2 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

W H Y W O O D ?

E legance ' s b u r d e n By Brion Toss

The elaborations of elegance are at least as fascinating, and more various, more democratic, more healthy, more prac­tical — though less glamorous — than the elaborations of power. — Wendell Berry

Wo o d e n boats are a p a r t i c u l a r l y b u r d e n s o m e f o r m o f e legance. T h e y n e e d n o t b e m o r e ex­pensive than other items of comparable elegance, but they

do require more attention and refinement on our p a r t , i f we are to appreciate t h e m f u l l y .

In c o n t r a s t , say t h a t ins tead of a s l o o p by H e r r e s h o f f , y o u h a d a p a i n t i n g b y M a t i s s e . Y o u c o u l d just h a n g t h e p a i n t i n g o n the w a l l a n d d e r i v e some pleasure f r o m a s i m ­ple , os tentat ious d i s p l a y o f w e a l t h . A n d y o u m i g h t w a i t t o take the t r o u b l e t o f i n d o u t s o m e t h i n g a b o u t the t r a d i ­t ions a n d t e c h n i q u e s o f art i n genera l , a n d o f M a t i s s e i n p a r t i c u l a r , i n o r d e r t o g a i n a r i c h e r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h y o u r i n v e s t m e n t . A l t o g e t h e r y o u ' d be o u t a lo t o f cash a n d a m o d i c u m o f i n t e l l e c t u a l effort . B u t y o u ' d n e v e r have t o keep b u y i n g spare parts for y o u r p a i n t i n g a t some outrageous ly o v e r p r i c e d Post - Impress ionist c h a n d l e r y , never h a v e t o w o r r y a b o u t b e i n g r a m m e d b y s o m e d r u n k in a J a c k s o n P o l l a r d , n e v e r have to replace a c h a f e d b a c k g r o u n d , a n d o f course y o u ' d n e v e r have t o repa int i t .

B u t the H e r r e s h o f f s l o o p , o r a n y o t h e r w o o d e n b o a t o f e v e n tolerable q u a l i t y , i s a suf f ic ient ly c o m p l e x , e v o l v e d , aes thet ica l ly w e i g h t e d artifact as to h a v e serious c l a i m to b e i n g a w o r k of art . T h e o w n e r o f s u c h a b o a t , regardless o f its cash v a l u e , w i l l no t s w i n g m u c h weight i n t h e s h o w i n g - o f f d e p a r t m e n t ; the general p u b l i c , t o the extent that t h e y are aware that w o o d e n boats st i l l exist at a l l , i s i n c l i n e d t o regard t h e m as s o m e w h a t m u s t y cur ios i t ies , l ike steam engines , men's c l u b s , a n d E s p e r a n t o .

T h e sloop's o w n e r , i n o r d e r t o d e r i v e f u l l pleasure f r o m t h e vessel, w i l l n e e d t o b e wel l -versed i n des ign e v o l u t i o n , the c u l t u r e a n d waters i n w h i c h the des ign e v o l v e d , the talents a n d persona l i d i o s y n c r a s i e s o f the designer a n d b u i l d e r ( i n v a l u a b l e k n o w l e d g e , as a g o o d l y p o r t i o n of one 's life w i t h the b o a t w i l l b e spent i n endless re te l l ing o f those w o r t h i e s ' e n c o u n t e r s w i t h c l ients , s torms , p o l i c e of­

f i c e r s , etc.) , a n d o f t h e vessel's t e m p e r a m e n t a n d h a n d l i n g character is t i cs , especial ly as c o m p a r e d w i t h o t h e r ( in­ferior) vessels o f her t y p e . " A h o l e i n the water i n t o w h i c h y o u p o u r m o n e y " isn' t the h a l f o f i t ; i n o r d e r f u l l y t o ap­preciate a w o o d e n b o a t , y o u m u s t also p o u r i n generous a m o u n t s o f m e n t a l a n d e m o t i o n a l effort , n o t t o m e n t i o n b l o o d , sweat, a n d tears.

T h e q u e s t i o n m u s t surely arise: "Is i t w o r t h i t ? " A n d b y c o n t e m p o r a r y , b o t t o m - l i n e , i n v e s t m e n t - o r i e n t e d s tan­d a r d s the answer m u s t surely be a regret ful , " n o " . Y e t here we are, a t h r i v i n g , w h o o p i n g s u b c u l t u r e , h a p p i l y i n ­v o l v e d w i t h o u r vessels. S o m e — b u t p r o b a b l y not a l l — of o u r interest c a n be a t t r i b u t e d to m a s o c h i s m . B u t w h a t w e h a v e , a n d w h a t w e need t o b e able t o reca l l a n d ar t iculate w h e n the task of c a r e t a k i n g seems t o o great, is a set o f values general ly l u m p e d u n d e r the t e r m " t r a d i ­t i o n a l " . T h e s e values e n c o m p a s s m o r e factors , m e a n i n g s , a n d shades o f m e a n i n g s t h a n the t e c h n o - a c c o u n t a n t ¬influenced w o r l d is l ike ly to c o n s i d e r . It is a set of values s o r i c h a n d i n t e r l i n k e d t h a t i t has n o " b o t t o m l i n e . "

T h e o n l y c o m p a r a b l e p h e n o m e n o n I c a n t h i n k o f i s that o f f a l l i n g , a n d s t a y i n g , i n love . W i t h a n e w l o v e , o n e

With a new love, one experiences the same senseless rush, the same boundless optimism we might feel with a beautiful boat . . .

experiences the same senseless r u s h , the same b o u n d l e s s o p t i m i s m w e m i g h t feel w i t h a b e a u t i f u l boat : " M y goodness , w h a t a h a n d s o m e vessel! (face); See h o w she s tands up to a breeze! (see h o w t h e b e l o v e d c a n tolerate m y c o m p a n y ) ; a n d w h a t l ines ! (what l i n e s ) . "

A n d a s w i t h l o v e , o n c e t h a t f i r s t e n d o r p h i n - g e n e r a t i n g jo l t has passed, o n e is left w i t h t h e o p t i o n s e i ther to seek fur ther jo l ts e lsewhere , or to a t tune onesel f to subt ler , m o r e p r o f o u n d del ights . R e l a t i o n s h i p s b e t w e e n people are — or s h o u l d be — far m o r e c o m p l e x , d i f f i c u l t , a n d p o t e n t i a l l y r e w a r d i n g t h a n r e l a t i o n s h i p s b e t w e e n people a n d boats , b u t t h e m a i n p o i n t h o l d s t rue : the greatest joys are r o o t e d , n o t i n i m m e d i a t e g r a t i f i c a t i o n , b u t i n the v e r y process of re la t ing . T h a t ' s a c o n c e p t we have d i f f i cu l ty w i t h , these d a y s . H a r d t imes for lovers . P e r h a p s o u r boats ( a n d o u r gardens , a n d o u r w o r k b e n c h e s ) are l e a d i n g u s b a c k to t r a d i t i o n ' s senseless, elegant means of f ix ing w o r t h .

T h e jol t p a t h i s u l t i m a t e l y c o r r o s i v e . I t tends to lead to a c y n i c a l persona l life a n d / o r fast, ugly boats . "This p a t h is c o r r o s i v e because i t i s i n a p p r o p r i a t e , on a p r i m a l l eve l . W e need c o m p l e x i t y , need a r i c h c o n t e x t i f we aspire to l o n g - t e r m happiness .

A l l o f th is t h e o r i z i n g isn' t g o i n g t o carry m u c h weight w h e n y o u f i n d ro t i n y o u r s t e m , o r w h e n y o u ' r e s c r a m b l ­i n g t o f i n d a n insurance c o m p a n y that doesn ' t t h i n k w o o d e n boats are r ight u p there w i t h S o u t h A m e r i c a n d ic ta tors i n the b a d risk d e p a r t m e n t , o r w h e n y o u feel a s t h o u g h the ent i re c i v i l i z e d w o r l d i s p o i n t i n g a t y o u a n d s a y i n g , " N y a h , n y a h , l o o k a t the w e i r d o i n the a n t i q u e t u b . " B u t d e v o t i o n t o w o r t h w h i l e pursui t s w i l l r e w a r d o n e w i t h m o m e n t s , a t least, o f peace. M a y b e not e n o u g h t o b e c o m f o r t a b l e a t b e i n g o u t o f step w i t h th is w o r l d . B u t e n o u g h to feel in step w i t h a better o n e . •

J u l y - A u g u s t 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 3

LAKE UNION W O O D E N BOAT FESTIVAL

U s e r ' s gu ide to the 11 th a n n u a l w o o d e n boa t s h o w

The Quick and Daring boatbuilding contest now has a slow and cautious name, but here's the gist: six teams race to see who can build in a short amount of time a fast, seaworthy, beautiful boat. T h e winner is determined by a point system which includes time spent building, speed under sail a n d oar, cost of materials, beauty of design, simplicity of tools and so o n . Last year the fastest building time was 57 minutes for a flat-bottomed dory which leaked upon entry into the water and tipped the moment the sail was hoisted. But the overall winner was a beautiful skiff built in a few hours which rowed perfectly and glided to an easy victory amid champagne corks popping, crowds cheering and elegant attire.

See the antique tools Bob Kaune of Port Angeles brings. Ranging from slicks, adzes and fros to wooden planes a n d brace and bits, the collection is a rather amazing look at one, sometimes two, evolutionary steps back from what are sold to­day.

The number of persons per square foot — a n d per saw and hammer — at the toy boatbuilding area is astound­ing until you consider the size of the builders. Everything happens here from the ridiculous to the sublime. T h e booth is run by work­ing boatbuilders who offer help in design and execution upon re­quest. T h a n k s to Hardwicks for providing the tools.

The Northwest R/C Shipmodelers will bring their radio controlled subs, tugs, pleasure cruisers, warships, barges and sailboats to the Center . T h e boats are primarily electric powered, as opposed to steam, and as this is among the largest crowds they will strut and glide before all year, the owners are a show in themselves.

The rowing and sailing races offer a Herculean tinge to the otherwise calm atmosphere of the show. T h e rivalries can be intense, as the Center also hosts fall and spring regattas, so when the race announcement comes, head d o w n to the waterfront to watch.

The floor is in, the building completely finished at the Pavilion on the Center's upland site. T h e weathervane atop is the Bristol Bay sailing gillnetter, our flagship. T h e view of the lake and the fleet is wonderful from there, and concerts will be going on during the show. A good place for tired feet.

Check out the new paint job on Wawona. T h e creation o f Heritage Harbor will be the final boost she needs, but looking at the bright green planks and then the partially redone forecabin area says that the piecemeal, volunteer-intensive effort pledged two years ago is beginning to pay off.

The hundreds of classic wooden boats lining the docks are, of course, the whole point of the show. T h i s year Daly's is in­itiating an everlasting trophy for the best refurbishing.

A blacksmith will be making pokers, bending iron, doing fancy work at the forge located between the show a n d Wawona.

Bob Pickett of Flounder Bay Lumber will again be r u n ­ning his sawmill, cutting planks from trees. Y o u can watch or even have planks cut to size for your next project.

The Antique Gasoline Engine Society will return to the back of the parking lot with its members' collections of motors.

There are models and life-size Indian canoes as well as the tools used for their construction inside the Dri l l H a l l . T h e discus­sions led by Steve Phillips, a white man who has lived with the Tulal ip tribe for 75 years, are the best part of the entire show. •

P R O G R A M O F E V E N T S July 3, 4 & 5 — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Naval Reserve Center &. Center for Wooden Boats at the south end of Lake U n i o n

F R I D A Y , J U L Y 3 11:00 a . m R o w i n g race — s l o w boats 12:00 n o o n L a k e U n i o n C h a l l e n g e C u p — Q u i c k a n d D a r i n g B o a t b u i l d i n g C o n t e s t 12:00 n o o n - 5 p . m F o l k m u s i c c o n c e r t a b o a r d M / V Arro 12:30 p . m Steve P h i l i p p — ta lk a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n o n t h e m a r i t i m e crafts o f the Puget S o u n d

I n d i a n s i n the d r i l l h a l l 1:00 p . m R o w i n g race — fast boats 1:00 p . m S a w m i l l d e m o n s t r a t i o n — F l o u n d e r B a y Boat L u m b e r 2 :00 p . m E l T o r o s a i l i n g race 2:30 p . m L e e E h r h e a r t — c a u l k i n g d e m o n s t r a t i o n 3 :00 p . m M a r i t i m e f i l m s — i n t h e d r i l l h a l l 3 :30 p . m S a i l i n g races — t w o classes: fast a n d half-fast 4 : 0 0 p . m S a w m i l l d e m o n s t r a t i o n - F l o u n d e r B a y B o a t L u m b e r

S A T U R D A Y , J U L Y 4 11.00 a . m R o w i n g race — s l o w boats 12:00 n o o n L a k e U n i o n C h a l l e n g e C u p — Q u i c k a n d D a r i n g B o a t b u i l d i n g C o n t e s t 12:00 n o o n - 5 p . m F o l k m u s i c c o n c e r t — a b o a r d M / V Arro 12:30 p . m Steve P h i l i p p — ta lk a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n o n t h e m a r i t i m e crafts o f the Puget S o u n d

I n d i a n s i n the d r i l l h a l l 1:00 p . m S a w m i l l d e m o n s t r a t i o n — F l o u n d e r B a y B o a t L u m b e r 1:00 p . m R o w i n g race — fast b o a t s 1:00 p . m R a d i o - c o n t r o l l e d m i n i a t u r e 12-meter sa i lboat race — at C e n t e r for W o o d e n Boats , W a t e r w a y 4 2 :00 p . m E l T o r o s a i l i n g race 2 :30 p . m L e e E h r h e a r t — c a u l k i n g d e m o n s t r a t i o n 3:00 p . m M a r i t i m e f i lms — i n the d r i l l h a l l 3 :30 p . m S a i l i n g race — t w o classes: fast a n d half-fast 4 :00 p . m S a w m i l l d e m o n s t r a t i o n — F l o u n d e r B a y B o a t L u m b e r

S U N D A Y , J U L Y 5 11:00 a . m . R o w i n g race — s l o w b o a t s * 12:00 n o o n - 5 p . m F o l k m u s i c c o n c e r t — a b o a r d M / V Arro 12:00 n o o n - 2 p . m R / C s h i p m o d e l e r s a t C W B o n W a t e r w a y 4 12:30 p . m Steve P h i l i p p — t a l k o n m a r i t i m e crafts o f the Puget S o u n d I n d i a n s i n t h e d r i l l h a l l 1:00 p . m S a w m i l l d e m o n s t r a t i o n — F l o u n d e r B a y B o a t L u m b e r 1:00 p . m R o w i n g race — fast b o a t s * 1:30 p . m A u c t i o n — boats , gear, i n t e r e s t i n g goodies i n t h e d r i l l h a l l 2 :00 p . m . E l T o r o s a i l i n g races* 2 :30 p . m C a u l k i n g d e m o n s t r a t i o n — L e e E h r h e a r t 3:00 p . m A w a r d — t h e D a l y C u p for best o w n e r res tored b o a t 3:30 p . m S a i l i n g races — t w o classes: fast* a n d half - fast* 4 :00 p . m M a r i t i m e f i l m s — i n t h e d r i l l h a l l 4 :00 p . m S a w m i l l d e m o n s t r a t i o n — F l o u n d e r B a y B o a t L u m b e r 4 :00 p . m L a k e U n i o n C h a l l e n g e C u p — T h e race! 5:30 p . m A w a r d s — r o w i n g , s a i l i n g a n d t h e L a k e U n i o n C h a l l e n g e C u p 6:00 p . m B o a t d r a w i n g — a n n o u n c e m e n t o f w i n n e r s

* W i n n e r s o f F r i d a y a n d S a t u r d a y races.

— E v e r y d a y t h e r e w i l l b e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f t r a d i t i o n a l b o a t b u i l d i n g , c a r v i n g , o a r m a k i n g , h a l f - m o d e l s , k n o t s , s a i l m a k i n g , b l a c k s m i t h i n g , a n d t o o l s h a r p e n i n g . — T h e 101-foot s a i l - t r a i n i n g s c h o o n e r Adventuress w i l l b e o p e n t o t h e p u b l i c o n J u l y 3 a n d 4 . T h e 1897 s c h o o n e r Wawona w i l l be o p e n every d a y , w i t h a stage p e r f o r m a n c e o n her h i s t o r y o n J u l y 4 a n d 5 at 1 2 , 2 a n d 3 p . m . — O n S u n d a y , J u l y 5 , t h e Seatt le P u b l i c L i b r a r y w i l l h a v e its b o a t f i l e a v a i l a b l e t o the p u b l i c i n the d r i l l h a l l . — A t C W B , y o u c a n h a v e a w a t e r - t a x i r ide a r o u n d t h e s h o w a s w e l l a s v i e w o u r facil it ies a n d e x h i b i t s .

4 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

MARITIME PRESERVATION

A Lake U n i o n maritime heritage park r e g a i n e d

P a r a d i s e l o s t

B y H e n r y G o r d o n

P i c ture t h i s : L a k e U n i o n ' s s o u t h shore i s c r a m m e d

with dozens of the Northwest's

classic boats. It is not boat show t i m e , b u t e v e n s t i l l t h e d o c k i s f i l l ­e d w i t h people e x a m i n i n g the p o w e r cruisers , tugs, sa i lboats , s teamers, s c h o o n e r s , f i sh ing boats a n d r o w i n g skiffs m o o r e d there . S o m e are smal ler t h a n 10 feet. O t h e r s are bigger t h a n 100. S o m e are just n a m e s , o thers are heart t h r o b s . B u t w h a t i s u n m i s t a k a b l e i s that the g a t h e r i n g g r o u n d m a r i t i m e n i k s have d r e a m e d a b o u t , p l a n n e d f o r , a g o n i z e d o v e r , d a m n e d , t h e n be l i eved i n a g a i n for so m a n y years is here at last. It's H e r i t a g e H a r b o r , a n d i f th is p a r a g r a p h a n d t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g ske tch seem l i k e just a n o t h e r e laborate s p a s m , t h i n k a g a i n : th is d r e a m is a m a z i n g l y close to c o m i n g t r u e .

T h i s m u c h has b e e n es tab l i shed . T h e M a y o r a n d the C i t y C o u n c i l are w o r k i n g o n a p a r k for L a k e U n i o n ' s s o u t h s h o r e . A c o n s u l t i n g f i r m has been h i r e d t o d r a w p l a n s , the E v e r g r e e n f l o w e r b u i l d i n g has b e e n p u r c h a s e d , the N a v y has sa id i t w i l l m o v e as s o o n as t h e C i t y has a def in i te p l a n , a n d the C e n t e r for W o o d e n Boats , w h i c h b e g a n the s o u t h L a k e U n i o n renaissance f o u r years ago w h e n w e m o v e d o u r f l o a t i n g m u s e u m / e d u c a t i o n center/boat l i v e r y to W a t e r w a y 4 has b e e n assured a place in t h e p a r k .

B u t just a place isn't g o o d e n o u g h . A c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i s w h a t br ings people t o the C e n t e r , w h e t h e r i t i s to rent boats , take classes, b u i l d real o r t o y boats . T h a t c o m m i t m e n t t o a n act ive m u s e u m w i l l c o n t i n u e . B u t w h a t if, as o n e scenar io has i t , the C i t y opts for a p a r k w i t h the C e n t e r as its sole m a r i t i m e c o m p o n e n t ? T h e r e w o u l d b e n o d o c k s for o u r Ju ly 4 s h o w , n o r o o m for o u r o t h e r special w e e k e n d s , no real d i s p l a y for the v i s i t i n g h i s t o r i c craft . W e ' d c o n t i n u e t o succeed , b u t life w o u l d

be d u l l . A s m a l l craft m u s e u m needs the b i g b o a t c o m p o n e n t a n d t h e space to t e a c h the ski l l s or else o u r p r e s e r v a t i o n w o r k w i l l b e just a n o t h e r i s l a n d o f m a r i t i m e i n ­terest.

T h i n k o f i t : for a l o n g t i m e Seat­tle has b e c o m e increas ing ly m o r e interested in its past. I t was the s e n t i m e n t w h i c h saved t h e P i k e m a r k e t , saved t h e h o u s e b o a t s , saved P i o n e e r S q u a r e . B u t o u r m a r i t i m e h i s t o r y has ex is ted in a v a c u u m . W e h a v e g o o d e x h i b i t s a t the M u s e u m o f H i s t o r y a n d In­d u s t r y , t h e C o a s t G u a r d m u s e u m , W a t e r f r o n t A w a r e n e s s a n d elsewhere , b u t n o w h e r e is there a c e n t r a l focus to o u r h i s t o r i c craft .

H e r i t a g e H a r b o r w o u l d b e a n a m a l g a m o f p r i v a t e , n o n - p r o f i t groups u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f a P D A , o r P u b l i c D e v e l o p m e n t A u t h o r i t y , w h i c h w o u l d i n t u r n b e respons ib le t o the M a y o r a n d the C i t y C o u n c i l . T h i s w o u l d n o t b e a d r a m a t i c d e p a r t u r e for the C e n t e r . T h e C i t y o w n s o u r site a t W a t e r ­w a y 4 a n d every year asks itself: Is progress b e i n g made? Is t h e l a n d b e i n g c a r e d for m o r e l o v i n g l y t h a n w h e n i t was a n asphal t d u m p ? A n d t h e n the lease i s r e n e w e d . S i m i l a r l y , h a v i n g a P D A a d ­m i n i s t e r p u b l i c l a n d i s s o m e t h i n g the C i t y does a t the P i k e M a r k e t , t h e G o o d S h e p h e r d C e n t e r a n d m a n y o t h e r places.

B u t q u e s t i o n s d o r e m a i n . T h e C i t y i n its p l a n n i n g i s d i f feren­t i a t i n g b e t w e e n w h a t i t calls passive p a r k s a n d t h e m e p a r k s . G a s w o r k s is a passive p a r k . L o t s of grass a n d b e n c h e s a n d v i e w i n g areas. Because it serves a ma jor res ident ia l area a n d sits at the b e g i n n i n g o f the B u r k e - G i l m a n T r a i l , G a s w o r k P a r k w o r k s w o n d e r f u l l y .

