Drake -- 40' LOD Munroe-influenced ketch

[N. Scheuer]

Beautiful, Dave!

We sail a 28-ft Shgearater Yawl drawing ong 6" with her fins and outboard pivoted up.

There was once an article in one of the major boat mags about a pair of ketches appearing more like Meadow Lark (straighter, more upright stems, and shallow arched or v-bottoms) that were 40 and 42 ft LOA, respectively. Either could be beached handily, as we certainly do with our TRUE NORTH.

Moby Nick

[N. Scheuer]

One would think that after ten years I could spell "Shearwater".

[Dave Hadfield]

The second owner of Drake, M. Pierre Charbonneau, has sent me some photos. What a great thing this Internet is!

Here she is, Annual Sailpast, as the Commodore's yacht, June 1982, Royal St. lawrence Yacht Club, Dorval, Montreal, Quebec.



[ 01-02-2006, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: Dave Hadfield ]

[Dave Hadfield]

And here's another. I too have had her side-deck in the water, but never quite this far. If you look bottom left, near the torn corner of the photo, you can see water splashing over the coaming boards, which are over a foot high.

It's also interesting to see the tackle he used to "vang" the end of the mainboom down, to take the twist out of the sail close-hauled. I came up with the same idea in my time.

[LeeG]

Thanks for the thread Dave.

[Dave Hadfield]

I'm just bumping this thread to page 1 because I've been referring some friends to it.

Dave

[skuthorp]

Fantastic! I really enjoyed the thread. With privacy laws it's quite hard to get a boat's history through official chanels now, and anyway this way is much more personal
Thank You

[Alan D. Hyde]

Thanks again, Dave.

This is one of my favorite WBF threads ever.

Alan

[StevenBauer]

Great thread! Any pictures of the rum barrel installation? I kinda like that idea. [img]smile.gif[/img] Think I could fit one on my decked canoe?

Steven

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

What a lovely boat and what a charming thread!

[Dave Hadfield]

Thanks, everyone.

As for the rum barrel -- on a canoe? Mind you, if you flipped, you probably wouldn't care much.

I'll aske Pierre for a photo of where he mounted it.

Dave

[lestat]

Mr.Hadfield,
Sorry for taking some time to get back on this,I've been attending to family matters.Unfortunately,upon inquiring through a number of friends,the only Lafortune family that builds(built?) boats are down in the Gaspé region. I went back to double check your earlier post to check the name correctly and saw that the Mr.Lafortune,in question,was a Doctor and not a pro boatbuilder.Thus,a dead end,so to speak.

However, it is hoped that you managed to acquire the address to his son(grandson?) whom you met in Ontario,as he may be the best source for any relevant family history regarding your boats' genesis.

Also, just caught up on a few of your recent postings regarding your Drake ex.Déferlante and must say congratulations on locating and entering into communications with M.Charbonneau!
Indeed,you have tapped into a veritable well of stories regarding what I suspect was a busy but very happy part of your boats'past! It surely must be a wonderful experience for Mr.Charbonneau to have this splendid occassion to re-live glorious times spent with Déferlante and that beautiful picture of Mr.Charbonneau, on board Déferlante with cask on shoulder, is truly indicative of how happy a soul he was(is!).If you look closely enough,there is a twinkle in both of his beautiful dark eyes and a smile about to explode and turn that rugged face into that of one happy boy!

I will look forward to reading and following future stories of Drake ex.Déferlante as they become available and wish both you and Mr.Charbonneau many pleasent exchanges.Perhaps an invite to Mr.Charbonneau for a sail this summer is in the works? I'm sure it would be a treasured moment for both of you made all the richer for the rareness of such chance opportunities! Fair winds to you both!

[Dave Hadfield]

Thanks, M. Lestat.

Yes, the oldest photo there is from the grandson of Omer LaFortune. He sent me a few. I keep inviting him for a cruise, but he's got a job and family and until recently had a trimaran in Quebec, so we haven't got together yet.

Also I will certainly invite Pierre on board for a cruise. Whether he accepts will, I imagine, depend on his health. But his daughter Elaine corresponded with me, and she lives in Ontario. It's funny -- she said that when she was growing up (at the Yacht Club) she always wanted a modern boat, not an old wooden hand-me-down. But now, looking back, she realizes what a splendid thing it was to sail her and (within reason) look after her. Now she wants to show the boat to her son, a teen-ager, I believe. So we'll link up with her for certain.

