Greetings from Sjogin

**Russ Manheimer** · 08-09-2005, 01:16 PM

Greetings to all from a long time lurker. (I can’t remember how many times Shane has come and gone and come again since I first started auditing this forum.) Speaking of the Wild Dingo he may see in my boat a resemblance to his beloved Elly . Now that I’ve gathered some on-line pictures of my boat and cruising grounds I figured I’d come out of the shadows and share. Here's one to whet your appetite:

My wife and I have a small Spidsgatter (I assume that’s what she is) that we sail out of an old fashioned boat yard, David Beaton and Sons, on Northern Barnegat Bay in New Jersey. We live in Manasquan, NJ, a few blocks from the ocean. Manasquan is about 50 miles South of New York City. The boat, Sjogin, was built in Southern NJ in 1961 by a gentlemen named Gullen (sp?). If any of you can help identify the designer I’d be most grateful. I thought she might be designed by Murray Peterson but his son Bill thought not.

She seems to be modeled on a typical clinker (lapstrake) Danish inshore fishing boat and not one of the more refined carvel types. [I]Sjogin[/] is 22’ LOA, 8’ Beam and draws about 2’6’’. She has a long shallow keel. Also she’s never had an engine. I carry a sweep to scull when needed. She can be seen on my Flickr web page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sjogin I don’t sail very far from the boat yard, mostly content to sail near the local marshes and heave to and read. [I]Sjogin[I/] has a great ability to heave to. When on the wind you can remove the tiller, leaving the jib sheet set, and she will come about and settle on the opposite tack for as long as you wish.

I keep her in commission all year long as the off season sailing is a lot better with the absence of Cigarette boats and jet skis which have ruined sailing on Summer weekends in these parts. She’s currently out of the water for her annual refit. Some of my favorite sailing is in the Winter when the only company on the bay are Buffleheads and Mergansers. She has a small woodstove on board that came from Navigator Stove Works. There are some photos on their web site here: http://www.marinestove.com/installation_views.htm Scroll down to #10. She was also featured in the November 2004 issue of Classic Boat on marine solid fuel stoves that Forumite Andrew Craig-Bennet wrote.

There are also photos at the Flickr site of my boat yard, Beaton’s, as well as photos of a Joel White Flatfish recently built by Beaton’s for my Brother.

Looking forward to having some help in identifying her designer.

Regards,

Russ

[ 08-15-2005, 03:35 PM: Message edited by: Russ Manheimer ]

**Donn** · 08-09-2005, 01:50 PM

Lovely boat!

**Dave Fleming** · 08-09-2005, 01:53 PM

Thanks for 'unlurking'

One of my mentors Phil Clarke had a shop and studio just across the road from Beatons in 'squan'. Mantoloking Road?

Took me over to Beatons several times to see what was going on. This would have been in the 1970's.

**Russ Manheimer** · 08-09-2005, 02:15 PM

Thanks Donn.

Dave,

Phil Clarke was one of my mentors as well. He introduced me to Beaton's in '79 and I found my first boat there. She was a 23' Osprey design sitting out on "death row" waiting to be turned into compost. I saved her and spent several Summers living aboard at Beaton's.

Phil also taught me to some of the boat builders arts. I parlayed his teachings into a stint a Beaton's in the early 90's as a helper/builder. I worked on the A-Cat Ghost, Fleet champ for 8 years.

I also have a Phil Clarke Duck Boat built in the early 50's for the local club training fleet. As you can see form the Flatfish photos, Beaton's still builds a great boat.

Phil was quite a character and the best “mechanic” I ever knew.

Russ

**nedL** · 08-10-2005, 06:32 AM

I always thought Beaton's was a neat yard, pleasant people & good stuff going on there. They were very helpfull when I called there last summer looking for a source for some Jersey white cedar, I ended up making a 500mi round trip to the middle of the pine barrens, wonderful wood. My dad bough his last boat there about 1980, a 24' Hankins cruiser (owned by some doctor at the time as I remember). Was Sjogin built locally around there? (Jersey white cedar planking?)She is a beauty, I love the way she is unpainted inside (interiorof planking). What are her decks (canvased,or glassed)? Can you tell us more about her?

