Schooner "Charmian" is moved

[Jay Greer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid220/p6752aaf88e0d1fe4790d13538ca7bdf3/eba292dc.jpg

Two days ago, the 60' Seawanhaka schooner "Charmian" was moved from Newport Beach CA to the storage area where she will undergo a two year rebuild. A small group of Newports most well known boat builders were assembled to watch the loading and wish the owner well. All of us are aware of the tremendous effort this project will require. But, as she was lifted on to her transport trailer, all who were there, were stunned by the sheer beauty of "Charmains" hull form! Even though the boat is now both shabby and ragged, rarely does one come across a schooner of such fair form as to stop ones breath just by the site of her. We all agree that this is truly both a noble and worth while project.
JG

[Jay Greer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid220/p3d0394a854eec9cc2b184babf7baabe0/eba291b2.jpghttp://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid220/p87f2f3801d94c38408f6c0b2be9b73e9/eba290cd.jpg

[Jay Greer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid220/p69569caff9b696d4d3cdac6baa0cca84/eba2900d.jpg

[danny mitchell]

i thought the same thing 9 years ago when my father and i replaced the keel bolts in charmain at southcoast shipyard although i questioned why we used galvanized not stainless bolts it was the uneducated owner at the time who made the call
hope they done become a problem coming out i remember the old ones being a pain in the butt good luck to you jay and to rick this is a beautiful boat and ill probably be out there this summer to volunteer my time

[Jay Greer]

Thanks Danny,
This is truly a magic boat! It is amazing that she survived the neglect and abuse that has been inflicted on her over the last twenty years. The fact that she has survived as well as she has (no hogging!) is a tribute to her builders and designers, Bath Iron Wks. and Cox & Stephens.
Jay

[rbgarr]

It still amazes me that the Iron Works launched one of these 58 foot schooners A WEEK ( on average) during a four month period in 1925.

[Jay Greer]

It is amazing! All in all, sixteen boats were built in one year! The other amazing thing is the quality of construction.
No expense was spared, no corners were cut! The run of the planking is sweet, well divided and narrow. No stealers!
The actual overall length of the boat is 59'11".
Jay

[ishmael]

"Charmian" was the name of Jack London's wife. I wonder if there's a connection.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

;) That's a gorgeous shape. Hope it happens.

[ishmael]

It is very pretty.

[bholderman]

Wow and a great big sigh.

[rbgarr]

...the quality of construction.
No expense was spared, no corners were cut! The run of the planking is sweet, well divided and narrow. No stealers! Jay

Are any of the longest planks one piece, or do they all have butt blocks? I've seen one piece planks up to sixty feet long on some older boats, and that could have been done at the Iron Works during that era.

[Jay Greer]

"Charmian" was the name of Jack London's wife. I wonder if there's a connection.

We are researching the origin of the name. It would be interesting to find a connection to Jack London!
Jay

[Jay Greer]

Are any of the longest planks one piece, or do they all have butt blocks? I've seen one piece planks up to sixty feet long on some older boats, and that could have been done at the Iron Works during that era.
While there are butt blocks, I suspect that they may have been a result of later repairs.
Jay

[ishmael]

Jay,

London died quite young, I want to say in 1913. He witnessed and wrote vividly about the 1906 SFquake. But his wife, Charmian, lived a long time on, and was a writer also, though much less sung.

It's an unusual name. I'll be interested what you find out.

[mrjoel]

jay good luck with this project! i had similar inspirations as danny when i first saw her, just as i was becoming obsessed with wooden boats. after cruising the south pacific for a year as crew, my first US landfall was in newport beach and i remember motoring up the channel and seeing this boat at her mooring and being fascinated with her, like said run down as she was, she still looked beautiful. i sailed with rob vaughn on his newly built hereschoff designed "van diemen" just wondering if you knew rob or recognized his boat somewhere around newport beach? anyway i would love to hear how this project comes along! and will she be rebuilt in cali. or elsewhere?

[Tom W.]

