Rebuild of Common Sense 1

[Jay Greer]

Those of you who have seen pictures of my own, modified Common Sense Sloop, "Red Witch may be interested in seeing the pictures of the rebuild of the origional boat which is #1 of the series of six boats.
One picture shows a shot of the deck taken in 1965 and several shots taken this year that shows the underbody as well as the deck layout.
It may be noted that the, higher than usual, deck house was mandated by the owner who is 6'3" in height. Rick Brown, master boat builder is doing the work.
Jay
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid218/p74efef59ef0c4b3440105a81f771a68b/ec13efb2.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid218/paa1a7e3afc604061edd8c8e84efde986/ec13f61e.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid218/pfe7f446f45ef84a1e68ac50c04515e22/ec13e3b7.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid218/pab0b357b5fd35ad88ac1315ba0c73363/ec13df04.jpg

[Jay Greer]

The Boat is currently located at Sea Spray Boat Yard in Newport Beach CA.
Jay

[outofthenorm]

Jay, she's a thing of beauty indeed - especially flush deck. On one of the resto pics. there appears to be a small hatch or opening port side aft. Is that something for an outboard, or just a piece of missing deck?

- Norm

[rbgarr]

I like raised deck sailboats. Less svelte, but more roomy is the S&S Crusader model (no picture) and the Chuck Paine Tangier design, whose owner was also six plus feet tall.

http://www.chuckpaine.com/replicas.html

[Jay Greer]

The owner opted for some changes in the after deck which had been raised during a previous restoration. It was a botched job at best and made the boat very awkward to sail. The new set up is a return to the low after deck with the broken sheer. However the owner preferred to have storage hatches installed in the deck which necessitated a lot of fancy drain and scupper design. More pictures to follow.

[bott]

In leaning more about how to keep my topsides looking good:

On the last photo, is the white stuff over the seams and blowing out over the planking glazing compound shown in its proper use?

[Jay Greer]

That white stuff is flexible oil based seam compound. Some white epoxy based fairing compound is also seen.
Jay

[Jay Greer]

The boats sport an unusually tall rig at first glance. The stick towers forty four feet above deck which seems a lot on a 28 foot hull. But when you realise that this boat is a bit of a cross between a six meter and an R boat and has nearly a twentyfive foot waterline plus thirty five feet of sparred length, it seems better proportioned. In addition the rig is compensated with great stability of hull form and 5,500 pounds of lead in one generous chunk hanging from the keel.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pf2fd6c9219ecc11e0e3773678c6c8a03/e9907ea5.jpg

[Jay Greer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p259a20ac779607a5253f2b98c9ee71b1/e9907783.jpg
When we brought #1 up from San Diego a year and a half ago, the boat was leaking so badly due to cracked frames and a sprung butt block that we nearly sank.
Here is the appearance of the boat with the botched rebuild and raised sheer, prior to the job that is now almost complete.
Jay

[Jay Greer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pd5c674a1e6274c06f566d10e93e4ca32/e9907aaa.jpg
The hull had been LP'd black and you could throw a cat through the topside seams. We did a quick pay job with tile caulk, which helped to keep us afloat.

[bott]

:eek:

Harrowing.

I must say, that that is one of the most beautiful spreads of canvas I've seen for a marconi rig... I'd almost expect to see a TP52 under that rig :D

[bott]

Also...

Jay, I notice on your CS#5 you do not have a boomkin and your sprit seems less extreme... Did you modify the displacement and rig on Red Witch (she appears a bit sleeker in the underbody, but that may just be the one pic I can see)? Or maybe it looks like you reversed the transom a bit more to replace the boomkin?

[Jay Greer]

Also...

Jay, I notice on your CS#5 you do not have a boomkin and your sprit seems less extreme... Did you modify the displacement and rig on Red Witch (she appears a bit sleeker in the underbody, but that may just be the one pic I can see)? Or maybe it looks like you reversed the transom a bit more to replace the boomkin?

"Red Witch" was literaly built over the lead of the origional boat, CS5 using the sections but changing a lot.
I did some extensive modifications to the underbody which gives the boat another five inches of water line and made it into a six meter killer! The bow sprit is still of the same length but the boomkin was eliminated. Two feet were cut off of the main boom and the new mast was moved aft a foot and rigged with internal halyards. The mast head rig has a standing back stay but the running backs come into play to keep the forestay sag to a minimum. Actually the Witch is a sloop of the cutter type as currently rigged. I wish that I could post pictures of the Witch here but, due to next winter's article for WB, I have to hold off.
On #1 we eliminated the head stay and changed the rig to 7/8 from 3/4. #1 sails so well with the 7/8 rig that I will go that route on the next boat, #7 "The Witch of Endor".
Here is another photo of #1 as of last week. Still much to do!
Jay

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p0e440214bd57e2887136cbdf1ac59a0f/e990824a.jpg

[Jay Greer]

:eek:

Harrowing.

