29 Feb 24:
Wandering through fb Marketplace we found a nice set of gently used Shaw & Tenney oars, 7 1/2 feet flat blade style. Picked them up for a very fair price, and we'll see whether they'll fit on the little Abaco dinghy HENNING.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
New Warraskoyack Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association (TSCA) & First Newsletter
28 Feb 24: Warraskoyack Chapter March/April/May/June 2024 Newsletter
Scuttlebutt:
1. Our Warraskoyack Chapter of the TSCA is officially formed! Now what?
2. Kent and Skipper are working on a 1965 Alcort Catfish, 1964 Alcort Sunfish and 1930s Abaco Dinghy. Also on the list is to get the Suzuki 6 hung back on Skipper's Drascombe Lugger ONKAHYE and get ONKAHYE's keel wet soon, probably from the Clontz Park ramp in Smithfield. Maybe taunt the lunch crowd at Smithfield Station?
Our Penobscot 14 ST. JACQUES took a dip at Jones Creek so we could shoot photos of a push pole with duckbill attachment for the March issue of Small Boats Nation. No spoilers until after the article is published on Friday.
3. Steve and his beautiful Welsford Pathfinder SPARTINA are messing about down south, last seen visiting Webb Chiles in Hilton Head.
4. Mike M. has all the scoop on Deltaville and is working with the Mathews Maritime Foundation and Colonial Seaport Foundation, plus the Coast Guard Auxiliary. When not being pressed into service on other boats, he messes about in his 7' 7" Nutshell Pram. Maybe we need to set up a Nutshell Regatta :)
5. John Y. is getting a Lincolnville Salmon Wherry built by Walt Simmons, we can't wait to see that!
6. We'd like to set up a get together at one of our many great local maritime museums. Who's gonna be first? Deltaville...Reedville...Mariners'...Jamestown...Nauticus...Chesapeake Bay...?
Calendar:
March
Antique and Classic Boat Society
Lake Dora, Tavares, FL
April
May
North Carolina Maritime Museum
Beaufort, NC
Jamestown Settlement
Williamsburg, VA
Cedar Key, FL
June
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
St Michaels, MD
About:
The Warraskoyack Chapter retraces the water trails of the indigenous Powhatan tribes on the lower Chesapeake watershed and the upper Outer Banks.
Membership is free to any member of TSCA.
Chapter POC: Kent Lewis, (850) 449-4841, lewis.kent@gmail.com
Members:
Audrey
Kent
Mike M.
Steve E.
John Y.
For more information on our local waters, please visit our Smithfield Trading Town blog at https://smithfieldseaport.blogspot.com/
Old News:
28 Feb 24:
We just received notification that the Traditional Small Craft Association (TSCA) National Council approved our Warraskoyack Chapter.
A little information on the indigenous Warraskoyack area:
"The Warraskoyack Indians, members of the Powhatan paramount chiefdom, lived near the mouth of the Pagan River and along its tributaries, near modern day Smithfield Virginia. Their town of Mokete likely stood in the vicinity of present-day Rescue, while Mathomouk town was probably situated along Burwell Bay close to Rushmere. The principal settlement of Warraskoyack was located farther inland, perhaps east of modern day Smithfield and west of Jones Creek.
The Warraskoyak were an Algonquian-speaking tribe in Tsenacommacah. The Warraskoyak werowance, Tackonekintaco, paid tribute to paramount chief Powhatan. The homeland of the Warraskoyak provided easy access to oysters and fish from the river. It had been occupied for at least 5,500 years. Sea level rise at the end of the last Ice Age drowned the mouth of the Pagan River, and the resulting wetlands were valued food sources for Native Americans long before the evolution of the Warraskoyak tribe.
Inland, across the watershed divide separating the James and Blackwater rivers, hunting and gathering opportunities were rich in what today are labeled Pettit and Belle Meadow pocosins and Pouches, Passenger, and Rattlesnake swamps. In those swamps and woods, the Warraskoyak must have encountered Iroquoian-speaking Nottaway hunters coming up the Blackwater River.
The Algonquian-speaking Quiyoughcohannock lived to their west, upstream on the James River beyond Hog Island. The powerful Algonquian-speaking Nansemond tribe, with 200 warriors according to John Smith, lived downstream on the Nansemond River with a "kings house" on Dumplin Island. The size of the Nansemond tribe would have deterred the Warraskoyak from conflict, if those neighbors chose to hunt near Mokete, Mathomauk, or the king's house of the Warraskoyak. From those three towns, the Warraskoyack found it easy to canoe out into the James (Powhatan Flu) River to trade with the English. They welcomed visitors from Jamestown, bypassing Powhatan with direct trade of food for metal tools and prestige goods. At John Smith's request, they hosted Samuel Collier, an English boy so he could learn the Algonquian language and facilitate trade and diplomacy.
