Remember the Shields that was to have a cabin added?

[rbgarr]

He got it done:



(The outboard is on the inflatable on the other side of the float.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1252614...n/photostream/

[ahp]

Good job! You didn't ruin it with a great big trunk cabin. It remains a beautiful day sailer with limited cruising ability. I would love to sail it some time.

[rbgarr]

Not mine....

[lagspiller]

Yes, I remember that one. I was sure it would be beautiful.
It is.

[Yeadon]

He did a really nice job. Good find rbgarr.

from his flickr site ...

"This is my sailboat Bolero. She has been converted from a Shields class one design into a modern Knockabout Sloop."

[John B]

A friend of mine has just done that to an etchells... looks fantastic.

[Bob Triggs]

Nice work! Reminds me of the old classic Northeast I.O.D.'s
I dont think that Mr Shields would mind a bit.

[Chip-skiff]

The angles and curves of the coaming and housetop really work with the sweep of the sheer, and the port placement is perfect— someone's got a sharp eye for balance and proportion.

The paintwork is also spectacular, dramatic but not showy. The varnished wood looks just right on the white decks framed by the black hull.

Work done by the owner or by a pro designer and yard? Guess I'll have to check the Flick'r site. (Just followed the link there, to a detailed blog

http://knockaboutsloops.blogspot.com/

Thanks for putting this up— pleasure to see it.

[Bob Adams]

Good job. So many times I have seen such a project turn into an eyesore.

[Jay Greer]

Proper!
Jay

[rbgarr]

Proper!
Jay

How far is he from you?
http://knockaboutsloops.blogspot.com...z-weather.html

[JimConlin]

A couple of related questions:
- What price are Shieldses bringing?
- What other boats might be good candidates for this treatment?

[Paul Pless]

What other boats might be good candidates for this treatment?

Here's another interesting approach to similar ends. This is a previous project by the same builder. Take one Pearson Triton cruiser and cut the deck off, lower the sheer, and build a new deck with a low cabin. Beauty eh?

Before:



After:



I gotta compliment the guy he's got vision.

[rbgarr]

A couple of related questions:
- What price are Shieldses bringing?
- What other boats might be good candidates for this treatment?

$8-12K for ones in really sad shape, of which there aren't too many around. $14-20+K for raceable ones.

Other candidates? Can't think of too many (Atlantic?) but making a daysailer out of a Herreshoff Bristol 29 might result in a boat that looked like a big Alerion. I think they are lovely designs and much undervalued on the market.

Here's a likely candidate for such treatment: http://tinyurl.com/58s88e
Another one in too nice a condition to cut up: http://tinyurl.com/5z9kwj

I could see keeping a strong engine and private head, while adding a big multilevel main cockpit and bow cockpit for day chartering or big family/friends afternoon sails. Add a big cooler and a gas grill and "Bob's your uncle"!

[Bluenose]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. Bolero turned out great and although I was only able to launch her for a minute during the fall, she sails like a dream.

The angles and curves of the coaming and housetop really work with the sweep of the sheer, and the port placement is perfect— someone's got a sharp eye for balance and proportion.

The paintwork is also spectacular, dramatic but not showy. The varnished wood looks just right on the white decks framed by the black hull.

Work done by the owner or by a pro designer and yard? Guess I'll have to check the Flick'r site. (Just followed the link there, to a detailed blog

Thanks again. Bolero was professionally converted by Tim Lackey of Northern Yacht Restoration from a concept that I had worked on for a number of years. Here is the final version of my concept drawing.



My goal was to find a an old racing boat that I could use as a weekender. But since I sail without an engine I needed exceptional sailing abilities. And of course I had certain aesthetic requirements as well. This would have all been a theoretical exercise without me stumbling onto Tim and his restoration business. He was able to turn my vision into reality. In my mind, a stunning reality. This was quite a challenging task as I refused to compromise on many, many things. Such is the nature of a vision.

You can find a full account of Bolero's conversion here and also Tim's Triton Daysailor conversion here. She has also been bantered about on Woodenboat once before.

Nice work! Reminds me of the old classic Northeast I.O.D.'s
I dont think that Mr Shields would mind a bit.

Not surprisingly, my two major influences on this design were Olin's Dark Harbor 20 and the International One Design. I guess I wanted to keep it all in the family.

How far is he from you?
http://knockaboutsloops.blogspot.com...z-weather.html

If Jay is in Port Townsend, I am just a bit Northwest of him on Lopez Island, WA.

A couple of related questions:
- What price are Shieldses bringing?
- What other boats might be good candidates for this treatment?

It is funny that the Atlantic class came up as a possible canidate as it was my first choice. In the end I just couldn't find the interior volume to get sitting headroom. I still think that the Atlantic might work especially after finding an old Burgess designed Atlantic with a cabintop.



As far as alternatives go, I think it depends on a person's priorities. For me sailing performance was tops. Everything deferred to that. The standing rigging design was untouchable from the start. I wanted every last bit of the Shields performance. Weight was also an issue. I didn't want to handicap the boat with a bunch of excess weight. As it turned out I think the conversion ended up being weight neutral as, best we can tell, she still floats on her original lines.

