpa

Dulcibella is from a local boatbuilder who sells plans - Warren Jordan. You know John K's flatiron Footloose skiff, Pickle. Same designer. 10 foot long and 120#, but he'll have the beam and the davits, so why not use 'em:

http://www.jordanwoodboats.com/home.cfm?dir_cat=5064

http://www.jordanwoodboats.com/images/dulcib.jpg



Sherpa is, of course, a John Welsford design:

http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/sherpa/index.htm

http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/sherpa/sherpa1.jpg

There are several more likely candidates... but before we head off on that tangent, we'd really like to find out what the original was.

[Paul Pless]

David, you know Mystic Seaport has all of Garden's plans?

[David G]

Paul,

I have the plans. They just don't show anything more about the pram than is shown in the sketch that Thorne posted above. The Sea Wolfs were built in Yokosuka, Japan (coincidentally, where my oldest is headed for the Navy in about a week... weird) by Hardin. It's not clear to me if there were additional, separate (Bill Garden drawn) plans for the dinghy (not as far as Mystic knows, from what I hear), or if the dinghy Hardin supplied was Hardin's interpretation of the above-mentioned sketch. Or, maybe if the dinghy was purchased by Hardin from a subcontractor. Or... ?

[Paul Pless]

Maybe write a letter to Bill Garden. It can't hurt . . .

[Hwyl]

Some of the Hardins were used in charter in the Virgin Islands, I think they were the 45's, awful boats. you could try contacting www.vicl.org to see if any old timers had a penchant for them,

I'm not sure if the sailmaker Manfed Dittrich is still around. He'd know.

Good luck (I think)

[David G]

Maybe write a letter to Bill Garden. It can't hurt . . .

Yes, we're working on that front also. Mr. Garden seems to have visited the boat when it was newly purchased by the present owner and moored in Newport, Oregon. Just walked up and started talking to the owner. Didn't introduce himself, just seemed mighty knowledgeable - and just a bit cranky about the weird alterations that'd happened over the years. Yeah, that pilothouse would make the blindest, drunkest Redneck blush. The owner was called away before he got the fella's name. Later, though, one of his dockmates asked him how it was... talking to Bill Garden himself. Following weekend, owners brother was working alone on the boat, and the same fella came by asking for the owner.

The owner is now just kicking himself for not getting his name the first time. He was busy and distracted trying to get it ready for the uphill slog up the coast (sometimes iffy and frequently demanding at that time of year), and up the Columbia to Portland. The owner's a good sort. He really wants to put it back together as authentically as he can. He's shy of imposing on the designer. I've about got him convinced, though, to go ahead and contact Mr. Garden, let him know where the boat is, see if he wants to visit, and at least see if he's willing to answer some questions - both now, and as the restoration proceeds.

So... Paul... now that you know I'm not just looking for someone to do my homework for me -- do you know something about the dinghy that you've been holding out? :p

Cheers,