In early 1608, the Warraskoyack allowed a Paspahegh guide to lead two Jamestown colonists into their territory to search for survivors of the "lost colony" on Roanoke Island. Later that year, they assisted another searcher, Michael Sicklemore, to journey towards the Chowan River on another futile expedition."
The Warraskoyack Chapter will explore our local rivers and creeks, retracing the water trails of the indigenous First People. We'll also venture out to other spots on the Chesapeake watershed, the upper Outer Banks and our many inland rivers.
Membership is free to any member of TSCA, and if we'll put out a quarterly newsletter.
For more information on our local waters, please visit our Smithfield Trading Town blog at https://smithfieldseaport.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
LEAF Wins the Wet Pants Award
27 Feb 24:
The little wooden Sunfish named CHIP that we sent out to Pt Townsend had fun at the Shipwright's Regatta last weekend. Her new name is LEAF, Mastered and Commandered by Emiliano now, he gave her a repaint, fixed a few small leaks and made her beautiful sail. Emiliano reports that LEAF nad her crew won the coveted "Wet Pants" award. And her innards were dry and dusty afterwards. Go LEAF!
Monday, February 26, 2024
New Hat
26 Feb 24:
Capn jack always said "Take 2 hats." Skipper has plenty from WoodenBoat Launchings and Relaunchings, she's in the latest issue with our Nutshell Pram EXCUSE ME.
And we got stickers too!
New Launchings Hat from WoodenBoat
26 Feb 24:
The little Nutshell Pram EXCUSE ME was one of the boats featured in the Launchings section of WoodenBoat Magazine No. 297, and as reward the folks in Brooklin, Maine sent us 2 nice hats, a nice letter, a copy of the article and 2 stickers. That was very kind and we appreciate the though put behind the custom stitching of the hats.
The hats are my favorite, made of a very soft prewashed cotton. The hat also has a low crown and comfortable leather adjustment strap on the back, so they'll stay secure in a blow.
And if you're not currently building a wooden boat, they can be purchased from the WoodenBoat Store.
Thursday, February 22, 2024
THIXO Gasket
22 Feb 24:
The previous attachment on this pole had a smaller diameter, so one choice was to cut the pole end off and reshape the end. Instead we filled the 1/8th inch gap with THIXO Pro. It dried very secure, no need for the little screw.
When it comes time to replace the attachment, we'll use an oscillating multitool to gently cut the metal loose.
Tool Time
22 Feb 24:
It's Winter, so we buy tools. These will be used to build up a kit for outboard maintenance.
Sea Trials for a Push Pole
22 Feb 24:
Our Penbscot 14 ST. JACQUES got to play in the marsh today, we took her out to be the test platform for a push pole. The pole and its new foot worked great. Here's a photo of ST. JACQUES back at the Sunfish telling tall tales and proudly showing the marsh grass stuck in the centerboard trunk.
The push pole review will be in the March issue of Small Boats Nation.
Monday, February 19, 2024
Sea Stories: The Green Dolphin by Cap'n Bilge Rat
19 Feb 24:
Green Dolphin was a 47ft German built yacht, deep keel, low freeboard, beautiful graceful lines, Oak on steel frames with a heavy lead keel.She was hit by a shop in Torbay UK and sank instantly.
John Watkinson, the owner of Kelly and Halls Boatyard at Newton Ferrers heard about the boat and decided to attempt a salvage operation. The 18ft open yard launch was powered by a twin cylinder air cooled Lister diesel, this was connected to a salvage pump driven via a pulley system from the crankshaft. They motored around the coast to Torbay with a crew of 2 plus a scuba diver. Arriving at the wreck site, the diver established that Green Dolphin was lying on a sandy bottom, intact, but with a severely damaged bow. The diver used a handsaw to remove some of the jagged edged, then attached a thick canvas tarpaulin over the gaping hole as well as possible, after which, several airbags were attached to lifting strops around the hull and slowly inflated. As the boat came to the surface, the salvage pump was put to work, fortunately, it had the capacity to exceed the water entering the hull whilst the canvas tarpaulin was made more secure and a closer fit, nailing battens over the edges and to the hull. The salvage pump was now capable of easily removing water from the hull to keep it afloat. The next task was to remove all the sails, rigging and damaged masts etc, lightening the boat and greatly improving the stability, essential for the long slow tow back to Newton Ferrer's.