Thanks for checking around about her.

Dave

[Dave Hadfield]

Here is an email I received from JF Bigras, the grandson of the builder of Drake, Omer LaFortune, after he saw this thread. Dave

Hi David,

Many thanks for sending this to me. I find all this fascinating. From what I know, what you have written seems quite accurate.

You know, when I read all this, I feel some pride. I am proud my grand father actually built that with his hands (and his brain of-course). I show these pictures to family, friends and colleagues.

What makes me very happy is to realize that this boat is still sailing and has "fallen" in such good passionate hands.

I will make it a mission to accept one of your invitations (if it comes again... I hope) next Summer.

Kind regards,

Jean-F.

[Paul Pless]

awesome post above, and an awesome thread, thanks

[Dave Hadfield]

Bump, in order to reply to the Cetol thread in Resources, in which I maintain that good results can be had using the house-grade cetol as a wood covering.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Dave, your photos of Drake are the best arguement for Cetol I've ever seen...

Alan

[Dave Hadfield]

Here's a photo sent to me by Pierre Charbonneau, the 2nd owner of my ketch. It's 24 years ago, and she's all dressed and being used for a movie (title unknown).

OOps. What gives? What a cumbersome way to post a photo. It didn't work. And what's with this 39kb size limit?

Once again, posting photos on the Internet is far, far harder than building a boat.

More research required....

[Dave Hadfield]

OK, after getting advice from folks over in Misc -- Boats, I'll try again....

[Dave Hadfield]

Bump. I want to show Drake to the crew of Marguerite, whom I took flying recently.

[Dave Hadfield]

Bump, to show a photo of the stove installation -- very nice, the other night, at 28F!

[TomF]

Thanks Dave. And thanks also for the stuff on your website 'round this - very interesting.

t.

[JimD]

Yes, nice to see this thread resurface.

[Dave Hadfield]

Bump, once again, to show a friend what works well in a ketch.

[Jay Greer]

Wow! What a lovely boat with a sweet sweeping sheer line.
I am reminded of Charles D. Mower designs.
JG

[Dave Hadfield]

A friend went by Drake last fall from a cruise boat, and from her upper deck got a shot or two of Drake at her mooring.

I quite liked being at a mooring. This was my first year of it. I didn't mind the lack of electricity at all, and using the dinghy was seldom much of an inconvenience -- just once when I left without my cellphone, which I realized 5 minutes down the road. It's a good dinghy, 10 ft, of my own design, which rows well.

I love the privacy. It's not as good as being at anchor, but not far off. I've never been much for dock-life.

Sure made single-handing easier. Each time I left I attached a thick, 30 ft, floating line (3/4" yellow polypro with sections of pool noodle threaded on) to the buoy, which when I returned made hooking-on simplicity itself. I used chain over the bowsprit to hold her permanently, as you can see (I hope). To protect the edge of the oaken bowsprit, I made a chafe-guard from 2" copper water pipe, screwed in place. And then used a small loop of chain to keep it centered on the guard.

No problems -- no theft, only 1 minor ding (incident unknown), and she handled 50 kt winds several times, during which the chop in the harbour can get to 2 ft.

When the yard manager saw how much I liked it, he put out 4 more moorings -- hadn't had much demand in the past, but apparently the sight of Drake out there generated numerous inquiries.

[Stewart Readman]

Hi Dave,

What a fantastic vessel! Wonderful photographs and information. Its great to get an insight into the history of this boat and to see that she has been well cared for and respected.
Congratulations and best wishes, Stewart

[htom]

Better and better. Thank you, Dave, and those who have provided photos and stories.

[LakeErieSailor]

Hi, Dave

Beautiful boat! I am very jealous.

I have some questions for you concerning a similar boat that I'm planning to build, an expanded version of Munroe's "Egret", "Snowy Egret", 39.5', Reuel Parker-designed. You mentioned sailing "Drake" on Lake Superior; I intend using my boat on Lake Erie and the upper lakes, but also in the Inside Passage of B.C. and Alaska, and also occasionally for short trips in the Gulf of Alaska, Cook Inlet and Prince Albert Sound. I think that Lake Superior has some characterstics in common with these waters, i.e., sudden weather changes, large waves, etc. So I (finally) come to my questions: how did your boat handle in Superior? Did you think it safe? Do you think that the "Snowy Egret" is a good choice for her intended use?

Reuel Parker originally designed her for a client in B.C., to sail around the San Juan Islands, so she's being used in at least some of the waters in which I intend to use her.