T h e s o u t h e n d o f the lake i s very di f ferent . T h e r e is n e i t h e r a res ident ia l base n o r does t h e C i t y w i s h t o at tract l a b o r - i n t e n s i v e i n ­d u s t r y there . I t ra ther sens ib ly w a n t s h i g h t e c h i n d u s t r i e s w i t h large c a p i t a l i n v e s t m e n t but few jobs to keep f r o m e x a c e r b a t i n g fur ­ther life on the state's busiest street, M e r c e r .

So a t h e m e p a r k is d iscussed , b u t t h e m e p a r k s c a n m e a n a m a z i n g l y di f ferent t h i n g s . D i s n e y l a n d is a

t h e m e p a r k . J i m B a k k e r r a n o n e . B o t h are a b o u t fantasies o f life a n d its m e a n i n g c o m p l e t e l y askew f r o m a n y t h i n g t h a t e v e r e x i s t e d . H e r i t a g e H a r b o r w i l l take people b a c k 60 years to a life on t h e w a t e r f r o n t t h a t was rea l .

Struck a deep cord. I'll t a k e y o u o n a w a l k i n g t o u r o f the p l a n , b u t t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t h i n g t o r e m e m b e r i s t h a t we are a s k i n g t h e c i ty 's he lp t o c o n t i n u e s o m e t h i n g w h i c h exists a n d c a n succeed. F o r the past 11 years we h a v e t u r n e d the s o u t h e n d o f L a k e U n i o n i n t o a p a r k every year on t h e 4 t h o f Ju ly w e e k e n d . C l o s e t o 200 ,000 people h a v e c o m e to that p a r k for that event a l o n e . We h a v e created a p u b l i c p a r k a t W a t e r w a y 4 . O u r gather ings of classic boats , s team boats a n d h i s t o r i c vessels have b r o u g h t t h o u s a n d s m o r e t o o u r p a r k . T h e ski l l s w e t e a c h a n d t h e craft we d isplay are the o n e s used i n o n e o f Seattle's f i r s t m a j o r i n ­dustr ies . B u t the c r o w d s a t o u r d o c k s a n d the l ines t o see o u r v i s i t i n g — a n d l o c a l — h i s t o r i c craft tell us t h a t the i n d u s t r y is f a s c i n a t i n g , b u t we h a v e h i t a far deeper c o r d as w e l l .

I s the C i t y interested in s a v i n g t h a t heritage? T h e n here's t h e perfect spot . Barges a n d sa i l ing s c h o o n e r s d o c k e d here 60 years ago. Pleasure a n d w o r k boats were b u i l t a n d r e p a i r e d u p a n d d o w n the lake's s h o r e l i n e . T h i s m a y o r m a y not b e o u r last o p p o r t u n i t y , b u t it is c e r t a i n l y a s i t u a t i o n we can ' t c o n t i n u e t o ignore .

Let 's start o u r t o u r a t the C e n t e r . T h e a r c h i t e c t u r a l s tan­d a r d for t h e ent i re park w i l l b e the C e n t e r ' s b o a t b u i l d i n g s h o p . B y des ign the b u i l d i n g f i t s w i t h w h a t was , by scale i t exempl i f ies t h e s m a l l scale s tructures o f the w o r k ­i n g lake . A t t h e e n d o f o u r pier w i l l b e the C e n t e r ' s e d u c a t i o n center . T h e f i n a l leg o f the o r i g i n a l C e n t e r v i s i o n , the e d u c a t i o n center 's t w o stories w i l l h o u s e o u r l i b r a r y , m e e t i n g r o o m a n d offices, l e a v i n g m o r e r o o m i n the s h o p for repair w o r k a n d classes.

T h e t w o b u i l d i n g s y o u see nearest the C e n t e r o n the b e a c h a n d o n t h e grass are b o t h a p p r o x ­i m a t e l y 1000 square feet. T h e o n e

This may or may not be our last opportun­ity, but it is certainly a situation we can't continue to ignore-o n the b e a c h w i l l b e used b y v o l u n t e e r s to r e f u r b i s h the fleet, the o t h e r w i l l a d d ex t ra space for classes. T h e trees t h r o u g h o u t H e r i t a g e H a r b o r w i l l b e g o o d boat ­b u i l d i n g stock: D o u g f i r , western r e d cedar , y e w a n d O r e g o n o a k .

A s the ear ly boa thouses h a d m o r e t h a n just boats , o u r p a v i l i o n (already c o m p l e t e d ) w i l l be used for b a n d concer ts , w h i l e t h e grassy area near o u r s h o p is perfect for c r o q u e t .

Drill Hall to stay. T h e E v e r g r e e n f lower b u i l d i n g w i l l b e razed , b u t the N a v a l Reserve D r i l l H a l l w i l l stay as a m a r i t i m e m a l l w i t h t o o l , boat a n d p h o t o e x h i b i t s , m e e t i n g ha l l s , offices for the P D A , concess ions a n d p o t e n t i a l l y e v e n c h a n d l e r i e s . T h e m a i n h a l l c o u l d b e r e n t e d i n the evenings b y the P D A for recept ions . A h a r r o w i n g -days- in- the-sa i l ing-schooners f i lm fest ival c o u l d b e a n a n n u a l e v e n t . M a r a t h o n readings o f Death Ship b y B . T r a v e n o r Moby Dick o r C o n r a d o r I v a n D o i g c o u l d get u s a l l t h r o u g h F e b r u a r y .

Transient moorage. In m a n y w a y s t h e slips a l o n g t h e water c o u l d b e the most e x c i t i n g part o f the p a r k .

U n d e r s t a n d f i r s t t h a t the C i t y

rea l ly wants t h i s p a r k to be t h e farthest outpos t of a greater d o w n t o w n Seatt le . T h e ideal was to h a v e it c o n n e c t v i sua l ly as say V e r s a i l l e s does to cap its endless maze of gardens . B u t Wes t lake is t o o gentle a s lope — a n d too d e a d a t h o r o u g h f a r e . M e r c e r c o u l d be c a p p e d t o p r o v i d e that s tar t l ing v is ta , b u t that means federal m o n e y w h i c h requires a Pres ident interested i n the n a t i o n ' s i n ­f ras t ructure .

C o u l d the c o n n e c t i o n b e m a d e the o t h e r way? V i c t o r i a ' s i n n e r h a r b o r is a very p o p u l a r touris t d r a w , b u t n o t h i n g l ike i t exists here . E l l i o t t B a y w o n ' t d o : before the c o m p l e t i o n o f the S h i p C a n a l w h e n L a k e U n i o n was l a n d l o c k e d the v a r i o u s y a c h t c lubs were there a n d far t o o regular ly people's boats got s m a s h e d by s torms. F o r t y eight h o u r t rans ient moorage w o u l d b e o n e aspect o f the p ier t h a t w o u l d benefit b o t h d o w n t o w n Seattle a n d H e r i t a g e H a r b o r .

T h e d o c k s w o u l d o f course b e f i l l ed b y the C e n t e r d u r i n g the Ju ly 4 b o a t s h o w a n d in part d u r i n g the steam b o a t r e n d e z v o u s a n d o t h e r gather ings . T h e b u l k o f the t ime i t w o u l d be used as a h a v e n for the area's h i s t o r i c boats . T h e sai l -t r a i n i n g s c h o o n e r Adventuress w o u l d be there , as w o u l d the steamer Virginia V. T h e tug Arthur Foss, the Lawana (a beaut i fu l ly m a i n t a i n e d L a k e U n i o n D r e a m B o a t b u i l t a t L a k e U n i o n D r y D o c k ) , the fireboat Duwamish, the yacht Lotus, the s a i l i n g s c h o o n e r Sophia Christina a n d dozens o f others w o u l d c o m e for s h o r t o r ex­t e n d e d stays. A s the c o l l e c t i o n grew, cour tesy cal ls by every classic w o u l d b e c o m e a r i t u a l , a n d to give an idea of the s u p p o r t a d i s p l a y of th is k i n d w o u l d h a v e , people l i n e d up d o w n the pier to pay $2 to see the Golden Hinde. (It was surpris ­ing ly m o r e p o p u l a r t h a n the Stars and Stripes.) T h e M y s t i c Seaport

Shavings' Sweethearts Club adds two The architectural rendering of Heritage Harbor on this page was

donated by Bassetti, Norton, Metier and Rekeviks. The drawing was done by Holden Withington III. What can we say? You're terrific.

The type on this page — and every other page — comes to the Center at a fraction of the market cost due to donated equipment by Waterlines Magazine. This literally saved the Center $1000. A good way to say thanks is to send in $12 for a subscription to Waterlines, 2 Nickerson, Seattle, W A 98109.

J u l y - A u g u s t 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 5

M a r i t i m e M u s e u m i s the biggest tour is t a t t r a c t i o n i n C o n n e c t i c u t . E n t r a n c e t o H e r i t a g e H a r b o r w o u l d be f ree , b u t a smal l a d m i s ­s i o n t o the sh ips w o u l d s u p p o r t t h e ship 's w o r k , h e l p keep the m o o r a g e rates l o w , a n d par t ia l ly pay t o h i r e t w o ful l - t ime s h i p w r i g h t s t o w o r k i n the r e s t o r a t i o n s h i p y a r d .

T h e w o r k o f the r e s t o r a t i o n s h i p y a r d w o u l d b e a n i m p o r t a n t e lement of t h e d i s p l a y . T h e r e ' s a c o m m o n p e r c e p t i o n that boats are interes t ing o n l y w h e n t h e y are al l f i x e d u p , w h e n w h a t real ly c o u n t s i s that the boats be s o u n d e n o u g h that the p u b l i c is able to go a b o a r d . M a i n t e n a n c e a lways was a part of these ships . A s c h o o n e r that w e n t a r o u n d the H o r n , for i n ­stance, w o u l d have a life e x p e c t a n ­cy of a b o u t 20 years, a n d e v e r y f ive y e a r s m a j o r o v e r h a u l s w e r e necessary. In Wawona's l i f e t ime , she was a t i m b e r s c h o o n e r , fished for c o d , w o r k e d as a barge, t h e n went b a c k to sail just to keep up w i t h the c o n t i n u o u s change i n the n a t u r e o f c o m m e r c e . F a r f r o m d e t r a c t i n g f r o m the d i s p l a y t o h a v e the large vessels b e i n g t a k e n from the ir m o o r i n g s a n d t h r o u g h the s w i n g i n g br idge t o the y a r d , t h e res tora t ion w o r k itself w o u l d b e the d i s p l a y . T h e s h i p w r i g h t s , a t b reaks , w o u l d e x p l a i n w h a t was h a p p e n i n g . People w o u l d c o m e a n d cheer for the i r favor i te restora­

t i o n t e a m . T h e r e s t o r a t i o n s h i p y a r d w o u l d

n o t , h o w e v e r , b e i n c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h yards a r o u n d the lake . Boats w o u l d h a v e t o b e o f e x t r e m e h i s t o r i c interest t o b e w o r k e d o n there. Jobs l ike r e p l a n k i n g a B l a n ­c h a r d 36 w o u l d be rejected n o t because the boat isn' t b e a u t i f u l , b u t because o thers c a n h a n d l e repairs o f t h a t size. A n d n o t e v e r y t h i n g c o u l d b e d o n e a t Her i tage H a r b o r . B o t t o m p a i n t i n g o n the large ships w o u l d b e d o n e a t l o c a l L a k e U n i o n d r y d o c k s , a n d g i v e n t h e n u m b e r o f sh ips t h a t w o u l d b e b e i n g w o r k e d o n , th is c o u l d a m o u n t to o n e a year .

PDA not responsible for boats. T h e P D A w o u l d n o t be di rec t ly respons ib le for the boats . E a c h o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l o r g a n i z a ­t i o n s w o u l d raise its f u n d s for r e f u r b i s h i n g , for i n s u r a n c e , for salary o f the staff. T h e P D A w o u l d bas ica l ly be a m a n a g e m e n t g r o u p w h i c h w o u l d set m o o r a g e rates,

C e n t e r v i s i o n : o u r n e x t steps W h e n t h e M a y o r s ' C o n f e r e n c e was i n Seatt le , C h a r l e s R o y e r

b r o u g h t s o m e o f t h e v i s i t i n g d igni tar ies d o w n t o W a t e r w a y 4 t o t a k e a r o w a t the C e n t e r for W o o d e n Boats . A s i t t u r n s o u t , C h a r l i e c o u l d use s o m e h e l p o n h i s s t roke , b u t h e wasn ' t c o m i n g for t h e exercise . H e c a m e t o s h o w o f f o n e o f Seattle's best ideas.

T h e C e n t e r ' s success h a s g i v e n the c r e d i b i l i t y n e e d e d t o m a k e t h e C i t y l o o k ser iously a t H e r i t a g e H a r b o r . E l e v e n years ago w e b e g a n a s a g r o u p o f fanat ics w h o m e t i n a h o u s e b o a t l i v i n g r o o m t o m a p a d r e a m . S i n c e t h e n w e h a v e b u i l t o u r b o a t s h o p a n d es tab l i sh­e d o u r fleet. W e c o n v e r t e d a garbage d u m p i n t o a p a r k a n d e v e n a d d e d a V i c t o r i a n p a v i l i o n for b a n d concer t s a n d p u b l i c v i e w i n g .

N o w w e are d e v e l o p i n g a n E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r a t the e n d o f o u r p ier . T h e E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r w i l l h a v e a 100 seat a u d i t o r i u m for s e m i n a r s o n s m a l l b o a t des ign a n d h i s t o r i c vessel p r e s e r v a t i o n . I t w i l l h a v e a l i b r a r y sui table to h o u s e o u r g r o w i n g , yet largely i n a c ­cessible , c o l l e c t i o n o f b o o k s a n d l ines a n d h i s t o r i c p h o t o s . I t w i l l h a v e offices. B u t t h e E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r w i l l a lso b e a g o d s e n d for t h e fleet.

T h e C e n t e r has a n u m b e r o f b o a t s i n its c o l l e c t i o n w h i c h are n o t i n t h e water a s t h e y awai t r e f u r b i s h i n g . T h e p r o b l e m isn' t m o n e y . W e h a v e the suppl ies . T h e b e d r o c k o f t h e C e n t e r ' s g r o w t h has b e e n v o l u n t e e r s u p p o r t , a n d i n t h e case o f t h e boats w e h a v e ex­c e l l e n t b o a t w r i g h t s e a c h o f f e r i n g to r e f u r b i s h a b o a t for us . B u t we h a v e n o space i n w h i c h t h e y c a n w o r k .

O u r b o a t b u i l d i n g s h o p i s n o w o u r of f ice , c l a s s r o o m , l i v e r y n e x u s ,

c u l t u r a l p l e x u s a n d o n a n d o n . T h e c r o w d s w h i c h gather a d d v i b r a n c y , b u t t h a t w o n ' t b e lost w h e n w e a d d m o r e r o o m . T h e s h o p itself w i l l b e c o m e a d i s p l a y a s w e w a t c h t h e repai r o f o u r B l a n ­c h a r d S r . a n d Jr. K n o c k a b o u t , o u r G e a r y 18, o u r R e i n e l l 12-1/2' r o w i n g skiff .

T h e d r a w i n g s for the E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r h a v e b e e n c o m p l e t e d . W e w i l l b e g i n b u i l d i n g w i t h i n a year .

O u r J u l y 4 fest ival w i l l c o n t i n u e . B u t w e w a n t t o a d d o t h e r specia l focus w e e k e n d s d u r i n g t h e s u m m e r : r e n d e z v o u s for P o u l s b o b o a t s a n d s teamboats a n d cat boats a n d dor ies .

I n o u r e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m , w e w i l l a d d t w o classes for k i d s . O n e w i l l b e i n s m a l l b o a t sai l t r a i n i n g d u r i n g the w e e k . T h i s w o u l d b e a t w o - w e e k s u m m e r c a m p w h i c h w o u l d teach e v e r y t h i n g f r o m sa i l ­i n g t o h o w the boats are m a d e a n d w h a t t h e y were u s e d f o r .

T h e o t h e r class i s a n a d u l t / c h i l d b o a t b u i l d i n g class i n w h i c h a L a k e U n i o n C l a s s sa i lboat w o u l d b e b u i l t b y p a r e n t - c h i l d teams.

W h a t else? T h e L a w r e n c e l i v e r y a t the foot o f U n i v e r s i t y W a y i s t h e last o f t h e f l o a t i n g b o a t l iver ies . T h e U n i v e r s i t y o w n s i t , a n d w h e n t h e y d e v e l o p t h e p r o p e r t y o n w h i c h i t i s n o w m o o r e d they h a v e s a i d t h e log ica l o w n e r w o u l d b e t h e C e n t e r . W i l l i t b e p a r t o f H e r i t a g e H a r b o r o r p e r h a p s a n o t h e r o u t p o s t o n t h e lake?

T h e possibi l i t ies are endless , b u t w h a t w i l l n e v e r c h a n g e i s t h e C e n t e r ' s s o l i d base o f p u b l i c p a r t i c i p a t i o n ac t iv i t ies . W e w i l l a lways reflect t h e h o n e s t , w o r k - e a r n e d Puget S o u n d s ty le , w h e r e people c a n l a y t h e i r h a n d s o n h i s t o r y . — D i c k W a g n e r

m a i n t a i n t h e c o m m o n areas, m o n i t o r t h e p a r k i n g l o t , rent the M a r i t i m e M a l l , p l a n p r o m o t i o n a l events . B u t the P D A w o u l d n ' t b e c o m p l e t e l y a l o o f f rom the project e i ther . M o o r a g e rates — i n d e e d a d m i s s i o n i n t o t h e h a r ­b o r — w o u l d be es tabl i shed by a p o i n t system w h i c h c o n s i d e r e d p u b l i c b e n e f i t , h i s t o r i c s igni f i cance , age, c o n d i t i o n a n d a b i l i t y t o keep repair projects o n course .

S t a y i n g o n c o u r s e . T h e last

i t e m is , o f c o u r s e , t h e C i t y ' s b i g

fear: t h a t t h e boats w i l l be t o w e d t o s o u t h L a k e U n i o n t o c e r e m o n i o u s l y sit a n d r o t .

T h e r e are t w o responses to t h i s , a n d as Wawona is the s y m b o l , I'll speak of her . It's i r re futable t h a t m a j o r progress t o w a r d s r e s t o r a t i o n o f Wawona has n o t h a p p e n e d i n the past 20 years . B u t the t h o u s a n d s w h o have c o m e t o vis i t s ince she was o p e n e d o n w e e k e n d s t w o years ago say that she is s t i l l q u i t e p o p u l a r . It's n o t a m a r i t i m e h i s t o r y q u e s t i o n w h i c h h a s p r e v e n t e d progress , b u t a rea l estate o n e . N o o n e k n o w s w h e r e

The architec­tural standard for the entire park will be the Center's boat­building shop.

Wawona w i l l w i n d u p w h e n refur­b i s h e d . F o r e x a m p l e , w h e n the f i r s t ef­

forts at r e s t o r a t i o n b e g a n , Ivar of­fered to p a y for t h e r e f u r b i s h i n g , b u t h e w a n t e d Wawona t o be d o c k e d af terwards a t A c r e s o f C l a m s . T h e g r o u p b a l k e d , a n d s o d i d Ivar. S i m i l a r l y , c o r p o r a t i o n s a n d f o u n d a t i o n s h a v e expressed interest , b u t t h e y w a n t t o b e g i v i n g t o projects i n t h e i r c o m m u n i t y . W h y r e f u r b i s h a b o a t w h i c h m a y e n d u p i n K e t c h i k a n ? H e r i t a g e H a r b o r w o u l d e l i m i n a t e t h a t w o r r y .

N o r t h w e s t S e a p o r t w o u l d negotiate a t i m e l i n e w i t h t h e P D A ;

continued on page 6

6 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

continued from page 5 the P D A ' s j o b w o u l d b e t o h o l d t h e m to i t . S i m i l a r l y , a f o u n d a t i o n m i g h t s p r i n g u p t o save the Duwamish. H o w q u i c k l y w o u l d progress h a p p e n ? It is d o u b t f u l the Wawona w o u l d ever be c o m p l e t e l y f inished. A c r e w w o u l d start at o n e e n d a n d i n f i v e years have the b o a t l o o k i n g n i c e ; b u t just as w h e n she was a w o r k i n g b o a t , by the t i m e the last d e t a i l is f inished, i t w i l l be t i m e to start a t the b e g i n n i n g a g a i n .

A n d i f she fails? N o r t h w e s t Seaport ' s ro le i s to preserve t h e h is tor ic sh ips , so p e r h a p s a r e p l i c a o f the s c h o o n e r Exact, w h i c h b r o u g h t t h e D e n n y ' s t o A l k i c o u l d be b u i l t . Wawona, l ike e v e r y t h i n g else a t the p a r k , w i l l be on the water a n d c o u l d b e t o w e d a w a y i n a m o r n i n g . E v e n the b u i l d i n g s — s m a l l , w o o d e n s tructures — in the worst case scenar io — c o u l d p r o ­v i d e a test ing g r o u n d for n e w f i re d e p a r t m e n t recrui ts i n t h e art o f c o n t r o l l i n g f i r e s r ight before t h e c r e w c o m e s i n w i t h the s o d . B u t that w o n ' t h a p p e n .

Modern component. T h e r e ' s a m o d e r n c o m p o n e n t t o H e r i t a g e H a r b o r , a n d s ign i f i cant ly i t h a p ­

pens o n e i ther side o f the restora­t i o n s h i p y a r d . T o t h e west w i l l b e a p o n d p r o t e c t e d b y the b a n k a n d

Think of it: for a long time Seattle has become increas­ingly more interested in its past. It was the sentiment which saved the Pike market, saved the house­boats, saved Pioneer Square. But our mari­time history has existed in a vacuum.

s w i n g i n g b r i d g e o n w h i c h m o d e l yachts c a n b e r a c e d . I n N e w Y o r k ' s C e n t r a l P a r k a s i m i l a r p o n d i s exceeding ly p o p u l a r , b u t closer t o h o m e y o u c a n see Seattle's m o d e l r a c i n g g r o u p at the J u l y 4 s h o w .

