Puget Sound Wooden Yacht Fans

[Lew Barrett]

This weekend the Classic Yacht Association is holding it's annual Bell Street Harbor Rendezvous in Seattle. Drop in and visit us on Rita. Bring your cameras. Take lots of pictures!

Details Here (http://www.classicyacht.org/forum/index.php?topic=347.0)

[pcford]

Hey Lew, thought you said you were not going. Madera will not be there. In the midst of varnish touch up and canvas work. She's leaving on a two week trip next weekend.

[Kasey]

SOMEONE better take lots of pictures! ... I've been back in the bilge again, I need a bit of refreshment!

[Lew Barrett]

Not going to 4th of July. Will take pictures. So far the weather could be worse....but it could also be much better. Will be there at 10:30 today.

[BETTY-B]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty072.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty036.jpg

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[BETTY-B]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty001.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty005.jpg

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[BETTY-B]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty024.jpg

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[BETTY-B]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty006.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty142.jpg

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http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty144.jpg

[BETTY-B]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty140.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty139.jpg

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http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty138.jpg

[Kasey]

I LOVE the way you take pictures, Betty-B Dan - makes me feel like I was there! tytytytyty!

The one with the cruise ship in the background - kinda puts things in perspective, doesn't it?

[S/V Laura Ellen]

WOW!!!:)

[C. Ross]

Good lord, what a beautiful day! Great pictures Dan!

I hereby nominate Puget Sound as the wooden power cruiser capital of the world.

[StevenBauer]

Thanks for the great pics. Fantastic!


Steven

[Lew Barrett]

Dan,
That is quite a talent you have there! Spectacular photos; Kasey is right on!

Some yak about Dan, the photos, and Yula. I met Dan for the first time yesterday. I pulled "booth duty" and was sitting out manning the souvenir booth when I looked up and saw Dan. I'd never met Dan in the flesh before, but we recognized each other right away. Dan and Yula, his sweet dog sat with me (Yula quietly at our feet under the table) and then we went down to the boat and had a small snort together, in respect of the ancient mariner's greeting rituals. Yula was a terrific boat guest, and if you do ever come across Dan, he will be with her. You can invite her in with no regrets as she's the perfect little lady.

Periodically I saw Dan on the docks as we both made our rounds and he'd be bent into odd poses with his small, strange Olympus which is in an underwater housing that makes it look unique but toy-like. I didn't say anything to him at the time, but I wondered to myself how the photos would turn out. They turned out spectacularly!

I was going to run around and take some pictures today but there's no need. Dan covered the show better than I could have, and as I won't be writing it up this year, I don't really need the shots. Sometimes it's nice just to "be there"and not feel like you have to do anything. Thanks Dan!

It turned into a beautiful day and we have had a great turn out of boats and spectators. Today looks good too. I'm eager to see everyone in Mystic, but Mystic will have to go some to beat our cruiser turnout. We don't get a lot of major new builds here, but the preservation movement is in full swing and our boats are really looking good, especially when you consider that they are drivers and not dock queens. Monk boats (yea!) were the featured Marque this year, and we got a great representative sampling and turnout of his designs, from old Rita, which I think is the oldest Monk in the show to the Lazy Gal, a 52 foot post 1960 McQueen build. This is a range of boats that spans four decades of the Old Man's work and officially recognizes (but not for the first time or the last) the terrific diversity and quality of some of the boats that were built to his plans.

Meeting Dan and Yula was a treat that reminded both of us that our forum can be a great resource even as we struggle with the challenges of finding our way in an often confusing and troubling world.

Whatever kind of power cruisers from the golden era you might like, there's probably a boat at the show that
would turn your crank. People in the area who miss this event are also missing one of the great chances to get on board some of the Northwest's cruising icons. You really should get down next year, and every year. As wooden boat people, you owe it to yourselves. There's no other show like this one on the continent, and you get great access to all the classics.

Added: Dan caught one of the details on my own boat that most people overlook, but which I think displays my own feelings for the boat better than almost all the other bigger work that we've done over the years. Great eye Dan! Betty B is a lucky girl.

[Kasey]

Lew, you talking about the light switch?