Finding a suitable candiate was quite a challenge. I knew that I wanted a Shields, but at the same time I didn't want to destroy a nice raceboat. In the end I did find an older Shields that was quite a bit out of racing trim for about 15k. No screaming deal there. But in the end I think she was the perfect boat for our conversion.

[rbgarr]

Bill,

I see that you've got some fairly deep reef points in your mainsail and have the final purchase arrangements to make on your boom this winter. On my Shields I have one set of reef points eighteen inches above the boom and find that's all I ever need, even sailing single handed. I also have a smaller jib for occasional use when reefed to maintain the helm balance. In really stiff NW breezes here the normal jib with even the short mainsail reef creates more weather helm than I like, especially with her relatively short keel and attached rudder. She actually sails even better in the heavier breezes (within reason of course). She'll heel right over but still steers beautifully, even to the point of being balanced and self steering upwind. With your cabin you'll have even less to fear than I regarding water coming over the leeward rail and coaming.

Your bilge pumping system looks like it has possibilities that I'd like to copy if it's okay with you. I installed a drain plug also to make washing the boat down less of an end of season chore.

[Bluenose]

Bill,

I see that you've got some fairly deep reef points in your mainsail and have the final purchase arrangements to make on your boom this winter. On my Shields I have one set of reef points eighteen inches above the boom and find that's all I ever need, even sailing single handed. I also have a smaller jib for occasional use when reefed to maintain the helm balance. In really stiff NW breezes here the normal jib with even the short mainsail reef creates more weather helm than I like, especially with her relatively short keel and attached rudder. She actually sails even better in the heavier breezes (within reason of course). She'll heel right over but still steers beautifully, even to the point of being balanced and self steering upwind. With your cabin you'll have even less to fear than I regarding water coming over the leeward rail and coaming.

Your bilge pumping system looks like it has possibilities that I'd like to copy if it's okay with you. I installed a drain plug also to make washing the boat down less of an end of season chore.

Thanks for bringing this up. I admit that I completely guessed when having the reef points put in. I guess, actually, in fairness I used typical numbers of sail reduction. That said, I am very interested in your actual experiences. When you say that all your have needed in "really stiff NW breezes" is an 18 inch reef, can you quantify about how much wind that is?

Your also mentioned that excess weather helm with your 18 inch reef. My understanding is that this is a sign of needing to reef. Do you think additional reefing of the main would tame some of this weather helm?

You are correct about me trying to figure out the purchase for my reefing system. And it is a pain. The Shields boom just isn't that large and trying to get two separate reef points set up is proving difficult. So your experiences are very helpful.

As I mentioned I have only sailed Bolero about a dozen times. But it was during our fall stormy season where more often than not there was too much wind. In addition these fall winds are dense, wet and gusty and I felt quite over powered in Bolero without a reef. Now some of this will likely go away with some experience sailing this new boat. But with gusty winds in the upper teens and low twenties she was quite a handful. So feel free to pile on the wisdom and experience.

I do feel that the addition of the cabin adds safety to the Shields. Even with the two water tight bulkheads Shields will sink when the cockpit floods. In any case I don't really want to test my theory.

Feel free to copy away. The cockpit floor drains system still has some bugs to work out. In the original concept it was awkward to install the drain plug and hose since the hose was so big and inflexible. I have since gone to a collapsible fire type hose which is easy to store and install but can easily kink during pumping. I still think this may work but I need some actual testing.

Your drain idea seems pretty clever. Where did you install it?

Cheers, Bill

ps.. I am still waiting to see those "new" cockpit seats.

[rbgarr]

Thanks for bringing this up. I admit that I completely guessed when having the reef points put in. I guess, actually, in fairness I used typical numbers of sail reduction. That said, I am very interested in your actual experiences. When you say that all your have needed in "really stiff NW breezes" is an 18 inch reef, can you quantify about how much wind that is?

That would be 15 to 20 knots for me when singlehanding, but probably not what others would call a stiff breeze.

Your also mentioned that excess weather helm with your 18 inch reef. My understanding is that this is a sign of needing to reef. Do you think additional reefing of the main would tame some of this weather helm?

What I meant to say is that it sometimes help to set the smaller jib at the same time as I reef the main. It has a 20' hoist and is high cut versus the 28' decksweeper. The small one doesn't scoop water so much and allows for better forward visibility when heeling. I rig the small jib and reef at the mooring since changing/setting the jib and reefing under sail by myself would be dicey. Before I had the reef and smaller jib I'd sail with the full main alone which resulted in a lot of weather helm even when sailing full and bye, yet also a nasty lee helm and sluggish handling when I'd lose way and the rudder lost 'grab' downspeed.

You are correct about me trying to figure out the purchase for my reefing system. And it is a pain. The Shields boom just isn't that large and trying to get two separate reef points set up is proving difficult. So your experiences are very helpful.