T o the east o f the y a r d w i l l go the u n d e r g r o u n d t o w i n g t a n k . T o w i n g t a n k s are used b y n a v a l ar­chi tec ts t o d e t e r m i n e h o w t o m a k e boats fast a n d stable w i t h g o o d car­r y i n g c a p a c i t y . T h e p r i m a r y use w o u l d b e c o m m e r c i a l boats , b u t i t c o u l d also be used by a l o c a l s y n ­d ica te w a n t i n g to test a m o d e l for t h e A m e r i c a ' s C u p o r e v e n h y d r o p l a n e designers .

T h e t a n k w o u l d b e b u i l t b y the U n i v e r s i t y o f W a s h i n g t o n . H e r i t a g e H a r b o r w o u l d t rade t h e l a n d t o b u i l d t h e t a n k i n e x c h a n g e for p u b l i c v i e w i n g o f the w o r k i n g area a n d access t o the m o d e l b u i l d i n g s h o p . T h e U n i v e r s i t y ' s N a v a l A r c h i t e c t u r e S c h o o l w o u l d benef i t s i g n i f i c a n t l y , a n d w h e n t h e t a n k was n o t b e i n g used for tes t ing , i t c o u l d serve as t h e u l t i m a t e m o d e l b o a t fac i l i ty .

T h e idea l t i m e l i n e for H e r i t a g e H a r b o r i s to h a v e i t c o m p l e t e d before the c e n t e n n i a l tour is t p r o ­m o t i o n begins . B u t rea l i s t ica l ly , w e

see the p a r k u n f o l d i n g o v e r the n e x t f ive years. In i t ia l p l a n s f rom t h e c o n s u l t a n t s w i l l b e g i v e n t o the C i t y C o u n c i l w i t h i n the next t w o m o n t h s . B u t w h a t i f t h e N a v y re­q u i r e s a few years to m o v e o u t or o u r f r i ends a t K u r t z e r dec ide t o keep t h e i r seaplane o p e r a t i o n at t h e s o u t h e n d o f L a k e U n i o n ? T h a t ' s f i n e . I f the i n i t i a l c o m m i t ­m e n t b y t h e C i t y t o a m a r i t i m e p a r k is m a d e , there is no reason the l a n d c u r r e n t l y c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e C i t y can' t b e d e v e l o p e d n o w , w i t h t h e r e m a i n d e r b e i n g a d d e d a s t i m e goes b y .

T h e b u i l d i n g a t the far n o r t h ­west c o r n e r o f the p a r k w o u l d b e e i ther a r e n t a l or storage fac i l i ty for sa i lboarders , canoes , k a y a k s a n d r o w i n g shel ls . T h e s e c o u l d range f r o m a W i l l i t s c a n o e b u i l t o n D a y Is land near T a c o m a i n the 1940s

to a f iberglass she l l or b o a r d . W h e t h e r i t w o u l d be a fur ther o u t ­post o f t h e C e n t e r for W o o d e n Boats or r u n by someone else isn' t c lear . B u t p i c t u r e th is , a n d n o t just w i s t f u l l y : m o d e l s are r a c i n g , the Blue Peter is a r r i v i n g to say h e l l o , w o r k s h o p s are g o i n g o n a b o a r d Wawona as the c r e w puts t h e final touches o n the res tora t ion o f the gal ley, shanties are b e i n g s u n g in M a r i t i m e M a l l , a r o w i n g regatta i s b e g i n n i n g a t the C e n t e r , a n d as Adventuress takes of f i n t o a l ight n o r t h e r l y , t w o t e e n a g e r s o n sa i lboards h o l d o n i n a c r o u c h a s they r u n circles a r o u n d her . I f it's y o u r d r e a m , t o o , ca l l the M a y o r a t 625-4000 t o let h i m k n o w a n d ca l l the C e n t e r at 382-2628 to get i n ­v o l v e d . It's b e e n 20 years in the m a k i n g , but this d r e a m is a m a z i n g ­ly close to c o m i n g t rue . •

Hands on history, ears on a song The Center for Wooden Boats is, o f course , the o n l y

m u s e u m o f its k i n d w h e r e people c a n a c t u a l l y p u t the i r h a n d s o n t h e e x h i b i t s . T h e boats m a y b e used f r o m 1 2 t o 7 p . m . o n weekdays a n d 10 a . m . to 8 p . m . on w e e k e n d s d u r i n g the s u m m e r . T h e e x h i b i t use fee i s $6 .50 per h o u r for r o w boats a n d $7 .50 per h o u r for sai lboats w i t h a $1 .50 r e d u c t i o n for m e m b e r s .

Louis Killen will sing songs o f the sea i n a benefit a b o a r d Wawona J u l y 31 at 7:30 p . m . T h e d o n a t i o n is $5 .

J u l y - A u g u s t 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 7

T E A C H I N G THE SKILLS

Turning six into seven

By Simon Watts

W henever I suggest b u i l d i n g a n e w a n d different b o a t a t the C e n t e r

workshop, Dick Wagner gives me a look as if I'd just handed him his income tax re­f u n d . He gets out h is c a l e n d a r , l o o k s for a date a n d t h e n I ask h i m w h a t h e p lans t o d o w i t h the c o m p l e t e d b o a t . T h e f a m i l i a r , fanat i ca l g leam appears in h is eyes a n d he says w h a t I k n e w he w o u l d say al l a l o n g : " K e e p i t . "

S o a t last c o u n t the C e n t e r o w n e d a b o u t e ight s t u d e n t - b u i l t boats : a s a i l i n g v e r s i o n of the N o v a S c o t i a n skiff Sea Urchin; three 19-1/2' Petaluma r o w i n g shel ls ; t w o H e r ­reshof f p r a m s ; o n e C h a m b e r l a i n d o r y a n d . . . I near ly sa id ' a par t r idge i n a pear tree ' b u t actual ly its a 13-1/2' s a i l i n g p r a m Sea Lion (Walrus i n Seattle) . M a r c u s Lester t o o k t h e l ines of f a semi-ret i red C e n t e r ve teran that l ives ups ide d o w n o n o n e o f the f l o a t s . B u i l t i n S a n F r a n c i s c o i n the 7 0 s i t was used as a t ender in the s a l m o n f ishery. T h e C e n t e r ' s p r a m needed s u b s t a n t i a l repairs a n d i n the process the t w o t r a n s o m s were r e m o v e d a n d the boat s h o r t e n e d b y a n i n c h o r so. T h e n e w t r a n s o m s were set p l u m b w h i c h m a k e s a n o d d - l o o k i n g b o a t .

M a r c u s t o o k a guess at the t r a n s o m angles b u t w e h a d n o w a y o f k n o w i n g just w h a t t h e y were o r i g i n a l l y . O n m y r e t u r n t o S a n F r a n c i s c o I m a d e enquir ies a n d f o u n d a n a lmost i d e n t i c a l p r a m i n storage a t the M a r i t i m e M u s e u m . I t was s o m e w h a t longer b u t h a d never b e e n ' restored' . ( M a n y o l d boats get v a n d a l i z e d in the n a m e o f restora­t i o n a n d thereby lose the i r a u t h e n t i c i t y a n d s o m u c h o f t h e i r h i s t o r i c a l value.) T h e s h i p y a r d where these w o r k i n g p r a m s were b u i l t i s st i l l s t a n d i n g i n the C h i n a B a s i n area o f S a n F r a n c i s c o . O n e c a n just m a k e out the n a m e Knease p a i n t e d o n the side o f the b u i l d i n g .

T h e f i r s t repl ica o f th is l i n e o f s t u r d y p r a m s was b u i l t a t the C e n t e r by a b a n d of enthusias ts i n M a r c h o f th is year . T h e class n o t o n l y b u i l t the boat but the spars, center­b o a r d , r u d d e r a n d t i l l e r . T h e y also m a d e a n d f i t t e d the c e n t e r b o a r d case. B a r n e y A b r a m s , t h a t g o o d f r i e n d o f the C e n t e r , h a d a l ready sewn up the sai l so the b o a t c o u l d b e rigged a n d t r i e d o u t o n l a u n c h i n g d a y . T h e r e wasn' t a lot o f w i n d but i t was c lear ly a h a n d y a n d very stable l i t t le boat . Its c a r r y i n g capaci ty was d e m o n s t r a t e d by c o a x i n g the ent i re class o f seven p lus the i n ­s t ructor i n t o the boat . T h o s e o n shore c l a i m e d t h a t the sheer strake r e m a i n e d d r y . T h e class t h o u g h t , qu i te r i g h t l y , that t h e y ' d d o n e ra ther w e l l — n o v i c e b o a t b u i l d e r s go­i n g f r o m a pi le of p l a n k s to a c o m p l e t e d sa i lboat in o n l y eight d a y s . I h a d a h u n c h i t c o u l d b e d o n e b u t needed the C e n t e r l a b o r a t o r y a n d a b u n c h o f w i l l i n g g u i n e a pigs to m a k e sure. In J u n e a class w i l l be b u i l d i n g a n o t h e r Sea Lion i n S a n F r a n c i s c o .

T h e next d i s h t o b e a d d e d t o the w o r k s h o p m e n u — also eight days — is a 12' r o w i n g p u n t or scow. T h i s class i s for t h e n o v i c e w i t h little o r n o p r e v i o u s exper ience i n w o o d w o r k i n g . F o r some reason that eludes me th is project has a l ready got stuck w i t h t h e n i c k n a m e Raggedy Ann. Kindergar ten c o n n o t a t i o n s perhaps?

W h y s o m a n y boats a n d w h y t h e magic n u m b e r of eight days? A c o u p l e of t imes I've c o n d u c t e d twelve-day classes a n d f o u n d t h e m di f f icul t to f i l l — p r o b a b l y because t w o weeks i s a b i g c h u n k o u t o f a n y o n e ' s v a c a ­t i o n t i m e . I also f o u n d t h a t e v e r y o n e ( in ­c l u d i n g me) gets e x h a u s t e d , the class s lows d o w n a n d we're al l t h a n k f u l w h e n it's o v e r . T o b u i l d a n y w o r t h w h i l e b o a t i n less t h a n seven or e ight days means a c o n s t a n t s c ram­ble t o c o m p l e t e the project o n t i m e . It's h a r d to a c q u i r e ski l ls u n d e r pressure: o n e needs t i m e t o l e a r n , t i m e t o m a k e mistakes , d o t h i n g s over , take notes, p h o t o s a n d absorb

the w h o l e exper ience . W h y a c h o i c e o f s ix ( soon to be seven)

boats? T w o reasons: o n e sel f ish, o n e less so. I q u i c k l y get b o r e d b u i l d i n g the same b o a t o v e r a n d o v e r a g a i n a n d w h e n I get b o r e d I t e n d to get c r a b b y . S e c o n d l y , I w a n t to p r o ­v i d e e n t r y p o i n t s for p e o p l e a t di f ferent s k i l l levels. F o r e x a m p l e the Petaluma r o w i n g she l l i s a c o m p l e x piece of w o o d w o r k i n g t h a t e v e n profess ionals f i n d c h a l l e n g i n g . T h e p r a m a n d d o r y are m o r e s tra ightfor­w a r d a n d Raggedy Ann is for the L - p l a t e c o n ­t ingent . I w a n t a s t u d e n t w h o takes an i n ­te rmedia te or beg inners class to be able to c o m e b a c k , m a y b e a year or t w o later , a n d b u i l d a m o r e a d v a n c e d b o a t .

A n o t h e r advantage i n o f fer ing a range o f boats i s t h a t di f ferent areas o f N o r t h A m e r i c a h a v e d i f f e r i n g tastes i n boats . N o v a S c o t i a m a y w a n t to b u i l d a d o r y , S p o k a n e a s h e l l , S a n F r a n c i s c o a sa i l ing p r a m a n d I d o n ' t yet k n o w w h a t craft w o u l d exci te S t . L o u i s , Boise a n d B o u n t i f u l , U t a h . I n Bear-p a w , A l a s k a the locals m i g h t w a n t t o b u i l d

s o m e t h i n g i n r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e w i t h s n o w s h o e outr iggers t o sai l t h e w i n t r y t u n ­d r a .

W h e n y o u l e a r n s o m e t h i n g q u i c k l y a n d d o n ' t h a v e a c h a n c e to prac t i ce , it 's d i s c o u r a g i n g t o f i n d o u t h o w m u c h evaporates in a year — or e v e n a m o n t h . U n l e s s o n e takes a b u n d a n t notes p l u s p h o t o s it's d i f f i c u l t to reca l l specific t e c h n i ­ques a n d the p r o p e r o r d e r o f c o n s t r u c t i o n . T h e classes are pre t ty intense a n d it's b e y o n d m o s t people 's capabi l i t i es — m i n e c e r t a i n l y — to l e a r n n e w sk i l l s , take p h o t o s , keep a n eye o n classmates a n d w r i t e i t a l l d o w n .

S o h o w t o g ive people m o r e t h a n m e m o r i e s to take h o m e after t h e class has ended? Divide t h e b o a t w i t h a h a n d s a w b y the n u m b e r s o f students? H a v i n g s discussed th is w i t h several classes I've c o m e u p w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g s o l u t i o n : A series o f w o r k b o o k s o r s h o p m a n u a l s t o c o v e r t h e ent i re b u i l d i n g f r o m start t o f i n i s h . E a c h b o o k to focus on a specific b o a t w i t h a step-

by-step d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e b u i l d i n g c o m b i n ­ed w i t h a set of p l a n s a n d sources for tools a n d mater ia ls . A p p e n d i c e s w i l l e x p l a i n s u c h specific t e c h n i q u e s as c l e n c h - n a i l i n g a n d scar f ing c o m m o n t o a l l lapstrake boats .

I a i m to m a k e these m a n u a l s suf f ic ient ly c o m p l e t e a n d d e t a i l e d s o a n e x p e r i e n c e d w o o d w o r k e r , able t o f o l l o w p l a n s a n d d i r e c ­t i o n s , c o u l d b u i l d t h e b o a t f r o m scra tch w i t h o u t t a k i n g t h e class. I h a v e started w i t h Petaluma — t h e r o w i n g she l l — because there i s s o m u c h interest i n th is type o f craft t o d a y a n d n o p lans t h a t I k n o w o f t o b u i l d o n e i n s o l i d w o o d .

H a v i n g o n e o f these m a n u a l s in a class w o u l d b e a n i m m e n s e h e l p t o b o t h myse l f a n d the s tudents . It's d i f f i cu l t for t h e m to visual ize w h a t i t i s we are t r y i n g to ach ieve u n t i l t h e y see it . I t m e a n s fewer e x p l a n a t i o n s a n d m o r e t i m e t o c o a c h people i n d i v i d u a l l y i n t h e p r o p e r use, care a n d s h a r p e n i n g o f t h e i r h a n d too ls — t h e real meat o f t h e class.

A first e d i t i o n o f 25 Petaluma w o r k b o o k s w i l l b e ava i lab le some t i m e i n t h e fa l l . •

8/SHAVINGS/July-August 1987

S M A L L WATER CRUISING

In search of pickle grass and other small joys By Chas D o w d

One a f t e r n o o n my wife a n d I were s i t t i n g on a s m a l l gravel b a r that was

part of a very small San Juan island. We were eating PB&J sandwiches while watch­i n g a h a r b o r seal par t ly h u n t i n g a n d part­l y p l a y i n g i n the t ide race that h a d b u i l t the gravel b a r o v e r the years. B e h i n d us, a be l l b u o y t o l l e d i n t e r m i t t e n t l y . N o o t h e r boats were i n sight. I f w e s t o o d u p a n d t u r n e d a r o u n d , we c o u l d h a v e seen several ra ther spectacular houses , a l l f i e lds tone , c e d a r , glass, a n d greenbacks , b u t f r o m w h e r e w e sat i n the shelter o f s o m e s t r a n d e d d r i f t ­w o o d , n o t h i n g m u c h h a d c h a n g e d s ince G e o r g e V a n c o u v e r sai led b y .

Part o f w h a t we were seeing r e m i n d e d me of w h a t I saw w h e n I v is i ted the S a n Juans 25-odd years before as o n e of a c r o w d of Sea S c o u t s . I t also recal led t h e scheme, h a t c h e d a m o n g m y fe l low scouts , t o f i n a n c e o w n e r ­s h i p o f a s h i p large e n o u g h . t o cruise i n . W e ' d f o u n d just the vessel i n the b o a t brokerage sec t ion of Yachting, a 90-foot teak topsai l s c h o o n e r w i t h t w o ful l suits o f sa i l , r a d a r , s o n a r , sh ip- to - shore , a diesel a u x ­i l i a r y , a n d a separate generator p l a n t . F i n a n c i n g i n c l u d e d w i t h d r a w i n g a n y a n d a l l col lege f u n d s a n d a m o n e y - m a k i n g r o u n d v o y a g e t h a t i n c l u d e d s h i p p i n g U . S . W W I I M - l rifles f r o m O k i n a w a t o M a l a y a , bar g o l d f r o m H o n g K o n g t o C a l c u t t a , a n d I n d i a n H e m p t o N e w Y o r k . S o m e tenets o f the S c o u t O a t h were g o i n g to take a l i c k i n g , b u t t h e desire for a s h i p was h a r d u p o n us a n d we agreed that i t was no t i m e to be s q u e a m i s h . T h o s e w e r e the days w h e n w e a l l felt t h a t c r u i s i n g i n t h e S o u t h Paci f ic was the o n l y c r u i s i n g w o r t h w h i l e .

T o d a y , I h a v e m u c h different ideas a b o u t w h e r e it's w o r t h w h i l e t o cruise . W e e k d a y

evenings I search my m a p l i b r a r y for t h e smallest of inlets , for t ideflats , stretches of salt m a r c h , for the m o u t h s o f r ivers , a n d f o r i s lands a lmost t o o s m a l l t o s h o w u p o n large scale char t s . S o m e o f m y favor i te des t ina ­t i o n s o n l y exist a t h i g h t i d e , o thers are scraps o f useless s w a m p forgot ten in the m i d d l e o f i n d u s t r i a l areas o f c e m e n t p l a n t s ,

An hour and a half of rowing moves me much farther sub­jectively than it does objectively. Since my goal is to go as far away from my everyday life as I can, that's an impor­tant factor.

l o g b o o m s , a n d o i l barges. O v e r m y desk a t w o r k i s a p h o t o o f m y wife s i t t i n g i n o u r b o a t . In the b a c k g r o u n d is a s h o r e l i n e of varicolored grasses, a s m a l l tree, a n d an assortment o f w i l d f l o w e r s . T h e water i s so st i l l a n d the re f lec t ion o f b a n k , tree, f lowers , b o a t , a n d D e b so perfect t h a t I c a n h a n g i t ups ide d o w n a n d n o b o d y c a n te l l unless t h e y n o t i c e t h a t the b o a t n a m e is b a c k w a r d s . O c c a s i o n a l l y s o m e o n e w i l l ask w h e r e t h e p h o t o was t a k e n a n d I r e s p o n d " K e l l o g g I s l a n d . " 1 m a y o r m a y not te l l t h e m that K e l l o g g Is land i s i n t h e D u w a m i s h across f r o m w h e r e M a n s o n m o o r s its barge cranes a n d i s s u r r o u n d e d b y c o n t a i n e r p a r k ­i n g . Y a c h t s m e n v i e w m y voyages w i t h dis ­d a i n , g i v i n g t h e m the s o m e w h a t c o n d e s c e n ­d i n g n a m e " g u n k h o l i n g " . I prefer t o ca l l m y pass ion " s m a l l water c r u i s i n g . "

Groundrules and Expectations. N o t just a n y b o a t is a s m a l l water cruiser . A g o o d o n e m u s t be m u s c l e - p o w e r e d : a r o w b o a t , a k a y a k , or a c a n o e . E v e n a s m a l l o u t b o a r d is t o o m u c h . . . t o o m u c h noise , t o o m u c h t e c h n o l o g y , a b o v e a l l , t o o m u c h draf t . S a i l i s m a r g i n a l . E v e n i f a sa i lboat has c e n t e r b o a r d or leeboards , there's a t e m p t a ­t i o n to see smal l water des t ina t ions as an a d ­

j u n c t to s a i l i n g , not as the p u r p o s e of the w h o l e t h i n g . A l s o , w h e n y o u r o w o r p a d d l e , I t h i n k y o u m a x i m i z e the size o f y o u r cruise . A n h o u r a n d a h a l f o f r o w i n g m o v e s m e m u c h far ther subject ively t h a n i t does o b ­jec t ive ly . S i n c e my goal is to go as far away from my e v e r y d a y life as I c a n , that 's an i m ­p o r t a n t factor . T h e r e ' s also n o t h i n g l ike t w o h o u r s o f s teady, r h y t h m i c exercise t o o p e n y o u r m i n d t o n u a n c e . It's no t u n l i k e za-zen m e d i t a t i o n . N u a n c e s are i m p o r t a n t i n smal l water c r u i s i n g .

