Stickleback Dory (Amberjack)

Iain Oughtred developed detailed plans for this lapstrake (plywood) Swampscott dory derivative. My good friend, Jim Reim recently built one and our mutual friend, John Kohnen teases him about going to an Australian designer living in Scotland, to get plans for a very American boat.

Iain readily acknowledges the origins of the Stickleback in his description of the design brief:

"The Amberjack has the second chine that is the indicator of the Swampscott type so favored of the corn cob pipe smoking Eggamoggin Reach types, up there in Maine. There's a few here in OZ too, people like the compromise dory style, with their handier sailing ability and still very good rowing and load carrying potential."

Jim and I have worked together on volunteer boat projects and I can attest to his focus and attention to detail. Raven shows the quality we have come to expect from this amateur builder. Jim is still a bit nervous about sailing Raven. She sports a big sail, and he's unfamiliar with the sprit rig, though the accompanying photos tell a slightly different story.

Designer: Iain Oughtred
LOA: 15' 8"
Beam: 4' 5"
Draft: (board down) - 6" (board up) - 2' 8"
Displacement: 125-150 lbs.
Materials: Wood (plywood)
Propulsion: sail, oars
Skill Level to Build: Basic to Intermediate

Jim in Raven, with his bird dog, Lucy.

Happy Skipper.
Congratulations Jim!

All photos courtesy of boat photographer extraordinaire,  John Kohnen. Thank you, John.

He who would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.
Thomas Paine

St Ayles Skiff, Doineann

Shortly after this blog began, almost a decade ago, I became enamored of Iain Oughtred's Ness Yawl . The Ness Yawl has taken Doryman readers through many voyages. (If you took the time to follow that link, welcome back!)
In the intervening years, Iain, who was then an internet no-show, has become possibly the most popular small boat designer in the world. And once again I find myself drooling over a new design from the Master, his beautiful sharpie, Haiku.
She's exquisite, but that's a subject for another day.

While I was writing extensively about the Ness Yawl, Iain designed the St Ayles Skiff. The Scottish Coastal Rowing Association was formed on 29 May 2010, to encourage boat building and rowing and racing of coastal rowing boats along the Scottish Coastline. Communities were encouraged to become involved in the building of new boats to be rowed, principally the St Ayles skiff.

Doryman was quick to promote this extraordinary design and though hundreds of these boats have been built globally, only two St Ayles Skiffs exist on the west coast of the US, Doryman's cruising grounds. Both were built in Portland, Oregon at the Wind and Oar Boat School .

The first boat off the molds at WOBS (Rosie) lives in Portland, rowed regularly by the team of women who built her. The second St Ayles Skiff to come out of that shop was Doineann (Irish for tempest or storm), built for her proud owner, Julius Dalzell. The following update from Julius is the answer to my suggestion that the St Ayles Skiff might make a great sail-and-oar boat, if only she had a sail rig.

"Hi Michael,

It has been sometime since our last communication. As you may recall, Doineann was the second St. Ayles skiff built by the Wind and Oar and Oar School. My wife and I decided upon retirement, in July 2014, to move to a favorable locale, in Cathlamet, Washington for a variety of reasons, not the least being the beauty and boating opportunities of the Lower Columbia River. A significant aspect of our new abode was the availability of a large shop. Today it is a home and restoration facility for small craft.

Of course Doineann is one of the permanent residents. And yes, we did proceed to design and make a sail-rig for Doineann.

Before proceeding with the story, you might be impressed to know that we have a regular crew rowing Doineann, most having little prior rowing experience. We find that performance is outstanding regardless of wind or chop. She slices through anything with little fuss. Totally enjoyable.

We started with an e-mail exchange with Iain Oughtred himself. Iain warned that the craft was designed for rowing, not sailing, and would be tender, so recommended a small lug sail, maybe something around 90 sq. ft.. Iain stated that the existing keel might be sufficient to support lateral stability with minor leeway. He wasn’t sure how she would tack because of her wide turning radius.

We decided to go low budget. After considering many sail designs, our choice was an 85 sq. ft. balanced lug.

The mast was a used item acquired from a builder. Quite the specimen, ugly but it works. A sail was ordered from Lee Sails. I insisted that the sail be mounted without use of fittings or attachments. No screws, nails, brackets or drilled holes. In other words, no intrusions that would impact the original design.

