Sharpies in Maine?

[Seppi]

Are Sharpies suited to exploring the Maine coast? I'm planning a move to Maine and looking for a new boat -- something to gunkhole in, but for an occasional visit to near-offshore islands, with accomodations comfortable enough for a spouse somewhat less committed to sailing than I. I will have a deepwater mooring and a dock with 2 feet at low tide (and less than a foot at extreme tides). The tide range is 9 feet. I've had only full-keel fiberglass sailboats in the past, so this is completely new territory for me. How about stability in open water? I've seen very few Sharpies on the water off Maine. Is there a reason?

Related question: the boats I've seen for sale so far are fiberglass over plywood. One was supposedly 3 layers of plywood, epoxied with West System, then heavily fiberglassed. Is this considered "good" construction? What structdural problems should I look for in this construction? Lifespan?

Would a bilge-keel (twin-keel) design be better? Maybe I'm too fixated on shallow keels and sitting upright on the hard at low tide, which sounds like an ideal way of exploring out-of-the-way coves. Thoughts?

[Nicholas Scheuer]

I reside in Illinois. I need a boat suited for towing long distances if I'm to experience the waters that iterest me. Our 28-ft Shearwater Yawl is that boat. TRUE NORTH is leeboarder with a flat which draws only 6-inches when the leeboards and rudder are raised.

In 2005 and 2004 we cruised the area between Portland and Arcadia Nat'l Park for two-week periods in-company with another Shearwater. There is another Shearwater in New Jersey that cruises the Maine Coast on a regular basis.

There are definately boats that weather boistrous weather better than our boat does, but 'ya' dance with who brung ya", and we bring a Shearwater, which after 12 years, we've learned how to hadle rather well.

Moby Nick

[Thorne]

Seppi -

You may want to pick up some books from our hosts (http://www.woodenboat.com/wbbksgal.htm ) that discuss Sharpies and other designs -- then start talking specific designs and sizes/dimensions. That way we can give you better information and advice.

Also you might want to move first and then look for local boats to purchase, and/or ask local boat operators what they recommend for the conditions, waters, tides, etc.

As for glassing over ply, not highly regarded on this forum! It can be an effective (if destructive) method of prolonging the life of older boats, but the glass tends to encapsulate moisture in the ply, which causes it to rot and separate.

That said, I have friends that have used that method to build "wooden" boats out of inferior materials -- like doorskins. But at the end of the day, these boats are 'wooden' only because you can see through the glass to the wood -- if you added gelcoat you'd have a standard glass boat with a doorskin ply instead of balsa core.

;-0 )

[Zane Lewis]

Nothing wrong at all with glass over ply sharpies. Go and have a look at boats by Reuel Parker, Harold Payson, Phil Bolger, Iain Oughtred (Haiku), Ted Brewer (Mystic), Bruce Kirby................
http://www.duckflatwoodenboats.com/
http://www.tedbrewer.com/sail_wood/mystic.htm
All Cloth over Ply boats.
Herrishoff's Medowlark.
Monroe's Kingfisher or Egret.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharpie_(boat)

Like all boats look closly at what you get as all methods of construction have faults and weakness, along with risk of manufacturing faults due to builders taking shortcuts to save time of money.

If you are looking for something thats forgiving of a novice on the helm in exposed conditions look for something with exturnal ballast that will come back from a knock down and won't fillup with water.

Cheer's
Zane

[Lance F. Gunderson]

I sailed a Bolger Black Skimmer all over the Maine Coast; very safe boat, unsinkable if built as designed. She'll take all you can take. Reef early and often.

[Woxbox]

Ditto on the Bolger suggestion. His sharpies have been adapted for the kind of use you describe. The traditional sharpies are open workboats, and don't lend themselves to coastal cruising so well.
I have the plans for the Martha Jane - never got around to building it - but that design would fit the bill for you quite well. For something simpler and lighter, how about Birdwatcher?
Martha Jane
http://mkstocks.tripod.com/boats/Image143.jpg
Birdwatcher
http://www.adirondackgoodboat.com/images/birdwatcher_sm.jpg

[George Ray]

(1) Up the creek with a paddle
(2) Anchor where others fear to tread
(3) Leave the boat in a protected mud flat cove while you explore
(4) Read some Commodore Monroe ( Sharpies / Friend of L.W.H. / commuted Bosotn to Miami by sharpie before the flagler railroad)
(5) Reul Parker ( 20th Century Commodore Monroe )
(6) The Good Little Ship (Vincent Gilpin)
Avail on amazon used under $5.00
Amazon review:
Great book for a special audience
If you are interested in Commadore Ralph Monroe and his Biscayne Bay Sharpies, this is a must have book! The chapter on the seaworthyness of shoal draft boats is worth the price of the book. The style reminds me of Hershoff's Compleat Cruiser, with Florida pioneer twist.

[Hwyl]

I hope you invite me to your new house!! I'd agree with Thorne (ouch that hurt) move first then get the boat.

What else do you need to get out of the boat and what (roughly) is your budget.

Contact me by PM if you'd like --- I'm in Wells.

[rbgarr]

There's a family on Westport Island (Sheepscot River, Midcoast Maine) that runs a truck farm, bakery and jam business from their 30+' foot two-masted New Haven sharpie (ketch rig). They make a circuit of landing places each week including some islands. She's well loaded down and I've always seen her under power with a full length awning spread over the main boom. She's powered by a quiet inboard engine, but does have her sails rigged, so they either have them for safety's sake (backup) or do sail her from time to time.

I'm eager to get them to stop at our dock as part of their route but the neighbors (who share the dock cost) are skittish about the parking, any trash and other liabilities. I think it would be great fun to see them each week and support them.:)