this summers rowing update

I have started taking my Nuvi rowing with me the last few weekends. I was curious about distance, top speed and average speed as well as total moving time on the water. Well, I don't have anything to compare against as this is the first couple times taking it with me but here are the numbers:

• rowing time - 45 to 50 minutes
• 2.4 nautical miles (2.75 miles)
  
• average speed - 3 knots (3.5 mph)
  
• Top speed - 5 knots (guessing for about 1/4 mile while sprinting when I cross the lake)

guess that deserves a nautical maiden :)

Fall Sailing marked by wind storm

The fall sailing season can officially be welcomed for 2008. Saturday, Oct 4th had winds in the Northwest causing power outages, downed trees and broken branches to go along with the MANY political signs, large and small, that were scattered, broken, crumpled and torn everywhere you looked (now that is a heart breaker!). Kind of makes me long for the latest dream boat I stumbled across while browsing aimlessly...

Nantucket Island 331


The aft cabin in the last picture is is the main deal maker for me. the large flat decks, available for sunning, romping and storage makes this boat attractive to my wife. Physically, the long list of features and hardware make this boat my new prescription for my twof00titis. Ah well, guess the unassuming, quiet comfort of our current Catalina 30 will have to do for a few more years.

a calming tune..

Cruising Spinnaker

I think a cruising spinnaker is going to be my next little add on. So much of the time during the warmer months in the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands the wind is near nothing, especially during slack tide. having a light wind sail would be a great addition to any boat sailing locally in the northwest areas of Washington.

although I don't think I would try it in our chilly waters, this looks like a blast....

I don't think using a spinnaker pole would be feasable as we are usually sailing short handed, and just cruising, not racing, so our goal is minimize effort, maximize fun. this kit has a Tacker that wraps around a furled genny and should do the trick..

A short post this week but a fun one none the less.

oh yeah,, our mermaid :)

Columbia 9.6

The Alan Payne designed Columbia 9.6 was a boat that I looked at when I first decided to move up from my Yankee 28. The Columbia had a lot of the same positives as the Yankee and really peaked my interest. Kettenburg finished the 9.6 in the K9.6 special edition and later the Kettenburg K32 whose hull was molded by Survival Systems of California.

Designer's Comments.

"This design was influenced by four important considerations.

First it was necessary to choose a medium displacement hull rather than the light displacement of the modern racing yacht. This was to allow for the boat having rather more structural strength and more comfortable accommodations than is usual nowadays in racer - cruisers.

Secondly, the boat has a hull form with a little more than the usual depth with the idea of combining this with a medium displacement to achieve good headroom and useful cabin space. The design was carefully developed to realize the best possibilities of this moderately V'd form.

Thirdly, the hull and rig design was worked over to provide the lowest possible rating under the current form of the IOR rule, without departing from what was needed to meet the first two requirements. Since the boat was intended for one-design racing, there was perhaps no great need to take note of IOR influence. However, it is an advantage for the boat to have a chance of success in IOR events, and of course the IOR rating is a commonly accepted yardstick of performance. This boat is "fast" by comparison with her rating, and we think this will be a source of satisfaction to owners.

Fourthly, in a way this might have been the most important consideration, my aim was to design a boat in sensible proportion, with no one feature exaggerated at the expense of others. I have tried to produce a boat truly enjoyable to race and enjoyable to cruise. This is what is wanted for a successful one-design class."

Alan Payne, Naval Architect



Kettenburg Special Edition was finished out with a ton of bright work setting her apart from the standard Columbia 9.6. Kettenburg's Locker area on the left compared to the Columbia locker area below.























The model I looked at was a Kettenburg edition and was very very comfortable inside. The back stay was a little awkward in the cockpit but most are if you are very tall.

These boats are very affordable today and are a very good value for the dollar. The K9.6 or K32 will require a bit more upkeep (and maybe a lot more effort with the bright work) but is worth it. The boat will perform well racing around the beer cans or cruising with a family.


Layout showing the earlier twin Pilot Berths and the later model with the quarterberth and single pilot berth.