The mast partner we devised uses the kabe support at the forward rowing station, using the kabes and pins incorporated into each rowing station at the gunnel. The mast step slips into the floor boards below. So, on a fine August day, we took to the river for the first sail. In a fresh, accommodating wind, her response was beyond expectations. She went like mad with five adults aboard. The existing steering rudder, though designed for rowing, performed well.The boat was not tender, in fact quite stable regardless of wind on any quarter. We had a ball!

Tacking was a challenge. Because of the long keel, she took her time. Speed would drop off and we would be in irons, propelled in reverse. Throwing the rudder over steered her in reverse through the tack. The sail would again fill and we were off. Too much rudder did nothing but enhance the stall, acting as a brake. The answer to a successful tack was two fold - lots of speed going into the tack, and finessing the rudder. A slow tack became doable.

The materials I used for gaff and boom are too light. Currently another gaff and boom are under construction. Three strips of tight grain fir to be epoxied and shaped.

So, Michael, that is the Doineann story to date. My expectations for the craft are progressing!"

Thank you Julius for that update. It's obvious you love your boat and it's easy to see why.
Of course the St Ayles Skiff is a one-design racing machine, so Julius was careful to keep the design legal for racing. He looks forward to the day when more St Ayles are built and racing here in the US. (me too!)

Meanwhile, the Haiku is calling me. Isn't she a beauty?

Doineann , the second St Alyes Skiff launched in Portland

Doineann (Gaelic for "Storm"), a St Alyes Skiff, was launched last Sunday, in Portland, Oregon.
She is the eighth St Alyes skiff built in the US and the second on the west coast.
These boats were built at the Wind and Oar Boat School, a non-profit run by director Peter Crim, by the teams that will race them.

The first boat to come out of the school was Rosie, whose all-woman team will be participating in the Skiffie Worlds next month in Ullapool, Scotland. Rosie joined Doineann on the Willamette River, with Portland in the background, as the new team tested their fine craft for the first time.

Congratulations to the builders of Doineann and also to the Wind and Oar Boat School!

An Oughtred Eun na Mara in Port Townsend, Washington

About four years ago (where did all the time go?) we heard of an Eun na Mara, that fine little cruiser from the board of Iain Oughtred, being launched in Venice, Italy. Then as now I am smitten by this design and have often dreamed of building one for myself. I know I say that often and it's always true. But if I could build only one boat in my lifetime, this could well be it.

With this in mind, you might imagine how pleased I am to see an Eun na Mara nearing completion right here in the Pacific Northwest.
David Jones, of Port Townsend, Washington is building his version at the Northwest Maritime Center, with help from the staff at that fine institution.

David has been working on his boat project for a couple years and I've heard about it from friends, but just recently contacted him to ask about his progress. It seems he is nearing completion and hopes to launch her in late spring:





 "Hi Michael,

I have visited your excellent doryman blog and have enjoyed it!

By May we should be in the water or very nearly so. I'm working 6 days a week full-time to keep this project progressing, and it is moving along on schedule. I'm now varnishing exterior parts, so I can mask and paint the topside. The spars now being varnished as well. Lots of labor, but I really enjoy working with the friends at the Northwest Maritime Center. Thanks for your interest, and we'll go sailing together when she's wet.
Best regards, 

David Jones"

A chance to go sailing in a beautiful new Eun na Mara on the transcendent waters of Admiralty Inlet is an offer I can't pass up!

David and friends. (Looks like a whiskey plank party.)

Fresh varnish and paint.

Nice shop area!

A well thought out design, artfully executed.

The proud owner. Very nice job, David.






The first two photos courtesy of Brandon Ford. The remainder by permission of David Jones.

An Arctic Tern in Florida

Doesn't seem very likely, does it?

Of course we are talking, once again, about the pretty little double-ender from the pen of Iain Oughtred.

Tim Haney, from St Augustine, Florida, who describes himself variously as a professional boat carpenter and a dyed-in-the-wool boat nut, sent me some photos of a beautiful Tern he built last winter.

"Hi Doryman,
Here are some pictures of my Arctic Tern sailing on Salt Run in St.Augustine a couple of weeks ago. I can’t say enough good things about it. The plans are excellent and if followed closely you can’t go wrong . A long boat is no more difficult than a short one to build and the difference in cost is minimal, however, the rewards are huge."

"I finished the Arctic Tern last February, so have had plenty of time to learn the boat. It's pretty much a solo
rig which is fine because that's how it seems I do most of my sailing. The sail is also made in my shop. I'm proud of my first effort."

