MALIBU Runs Aground & Sinks (Link to Pics)

[RGM]

Just an hour ago I had the misfortune of walking around the severely damaged hull (on the hard at FOSS Shipyard in Seattle) of the recently sunk Ted Geary designed, Blanchard built fantail yacht MALIBU. The vessel was run up on a rock pile and sank in the San Jaun Islands here in Puget Sound recently. The forefoot was crushed, the keel severely damaged, the starboard stabilizer partially ripped from the hull (that's what caused her to sink), and other hull damage . As the tide changed she apparently shifted/rolled approx. 45 degrees or more and as the tide came back in the boat was submerged up thru the pilot house. It's tragic, it actually choked me up. I hope the vessel gets repaired/restored and not determined as a total loss. I took some digital pictures, I'll attempt to post them.

[ 07-10-2002, 09:29 AM: Message edited by: RGM ]

[Donn]

Who ran her aground, and why?

[RGM]

Not sure about all of the gruesome details donnwest, but it sounds like someone was trying to take a short cut.

[imported_Conrad]

How sad- I've always thought she was one of the more interesting oldies in the Seattle area. Sure hope you can get some pictures up.

[Ed Harrow]

Been out there once... at least one or two "interesting" places. If I had the chart handy I'd mention my favorite (followed a bigger sailboat thru, keeping close enough to be where he was, but far enough behind to take alternate procedure if he stopped, suddenly).

[Art Read]

"You drive these big boats long enough, you're gonna break one..."

Sad situation, but I'll hold off "judgement" 'till I hear the whole story. Swift current, marginally maneuverable vessels and lot's of nasty places hereabouts to suddenly "find" yourself should events conspire against you and "there but the grace of God go I..."

[RGM]

Ok gang, I finally got around to starting an Imagestation album. I loaded 12 pictures of the MALIBU in it. So, how do I get them here, or get you folks there? Ed, I understand that the boat was leaving Wasp Passage (between Shaw Island and Crane Island) heading for Roche Harbor and he turned NW to soon and apparently tried to "cut the corner" so to speak and ended up in a rock pile in the vicinity of Crane Island and Yellow Island. That's what I was told anyway, I think it's fairly accurate.

[WWheeler]

Right click on the picture in Imagestation. From the Properties, select and copy the "http:// ..." code. In the Forum, select the "Image" button from the "Instant UBB" list. Paste the http code into the Image. Make sure there's only one instance of "http".

PS There need to be a Help listing for this.

[RGM]

Here's where some pictures can be found.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4291637161
We seem to be a very visually oriented group.

[Bruce Hooke]

Wow, she took quite a beating. Thanks for posting the pictures. One conclusion I draw from these pictures is that vulnerable parts like stablizers should be designed such that they fail by the stabilizer sheering off rather than ripping through the side of the hull...

[Ed Harrow]

LOL, one thing that IS does is show one just how many Lurkers there are....

I'll have to find that chart, or a guide. The place I'm thinking of would be south and east of, I think, Friday Harbor. It's been too long, and my memory is WAY too short.

[RGM]

Ed, apparently your memory is a little better than you think. The area that you are imagining is probably just about right. Norm will very likely pass thru that spot with PRAIRIE ISLANDER when he makes his visit out here shortly.Bruce good point about stabilizers/appendages. All that underwater ginger bread can become a liability real quick. I've seen some stabilizers that are designed to "spin" on their shafts on an impact event, Vosper-Thornycroft I believe. That might help a bit. Additionally, MALIBU was/is equipped with two stabilizers per side, not the usual one per side.

[bill hersey]

This one is very hard to write. As many of you know, we owned and cruised MALIBU for many years. My two sons spent their younger years running her long decks and standing on a wooden stool to see over her large wooden wheel. I rececved an email on this from Roger and forwarded it to the other family members.

It is a very strange feeling. One shouldn't grieve over an object -- especially a yacht, right? There is too much other stuff going on in the world that needs our attention. Well, right now I fon't give a Damn about any of it. One of the great works of the wooden shipbuilder's art may have died. A big part of my family's history is gone. A vessel that saw me through storms, pirate attacks, and long gentle passages may be lost.