I have the same problem and will be putting a track on one side with a moveable car, giving room for adjustment for other sail options (I'm considering getting a shorter, loose-footed main with a big roach and full battens for yet windier 'main only' days.) Inchworms along the underside of the boom will be where the end from the reefing cringle is knotted while the running end will run through the pulley on the car forward to a cleat. My boom is still end sheeting so I don't have the racer's head-knocker to work around.

As I mentioned I have only sailed Bolero about a dozen times. But it was during our fall stormy season where more often than not there was too much wind. In addition these fall winds are dense, wet and gusty and I felt quite over powered in Bolero without a reef. Now some of this will likely go away with some experience sailing this new boat. But with gusty winds in the upper teens and low twenties she was quite a handful. So feel free to pile on the wisdom and experience.

I do feel that the addition of the cabin adds safety to the Shields. Even with the two water tight bulkheads Shields will sink when the cockpit floods. In any case I don't really want to test my theory.

Feel free to copy away. The cockpit floor drains system still has some bugs to work out. In the original concept it was awkward to install the drain plug and hose since the hose was so big and inflexible. I have since gone to a collapsible fire type hose which is easy to store and install but can easily kink during pumping. I still think this may work but I need some actual testing.

It was the "pump handle through the cockpit sole' that appealed to me. I got the plans from CC Shipbuilding regarding how to mount a through hull under the counter for the bilge drain exit. One of my winter/spring projects. Right now I have to lift and set aside the forward section of the cockpit sole, loop the stiff hose overside, insert and pump away with an 18" handle down in the bilge. At the mooring it's okay, but not under sail and a potentially dangerous rig due to its inaccessibilty.

Your drain idea seems pretty clever. Where did you install it?

If I understand the way you're set up now it would be just aft of your bulkhead as deep as you could put it in the keel stub.

Cheers, Bill

ps.. I am still waiting to see those "new" cockpit seats.

That's another winter/spring project for me, shortening and installing them forward (as extensions) of the stock benches. My first thought was to add your benches forward of the stock but that made it nigh on impossible to get under the forward deck, so I have not permanently chnaged the seating yet. I have plans to have your benches fold down against the cockpit liner along the fore 'n aft axis, yet be secure enough to support several people as the main gets raised, doused, furled, etc.
I keep the jibs, sail cover, outboard and its bracket, gas can, anchor, spinnaker turtle, PFDs, etc. all under the fwd deck so need to get in there easily. And you know from experience how you must crouch to get in there even in the standard cockpit.

I'll also be putting on the second set of "under-deck action" winches you sent my way. I need them when sailing with the assymetric spinnaker, which really makes her fly in barely a whisper of wind. It's fun to see how high she'll point with that sail set on a glassy afternoon when the boat starts making her own wind. In one very light wind cruising class race I caught an 80 foot ketch from behind and sailed right up her wake and over her while her genoa was in right tight (too tight actually). Her owner was a guy I'd taught sailing to thirty years ago (when he was about thirteen and spoiled rotten) so I chuckled at that. He didn't recognize me.

Let us know how things turn out for you. I'm considering getting a quote from Tim for refinishing the bottom, topsides and deck of my boat in the next few years. She needs it, he's only about an hour from me and I like how honest he seemed about tracking his time.

Dave

[Wiley Baggins]

A couple of related questions:
- What other boats might be good candidates for this treatment?

While not as elegant as the Shields are her like, this 24' Rhodes Meridian in Sausalito, California looks like a good candidate with good pedigree - http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1961.../United-States

[Wiley Baggins]

A couple of related questions:
- What other boats might be good candidates for this treatment?

Bump for an interesting and wholly new to me boat, the Graves Constellation -

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...midcoastyacht&

http://www.sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_ID=537

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache...&ct=clnk&gl=us

It looks like it doesn't need the "treatment;" it's turn-key.

[MiddleAgesMan]

Thanks to your initial post, Dave, I had followed that project all the way through to completion. The builder does very nice work but he did a few things that really bothered me. In several places he epoxy-bonded long grain solid wood across short grain wood. He did that in the forward corners of the house (inside of course) as well as on a solid wood hatch cover he fabricated. That goes against everything I ever learned about wood's need to expand and contract. I wonder how those things are holding up?

[peter radclyffe]

Here's another interesting approach to similar ends. This is a previous project by the same builder. Take one Pearson Triton cruiser and cut the deck off, lower the sheer, and build a new deck with a low cabin. Beauty eh?

Before:



After:



I gotta compliment the guy he's got vision.

if not height

[peter radclyffe]

it looks beautiful

[John B]

another..reconfigured to make a sweet little fast cruiser.

[bamamick]

What is that, John? Looks kind of like an old 5.5 metre.

Have you seen the E22 in En Zed that was converted into a cruiser? I think I saw it in 'Classic Boat'? It might be the very boat in your photo, though the bow looks more 5.5ish.

Mickey Lake

[John B]

Thats it Mickey. Doug Reid's etchells.