[Lew Barrett]

The sconce and switch, yeah. My wife got them for the boat and they were a half inch too wide. I thought about how to mount them for a week without cutting the boat before the terribly simple and obvious answer came to me. The switch was a special order item, but no big deal in itself.

Dan's eye is more significant than my solution. My wife, the best judge of character I know, loved Yula and Dan.

[chergui]

Nice pictures, and boats. Do you have any info on Black Jacket, the sailboat with the black hull? Love it...

[C. Ross]

Dan, did you bring Betty-B down for the show? Would love to see some new pictures of her, too.

[Lew Barrett]

Red Jacket (she's the schooner you're interested in, right?) Sixty two foot Ted Geary designed schooner. Been owned by the same people for thirty odd years. She is a 1920 build if I recall, Blanchard built in Seattle. Norm Blanchard (Jr.) celecbrates his 97th birthday this year. One of two sailboats in the Classic Yacht Association, (we're a strictly power boat organization). Great boat, great owners! A fixture on the scene.

Speaking for Dan, Betty B isn't here; next year. I'm back to the show, see ya'll!

[BETTY-B]

Dan, did you bring Betty-B down for the show? Would love to see some new pictures of her, too.

The weather has been horrible. Yet, I have still been plugging away(pun intended). I'll be posting lots of update pics of BETTY-B in the coming weeks.

Lew,
Thanks...:)

By the way, the underwater housing Lew mentions is a great way to protect your camera. I bought it just because I know how hard on stuff I am. You can just throw it in the dinghy and not worry about sand or water or anything. And if you do dive, you can take it 133' down! They make them for all known brands of non-pro, consumer cams. Mine was $120 shipped.

DAN

[BETTY-B]

Nice pictures, and boats. Do you have any info on Black Jacket, the sailboat with the black hull? Love it...

As Lew said, that's RED JACKET. Formally Katedna. A very big piece of Seattle/NW history. She was the first yacht built at the N.J. Blanchard Boat Company. Norm jr's dad.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty044.jpg

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[BETTY-B]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty053.jpg

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http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty021.jpg

[BETTY-B]

Since people liked those I decided to go through some more here:

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty176.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty164.jpg

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[BETTY-B]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty167.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty168.jpg

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http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty179.jpg

[S/V Laura Ellen]

It could use some more bright work.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty176.jpg

[BETTY-B]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty183.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty194.jpg

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http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty198.jpg

[Kasey]

What??? No captions??? Are you slipping, BETTY-B?

[chergui]

Thanks for the info, and additional pictures Betty-b. I haven't seen this one around before. Very nice boat though.


Red Jacket (she's the schooner you're interested in, right?) Sixty two foot Ted Geary designed schooner. Been owned by the same people for thirty odd years. She is a 1920 build if I recall, Blanchard built in Seattle. Norm Blanchard (Jr.) celecbrates his 97th birthday this year. One of two sailboats in the Classic Yacht Association, (we're a strictly power boat organization). Great boat, great owners! A fixture on the scene.

Speaking for Dan, Betty B isn't here; next year. I'm back to the show, see ya'll!

[Lew Barrett]

Captions:

I'll do this out of my head, because looking up every boat would be too much work. I should get the builder/designer and size right, but I might be off on the launch date by a year or two on a few.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty167.jpg

Lazy Gal is a 52' Monk McQueen. I'm going to say 1964. McQueen's yard was in Vancouver, BC and they built big ones in conjunction with Ed Sr. Some of the last major commissions were quite ambitious, and a number of spectacular 80 plus footers were turned out in the 60s and 70s.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty168.jpg

Compadre is a 44 foot 1928 Stephens. Twin gas. Note the bronze fairlead, custom metal for this boat. nice detail Dan caught.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty175.jpg
I think this is Barnacle's forefoot. 36 foot Atkins (mistakenly called a Monk by the owner!!).

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty180.jpg
This is Thelonius (ex Cherie), a 1950, 38' Monk design built, I believe by Edson Schock, and very nicely detailed interior. Single Hino V Drive.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty179.jpg
Thelonius again, with a pretty Bob Shaw built tender.