"The cloth came from Duckworks and I consulted The Sailmakers Apprentice."

Tim is interested in networking with local sailors and we wish him luck with that.

He has one last word of advice for those who have dreamed of building their own boat...

"If any of you are sitting on the fence, all I can say is get going and make some sawdust."


"See you on the water!"
 Tim Haney


Could happen... it's cold, wet and drear here in the Pacific Northwest right now and all that warm sun looks really good!
Maybe Tim would let me sail his new boat..........

Arctic Tern x 2

Though you will find a building library of small boat designs profiled here, the Voyage Ethereal is as much about the people as the boats. Through the years of writing these pages, I've had the pleasure of meeting many interesting folks from all over the world, who have enriched my life more than they will ever know.

I wish I could meet all of you, face to face. Maybe someday.

Last fall, I had the pleasure of meeting first Bruce, then Andy, who were new friends to each other. We three had a common thread running through our lives, a quiet yet powerful vortex, on the Southern Salish Sea.
The thread became a quilt...

The friendship of these two men developed over time and distance, for the love of the Arctic Tern, a design from the board of Iain Oughtred. I've not had the pleasure of sailing a Tern, but have sailed in company with one, enough to know that Iain's description of this design as a "double ended flyer" is so true.

The story of how Bruce and Andy meet on a remote beach, a meeting which culminates in Andy building two Arctic Terns, intrigued me. So I petitioned them to tell the tale.

At a point in the first build, Andy amuses himself by naming the two identical boats Ted and Alice. Andy is a philosophical sort, a state of mind I appreciate, but the reference to the old Paul Mazursky film still eludes me. If I understand Andy, elusion frames his amusement.

So then, let's hear their story!...




TED and ALICE

BRUCE: I’m not normally a very trusting person, but it didn’t take me long to let down my guard with Andy. After rowing together for a day and exchanging e-mails about small boats over the course of a few months, I found his sincerity disarming. Even with Andy, the King of Craigslist, sending me "for sale" links to boat after boat, I didn’t find one that met my criteria. Soon an idea was hatched: Andy would build me an Arctic Tern, and while he was at it, he’d build himself one too.

ANDY: The Arctic Tern is a pretty ideal choice for a sail and oar vessel. Good rower, good sailing qualities, attractive and pointy at both ends. However, I needed another boat like I needed... I think everyone knows how that ends. But, what do needs have to do with it? Wooden boat enthusiasts occupy a highly delusional plane where needs and wants are barely distinguishable from one another. And this was a wonderful opportunity due to the combination of an interesting co-conspirator, the economy of scale and a pretty open schedule to build a couple of really cool boats.


BRUCE: I varied between feeling giddy with delight as I watched Andy's construction photos come in and feeling completely paranoid that this was all some strange dream or scam. My wife, with her usual practicality, convinced me to get over it. Those pictures were of my boat and soon I did start to feel like a conspirator. The only thing missing was a secret code for this project and it didn't take long for Andy to create one.

ANDY: There were quite a few moments during the first stages of the build when I would find myself giggling due to the fact that I was building a boat for money. Ted and Alice, the provisional working names for the two boats, would be my eighth and ninth boats and during each previous build I always, always thought about building boats professionally. There is certainly an aura of romance to boat building, just as an aura exists around painting and sculpting... but, as with other artistic pursuits, the pot of money ain't so full.

BRUCE:
"He's calling them Ted and Alice," I said to my wife. "What do you suppose that means?"

"Ooh-ooh it's from a movie," she replied, half questioning herself. Turns it out was from a 1969 movie that had a sense of humor. As we worked through the project, Andy indeed showed his humor, perhaps that's why he found getting paid to do it somewhat funny.

I kept wondering which boat I'd get Ted or Alice? My friends all said to ask him for the one he was keeping for himself. How I could figure that out was beyond me...




ANDY:
From the beginning my thought was to let Bruce have the first boat off the molds - Ted - unless of course that one turned out poorly.







Being a carpenter and knowing many other carpenters and going to their houses exposes a common carpenter gift/flaw/whatever. Carpenters can’t finish things that are to be for themselves. Their houses are full of unfinished trim, missing cabinet doors, alarmingly large sections of tarp roofing… To let Bruce have my boat would likely have meant a boat with only one gunwale, half a tiller, missing hatches and any other number of incomplete tasks.