[ 08-10-2005, 07:54 AM: Message edited by: nedL ]

**nedL** · 08-10-2005, 06:52 AM

It looks like there is still good stuff going on at Beaton's. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 08-10-2005, 07:53 AM: Message edited by: nedL ]

**StevenBauer** · 08-10-2005, 07:08 AM

Thanks, Russ. What a beauty!

Steven

**Russ Manheimer** · 08-10-2005, 08:59 AM

Steven, thanks for the compliment.

NedL
I’ll pass your comments about Beaton’s on to Tom Beaton, the third generation boat builder at this wonderful boat yard. They are the most accommodating people you’ll ever meet. As I mentioned previously I had the privilege of working there during the early 90’s and their sufferance of my attempts as a boat builder earned my eternal gratitude.
Thanks also for you comments on Sjogin. I’m lucky that no one over the years painted or oiled her interior. The only care I give the Jersey white cedar planking and white oak frames is an occasional scrubbing. As you can imagine she always smells sweet inside. Her decks are painted fiberglass over vertical grain red cedar. The cabin top in canvas covered plywood. Both are on my long term list for replacement. I’d like to remove the glass and after patching what I’m sure are several punky spots, cover the decks with a layer of 6mm Okume and Xynol set in epoxy. Beaton’s has used this technique on the recent A-Cats they built to great effect.
I’m also having some problems with her backbone fastenings as they are galvanized iron and there’s some iron sickness in the stem, keel and floors. But as Phil Bolger has said there’s something to be said for overbuilding as there’s some strength left when half the structure is rotten.
Sjogin was built in South Jersey somewhere according to the last owner. The story he told was that the original owner had served in some of the last Norwegian square riggers in the 30’s and wanted a boat to remind him of his home land. The name Sjogin is not as I had long assumed a Norwegian word but a loose anagram of one her earlier owners names, Joe Shinn.
With respect to the Filckr photo you posted that’s the mold for the Joel White Flatfish the yard recently built. In addition to the full mold they made patterns of all of the Flatfish components from keel to coamings and everything in between.
Tom Beaton and I had long thought a simple keel/centerboard daysailer with a fractional sloop rig would be a great addition to the usual catboats that are raced on the bay. Tom and I campaigned the A-cat Wasp for 7 years in the late 80’s and early 90’s and it was real work to get them around the course in a typical Barnegat Bay afternoon sea breeze. Even the local Sanderling and Sandpiper fleets can be a handful. We would often sit around dreaming up the classic daysailer/racer. The Flatfish is damn near perfect. Beaton’s has an order for another one with others expressing interest. We hope to see a new fleet on the bay in a few years.
Russ

**Paul Pless** · 08-10-2005, 10:48 AM

[img]smile.gif[/img] holy crap - what a pretty boat [img]smile.gif[/img]

thanks for sharing her with us

btw,

love this shot

[ 08-10-2005, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: Paul Pless ]

**nedL** · 08-10-2005, 11:36 AM

Russ, you really do have a winner there all the way around, beautiful lines, excellent lineage & materials that can't be beat! (That Jersey cedar....., that's why I drove five hours each way for it. Too bad it's almost impossible to get, ony two places still milling it that I could find.) Sjogin is a lovely boat, everything looks proportioned just right & everything is there for a purpose, no extra glitze just for show, everyting just right. (Or that's the way she looks in the pics. to me.

) Sailing on Barnegat Bay in the off season must be just about heaven!!! I grew up on the Navesink & Shrewsbury rivers up north from you & my favorite time was spring & fall. I used to have an old 'banks dory that I'd go out sailing in right up to Thanksgiving, I'd be the only one out on the water. [img]smile.gif[/img]

**gert** · 08-10-2005, 12:10 PM

how can some one with something that beautiful lurk for so long? Thank-you; that is sweet [img]smile.gif[/img]

**Hughman** · 08-10-2005, 08:28 PM

You been holdin' out on us!

**Russ Manheimer** · 08-11-2005, 07:40 AM

Thank you all for your kind replies.