F o r e x a m p l e , cons ider nature s t u d y . O n c e , e x p l o r i n g i n C a r r Inlet , D e b a n d I w e n t u p M i n t e r C r e e k l o o k i n g for the State F i s h H a t c h e r y . M i n t e r C r e e k w i n d s d o w n past several l o v e l y h o m e s but s o o n gets too s h a l l o w e v e n for o u r boat . W e d r i f t e d b a c k t o w h e r e i t w i d e n e d o u t . S igns w a r n e d u p o f oyster beds a n d p r i v a t e b e a c h , so we t i e d o u r p a i n t e r t o a n o v e r h a n g i n g b u s h a n d i n f i v e i n c h e s o f w a t e r , b e g a n o u r l u n c h . Part way t h r o u g h we were d is t rac ted by a buzz­i n g that s o u n d e d l i k e the w o r l d ' s biggest d r a g o n f l y . T h r e e feet away f r o m u s o n the b e a c h was a f l edgl ing A n n a ' s h u m m i n g b i r d , b e i n g fed b y its m o t h e r . S h e w o u l d fly a w a y , r e t u r n i n g every m i n u t e or so to disgorge a c r o p f u l o f nec tar i n t o J u n i o r , h o v e r i n g just

J u l y - A u g u s t 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 9

Here was the great engine of natural selection churning away, with just as much importance for its actors as a more dramatic encounter between moose and wolves, or elephants and tigers, or Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons,

above the g r o u n d a n d p u s h i n g her l o n g beak d o w n his t h r o a t t o the p o i n t w h e r e i t was a m a r v e l he d i d n ' t gag. W h e n she left, J u n i o r h o p p e d a b o u t a b i t , t r y i n g to fly but not s e e m i n g able to get up e n o u g h steam to m a k e it to the b l a c k b e r r y bushes a few feet away. M o m kept s t o k i n g , J u n i o r kept t r y i n g a n d w e g r a d u a l l y u n d e r s t o o d the reason for

her f rant i c efforts. D o w n the b e a c h 10 to 15 yards a w a y , three o r f o u r c r o w s were t u r n ­i n g o v e r stones a n d f i g h t i n g o v e r scraps o f d e a d c r a b a n d d e f u n c t oyster . T h e i r s h i n y b l a c k feathers seemed to prophes ize a b l a c k e n d for J u n i o r unless h e c o u l d f i n d refuge i n the u n d e r b r u s h .

H e r e was the great e n g i n e of n a t u r a l selec­t i o n c h u r n i n g a w a y , w i t h just a s m u c h i m ­p o r t a n c e for its ac tors as a m o r e d r a m a t i c e n c o u n t e r b e t w e e n moose a n d w o l v e s , o r e lephants a n d tigers, o r N e a n d e r t h a l s a n d C r o - M a g n o n s . H o w d i d i t end? W e never k n e w . F a l l i n g t i d e m a d e i t necessary to leave before a n y t h i n g was r e s o l v e d .

Watched eagle fishing. A n o t h e r t i m e i n Sara toga Passage, we w a t c h e d an eagle f i s h i n g . F l y i n g l o w o v e r the water , i t w o u l d skate its ta lons o v e r the surface, o c c a s i o n a l ­l y l e a v i n g l o n g streaks o n the surface. F i n a l ­ly i t c a u g h t a s m a l l f ish. We saw its legs s w i n g b a c k as i t h i t a n d s u d d e n l y , before i t c o u l d rise, a f lock o f f o u r or f ive c r o w s m o b ­b e d i t , d i v i n g f r o m a b o v e a n d b e h i n d , o n e e v e n c h a r g i n g i t h e a d l o n g . T h e eagle d r o p ­p e d its c a t c h , w h i c h o n e o f the attackers n a b b e d before i t h i t t h e water . T h e y i m ­mediate ly s treaked a w a y , inches above the waves w h i l e o u r b e f u d d l e d N a t i o n a l S y m ­b o l t r i ed t o f i g u r e out w h i c h o n e t o chase . F i n a l l y the eagle lit on a snag on B a b y I s land . F i r s t i t h u n c h e d its wings up level w i t h the t o p o f its h e a d , t h e n i t sh i f ted b a c k

a n d f o r t h o n its b r a n c h . T h e n m o r e h u n c h ­i n g a n d s t a m p i n g u p a n d d o w n . F o r t w o m i n u t e s i t r e a r r a n g e d its w i n g s a n d m a r c h ­e d a b o u t , f a c i n g f i r s t o n e w a y a n d t h e n a n o t h e r . T h o u g h we're not ones t o a t t r ibute h u m a n a c t i o n s o r e m o t i o n s t o a n i m a l s , the b i r d was s o o b v i o u s l y p o u t i n g that w e b o t h s tar ted l a u g h i n g .

W h e n y o u vis i t places o t h e r people o v e r l o o k o r can ' t get t o , t h e a m o u n t o f w i l d l i f e i s s u r p r i s i n g . Y e t the V i r g i n i a R a i l s a n d G r e e n H e r o n s we 've seen i n the l i t t le s l o u g h 2 0 m i n u t e s d r i v e f r o m o u r apart­m e n t are l o o k i n g for just w h a t we're h u n ­t i n g : s o m e space a w a y f rom t h e pressure o f h u m a n s , cars , T V s , a n d s h o p p i n g m a l l s .

O n c e , i n a scrap o f s w a m p o n l y s m a l l water cruisers c o u l d l o v e , we s u r p r i s e d a G r e a t B l u e H e r o n i n f u l l p l u m a g e h u n t i n g . I c o u l d h a v e r e a c h e d o u t m y h a n d a n d t o u c h e d h i m . O n his l o g h e was six inches tal ler t h a n I was . S u d d e n l y I l o o k e d at his foot a n d a h a l f l o n g beak a n d r e m e m b e r e d h o w fast a h e r o n c a n w h i p its h e a d f o r w a r d w h e n i t sees s o m e t h i n g ed ib le . E v e r y t h i n g I'd l e a r n e d a b o u t the " f ight o r f l i g h t " i n ­s t inct f lashed i n t o m i n d a n d I r e m e m b e r e d the c o n s i d e r a b l e b a t t e r i n g I'd got ten f rom an angry G r e e n L a k e goose w h e n I was t e n . T h i s u n i q u e f r o g ' s - e y e v i e w p r o v i d e d m e w i t h a w h o l e n e w a p p r e c i a t i o n o f h e r o n s a n d a c o n s i d e r a b l e respect for the i r capabi l i t ies as predators . It was sa id of a

continued on page 10

10/SHAVINGS/July-August 1987

continued from page 9 19th-century natura l i s t t h a t he c o u l d "see t h e w h o l e w o r l d i n a g r a i n o f s a n d . " H e w o u l d h a v e apprec ia ted s m a l l water c ru i s ­i n g .

Wilderness cruising. A r o w i n g f r i e n d o f m i n e o n c e c o m p l a i n e d t h a t u n t i l h e got t o A l a s k a , h e c o u l d n e v e r f i n d a n y p l a c e t h a t was u n t o u c h e d ; a place w h e r e p o w e r b o a t e r s a n d o thers w o u l d b e absent a n d w h e r e c i v i l i z a t i o n d i d n ' t press i n . I t o l d h i m o f m y favor i te s t re tch o f K i l l i s u t H a r b o r b e t w e e n I n d i a n a n d M a r r o w s t o n e I s l a n d .

N e a r its h e a d , there's a l i t t le p o r t i o n of the I n d i a n Is land N a v a l S t a t i o n t h a t the m i l i t a r y has o w n e d since the m i n d o f m a n k n o w e t h n o t c o n t r a r y . H e r e , i f y o u p o s i t i o n y o u r boat just r i g h t , 1 8 0 ° o f y o u r v i s i o n w i l l see u n t o u c h e d s h o r e l i n e h e a v y w i t h u n c u t f i r s t - g r o w t h D o u g f i r a n d cedar . S a l a l a n d r h o d o d e n d r o n s are t h e o n l y u n d e r g r o w t h , free o f the b l a c k b e r r y t h i c k e t s that g r o w w h e r e v e r m a n has c leared the b r u s h . T r u e , i f y o u dr i f t 100 y a r d s you' l l see a b i g r e d N a v y , K e e p O u t , N o L a n d i n g , N o Fires s ign . I f y o u h a d a t h i r d eye in t h e b a c k of y o u r h e a d , y o u ' d see houses al l a l o n g the shore . So what? In f r o n t o f y o u i s the u n -t r a m m e l e d N o r t h w e s t . S e e i n g o n e o f the " N a v y d e e r " a l o n g the b e a c h o n l y h e i g h t e n s the i l l u s i o n . T h e r e ' s a s t re tch of S q u a x i n s h o r e l i n e , a b i t o f m a r s h n o r t h o f H o p e

I s l a n d , w h e r e y o u c a n s t a n d off far e n o u g h t o see t h e sunset o n R a i n i e r o v e r a n o t h e r piece of pre-Peter Puget s h o r e l i n e . I f the w i n d i s r ight a n d y o u can' t hear the radios a n d smel l the c o c o a - b u t t e r s u n t a n l o t i o n f r o m C o o n C o v e , it's a s n a t u r a l a s a n y b o d y c o u l d w a n t . Just d o n ' t t u r n a r o u n d .

T h e r e are leads i n t o t h e m a r s h a r o u n d Ika Is land a t the m o u t h o f the S k a g i t R i v e r w h e r e y o u c a n l o o k u p the cliffs a n d w a t c h eagles, tota l ly o b l i v i o u s to t h e fact y o u ' r e

s u r r o u n d e d b y some o f the most in tens ive ly f a r m e d l a n d i n o u r state, l a n d that p r o d u c e s 9 0 % o f the w o r l d ' s beet seed.

I n search o f pickle grass. T h i s year D e b a n d I are g o i n g to visit t h e h e a d o f S k o o k u m Inlet . H e r e the N a t u r e C o n s e r v a n c y has p u r c h a s e d 76 acres of w e t l a n d to preserve the p i c k l e grass/salt grass/marsh grass p l a n t c o m m u n i t y that used to be the ma jor feature o f m a n y W a s h i n g t o n State r iver

del tas a n d a m a j o r way o f t u r n i n g m a r s h to s o l i d g r o u n d . It's g o n e a lmost e v e r y w h e r e else, b u t i f y o u ' r e a smal l -water c ru iser , there's s t i l l th is l i t t le c h u n k to see.

A year ago, we v i s i t ed C h u c k a n u t I s land, a n o t h e r N a t u r e C o n s e r v a n c y area i n C h u c k a n u t B a y . T h e r e ' s n o b e a c h a n d y o u ' r e n o t s u p p o s e d t o g o ashore a n y w a y , b u t d r i f t i n g close t o the c l i f f edge, w e f o u n d a l i t t le m i c r o - c u r r e n t t h a t c o u l d c a r r y us at h a l f a m i l e a n h o u r a r o u n d m o s t o f the i s l a n d . W i t h o u r b o a t i n th is c u r r e n t , w e c o u l d dr i f t 18 inches out a n d see crabs , sea a n e n o m e s , a n d a n o c c a s i o n a l f i s h b e l o w . S u n f l o w e r stars w i t h the i r 32 arms s h o n e in orange a n d p u r p l e . Barnac les were w a v i n g t h e i r p l u m e s , t h o u g h w h a t they c o u l d f i n d to e a c h in the gin-c lear water was a mystery . L o o k i n g o v e r t h e o t h e r s ide , w e c o u l d see the roots o f t h e i s l a n d s t re t ch ing d o w n , d o w n , d o w n u n t i l they were lost i n the d e e p e n i n g water . I w i l l never w o n d e r again w h a t a n artist m e a n s w h e n she speaks o f u l t r a m a r i n e b l u e .

A l l these r o w s , al l these e n j o y m e n t s , exist w i t h i n a day's d r i v e o f m y house . A l l i t takes to f ind t h e m is a s m a l l t ra i lerable boat (here I speak heresy: it doesn ' t e v e n need to be w o o d ) , a c h a r t , a n d a cer ta in f rame of m i n d . I t h i n k you ' l l f ind t h e m m u c h easier to c o m e b y t h a n that 90-foot topsai l s c h o o n e r a n d al l V e i l w i t h i n the str ictures o f the S c o u t O a t h . •

J u l y - A u g u s t 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / l l

June 20 &. 21 L O N G B O A T D I S C O V E R Y O N D I S P L A Y 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., C W B , Waterway 4

This is a replica of the boat used by Peter Puget on the ship, Discovery, in charting Puget Sound in 1792. Free rides in the boat for those who join the Pure Sound Society at this time.

June 21 B A N D M U S I C 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., C W B Pavilion

Free concert of traditional band music by the Seattle Summer Concert Band.

July 3, 4 & 5 L A K E U N I O N W O O D E N B O A T F E S T I V A L Naval Reserve Base, Lake Union

The CWB's annual extravaganza at the south end of the lake — the largest wooden-boat show in the West with dozens of exhibits, classic watercraft, seminars, rowing and sailing races . . . and just plain fun. Details: 206/382-2628.

July 11 PAINTS & FINISHES W O R K S H O P Port Townsend

Instructors: Cary Nicely and Len Gerlach from Inter­national Paint C o . (For more information contact: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, 251 Otto Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368, 206/3854948.)

July 11 P L A N E M A K I N G W O R K S H O P 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., C W B Boatshop

Charlie Mastro will help students build their own plane, which they will then take home. Limited to six students. $60, C W B members; $70, non-members. Details: 382-2628.

July 11 & 12 S Q U A X I N I S L A N D R O W I N G R E G A T T A Shelton

A rowing race around Squaxin Island will begin at noon. For more information call 426-7307.

July 12 V A S H O N I S L A N D R O W Burton Peninsula

This annual race is held in connection with the Vashon Strawberry Festival. The race starts at 10 a.m. at Jensen Point. Call 623-9497 for details.

July 13-July 18 L A P S T R A K E W O R K S H O P 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., C W B Boatshop

Eric Hvalsoe, instructor, and students will build a 9-1/2' Norwegian lapstrake pram, then launch it! The class is limited to 5 students. Woodworking skills are necessary. Cost: $325 for C W B members; $360 for non-members. Details: 382-2628.

July 18 B L A K E ISLAND R O W I N G M E E T Bainbridge to Blake Island

Rowers launch from Fort Ward, Bainbridge Island, departing for Blake Island between 10 and 11 a.m., with a three-mile round-Blake row to begin at noon. Details, Sound Rowers: 206/324-5800.

July 18-19 S T E A M B O A T R E N D E Z V O U S Winslow

A gathering of 10-15 of the Northwest Steam Socie­ty's boats at the City Dock. The best viewing time is Saturday afternoon.

July 19 P O E T R Y R E A D I N G 7 p m . to 9 p.m., C W B Pavilion

Red Sky Poetry Society will have members read their works. Sunset over Lake Union will be provided as a poetic background.

July 24 C W B , M O N T H L Y M E E T I N G - Please note, this is a one-time-only change from the usual third Friday meeting.

Building a replica of the 1935 Little Miss Canada IV, a Hacker design hydroplane. Eric Hvalsoe, builder, will talk of the history of the original. This boat will be displayed at our Wooden Boat Festival.

July 25 S T E A M B E A D I N G W O R K S H O P Port Townsend

Instructor: Jim Ferris. For more information contact: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, 251 Otto Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368; 206/3854948.

July 25-26 P O U L S B O B O A T R E N D E Z V O U S Poulsbo waterfront

Fifth annual get-together for owners and aficionados of Poulsbo Boats, the salty inboard-powered launches built for decades by Ronald Young and other Poulsbo-area craftsmen. The rendezvous includes a flea-market sale of marine related gear, sharing of information on Poulsbo Boats, free boat rides, casual boat parade around Liberty Bay, slide show and visits with local residents who share their knowledge of the boats.

July 31 W A W O N A B E N E F I T C O N C E R T 7:30 p.m., on board schooner W A W O N A

Louis Killen, Songs of the Sea. $5 donation.

August 1 & 2 S T E A M B O A T R E N D E Z V O U S Anacortes

A gathering of 10-15 of the Northwest Steam Socie­ty's boats at the Boat Basin in conjunction with the Anacortes Arts and Crafts Festival.

August 8 ' R O U N D S H A W I S L A N D R O W San Juan Islands

Rowers meet at 11 a.m. at South Beach, Shaw Island, to circumnavigate the island. Details from Sound Rowers: 324-5800.

August 15-August 22 L A P S T R A K E W O R K S H O P 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p . m , C W B Boatshop

Eric Hvalsoe, instructor, leads the building of a wine glass transom 9-1/2' Lawley tender. This is an eight-day workshop for 5 students. Woodworking skills are necessary. Cost: $360 for C W B members; $400 for non-members.

August 17-21 L O F T I N G S E M I N A R Port Townsend

Jim Franken, professional loftsman, will lead this seminar which will cover beginning through advanced lofting and lofting problems. (Class will be geared to ex­perience level and interest of participating students.) For more information contact: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, 251 Otto Street, Port Town­send, WA 98368; 206/3854948.

August 21 C W B M O N T H L Y M E E T I N G 7:30 p.m., C W B Boathouse

A subject of maritime interest.

August 22 T H E G R E A T C R O S S - S O U N D R A C E , 6 M I A l k i Beach to Winslow

This is the top banana among Northwest rowing events, drawing about 400 boats of all descriptions. Several classes, lots of winners, with a course that begins at Alki Beach in West Seattle, and ends in Eagle Harbor in Winslow, Bainbridge Island. Food, T-shirts and awards at the finish. Details from Sound Rowers: 206/324-5800.

August 24-28 S M A L L B O A T C O N S T R U C T I O N & M A I N T E N A N C E S E M I N A R Port Townsend

Ray Speck, boatbuilder, will cover the essentials of small boat construction, types of woods to use and dimensions necessary for sturdy yet not "over-built" small boats; and how to make them last. For more in­formation contact: Northwest School of Wooden Boat­building, 251 Otto Street, Port Townsend, W A 98368; 206/3854948.

September 12 & 13 O P E N H O U S E 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Port Townsend

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, 251 Ot­to Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368; 206/4948.

September 18 C W B M O N T H L Y M E E T I N G 7:30 p.m., C W B Boathouse

Discussion of maritime issues.

September 19 B A I N B R I D G E M A R A T H O N R O W 11 a.m.. Fay Bainbridge State Park

The 23 nautical mile row begins and ends at Fay Bainbridge State Park. Details: 206/324-5800.

September 21-25 L O F T I N G S E M I N A R 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Eric Hvalsoe, instructs a course in five evenings in which students will get basic training in lofting. Each student will loft a flat-bottom skiff and round-bottom boat in small scale. The tricky stuff about rabbets, bevels, and raking transoms will be picked up from a full-size loft. The class is limited to 6 students. Cost: $175 for C W B members; $200 for non-members.

September 26 N A V Y B A N D C O N C E R T 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., C W B Pavilion

Our pavilion was born for band concerts. The music of the Navy Band is as crisp and bright as band con­certs should be. No charge.

1 2 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

By Christopher Cunningham

Ib e g a n b y p o u r i n g o v e r m a p s a n d c h a r t s . M y d r e a m was t o b u i l d a b o a t and sail the Inland Passage of British Columbia to

Alaska. But when I set out late in Ju ly o f 1980 i n m y f i r s t b o a t , o n m y f i r s t passage I was less my vessel's master t h a n her v i c t i m .

Gamine was a 14 foot d o r y w i t h spri t -r igged m a i n a n d j i b . I h a d a d d e d a f ly ing j i b , top-sa i l , a n d a j i b - t o p s a i l , so t h e mast was a m a y p o l e o f h a l y a r d s a n d the h u l l a s n a k e - p i t o f sheets w r i t h i n g b e n e a t h the f lapping sails.

H a l f w a y across Possession S o u n d I reach­e d a n e q u i l i b r i u m w i t h the sails a n d sat i m ­m o b i l e u n t i l I h a d r u n the d o r y u p o n the f l a n k o f W h i d b e y Is land. I s t o w e d the r ig in t h e 14 foot skiff a n d b e g a n the w o r k o f r o w ­i n g n o r t h .

I r o w e d G a m i n e i n t o L a n g l e y a n d set up h o u s e k e e p i n g a l o n g t h e b e a c h . D i n n e r , i t a p p e a r e d , was n o t d e s t i n e d t o a d d o r d e r a n d c o m f o r t t o t h e d a y . T h e stove was miss­i n g a b i t o f its m e t a l a n a t o m y , a n d m y l a r d e r , for reasons u n k n o w n t o m e , c o n t a i n ­e d o n l y potatoes a n d o n i o n s . T h e t i m e 1 lost i n r e p a i r i n g the s tove was m a d e u p for i n t h e b r i e f m i n u t e o r t w o i t t o o k t o t u r n the o n i o n s b r o w n a n d ge la t inous a n d c h a r the potatoes w h i l e l e a v i n g t h e m as c r i s p as ap­ples o n the ins ide .

I i n t e n d e d t o c a m p o n the b e a c h a n d set the b o a t a t a n c h o r by m e a n s o f a l o n g l o o p o f l i n e r u n t h r o u g h a p u l l e y a t t a c h e d t o the a n c h o r f loat . I t was a m e t h o d I 'd seen d e s c r i b e d i n a b o a t i n g m a g a z i n e . I n m y m i n d ' s eye was t h e t i d y i l l u s t r a t i o n of a b o a t h a u l e d o u t t o a n c h o r l ike l a u n d r y set o u t t o d r y o n a c l o t h e s l i n e . B u t after 9 0 m i n u t e s o f t r y i n g t o d u p l i c a t e the d r a w i n g i n t h e three d i m e n s i o n s o f water , s a n d , a n d n i g h t , I h a d s o m e t h i n g t h a t l o o k e d m o r e l ike a m o d e l o f a u r a n i u m a t o m ' s e l e c t r o n o r b i t s . I p i c k e d the w i l d s c r i b b l e o f l i n e a n d seaweed o u t o f the water a n d d r o p p e d i t d r i p p i n g i n t o the b o w t o sit u n t i l m o r n i n g w h e n I h a d m o r e l ight a n d wits to u n t a n g l e it .

I s c u l l e d the d o r y off the b e a c h a n d d r o p ­p e d t h e a n c h o r . Before s l i p p i n g i n t o m y s leeping b a g , I peed i n t o the ba i l e r a n d e m p ­t i e d i t o v e r t h e s ide. T h e water lit u p b l u e l i k e a p r o p a n e f lame. P e e r i n g o v e r t h e ra i l I saw the fringes o f m a r b l e - s i z e d j e l ly f i sh s h i n e l ike b r i g h t s t rands o f t i n y pearls . F i s h t r a c e d meteor i c trai ls of s i lver b e n e a t h t h e b o a t . I t was t h e b o t t o m o f P a n d o r a ' s b o x : t h e r e was h o p e .