[Lew Barrett]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty183.jpg
This is John Thomas' boat (of Bakketune & Thomas). Sorry, no more details. Nobody cares about the boat on the left.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty194.jpg
Shearwater's a 46 foot 1928 Schertzer, formerly owned by Ron McClure (Wooden Yacht's pf the Northwest) and now owned by Jan and Kathi Skillingstadt. Jan is a consumate craftsman, does almost all his own work.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty201.jpg
This is Belle and she has a secret. Shall I tell or can you guess?

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty197.jpg
Liberty is a pre-war 30 foot Chris. Her owner, Gary is pretty remarkable. He's the guy in the chair alongside the boat and has no use of either of his legs, but boats all the same.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty198.jpg
From port to starboard: Mudshark, immaculate 30 foot 1950 CC. Orbit, 28 foot 1962 CC, Belle. Done guessing about Belle yet?

[BETTY-B]

CAREFUL!!!!!

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[BETTY-B]

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[Yeadon]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty176.jpg

The Kay Dee II ... I'd look good behind the wheel of that Classic Yacht.

I saw the Kay Dee II up in Edmonds a week or two ago. For some reason, that curved roof over the salon just made my jaw drop. Still very nice even from here.

Also, Shearwater is a local favorite of mine. A couple years ago, Jan, Walt Plimpton of CWB, and I judged Chris Craft's at the CWB festival. I thought Jan was a very nice guy with a very nice boat.

[BETTY-B]

The Kay Dee II ... I'd look good behind the wheel of that Classic Yacht.

Kay Dee was my neighbor several years ago. The first time I walked up to it I was thinking it was a new build! Still looking great now too.

[The Bigfella]

OK - what's the secret?

Great photos guys

[BETTY-B]

Secret? BELLE?

DAN

[Lew Barrett]

I'm telling on her! She's a glass boat built in 1981. Three hulls were constructed. Trimmed out in wood, but the rest I told you. She's exactly the sort of boat I think someone should be offering the public as an efficient, good looking alternative to the nonsense deep V stuff that is ubiquitous on the market.

The brief for a boat like Belle makes more sense today than ever. Two gallons (or whatever) an hour at 8 knots and a pretty and commodious coastal cruiser. Makes sense. But doesn't get full status (the red "classic" burgee) in a wooden boat club.

[Canoez]

Wonderful photos. Great Eye, Dan.

[C. Ross]

What a show! This is the most spectacular set of wooden power cruiser pictures I have seen on the WBF or elsewhere. What a fleet!

Thanks Dan, thanks Lew, and thanks to the Classic Yacht Assoc of Puget Sound.

Next year, I'm gonna be there in person.

[BETTY-B]

Glad to do it guys. Thanks for the kind words on the pics. :)I wish there was some way to get the rest of the gang around here interested in wood boats though. :confused:

DAN

[BETTY-B]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty156.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty238.jpg

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[BETTY-B]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty217.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty121.jpg

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[BETTY-B]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty079.jpg

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[Kasey]

WOW! BETTY-B Dan, more of your amazing composition, and Lew! the champ steps in to save the day with great detail in the captions! Wonderful thread, thank you soooooooooo much!

[Lew Barrett]

We don't have a lot of new builds going on up here, not like Gannon and Benjamin, for example. But what we do have, and have in larger number than almost anyplace else in the world that I know of, is a tremendous preservation and restoration scene. Sometimes we feel as if the east coast gets all the attention, but it is amazing how many important and significantly challenging boats are being restored and preserved to as good or better than new condition in our waters.
Each new restoration, preservation or rescue drives the scene further along. Boats have gone for a song up here in the past, but that is beginning to change, even in the face of a sour economy. The reason is that people are making the investment in these boats power, oar and sail, and the results are starting to speak for themselves. There should be a fierce pride in what is being accomplished here, and I believe it's worth documenting. But the movement has only just gathered steam in the last ten or twelve years. We've got something valuable here and in large measure in BC as well. The region stacks up against any in the world, and it's not just about Port Townsend. Seattle is a treasure trove.

[Yeadon]

This last weekend, I sailed from Kenmore down to near Husky Stadium, where a friend tied my painter to the back of his Blanchard Senior and towed me through the cut.

I must've seen three or four classic yachts, including a dreamboat, on the lake during the long run south (plus a little sprit yawl that made me long for a second mast) ... before passing by Jensens, where wooden boats were nearly spilling out into the water.