The salvage pump worked continuously for the whole journey, arrival at the Boatyard coincided as planned with the high tide, which made it easier to get Green Dolphin into a cradle waiting at the bottom of the slipway.
It had been a long and tiring day, so the boat and cradle were well secured in position, ready to be looked at the following day, when a plan of the action would be decided upon.
The morning arrived, everyone at the Boatyard was out to work clearing the debris and detritus from inside the hull and the deck, this took a few days. The next stage was to hose the inside of the hull to clean the mud and sand, after which everything was left open to allow it to dry out.
Initially, a chainsaw was taken to the bow to make a nice clean straight cut, to remove all the damaged planking. A plywood sheet was attached to firm a dirt of Praam bow, very idd looking on such a beautiful design, but it would make it watertight. Reinforcing was put in on all the steel frames, keel bolts checked and replaced, everywhere was thoroughly cleaned and painted, because Green Dolphin was going to be used as a houseboat until an extension for accommodation was added to the boatyard. When the extension was completed, Green Dolphin was used as a floating fuel station in the River Yealm, fuel was stored in deck in jerry cans and suspended when boats came alongside to refuel. However, the Harbour Authorities decided that was too dangerous and put a stop to it.
Green Dolphins future was now in need of another rethink.
John Watkinson asked my brother John if he thought it was possible to put a new bow on the boat to restore the original lines. It was a big task, but John said he could do it, about 6 feet of planking, a new stem, deck beams, decking etc would have to be grafted onto the hull, but Green Dolphin was well worth restoring. The work was carried out with great success, including a complete re-rig to a Bermudan sail plan. The whole boat was restored to a very good standard and she proved to be fast and very capable, a delight sail.
I recall the day when at the age of 12, John Watkinson invited me to go for a day sailing on Green Dolphin, it was an exciting prospect, a day that I'll always remember.
On board Green Dolphin were John Watkinson, my brother John, another friend of John Watkinson (I think he was also a John) and myself. We set off from the River Yealm and headed out to sea, the wind and sea conditions perfect, the sun shining in a blue sky. In the distance, we saw a Folkboat we knew and gave chase, easily showing a clean pair of heels as we passed by at around 15 knots, the defeat acknowledged gracefully by the owner of the Folkboat.
Green Dolphin was a joy to sail, responsive to the helm, a fast and comfortable ride, but the day out had to end at some point, so we eventually headed back to the River Yealm.
As we approach the mouth of the Yealm, the wind increased, we decided to have just one last exciting burst of speed, but that turned out to be something of a mistake.
The entrance to the River Yealm is obstructed by a sandbar, there are two sets of leading marks on the hillside that have to be followed by all, except quite small boats, the sandbar is above the surface at low tide and easily seen.
It was a spring tide and ebbing fast, almost low water as we lined up on the first set of leading marks, we were sailing at around 11 knots and decided to start the small Petter diesel engine in readiness for reducing sail, the engine could just about push the boat along at 6 knots, unfortunately, it had been left in reverse gear, the sudden pressure against the propeller trying to make the boat go astern, whilst going ahead at 11 knots was a recipe for disaster. There was a very loud noise caused by the propeller shaft shearing, followed by the shaft sliding aft and fouling the rudder. This all happened in a matter of seconds, still sailing at speed and heading directly for the sandbar. My brother John dove into the engine compartment and with considerable effort managed to pull the shaft forward to clear the rudder, he grabbed a length of cod line, tied it around the shaft to keep it clear of the rudder, a difficult task in a very confined space. John Watkinson was a superb sailor and quick thinking, he decided that the only option to prevent running around on the sandbar was to sheet the sails in hard and heel over as much as possible, which we did. We crossed the sandbar with the scuppers well under water, the topsides white paint was scuffed as they touched the sandbar, with the keel bouncing across it.
As soon as we cleared the sandbar, we had to change tack, but keep full sail to heel as much again, myself and the other crewman hung onto the clew of the Genoa as we went about, someone yelled "Whatever you do, don't let go!" we were both lifted off our feet and carried across the deck in a wide arc over the water, before the Genoa was sheeted in to return us from our flight back to the deck. Emergency over, the sails were eased as we casually made our way to the mooring. An exciting day, with a more exciting end and a great story to tell.
Doug (Cap' Bilge Rat)
Next Career?
19 Feb 24:
20 years in the Marines, 24 at Delta Air Lines, on my Victory Lap. What's up next? Moveable ballast for one, Skipper's crew.
VIRGINIA - First English Built Ship in the New World
19 Feb 24:
The pinnace VIRGINIA was the first ocean-going English ship built in the Americas at the Popham Colony, and she started a 400-year legacy of shipbuilding in the lower Kennebec River near modern day Bath Maine. Drawing by Sam Manning.