My wife and I will be at the WoodenBoat Show and look forward to meeting some of you. We're then going to spend a few days in Brooklin, Maine and when we get home I'll post some more boat porn for you.

Also if anyone has any thoughts as to Sjogin's designer I'd be most appreciative.

**Scott Rosen** · 08-11-2005, 08:13 AM

Thanks for posting. I really enjoyed your photo collection.

Scott

**John B** · 08-11-2005, 03:45 PM

absolutely.... terrific shots. Love the auto helm !!

and the galley.

Charlotte is a bit special too.

**Russ Manheimer** · 08-12-2005, 12:38 PM

John B,
Thanks for the kind words. Especially coming from Waione's master. Any off-season projects pending? Just what does Waione draw?

Yes, Charlotte is spectacular. Probably the most comfortable small boat I've ever sailed. She's up in Maine for the Summer and I expect some great sailing when I'm up there on vacation.

Russ

**John B** · 08-12-2005, 09:25 PM

Hi Russ, our old boat comes out in a couple of weeks hopefully...the usual annual maintenance stuff.That'll keep me busy for month or two of weekends and a few stolen days.
draught?.. I reckon she's about 6'3" at the beginning of the season and about 6'5" at the end.

I was sailing a 42 ft boat last night with 8'6" draught.

8'6"!! Surprised me to hear the thing was so deep. I'm still surprised.

**GBroadlick** · 09-03-2005, 10:20 PM

Russ u r killing me, say hi to tommy

**jaburgin** · 09-03-2005, 10:36 PM

her hull is very much like the traditional norwegian north sea fishing double-enders. and her lxbxd are identical to my saga 20 from norway however she is an inboard diesel. what a beautiful vessel you have.

**Russ Manheimer** · 09-08-2005, 12:29 PM

George,
Good to hear from you again.

Jaburgin,
Thanks for the kind words. I had an e-mail exchange with Matt Murphy and he thought Sjogin may be a Koster boat form the East coast of Sweden, much like Gilkerson's Elly.
What are/is lxbxd referenced in your post? Like Gronicles? Can you post a photo of your Saga 20?
Regards,
Russ

**OEX** · 09-14-2005, 05:41 PM

Russ, could she have been built and designed by Henry Ericson from MD or NJ? He built Saga a Koster/Kag type featured in WB issue 49. Your boat is very much a Swedish workboat of type--Kag? Although Saga is 30 feet, it states he built others (size or details not mentioned)...just a thought.

Anyone know where that Saga is now?

Cheers, Bruce

[ 09-14-2005, 07:58 PM: Message edited by: OEX ]

**Stephen Hutchins** · 09-14-2005, 06:34 PM

her lxbxd are identical to my saga 20
Russ,
Quote refers to hull measurements ie: Length by Beam by Draft.
Beautifull boats you've got there!

[ 09-14-2005, 07:36 PM: Message edited by: Stephen Hutchins ]

**OEX** · 09-14-2005, 09:21 PM

Russ in the 70s and maybe before I think Fearing Designs of Sutton Bay Michigan made a few boats like yours. Not sure on the details, but they had a 20 ft Kag type called a Fjording. They used to run an ad in WB Mag.

Anyone know more about this to help out answer the question with which Russ started the thread?

Cheers, Bruce

After edit. Messing About in Boat had a thing on Faering Designs: Chip Stulen: Fjording 19.5 Volume 10 issue 6 page 10. and an ad in WB mag issue 49, page 133 has a pic of the boat--looks like yours on profile at least.

Got to tell you, I fell in love with your boat on the stove companies website and have been wondering what she was for a bit now.

[ 09-14-2005, 10:59 PM: Message edited by: OEX ]

**Russ Manheimer** · 09-15-2005, 01:25 PM

Bruce,

Thanks for the leads. It seems fairly clear now that Sjogin has Swedish lineage. I'll check for WB #49 for the article you referenced as well as the MAIB Ad.

Did you see the double ender photos Martin Schulz posted here: Elly Post Maybe Martin can help with Sjogin's lineage.

Stephen,

Any Saga photos? Thanks for the compliment and the lxbld explanation.