It isn't anger at anyone -- yet. But I am going to express some very strong opinions right now, as I feel I have the right to do so:

MALIBU's rebuilding was not done because she was weak or failing. It was done so she could make money. The change of engines, addition of a large pilot house on the boat deck, and other major design changes necessitated stabilizers. In fact, a friend of mine several years ago reported that the Coast Guard recommended that MALIBU not make open ocean passages because of stability. All of this effects maneuverability.

Geary's MALIBU, the boat I owned, could turn in her own length (absolutely true) had immense power with her slow turning (150 RPM) wheels and the best motion at sea of any power vessel I have ever driven.

I hope this doesn't sound like sour grapes, or lashing out. It really isn't. All things have a finite life, I suppose. But MALIBU wasn't ready -- and maybe she will sail again.

Our family is now exchanging old photos by email, and there are tears, believe it or not. Maybe it is just that MALIBU always has been a big part of those wondeful years a family has together -- if they are very lucky. She was not an idol rich man's toy. We all worked hard to keep her gleaming, and I worked very hard to pay her bills. But she was worth it. Every penny. Every hour. Every memory.

[pwilling]

Bill . . . I am sure everyone who has seen that tidy little ship is mourning with you -- I certainly am. Saw her in April, on Lake Union. Thanks for the memories.

[Donn]

I'd love to see a picture of her in happier circumstances.

[Alan D. Hyde]

As would I.

If the changes made were as Bill Hersey described, those who made them should be ashamed of themselves.

And don't talk to me about "economic necessity." That's not what makes whores. Lack of character is the true culprit...

Alan

[Ed Harrow]

Bill, that, indeed, must be a sad sight.

Rodger, if we're talking about the same place who ever took her through there was ummm, trying to be polite here - Mum told me if I didn't have anything nice to say to "Shut up!"

For those familiar with south of the cape, particularly Cuttyhunk, you'll know Canapitsit (sp?) channel. Same kind of place. Egods, that's no place to take such a craft.

[Nicholas Carey]

I was told that the rock MALIBU struck is uncharted, but is well known locally. It's even got a name: "The Sinking Rock"

[RGM]

Ed, I had a chance to drag out my Marine Atlas of Puget Sound and discovered that the area is NW of Friday Harbor by about 4 nautical miles. Now where did I put that Ginko Biloba ...?

[Donn]

"you'll know Canapitsit"

http://www.impulz.net/buzzardsbay/gif/elizaisl.gif

[Art Read]

Yes, that is indeed one of the more "interesting" passages up there. I'd not want to have to try it in the fog, without radar... Actually there's a whole variety of routes through that particular rock pile, and I'm not entirely sure which one in fact was attempted. If it was the one I assume, it is regularly transited by 400 foot car ferries, day and night, in all weather, so I can't really fault the skipper for attempting it. But even on the smallish sloops I'm usually aboard up there, I always "perk up" a bit and pay close attention when my student "navigaters" take us through that particular bit of real estate. Don't know about any "uncharted" rocks in there, (THAT'S a lovely thought!) but there are plenty of unmarked ones. Not a place to cut corners....

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by Art Read:
Don't know about any "uncharted" rocks in there, (THAT'S a lovely thought!) but there are plenty of unmarked ones.Your charts are only as good as the techniques used to produce them. Puget Sound was surveyed rather quickly -- depth depth measurements were taken at 100-yard intervals, effectively establishing a grid over the bottom.

There's a lot of rocks and the like that can hide in a square 100 x 100 yards.

[Donn]

Little Known Fact: Rocks, especially those that live in the sea, and in earthquake country, move.

[bill hersey]

Thanks for the kind thoughts. This is one of the few groups in the world who appreciates what MALIBU is.

I forwarded some time ago to Roger a picture we had taken of MALIBU at anchor in Muertas Bay, and he was kind enough to email me some recent photos. I don't know how to post photos, but I would like to share her -- as I knew her -- with all my friends here.

You all might remember in an earlier post that she is constructed of 3" cedar over 6"X6" oak frames on 18" centers, doubled in the forward section, with a ceiling (inner planking) of 2 1/2' cedar. This is not a vessel that breaks easily. Roger just emailed me that the boat looks much "tougher" than in the photos,so it had to have been quite a battle.