She's a good looking ship, and we hope to find more information on boats like her tender and the native canoes, most likely bark canoes.
Morgan's Riflemen
24 Feb 24:
Skipper and I are digging in to the American Revolution timeline, seeing as the 250th anniversary of July 4, 1776 is right around the corner. One of her ancestors was with Daniel Morgan's Riflemen at Sunny Point and Monmouth during his one year enlistment, and then participated as a Partisan for the duration. When it we get closer, maybe I can bribe Skipper into making me some replica clothing, especially the hunting frock. We're also digging into the small boating of the time period, with all the creek and river crossings this was a small boat war as well as a land battle and maritime affair.
The riflemen were incredibly more accurate and shot longer ranges than the musketeers, they were usually long hunters recruited from the far edges of Virginia and the Carolinas. Once they gained notoriety for their long range sniping, George Washington started dressing non riflemen in the frocks to scare the British.
Random Rudder Monday
24 Feb 24:
It's random rudder Monday! We're not sure what this goes to, it came with Grumman sailing canoe parts. Possibly it was being used as a leeboard? Any ideas?
The Passionate Sailor
19 Feb 24:
Another great book from sailor and historian Nathaniel Philbrick, it was his first we think.
To our firends up North.
Skipper and I relate to this one.
Friday, February 16, 2024
Alcort Catfish SMEDLEY On the Move
16 Feb 24:
The convertible Mustang went for a sleepover at the Ford place, so we snuck our Alcort Catfish SMEDLEY into the garage for a few days to warm up, then we can do the fiberglass repairs in temps above 50F. But first we had to flip her back upright...
...and pull out the ramps for the trailer.
I wanted to leave SMEDLEY upside down to get to the repair area easier, but the top deck is not thick enough to hold the weight...as it is the bottom hull barely holds the weight in the configuration we have, rollers were not the best option as it turns out.
We're going to change something with the hull support, probably add a PVC bunk betweeen the rollers that will conform to the rocker of the hull. The rollers can go at that point, and SMEDLEY will be buk launched with the trailer submerged.
The trailer on the bottom right is what ALCORT sold for the Catfish, that might work if the padded bunks are plenty long and fit to support more hull area.
Some previous damage to repair, ALCORT tried to go light on the fiberglass thickness to keep the weight down, which might be okay if the boat lived on the beach.
The backyard is ready for Spring.
SMEDLEY was very patient while Skipper's back healed, now she's ready to get some TLC.
PS: We need one of these flatbed haulers to go get boats on rusty trailers. Does anyone want to sponsor us? :)
We'll need one of these that says Skipper's Marine Salvage.
Suzuki 6hp 4 Stroke Outboard Maintenance
16 Feb 24:
Our friend Steve tutored us through the maintenance on our Suzuki DF6, a 4 stroke outboard motor. Here are some random photos of the evolution and special tools that can come in handy, plus some tools and equipment we'll need to add to the kit for future maintenance. Preventative maintenance should be done at intervals per the Service Manual.
First a note about Steve, Retired Coast Guard, he has been repairing and rebuilding outboards for decades. He is also an avid small boater, so he depends on his motor to start every time.
A tachometer comes in handy to set idle rpm for the motor.
Feeler gauges, both mm and inches, to set spark plug gaps.
This is the tiny spring that for the float bowl. It has to come off at times. Steve recommends taking photos of items like this so when it comes time to reinstall, there is a reference.
A small file set come in handy for lots of jobs.
Here is the DF6 carburetor. My understanding is that the 4hp Suzuki engine is the same size engine with a smaller carb. One other difference between the 4 and the 6 is that the 6hp motor has a hose fitting for an external fuel tank. The 4hp is plenty of thrust for the 800 pound displacement hull of Skipper's Drascombe Lugger, but we bought the 6hp thinking that we might do extended range cruising in creeks where wind would be "wonky." And when we were in Florida coastal Gulf waters, when the wind died it would rapidly get dangerously hot, and we wanted auxiliary propulsion to rescue ourselves.
A vacuum gauge if compression/vacuum needs to be tested.
Here are the plugs for the lower unit oil service holes. Wouldn't be a bad idea to have a spare in case one gets lost or worn. Steve likes to use an impact driver to get screw loos or for the final tightening, plus TefGel on the threads to prevent corrosion, that makes the next servicing go easier.
While one tool kit would have most of the tools, we plan to build up an outboard motor set of tools to keep with the lube, oils and spare parts that we use. With a travel tool kit we can go to the motor, vs having to take the 60 pound motor off of the boat each time to go to the workshop (funshop).