T h e d a y t h a t f o l l o w e d was m e r c i f u l l y u n e v e n t f u l . T h e air was s t i l l , a n d the water was flat. T h e s u n h a d b u t o n e u n b r o k e n r e f l e c t i o n , a s m a l l b r i g h t d i sk t h a t s k i m m e d t h e surface o f t h e water a longs ide t h e d o r y as I r o w e d . W h e n my bare legs b e g a n to feel the s t i n g of the s u n I c o v e r e d t h e m w i t h a c h a r t . I c o m p a r e d t h e Sara toga Passage in m y lap w i t h t h e Sara toga Passage a r o u n d m e . W h i l e the s l o w dr i f t o f t h e foreshore b e n e a t h the peaks o f the C a s c a d e m o u n ­ta ins t o t h e west a n d t h e O l y m p i c s t o t h e east m a r k e d m y m o v e m e n t o v e r t h e w a t e r , m y progress o n t h e c h a r t was a s i m p e r c e p t i ­b le a s t h e c l o c k w i s e p i v o t o f s h a d o w s o n a s u m m e r d a y . Y e t t h e s u n m o v e d west , a n d w h e n i t t o u c h e d t h e h o r i z o n I was 30 miles f r o m w h e r e 1 h a d s tar ted the d a y . C o l o r s

F I R S T S T R O K E S

E x p e r i e n c e star ts w h e n y o u b e g i n . Pete Culler

left the sky i n t h e i r o r d e r : r e d a n d o r a n g e f i r s t , l a v e n d e r a n d i n d i g o last. A f u l l m o o n i l l u m i n a t e d P a d i l l a B a y i n m o n o c h r o m e a n d sp i l l ed its m e r c u r i a l l ight in a streak u p o n t h e water .

First visitors. T h e t ide was f a l l i n g w h e n I p u l l e d the b o a t to a r o c k y b e a c h o u t s i d e o f the A n a c o r t e s m a r i n a . I set my a l a r m to w a k e m e before the m o r n i n g ' s f l o o d w o u l d lift Gamine from the s l ick carpet o f seaweed. A f t e r a day 's r o w of 34 mi les I fell q u i c k l y i n ­to a p a r a l y t i c sleep o n l y to be wres ted from i t a t 2:30 a . m . b y the d i n o f a n u n m u f f l e r e d eng ine . T h e grass o n the crest o f t h e b a n k a b o v e t h e b e a c h s h o n e green as the r o a r grew l o u d e r . T h e b r i g h t d iaeres i s o f a car's headl ights p o p p e d a b o v e t h e crest a n d b l i n k e d o u t , l e a v i n g o n l y t h e g l in t o f the m o o n i n t h e c h r o m e g r i l l - w o r k . T h e d o o r s o p e n e d , a n d the f i g u r e s o f s ix g r o w n b o y s a r r a y e d themselves a l o n g the b a n k . T h e y l o o k e d f i r s t u p a t the m o o n . T h e i r praise o f i t was b r i e f a n d u n r e p e a t a b l e . I w a i t e d for t h e i n e v i t a b l e .

" L o o k , there's a b o a t ! " " N o w a y , m a n . It's a r o c k . " I t r i e d t o l o o k

m o r e l ike a r o c k . "It's a b o a t jerkface . Let 's take it for a

r i d e . "

T h e six s c r a m b l e d d o w n t h e b a n k a n d s t u m b l e d across t h e s l ick r o c k s . W h e n they were a few y a r d s a w a y I sat up in the s t e r n . T h e r i s i n g o f a m u m m y - b a g - w r a p p e d f i g u r e b r o u g h t t h e m to a q u i c k s top .

Five walked away from the boat. The sixth, swaying over the port tholepins, stared at me. He turned suddenly and called after the others. "Let's kill him! Hey you guys let's kill him!";

" W h a t are y o u d o i n ' h e r e ? " " T r y i n g t o get s o m e s leep . " T h e y l i n e d u p

a r o u n d the g u n w a l e s , three t o p o r t three t o s t a r b o a r d . T h e y asked a b o u t m y r o w a n d l o o k e d o v e r t h e e q u i p m e n t i n t h e b o a t .

" Y o u a l o n e ? " " Y e s . " I l o o k e d i n t o t h e b o a t . I t was t o o

s m a l l to l ie a b o u t t h e size o f the c r e w . " W e l l that 's c o o l . Let ' s let h i m get some

s leep. " F i v e w a l k e d a w a y f r o m the b o a t . T h e s i x t h , s w a y i n g o v e r the p o r t t h o l e p i n s , stared a t m e . H e t u r n e d s u d d e n l y a n d c a l l e d after the o thers .

" L e t ' s k i l l h i m ! H e y y o u guys let's k i l l h i m ! "

T h e f i v e c r a w l e d u p t h e b a n k a n d d u c k e d

i n t o t h e car . " A w c o m e o n , let's a t least t h r o w some

r o c k s a t h i m . " T h e s i x t h d i s a p p e a r e d i n t o the o u t l i n e o f the car a n d the e n g i n e b l a r e d . Its roar e c h o e d f r o m the f l a n k s o f C a p S a n t e as the car d i s a p p e a r e d , l e a v i n g a c l o u d of dus t that g l o w e d r e d i n the s h i n e o f its ta i l l ights . I d i d n o t s l ide b a c k d o w n i n t o the d o r y b u t sat i n t h e s tern w i t h m y eye o n the shor e w a i t i n g for t h e t i d e .

1 sought m o r e peaceful campsi tes as I p i c k ­e d m y way t h r o u g h the S a n J u a n a n d G u l f Islands. T h e e n d o f m y f i r s t week b r o u g h t me to a h a r b o r a t N e w c a s t l e I s land c r o w d e d w i t h c a b i n cruisers a n d sai lboats . T h e o n l y smal l boats a r o u n d were e i ther s tuck l ike l impets t o the t r a n s o m s o f cruisers o r p r o ­pe l led b y s m a l l o u t b o a r d s that s o u n d e d l ike l o n g - w i n d e d B r o n x cheers . N o o n e was r o w ­i n g .

I c a m e a longs ide a sleek y a w l t h a t h a i l e d f r o m B a i n b r i d g e I s l a n d . F r o m its r a i l t w o s m a l l b o y s a n d t h e i r parents l o o k e d o n a s I fussed w i t h m y gear a n d answered t h e i r q u e s t i o n s a b o u t m y r o w . T h e father t r a n s l a t e d for h is y o u n g e s t , Bergie :

" T h i s m a n has c o m e just as far as we h a v e a n d he's r o w e d a l l t h a t w a y i n t h a t l i t t le b o a t . "

" W h y ? " Bergie asked , h is eyes f i x e d u p o n m e . S u d d e n l y m u t e , I r u m m a g e d t h r o u g h m y m e m o r y : there m u s t be a reason in here s o m e w h e r e . Bergie 's m o t h e r f i l l e d i n the b l a n k : " O h , Bergie , he's d o i n g i t because h e en joys i t . "

I left M i t t l e n a c h t I s l a n d , m y last c a m p o n the S t ra i t s , a t 5 a . m . E v e n a t t h a t d a r k h o u r i t was t o o r o u g h for r o w i n g , b u t I h a d i t in m i n d t o get t o t h e t o w n o f C a m p b e l l R i v e r o n V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d . Gamine s h o o k a n d rat t led as she b u l l e d i n t o t h e waves a n d w h i t e fans o f spray b u r s t o u t w a r d f r o m the rai ls . T h e b lades o f the oars , f i g h t i n g the i n ­ert ia o f 600 p o u n d s o f b o a t a n d cargo , c l a w ­ed t h r o u g h t h e water . I c o u l d feel the s k i n o f m y h a n d s d e l a m i n a t i n g — the gr i t ty s l i d i n g o f d e r m i s a n d e p i d e r m i s against o n e a n o t h e r as i f there were a l ayer of s a n d be­t w e e n t h e m . I set my course a b i t of f the w i n d t o ease t h e fal l o f the b o w i n t o the t roughs . T h e d i a g o n a l h e a d i n g eased the p i t c h i n g m o t i o n , b u t the d o r y b e g a n t o r o l l as w e l l . I t was d i f f i cu l t to sit u p r i g h t . As I t i r e d t h e g y r a t i o n s o f t h e boat w o r k e d m y sp ine l ike a w h i p a n d s n a p p e d m y h e a d i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s . T h e r o l l o f the g u n w a l e s alter­nate ly p r i e d the b lades o f the oars f rom t h e water i n the m i d d l e o f the s t r o k e a n d d r o v e

t h e h a n d l e s against m y kneecaps o n the r e c o v e r y . I s c reamed a t t h e b o a t : M o v e d a m m i t !

A f t e r f o u r h o u r s o n the water I r e a c h e d W i l l o w P o i n t , w h e r e I p u l l e d the d o r y o n t o a b r o a d , m a l o d o r o u s m u d f la t . T h e anger I h a d felt on t h e water t u r n e d to s h a m e as I l a n d e d . M y f i g h t against t h e w e a t h e r h a d b e e n a n e v e n m a t c h , b u t w h i l e I h a d b e e n a t m y l i m i t , the weather was o n l y m i l d l y f o u l . I was l u c k y that I h a d o n l y m a d e myse l f miserable .

Drifting through Seymour Narrows. A f t e r m y s h o p p i n g spree i n C a m p b e l l R i v e r I d r i f t e d w i t h the d o r y o n a n e b b t h a t s w i r l ­

e d a r o u n d R a c e P o i n t a n d accelerated t h r o u g h S e y m o u r N a r r o w s . T h o u g h I was t i r e d a n d m y h a n d s st i l l b u r n e d f r o m the m o r n i n g r o w I was d r a w n i n t o t h e n a r r o w c o r r i d o r b e t w e e n steep cedared slopes. I t was t h e Inside Passage as I h a d i m a g i n e d it: l o n g avenues o f water w h e r e the tides r a n l ike shutt les b e n e a t h the stone a n d s n o w ar­c h i t e c t u r e o f the m o u n t a i n s . T h e s u n n e a r e d the crest o f the r idge to the west a n d its a m b e r l ight set the cedar p l a n k i n g ag low. M y a r m s a n d oars cast s h a d o w s t h a t d a n c e d to t h e beat o f the oars t h u m p i n g aga ins t the t h o l e p i n s .

I p u l l e d i n t o E l k Bay a t the n o r t h e n d of D i s c o v e r y C h a n n e l a t d u s k a n d secured the d o r y a longside a log b o o m . As I was c r a w l ­i n g i n t o my sleeping b a g a cruise s h i p passed b y , a s h a d o w perforated w i t h b r i g h t port ­ho les . I p i c t u r e d myse l f on the o t h e r side o f o n e o f the p o r t h o l e s l o o k i n g across the water t o E l k B a y . E v e n i n d a y l i g h t the d o r y w o u l d b e t o o s m a l l t o b e n o t i c e d . F o r the f i rs t t i m e I felt l o n e l y . T h e ship 's w a k e hissed a l o n g the gravel b e a c h a n d r o l l e d gent ly b e n e a t h the b o a t .

Just after m i d n i g h t I was s h a k e n o u t of sleep by r o u g h water . A c o l d n o r t h e r l y h a d scuffed t h e s o u t h side o f the b a y a n d p o u n d ­e d Gamine against the l o g b o o m . W i t h o u t ge t t ing ent i re ly out of the s leeping b a g I s l ip­p e d the loops that h e l d the d o r y to the logs a n d p o s i t i o n e d myse l f o n the t h w a r t t o r o w .

I r o w e d u n t i l I h e a r d the squeak of salt grass against the h u l l a t t h e n o r t h edge of the b a y . L e t t i n g the boat dr i f t a w a y f rom t h e shore I s o u n d e d w i t h t h e a n c h o r u n t i l h a d t w o f a t h o m s u n d e r the h u l l , e n o u g h keep m e afloat before m y a l a r m w o u l d r o u s e m e for the m o r n i n g ' s l o w r i d e .

At d a w n t h e b o a t was st i l l a n d 1 felt we rested. T h e f r i n g e o f treetops b e t w e e n the g u n w a l e s a n d the sky were s t i l l . I r o l l e d o v e r to c a t c h a b i t m o r e sleep before t h e a l a r m s o u n d e d , b u t the b o a t d i d n ' t r o c k . I sat up a n d l o o k e d o v e r the r a i l . Gamine was p l a n t e d i n the m i d d l e o f a n oyster b e d . T h e a l a r m h a d b e e n shut off. I t was a quie t plea from my bl is tered h a n d s t h a t I chose to ig­n o r e .

I set t h e f loorboards u p o n the sharp-edged oysters a n d p i l e d m y gear u p o n t h e m . I p u l l ­e d o n t h e p a i n t e r a n d the d o r y rose f r o m the m u d w i t h a s o u n d l ike t h e last o f a m i l k -shade s u c k e d up a s t raw. W i t h a painter t i e d in a harness a r o u n d my s h o u l d e r s 1 l e a n e d f o r w a r d i n the s h i n - d e e p m u d a n d h e a d e d for t h e water . Gamine m o v e d s lowly o v e r t h e oyster shells , l e a v i n g a w h i t e t ra i l of p a i n t a n d c r u s h e d shells . O n eel grass she s l i p p e d a l o n g n ice ly .

I t t o o k an h o u r to get t h e b o a t i n t o the water a n d r e l o a d e d . I d r i f t e d n o r t h w i t h the e b b past a b a l d eagle l o o k i n g o u t o v e r the c h a n n e l from a s i lvered snag, past a b lack bear c o m b i n g the salal for berr ies .

W h e n I reached J o h n s t o n e Stra i ts I was u n a w a r e o f the area's p o p u l a r i t y a m o n g w h a l e s . W h e n I saw w h a t a p p e a r e d to be a l e n g t h o f b l a c k plastic p i p e , b o b b i n g u p a n d d o w n i n t h e water , a n d h e a r d w h a t c o u l d h a v e b e e n the w h o o s h o f air r u s h i n g i n a n d o u t of a steel t a n k s u b m e r g e d b e n e a t h the p i p e , t h a t is exact ly w h a t I t h o u g h t was

July-August 1987/SHAVINGS/13

q u i c k l y c l o s i n g in on m e . I t o o k a few strokes to get o u t o f its w a y . W h e n i t surfac­e d t w e n t y yards a w a y , t h e p i p e h a d b r o a d ­e n e d i n t o the ta l l b l a c k s c i m i t a r o f a n O r c a ' s d o r s a l f i n . I g r a b b e d m y c a m e r a a n d search­e d t h r o u g h the v i e w f i n d e r for t h e whale ' s n e x t r i s i n g . F i f teen feet astern I saw a s l i ck , b l a c k d o m e surface a n d dr i f t t o w a r d s t h e b o a t . M y b o d y t u r n e d weightless w i t h a d r e n a l i n as I s n a p p e d the shut ter . So th is is i t , I t h o u g h t . I l o w e r e d the c a m e r a i n t o my l a p . 1 s tud ied the b l a c k shape, n o w o n l y f ive feet a w a y . I t h a d treads; i t h a d w h i t e w a l l s .

T h e r e i s a m y t h o l o g y t h a t has g r o w n a r o u n d e n c o u n t e r s w i t h k i l l e r whales . Peo­ple sense, I h a v e h e a r d , t h e inte l l igence of the whales a n d the gentleness t h a t belies the i r size, s t rength a n d n a m e . U n f o r t u n a t e ­ly 1 c a n n o t a d d to th is lore , s ince I f o u n d i t so d i f f i c u l t to d i s t i n g u i s h my closest e n -c o u n t e r w i t h a w h a l e f rom a r o w t h r o u g h a n aquat i c j u n k y a r d .

A brief respite. A t P o r t H a r d y t h e s k i p ­per o f the Rainbow, an o l d 12-meter n o w c a r r y i n g a k e t c h r i g , i n v i t e d m e t o c o m e a l o n g w i t h his c o m p l e m e n t o f Sea S c o u t s t o t h e Q u e e n C h a r l o t t e Islands. W i t h Gamine i n t o w w e sai led o u t i n t o Q u e e n C h a r l o t t e S o u n d . W e beat to w i n d w a r d i n t o a 10-foot swel l t h a t p i t c h e d the boat a n d c h u r n e d s t o m a c h s . T h e s k i p p e r , the f i r s t m a t e a n d I t o o k t u r n s a t t h e h e l m w h i l e some o f the scouts , w h o c a n b e f o r g i v e n for the i r ig­n o r a n c e o f n a v a l et iquette , l e a n e d o v e r t h e w i n d w a r d r a i l a n d p a i n t e d the h u l l w i t h t h e i r breakfast . T h e f irst m a t e set a p r o p e r e x a m p l e b y l o o s i n g his meal t o l e e w a r d .

We raced a l o n g at a steady 11 k n o t s . W a v e s w a s h e d green six feet up i n t o the g e n o a . W h e n the peak o f the m a i n b l e w o u t t h e d e c i s i o n was m a d e t o bear a w a y f r o m the Q u e e n C h a r l o t t e s a n d t u r n nor theast t o the Inside Passage a n d p u t in a t C a l v e r t I s land .

I t t o o k t h e rest o f t h e d a y a n d m o s t o f t h e n e x t to repair t h e sa i l . T h a t n i g h t I r e l o a d e d the d o r y a n d said g o o d b y e t o the c r e w o f t h e Rainbow. T h e y h a d r u n o u t o f t i m e for the ir t r i p t o t h e o u t e r i s lands a n d were go­i n g t o r e t u r n t o V i c t o r i a .

W i t h the Rainbow g o n e I felt t h e v a c u u m o f d a r k n e s s a n d si lence. T h e stars h a d b e e n m a s k e d by a b l a c k v e i l of c l o u d s . I l o o k e d o v e r the side o f the b o a t h o p i n g to see t h e cons te l la t ions o f b i o l u m i n e s c e n c e , b u t the water was i n v i s i b l y d a r k . I a i m e d by f lashl ight o v e r the side a n d p u s h e d its s w i t c h . Its b e a m reflected an u n l i k e l y pat­t e r n o f large y e l l o w p o l k a dots . T h e b o a t was s u r r o u n d e d by je l lyf i sh that appeared as eggs spi l led from shells as b i g as basketbal ls . T h e i r b r i g h t y o l k s f loated in a f i rm clear a l b u m e n . A s far a s the b e a m o f m y f lashl ight c o u l d reach t h e b a y was c o b ¬blestoned w i t h t h e i r ge la t inous lenses. I s t i l l ­e d m y b r e a t h i n g a n d t r i e d t o feel t h e i r soft t h u m p i n g against t h e h u l l , b u t I c o u l d feel o n l y t h e t r e m o r s o f m y o w n hear t . A f l o a t o n t h e u n s t i r r e d m a k i n g s o f a n u n i m a g i n a b l e omele t te I settled i n t o sleep.

N o r t h o f V a n c o u v e r I s land the Inside Passage was c o v e r e d w i t h a t h i c k b a t t i n g of grey c l o u d s . L o n g days o f c o l d dr izz le t u r n ­e d m y h a n d s a s w h i t e a n d r o u g h a s c a u l i f l o w e r . In the evenings I d r i e d t h e m o u t o v e r the stove before c o o k i n g d i n n e r . I l i v e d b y the t ides, r o w i n g i n t o the reaches a n d c h a n n e l s w i t h t h e f l o o d a n d o u t the o t h e r e n d w i t h t h e e b b . W h e n a breeze m a d e itself useful , w h i c h was a b o u t o n c e a w e e k , I spread the sails before i t .

An August sail. N e a r t h e e n d o f A u g u s t I p o k e d o u t o f K u m e a l o n Inlet a t the n o r t h e n d of G r e n v i l l e c h a n n e l . I t was st i l l early in the m o r n i n g w h e n a southeaster ly funnel led b e t w e e n the h i g h m o u n t a i n wal ls o f t h e c h a n n e l . Gamine m a d e g o o d speed u n d e r t h e m a i n a n d j i b set w i n g - a n d - w i n g . T h e w i n d st i f fened, m a k i n g i t h a r d e r t o steer the d o r y against the t u r n i n g force o f the m a i n ­sa i l . A s w e d r e w abreast o f G i b s o n Is land I saw the leech c u r l as a gust b o u n c e d off t h e

i s l a n d b e h i n d t h e m a i n . I d o v e for the f loor­b o a r d s a n d the b o o m s l a m m e d o v e r t o p o r t . T h e spri t h a d crossed f o r w a r d o f t h e mast a n d f o u l e d the sai l a n d the b o o m jaws h a d c o m e loose, yet n o t h i n g h a d b r o k e n . I steered i n t o t h e lee o n t h e n o r t h side o f the i s l a n d .

I p a d d l e d the s l ick water of the lee to a b e a c h o f r o c k s t h e size o f b o w l i n g ba l l s . I r e m o v e d the spr i t f r o m t h e m a i n a n d f o l d e d the sai l f rom tack to t h r o a t , r e d u c i n g i t to a s m a l l l o w t r iangle . T h e s t i l l air a n d water a t the n o r t h e n d o f t h e i s l a n d l u l l e d m e i n t o t h i n k i n g the w i n d h a d m o d e r a t e d . I t h a d n ' t .

A h u n d r e d y a r d s from, the i s l a n d I d r i f t e d o u t o f t h e lee. T h e w i n d s l a m m e d i n t o the d o r y ; the sails t u r n e d r i g i d a n d the mast q u i v e r e d . Gamine acce lerated, a n d I r o l l e d against t h e t r a n s o m . L i k e a passenger on a m o t o r c y c l e w i t h n o t h i n g t o h o l d o n t o , I felt the precar ious acce le ra t ion o f the d o r y rac­i n g o u t f r o m u n d e r m e .

