SeaBird yawl questions

[LarsB]

I've come across a professionally built 1933 27' SeaBird yawl for sale. It's carvel planked cedar with an inboard (Albin) gasoline engine. It's reputed to be in good shape and seems to be priced reasonably.

Any readers here have any experience with a vessel of this type? Might you share any pros or cons of owning a boat like this?

I'm a novice in terms of wooden boat ownership and I'd appreciate any "heads up."

Thanks for your attention...
and any sincere comments will be appreciated.

LarsB

[KNOCKABOUT]

Start smaller, and take a couple more years of lusting around wooden boats and speak with lots of wooden boat owners. You may discover they are not for you... as the old saying goes: The only thing that works on a wooden boat is its owner...

[JimD]

One of the original designers, Thomas Fleming Day, described the Seabird as ugly and slow, but he was interested in racing fast and shapely yachts. Nevertheless, it crossed the Atlantic (I think) and became an instantly famous design so people started building them by the score due to their newly established reputation for seaworthiness. And don't forget that an old wooden boat is a hole in the water you throw your money into.

[George Ray]

http://www.dngoodchild.com/4912.htm

http://www.dngoodchild.com/4912pic2.jpg

*************
http://www.tarsmell.com/about.html

The Sea Bird Yawl was designed in 1901 by Thomas Fleming Day and Charles Mower. She is 25'9" on deck, 32'9" overall, with a 8'4" beam and 3'10" draft.

Tom Day was the founder and editor of Rudder Magazine. In 1911, Tom Day and two crewmen sailed the original Sea Bird across the Atlantic from Newport, Rhode Island to Gibraltar. His account of how Sea Bird handled that voyage inspires others, even today, to build Sea Birds.

************************
"Across the Atlantic in Sea Bird" , T.F. Day

Avail. on amazon (used) $149.00
Publisher: Fore An' Aft Co., Inc Rudder (1927)

[Gold Rock]

Geez, don't let these fellas get you down. They're just looking out for you. Why not get a woodie? I happen to think the Seabird is a fine looking boat. Very salty. And let's face it, you're in Spokane. Lake Coeur d'Alene is where you'll be, right? Nice lake. The point is, you're not trying to find a boat to round the Horn in. The seabird's not exactly trailerable, so that's my guess. My personal thumbnail on assessing boats is basic. The hull and rig are where I focus my attention; the rest is dressing. For a woodie, the backbone, floors, and frames are where I start. You're looking for rot, aka soft wood. Fastenings come to play here. If it's iron fastened, suspect more trouble than if it's not. Decks. Check perimeters and around major openings. Soft wood again. Then check the spars and standing rigging. Soft wood on the spars - rust, damage, wear on the rigging.
That's the basic idea. One of the original intended virtues, I believe, of the Seabird was simplicity and ease of manufacture. That's a good thing, especially for a first boat. Boats, after all, are toys. Motorcycles, RV's, boats. What's the difference? As long as you're spending disposable income, enjoy. Live a little.

[pcford]

The Seabirds were supposed to be able to take you anywhere....if you don't die of starvation first.

A simple boat but nice looking, I think.

[LarsB]

Thanks for all the comments!

Your words of experience and wisdom are most helpful and they've given me some great insights into the character of this SeaBird yawl.

I'll keep the boat in the San Juan Islands. It's lived there it's entire life and
it seems to be a perfect little vessel for island hopping and exploring the local waters.

I'm planning an initial inspection soon and will develop a better understanding of much of what this boat represents. If it looks good, I'll have it professionally inspected and learn exactly what it's made of.

It'll need work, I'm sure. Lots of it. But, what the heck!? We learn by doing... and the more we do, the more we learn.

I'll keep you informed.

Graci!

[johngsandusky]

My first question when considering a boat:IS IT FLOATING?
If yes, go aboard and check the bilges, if she's not leaking badly, she probably is structurally sound. If she's out of the water, find out why, and how long. good luck, I hope you buy it, sail it and love it.

[JimD]

Sorry to change the subject just a bit but Phil Bolger designed a slightly smaller Seabird knock off for plywood construction, I think. Anyone have any links to pictures or plans of it?

[htom]

http://ca.geocities.com/nohnpages/Seabirdindex.html

Hasn't been updated in a while, but she was launched (with a Junk Rig!)

[JimD]

http://ca.geocities.com/nohnpages/Seabirdindex.html

Hasn't been updated in a while, but she was launched (with a Junk Rig!)

That's the one I was thinking of, thanks. But looking at it anew she doesn't look much like a Seabird. Looks like Mr Bolger borrowed the name but not much else. I like the junk rig. Our host, otoh sells plans for a plywood Seabird that looks almost identical to the original.