Hull colour

[martin schulz]

I must admit that I didn't listen to advice posted here in the WBF and had to learn it by myself (the hard way).

Some years ago I strongly defended my position that dark colours not only look better on wooden boats but don't have any disdavantages. Back then all I wanted to do is to get away from that yachty-looking white.


That's how I bought her, Bermuda rigged and yachty-white


Rerigged, but still in white

Partly I was right, the dark-blue I decided on really made the boat look elegant, hid her "voluptuous" shape and just made her look classic.
But a very hot and sunny summer also showed the disadvantages of the colour. Since my boat is very highboarded the top plankings got so heated up and dry that heeling over actually brought water in the boat.


Dark blue with the problems already showing

The year after that I decided that I must have a lighter colour. To keep in touch with the working boats from the museumharbour I thougt it a good idea to use the typical danish fishingcutter blue, which is a light blue with a touch of turquoise in it.


That is definetely not her colour

But that looked rediculous on a 1950 built wooden yacht.
I still didn't want to have that yachty-looking shining white, so this year I decided to have an ivory looking colour. It works well with this hot summer and also has this certain vintage look to it.


I am quite satisfied with this cream/ivory colour

Opinions?

[Evan Showell]

Very nice, Martin. Bravo. The cream/ivory suits, especially with the tanbark sails.

[Matt J.]

Nice. Very nice.

I like it: Same/similar colour we chose for Rarus. Also 24', also gaff with tankbark, also "chunky"...

Sadly, we have not had little Rarus in the damn water for these frame problems.

This fall, though, we should be sailing. Perhaps we'll be able to voice an opinion based on on-the-water photos, as well.

[martin schulz]

You do know that I always keep a close eye on RARUS, don't you?
Since her size is the same as SIONNACHAN's and both are...lets say a bit chubby I have always considered RARUS a sistership, although design and pedigree are totally different. But one doesn't see little, chubby, heavy yachts that often. Classic boats are either slim and elegant or working boats with a totally different look.

[Jim Mathieson]

I like the Ivory colour too Martin!

[Cec]

Beautiful.... this is not mine, but the cruiser I found that had the color scheme I wanted to use on mine, including the bright work..

[Matt J.]

The feeling is mutual... Rarus' design has many qualities of a workboat, though she was built to yachty standards... Although there are plenty of differences, they have a similar "feel" about their designs and appearances. I like your topsail. Maybe next year when we haven't got a reframing on our hands, and the interior is rebuilt, and, and, and... we'll look into that.

Rarus went from bright:

to white:


and is now Kirby's "Putty" with the original dark green bulwark.

Looks better now. I miss the bright occasionally, but not enough to go back (yet). This fall, after the frames are finished... she'll need a complete refinish on all hull paint. I'll probably, as before, give her 2-3 varnish coats first, before painting - that way she can always go bright again.

I'll put up a pic this weekend of the current color if I get a chance.

[Matt J.]

Oh crap! That floating pic... good grief have I got to get that boat DONE!!!

Stupid house...

[StevenBauer]

I like it Martin. You got it just right.

Steven

[Matt J.]

Rarus in Kirby's Putty and green:



Oh my, how nice it'll be to get her to the water.

[KNOCKABOUT]

Wow, the two of you have a couple of pretty gals...

[outofthenorm]

Pretty indeed! Matt, that combination looks first rate. What design is Rarus?

- Norm

[Matt J.]

Fenwick Williams' design, 24' Gaff Yawl (double ended).

Same hull and rig design as the very well known "Annie". Rarus was modified on deck and in the interior layout (cabin height increased, bulwarks added, cabin lengthened for and aft, etc, etc). There are several sisters, including one I've only just learned about recently (thanks Steven).

The picture above is from the day we rescued Rarus from those... ahem, people... at Cutts and Case. They really did an atrocious job of repairing some frames. I've since learned we're not the only boat they damaged while "repairing" and we're certainly far from the first. That day was bittersweet - she was no longer in their clutches, but she was now a major project for me alone. I just found recently, after a p-o-ed call to a lawyer, that when I paid them to get our boat back so we could get her fixed, I may have released them of liabilities for their destruction.

Anyway... thank you sincerely for the kind words. We love the little girl.

[KNOCKABOUT]

Fenwick Williams' design, 24' Gaff Yawl (double ended).

Same hull and rig design as the very well known "Annie". Rarus was modified on deck and in the interior layout (cabin height increased, bulwarks added, cabin lengthened for and aft, etc, etc). There are several sisters, including one I've only just learned about recently (thanks Steven).

The picture above is from the day we rescued Rarus from those... ahem, people... at Cutts and Case. They really did an atrocious job of repairing some frames. I've since learned we're not the only boat they damaged while "repairing" and we're certainly far from the first. That day was bittersweet - she was no longer in their clutches, but she was now a major project for me alone. I just found recently, after a p-o-ed call to a lawyer, that when I paid them to get our boat back so we could get her fixed, I may have released them of liabilities for their destruction.

Anyway... thank you sincerely for the kind words. We love the little girl.

My wife is a lawyer, and so I'll pose the question, but I doubt that is the case...

[Matt J.]

Martin,
By the way, I'm glad you posted. I think the colors are similar, but I was hesitant, because only having seen it on land, it looked a bit dark. After seeing yours (stunning), I'm even more excited to see ours in the water - as reassuring as can be.