Speaking of Jack London, the book written by him "Voyage of the Snark" is a great sailing voyage story. It is still in print. What starts out as a great adventure, planned to last several years, ends in disease and sale of the boat. I wonder if there is any way of finding out what happened to the Snark, anybody out there know anything of its fate?

[ishmael]

From what I've read, the Snark voyage was ill-fated. One of the reasons London was in SF in 1906 was to check on Snark, where she'd fallen off her building ways. Patched up, launched, she was always a leaky little ship.

London caught yaws in the South Pacific. A bacterial disease very similar to syphilis in its structure and outcomes, though not sexually transmitted. It haunted him the rest of his life. Mercury compounds, morphine, and alcohol all contributed to his early demise. Some say he commited suicide out the pain with an overdose of morphine, but that's never been well substantiated.

An interesting chap of huge internal conflict. Part egalitarian socialist, part white supremacist(not that that was unusual at the time.) I think "Call of the Wild" the best dog story I've ever read, and "To Build a Fire" the best short story about the wilderness I've ever read. "The Iron Heel" is still worth a read for those interested in the sociology and politics of fascism. "The Sea Wolf" probably lays out his philosophy as well as any, and is genuinely entertaining.

The man had bad luck, born under a dark star or something, but he was incredibly productive in spite of it.

Charmian was his soul mate. From what I can gather a genuine woman who stood by him through thick and thin, so I'll be interested what Jay finds out about the naming of this schooner.

Sorry for the drift.

[Jay Greer]

Speaking of Jack London, the book written by him "Voyage of the Snark" is a great sailing voyage story. It is still in print. What starts out as a great adventure, planned to last several years, ends in disease and sale of the boat. I wonder if there is any way of finding out what happened to the Snark, anybody out there know anything of its fate?

Skip Warren wrote a series on Southern California Yachting for Sea Magazine back in the 50's. One article was devoted to his finding of the rotting hull of the "Snark" on the mud flats in San Pedro. Not even that "wave punching bow" survived.

A fastinating collection of true stories of Jack London's sailing on San Francisco Bay as an assistant fish and game agent is the little known book, "Tales of the Fish Patrol" by Jack London.

Interesting trivia bit; I was given some tools that were used on the "Snark" during her construction by Jimmy McDaniels, the old caulker that worked on the boat. But that is another story.
Jay

[Lucky Luke]

What about her masts????
Are they going to be cut by some crazy people as it seems it was going to be the case...people who pretend to have a BOATyard isn t it?....

[Jay Greer]

What about her masts????
Are they going to be cut by some crazy people as it seems it was going to be the case...people who pretend to have a BOATyard isn t it?....
The masts were laid on city property as the yard had no facility for laying them out. The city would not allow them to remain. They were cut up by chain saw which included the bronze milled track. All possible requests were made for any one who might be interested in saving the masts. No one replied! You snooze, You loose!
Jay

[donald branscom]

Jay,

London died quite young, I want to say in 1913. He witnessed and wrote vividly about the 1906 SFquake. But his wife, Charmian, lived a long time on, and was a writer also, though much less sung.

It's an unusual name. I'll be interested what you find out.

I visited the Jack London home in Glen Ellen CA and they had a beautiful sailboat model in the living room. I WONDER WHAT THE NAME OF THAT SAILBOAT MODEL WAS?
Some of the stone walls on the property had fallen over during the 1906 earthquake!

[donald branscom]

From what I've read, the Snark voyage was ill-fated. One of the reasons London was in SF in 1906 was to check on Snark, where she'd fallen off her building ways. Patched up, launched, she was always a leaky little ship.

London caught yaws in the South Pacific. A bacterial disease very similar to syphilis in its structure and outcomes, though not sexually transmitted. It haunted him the rest of his life. Mercury compounds, morphine, and alcohol all contributed to his early demise. Some say he commited suicide out the pain with an overdose of morphine, but that's never been well substantiated.