The locking forceps are useful as a third hand.
Steve does not favor any specific brand, gearcase lube is gearcase lube. The same with engine oil. Ang get a tube of Green Grease, it is a true waterproof grease, which is useful just about everywhere, especially on internal components like shift linkages and driveshaft that are exsposed to waters.
Here is one of Steve's "special tools" that he uses to drain engine oil. It is indeed calibrated to hold the quantity of engine oil that is in the block.
Super Lube also is great to put on electrical connections like trailer wiring plugs, to limit corrosion and keep water out.
Lanocote prevents rust, corrosion and electrolysis. And as you can see by the container, a little goes a long way.
Many thanks to Steve for the tutoring, and the time
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Sea Stories: Extreme Home Makeover - Cap'n Pat
14 Feb 24:
Cap'n Pat lived in a house attached to the boatyard, his bedroom overlooked the road that ran past the rear of both building. A neighbour who lived in the house on the opposite side of the road to his bedroom, would often return in his car late at night after a drink at the local pub. The entrance to his garage and parking area (originally a stable in the old days) was through a narrow gap in an old stone wall. Invariably, it involved a lot of manoeuvring to line the car up well enough to pass through the narrow gap,Cap'n Pat was a light sleeper who usually went to bed early, so one evening, he decided enough was enough, he was not in the mood to have his sleep disturbed any more. He got out of his comfortable warm bed, put a dressing gown over his pyjamas and slippers on his feet, stormed down the stairs and out of his house straight to the boatyard, where he picked up a sledge hammer. Suitably equipped, he matched around the rear of the boatyard towards his neighbours house, where his neighbour was still attempting to line his car up with the gap in the wall. Cap'n P dressed in his nightwear and slippers, immediately started to demolish one side of the wall, making the gap a good few feet wider, he then turned to his neighbour, who was sitting in his car looking on in amazement, and said "Perhaps you can get your ********* car through the ********** gap now!" He then returned to his bed and a peaceful night's sleep.
A few days later, he was told by an official to rebuild the wall, which he reluctantly had to do, but he never had a disturbed nights sleep afterwards.
(********* = Sailors cussing words, not suitable reading. 
)
)Cap' Bilge Rat.
------------------------------
Another story Cap'n Pat told me himself.
He signed on to join the Royal Navy as an Officer in WW2, when it was announced that the war had ended, he packed his kit bag, walked down the gangplank and headed for home. I queried that, because I thought enlisted men all had to wait to be discharged. He said "I only signed on for the duration of the war and the war had ended, so I went home."
Doug
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Chesapeake Around the Time of the American Revolution
13 Feb 24:
The Chesapeake watershed during the time of the American Revolution.
Monday, February 12, 2024
Snack Bag
12 Feb 24:
Ya gotta have snacks, right? When we spin up Skipper's business, we might make replicas of our favorite snack bag.
Sunday, February 11, 2024
HENNING Marine Traffic Control Strip
31 Dec 23:
We made a name strip for HENING, the little Abaco Dinghy, to add to the Marine Traffic Control board. We used some scrap #1 select pine, the strip template and the cut out the shape with a DeWALT cordless jig saw. The finger hole was smoothed with a Kobalt flat/half round ceramic file, then we eased the edges of the strip with a DeWALT 20V Brushless compact trim router with 1/8 inch roundover bit. Final sanding with the 20V sander and 220 grit disc. For the name we used Sharpie, and when time permits we'll grab a small paint brush and put HENNINGS colors on the strip.
The Marine Traffic Control strip is used to track our fleet. The strip at the bottom is for the boat that has been on the hard the longest. HENNING pushed our Alcort Catfish SMEDLEY out of that spot as HENNING has been in storage since 1980. The boats below the blank strip have been waiting patiently while we get set up in our new place, which is mostly complete. We'll see more movement in a few weeks and have some exciting local trips planned to explore our new home waters, geared towards retracing the travels of the local Algonquin Warraskoyack's of the Powhatan Confederacy, and the bays, rivers and creeks that were vibrant with maritime trade of the Colonial period.
Saturday, February 10, 2024
Dugout Canoe
10 Feb 24:
We're still contemplating a dugout canoe, asked our tree guy today to be on the lookout for a good size cedar or pine log 12 feet log or so. This canoe remnant is at the local museum, found on a nearby rice farm. It dates back to late 1800s they believe, with evidence of metal tool marks.
It's got a nice shape and we have measurements provided by the museum. Noww we just need a tree and Paul Bunyan.
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