Very impressive indeed ... and I don't know that this weekend was any different than any other. (Sorry ... but I'd forgotten my camera on the front seat of my truck.)

Edited - I did take a cell phone photo of Eleanora, the BJK Sr.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/2583377052_a58b9cba15.jpg

[C. Ross]

What you have in the PNW is just unbelievable.

Lew I hope you don't mind me posting that I had the distinct pleasure of meeting you and Lindy, and that you were kind enough to show me around the boatyards a little. Row after row of boathouses, each of them with a handful of truly remarkable, single design, non-factory, wooden boats. It was all I could do to keep from gawking like a midwestern rube, as Lew pointed out Monks, Stephens, Atkins, Dreamboats, Boeings, Chris Crafts, converted trawlers, and custom builds. So I gawked, and gushed, anyway.

I love WoodenBoat magazine, and don't mind that it leans towards Maine, and towards sailboats. But it means we don't get nearly enough coverage of the incredible stuff you upper left coast guys are doing with vintage power cruisers.

[Kasey]

I never get tired of stealing - oops! I mean admiring - Betty-B Dan's photography - he just amazes me.

[Lew Barrett]

I love WoodenBoat magazine, and don't mind that it leans towards Maine, and towards sailboats. But it means we don't get nearly enough coverage of the incredible stuff you upper left coast guys are doing with vintage power cruisers.

This place encourages the preservation of wooden boats because of the cold water yet a distinct lack of freezing in winter, lots of covered moorage, good access to facilities and capable help, and the broad expanses of relatively protected cruising areas that are perfect for these kinds of boats. The style of boats here is different in detail than the Eastern builds, but in general, it's a shared scene with many more similarities than differences. What is different is that old displacement style powerboats have a bit more relevance here because our style of cruising allows them to be used efficiently for the long transits that typify our extended seasons and the protected coastlines of the area.

It is without doubt an "undiscovered" scene relative to the focus of the magazine, and there's been some discussion that it gets overlooked and played down by the eastern "establishment," not particularly Woodenboat, per se. I don't know about that, but I'm doing what I can to cover our western developments on a regular basis and I think there's a lot of material here for people to enjoy and discover. By any real measure, the whole wooden boat thing is a tiny subset of the boating hobby, and we're not likely to supplant the general trends that have driven the world towards plastic footballs with handles and 25 mph "planning motor sailboats," either in Maine, or the Northwest.

Wooden boat fans should just know that there is a very healthy and active scene here and that it holds it's own with any in the world, and probably in respect to antique power, is the foremost population of survivors in the country, if not the world.

Look forward to seeing you again here Cris!

[dnadave]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty136.jpg


Woodrow just relocated from C Dock to B Dock where I'm moored. Real nice boat.

I'm even more sad that I missed this show while on a trip to New Haven, CT. It would have been nice to meet both Dan and Lew. Next year I'll bring down my old, but not classic, Chris. She's a 25' 1960 Custom Cruiser Cavalier. Plywood, yes, but a great starter wooden boat to learn both piloting and restoration on...

Great Pictures Dan!!

Dave H

[dnadave]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/betty198.jpg

The 60's Chris on the middle is mch like Ivy. Only 3' longer, 2 years younger, and much further along in her restoration...

Dave H

[Boston]

its like I died and went to heaven

my first born for a set of prints to one of those old Elco's
Ive found lines for an old ML Movie but nothing in the 46' range Im really looking for
specifically Ild love to build a replica of either the 46' Widgen or the 57 flat top
a set of prints for Widgen would be spectacular

also anyone doing replicas and if so
whats there secret to getting a little more efficiency out of the hull form

[snow(Alan H)]

Amazing - I just found this thread & was blown away - somehow there needs to be a way of indexing the truly cool threads that allows newbies to find them. This was such a find - cheers to all those that contributed to it.
Alan

[Bob Triggs]

And it is another good example of Betty-B Dan's enduring creative contributions to this forum. It would be a shame to lose that kind of talent.:cool:

[gert]

Truely amazing thread; Thank-you.
What pray tell do you wear on your feet on this deck?
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/CYA%20Bell%20Street%202008/betty121.jpg
And if it's wet?

[Boston]

anyone caught wearing shoes on that should be summarily shot, stuffed and stood on the dock as an example to others

[Garret]

As the very proud owner of a PNW boat (Seattle, as in Blanchard/Seaborn), I have to respond here.... Right after adding my thanks for these fantastic photos.