T h e d o r y c l i m b e d u p the backs o f waves a n d r e a c h e d o v e r t h e m a w s o f the t r o u g h s before d r o p p i n g her b o w i n t o t h e m . A s the c u t w a t e r d r o v e i n t o the n e x t wave I p u t my weight o n the c r o w n o f the t r a n s o m t o keep the s t e m h e a d f r o m b e i n g s w a l l o w e d b y t h e t w i n cur l s o f green water p a r t e d b y t h e b o w . I d a r e d n e i t h e r to go f o r w a r d to r e d u c e sail n o r r o u n d u p t o the w i n d , fear ing the d o r y w o u l d p i t c h p o l e o r capsize.

I g r i p p e d t h e t i l ler w i t h b o t h h a n d s a n d f o u g h t to keep t h e b o w from v e e r i n g i n t o a b r o a c h . M y s h o u l d e r s b u r n e d w i t h the ef­fort . W a t e r a r o u n d the d o r y r u s h e d b y i n a b l u r t h a t I c o u l d n o t b r i n g i n t o focus . I stole glances a t t h e c h a r t o n l y to f ind that the s t r ip of l a n d I was h e a d e d for r a n a l o n g a f o l d i n the paper t h a t h a d w o r n a w a y . I a i m ­ed for w h a t I h o p e d was a b reak in the s h o r e l i n e o f P o r c h e r I s land a n d c h e c k e d b e n e a t h t h e s tern sheets for the o r a n g e bag that c o n t a i n e d a s u r v i v a l suit . T h e t ide a n d the f l o w o f the S k e e n a R i v e r w o r k e d against the w i n d , p i l i n g u p sharp-edged waves that sp i l l ed i n t o the b o a t . G u s t s cut across t h e water l ike jack p lanes , s h a v i n g the tops of f the waves a n d s t r e a k i n g the t r o u g h s w i t h f o a m .

I was c l o s i n g fast on the o p e n i n g to a c h a n n e l a l o n g the eastern m a r g i n o f P o r ­c h e r . W i t h e a c h gust , t h e d o r y y a w e d t o s t a r b o a r d , a w a y f r o m the spread o f the m a i n s a i l a n d p u s h i n g m y course t o w a r d s t h e r o c k s o n the east side o f the c h a n n e l ' s e n t r a n c e . I steered care fu l ly to p o r t m i n d f u l o f the consequences o f a gybe . K e l p d r u m m e d against the b o t t o m a n d spli t against the edge of t h e c e n t e r b o a r d as the d o r y s l i p p e d i n t h e c h a n n e l .

In t h e lee of a s m a l l w o o d e d p e n i n s u l a the sails a n d t h e sheets w e n t s lack. T h e d o r y coasted i n t o the s m o o t h water of a smal l c o v e a n d n u d g e d against t h e shore . I step­p e d o v e r the s ide i n t o the m u d a n d w e l c o m ­e d t h e c o o l squeeze o f t h e e a r t h a r o u n d m y feet a n d a n k l e s .

T h e w i n d b l e w u n d i m i n i s h e d the rest o f the d a y a n d i n t o t h e n i g h t . S n u g b e n e a t h the b o o m tent I c o o k e d s o u p i n the " k i t ­c h e n " o n the r o w i n g t h w a r t a n d b u n d l e d myse l f i n the s leeping b a g s n u g b e t w e e n the sternsheets. I felt n o n e of my usua l d r i v e to b e u n d e r w a y . A f t e r 3 5 days o f t r a v e l I h a d r e a c h e d m y d e s t i n a t i o n o n l y t o d i scover that it was n o t a place b u t o n l y a sense that there was n o n e e d t o r u s h a n y w h e r e .

W h e n I w o k e t h e f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g the air was s t i l l a n d t h e s k y h e a v y w i t h d a r k c l o u d s . I r o w e d across M a r c u s Passage to S m i t h I s l a n d a n d o n t o w a r d s the t o w n o f P r i n c e R u p e r t . Before I t u r n e d i n t o the har­b o r I l o o k e d o v e r t h e b o w t o t h e n o r t h . A l a s k a was just b e y o n d the h o r i z o n , a day's r o w a w a y . " A l a s k a " h a d a n ice r i n g as a d e s t i n a t i o n . I h e a r d t h e last e c h o o f y o u n g Bergie , a s k i n g w h y ? " T o get t o A l a s k a " w o u l d have m a d e a sorry joke o f h is c u r i o s i ­t y . I s t i l l h a d no a n s w e r , b u t I was no longer b o t h e r e d b y the q u e s t i o n . I n P r i n c e R u p e r t I r o w e d Gamine t o a final l a n d i n g . I h a d m a d e my b e g i n n i n g . •

1 4 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

T W O VISITORS

L a k e U n i o n d i s c o v e r e d

By Dick Wagner

The N o r t h w e s t waters were first char t ­e d i n 1792. C a p t . G e o r g e V a n c o u v e r

conducted this voyage of exploration with the vessels Discovery and Chatham. The ac­t u a l survey was d o n e i n the ship 's boats , a m i d s t u n k n o w n waters , a h a r s h c l i m a t e , p o w e r f u l c u r r e n t s , a n d u n p r e d i c t a b l e twists a n d t u r n s o f o u r c o r r u g a t e d , c o n v o l u t e d shore l ines . W i t h o u t s e a w o r t h y boats , easily p o w e r e d b y o a r a n d sa i l , the w o r k c o u l d not h a v e b e e n d o n e .

L t . Peter Puget was i n charge o f t h e l o n g b o a t o f the Discovery. Because o f h is d i l i g e n c e , V a n c o u v e r p u t h i s n a m e forever o n o u r charts . Puget deserved th is h o n o r for h is c o n s u m m a t e l y accurate w o r k s u r v e y i n g o u r s o u n d . H o w e v e r , s o m e h o w h e ent i re ly missed f i n d i n g L a k e U n i o n , the m o t h e r o f N o r t h w e s t waters . Incred ib le !

195 years later, o n M a y 2 1 , 1987, Discovery's l a u n c h finally d i s c o v e r e d the lake . A l t h o u g h Puget u n d o u b t e d l y h a d a g o o d c r e w , w e d o n ' t t h i n k t h e y c o u l d m a t c h the v a r i e d credent ia ls o f the g r o u p that r o w ­e d th is repl ica t o her l a n d i n g a t the C e n t e r . A b o a r d th is vessel o f the P u r e S o u n d Soc ie ­t y , besides the c o - d i r e c t o r s , B r a d W e t m o r e a n d D o u g D o l s t a d , were K a t h y F l e t c h e r , D i r e c t o r o f the Puget S o u n d W a t e r Q u a l i t y A u t h o r i t y , K a y B u l l i t t , relentless t o r c h -

Center for Wooden Boats 1010 Valley Street Seattle, WA 98109 206/382-2628

President: Archie C o n n

Director: Dick Wagner

Assistant to the Director: Faye Kendall

Commodore: Horace Ingram

Editor: Henry Gordon

Illustrator: Kelly Mulford

Design: Jennifer Gordon

Contributors: Simon Watts, John Marples, Chas Dowd, Charles Mauzy, Dick Wagner, Brion Toss, Holden Withington III, Chris Cunningham, Richard Golden, Winston Anderson.

Shavings is part of the public education arm of the Center for Wooden Boats. This special issue was pre­pared for the eleventh annual Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival with the editorial assistance of Fremont Press, 633-3472.

bearer for Seattle's g o o d causes, H o r a c e I n g r a m , c o m m o d o r e o f the C e n t e r ren ta l f l e e t , G r e g Foster , w h o researched a n d b u i l t t h e l a u n c h r e p l i c a , C a p t . A d r i a n R a y n a u d , a seasoned C a p e H o r n e r w h o , a t age 9 2 , can ' t resist a c h a n c e to p u l l a g o o d b o a t , a n d Pete Seeger, effective advoca te of e n ­v i r o n m e n t a l c o n s e r v a t i o n . H e also c o m ­poses a n d per forms some fo lk m u s i c .

A c r o w d of m e d i a , the Pete Seeger f a n c l u b , a n d d o c k s i d e l o u n g e r s s t o o d i n s i lent a d m i r a t i o n a s the l a u n c h a p p r o a c h e d w i t h cr isp s trokes o f the t e n oars . T h e c o m m a n d " b o a t the o a r s " f r o m c o x , D o u g D o l s t a d b r o k e the sti l lness. A s t h e c r e w rested oars a n d t h e b o a t g l i d e d t o t h e f loat , t h e iner t c r o w d b e c a m e a h a p p y b a b b l e . Seattle's paparazzi s w a r m e d o v e r t h e c r e w , a b a n j o , g u i t a r , a n d a u t o h a r p b e g a n p l a y i n g , e v e r y o n e e x c h a n g e d c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s for t h e b o a t , the r o w , t h e s u n n y w e a t h e r , the d i s c o v e r y o f L a k e U n i o n .

T h e P u r e S o u n d Soc ie ty was d r e a m e d u p by B r a d a n d D o u g . I t i s bas ica l ly a p r o g r a m of s e a m a n s h i p t r a i n i n g for teenagers, w i t h a focus o n Puget S o u n d eco logy , seasoned w i t h fo lk m u s i c , a n d N o r t h w e s t h i s t o r y . S o r t o f O u t w a r d B o u n d w i t h less p a i n a n d d e p r i v a t i o n , a n d m o r e f u n a n d m u s i c .

B r a d a n d D o u g i m a g i n e d a n i n c r e d i b l y b e a u t i f u l vessel for th is o p e r a t i o n — able to p o k e i n t o the S o u n d ' s t h i n n e s t waters o r t h r a s h t h r o u g h t h e steep c h o p o f f Pt . W i l s o n . I t s h o u l d be engineless. I t s h o u l d h a v e some N o r t h w e s t h i s t o r i c c o n n e c t i o n .

T h e d r e a m was a vessel t h a t n o t o n l y p r o ­v ides v a l u a b l e i n s t r u c t i o n for t h e k i d s , b u t , b y its u n i q u e n e s s , d r a w s a t t e n t i o n t o the issues o f Puget S o u n d ' s e c o l o g y .

G r e g Foster was b u i l d i n g a s c h o o n e r in a f i s h b o w l last s u m m e r . H e m o v e d his b o a t y a r d o p e r a t i o n f r o m a h i d d e n c o v e o n G a l i a n o I s l a n d , B . C . , t o d o w n t o w n V a n ­c o u v e r a t E X P O , w h e r e h e was c o n s t r u c t i n g before t h o u s a n d s o f v is i tors the Pacific Swift. T h i s r e p l i c a o f 19 th-century c o a s t i n g s c h o o n e r w i l l be a sai l t r a i n i n g vessel.

B r a d a n d D o u g h e a r d a b o u t G r e g f r o m a L a n c e L e e art ic le i n WoodenBoat t i t l ed "Less i s M o r e . " L e e a d v o c a t e d s e a m a n s h i p t r a i n ­i n g i n s m a l l t r a d i t i o n a l boats . T h e art ic le c r e d i t e d Foster w i t h b u i l d i n g just t h e sort L a n c e h a d i n m i n d .

T h e P u r e S o u n d e r s c o r n e r e d G r e g a t E X P O a n d t o l d h i m the ir d r e a m . I t seems h e h a d a l ready researched Discovery's l o n g b o a t a n d s h o w e d t h e m his sketches. C l i c k . G r e g was c o m m i s s i o n e d .

T h e b o a t : 2 5 ' X 7 ' . D o u g l a s f i r o n s a w n A l a s k a n cedar f r a m e s , c o p p e r r i v e t e d . L a p s t r a k e . T h e r e is a two-mast s t a n d i n g l u g r ig a n d t e n d o u b l e b a n k e d oars .

However, somehow Peter Puget entirely missed finding Lake Union, the mother of Northwest waters. Incredible!

T h e p r o g r a m : T e n teenagers a n d t w o i n ­s tructors t a k e f i v e - d a y e x p e d i t i o n s . T h i s s u m m e r P u r e S o u n d has b e e n assigned a pro ject — to c o n d u c t the f i rs t ever survey of k e l p a n d eel grass beds i n the S o u t h S o u n d . I f Peter Puget c o u l d , I 'm sure he w o u l d h a v e some salty c o m m e n t s a b o u t w h e t h e r t h i s b i o m a s s was a resource in h is d a y .

T h e r e i s an a d u l t p r o g r a m , t o o : a w e e k e n d cruise w i t h special focus o n i n n e r r e n e w a l , l eadersh ip , a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n .

Pe te Seeger h a s s a i d t h a t l i v i n g c o o p e r a t i v e l y , a n d r e l a t i n g t o o u r n a t u r a l e n v i r o n m e n t are b o t h a b s o l u t e r e ­

q u i r e m e n t s i f o u r p lanet a n d the h u m a n race c a n s u r v i v e . H e c o n c l u d e d that Discovery c a n be the t o o l to teach this .

T h i s d a y h a d a d o u b l e scoop o f excite­m e n t for P u r e S o u n d Soc ie ty a n d the C e n t e r . T h e n e x t w a v e o f v is i tors t h a t came d o w n the r a m p was the U . S . - U . S . S . R . ' s Sister C i t y M a y o r s C o n f e r e n c e , h o s t e d b y Seattle's M a y o r , C h a r l e s R o y e r . Just a s u n i q u e as the crew w h o landed Discovery at the C e n t e r , was t h e n e x t g a n g — t e n m a y o r s in a b o a t .

O f f came the suit jackets ( I l i k e d C h a r l i e ' s s t r i k i n g r e d suspenders) , ties were l o o s e n e d , w h i t e shir t sleeves were r o l l e d u p . A f t e r the usua l f irst - try cr iss-crossing of oars as t h e y left the f loat , B r a d a n d D o u g sett led t h e m d o w n t o a steady beat. T h e r e t i n u e o f m a y o r s ' a s s i s t a n t s , i n t e r p r e t e r s , a n d p l a i n c l o t h e s cops , i n the i r d a r k suits a n d s h i n y shoes, al l l o o k e d i n e n v y a s the g a n g f r o m Seatt le , T a s k e n t , K a n s a s C i t y , O d e s s a , P e o r i a , a n d M o s c o w were o u t p l a y i n g i n a b o a t .

T h e b a n j o a n d guitar fo lk started n o o d l ¬ing w i t h a t u n e that m a t c h e d the boat 's s t roke , a n d c a m e u p w i t h a R u s s i a n f o l k s o n g that f i t perfect ly . T h e m a y o r s came b a c k w i t h b i g gr ins . L i k e a l l c rews from Pete Puget to Pete Seeger, they h a d l e a r n e d t h e v ir tues o f f o l l o w i n g a c o m m o n beat , a n d t h a t i t c a n b e f u n t o w o r k together . •

J u l y - A u g u s t 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 1 5

T h e C u p , the yach t , a n d the c o m m i t t e e By Dick Wagner

Th e A m e r i c a ' s C u p i s a n o l d , s l ight ly d e n t e d , s l ight ly askew si lver cas t ing ,

designed in the manner of a giant's sized bulbous Baroque pitcher. It is the world's o ldest c o n t i n u o u s sports t r o p h y . I t is the r e w a r d for t h e m o s t r e n o w n e d o f i n t e r n a ­t i o n a l y a c h t due ls , s p a n n i n g 136 years. I t is the fantasy goal o f every r a c i n g sai lor .

Stars and Stripes is a 12-meter y a c h t — the k i n d that raced for the A m e r i c a ' s C u p i n 1986-87. T h e s e vessels, t h e i r c r e w , sails, t e c h n i c a l a d v i s o r s , tenders , h y d r a u l i c s , elec­t r o n i c s , a n d cosmet ics c o n s u l t a n t s cost b u n d l e s . Y a c h t c l u b s sponsor these boats , b u t c o r p o r a t e b a n k e r s w h o h a v e m o r e m o n e y t h a t y o u or I are necessary to keep these h i g h l y d e v e l o p e d boats i n c o m p e t i t i o n c o n d i t i o n .

S a n D i e g o Y a c h t C l u b was e u p h o r i c w h e n the i r Stars and Stripes b r o u g h t the c u p h o m e . W i t h the t h r i l l o f w i n n i n g a n d gra t i tude for the w i d e - s p r e a d n a t i o n a l sup­p o r t o f Stars and Stripes, t h e y m a d e the m a g n a n i m o u s d e c l a r a t i o n that th is was the peoples ' v i c t o r y a n d i t s h o u l d be shared w i t h the people . L o g i c a n d ins t inc t d ic ta te that a p r o p e r place for e x h i b i t of the h i s t o r i c c u p a n d vessel that w o n i t s h o u l d be a special s a n c t u a r y , an area far from the bus­tle o f c o m m e r c e a n d i n d u s t r y , a s e c l u d e d , p a r k - l i k e c o r p o r a t e c a m p u s o f n a t i o n a l m u s e u m .

T h e L a k e U n i o n H o s t C o m m i t t e e i s a n a l l iance o f p r o p e r t y o w n e r s , p r o p e r t y deve lopers , restaurants , a n d T h e C e n t e r for W o o d e n Boats . As disparate a g r o u p as th is seems, we h a v e a c o m m o n b o n d : besides al l b e i n g loca ted o n S o u t h L a k e U n i o n , w e a l l e n v i s i o n a S o u t h L a k e U n i o n P a r k a s a n ac­t ive place , f o c u s i n g o n m a r i t i m e heri tage

a n d m a r i t i m e festivities. T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e C o m m i t t e e i s t o p r o m o t e th is v i s i o n b y s p o n s o r i n g th is sort o f event , a n d p r o v e b y e x a m p l e t h a t S o u t h L a k e U n i o n i s a m a r i t i m e p a r k .

K e e p i n g i n m i n d t h a t t h e A m e r i c a ' s C u p races were st i l l f r e s h i n everyone ' s m i n d t h i s s p r i n g , a n d the grac ious statements o f the S a n D i e g o Y a c h t C l u b , t h e C o m m i t t e e r a n g u p t h e c l u b a n d asked i f w e c o u l d ex-

Our attitude took a big turn when the guards set it on the Center's table saw, surrounded by tools and boats under repair.

h i b i t Stars and Stripes a n d the C u p . P r o b a b l y because n o o n e else t h o u g h t o f

a s k i n g , o u r offer was accepted. W h o c o u l d h a v e bet the first p u b l i c e x h i b i t o f those o b ­jects o f y a c h t i n g excel lence w o u l d b e f o u n d s a n d w i c h e d b e t w e e n a s t ream of frenet ic v e h i c u l a r traff ic , a n d a n o i s y , t u r b u l e n t d o w n t o w n w a t e r f r o n t , a n d i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t w o res taurants , a n d a m u s e u m t h a t doesn ' t h a v e a single re l ic u n d e r a glass case? As loony as i t s o u n d s , i t h a p p e n e d just l ike t h a t .

T h e e x h i b i t was a w o n d e r f u l a t t r a c t i o n : t h o u s a n d s came t o see the C u p , v i e w the i n ­terpret ive e x h i b i t s o f past races a n d t e c h n i c a l detai ls o f Stars and Stripes. C r e w m e m b e r s were a b o a r d t o tell h o w i t was. W e e v e n g l i m p s e d the awesome p o w e r o f Stars and Stripes w h e n she t o o k a few t u r n s a r o u n d L a k e U n i o n .

T h e C u p a r r i v e d e a c h m o r n i n g b y ar­m o r e d car f rom a v a u l t . T h e guards t o o k i t d o w n t o o u r s h o p first t o p o l i s h the glass

case before m o u n t i n g i t o n t h e pedestal i n o u r p a v i l i o n . T h e C u p first came e n v e l o p e d in m y s t i q u e — images o f h i s t o r y , s e c l u s i o n , w e a l t h y a n d exc lus ive y a c h t c l u b s .

O u r a t t i tude t o o k a b i g t u r n w h e n the guards set i t on the C e n t e r ' s tab le saw, sur­r o u n d e d b y too ls a n d boats u n d e r repa i r . See ing i t in th is se t t ing i t lost that sense of a cu l t w o r s h i p object a n d became a n e x ¬h u b e r a n t express ion o f the f u n , e x e r t i o n , a n x i e t y , a n d sat is fact ion o f sa i lboat r a c i n g . W e got s o f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e C u p , w e t o o k t u r n s m u g g i n g w i t h the m u g for snapshots .

T h e C u p a n d Stars and Stripes h a v e n o t g o n e b a c k t o S a n D i e g o . W e d o n ' t k n o w

w h e r e they w i l l g o n e x t . W e d o k n o w o u r n e i g h b o r h o o d w i l l never b e the same. T h i s place has v i b r a t e d w i t h the act ivit ies o f o u r b o a t festivals, regattas, K i d ' s D a y , a n d t h e Golden Hinde's v is i t . E a c h has left a special m e m o r y . T h i s past s h o w i s a n o t h e r chapter i n the saga o f S o u t h L a k e U n i o n . N e v e r w i l l a m o r e u n l i k e l y g r o u p s p o n s o r a n A m e r i c a ' s C u p e x h i b i t i n a m o r e u n l i k e l y site. O u r fr iendly, accessible d o w n t o w n set t ing gave a w i d e s p e c t r u m o f people t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o get a c q u a i n t e d w i t h an in teres t ing aspect o f o u r m a r i t i m e heri tage. W h o k n o w s what ' s next? H o w e v e r i m p r o b a b l e , d o n ' t bet against it . •

16/SHAVINGS/July-August 1987

T E A C H I N G THE SKILLS

Oars for rowing By W i n s t o n A n d e r s o n

Pr o d u c t i o n ash r o w b o a t oars are g o o d for p o l i n g off the b a n k , n o t b a d for

clubbing carp and they make excellent firewood.

The damage they have inflicted on recrea­t i o n a l r o w i n g i s i n c a l c u l a b l e . W e ' l l n e v e r k n o w h o w m a n y t h o u s a n d s o f p o t e n t i a l rowers have b e e n d i s c o u r a g e d b y i l l -d e s i g n e d , u n b a l a n c e d , o v e r w e i g h t factory oars t h a t are also i n v a r i a b l y t o o s h o r t .

T h e t e r m " a s h b r e e z e " i s a n a t t rac t ive e u p h e m i s m that real ly doesn ' t f l y .