I must say, that that is one of the most beautiful spreads of canvas I've seen for a marconi rig... I'd almost expect to see a TP52 under that rig :D
Actually one of the boats did compete in the 1934 Transpac. Common Sense four was first boat to clear the west end of Catalina and led the fleet for four days until the boat was dismasted due to a broken back stay. It took three days to set up a jury rig. Even so, sailing with a capsized head sail on a fifteen foot mast the boat placed third in class!

[Jay Greer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p7d36c8a7a7521a323d253fc2d0ef865d/e9907f49.jpg
John Arnold, the tall owner who needs the extra height below.

[zenda]

Jay, would it be possible for you to post a picture of the boat from the side, so we can see the raised deck and sheer? I'm curious to see how it looks, since I'm modifying my "Inga" with a raised deck.

[Jay Greer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p05d55574f8ecda3fb7028a0a496b0395/e99081d2.jpg

Sorry I can't show a full profile of the sheer. Hope this helps.
Jay

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Is that THE Bounty in the background?

[Jay Greer]

Yes, that is the origional "Bounty". After the boat was gutted by fire, Rick Brown worked for two years restoring her. I will post some pictures on a seperate thread.
Jay

[Paul Fitzgerald]

You live in boat heaven

[Jay Greer]

Make no mistake. These boats are in Newport Beach CA. not Port Townsend WA. I can count the number of wooden boats here on one hand! Newport was once the center of the world of wooden boats. Now it is Port Townsend , for the West Coast.
Jay

[Jay Greer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p8040fed2f75fdd811b4db7292ab71a88/e9908206.jpg
There is about a month of work still to be done. I will post some sailing shots of her then. The running backs are an addition I felt necessary for such a tall rig. A fully adjustable standing backstay is in the works. This boat flies a ringtail and a horrendous mast head chute. When set up for down wind work, she looks like an Aussie 18!
Jay

[bott]

A ringtail?! :eek:

How does one get that thing through tacks?
Or is it used like a solid-fuel rocket, just point the boat in the direction you want to go, then light it off!

[Jay Greer]

This is one you don't tack. Rather it is a stealth attack for light winds.
There is a 14'jack yard that goes aloft and a ten foot extension that plugs into a hole in the boom. Definatly not meant for down wind tacking. In fact this boat is better off sticking to the dead down wind track.

[John B]

Can't wait to see that !
Thats one big rig.;)

[Jay Greer]

The boat has been clocked at 8.5kts off the wind; bursting to 9.5!
It is kind of a stealth fighter considering that this is a heavy displacment hull! #5 was once pitted against the R boat "Pirate" over an 18 mile course and beat her by 35minutes boat for boat.
Jay

[Jay Greer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p80fc0f6603ea6fc44f2bcccece9ed930/e9789130.jpg
Here is a shot of the sheer for you as of today. You might be interested to know that the break timber was moved on frame station aft from the origional design in order to accomodate a hanging locker as well as more room in the below decks galley area.
Jay

[Jay Greer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p5d9ba96efc4ec117d8478e214daa9ede/e9788ffb.jpg
Here is a shot that shows the lofty 44' stick.
Jay

[zenda]

Jay,
Thanks for the sheer shot; she's a pretty boat, though I think she'd look even better without that high doghouse.

[Jay Greer]

Even so, the mistique is in the incedible speed this tiny wooden bullet can achive!
Jay

[zenda]

Hey Jay,
Are the plans for this boat available anywhere on line, even study plans? Can you post the specs?

[Jay Greer]

Zenda,
The origional boats , built by Matt Walsh, were made from a long lost half model. The lofting was done on the yard fence. I did take an accurate set of lines off of #5 prior to the rebuild. I am in the process of drawing a full set of building plans that will accompany a series in WB entitled "How to Build Common Sense". These are the origional specs. LOA 28' Sparred L 35' Beam 7' LWL 24'9" Draft 5'5" Disp. 10,000lb Sail Area 489 sq'. The new boat has a slightly different stem, a greater water line length and an improved rig.
Jay

[zenda]

Thanks Jay,
I remembered that you were doing a WB article on this design, but this boat was obviously older, and I hoped there were plans available. Please be sure to let us know what issue the article will be featured in.

[Larks]

Jay, if you are about, looks like the pics of Red Witch have slipped off the grid, (I'm just seeing red x's here)...

does anyone have the ability or knowledge to resurect these pics???

[MACTAY2]

yes that is what i am seeing as well (red "x"s), you should be able to right click on the x and scroll to show picture and it should open, but it doesn't open. i would like to see them as well

[Tom Robb]

Same here too. No pix, only red X's.

[rufustr]

The pics were probably hosted on Image Station and have been lost, along with so many I have posted here over the years. :o

[Jay Greer]

Well guys, I am at a loss as to what happened to them.
I could attempt to reconstruct the photos. But first, I would like to know if they can be found. Any sugesstions would be appreciated.
Jay