PNW Save-A-Classic

[Nicholas Carey]

For some reason, the Washington State DNR seems to have come into possession of FLYING GULL ex-AWAB (Sparkman & Stephens design #247 aka "Crusailer 55", a ketch-rigged motor sailor 55 ft LOA), built 1940 as 1 of 2 built to that designThey are trying to unload her at auction.

http://sparkmanstephens.blogspot.com...sailer-55.html

https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/al...3D&auc=1956367



Looks like she might be a nice boat for the right person.

[Bobcat]

This is the boat from which a crazed guy opened fire in Eagle Harbor last summer. He fired 200 rounds at other boats, the shore, and the responding officers. He was shot and killed by the police.

http://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/...ey=&autologin=

[Nicholas Carey]

This is the boat from which a crazed guy opened fire in Eagle Harbor last summer. He fired 200 rounds at other boats, the shore, and the responding officers. He was shot and killed by the police.

http://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/...ey=&autologin=

Really? This is/was that nutter's boat? How did the DNR wind up with it?

Nothing that a few dutchmen shouldn't be able to fix, eh? Might want to burn a few bunches of sweetgrass, before re-launching her, that ugh. Never hurts to placate the gods.

[Chip Chester]

So, are those portholes or cannon holes?

Chip

[David G]

Hat dang, what a beauty. I sure wish I'd won the lottery LAST week... instead of next week. I'd snag that beauty in a heartbeat.

[Bobcat]

Really? This is/was that nutter's boat? How did the DNR wind up with it?

Nothing that a few dutchmen shouldn't be able to fix, eh? Might want to burn a few bunches of sweetgrass, before re-launching her, that ugh. Never hurts to placate the gods.

I suspect he had no next of kin who would take the boat and so the boat became the property of the state as a derelict.

https://www.dnr.wa.gov/programs-and-...relict-vessels

[stromborg]

This boat has been sitting at one of the WSF docks since the incident, which just happens to be directly across the harbor from where I keep Marianita. If anything it has been suffering from benign neglect, I'm glad they are selling her off before she has a chance to fill up with rainwater.

[Bobcat]

I saw her tied there when we spent a night this summer in Eagle Harbor. And yes, DNR wants to get boats off its hands before they deteriorate

[stromborg]

I just went through the pictures posted by the DNR auction site. The boat looks to have been reasonably well cared for though without the ability to survey a 77 year old boat there is an awful lot of risk in bidding on her. Currently the high bid is only $4050....my wife thinks Flying Gull is a beautiful boat and is irritated I didn't make it down there to look things over!

[BBSebens]

Damn. Could they haul it out and wait a year? Then I could buy it!!

[jgjones]

Local news article with a few more details: http://komonews.com/news/local/for-s...-harbor-gunman

[Breakaway]

Sounds like a killer deal.

Kevin

[Bobcat]

Sounds like a killer deal.

Kevin

"killer" is probably not a good word to use with this boat

[stromborg]

Flying Gull was still tied up in Eagle Harbor last night but it appears "mdjones1776" bought her for $10,478 on the 25th.

[Bobcat]

Once you chase off the bad juju spirits and patch the bullet holes, you will have a fine vessel

[mdjones1776]

Greetings,

I was the winning bidder for the Flying Gull, I have had her hauled out and surveyed and we are working on hull sanding and painting right now. I won't go into the the DNR process unless asked because it was several weeks of frustrations before she was released. I am not a sailor, always had power boats before so the insurance companies are not happy. I have enough experience repairing old boats to get her saved and to be honest, a lot of what's wrong was just neglect in the last few years. She has to go back in the water in 9 days and then I will be focused on the deck leaks which are mostly loose stantion screws, OH yea and the 20 or so bullet holes, 2 windows and the door which was busted a while ago. I covered her up with tarps and stopped almost all of the leaking when she was hauled out in November. I live in Oak Harbor now and I am looking for a moorage or yard, maybe Anacortes. Oh and my wife is working on the bad juju. The DNR did a good job cleaning up the mess, so I had really no evidence of the previous owner.

cheers Mike

[mmd]

It appears that you have got yourself a helluva boat for not much coin, Mike. I hope there are no bad surprises in your future, and that you have fun learning to sail her. Pretty boat.

[Hugh MacD]

Congrats! Glad she's going to a good home. I'm sure you'll have no problem finding volunteers willing to coach you through the "learning-to-sail" thing

[Breakaway]

She is a beaut! Best of luck and share some of her progress and adventures here, if your time permits.

Kevin

[Ted Hoppe]

Good on you. I hope you let us in on her progress. She is worthy for many reasons.

[mdjones1776]

Greetings,

I was the winning bidder for the Flying Gull, I have had her hauled out and surveyed and we are working on hull sanding and painting right now. I won't go into the the DNR process unless asked because it was several weeks of frustrations before she was released. I am not a sailor, always had power boats before so the insurance companies are not happy. I have enough experience repairing old boats to get her saved and to be honest, a lot of what's wrong was just neglect in the last few years. She has to go back in the water in 9 days and then I will be focused on the deck leaks which are mostly loose stantion screws, OH yea and the 20 or so bullet holes, 2 windows and the door which was busted a while ago. I covered her up with tarps and stopped almost all of the leaking when she was hauled out in November. I live in Oak Harbor now and I am looking for a moorage or yard, maybe Anacortes. Oh and my wife is working on the bad juju. The DNR did a good job cleaning up the mess, so I had really no evidence of the previous owner.

cheers Mike

Here's a photo after the painting was finish for the hull, my wife did the sanding and painting while I screwed around. Currently we are stuck on the guest dock, still don't have a destination or insurance

4212018 paint AWAB05.jpg

[Hugh MacD]

Very nice! Sounds like she's in a much happier situation. Looking forward to more pics

[ron ll]

Wow. Really pretty boat plus a pedigree and a great story for her logbook. I look forward to seeing her in the islands.