T u r n e d oars were des igned for a l a the , not the h u m a n m a c h i n e t h a t has t o operate t h e m . T h e r e i s n o better b a r g a i n i f y o u w a n t t o t h r o w t h e m i n the b o t t o m o f the r u n a b o u t for E v i n r u d e i n s u r a n c e . T h e y ' r e c h e a p a n d s t r o n g b u t t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p t o r o w i n g is a d i s tant o n e .

W o r s e , they h a v e spread t h e i r ugly i n ­f luence i n t o the f i e l d o f h a n d - c a r v e d oars .

W h y w o u l d a n y o n e waste perfect ly g o o d spruce m a k i n g a n i m i t a t i o n o f these ash m i s n o m e r s , c o m p l e t e w i t h r o u n d h a n d l e s , r o u n d l o o m s a n d flat b lades — a n d a g a i n , t o o s h o r t . Y e t b o o k s h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n ex­t o l l i n g oars that d o n ' t w o r k v e r y w e l l .

T h e f i rs t t i m e I saw asymmetr ica l c a r v e d oars I t h o u g h t t h e y were some k i n d o f N o r w e g i a n j o k e — b i g c h u n k y i n n e r l o o m , s k i n n y c u r v e d b l a d e a n d flat f o r w a r d a n d b e l o w a t the t h o l e p i n . T h o l e p i n ! ! A n d h e l d i n place w i t h a h e m p g r o m m e t !

N o joke . T h a t was a d o z e n years ago a n d s ince t h a t t i m e I've m a d e a c o u p l e of t h o u ­s a n d t r ips across t h e G u e m e s C h a n n e l w i t h just s u c h a l a s h u p . T h e b e a u t y o f t h i s e v o l v ­ed des ign is a c o n s t a n t source of amaze­m e n t .

N o w w h i l e w e d o n ' t necessari ly r e c o m ­m e n d t h o l e p i n s , t h e p r i n c i p l e s that d r o v e the e v o l u t i o n o f the t r a d i t i o n a l N o r w e g i a n f i sherman 's o a r ( a n d the t h o l e p i n ) are ev i ­d e n t i n the best r e c r e a t i o n a l oars m a d e to­d a y .

Shapes m a y di f fer , t h e w o o d m a y v a r y

J u l y - A u g u s t 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 1 7

The first time I saw asymmetrical carved oars I thought they were some kind of Norwegian joke. n o o n a c r u d e pa i r o f oars t h a t w o u l d r o w circles a r o u n d today ' s m a s s - p r o d u c e d "ash breeze . " H i s p r i m a r y too ls w o u l d h a v e b e e n an axe, kn i fe a n d d r a w k n i f e . Y o u r s w i l l be a b a n d s a w , b l o c k p l a n e , b o d y g r i n d e r a n d d r a w k n i f e .

If in doubt, go longer. Space prevents us f rom p r e s e n t i n g a f u l l - b l o w n c a r v i n g lesson here b u t y o u c a n t a k e the f i r s t step b y r e n ­t i n g a boat at the C e n t e r to try o u t a var ie ty of oars . N o t e some key d i m e n s i o n s — l e n g t h , b l a d e size, cross sec t ion at t h e t h r o a t — for the pa i r that suits y o u best. T e s t t h e m on a boat w i t h a b e a m a n d f reeboard s i m i l a r t o y o u r s . G e n e r a l l y , y o u r oars s h o u l d b e twice y o u r effective b e a m plus a l i t t le m o r e for h igher f r e e b o a r d a n d c r o s s - h a n d e d r o w ­i n g . I f in d o u b t , go longer .

O n c e y o u have y o u r des ign d o w n , get some w o o d , ful l d i m e n s i o n 2 x 2s of the best y o u c a n a f f o r d . I h a v e seen serviceable oars m a d e f r o m g o o d f i r , western r e d cedar a n d e v e n m a h o g a n y . T h e worst were teak, a n d

o f course , ash . G e t S i t k a spruce f r o m F l o u n d e r B a y B o a t L u m b e r i n A n a c o r t e s i f y o u c a n . T h e y k n o w y o u w i l l w a n t a m o d e r a t e r i n g c o u n t , 10 to 15 to the i n c h , for s t rength a n d l o w w e i g h t .

Y o u s h o u l d des ign t o a g o o d o a r l o c k s u c h a s the plast ic P a n t i a d o s i o r C o p p e r N a i l ' s b r o n z e offset. T h e s e he lp y o u register the oar 's p o s i t i o n i n the water w h e t h e r y o u feather o r n o t .

T h e size of the throa t i s c r i t i c a l for i f t h e o a r breaks , i t w i l l usua l ly b e here . W e favor a t e a r d r o p or o v a l shape at th is p o i n t . K e e p test ing as y o u c a r v e so as n o t to go t o o far. W h e n y o u b e n d the o a r w i t h pressure a t the p i v o t p o i n t , i t s h o u l d flex in a fair c u r v e al l t h e w a y i n t o t h e b l a d e .

I f y o u h a v e n ' t b e e n l u c k y e n o u g h t o take o n e o f R i c h K o l i n ' s workshops , here's a s u m ­m a r y o f the steps:

A f t e r g l u i n g u p the s tock , b a n d s a w o u t t h e ins ide of t h e s p o o n ( A ) . A raised spine is o p t i o n a l . W e t h i n k i t interferes w i t h the blade's a c t i o n .

F i n i s h of f the ins ide of the s p o o n w i t h a b o d y g r i n d e r a n d i f y o u w a n t t o glue i n a h a r d w o o d t i p , th is i s the best t i m e , w h i l e y o u st i l l h a v e a g o o d s o l i d base to w o r k f r o m . W e l ike t o rabbet the t i p i n , o thers p u t i t r ight on the surface a n d fair the edges. T h e t i p c a n be as fancy as y o u h a v e t i m e for .

N e x t b a n d s a w out t h e o u t l i n e (B). U s e y o u r d r a w k n i f e a n d b l o c k p l a n e t o shape the t h r o a t , l o o m a n d g r i p . W e prefer a n o v a l

h a n d l e a n d here i s w h e r e y o u c a n rea l ly per­sonal ize y o u r oars t o y o u r o w n glove size.

I t i s a g o o d idea to w o r k on b o t h oars a t o n c e i f y o u c a n arrange i t o n y o u r b e n c h .

F i n a l l y cut a w a y the u n d e r s i d e (or " f o r ­w a r d " side) o f the b l a d e w i t h t h e b a n d s a w (C) a n d f inish of f t h e t r a n s i t i o n from b l a d e t o t h r o a t w i t h the d r a w k n i f e a n d a n

abras ive shaper s u c h as a S h u r f o r m t o o l . S a n d , v a r n i s h t o sui t , a p p l y y o u r leather ,

b u t t o n , a d d o n e b o a t a n d y o u r are ready t o r o w . •

Winston Anderson and his partner Paul Schweiss operate North Island Boat Co. in Anacortes.

Festival potluck July 3 And then comes the feast. A t 7 p . m . o n Ju ly 3, after a d a y o f b e i n g a l ternate ly

f r a z z l e d b y last m i n u t e detai ls , t h e n d e l i g h t e d b y the success a n d pleasantness o f o u r first d a y , the C e n t e r w i l l host its a n n u a l p o t l u c k d i n n e r for m e m b e r s , vo lunteers a n d festival p a r t i c i p a n t s a b o a r d Wawona. T h e C e n t e r p r o v i d e s e v e r y t h i n g except the f o o d a n d d r i n k . T h e r e ' s m u s i c , d a n c i n g , a n d the k i n d o f c a m a r a d e r i e w h i c h m a k e s th is a C e n t e r t r a d i t i o n . (For hot dishes , please b r i n g a c a m p stove or a hotplate . )

The auction in the Drill Hall on Sunday at 1:30 p . m . is also not to be m i s s e d . Boats a n d oars a n d a t r i p t o the m o o n o n gossamer wings a l l g o t o the highest b i d d e r , a s do a w i d e array of m o d e l s , services, f o u l weather gear, certif icates for sa i l ing lessons, catered d i n n e r s a n d o n a n d o n .

For those who want to help the Center during the summer — a n d e a r n free t i m e in t h e boats as t h a n k s — o u r c o m m o d o r e , H o r a c e I n g r a m , i s l o o k i n g for w e e k e n d hosts . H o s t s h e l p b y a n s w e r i n g q u e s t i o n s , h e l p i n g boats leave a n d r e t u r n t o the d o c k s , g i v i n g o c c a s i o n a l tours a n d the l i k e .

The Lake Union Challenge Cup, a k a the Q u i c k a n d D a r i n g B o a t b u i l d i n g C o n ­test, is b e i n g s p o n s o r e d th is year b y five o f o u r favor i te friends. Waterlines M a g a z i n e , Ivars S a l m o n H o u s e , R o u n d e r B a y B o a t L u m b e r , K E Z X a n d B u r g e r K i n g are each p r o ­v i d i n g mater ia l s a n d o t h e r s u p p o r t for t h e f i e l d o f six b u i l d e r s . O u r t h a n k s .

All members in good standing are e l igible as n o m i n e e s for t h e C W B ' s B o a r d o f Trus tees . A l l those interested, please c o n t a c t the N o m i n a t i n g C o m m i t t e e , C W B , 1010 V a l l e y Street , Seatt le , W A 98109 .

1 8 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

N E W W A V E BUILDING

Intricate (but basically simple) boats By John R. Marples

Fo r years the p l y w o o d p r a m has b e e n t h e m a i n s t a y o f t h e b e g i n n e r ' s

backyard boat project. Introduced in the late forties

by a well-known boating magazine, it has stood the test of time and is still popular. I'm speaking of the El Toro, of course , a n d its m a n y l o o k - a l i k e c o u s i n s . I t g a i n e d p o p u l a r i t y b y b e i n g s imple t o b u i l d , a n d f r o m t h e easily ava i lab le s u p p l y o f its m a i n b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l . . . p l y w o o d . P l y w o o d ' s cross l a m i n a t e d t h i n veneers m a k e the m a t e r i a l stiff, stable a n d give i t a greater s t rength t o cost r a t i o t h a n a n y o t h e r m a t e r i a l . B u t t imes are a c h a n g i n g .

T o d a y ' s b a c k y a r d b u i l d e r s seem t o b e l o o k i n g for m o r e s o p h i s t i c a t i o n i n h u l l shape. T h e y w a n t t o l e a r n m o r e a b o u t b o a t b u i l d i n g t h a n c h a n g i n g bevels a n d b o a t na i l s . N e w e r mater ia ls s u c h as epoxies , e p o x y f i l lers, fiberglass r e i n f o r c i n g tapes a n d c l o t h s , a n d t h i n w o o d veneers are a l l a v a i l a b l e , somet imes f r o m l o c a l suppl iers . I m e n t i o n these mater ia ls because I 'm w o r k ­i n g u p t o a n e x p l a n a t i o n o f a n e w c o l d m o l d i n g m e t h o d . C o l d m o l d i n g has b e e n a r o u n d for years b u t sui table adhesives h a v e n o t . T o d a y ' s m a r i n e q u a l i t y epoxies c o m ­b i n e h i g h s t rength w i t h gap f i l l i n g ab i l i ty t o m a k e l a m i n a t i o n o f t h i n layers o f w o o d easy t o p e r f o r m .

C o l d m o l d i n g i s a h u l l c o n s t r u c t i o n m e t h o d u s i n g m u l t i p l e layers o f t h i n veneers b o n d e d w i t h adhesive o v e r a m o l d . T h e o r i e n t a t i o n of the veneer strips is u s u a l l y at a d i a g o n a l t o t h e sheer. T h e c o n v e n t i o n a l m e t h o d requires a m o l d o r p l u g c o v e r e d w i t h c losely spaced stringers so that e a c h

veneer s tr ip c a n be s tapled against the layer b e l o w . In s h o r t , i t is a v e r y l a b o r in tens ive o p e r a t i o n s ince e a c h piece m u s t be t a i l o r e d t o f i t a n d t h e n s tapled m a n y t imes i n place . Staples create t h e pressure to h o l d t h e layers together w h i l e the adhesive cures . T h e y c a n b e r e m o v e d , la ter , w h i c h i s a d d i t i o n a l l a b o r , o r left i n a n d the tips g r o u n d off ins ide . I n e i ther case, t h e y cause v is ib le g r a i n d a m a g e i n the h u l l i n t e r i o r w h i c h i s d i f f i cu l t t o disguise. A d h e s i v e m u s t b e a p p l i e d t o b o t h sides of the glue l i n e before the s tr ip is l a i d in place to assure c o n t a c t s ince e a c h staple pushes o n l y on a s m a l l area. T h e result i s t h i c k glue l ines a n d h i g h glue c o n s u m p t i o n for the pro ject .

Compound curve plywood panels. So h o w d o y o u m a k e w o o d e n boats i n a c o l d m o l d e d m e t h o d , w i t h less l a b o r , less g lue , i n less t i m e , w i t h c l e a n , unblemished surfaces? T h e answer i s C o n s t a n t C a m b e r . T h i s n e w w a v e m e t h o d was o r i g i n a l l y d e v e l o p e d t o answer the needs o f m u l t i h u l l b u i l d e r s . C o n v e n t i o n a l c o l d m o l d i n g was t o o s l o w t o p r o d u c e f o u r o r six h u l l sides for c a t a m a r a n s a n d t r i m a r a n s . I t e l i m i n a t e s t h e t i m e c o n ­s u m i n g h a n d f i t t i n g o f each piece a n d a l lows mass p r o d u c t i o n o f veneer str ips a l o n g w i t h a c o n t i n u o u s l a y u p . V a c u u m pressure squeezes the w h o l e l a y u p together w h i l e t h e glue cures w i t h staples o n l y used t o tack t h e pieces t o m o l d a t e a c h e n d . T h e process p r o ­duces c o m p o u n d c u r v e d p l y w o o d panels , n o t boats . T h e panels are t h e n cut t o p e r i m e t e r s h a p e — t w o m i r r o r i m a g e ha lves — a n d b o n d e d together l ike t w o ha lves o f a p e a p o d w i t h s t i t c h a n d glue c o n ­s t r u c t i o n . I n the b e g i n n i n g , C o n s t a n t C a m b e r was n o t i n t e n d e d for form-stable

h u l l f o r m s b u t the ear ly e x p e r i m e n t s were so successful t h a t we n o w h a v e a series of d i n g h i e s a n d a kee lboat o n the d r a w i n g b o a r d . T h e f i r s t project a b o u t Gull an 11 '7" skiff was p u b l i s h e d i n Woodenboat Magazine n u m b e r s 6 4 a n d 6 5 ( M a y / J u n e a n d J u l y / A u g u s t 1985). T h e latest pro ject , a c a n o e for the M a k a h I n d i a n s was p u b l i s h e d recent ly i n Waterlines m a g a z i n e .

C o n s t a n t C a m b e r requires a s i m p l e m o l d or l a m i n a t i n g f o r m . I t doesn ' t l o o k l ike a b o a t ; its o n l y f u n c t i o n i s t o m a k e c o m ­p o u n d c u r v e d sheets o f p l y w o o d . T h e cross sec t ion c u r v e is e i ther a r a d i u s or a " f r e n c h " c u r v e . T h e l engthwise c u r v e is a p u r e r a d i u s , larger t h a n t h e crosswise c u r v e . T h e m o l d f r a m e w o r k i s p l y w o o d f r a m e s a n d str­ingers, a n d the t o p i s e i ther s tr ip p l a n k e d s o l i d or m u l t i p l e layers o f t h i n w o o d . I t i s t h e n sealed w i t h e p o x y t o m a k e i t a i r t ight .

Made of veneer. T h e p a n e l is m a d e u p o f veneer str ips l a i d d i a g o n a l l y o v e r t h e surface w i t h staples a t the e n d s t o h o l d t h e m i n place . W h e n the surface is c o v e r e d , i t i s coated w i t h e p o x y a n d t h e n e x t layer i s l a i d i n t h e oppos i te d i r e c t i o n o v e r the wet glue.

T h e strips n e e d n o t b e c o a t e d , s o a l l the veneers are h a n d l e d d r y . T h e o p e r a t i o n i s repeated u n t i l t h e ent i re p a n e l l a y u p i s c o m ­plete — usua l ly three or f o u r layers .

T h e w h o l e o p e r a t i o n o n l y takes a n h o u r o r so. T h e p a n e l i s t h e n c o v e r e d w i t h a t h i n plast ic sheet, s u c h as 4 m i l p o l y f i l m , w h i c h is sealed to t h e m o l d edge w i t h a mast ic b e a d sealant , s u c h a s M o r t i t e h o u s e h o l d c a u l k i n g c o r d o r 3 M S t r i p Seal f r o m t h e a u t o store. A v a c u u m i s d r a w n b e t w e e n t h e f i lm a n d t h e m o l d (that's w h y t h e surface has t o b e a ir t ight) w h i c h creates pressure o v e r t h e e n ­t i re p a n e l . T h e v a c u u m i s m a i n t a i n e d u n t i l t h e adhes ive i s c u r e d . Because t h e pressure is e v e n o v e r the ent i re surface less adhes ive i s r e q u i r e d , there i s n o d i s t o r t i o n o f the t h i n veneers a n d the f in ished p a n e l i s e x t r e m e l y fair a n d s m o o t h .

A f t e r the p a n e l i s c u r e d the p o l y f i l m i s r e m o v e d , t h e p a n e l s a n d e d , a n d t h e per imeter l a y o u t d r a w n w h i l e st i l l o n the m o l d . T h e p a n e l i s p r i e d u p f r o m the m o l d (there i s a n o t h e r piece of p o l y f i l m u n d e r the p a n e l t o p r e v e n t g l u i n g i t t o t h e m o l d sur­face) a n d b l o c k e d u p . N o w t h e p a n e l i s s a w n to its f ina l per imeter shape a n d the

J u l y - A u g u s t 1 9 8 7 / S H A V I N G S / 1 9

staple r i d d l e d edges are d i s c a r d e d . A f t e r s a n d i n g the i n t e r i o r surface, t h e p a n e l i s ready to b e c o m e p a r t of a boat .

Intricately simple. T h e r e are m a n y t r i c k s a n d intr icac ies t o t h e C o n s t a n t C a m b e r system b u t i t i s bas ica l ly s i m p l e . T h e c o m p o n e n t s c a n range f r o m f i r s t class (expensive) e q u i p m e n t t o j u n k y a r d q u a l i t y stuff. In e i ther case t h e parts are easy to f ind. T h e key c o m p o n e n t i s the v a c u u m p u m p . F o r s m a l l d i n g h y m o l d s a h o u s e h o l d

refr igerator c o m p r e s s o r i s i d e a l . O t h e r sources are v a c u u m systems from aircraf t surplus houses a n d oil less v a n e p u m p s f r o m i n d u s t r i a l s u p p l y stores l i k e W . W . G r a i n g e r . A t t h e m o s t , it w i l l cost a b o u t $200 , a n d at t h e least (if i t c o m e s from a d e a d refr igerator) , f r e e . O t h e r c o m p o n e n t s s u c h a s t h e plast ic t u b i n g , p o l y f i l m a n d per imeter sea l c a n be f o u n d a t the h a r d w a r e store for less t h a n $30 . V e n e e r s are ava i lab le from a n u m b e r o f sources a t a b o u t 25c to 35c per square foot . A list is i n c l u d e d w i t h each

p l a n set f rom t h e des igner . Y o u m a y ask " W h y w o u l d a n y o n e w a n t

to go to a l l that t r o u b l e s to b u i l d a b o a t ? " T h e answer i s par t ly the f u n o f w o r k i n g w i t h a n e w t e c h n o l o g y , b u t m a y b e m o r e i m ­p o r t a n t , th is i s a m e t h o d of m a k i n g fancy l o o k i n g boats for p r o f i t . Y e s , p r o f i t . T h e r e aren ' t m a n y m e t h o d s t o d a y sui table for p r o ­d u c t i o n o f w o o d e n boats i n a c o l d m o l d e d f o r m a t . U s i n g C o n s t a n t C a m b e r a o n e - m a n s h o p c a n m a n u f a c t u r e b o t h h u l l ha lves for a d i n g h y in o n e d a y . The f in ished boat i s

I mention these materials because I'm working up to an explanation of a new cold molding method.

b e a u t i f u l , has a c lean u n b l e m i s h e d i n t e r i o r , i s l ight w e i g h t , q u i c k a n d easy t o b u i l d u s i n g s t a n d a r d sewn seam m e t h o d s . T h e o n l y n e w t h i n g t o l earn i s v a c u u m b a g m o l d i n g , w h i c h is easy.

S o far there have b e e n m a n y spin-offs f r o m t h e C o n s t a n t C a m b e r m e t h o d o f l a m i n a t i o n . V a c u u m is a q u i c k a n d easy m e t h o d of o b t a i n i n g pressure o v e r a large surface for d o i n g a n u m b e r of o p e r a t i o n s . L a m i n a t i n g face veneers to f u r n i t u r e , pat­c h i n g h u l l s , a n d m a k i n g o v e r l a y s o n p l y w o o d decks are just a few. T h e adhes ive c u r i n g process c a n b e accelerated b y a d d i n g heat ; e lectr ic l a m p s , b l a n k e t s , o r solar . T h e r e are m a n y m o r e t r i c k s yet t o b e d i s c o v e r e d w h i c h a d d s a n o t h e r level o f f a s c i n a t i o n for the i n n o v a t i v e b u i l d e r .