Russ

**Stephen Hutchins** · 09-15-2005, 03:00 PM

Russ,
No Saga photos. Here's a photo of a sail plan for a 28 footer I drew a while back. -She's got 6 foot
headroom in the cabin.

Sorry, she's not coming up. Here's link: www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2133751217&mode=guest&idx=2

[ 09-15-2005, 04:21 PM: Message edited by: Stephen Hutchins ]

**Lion** · 09-19-2005, 12:55 AM

Russ

A very sweet simple boat whatever the origins. Love the idea of a quiet winter achorage, good company, hot meal, a toddy and the woodstove!!

Lion

**Russ Manheimer** · 09-20-2005, 09:29 AM

Stephen,

Do you have any other drawings of the 28 footer? I like the profile and the curved masts. Very graceful. Any arrangement plans? What does she draw?

One drawback on Sjogin is her limited headroom. She has great sprawling room, but that's about it. I have to go on deck to change my mind!

Lion,

I just launched Sjogin last week and am slowly getting ready for the hot toddy season. Pictures to follow.

Rune,

Any more details on Evita? She looks like Sjogin on steroids! What is Kalvag? A traditional boat gathering?

Also, do you have any links to traditional Scandinavian boating sites? Based on what I've seen to date, Sjogin seems to have Swedish ancestors. But she doesn’t have quite the flare to her topsides like the Koster/Kag boats.

Thanks again all for your comments and leads.

Best,

Russ

**Stephen Hutchins** · 09-20-2005, 10:11 AM

Russ,
I've sketched some lines for her. If I remember right, she draws around 5 feet. The cabin house is relatively difficult to build. Ideally, it should be cold molded. Her design name is "Shelby" and she was inspired by an old Norse type craft of around the same length, Very heavily built, and drying out at Ralph Stanley's shop for ten years. Well, two years ago, Ralph's son Richard sold her to a local and dumped her in the water with a sump pump and 1/4" gaps in her seems. She floated just fine! For some strange reason, I was most inspired by this old boat floating in Southwest Harbor. Don't know what it was, but I drew some pics of her and got an aproximate length of her by walking along the dock next to her. I guess I sort of imagined myself living in a boat like her, but with full headroom, Mostly tied to the dock, but ready for a sail when the mood struck me. I've sketched some interiors, standard type with head, galley, and wood stove. I've lived in a cabin with a fake wood burning propane stove and it was nice, but think a real wood stove would be just better for me. Plus scavenging a little wood on a far off shore is probably easier and more fun than buying propane. --Someday [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 11-10-2005, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: Stephen Hutchins ]

**OEX** · 09-22-2005, 07:57 PM

Hey Russ--I-Talked to Chris Stulen of Faering Designs---Sjogin is not his and he does not know what it is, but loves it!!!!

Here is a boat desinged and built (manybe---cant remeber what he said) by Chris---and it for sale! 24 foot Stulen Faering

cheers---love that boat too!

[ 09-22-2005, 09:12 PM: Message edited by: OEX ]

**OEX** · 09-22-2005, 07:59 PM

here is a pic---there are more on the site

cheers

[ 09-22-2005, 09:08 PM: Message edited by: OEX ]

**StevenBauer** · 09-22-2005, 08:17 PM

She's a beaut:

Steven

**Doug Wood** · 09-22-2005, 08:28 PM

SJOGIN is lovely and so is your brother's Flat Fish.

CHARLOTTE...spider below the helm seat...E.B. White...Joel White...excellent!

**Thad Van Gilder** · 09-23-2005, 08:34 AM

wow, yet another wooden south jersey sailboat I haven't had my hands on yet!

We'll have to meet up after I get the new diesel in IVY.

I sail out of Somer's Point.

-Thad

**Russ Manheimer** · 09-23-2005, 10:58 AM

Bruce,
Thanks for asking Chris. At least that's one builder/designer that's out of contention for Sjogin's creator. Tell Chris that's one fine piece of boatflesh there. Does he have any plans on line? I'd love to have that amount of headroom on Sjogin. I’m 6’1” and have the scalp scars to show from repeated collision with her deck beams.

Steven,
Thanks for the links to Chris’s boat.