[skuthorp]

Don''t disguise all the bullet holes, they are part of the history, patina if you like, of the boat. And think of the even taller stories you can base on one or two.

[RFNK]

Any bullets?

Lovely boat - good luck!!

Rick

[mdjones1776]

Any bullets?

Lovely boat - good luck!!

Rick

I am back out of the water at Port Townsend, Boat Haven Boatyard. Finally a semi permanent rest. I have over 20 bullet holes, 2 in the hull at the waterline fixed, one in the mizzen mast , 4 windows need replacing the glass, with 2 more that have billet holes without cracking. We,my wife, I mean is taking the shellac off with a heat gun as we(she) has already painted the deck and cabin roof. To be clear, I do the logistics and purchasing and establish the technique we are going to use.
Today I had a major victory, after 3 visits to measure and design a tool to crank the engine over, today it worked and I was able to verify that the Buda is not seized up. I have the new 32 volt charger charging overnight tonight.
Port Townsend was a relief, I was run out of the Port of Everett because they make their money on quick liftouts and returns. I arranged a tow to Anacortes but they backed out because they don't lift WOOD boats anymore, So we redirected to Port Townsend as a last resort before anchoring off with no power somewhere. Thank God for the Shipwright Guild keeping things real

[RFNK]

What a story this boat has! And you!!

Rick

[Hugh MacD]

Looking forward to more pics. Which yard are you in up there? We'll be up for the Festival. I suspect if you're there with a project list over the weekend you'll have a bunch of volunteers!

[Sabre]

A lovely design beautifully built with a wild provenance! You'll be both skipper and curator everywhere you take her! We'll be looking for you out on the salt chuck....

[pwilling]

From my experience you are in good hands in PT. Fine bunch of shipwrights up there. Don't want to haul a wood boat??? Are you kidding me?

Your insurance problem -- I have dealt with Hagerty Marine for a long time -- never had a claim, but their other services are great.

https://www.hagerty.com/insurance/cl...boat-insurance

[johnw]

I am back out of the water at Port Townsend, Boat Haven Boatyard. Finally a semi permanent rest. I have over 20 bullet holes, 2 in the hull at the waterline fixed, one in the mizzen mast , 4 windows need replacing the glass, with 2 more that have billet holes without cracking. We,my wife, I mean is taking the shellac off with a heat gun as we(she) has already painted the deck and cabin roof. To be clear, I do the logistics and purchasing and establish the technique we are going to use.
Today I had a major victory, after 3 visits to measure and design a tool to crank the engine over, today it worked and I was able to verify that the Buda is not seized up. I have the new 32 volt charger charging overnight tonight.
Port Townsend was a relief, I was run out of the Port of Everett because they make their money on quick liftouts and returns. I arranged a tow to Anacortes but they backed out because they don't lift WOOD boats anymore, So we redirected to Port Townsend as a last resort before anchoring off with no power somewhere. Thank God for the Shipwright Guild keeping things real

Congratulations! I'm glad to hear she's in good hands. You might take a sailing class, get qualified in keelboats for charter, that should make the insurance company happier. You'll find the motion is very different with the sails up, and motorsailing with sails and power is rather more pleasant than just powering in a displacement hull.

[WhiteRabbet]

FYI all who may be interested, this boat is again available and up for auction in on the 28th of this month, October 2020. It is being auctioned off due to unpaid yard fees by the Port of Port Townsend in Washington. You can view its listing here: https://portofpt.com/boats-for-sale/ I recently went and visited her and have a lot of photos and can share my thoughts on the boat with anyone who might wish to take on the project.

[Garret]

From my experience you are in good hands in PT. Fine bunch of shipwrights up there. Don't want to haul a wood boat??? Are you kidding me?

Your insurance problem -- I have dealt with Hagerty Marine for a long time -- never had a claim, but their other services are great.

https://www.hagerty.com/insurance/cl...boat-insurance

As an FYI - Hagerty will not insure boats over 50 ft. I'd always heard good things about them, but when I inquired, I got a very brusque email in response & when I asked for any suggestions on who might, the response was simply "No". I was unimpressed.

[rbgarr]

"... after 3 visits to measure and design a tool to crank the engine over, today it worked and I was able to verify that the Buda is not seized up."

I don't hear about Buda diesels very much anymore. My maternal grandfather was chairman of its board in the 40s and my father worked there for a while after spending time ranching further west after college. Buda was eventually bought by Allis-Chalmers.

[Hugh MacD]

Anybody heard what the lien is on this? Looks like the P.O. did a lot of cosmetic work (or paid for it, anyway) but didn't have the wherewithal to finish the job. Too bad. I hope someone gets her who has the capability of doing it right.