I do not know who the current owners are, but I have to assume that they loved her too and that this is a great blow to them.

[Donn]

Bill..email pics to me and I'll post them....or I can tell you how to post them.

[Ed Harrow]

Well, if I was right, it was only because I mis-remembered, LOL. I'm think of Pole Pass on the NE corner of Crane Island, and I was thinking of Deer Harbor. (It was a long time ago, and the boat wasn't big enough, if you get my drift...)

None of this should send a stay-away signal. Not a lot of wind, but a really nice part of the world. Not too many places where one can get buzzed by a pod of Orcas :D .

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by bill hersey:
I do not know who the current owners are, but I have to assume that they loved her too and that this is a great blow to them.Unless they've sold her, MALIBU is owned by someone who has a serious thing for Geary fantails. They also own THEA FOSS (steel Geary fantail). THEA would probably has taken the licking with her new hull plating.

[Terry Etapa]

The Seattle Times had a story on her in yesterdays paper. Here is a link:
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=yacht10m&date=20020710&query=yacht

[Art Read]

Bill... "A vessel that saw me through storms, pirate attacks, and long gentle passages may be lost."

Now THAT sounds like the makings of an interesting "memoir"! I can think of a number of publications that would be interested in such an article... not least of which would be our hosts here. Also perhaps 38 or 48 North, or if you'll excuse the sacralige, the more "mainstream" nautical "suspects".

With what has now happened it would certainly have a topical "hook". And perhaps by the time it was ready for publication there will be enough information on her future "prospects" for a hopefuly optimistic "sidebar" piece as well?

If not, maybe you could just entertain all of us here on the forum? ;)

(BTW, Does anyone know if the current owners are in fact the same folks who are running Roche Harbor now? Be nice to know there's still some deep pockets behind her... But I guess that's kind of a "given" with a magnificent vessel like that...)

[Donn]

MALIBU

Length Overall . . . . . . . . . . . 100'-6"
Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19'-6"
Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7'-3"
Engines: Twin Cummins NT335's
Cruise 11.5 knots

Designed by L.E. "Ted" Geary
Built by Blanchard Boat Co., Seattle, WA
1926

http://www.etsell.com/images/image7.gif

http://www.etsell.com/images/malibu-stern.jpg

http://www.etsell.com/images/malibu-bow.jpg

Found on the web at:

http://www.etsell.com/malibu.html

[Alan D. Hyde]

Thanks, Terry.

The article quotes RGM.

Sad to see such damage to such a classic.

Alan

P.S. And thanks Donn for the post of photos from happier days...

[ 07-11-2002, 11:40 AM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

[Art Read]

Tough summer for "classics"... First the Seattle fire, then the "commuter" yacht in Camden, (any new news on that?) and now this. Interesting that the Coast Guard isn't investigating because no "licensed merchant mariner was aboard". I'd be very surprised to hear that "recently hired" skipper didn't hold a ticket. Wouldn't the insurance company insist on it? Perhaps the fact that she wasn't operating as a "passenger for hire" vessel at the time of the casualty is the reason? I'd still think his license might be subject to review if he was in fact holding one and in command. I've always assumed MY license is "in force" ANY time I'm on the water, whether or not I have paying passengers aboard?

[bill hersey]

In fairness to Mr. Geary, and for accuracy, those are not the original lines of MALIBU. Whatever one thinks of her profile now, Geary designed something else, without a pilothouse atop the boat deck. The originasl pilothouse was at the front of the vessel on the main deck, giving her a low and lovely profile. That was followed by the captains cabin, then the engine fiddley, the galley, the main salon, and finally the library. She was intimate and very beautiful. Her waterline has been raised as well. I will be forwarding some photos of her as she was originally built to Ed and Roger by email.

On that web site, it doesn't include the fact that she was a wedding present to Rhoda Rindge when she married the ranch forman, Adamson. Along with the yacht came a large parcel of land which later became Adhor Farms ("Adhor" spelled backwards is Rhoda). In the thirties she literally cruised the Pacific Coast from her private dock in Malibu to the fishing grounds of Alaska. Her original Atlas Imperial engines pushed her at 12.5 knots, and she was fitted with ironbark ice sheathing for about two feet at the waterline (and you can still see it in the close-ups of her underbody.