Doug,
I’ll pass on your catch of the spider detail to my brother. One of the builders at Beatons, Pete Schell, did a great job on that detail (in addition to the overall excellent job he and Paul Smith did in building her). Here’s a picture of the spider in question:

It’s in the access panel under the aft deck.

Thad,
Take a ride up if you wish and come for a sail. I guess Beaton,s is only an hour or so from Somers Point and an hour and a half from Philadelphia. Do you have any pics of Ivy on line?

**OEX** · 09-23-2005, 09:28 PM

Chris said her would sell plans for the building of one boat only. I think you have a fantastic boat designed by a Scandinavian that had a good eye and memory for "the way there were done over there…..." I feel this is as good or better than a design often over thought by someone looking at paper and dreams and not being on the water.
This does not mean there are not great designs out there, but great designs are based on the evolution of boat hulls over time and with pure function as their true reason, vs. "look."

Just my thoughts! Beauty to me is a functional workboat from 1910, vs. a Herreshoff or….. for yachtsmen…… Then again, opinions are like an @##^(%$, everyone has one

Cheers

Cheers

**Cosmo Lengro** · 09-26-2005, 11:39 PM

**Russ Manheimer** · 09-27-2005, 01:17 PM

Bruce,

Thanks for the comment. I agree with you that Sjogin's attraction is her strong workboat roots. From the evidence to date she seems to be based on workboats from the East Coast of Sweden. I hope some of the European Forumites will be able to help. Here’s a picture from last week when she was just launched and rigged for the off-season:

I first developed my love for simple honest workboats from reading John Gardner's columns in the National Fisherman in the 70's. My first boat was a Seabright Skiff that my friend Jon and I converted to a Spritsail sloop. Although I do love a beautiful yacht, there’s something about a boat that has been forged on the anvil of having to work for a living. If I ever have the wherewithal to build something large, a Barnegat Bay Scow Schooner would be at the top of the list.

In some strange way Phil Bolger’s boats have that quality as well, pure functionality with a touch of grace. (Brick notwithstanding!)

Thanks again,

Russ

**Dave Fleming** · 09-27-2005, 01:25 PM

Barnegat Bay Scow Schooner would be at the top of the list.

Got a pitcha or drawing, huh huh?

**Paul Pless** · 09-27-2005, 01:28 PM

I agree with you that Sjogin's attraction is her strong workboat roots.

plus that stern shot...
plus she's honestly built...
of wood...
[img]smile.gif[/img] and she is lovingly used and...
[img]smile.gif[/img] and cared for...
[img]smile.gif[/img] and beautifully maintained.

You should be very very proud, rest assured there are many here at the WBF that are envious.

[ 09-27-2005, 02:28 PM: Message edited by: Paul Pless ]

**Russ Manheimer** · 09-27-2005, 02:10 PM

Paul,

Yes, I'm quite proud to be Sjogin's steward. She's now 43 years old and I hope to be sailing her for years to come. And I'm willing to share her. If you or any other Forumite finds themselves down on the Jersey shore, drop me a line and we'll go for a sail.

Dave,

The only photos I know of are in Peter Guthorn's book on the Seabright skiff and other Jersey shore boats and in 'Down Barnegat Bay, a Midnight Nor'easter Reader". I'll try to scan same and post. Though most of the local scows were sloops built for harvesting salt hay, I bet they would make great Schooners.

Regards,

Russ

**Paul Pless** · 09-28-2005, 05:04 PM

Russ,

Sjogin

I may have missed it and if I have I apologize, but what's the pronounciation, origin, and meaning of your boats name?

Also if you have not found any leads as to her builder and designer, you might want to send some photos of her to Mystic, The Apprenticeshop, The Center for Wooden Boats, The Maine Maritime Musuem, etc., etc.

Paul

editted to add:

I noticed in one of your photos of her interior that it appears she has joggled frames. Would you happen to have any other photos showing her hull construction below deck?

[ 09-28-2005, 10:18 PM: Message edited by: Paul Pless ]

**Russ Manheimer** · 09-29-2005, 09:52 AM

Paul,

For years I thought Sjogin was a Norwegian word for wave. Then I met someone who knew the original owner and it turns out Sjogin is a loose anagram of his name, Joe Shinn!

