Firefly Revisited

Four years ago, we heard from Bayard Storey, from Los Angeles, CA, who was building an ultralight Firefly II from the drafting board of Ken Basset. Recently Bayard wrote to me with an update.

It's always good to hear from old friends...

Bayard is currently finishing another ultralight double rowing racer, which is an indication of how long it's been since his build of the Firefly II. He and his brother raced the Firefly II last summer in the Blackburn Challenge in Gloucester, Mass and took gold in the Touring Double division (20+ miles in 3 hours, 56 seconds).

It's interesting that, even though he describes the Firefly II as "a plywood tub, if an elegant one", it turns out that the lighter, purpose built racer wasn't up to heavier seas and the worthy Firefly II was the boat that won the day.

Here is his story (no pun intended), in Bayard's words:

"(the Firefly) came out to about 85lbs without row rigs, and 120 with. My brother and I raced it this summer in the Blackburn Challenge in Gloucester, Mass and took gold in the Touring Double division (20+ miles in 3:00 hours 56 seconds (a wrong turn kept us just over 3 hours). Great race, great group putting it on and participating, highly recommend anyone try it if they can."

"Getting the boat from L.A. to Gloucester was a real logistical challenge. I had to get it to a trailer about an hour away from me, and they brought it to Ohio (for club nationals). I flew to Oak Ridge, TN to meet my brother (co-rower, ultra-marathoner with some rowing experience), we bodged together a Home Depot bits and pieces rack (Gorilla Tape is amazingly useful -- we went through two rolls) for his SUV, then drove north to Ohio to pick up the boat. From there we barreled northeast to Mass. The trailer to Ohio was the missing link I only belatedly discovered - I've been meaning to get to that race for years."

"The white boat (pictured to the left) is a new design from a guy who has won the Blackburn in a single version of it in both the fixed seat single and sliding seat touring single divisions (he just built a sliding rig and boom, won)! We worked with a terrific guy in Austria (gotta love boat forums) to get the lines plans optimized for the double version and I had an amateur canoe builder used to strip building build the bare hull about 3 hours from me, all via internet. I added the decks, rigging, etc. later. It's got the usual red cedar strips up to the waterline and then very light paulownia from there to the sheer. Decks are 1.5mm aircraft ply backed by Depron foam in spots to stiffen it. Some carbon tubes, cedar and paulownia were used for the internal furniture. So ready to row it's about 85lbs. Despite the shape, it's the same length and max beam as the Firefly2 and is also meant to fit the design class for FISA coastal rowing 2X (although because there is a weight minimum there, some 35 pounds would have to be added -- however, lead along the keel would only further stabilize it). At this point, though, I don't plan to race FISA."

"That was the boat which we meant to take to the Blackburn as it's about 1-1.5mph faster over the long haul than the Firefly which is, relatively speaking, a plywood tub, if an elegant one. But when my brother came out (to LA) for a long weekend to practice ocean rowing, in white caps and a small craft warning, we discovered that the white boat is speedy in fairly calm water but rolls a lot in serious seas. That's due to too high seat/oarlocks, and the wing riggers being at gunwale height. So I need to rework the riggers to lower the oarlocks, and also lower the seats and feet (especially in bow) to get the center of gravity a few inches down.

"In the end the back-up boat, Firefly2, went weirdly fast (average 7mph even with breaks) so I have a newfound affection for it. And it's stable as hell and can handle any weather thrown at it."

That's an impressive claim to make for any craft. Kudos to Bayard and the Firefly II. Though this blog is not about racing, it is certainly about being able to weather any and all conditions, with style. 

Thank you, Bayard. (his photo essay can be found on Flickr)

 All photos courtesy of Bayard Storey.

Ken Basset Firefly on the Connecticut River

Upon seeing the Basset Firefly Finesse here in these pages, Lorenz Rutz wrote to tell me of his most recent creation. While Finesse is a double, Lorenz has built the original eighteen-foot single from Ken Basset's plans. However, he departed significantly by constructing a tape and glue version. The resulting boat is much lighter and Lorenz says he can easily load it on top of his truck.

We'll ask him to tell the story...