An interesting chap of huge internal conflict. Part egalitarian socialist, part white supremacist(not that that was unusual at the time.) I think "Call of the Wild" the best dog story I've ever read, and "To Build a Fire" the best short story about the wilderness I've ever read. "The Iron Heel" is still worth a read for those interested in the sociology and politics of fascism. "The Sea Wolf" probably lays out his philosophy as well as any, and is genuinely entertaining.

The man had bad luck, born under a dark star or something, but he was incredibly productive in spite of it.

Charmian was his soul mate. From what I can gather a genuine woman who stood by him through thick and thin, so I'll be interested what Jay finds out about the naming of this schooner.

Sorry for the drift.

My favorite part of one of his books is when he is in Alaska? and tells of spitting and it is so cold that the spit turns to solid ice before it hits the ground!

His father was a professional astrologer (Peter Sauerwein).
He was Capricorn,Gemini Rising,Leo moon.
What that translates to is He liked routines.Fruegal with money.
The Gemini is about communication (writing) He wrote at least 50 books. He had Pisces at the top of his chart so he liked a lot of time alone and was a dreamer but with Jupitor in Scorpio he had the guts to make the dreams come true and to be adventurous. With that Leo moon he liked attention and was innovative too.
http://i12.tinypic.com/4780t1h.jpg
http://i12.tinypic.com/4780t1h.jpg
His wife was CHARMIAN Kittredge London a virtuoso pianist.
She was his 2nd marriage in 1903. She also wrote about astrology.
Jack london was married 3 times.

[botebum]

Little is known about what actually became of Snark. She's been spotted almost as much as Elvis.
see this- http://www.jacklondons.net/snark2.html

Doug

[Jay Greer]

Since the boat is documented, the owner is, currently, doing a search of past owners as well as contacting the New York Yacht Club for possible information as to the derivation of the name.
Nice to see so much interest from all of you!
JG

[Lucky Luke]

The masts were laid on city property as the yard had no facility for laying them out. The city would not allow them to remain. They were cut up by chain saw which included the bronze milled track. All possible requests were made for any one who might be interested in saving the masts. No one replied! You snooze, You loose!
Jay
Beuuuurrrrrkkkkk! Makes me want to vomit!!!! :( Got some just too rich people around Newport...or only powerboats?!
I had a look at the thread where you were talking about these mast....and saw the last picturee showing the cut bits being loaded on a truck.... :(
Well, they were not hollow...and probably really heavy, which makes the owner decision to get spruce ones understandable, and I am curious to see your office with that section of Charmian s mast standing inside! Post a pic when it s done!

[NealmCarter]

Several of my old Lloyd`s Registers show her as being built for a Mr. Lionel K. Levy of Stamford, Conn....he had other boats by that name, so I would really doubt the "Jack London connection". * Also shows her going back to the Bath Iron Works in 1939 to have an engine installed....wow, thats 14 years going to windward the hardway!

[Concordia...41]

She is an amazing project, good luck with her.

- Margo Geer

[S.V. Airlie]

Jack London 1876-1916
Second wife ( Charmain Kittridge married in 1905 ) had the same name as this beautiful craft...
Don't see a connection but, who knows... Jack's pet name for his second wife does suggest a boating connection...

[Bob Cleek]

When she passed through the brokerage over thirty years ago (scarey thought! time flies) we were told that she was indeed named after Charmian London. There was supposedly a family connection, the owner being related to her. At least that is what we were told and nobody seemed interested in questioning it.

[S.V. Airlie]

Actually London's pet name for his second wife was Mate-Woman... Kind of an odd combination.. but in a way makes sense.
Seems she did come from a wealthy family and was just a wee bit wild in her day.....So.. Bob, you are probably right....

[Jay Greer]

Good news, on "Charmian's" progress is that her bottom fastenings are still as good as new! The copper rivets show no degradation what so ever. However, a third of the steam bent frames will need replacing. Where as the double sawn frames on stations are all ok.
much of the planking is still in good shape. Long leaf yellow pine is being sought out to match to the origional planking. Any one know of a stash? 8/4 stock is needed.
Jay

[S.V. Airlie]

Jay.. that's good news...
Just goes to show..2 things...