I still have much of the original sterling silverware created by Gorham for the boat. When she was sold, they didn't want any of that "stuff" I was told.

When she left us to go into commercial service, the surveyor (a long time friend) suggested, as probably the last private owner, I remove the brass builders plaque from the engine fiddley. I probably shouldn't have, but I did and now I am glad. If she comes back to life as the MALIBU I knew, I will personally fly north and reinstall the plaque. Until then, I will look at it standing polished in my bookcase next to this computer.

[Donn]

The newspaper said the registered owner is Windermere Real Estate, but says that John Jacobi, the founder and still 10% owner of the company really owns the boat. If that isn't the case, then Steve Allen's son owns 90% of her, because he bought the company last year.

I hope Ed or Rodger posts the pics of her original form.

[RGM]

Previous owner Bill Hersey e-mailed an older image or two of the MALIBU a while back. I'll root around and try to find those images and post them. It might take me a little while. Or perhaps Bill will post those before I do. So Donn, I'm a little suprised that our onboard research master couldn't find an old picture or two somewhere. You are always so resourceful. I'll see if I can help.

[Donn]

I was surprised too. I found lots of textual information on her, but no images,not even a painting. I'm still working on it, though.
:D

[RGM]

Donn, check your e-mail if you haven't already. I forwarded an old image and e-mail message that Bill Hersey sent me sometime ago. Post it if you can.

[Donn]

MALIBU

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid25/p1f64c417ee3c30500c492b6f22e1f1f4/fd8c271f.jpg

http://www.etsell.com/images/malibu-bow.jpg

Quite a difference! Thanks Roger.

[ 07-11-2002, 03:10 PM: Message edited by: donnwest ]

[bill hersey]

Thanks both of you for helping out with the pic. We are sorting out more photos now, some taken before WW II.

That faded picture was taken in Muertas Bay B.C. on a return trip from Acapulco. The only changes from the Geary configuration are the enclosed flybridge (the original was canvas on frame) and the white canvas below the hand rails to keep small kids from slippin' through. My wife was aboard MALIBU as a guest a few years ago, and said she barely recognized her -- outside or in. In the new article Roger attached in an email it mentioned her teak staterooms.Her staterooms were teak trimmed but painted in oyster white, and were not teak but fir. She was designed and built to be a big, tough ocean-going yacht, with an eye to practicality (her "practical" cruising range was 4,500 NM at 12 knots). Her salon was beautiful solid teak, as was the library (an on-deck convertible statroom with magnificent bookcases).

I have found our logs, including most guests, and it is really bringing back some memories -- like the time we sailed from Newport Beach to Dana Point and entered that harbor with six kites flying happily off the stern. The kids howled when we had to stop, and their "partner in flying" came stomping into the pilot house wondering why we just didn't turn around and head back so the kites would stay up. It was hard to argue because it was John Wayne. His WILD GOOSE shared our dock at Lido and he had hopped aboard with his twins to go kite flying. I was in the pilot house and didn't even know they were up there!

Uhboy. Now I'm feeling a major time warp thing. Whatever you all are interested in, I will gladly share. I just don't want to be one of those characters who rattles on about stuff. After all, it was the past...

[ 07-11-2002, 09:12 PM: Message edited by: bill hersey ]

[John B]

I really feel for you Bill. I keep thinking about our old boat ( we've been running it for nearly 20 years now) and imagining what it would like to be in your situation.

She'll come back surely. It could have been a lot worse.

[pwilling]

Bill,

Please don't worry about "rattling on" -- it is good stuff, and your memories are the only connection we all have to a world that is gone and maybe some of us wish we could still visit it. Every one of these fine old boats that falls on evil days is one less thread. So lay it on us if you have the heart for it -- stories, photos, adventures, etc. You will find a good response I dare say.

Donn -- what tricks did you pull to post the Buzzards Bay chart? Very helpful. I have an undated b & w photo of the whaling bark Wanderer aground on Cuttyhunk, before she broke up.

On the rocks and skerries of Wasp Passage: I wouldn't have done it, any more than I would have taken the ferry Elwha into Grindstone Harbor . . . Malibu took the hard just west of Nob Island -- there are well known and well traveled routes through there, but not where she went on. Also she must have had a turn of speed, to mash her forefoot like that . . .