BRUCE:
With it established that Ted was mine and it coming rapidly to completion, I had to find a real name for the boat and a place to do the finish work on her. Finding the work space was easier than expected. My neighbor's dusty garage was commandeered, junk removed, and transformed into a varnishing studio, sanding zone, and paint shed. Now as, for a name. Code name Ted was funny, but in the long run, I wanted something with a little more personal meaning. A long list of names was considered (Lutra, Gator, Lookfar), but none of them stuck. Fortunately, I had some time before the boat was to arrive, and many hours of sanding, painting, and sanding again, to contemplate the right name.

ANDY:
The beauty of a boat designed for sail and oar is the inherent simplicity- wind and muscle, food and barometric disagreements. No mechanical gizmos to rely upon or to curse at when they fail to operate correctly. And so, after a herculean final push of spar making, painting and finishing touches, whilst attempting to deliver Ted, my journey was cut short by the failure of a mechanical whatsit.

It’s around four hundred miles from my home to Portland where Bruce lives. After a hundred or so miles my vehicle decided it didn’t care to part with Ted and chose to not proceed any further south.

BRUCE::
Traveling toward the headwaters of the Columbia River from it's lush lowlands is a mind warp. Everything you see gets browner, drier and rockier, except for the massive river. It's a beautiful, but long and slow drive. Gives a fellow a lot of time to think. I've always thought sailboats look like some strange kind of bird and since this one rowed too, the name Row Bird got stuck in my mind, and soon in my son's mind too. When it came time to officially name her, I started to think of other names, but my son looked at me like I was crazy, so Row Bird it was.



And that's how Ted became Row Bird.

With any luck you can meet Ted and Alice (Row Bird and Sigmund) as well as Bruce and Andy at the 2013 Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival!






 
In case you missed the links above, Bruce and Row Bird can be found sailing through Terrapin Tales and Andy strives steadily on Sigmund in Sage and Sea.

Thank you, gentlemen, for visiting Doryman!
 

Arctic Tern				Iain Oughtred
Length	Beam		Weight (kg)	Sail Area
18' 2" - 5.52m	5' 5" - 1.64m		110	102 sq ft - 9.48 sq m

Ness Yawl, Otter

By now it must be apparent that Doryman loves a double-ended sea boat. Then, it comes as no surprise that at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival last month, a particular boat stood out. Now, to claim you have a favorite boat at such an event is very hard to say. Impossible, in fact.

So, let's just say that Dan and Mette's Ness Yawl Otter was one of the finalists on Doryman's list. Iain Oughtred designed this fine sea boat on the lines of the Shetland Yoals. In days of yore, these boats were imported to the Shetland Islands from Norway, and then assembled by local builders. They were of lapstrake construction dating to the Vikings.

In the years since the development of the Ness Yawl, many similar boats have been built to it's capable sea qualities, including several new designs by Iain himself.

The popularity of the open double-ender was apparent at the PT Festival, with several examples tied along the same dock, all rigged for open water sail-and-oar gunkholing.

Otter was moored at the end of the dock, amid a jumble of small boats and the activity of a cul-de-sac, but Doryman has a discerning eye for a well crafted boat.

Dan confessed he was not a professional boat builder though he's a fine woodworker, there is no doubt.
His new Ness Yawl is beautiful.

Congratulations Dan and Mette! A fine vessel. May she provide you with many pleasant hours on the water.

The proud builder. He looks mighty pleased, and well he should.

Doesn't get better than this.

If you would like to see what a Ness Yawl can do, please visit the Man on the River, for Giacomo de Stefano's fabulous trip across Europe in Clodia.

For a very good example of how a Viking might build a boat like this, visit Adrian Morgan.

Tammie Norrie

You already know of Adrian Morgan. He's the guy who was almost featured in a Balvenie Masters of Craft Award ad.






Did you know Adrian has been building an Iain Oughtred Tammie Norrie? Hopefully you have been watching the sidebar and checking up on progress in Leckmelm, Scotland.


Adrian is a professional boat builder, which probably means he lives on beans and rice. But since he's currently off on a vacation to France, I suspect that he makes a fair penny from his writing - Which is superb, I might add - please do visit his site.





The boats from Adrian's shop are often of Norse origin and built of larch and oak in a time tested manner. And every one is a beauty.




This Tammie Norrie is no exception.


Adrian has said, "Can there be anything more beautiful than a clinker boat at this stage of building?... There are imperfections that cannot be replicated, but make such a boat truly handmade. Some of those timbers are a little more (or less) than exactly 8 inches apart, for example..."

Photos by Adrian.