1) They don't make boats now they way they used to and

2) Ya can't keep an old lady down...

[Jay Greer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid221/pda7b80f62d4e5aef1e9c87e7947baeaa/eb5ec693.jpg
Here is a sneek peek of my office, where the stump of "Chamian's"
main mast will be installed. The room is being fitted out to give the appearance of a stern castle.
Jay

[S.V. Airlie]

If I had an office like that, I would not have retired... What a pleasure to work there Jay... I mean.... WOW...

[Jay Greer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid221/pcf2757a7f8e6800972548b96b1dc9042/eb5ec482.jpg
Here is another view of the sash.
JG

[S.V. Airlie]

Jay.. do ya have any pictures of Charmain's interior... ?
Sort of a selfish question.. as I am in the process of designing Airlie's.
Actually, a very selfish question...

[Jay Greer]

I have copies of the origional Cox & Stephens drawings. I am sorry to say that the interior was gutted before the boat was purchased by Ward Vance. However, the interior will be as traditional as can be imagined.
This will include full scantling teak decks, beaded T&G subdecking, raised panel bulkheads, wooden louver vents in locker doors, a solid fuel stove and a cedar bucket for emergency use. The interior will be painted light cream with varnished honduras accents. The settees will be tufted red velvet. "Charmian" will truly be a time machine back to 1925!
Jay

[S.V. Airlie]

A little fancier than Airlie(1929) which was used for sword fishing...and then racing
The interior is fairly well gutted.. Not Mahogany.. pine... very rough... Has a wood stove, no galley, bunks, well kind of..no water tanks...

A playground... at least for me.. Just looking for ideas...Of course, Airlie is only 40'

[Jay Greer]

Pine and paint are perfectly acceptable for your fine little ship! A fancy interior would be out of place for you. I always design interiors to fit the owner and his use of the boat. One of my favorites is the use of pine tongue and groove staving for bulkheads and panels. It is much more appealing than a flat plywood surface. If you can post some pictures, I would be happy to make some free comments.
Jay

[S.V. Airlie]

Jay..one of my new years resolutions.. figure out posting pictures..
Think I'm getting it down.. have a few.. will try..
Have a good year.. Looks like you are gonna..
jamj

pss.. I am very happy with the pine by the way...More my style...

[Tim_H]

I drove by the Marina yesterday but didnt see any 60' schooners..is she inside a cover?

[Jay Greer]

The boat is stored about a mile from the water on private property.
JG

[pcford]

Here is another view of the sash.
JG

Not only does the boy do good work, but he has a good eye.

But I gotta ask you...will you do that work for $20 an hour?

Jes' kiddin'.

[Tim_H]

is that an Anderson window?

J/K

[Jay Greer]

is that an Anderson window?

J/K
Aha! No, it aint no stinking Anderson window!
Jay

[Jay Greer]

Not only does the boy do good work, but he has a good eye.

But I gotta ask you...will you do that work for $20 an hour?

Jes' kiddin'.
My plumber charges $65 an hour! And, he don't know pine from teak!
Just kidding too!
Jay

[Lucky Luke]

I am afraid I often earn 20$...a day!...or less!!!:rolleyes:

Gorgeous looking office that will be, Jay! ....just that the deck camber is a little...say...pronounced :eek: , but I like the tools you work with (I am surrounded by computers nowadays!);)

[Jay Greer]

Luke,
I often work for 0000! When I think I should have a salary increase I double it to 00000000! I am, most often, sorrounded by whales and spline battens.
Fair Winds,
Jay

[Tim_H]

Luke,
I often work for 0000! When I think I should have a salary increase I double it to 00000000! I am, most often, sorrounded by whales and spline battens.
Fair Winds,
Jay
are you working on Charmain?

[ishmael]

Hm. Nice to know there is a connection with London, Bob.

Lovely, odd name. Like Deirdre, or Tamsin, two of my ex's. Charmian. It makes a gentle sound. Charmian London was anything but. By accounts a tomboy, who suited London just fine. Someone to be mates with, roll the dice, come up smiling.

