Learning to work on my wooden boat
Posted by Kaboose42@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 28 comments
Hey Y'all,
I'm looking for more opportunities to learn how to work on wooden boats, (replacing planking and fasteners, replacing and repairing bright-work, ect.) near the Portland OR area.
the second boat I have owned is a wooden schooner that's a bit of a project. I've been working on it and having it worked on for about a year, but I am interested in developing the skills to do more of the work myself. It's a boat I want to take cruising someday and I want to make sure I have the basic skills to do work in situ if necessary.
I live in Vancouver WA very near Portland OR, I have found some classes for working on wooden boats in Seattle (3 hours away on the best of days) which would be fine for a summer weekend but aren't ideal. Does anyone have any tips, tricks, or best of all connections for learning these skills in this area?
Thanks! Obligatory photos included.
PM_ME_UR_SPACECRAFT@reddit
mmf, that clipper bow, that sheer... i adore gaff schooners. what exact model is she?
Kaboose42@reddit (OP)
She's a Garden design that was built in Nanaimo at a small local builder, 1 of 2. Basically the whole reason I think it's worth putting in the effort instead of just buying a easier glass boat.
PM_ME_UR_SPACECRAFT@reddit
I respect the hell outta Garden's eye... man could absolutely draw a boat. Don't think he ever designed an ugly one lol. Huge congrats for getting her and being willing to take care of her. she'll eat your money and time with terrifying voracity but give you so much happiness back. good luck mate
Kaboose42@reddit (OP)
When explaining to my non-sailor friends about why I am undertaking this crazy endeavor I explained that Garden was like the "Paul McCartney of marine architects"
PM_ME_UR_SPACECRAFT@reddit
Hah. :) I've heard from other naval architects that he was a bit of a rude/prejudiced fellow, but i wonder if that just comes with being a prominent name in the sailing world. it's all hearsay so far snyway.
Ahlarict@reddit
This guy? He doesn't look the least bit arrogant or opinionated, does he? /s
Seriously, have you ever intereacted with Bob Perry? He's a wonderful man, but the arrogant belief that you know better and can do everything better is probably a defining characteristic of the most successful boat designers.
PM_ME_UR_SPACECRAFT@reddit
Bahahaha. good one. 😂 Excellent photo ngl
i hugely admire Mr Perry, I've read many many many of his articles and other works, and looked at so many of his designs that sometimes i can recognize a boat I've never seen as one of his, which feels weird to say. but he's definitely a curmudgeonly fellow... and in a stroke of rare introspection, he is completely aware of it, openly admits it, and is fine with being himself. I probably admire that the most and would love to meet him someday
Ahlarict@reddit
I can only imagine how many naval architects and ship builders' egos have been battered and bruised by these two giants over their long careers :-)
PM_ME_UR_SPACECRAFT@reddit
they definitely had their own disagreements, i believe mr garden said one of mr perry's boats looked like "the help drew it" which is unverified cuz that tale came from perry, but, it's easy to imagine what lesser folks must have been through when subjected to the critical eyes of the two masters, heh
Ahlarict@reddit
Perry apprenticed to Garden, didn’t he? Perry prolly always seemed an “upstart kid” to him ;-)
snowbombz@reddit
Garden’s personal mini schooner was for sale at the Wood Boat Center in Seattle a year or two ago. It was adorable, and clearly built for someone who appreciates the silliness of a 30’ schooner
PM_ME_UR_SPACECRAFT@reddit
i remember seeing that listing. :) A very cute little boat. I find that I am more enamored with boats the smaller they are, and for absolutely no logical reason also find that the schooner rig is the most appealing to me. certainly not the most efficient but unless you're racing, who cares, it's enough to get everything else done handily.
I've been looking at Pail Gartside's Design 235, which is a double ender based on the tancook whalers of nova scotia, 30 feet in length with a schooner rig, complete with main gaff topsail and a fisherman topsail for extra fun. The interior is like that of a boat five feet shorter but I can't help feeling irresistibly drawn to it. It would make amazing weekend sailing on the Puget Sound... and look goddamn gorgeous doing it
Ahlarict@reddit
Toadstool: https://www.offcenterharbor.com/dream-boat-harbor-good-boats-for-sale/29-bill-gardens-personal-schooner-1975-toadstool/
PM_ME_UR_SPACECRAFT@reddit
that was it!! ain't she such a beaut. :)
DEATHbyBOOGABOOGA@reddit
Port Townsend is the wooden boat capital of the West coast. Our 48th annual Wooden Boat Festival is starting here literally tomorrow.
Also, r/PortTownsend
777oz@reddit
I used to live on the Olympic Peninsula on the strait. And let me tell you.... Port Townsend is the wooden boat capitol of the west coast at least. Maybe you could go to the wooden boat show up there and find more local people to you? I'd start with Port Townsend as a major resource. If nothing else, you can take a day trip up there and just see what I mean. Boatyards, as far as the eye can see with boats of every kind in every condition being worked on. It's quite impressive.
drillbit16@reddit
Hoist them topsails my dude
Kaboose42@reddit (OP)
She didn't come with any! I have been reading Tom Cunliffe's Hand, Reef and Steer to learn more about the running rigging for topsails (and fisherman). I'm getting ready to pull her out for some prolonged work on the hard and I plan on pulling the masts at the same time to replace both the standing and running rigging. You can bet topsail rigging is in the plan.
eelwick@reddit
Unpopular opinion here but if you ever begin to feel that you don't have the resources to take care of your boat, please find an owner that can. I'm tired of seeing classic boats fall past the point of no return because owners don't want to give them up. Good boats need good homes.
ez_as_31416@reddit
Beautiful ship. My hat's off to you sir. I owned two wooden baots - a Seattle built wooden boat from Blanchard, and an Alden yawl. Nothing beats a well kept wooden boat. Truly a labor of love.
The wooden boat festival is in Port Townsend this weekend, Would be worth your while to attend and make some connections.
https://woodenboat.org/
You might find some resources through the Oregon Maritime Museum https://oregonmaritimemuseum.org/
The Willamette Sailing club does a wooden boat festival in the summer. They might have some advice.
JebLostInSpace@reddit
You could try getting involved with a tall ship organization. I know Lady Washington HomePorts in Aberdeen, so it would be a bit of a hike for you but potentially possible. Or you may be able to find another option closer to Portland. Tall ships are constantly doing maintenance on wooden hulls and decks, not to mention the rigs. And they usually gratefully accept volunteers for dockside maintenance support
PM_ME_UR_SPACECRAFT@reddit
I'm pretty sure the Lady Washington is on the hard in Port Townsend right now, getting a lot of that exact maintenance done and a bunch of restoration
smootex@reddit
I was there the other day and saw a tall ship pulled out at the boat yard. Wonder if that's her. Very cool looking boat but I only got a glance.
MollyG418@reddit
😍😍😍
I have little to add since you obviously know about the Wooden Boat Center in Seattle. That's probably where your aforementioned classes are. I just wanted to say that that is an absolutely gorgeous boat, and I hope I run into you cruising on the Sound someday!
Ace-of-Spades88@reddit
Looks nice! What kind of boat?
Kaboose42@reddit (OP)
It's a Bill Garden design that was built in BC by a local builder. 1 of 2 with very little additional info. I've been digging around trying to get all the info I can. I found the builder but unfortunately he passed in 2020 and his yard is no longer in business.
Nanandtuket@reddit
And if you really want an intense education watch Tally Ho
Nanandtuket@reddit
Watch Sailor Barry on YouTube. Also Finding Simon on YouTube