Your photo of "Drake" at her mooring is also very instructive. I'm presenty launching and recovering my 20' sharpie on a launch ramp over a 5' seawall into shallow water, which can be a pain. I have deeper water, 3' to 4' about 350' or so out, and have been considering making a mooring there. The nice thing is that in summer I could wade out to the boat; the downside is that others also could. Oh, well...

Thanks for any advice that you can give me.

[Dave Hadfield]

Thanks for the comments!

Erie, Drake would be better for heavy waters if she was about a foot, maybe 16", wider. She'd have a little more power to carry sail then.

In Superior (or Alaska I imagine), there sometimes aren't that many harbours, and if you can't make a harbour by sunset, you've got to head offshore and spend a night "at sea". Out there, you've got to be able to deal with 40 kts of wind -- it happens. If it's on-shore, you've got to be able to sail your way off. That takes a hull which must support enough sail to drive upwind against the wind and sea. Having the long keel allows heaving-to, as well.

Drake can do this against 25 kts, but probably not 40. If the boat lacks the power to do this, then the sailing plan must be adjusted to stay out of those situations, using careful judgement and not trusting forecasts.

I do like the centerboard. Even though she still draws 40", I can usually find a spot in a crowded anchorage even if I arrive late. Makes a huge difference for anchoring or hiding from storms.

For regular cruising of colder, wilderness waters, I'd have a permanent wood-burning stove of some kind, and a dodger.

[Dave Hadfield]

I like the Snowy Egret. http://www.parker-marine.com/sh39page.html

I'd prefer a shallow, 3/4 length keel. I don't see the external box-keel he mentions in the plans. Where is it? A shallow keel aids in heaving-to and generally in manners under sail. Drake self-steers. Mighty nice!

That companionway dodger could be extended a bit, then you could steer from under it using a simple tiller-line around the cockpit on 4 blocks.

Fine-looking boat, though. It would turn my crank....

[LakeErieSailor]

Hi, Dave

Thanks for the thoughtful advice. The "Snowy Egret" design appeals because of its relatively simple and inexpensive construction, but mostly because of the well-established and documented seaworthyness of the "Egrets" generally.

I haven't seen the plans yet, so I can't say about the outside keel. I've been in touch with the designer and will be getting the study plan from him shortly. If the outside keel is not shown, I'll be sure to ask him about it. From what you said about clawing off a lee shore, it would seem to be quite necessary.

If you're ever in the Monroe, Michigan area, either sailing or otherwise, let me know; my phone number is 734-289-4424. We live on the Lake Erie shore and I'd love to be able to tell you that you could sail right up to our place, but the water's way too shallow. Although a scant quarter of a mile away is Brest Bay Marina...

By the way, I've built another of Reuel Parker designs, the 20' Maryland Crabbing Skiff. For various reasons I wasn't able to get in any real sailing last year, but I intend to remedy that this year.

[Dave Hadfield]

Well you're not too far away from where I spent all my boyhood summers: Stag Island, in the St. Clair River, opposite St. Mary's Michigan. We still have a cottage there. If you're ever up that way let me know. I don't keep Drake there, but we have a 14 ft plywood sailboat that does very well and is lots of fun to sail.

DAVE

[Dave Hadfield]

Bump, to show a number of people at my boatyard, Dutchman's Cove, Penetanguishene, Ontario, information about Drake -- which has just launched! Successfully, too, though a month late.

It took up faster than I thought, though I had preswelled the centerboard trunk and the bottom 4 planks. In 36 hours, the bilge pump comes on once an hour. At first-splash, it was Niagara Falls.

[Don Kurylko]

David, I may have a clue for you as to the designer of your boat: William Roue, of Bluenose fame. If you look at page 119 of the latest issue of WoodenBoat, in the top left hand corner you will see a photo of a 54’ schooner designed by Roue advertised for sale. The hull shape and cabin style are remarkably similar to Drake. I would say that both boats stem from the same pen.

I googled Roue and came up with this URL http://www.joelro.com/wjr/DesignPortfolio.html
It lists a ketch, design #112, for a client named L.M. Waloon. LOA 41’ 7” LWL 35’. Unfortunately, no other dimensions or details are given, but I think it would be worth pursuing. They may still have the original plans I also checked the Kingman Brokerage site, but the schooner was not listed. An e-mail inquiry to them might turn something up too.

Good hunting,
Don