"I was looking to build a performance pulling boat, something a step up from my Gloucester Light Dory and my search kept coming around to Firefly. Being new to boat building, I liked the simple plywood construction. I had successfully completed a 17' okoume/composite ocean kayak and looking at Firefly, it occurred to me that this hull was perfect for stitch and glue construction."

"I contacted Bassett and he gave me his blessing to proceed. Stitch and glue plans usually include plank expansions, a set of numbers that allow the builder to cut out the planks without setting up molds. Firefly did not come with expansions, so I had to begin by setting up the molds."

"From the mold I was able to take the four plank shapes and then proceed to stitch and glue them together. The plywood easily accommodated the twists required, no torturing involved. Though I did use 4mm okoume instead of the called for 6mm which would have resisted a bit more. I used 4mm because I fully fiberglassed the boat inside and out."

"I took a page from the Annapolis Wherry and added sealed tanks fore and aft both for stiffness and because I am a fan of positive flotation in a boat. The center frames are laminated Douglas fir. All the trim is Douglas fir. I have not weighed the boat yet, but I can easily carry it over my head."

"There is a bit more wood to add and more epoxy and paint, but I suspect the resulting boat will be quite a bit lighter than the original version. I'm installing a salvaged and refurbished Alden Row Master for seat and riggers. I'm shooting for a spring launch on the Connecticut River."

"My daughter built an Annapolis Wherry last summer. We are anticipating a double launch date. I’m curious to see how they compare on the water. I will send you photos."

Excellent job, don't you all agree? We'll be looking forward to the launch, Lorenz. Thank you for the great photos!

Finesse at Ona Beach

....so then we took the Ken Basset Firefly, Finesse down to the estuary at Ona Beach. It's a beautiful spot, where Beaver Creek meets the Pacific Ocean.

Guess what? The other outrigger broke.
After several structural upgrades, too!






Ok, so it was a poor design.
The next one will be better......

Ken Basset Firefly, Finesse

Finesse was relaunched today. This is a timeless design. Easy to row, very responsive, stable in a bit of choppy water, she's a true thoroughbred. She tracks well, yet turns easily for a boat with a nineteen foot waterline.

As I explained earlier, she has been "de-tuned". Fixed seats replace sliders and hand carved wood oars do the work of carbon fiber spoons. I was not happy with the new oarlock outriggers as my design developed and those fears were well founded.

They were dramatically under-engineered and began to fail within minutes.

The day was otherwise a huge success. It felt so GOOD to be on the water!
I see a grand future for Finesse in the Voyage Ethereal.

Mary, Brandon and Trouble the Dog accompanied Doryman at the relaunch of the Ken Basset designed Firefly, Finesse.

Trouble the Dog wanted to be in one boat then the other, usually the one she was not in at the moment. She lives with Brandon, but thinks Doryman is hers, too.

Thank you, Mary; thank you Brandon! It's always a pleasure to get out on the water with Ravn, the Valgerda faering. That's Brandon's commentary you can hear on the video. And once again, Mary was the one behind the camera (except when I grabbed it to take a picture or two of Ravn).



The scene for today's trial was Devil's Lake in Lincoln City, on the Oregon coast.
We're happy you could come along.

As usual, you will find more photos on Doryman's Flickr site.
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Sneak Preview

You've heard me crying about not having a rowboat for the last few weeks, but the sobbing is over. My good friend Laingdon got tired of all the whining and whimpering and offered me a wherry he had in storage.















It's a A Ken Basset Firefly (appears in WB #54). She's a 22 x 3 foot plywood (6mm Okume) wherry with solid wood gunwales, transom and breasthook. The woods used are spruce and cherry. The design accommodates single or double rowing stations.



We dropped her out of the rafters and onto the car - it was love at first sight. There have been a some customized changes on this boat for a few years, so there will be a bit of refinishing and design. She lacks rowing stations at the moment.



Thank you, Laingdon!

WoodenBoat calls the 18 foot Firefly "An entry-level sliding-seat pulling boat. Provides rewarding speed in an easily built hull with enough stability to keep a beginner out of trouble."

Beginner, my arse. This boat is going to see some action.
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