The Harbor Master Called me Today

[chuckt]

Oh man. I love her even more after seeing some of the interior. Glad she wasn't at my marina or I might have two projects on my hands. Congrats!

I hope looks aren't deceiving and she really isn't in too bad shape. Can't believe someone just abandoned her.

[chuckt]

Blanchard stuff:



http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/2009/0...end-of-an-era/

[TerryLL]

I've seen a lot of boats crushed in Sitka. It's always sad to see a backhoe methodically dismembering a tired old troller.

[Hwyl]

Brilliant. I wonder if Lew has seen this thread.

[L.W. Baxter]

Looks like this one should be well worth whatever effort is required. Handsome and charismatic old boat!

[Bubba L.]

Looks really cool.

How does the harbormaster get title and why do they have to crush them?

Gene

[Lew Barrett]

Brilliant. I wonder if Lew has seen this thread.

I have! Just now! I've been a bit in the dumps, but this drew me out

That is cool.

Cabin ports and some other things don't look exactly Blanchard to me but I could be wrong. Typical little cruiser of her era. Love it.

I agree (and I like it too!), but it's hard to know for sure after all the years. Regardless, she'll be a fine and sensible project and a great boat! It will be fun to follow this and discover her history in detail. That newer Yanmar is going to prove a blessing, and she looks like she has all the makings!

By the way, the photo of Gadget that Chuck published (and it's a well known image) reminded me that Gadget is for sale again. For some direction and confirmation about Blanchard builds, it might be worthwhile to contact Steve Wilen who co-wrote the book "Knee Deep in Shavings." He may know where to point for confirmation of her heritage.

PM me if you need contact info.

[jsjpd1]

Boats like this get impounded because people don't pay their moorage. Once they are impounded the harbor master gives them x number of days to pay what they owe, if they still don't pay up the vessels are auctioned off. The ones that don't get bought go to the crusher. They don't have the facilities to store all the boats the don't sell and even if they did they would quickly turn into a safety liability as they rotted away.

[Gerarddm]

Score!

Meanwhile, if they go to the crusher, does anyone try to salvage any of the hardware or engine?

[Falcon1]

This is great! You can give your harbormaster my phone number!

Mike

[PILOTARIX]

This looks like an awesome boat as well as an awesome project. I hope for you that it does not bury too many surprises.
Other than the old shoebox in the bilge with a couple of thousand dollars somebody has forgotten years ago.

[Steamboat]

This looks like an awesome boat as well as an awesome project. I hope for you that it does not bury too many surprises.
Other than the old shoebox in the bilge with a couple of thousand dollars somebody has forgotten years ago.

You never know, she may be a retired rum runner!

But alas, she is too young!

[jsjpd1]

Well I just spent several hours down at the boat cleaning things out, have a ways the go yet. I did find several old surveys which will make interesting reading once they are dried out. All the documentation I found on the boat says Blanchard and 1934 but I haven't seen a builders plate yet. Apparently in the 90s several new frames were bent in and I found the ignition key. The frames are oak, planking is port orchard cedar, Doug fir beams, and canvas covered decks which leak pretty badly there were little rivlets running down the inside of the cabin sides yesterday when it was raining.

[jsjpd1]

Score!

Meanwhile, if they go to the crusher, does anyone try to salvage any of the hardware or engine?

Generally the prop and engine are pulled the boat is derigged if it has one and then it all goes in the back of the dump truck.

[jsjpd1]

Found the motor, 30 HP yanmar.



Frame ends I've seen so far look pretty good.



Under the dinette bench.



That cockpit is starting to look more ordered.

[The Bigfella]

Excellent. Looking forward to this

[Garret]

Fantastic!

re: Eric's comment on the portlights - while he knows Seattle boats way better than I, I see real similarity to Neoga's - which I am positive is a Blanchard boat:



The portholes on the forward end of the cabin are round - but the rectangular fixed ones look very similar. The white in them in my lousy pic above is curtains.