The later quarterberth model fitted out by Kettenburg

The earlier twin Pilot Berth model from Columbia:

This weeks lady of luck:

Sailing Test

US Sailing training info

US Sailing offers an online course for several boating types. Keel boat is my preference:

This sailing course is designed to present basic and advanced information about keel sailboats and sailing in US waters. This course is not designed to substitute for the US SAILING certification course or on-the-water training by a sailing instructor, but may be used as one of the tools in preparation for taking a certified course or in continuing your sailing education.

Contained in this keelboat sailing course are videos on how to sail and tie knots along with.......

Click Here for More

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Small day sailors and rowing boats

Small boats have always looked fun. I have rowed, have a row boat with sliding seat and long sweeps as well as bench seats and standard oars, but have only sailed a small day sailer one time when I was a bit inexperienced and though I had a blast, I think a lake would be more fun. I am considering selling my row boat and buying a dual purpose row / sail boat with a larger payload or modifying my row boat to be able to sail it.

This is my Row Boat, it is a home built boat that I purchased from the person who built it:

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Gig Harbor Boat Works

One of my fav's that I would like to replace it with is built here in Washington. The builder is Gig Harbor. The Larger 2 are the ones I like the best. They look to be the best dual purpose boats. Both have 2 sliding seat options, both have a wide beam that eliminates the need for custom out-riggers for using long sweeps. They are both very stable and come in deck models for a little protection from wetness in heavier weather.

The 17' Jersey Skiff

The 16.5' Melonseed

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This weeks vision of good luck with a bit of Sci Fi for fun

My Boat of the Week Pacific Seacraft 31

Pacific Seacraft has always been a popular boat with me. I suppose mostly because of the small boats they have designed and built. The Crealock designed Dana, the ultimate pocket cruiser is a lot of style, grace and class formed easily into a 24 ft (27+ ft LOA) rock solid construction and 6' 1" headroom, full galley and blue water security.


The Pacific Seacraft that I would like to have in my slip is the 31 ft Cutter. The little bit of extra room is nice to give the kids room to romp, a bit more stowage and a little roomier elbow room. I enjoy the traditional styling and the stable resale value of this quality designed and built vessel.


LOA : 31 ft 10 in
LWL : 24 ft 2 in
Draft (standard): 4 ft 11 in
Draft (shoal): 4 ft
Displacement : 11,000 lbs
Ballast : 4,400 lbs
Sail Area : 485 sq. ft.

The cutter rig gives has always been my favorite sail plan, mostly, I have to admit, because I like the ability to put up a lot of canvas in light air, reduced canvas in heavy air, and great ability to fly wing and wing on a trailing down wind run.

Graceful lines
Now This is a lot of canvas on a 31 footer

an open design for entertaining and letting the kids romp

Removing the bulk head in the bow really opens things up

PSC 31 Brochure

and of course.. a fitting homage

Etap Line

Spring is officially here and, yes, we have had 2 straight days of SNOW!! We are Semi Participating in the 1 hour of darkness, all the lights are out, we did leave the TV on, but I am using this time to plug a new comment into my blog using my battery on my laptop… okay, network hub is still on.. Anyway, thought I would feature a few pics from the Etap line as I was reading about them today and thought it interesting that they build a double hull with dense foam filler reducing noise and insulating the interior from the water temperature reducing condensation moisture from the cabin. The European styling is a very welcome change and really gives the 28 a usable cabin for a family of 4 or 5

ETAP 28
ETAP 28 Galley
ETAP 28 Layout

ETAP 28 aft Cabin

Got to keep the requisite mermaid

Be sure to check out the Etap site linked in the title for more on their fine product.

Very early spring fever :)

Tuesday March 25th, 2008:

took a ride on a small ferry today across a fairly rough straight. the wind was strong, but was not opposing the tide so didn't have a bad affect on the motion. Made me long for a trip spanning 2 or 3 days aboard Popeye III. As that is not in the cards for a bit, I will just add to the ole blog and keep the feeling alive.

“It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the prosperous voyage.”

George William Curtis quotes

Ranger 26 Under Sail, Rick Foster's "Tichuk" in Alaska!

“Who is staring at the sea is already sailing a little.”

Carvel Paul Carvel quotes