This place encourages the preservation of wooden boats because of the cold water yet a distinct lack of freezing in winter, lots of covered moorage, good access to facilities and capable help, and the broad expanses of relatively protected cruising areas that are perfect for these kinds of boats. The style of boats here is different in detail than the Eastern builds, but in general, it's a shared scene with many more similarities than differences.

When easterners see Neoga, their first guess is Rhodes, until they look closer & see those "details". She has a pilot house like no other I've seen & perfectly designed for watching a storm blow by in a snug anchorage. Even more, when people see her underbody, they guess 25-30 years newer than her 1941 launch.

Have to tell a story here. At the 2004 (2003? - whenever it was held @ Rockland, ME) Wooden Boat Show, we were at a mooring in the harbor. While we were sipping cocktails in the cockpit (after a hard day at the show), a small Maine style inboard came by with 4 guys in it. They had started their sipping long before us. One guy hollered out "Is that a Rhodes?". I replied "No, she's a Seaborn". "Damn." came the answer "First one in the harbor I've gotten wrong". Silence for about a 4 count and another guy on the boat said "That might have something to do with the fact that she's the first one that had anybody aboard".



What is different is that old displacement style powerboats have a bit more relevance here because our style of cruising allows them to be used efficiently for the long transits that typify our extended seasons and the protected coastlines of the area.

It is without doubt an "undiscovered" scene relative to the focus of the magazine, and there's been some discussion that it gets overlooked and played down by the eastern "establishment," not particularly Woodenboat, per se. I don't know about that, but I'm doing what I can to cover our western developments on a regular basis and I think there's a lot of material here for people to enjoy and discover. By any real measure, the whole wooden boat thing is a tiny subset of the boating hobby, and we're not likely to supplant the general trends that have driven the world towards plastic footballs with handles and 25 mph "planning motor sailboats," either in Maine, or the Northwest. Yeah, we are a tiny subset, but that's OK. I'm completely mainstream about everything else... ;-)



Wooden boat fans should just know that there is a very healthy and active scene here and that it holds it's own with any in the world, and probably in respect to antique power, is the foremost population of survivors in the country, if not the world.

I think you may have the healthiest wooden boat scene going - certainly one of the most concentrated. I have to agree that Maine is similar - as is the scenery - mirror image though it is. I think the similar climate/boating conditions - though Maine is colder - must produce some like thinking.

When is this show? I absolutely have to plan a trip out to see these spectacular boats. I've seen various cast members in marinas around Lake Union in the past, but seeing them all together must be a sight.

Many thanks again!

Garret

[C. Ross]

Free Betty-B.

Wonderful to see this thread pop up again.

[Lew Barrett]

When is this show? I absolutely have to plan a trip out to see these spectacular boats. I've seen various cast members in marinas around Lake Union in the past, but seeing them all together must be a sight.
Garret

Garret, Cruising the N.Z. CYA site I noticed they had linked to this thread and also noticed your question that went unanswered.
The show is held every Father's Day weekend (that means mid-June). It is sponsored by the Port of Seattle and a couple of other outfits so I hope it gets funded next year as city budgets are tight. At the moment there is no reason to believe it won't be. I wouldn't come just for this show unless I were looking for a classic powerboat, but if one is in town, it is a great way to pass a day.

[Hal Forsen]

Thank you!

[Garret]

Garret, Cruising the N.Z. CYA site I noticed they had linked to this thread and also noticed your question that went unanswered.
The show is held every Father's Day weekend (that means mid-June). It is sponsored by the Port of Seattle and a couple of other outfits so I hope it gets funded next year as city budgets are tight. At the moment there is no reason to believe it won't be. I wouldn't come just for this show unless I were looking for a classic powerboat, but if one is in town, it is a great way to pass a day.

Thanks Lew!

If I can pull off a place to stay Fri & Sat, I think we will be making the PT Wooden Boat Festival this Sept. Couple of days in Seattle beforehand & a few days afterwords in the islands. Just have to see what I can pull off in the way of time off work - as I have a project getting delivered to a customer in October.

Anyway - hope to meet/catch up with some of the PNW folks when out there. Hope my boat helps me get an in.... ;-)