What became of her?

P.S. "Charmian" the schooner looks just a bit hogged in the pics. Pics can be deceiving, but it will be interesting how that is dealt with.

[Jay Greer]

The appearance of hogging is purely from lens distortion. One of the reasons for the rebuild being taken on was that the form of the boat is still as true as the day she was launched. The restoration work is being done by Rick Brown. I am merely the technical adviser. I will also be designing the new interior and dog house as well as the masting and rigging gang.
Jay

[ishmael]

"My favorite part of one of his books is when he is in Alaska? and tells of spitting and it is so cold that the spit turns to solid ice before it hits the ground!"

That's in his short story "To Build a Fire." Yes, Alaska. Man and dog on the trail, and he realizes, because the spit freezes before it hits the ground, that he's in for it. Harsh! Man, that story is harsh. He builds a fire after breaking the ice in a stream and getting wet, and then the fire is extinguished by snow off the bows overhead. He reaches for his dog, who instinctively shys away. It's a bit stylized, but I like his knowing from having been there.

Back to the schooner. Glad the hogging is an accident of camera.

[Tim_H]

We had to read that story in grade school back in Chicago. I remember it well, because we were in the middle of a cold snap and it was like 10 below below zero. Couldnt get my spit to freeze though :-)

[Jay Greer]

Here is a note on progress on the restoration of "Charmian" as of today Jan.25,07. The temporary workshop shed has been built next to the boat. The garboards have been removed and debris has been removed from the bilges. The tanks are out and it is now confirmed that nearly half of the steam built ribs will need replacing. However, the sawn frams are all ok. As stated in the beginning, this is really a big job. But every one is enthusiastic over the job that Rick Brown is doing on the boat. A small glitch occured during a receint wind storm that toppled Ricks ancient band saw and broke the frame. Glitches happen!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid223/pfe9b7c46fd26722d3a1a35cc60099155/eaed8c5b.jpg
Here is a shot of one of "Charmian's" sister ships. "Charmian" is hull #13 of sixteen boats Built by the Bath Iron Works in 1925.
13 must be a lucky number as only three boats are still known to exist. More later.
Jay

[rbgarr]

LOVE those staysail schooners!

[Jay Greer]

LOVE those staysail schooners!
Thanks for the comment! I will be posting more photos next week.
Jay

[Primitive Pete]

What a beautiful boat! Jay, please keep the updates and photo's coming.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

What a beautiful boat! Jay, please keep the updates and photo's coming.

Agreed

WOW:eek:

[Tim_H]

I agree also...I am even going over to Port Townsend in a few minutes..wish I knew where she was :D

[ishmael]

Just a note. London went a bit nuts toward his end. A brightness that's off the charts, I imagine the mercury compounds, the best of the day, taken for yaws, started to get him. He identified strongly with the wolf. No harm there, but he took to eating raw fowl.

He really did have bad luck. From his earnings gleaned from his popular novels he'd built a magnificent house in the wine country around San Fran. Just as it was almost finished it burned. Wolf House. "The Valley of the Moon" was written about that land, at that time.

Interesting chap. Arguably, the first American rockstar. I like him because we're so different. Of all the writers of that time, he's one I'd like to know. Twain was riding his comet at the end of his life at the same time, the James brothers penning their turgid prose. London was a fascinating man. I'd forgotten that he'd married again, but from what I read during my London fascination, Charmian remained his mate. She was the only woman who could keep up with him.

Some of his writing is still very readable. I recommend "The Sea Wolf." Social Darwinism, with interesting contemplation.

Cheers to the schooner Charmian. She must have good luck to have lived so long.

[Jay Greer]

I agree also...I am even going over to Port Townsend in a few minutes..wish I knew where she was :D
The boat is located in Dana Point CA, about a half mile from the water in a private facility.
Jay

[danny mitchell]

i did some reading the other day and read about a schooner that irving johnson skippered in 1926 seawahanaka called "charmain" could this be wards boat ?