[Nicholas Scheuer]

Great-looking vessel!

[Hwyl]

With those three banger Yanmars it is easy to overfill the sump. Usually half way between the marks on the dipstick is "full". Further filling will lead to smoke and poor running.

[jsjpd1]

That's good to know Gareth, thanks for the tip.

Pretty much finished clearing out the junk today and I think I'm ready for the boat movers to come. I filled three totes with wrenches and other hand tools.



These are the worst frames I've seen so far, and will need to be fixed.



And the cabin top has some issues.





On the plus side, I found a letter from Mr Blanchard himself, dated 1987, reminiscing about building the boat and including a photo copy of a couple pictures he took (with his brownie box) just before launching.



Jim

[Paul Girouard]

That letters a great find! Might be worth looking in preservation / restoration of documents. For sure a picture frame and no glare glass to hang it onboard.

[htom]

The letter is a fantastic find.

[Larks]

That cockpit is starting to look more ordered.

Great photo and great project. I'll look forward to watching what you do with the resto' Jim.

What's the tunnel/tube that the guys are mentioning?

[jsjpd1]

The tube is a sixteen foot diameter culvert that stands between our beach/boathouse and open water.



The biggest boat we've had through it was twenty six by ten. The new boat at twenty seven by eight may to too tall and deep, it is definitely deeper than the last one. Careful measuring will be required.

[pcford]

Norm Blanchard was a gentleman of the old school. Passed several years ago.
http://seattletimes.com/html/obituar...rdobit18m.html

[Gopez]

Sweet!

"Blanchard-built pleasure boats can still be found sailing Northwest waters. "They were so well-built that they last," said Rohrer.

What a great thread!
What a great family!
What a great adventure, experience, etc. etc......thanks for sharing!!!!!!

[BrianW]

Nice score Jim!

I've never seen any information on Juneau harbormaster boat auctions. Might have to look around.

[Chip Chester]

While you're re-building the upper cabin, perhaps engineer it so you can fold the side windows down, and hinge the windshield/roof so you can fold it back during the tunnel passage.

Chip

[Oldad]

While you're re-building the upper cabin, perhaps engineer it so you can fold the side windows down, and hinge the windshield/roof so you can fold it back during the tunnel passage.

Chip

There's an idea ... and a challenge. What about draft through the tunnel? No way to alter that I'm thinkin'.

[BBSebens]

Any way to reduce the overall keel to roof dimension would be beneficial. Then its just a matter of getting the tide juuuuust right.

[Hal Forsen]

What a terrific score and good on you for accepting.
Looking forward to the restoration.

[Chip Chester]

I would bet the solution to the draft issue is covered somewhere in the following thread:
http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...irplane+wheels

Is the culvert private, just to the OPs place, or public?

Chip

[Paul Girouard]

I would bet the solution to the draft issue is covered somewhere in the following thread:
http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...irplane+wheels

Is the culvert private, just to the OPs place, or public?

Chip

That road HAS to be county or state , guard rails , aluminum light pole , concrete reenforce culvert pipe , rip rap stone at the water line, it's not a private driveway. If Jim could afford to pay for that as a driveway, he wouldn't be taking a "free" boat from the harbor master.

[Chip Chester]

Tough crowd. (Private roadway construction requirements deleted...) Not sure how the link to a private driveway appeared. Discussion was of culvert waterway.

I have it on good authority that folks who are well-off will occasionally accept gratis contributions.

Chip

[Paul Girouard]

Tough crowd.


(Private roadway construction requirements deleted...) Not sure how the link to a private driveway appeared. Discussion was of culvert waterway.

I have it on good authority that folks who are well-off will occasionally accept gratis contributions.

Chip

How so, it could be a private road , I just doubt it is.


And if Jim could afford that driveway , I think it would be unlikely he'd be offered a boat like this for free. And if he WAS well off enough to afford that road as a driveway he'd have his contractor or some boat shop down at the boat cleaning it out for him.

At least they ( well off people) should be hiring trades people to do some of the work.