[rick etsell]

http://www.nwclassicyacht.org/articles/images/malibu.gif
As the Malibu gets ready to hit the water again, I thought I'd point out the Malibu info at the Classic Yacht Association's "Fantails" page, http://www.nwclassicyacht.org/articles/fantails.htm Included are two articles from Pacific Motor Boat magazine in 1926 about the new boat.

Also regarding the old vs. new Malibu: My friend Lynn Senour did the design changes at the Boat Yard in the 70's. Although I'm sure everyone agrees the original Geary profile (above) is about as gorgeous as they come, I do think Lynn did a decent job on what he was asked to do. Not quite Blue Peter, but not that far off either. Also should point out that the wheelhouse is aluminum and the vessel still has adequate stability. The stabilizers are for roll damping, not stability.

[ 04-30-2003, 10:13 PM: Message edited by: rick etsell ]

[swhite]

Bill,

Please share the pirate story...

[W Hersey]

It's been awhile since I entered the fray here on the Forum, as I have been very busy with a new environmental series. Meanwhile, this place got new systems and my old passwaord got lost or whatever...only way to come back was under a new name.

Anyway, it's good to be back with you guys.

As for MALIBU, I am very relieved she is going to survive. It seems now she'll be around a lot longer than I will.

The pirate incident is something I rarely talk about, as it involves a kind of violence that sticks in the recesses of the brain. I even hesitate to use the word 'pirate' because of the connotation of a boarding party, and all that MGM "ARRRGGGH" kind of stuff.

It happened during that run back up the west coast of Baha during the Chubasco of 1973. I recounted the storm, the burning of NOVIA DEL MAR and other boats lost in an earlier post, I believe. Needless to say, the six of us were completely exhausted after 5 straight days of fighting the seas, no sleep and little food (getting from the pilot house down the side decks to the galley was dangerous).

Pick it up at Cedros Island where MALIBU finally found some peace after we dropped anchor in a sheltered cove. Remember this is before there was any real civilization on that part of the Baha coast, and Turtle Bay was a no-man's land with dirty fuel. The few people who lived in the shacks survived any way they could, and it was notorious for its lawless environment. Not our choice to be lying just a few miles offshore, but we could go no further without rest.

There were no other boats of any size anywhere to be seen. The big white yacht was pretty obvious, both in size and what she must have held below decks. But that wasn't a consideration. We were so exhausted, that we collapsed in our bunks. I was in the aft stateroom, port bunk. My brother had the single statroom just below the stairs to the deck. Phil (first mate) was in the Captain's stateroom on deck, just aft of the pilot house, and the others were flaked on the salon floor where they had dropped. We were asleep immediately, the only sound being the humm of the 2-71 generator way below in the engine room.

I had nearly forgotten that in my drawer in the built in dresser between the bunks was an old Webley 45, loaded. In those days, carrying guns aboard was no problem, and no-one ventured down the coast without protection. The Captain's stateroom contained the gun cabinet with four high powered rifles. I had never shot the Webley, nor did I ever think I would. The guns in the cabinet had never been used.

At approximately 10:00AM, I was dreaming of an outboard launch cruising on a lake. It is odd how after so many days of constant state of tension and alertness, one can completely zonk --yet still be awake in in-third of a second.

The sound of the outboard was not a dream. It was just off our stern, and I heard low voices and definite sounds of people scrambling over the fantail just a few yards from my stateroom. What followed occurred in a matter what seemed like one minute. I have no idea why I reached in the drawer for the Webley, but my adrenalin had returned and I was back in survival mode. As I flew down the hall, my brother emerged from his cabin, as awake as I. Now there was yelling in Spanish above us. I ran up the stairs to the port deck and emerged to see Phil, rifle poised, facing aft, and to my right, four of the dirtiest, roughest looking characters you can imagine. One had a pistol, and the only other one I remember clearly brandished a rusty machete with a shiny edge. Phil yelled, "DOWN!" and fired the rifle. He missed, and the thug wih the pistol started running forward, firing. Phil ducked back in his cabin, I dropped to the deck, pointed the Webley and fired. The bullet hit my target mid section, and it was not pretty. He stopped but didn't drop,while the knife wielding one started screaming and charging at us. Phil was at the stateroom doorway, though I didn't look forward. Another shot came from forward and I think grazed the one with the knife. Meanwhile the others were screaming in high-pitched voices, and scrambling for the one I shot who was bleeding like Hell and starting to drop. As he was being carted back toward the stern rail, he turned. I forgot that he still had his gun in hand, and he fired directly at me. The bullet grazed the cabinside about three feet from my shoulder. I fired again and hit him in the back. They tumbled over the rail into their boat, and were gone. On MALIBU, we just froze in place until the sound of the outboard made it clear they were not returning.

