Monday, January 12, 2015

1955 Wooden Sunfish

Dark Harbor, Ilesboro, Maine, 1955. Joe Spalding sailing one of the first Sunfish ever made, Summer 1955. Joe worked that Summer for Al Norton, an Alcort Sailfish dealer, and Joe was asked to sail the Sunfish for demonstrations. He also worked at Alcort during the Summer of 1954. Image by Mayo Snyder.

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

"wooden boats" by Michael Ruhlman

Read "wooden boats. In Pursuit of the Perfect Craft at an American Boatyard" (Ruhlman, 2001). The authors spends time chronicling work at Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway in Vineyard Haven. Excellent read, made more interesting by the fact that GandB craftsmen are still at it!

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Drascombe Lugger Pickin FT. Pierce "Roamer"

We have been looking for another Drascombe Lugger to restore, and found a 1974 MK1 model on ebay. Took a trip to pick it up, the couple selling it are very familiar with sailboats but are streamlining to get a bigger boat. First owner had it imported to Michigan and owned it for40 years, made some modifications but overall it is in great shape. Second owners had it 2 years and sailed it a few times. We named the boat Roamer.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

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I like the magnetic stick on trailer lights! The permanent lights didn't work so the seller threw these in as part of the deal. They will be great for other picks where we show up unsure if trailer lights will be working.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

One tire was in good shape, other had dry rot, spare was usable for emergency. We threw on a new tire for the ride and the trailer pulled great.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

Newly minted Captain Scott came by and helped us rig the boat, we wanted to see what original parts we had and what extras.

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Mast steps easily and jib secures to the forestay.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

Luggers were built in Totnes, Devon England. By Honnor Marine for many years.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

Original sails are in great shape.

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Port lazarette went missing in Montana windstorm a few years back.

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First rigging with spare mizzen sail.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

First owner rigged the boat to be single handed and also had a different main with a boom.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

MK1 boats had line travelers.

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Mast head needs a ring with 3 tangs, this contraption will go away.

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Rigging the original main sail.

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Started cleaning up the gelcoat and peeled off the pinstripe.

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Had a special bead delivery from Murray, sailing his ODay Widgeon "Widget" across the Bay to our dock.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

Jack and Murray sanded all of the teak, and then we oiled it.

From Lewis 2014

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

Starting to look like a Lugger!

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Cut a new starboard side sole from pine, secured with brass screws.

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Roamer came with a 5hp Mercury.

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Started working on the mast, gaff and mizzen, they are a little crunchy.

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First coat of Helmsman SPar urethane applied.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

13 May 2014: Took Roamer to Coastal Marine Works to have the hull waxed. Our friend Viper owns it and he turned loose his best man Brad to clean the hull, compound it and put down a nice coat of wax. The results were amazing! Plus we got to prank Brad, the Skipper pretended to be upset and told Brad that it wasn't what she asked for because "there is too much gloss." The look on his face was priceless.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

16 May 2014: Cut the port side sole from 1x6 pine, fastened cross braces with #8 1 1/2 brass screws. 1 1/4 would have been better, but I was careful to not overdrive the screws and get the tips poking through the deck.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

I have built a lot of things with this tiny table saw. I made a cart that put it at the same height as my utility table, that way the utility table can catch the boards on the other side.

17 May 2014: First coat of Helmsman Satin spar varnish applied to the bumkin.
From SBR 3: Jan 2014-
From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

Trimmed the sole for final fitting. It looks good from a distance but I goofed up by buying soft white pine, real soft. After one week it is already starting to crack, so I will have to scrap these planks and start over. So much for the pine experiment, although a select grade of better quality should work fine.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

13 May 2014: Coastal Marine Works cleaned, compounded and waxed the hull, Roamer looks awesome! Quick turnaround and the Skipper got to prank the artist who did the work, told him "I'm upset. I don't know what you thought we wanted, but it is TOO glossy!" The confused look on his face was priceless

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

17 May 2014: Yoke is glued and screwed back onto the Lugger main mast gaff arm. Titebond II works well for applications like this, or you can go with thickened epoxy as well.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

28 May 2014: Taking some measurements of the mast head so we can order a mast ring for the MKI Lugger. Also need a port side locker cover and row locks.

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From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

12 Jun 2014: Well the boat floated off after the trailer dropped off the side of the ramp. It is easy to get an empty trailer back on a ramp because the tires help it float, but you will get wet :)

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

It followed me home, can I keep it?

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

Roamer enjoyed some time in the slip while we replaced trailer bunk carpet and sprayed the trailer with cold galvanizing compound.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

Used outdoor carpet from Lowes and roofing nails.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

13 Jun 2014: Picked up some cypress for a new sole, the pine sole was too soft/dry and is already splitting.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

Adding trailer guides, they will make recovery a lot easier. Our local trailer stores carry them.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

2 inch PVC slides over the guides.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

Trailer is looking better with cold galvanizing compound and new bunks.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

14 Jun 2014: Rigging Roamer for sail. Lashed mizzen with a marlin hitch, tied downhaul.

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Bending mainsail to gaff.

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Parrel beads to hold upper gaff to main mast.

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Roamer rigged and ready.

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Under sail. Every boat needs belaying pins. The starboard pin holds the main halyard, port side is for the downhaul.. We rowed with the new oars and sailed today, motor needed fuel.

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That Aladdin water jug has seen many a cruise, and it serves up the coldest water ever.

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The Lugger features a roller furling jib. Port side belaying pin is for the downhaul, starboard side for the main halyard. Red line is the jib sheet.

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Mizzen lashed on with a marlin hitch, 1/8 inch line. This early model Lugger uses a rope traveler, later models have a metal pipe.

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From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

I jumped out to take some pics.

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From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

In the mid 1970s Webb Chiles sailed solo from San Diego, headed west and made it all the way back to the Atlantic in his Lugger Chiddiock Tichborne. Actually 2 Luggers...FMI check out his book "Open Boat Across the Pacific."

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Skipper does a low pass in the Drascombe Lugger "Roamer", a gaff rigged yawl.

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15 Jun 2014: Drascombe Lugger stern. Trailer guides and LED trailer lights.

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20 Jun 2014: 8 foot oars from Chesapeake Light Craft.

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Downrigging the boat, storing sails in the garage until we can find a good cover.

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21 Jun 2014: Laying out the cypress for port side sole, using sole from a MKII Lugger as a pattern. It actually fit pretty well, but we'll need to add a couple of planks by the centerboard, as the MKI centerboard case is narrower than the MKII case.

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

Traced the pattern with pencil and cut out with a jig saw.

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Drilled a pilot hole for the #8 1 1/2 inch brass screws. 2 crews in each plank batten, on opposite corners.

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

Cypress looks great, need to cut out planks for the gaps by the centerboard case.

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New sole came out great!

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28 Jun 2014: Roamer is looking great and has new Skippers! She will stay in Gulf waters, close to Tampa.

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From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

Roamer is now "Adagio." Her new owner is quite crafty and made her a new mast collar, tabernacle and put her name on the transom.

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

22 Dec 2014: I think the new owners are enjoying "Adagio." :)

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

Jul 2017:

Adagio is offered for sale, $5400 USD.


Feb 2018:
Adagio is sold!

...to be continued...