Small Craft Weekend

A photo essay

When two great events happen at the same time, it can be hard to decide which way to go. But then, a busy summer schedule often trumps, which was the case for Doryman last weekend.

The closest event was a gathering of Coots on Fern Ridge Reservoir, in the beautiful Willamette Valley, near Eugene Oregon. So, I dropped by just in time Saturday to visit as the boats returned to the docks from a day on the water. This is my home team, so you've seen some of these boats before.

First up is Bob Larken in his Wavewatcher, a Bolger designed Birdwatcher. Bob is an electronics and computer wizard and his boat is tricked out with amazing stuff. He recently installed a remote controlled tiller pilot so he can steer from any location on the boat.

This is John Kohnen's Redwing, Lazy Jack. He bought this boat recently from a fellow Coot and I think he's happy as a man can be.

Dennis McComber just finished this little runabout from a batteau.com plan. His son started the build and abandoned it. Dennis picked up where he left off and did a great job.

Cal Drake designed and built this Garvey and it's the powerhouse of the group. I don't know how much horsepower it has, but it's a lot. You might have noticed, some of the Coots are moving toward being a power squadron!

Not entirely. Hal Colvin brought his Pacific Pelican, Retta Ann. I've sailed with Hal before in this boat. A very capable craft.

And Lou Brochetti came with his newly refurbished Devlin Egret. So new, she doesn't have a name yet.

Lou likes to tinker with a design as much as I do. He says the sail rig is a bit small and too far forward. We're looking for the upgrade soon Lou!

This is the beauty that caught my eye. The new caretakers of Richardson State Park and the custodians of these docks, own this boat.

She's a Sam Rabl Picaroon and the story is, she was built in 1954 by Sam himself. Obviously the boat has undergone some extensive refitting and I'd like to know more.

A planked Picaroon is rare. The examples I've seen were all made from plywood.


A proper little yacht.

Speaking of proper yachts, north of here a few hundred miles was the first ever Pocket Yacht Palooza, in beautiful Port Townsend, Washington State. This new event was organized by the Port Townsend Pocket Yachters, co-sponsored by the Small Craft Skills Academy and Northwest Maritime Center, and held May 19 at the NWMC.



Marty Loken worked hard to make this inaugural event a success. Give the man a hand!

Photos can be found on the Packet Yachters' website and additional information is provided by Joel Bergen on his Navigator site.

Watch for this one next year.



Here's a teaser from last Saturday, sent in by our friend Brandon.......

Pocket Yacht Palooza 2012

Photos by Brandon Ford

Northern Reach

From Scotland to Iceland via Orkney, Shetland and Faeroe Islands.

I'd like to draw your attention to yet another traveler.



Chris Duff is one of those exceptional human beings who's will, spirit and ambition ride high on a cresting wave. He is famous for over 15,000 nautical miles of endurance kayaking, including a circumnavigation of Iceland, a solo circumnavigation of New Zealand and also Ireland. He also set the record for being the first person to circumnavigate Great Britain alone.

Last year this time he attempted the route of the Northern Reach but weather and high seas turned him back to Scotland. This year, with renewed spirit and training, Chris is once again part of the sea he loves:

"I am very capable but I am no match for the sea. Knowing this is essential. The sea is where I feel most at home, but it is a place that demands respect and a cautious approach. Every day from here on out will be very busy. It's all part of the adventure."

His boat is a modified Wayland Marine 19-foot Merry Wherry.
Hard to imagine, but Chris feels very confident of this boat in the open ocean.

I am in awe of this man and anxiously follow his journey on the website, Northern Reach.

Chris recently quoted  Erden Eruc:  "A man does what he can and destiny reveals itself."

How true.

I would include women in that equation. But a quote is a quote.

The Devlin Egret, redux

The Devlin Egret has been a topic of some interest around here for awhile. I'm happy to report that Lou has fitted out this worthy craft better than new, in his usual thorough fashion.

He found rot along the shear, under the guard, so the top plank is new and he installed it clinker fashion, which I think looks very nice. The mast, sail and boom are collected from here and there and he made the yard. The hardware is from my boxes of salvage.


I think, when Sam hears about this, he will be very pleased.

The photos are from a wet trial a couple days ago.

Excellent job, Lou! It's so good to see a worthy boat brought back to life.

Cedar Key Small Boat Meet, 2012

The month of May, in Florida, can be absolutely perfect for a small boat rendezvous. And it appears last weekend was just that.

For us who could not attend the Cedar Key Small Boat Meet, in Cedar Key Florida, here is a link to some photos from Lenna Young Andrews (AKA creativelenna).

And a link to another fine set of photos from catboat willy.


How about all those people standing knee deep in the water in May? No wonder so many folks show up for this event!





Photo of Bufflehead by Dave Lucas.

Man on the River, Voyaging with the Ness Yawl Clodia

Speaking of travelers, Giacomo De Stefano has resumed his journey from North Sea to Black Sea.
As winter set in on the Danube last year, Giacomo was obliged to put his Ness Yawl, Clodia up in storage in Budapest, Hungary.
Giacomo is committed to life as a nomad, drawing together people of like mind to create a new paradigm - life more in harmony with our water planet. This is not just an eco-vacation. Giacomo delves deep into the culture of the river communities he visits.

I doubt that Giacomo realized how much of his life would be consumed by this venture. Three years ago he attempted to launch from London only to be stymied by pneumonia, the silent thief.

Last year he fared better, rowing and sailing along the canals of Europe, making his way uphill through lock after lock on the Rhine. Along the way, he has met and introduced us to many people and multiple cultures. You could spend a lifetime making a journey such as this!







But the goal is Istanbul and Giacomo, with renewed energy, is on the downhill leg. We'll follow him as he makes his way downriver on the Danube over the next few months because we are part of the community that is the Man on the River.



Fair winds, Giacomo!

This voyage can also be followed on Facebook.

Kees Prins and Fetch

Kees Prins stopped by for a visit and took Doryman out for a sail on Fetch. You remember Kees. He built Sparrow, the Ed Davis surf dory on the header of this blog and also designed and built the Townsend Tern. He built the Small Craft Advisor Scamp. He's an old friend of Iain Oughtred. He's a world traveler from the Netherlands and a boatbuilder of some renown.






Kees is headed from his home in Port Townsend, Washington State across the United States and ultimately to Maine. He stopped by on his way to park his van and the exceptional 17 foot, gunter-rigged Fetch out back, in Doryman's boatyard. He seemed to feel right at home there.





While he was here, we launched Fetch in the Yaquina River one afternoon when the weather ranged from full sun to driving rain and eventually hail. Nice way to entertain a guest, don't you agree? Kees didn't seem to mind - in fact enjoyed himself.

You can follow Kees' cross-country adventure from the blog section of the on-line magazine, Small Craft Advisor.













Where will Kees Prins wet his keel next?







Right away, Kees wanted to go out the jaws to the raging Pacific Ocean, though there was a restriction on the bar for boats under twenty eight feet. And here is the video to prove it. The man's insane (and that's a good thing).



A great day on the water my friend. Thank you so very much!


Fetch is an Iain Oughtred Fulmar Dinghy built as an open boat by my good friend, Ralph Merriman. Kees added the cabin, decks and self draining cockpit.
This boat was featured in the September/October issue of the Small Craft Advisor
There is also a discussion of this boat on the WoodenBoat Forum.
The plans for the Fulmar Dinghy can be found here.

Length	Beam		Weight (kg)	Sail Area
16' 8" - 5.08m	5' 10" - 1.80m		175	160 sq ft