As you saw in the picture below Sjogin has traditional Scandinavian construction with sawn frames jogged over the plank laps. One problem with her, and is evident in the way the floors are attached to the frames, is the use of galvanized bolts. Some of the joints have become iron sick and will eventually need replacement. It's good that she's so heavily built as there's a lot left to hold her together.

I'll take some more pics this weekend and post here.

Regards,

Russ

**Lion** · 11-08-2005, 11:17 PM

Russ,

Note the comment on the iron fastenings and the beginnings of 'sickness' can be seen in the interior shot. I'm no rebuild expert but am the possesor of and old growth doug fir mast (for my Catboat rebuild) that came out of Pinky style schooner that died with iron sickness. Quite a sight when it gets going and she was not savable despite the massive scantlings. The degradation of the wood fibre around the fastenings was amazing and she just blew herself apart.

I apologise for the gratuitous advice but Sjogin is such a cutie maybe you should be thinking of a progressive re-do of the fastenings. Bronze?

Lion

**OEX** · 11-09-2005, 06:27 AM

Lion has a point---looks like it might be the floor timber fastening and frame lap only ??? Hope! I cannot tell.
I am sure you know about all this Russ, but I am looking at iron sickness that had accumulated over 80 years---all would have been so much finer if copper or bronze was used.

That boat is just beautiful---has been a bit since I saw this thread and she lost none of her beauty in my mind's eye.

You all may know that I run The Wooden Boat Rescue Foundation. Well I had a Swedish Koster Class here .....

......that I gave to a great fellow. Well he took over the research and found out it was built (builder Arvid Laurin was born October 3, 1901 in Lysekil on Sweden's west coast) in the town my family comes from in Sweden. And was build by a fellow my grandfather’s age. My family there has been sailors and captains all the way back, so I am sure they knew each other.
Small world stuff---I new there was something special for me about that boat!!

He will have a restoration log on the WBRF site that will outline all the research he did and the progress he makes. I will put a link up on WBF when that time comes.

Cheers, Bruce Elfstrom

[ 11-09-2005, 07:29 AM: Message edited by: OEX ]

**Russ Manheimer** · 11-09-2005, 12:43 PM

Lion and Bruce,

Thanks for the suggestion. Believe me, I've often thought of replacing the iron frame and keel fastenings. Even worse then the frame fastenings are those in the keel and stem. It may come to a point where the entire centerline structure will have to be replaced. When and if that happens I'll replace the frame fastening.
For now I'm comforted by Phil Bolger's comment that it sometimes make sense to build massively so when half of it rots away there’s plenty left to hold things together.

Here’s a photo I took of Sjogin as I was walking away after a sail this past Sunday. You know, that last look at your pride and joy as you walk down the dock:

Regards,

Russ

**Alan D. Hyde** · 11-09-2005, 12:47 PM

She's a beauty, Russ...

Alan

**OEX** · 11-09-2005, 09:25 PM

Just do a few a month. Not a big deal for the easy ones and by the time you get to the difficult ones you will be an expert on just what YOUR boat needs---we all out here can say what a WE would do, but that’s just BS unless you have your hands on the boat.

Just start knocking them out--easy and satisfying.

Cheers

p.s I'll come attack a few for a sail

[ 11-09-2005, 10:27 PM: Message edited by: OEX ]

**pippo** · 11-10-2005, 03:12 AM

Russ, Sjogin is just beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

**Russ Manheimer** · 11-10-2005, 02:31 PM

Thanks Alan and Pippo!

Bruce,

No need to exchange labor for a sail. If you find yourself in the New York area, Sjogin's about an hour and a half south. Let me know and we can arrange a sail.

I also keep meaning to see if Beaton's has any boats that could be listed in the WBRF. I'll let you know.

Russ

**OEX** · 11-14-2005, 07:19 AM

great! I will give you a buzz if I get there---I am about 1.5 hours north and east of NY city, so if your up this way.... East Haddam CT on the CT River about 10 min from the sound.

Cheers

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