I really don't remember much about the next few minutes, except that we did not call the port captain in Turtle Bay, assuming that he was in on the whole thing.

Over the next 8 hours, we posted watches, rotated sleep, ate, fired the mains, raised the 500 lb. Navy and headed North, back out into the same weather we had just escaped a few hours before.

It didn't seem so bad at that point.

I do not want in any way to romanticize this incident. It was dark and ugly, and remains so in my memory. If there is anything to be gained from what happened, it is the acknowledgement that anything can happen when cruising in foreign waters. There was no doubt in the minds of any of us who were there that we would have been killed. The fact that I shot another human being is constantly at odds with my general philosophy about proliferation of firearms.

As for MALIBU, I sense she just sighed, entered the whole thing as another page in her long and colorful private log.

[Dale R. Hamilton]

Damn- good story. Now tell us a John Wayne story.
Please....

[rick etsell]

Here's an article about the reconstruction taken from the Foss Company newsletter, TowBitts: http://www.nwclassicyacht.org/articles/images/maliburepairs.jpg

[W Hersey]

Wonderful! I haven't been on here since my last post as I have been in the edit bay almost 24 hours a day. Thanks for the news and the post -- and the photo. That post card was made about 1970 when she was in charter under ownership of the Tuett brothers of Avalon. There is also an earial shot taken at the same time, which I have someplace. Notice the large launches on the boat deck. The Tuetts built them of plywood /fiberglass and they were used for marlin fishing, powered by converted Ford flathead V-8s. We donated them to the Sea Scouts because they were heavier than a hangover migraine, and replaced them with more traditional boats.

I intend to contact Foss and find out the condition of her original swedish iron boatnail fastenings. I assume she was never refastened, and probably didn't need to be.

One of the things that has happened through all of this is a reconnection with my ex-wife after an amiable divorce many years ago. Her memories and photo collection seem to be more extensive than mine in different areas. For instance, she and Wayne became good friends because this was a period when he and Pilar were fighting a lot, and he would come over to the Goose at night when she threw him out of the Bayshore house. Jack Hedley, his skipper, didn't live aboard, so the boat was often locked up tight and he couldn't get in. She reminded me of the summer mornings when we would awaken and find the Duke snoring away on the large settee at the fantail. It seems she had told him to come aboard anytime he found himself "without a place to stay." It was fine because the boys loved him, and he them. He was very kid-oriented (devoted to his young twins) and he would join us for breakfast. At that time I was making horror pictures, and the rule was unspoken that we never talked business. We discussed the ridiculous but wonderful excuses we each had for owning ships like these, shared stories about crazy crew experiences, and the usual storm stuff. The boys always were at his side waiting to ride on his shoes -- he would put their feet on his and walk around the deck holding on to their hands.

Hedley was also a great character. The first time I took the wheel of MALIBU to back her out of the Lido slip, Hedley watched, chin in hand, from the bridge of the GOOSE. We had started to get to know each other, and of course there were a few spectators on shore (the anchorage was open to the public at that time, and there were alwyas people looking at the GOOSE).

MALIBU puffed some smoke from the stack, the crew scurried around the deck apprehensively, and Hedley watched. As MALIBU started to move, I leaned out of the pilot house and yelled up, "What do I do know?"

Hedley yelled back, "Head for something cheap!"

[W Hersey]

Forgot something...

I don't know if this will stir things up or not. When we bought MALIBU, we had to have her measured before we could have the Lido slip. It was professionally done, and verified what the Tuetts had told me. MALIBU is 107' 3" LOD. Their "account" of this was that, as often happens, Blanchard simply built the boat a litttle larger at the Adamson's request.

Anyone up there have an angle on this?