C o n s t a n t C a m b e r a n d s i m i l a r m e t h o d s offer the a m a t e u r or profess ional b u i l d e r a c h a n g e . A w a y t o b u i l d o u r o w n p l y w o o d i n a f o r m a t sui table for r o u n d e d h u l l s . The des ign m e t h o d i s d i f f i c u l t a n d s o m e w h a t res tr ic t ive , b u t t h e vessels are b e a u t i f u l a n d b e a u t i f u l l y s i m p l e . It gives us freedom to select a n y w o o d w e l i k e , a n d the m o l d i s n o t restr ic ted t o o n e d e s i g n . M a n y shapes a n d designs are possible from a single i n e x p e n ­sive m o l d . T h e panels are f lex ib le , easi ly tor ­t u r e d i n t o a var ie ty of shapes, yet stiff e n o u g h t o b e se l f - support ing a n d fair . W e h a v e d i s c o v e r e d a n e w m a t e r i a l ; a d o u b l e c u r v e d p l y w o o d for a n e w w a v e i n b o a t ­b u i l d i n g . •

2 0 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

T E A C H I N G T H E S K I L L S

M a k i n g

b l o c k s

B y R i c h a r d G o l d e n

H ave y o u ever h a d t o g o o u t a n d b u y blocks? T h e y ' r e c e r t a i n l y w o r t h t h e

money you pay for them, but how about making your own instead? You can save a

c o n s i d e r a b l e s u m d e p e n d i n g u p o n h o w m a n y b l o c k s y o u c o n s t r u c t , a n d enjoy b u i l d i n g s o m e t h i n g b e a u t i f u l a n d useful a t the same t i m e . Y o u h a v e t o b e i n c l i n e d t o w a r d s w o o d w o r k i n g , a n d y o u w i l l need some basic p o w e r tools . B u t d o n ' t let lack o f exper ience stop y o u . B l o c k s are r e a s o n a b l y s imple t o m a k e , e v e n i t y o u h a v e o n l y m o d e r a t e w o o d w o r k i n g ski l l s . H e r e are some tips to get y o u s tarted:

1 . D e t e r m i n e t h e l i n e s i z e y o u i n t e n d to use a n d purchase the sheaves sui table . N y l o n o r d e l r i n sheaves are readi ly ava i lab le at m a r i n e h a r d w a r e stores. B r o n z e rol ler sheaves c a n b e p u r c h a s e d t h r o u g h G o l d e n D o v e M a r i n e . Y o u w a n t the sheaves i n h a n d s o y o u have accurate d i m e n s i o n s f r o m w h i c h t o des ign y o u r b l o c k s .

2 . C h o o s e y o u r w o o d s for the cheeks a n d spacers. H a r d w o o d s are preferable . T h e g r a i n r u n s the l e n g t h o f the b l o c k cheek a n d across the spacer. A t t r a c t i v e b l o c k s c a n be m a d e w i t h c o n t r a s t i n g w o o d s for t h e cheeks a n d spacers, i .e. , teak cheeks w i t h m a p l e spacers, l i g n u m vitae cheeks w i t h ash spacers, locust cheeks w i t h mahogany spacers, etc.

3 . O n a p i e c e o f p a p e r d r a w o u t the b l o c k shape accurate ly u s i n g the p r o p e r d i a m e t e r sheave as a basis. T h e a c c o m p a n y ­i n g d r a w i n g gives basic scant l ings for v a r i o u s size b l o c k s . U s e i t as y o u r guide . M a k e sure t o leave r o o m a t the b o t t o m o f the sheave for f ree r o t a t i o n . S ide c learance for t h e sheave s h o u l d b e n o m o r e t h a n 1/16 i n c h t o t a l . R o o m a b o v e the sheave i s deter­m i n e d by l ine size — give yourse l f p l e n t y of p l a y for the l i n e . O n c e y o u h a v e d r a w n the b l o c k o u t , m a k e a plast ic p a t t e r n of the s h e l l . Inc lude o n th is p a t t e r n p i l o t holes for the axle a n d t h r e a d e d r o d (see d r a w i n g ) .

4 . C u t t h e c h e e k s a n d spacers o n the table saw. Y o u c a n b e s loppy w i t h the cheeks , b u t the spacers need to be accurate . Y o u w a n t the rec tangular shapes here , n o t f in i shed yet. T h e cheeks t h e n m u s t h a v e a d a d o (slot) cut d o w n the center o f e a c h . T h i s slot i s s l ight ly w i d e r a n d deeper t h a n t h e w i d t h a n d th ickness o f the s trap y o u w i l l use. Y o u s h o u l d h a v e the strap b y th is t i m e to m a k e sure th ings have e n o u g h p l a y .

5 . Y o u n o w h a v e a p i l e o f cheek pieces that are rec tangular in shape w i t h a slot d o w n the m i d d l e . D r i l l the axle ho le t h r o u g h e a c h cheek a t the a p p r o p r i a t e spot . U s e y o u r p a t t e r n t o d e t e r m i n e the l o c a t i o n .

6 . N e x t , g l u e t h e spacers a n d cheeks together . U s e a bol t t h r o u g h the axle holes y o u have d r i l l e d t o h o l d the assembled parts w h i l e the glue dr ies . T h i s i s t h e t r i c k y p a r t , s ince d i m e n s i o n s are s o m e w h a t c r i t i c a l i n b l o c k m a k i n g .

7 . A f t e r t h e g l u e has set, lay o u t t h e loca ­t ions for the t h r e a d e d r o d used t o h o l d the b l o c k together (see d r a w i n g ) . Y o u r p a t t e r n is used again for l o c a t i n g the holes to be d r i l l e d . N o w d r i l l the holes 1/64 i n c h u n d e r

t h e size o f the t h r e a d e d r o d a n d , u s i n g a n electr ic d r i l l m o t o r , t h r e a d the r o d t h r o u g h e a c h b l o c k . I f y o u c a n o n l y get s o l i d r o d , t h e n d r i l l t o size, s l ide t h e r o d t h r o u g h t h e b l o c k a n d p i n t h e ends t o fasten h a r d .

8 . Y o u a r e n o w r e a d y t o shape the b l o c k s . U s e y o u r p a t t e r n t o d r a w t h e b l o c k o n e a c h she l l . C u t o u t the shape, s a n d a n d b e v e l the edges, d i p t h e m in v a r n i s h a few t imes , a n d the shells are d o n e . It's a piece of cake!

9 . N e x t y o u m u s t b e n d a n d d r i l l the strap. B e n d the stuff h o w e v e r y o u c a n . A vise , a h a m m e r , a n d v a r i o u s sized pieces of

r o d c a n b e h e l p f u l here . D r i l l the strap i n the b l o c k t o a v o i d a l i g n m e n t p r o b l e m s . C u t t h e axle m a t e r i a l to l ength w i t h a hack saw.

1 0 . L a s t l y , assemble the b l o c k s . A d d e n d caps o v e r the holes w h e r e the axle sticks t h r o u g h t h e shel l . T h e s e c a n b e just a b o u t a n y t h i n g , b u t o l d fore ign c o i n s are qu i te the best. T h e l i t t le e n d caps c a n b e c o u n t e r s u n k if y o u prefer, b u t it is not necessary. •

Richard Golden has been building blocks since 1976. If you have any questions he can be reached at 206/842-7250 or write: Golden Dove Marine, 14492 Sunrise Dr. N . E . , Bain­bridge Island, Washington 98110.

July-August 1987/SHAVINGS/21

BOAT LIVERIES

A few random notes on boat culture By Henry Gordon

Al f red H i t c h c o c k s a i d t h a t a d r e a m s c a p e , p a r t i c u l a r ­ly a scary one, is always a place

that may be undefined, but is cer­t a i n l y f a m i l i a r . Y o u are w a l k i n g d o w n a c o u n t r y r o a d just as t h e c o r n i s s tar t ing to tasse l , y o u are i n the alley b e h i n d y o u r house , y o u are o u t o n a n oyster b e d . W h i c h one? T h a t m i g h t n o t b e clear b u t i t is y o u r s just t h e same. A p l a n e s w o o p s o u t of the sky a n d the o n l y way t o protect yourse l f i s to d i v e to the g r o u n d . Y o u get u p , w a l k a few steps, t h e n r u n , b u t t h e p l a n e i s c o m i n g for y o u aga in .

I bet a lot of d r e a m s in 1909 s tar ted o n piers that a m b l e d out i n t o the water l i k e the o n e i n the p h o t o o f t h e B a l l a r d B o a t h o u s e . H e r e was that c o m m o n l a n d . I n d e s c r i b i n g it I c o u l d say t h a t th is i s w h a t B a l l a r d l o o k e d l i k e before t h e S h i p C a n a l was c o m p l e t e d , I c o u l d ta lk a b o u t the p r o t e c t e d , deep water h a r b o r w h i c h was perfect as a por t for s c h o o n e r s a n d fishing boats , idea l as a h o l d i n g p o n d for the m a n y B a l l a r d m i l l s . B u t the p o i n t here is there is no w a y to l o o k at t h i s p i c t u r e a n d say w h e r e pleasure s t o p p e d a n d w o r k s tarted. T h i s was b o a t c u l t u r e : a m i d the dozens o f l i v e r y boats a n d water taxis used for w e e k e n d cruises or r ides across the b a y to M a g n o l i a i s a boat b e i n g r e p a i r e d on t h e w a y s ( p r o b a b l y b y t h e l ivery ' s C E O ) , a mast b e i n g t u r n e d , a r u d i m e n t a r y freighter a n d f i s h i n g boats r a n g i n g f r o m the t r a p p i n g scow o n t h e r ight o f t h e pier t o t h e d o u b l e - e n d e r g i l lnet ter a t the far left s ide of the p h o t o .

T h e n o t i o n o f b o a t c u l t u r e a s b e i n g s o m e t h i n g i n t h e past i rks

s o m e . M o r e boats are m a d e n o w t h a n ever before , so the resented i m p l i c a t i o n i s that o n l y the o l d w o o d boats were real ly boats . L o o k a t h o w m a n y b o a t magazines w e h a v e , t h e y say. H o w c o m e Jacobsen B o a t a n d M o t o r s i n B a l l a r d w i n s every few years as t h e n u m b e r o n e B o s t o n W h a l e r dealer i n t h e c o u n t r y ? Y o u c a n e v e n g o f u r t h e r a n d a d d t h a t m o r e people w i l l g o t o D u c k D o d g e th is s u m m e r t h a n the R i n g , just as m o r e were at S w i f t -sure t h a n a n y t h i n g the S y m ­p h o n y p r o d u c e s .

T h a t ' s a l l t r u e , but the d r i v i n g image o f o u r society n o w i s t h e c o m p u t e r a n d the c o m p u t e r w h i z . A t t h e t u r n o f the c e n t u r y boats were the w o r k t o o l , t h e m e a n s o f r e c r e a t i o n , t h e escape i n t o the fu ture — e v e n i f t h a t o n ­ly m e a n t a gale at T a t o o s h .

N o t al l the l iveries , h o w e v e r , were a s p l a i n . T h e L e s c h i B o a t h o u s e was a c o m p l e t e — a n d q u i t e f a n c i f u l — escape f r o m the

d r u d g e r y o f ear ly years i n Seatt le . T h e w o m e n c a m e i n dresses a n d p l u m e d hats , t h e m e n i n suits w i t h boaters o r b o w l e r s t o take a n elegant r o w o r p a d d l e o r r i d e t o r u r a l M e r c e r I s land o n a c r o w d e d s teamboat . T h e larger boa thouses l i k e a t L e s c h i were Seattle's f i r s t rea l p a r k s . L e s c h i h a d Seattle's f i r s t zoo a n d there were e v e n i n g b a n d concer ts a n d g r o u n d s w h i c h were m u c h m o r e careful ly m a n i c u r e d t h a n the m u d d y streets d o w n t o w n . T h e arch i tec ture was o f h i g h V i c ­t o r i a n style, a n d n o t just b y c h a n c e . H e r e was the s h r i n e o f b o a t c u l t u r e . D u r i n g the Depres ­s i o n m o v i e theatres were the o n e a f fordable escape so great steps were t a k e n to m a k e the ex­per ience not just a n o t h e r after­n o o n w i t h C l a r k G a b l e , b u t a rea l t r i p s o m e w h e r e . T h e M o o r e T h e a t r e o r the E g y p t i a n are g o o d examples o f th i s . T h e m o d e r n e q u i v a l e n t i s t h e m a l l w i t h its

continued on page 22

2 2 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

continued from page 21 h i g h ce i l ings , a t r i u m s , a n d e x p a n ­sive des ign . B u t b a c k t o t h e boats . F o r most o f the m a j o r b u i l d e r s , s m a l l boats were b u i l t o n l y d u r i n g the l u l l per iods as a s t a b i l i z i n g i n c o m e . T h e s m a l l boat b u i l d e r s t e n d e d t o b e t h e a p p r e n t i c e s . S o t h e G r a n d y b r o t h e r s w o r k e d as s m a l l b o a t b u i l d e r s for the B l a n c h a r d s before o p e n i n g the i r s h o p , a n d M a r t y M o n s o n w o r k e d a s the smal l b o a t b u i l d e r for the G r a n -d y s before o p e n i n g h is , a n d o n a n d o n .

B u t t h e rise of the l iver ies also created a m a r k e t for b u i l d e r s of r o w boats a n d canoes . T h e W i l l i t s b r o t h e r s o n D a y Is land near T a c o m a were o n e . A n o t h e r was H . A . L o n g .

I n 1935, H e n r y Foss , the s c i o n o f t h e Foss d y n a s t y , a p p r o a c h e d L o n g l o o k i n g for a g o o d - l o o k i n g , easy r o w i n g b o a t for h is ren ta l o p e r a t i o n a t S a l m o n B e a c h o n T a c o m a N a r r o w s . L o n g d e v e l o p e d a 12 foot lapstrake a n d b u i l t 25 t h a t f i r s t year . T h e p ic -

July-August 1987/SHAVINGS/23

t u r e here s h o w s those 25 , b u t w h a t matters i n th is p i c t u r e isn' t t h e boats o r the b u i l d i n g , b u t t h e c a r . T h e p h o t o g r a p h e r p u t i t there no d o u b t as a f rame of reference i n terms o f size. B u t t h e rise o f the a u t o m o b i l e was rea l ly t h e d e a t h k n e l l for l iveries a n d b o a t c u l t u r e . Boats were n o l o n g e r the most elegant m e a n s o f escape . Y o u n g p e o p l e f r o m w e a l t h i e r fami l i es n o l o n g e r w o r k e d to get a b o a t , t h e y w a n t e d a car .

A f inal spasm c a m e in t h e 1940s w i t h the s a l m o n derbies . T h i s was a n a lmost u n i q u e l y S e a t t l e p h e n o m e n o n w h i c h b r o u g h t a last f l i n g for t h e l iver ies . T h e Times gave a w a y a free D e S o t o to t h e p e r s o n cat­c h i n g the biggest s a l m o n . T h e d o c k s were c r a m m e d g u n n e l t o g u n n e l .

T h e p h o t o here i s t a k e n a t the o r i g i n a l R a y ' s C a f e . W h a t ' s dif­ferent n o w ? T h e m e n n o longer wear hats . T h e smallest s a l m o n on the table i s 12 p o u n d s a n d e v e r y o n e c a u g h t o n e . Seatt le t h e n was a u n i o n t o w n w i t h h i g h wages a n d l o n g - t e r m j o b secur i ty . A n d o f course , R a y ' s just b u r n e d to the g r o u n d . •

2 4 / S H A V I N G S / J u l y - A u g u s t 1987

EINSTEIN AT THE HELM

A mind that was elsewhere

By N. Brooks Clark

I n t h e s u m m e r of 1939, p r o ­fessor A l b e r t E i n s t e i n , t h e n 6 0

years old, spent a vacation on Nassau

Point, N.Y., a tiny neck of l a n d o f f the N o r t h F o r k o f L o n g I s l a n d . H e h a d a 14-foot ca tboat n a m e d Tinif — Y i d d i s h f o r " j u n k " — a n d a lmost every d a y , i n g o o d weather a n d b a d , h e w o u l d p u l l b a c k h i s l o n g w h i t e h a i r , w r a p i t i n a newspaper a n d t h e n set o u t o n t o P e c o n i c B a y . " H e was s o m e r r y a n d h a p p y , " says C o n s t a n c e D a r b y M o o r e , o n e o f a g r o u p o f teenagers w h o also spent t h a t s u m m e r v a c a t i o n i n g a t N a s s a u P o i n t . " H e ' d just g o . "

D i d E i n s t e i n k n o w h o w t o sail? " T h e r e was n o e x t e r n a l e v i d e n c e t h a t h e d i d , " says R o b e r t F i s h e r , a n o t h e r o f the teenage sai lors . " A f t e r p u s h i n g Tinif o f f f r o m the b e a c h , h e most ly d r i f t e d a r o u n d i n t h e b a y . " T w o b r o t h e r s , B r u c e a n d J o h n L o c k w o o d , 16 a n d 18 at t h e t i m e , h a d a b o a t o n h a n d for the occas ions w h e n t h e w i n d d i e d d o w n a n d E i n s t e i n h a d t o b e t o w ­e d i n , w h i c h was a fa i r ly r o u t i n e o c c u r r e n c e .

Mind seemed elsewhere. F r o m t i m e t o t i m e F i s h e r w e n t sa i l ­i n g w i t h E i n s t e i n , a n d o n those oc­cas ions h e a t t e m p t e d t o i m p a r t t o t h e scientist s o m e o f t h e subtleties o f t h e sport . W h a t s t ruck F i sher m o s t o n those o u t i n g s was the p r o ­fessor's persistent i n a t t e n t i o n to the s w i n g i n g b o o m . " O n e w h a c k i n t h e h e a d i s usua l ly e n o u g h for

m o s t people t o l e a r n t o p a y at ten­t i o n , b u t n o t h i m , " F i sher says. " H i s m i n d just seemed t o b e e l s e w h e r e . " E i n s t e i n ' s f a m o u s letter t o Pres ident F r a n k l i n D . R o o s e v e l t c o n c e r n i n g t h e f e a s i b i l i t y o f d e v e l o p i n g a n d p r o d u c i n g a n a t o m i c b o m b was d a t e d A u g . 2 , 1939, N a s s a u P o i n t .

O n l a n d , E i n s t e i n a n d a w o m a n b e l i e v e d t o b e h i s sister, M a j a , were o f t e n seen i n the e v e n i n g s , o u t for a s t r o l l a l o n g N a s s a u P o i n t ' s n a r r o w r o a d s , b o t h a l w a y s dressed i n t e n n i s w h i t e s , b o t h c r o w n e d w i t h a n a b u n d a n c e o f l o n g w h i t e h a i r . " F r o m b e h i n d , y o u c o u l d n ' t te l l w h i c h was h e a n d w h i c h was s h e , " says M o o r e .

E i n s t e i n en joyed s i t t i n g a t the crest o f a b l u f f o f s a n d o v e r l o o k i n g N a s s a u P o i n t ' s O l d C o v e a n d t h r o w i n g stones i n t o t h e water . Peter B e r g e n , n o w a m e m b e r o f the N e w Y o r k S t o c k E x c h a n g e , r e m e m b e r s r e g u l a r l y b r i n g i n g some o f h is m o t h e r ' s T o l l H o u s e c o o k i e s t o E i n s t e i n o u t o n that b l u f f a n d t h r o w i n g stones i n t o the water w i t h h i m . " W e w o u l d sit there a n d w a t c h the stones g o p l o p , a n d w e ' d t a l k , " says B e r g e n . " I was six a t the t ime . To th is d a y 1 can ' t r e m e m b e r w h a t w e t a l k e d a b o u t , o t h e r t h a n t o say, ' N i c e t h r o w . ' H e d i d n ' t ta lk t o adul t s v e r y m u c h , b u t c h i l d r e n d i d n ' t seem t o b o t h e r h i m . "

E i n s t e i n n e v e r let his s a i l i n g de f i ­c iencies deter h i m . " H e was e s p e c i a l l y a t t r a c t e d t o h e a v y w i n d s , " says M o o r e . " I t h i n k h e l i k e d t h e c h a l l e n g e . " O n e d a y a breeze c a m e up a n d t i p p e d Tinif o v e r . T h e L o c k w o o d b r o t h e r s

w e n t o u t , r i g h t e d a n d b a i l e d o u t t h e b o a t , t h e n d i p l o m a t i c a l l y s h o w e d E i n s t e i n h o w t o use the reef p o i n t s , t h e s m a l l l ines used to r e d u c e t h e area o f a sail in h e a v y weather . T h e professor l i s tened a n d t h a n k e d t h e m . T h e n e x t d a y — b r i g h t s u n s h i n e , l i t t le w i n d — h e a p p e a r e d w i t h Tinifs sai l s h o r t e n e d as i f he were b e a t i n g i n ­to the tee th of a gale.

G r a n t H a r r i s o n , 1 9 t h a t s u m ­m e r , f i r s t c a m e across E i n s t e i n o n the west side o f P e c o n i c B a y , t r y i n g t o sai l h i s b o a t d i r e c t l y i n t o a n east w i n d t o get h o m e . " W e t r i e d t o ex­p l a i n a b o u t t a c k i n g b a c k a n d f o r t h , " says H a r r i s o n . " H e c o u l d n ' t get the p r i n c i p l e . We t r i e d to get h i m t o f o l l o w u s a t a n angle t o the w i n d . H e kept p o i n t i n g t o w a r d his h o m e a n d s a y i n g , ' N o , I w a n t t o g o o v e r there . ' "

A s the s u m m e r progressed , E i n ­s te in became m o r e a n d m o r e f r i e n d l y w i t h his teenage C o a s t G u a r d . W h e n the k ids set u p races a m o n g themselves , E i n s t e i n a n d Tinif w o u l d l u r k b e h i n d t h e fleet, o c c a s i o n a l l y c o m i n g u p a n d cross­i n g the s t a r t i n g l i n e , t o o . " H e ' d just w a v e t o u s , " says M o o r e . " H e was a lways very c h a r m i n g . " E v e n t u a l l y the g r o u p d e c i d e d t o f o r m a n i n ­f o r m a l y a c h t c l u b , a n d H a r r i s o n of fered E i n s t e i n a m e m b e r s h i p . H e d e c l i n e d b u t g r a c i o u s l y m a d e a d o n a t i o n t o t h e k i d s ' pro ject .

"It was r e m a r k a b l e h o w h e persevered i n his s a i l i n g , " says F i s h e r , " a n d e v e n m o r e r e m a r k a b l e that h e d i d n ' t appear to be a n y better a t i t by the e n d o f the s u m m e r t h a n h e ' d b e e n a t the b e g i n n i n g . " •