Clothesline Anchoring Revisited

Lately, on the jwbuilders forum, there has been some discussion about how to do a clothesline anchoring system. There are several ways to do it - some are simple, some complex.
This is my favorite method:

 

1. Tie one end of the anchor line to the bow cleat.
2. Run the anchor line through a ring on the end of the anchor chain.
3. Tie the other end of the anchor line to the stern cleat.
4. Drop the anchor a bit offshore.
5. Move the boat close to shore, to knee deep water or right to the beach.
6. Step out, grab the shore anchor and the anchor line loop and take them ashore.
7. Bury the shore anchor in the beach and tie the anchor line to it as shown below.  Or tie to a log or tree.
8. To reel the boat in and out, untie, pull one side of the anchor line loop or the other, and retie.

Tie the anchor line to the shore anchor

Notes:

• Securely tie the anchor line to your shore anchor as shown.  That way, if your other anchor were to slip or the anchor line were to break, you would not lose the boat because it would still be attached to the shore anchor.
• The boat can be oriented with the bow pointed to shore or the stern. The system works either way. You can even change the direction later if you prefer.
• You need plenty of anchor line since were forming a long loop.
• I prefer a sinking line over floating to prevent someone cutting it with their prop.
• I recommend using large, smooth stainless steel rings instead of blocks on the end of the anchor chain to prevent them from jamming with rocks, sand or seaweed.
• There is no need for an anchor chain on the shore anchor 
• This is a short-term anchoring solution. Do not rely on it for long-term moorage.
• If you sleep onboard your boat: 1) loop the anchor line through a ring on your shore anchor instead of tying it. 2) Keep the loop onboard (the length of anchor line lying on the bottom under the boat) so you can use it to pull yourself to and from shore. Cleat it to prevent the boat from reeling itself in or out. 3) Youll need an even longer anchor line since youll reside further offshore and will still want to maintain scope on your anchor.

Read More..

Star Olympic Racing Class Revisited

The old wood Star Ive been working on intermittently for the last two years is finally done and up for sale. She comes with a very nice custom built trailer, so is ready to travel anywhere. If you or anyone you know has ever wish for a Star, now is the time. The price is shockingly low.

The boat comes with a complete suit of North Sails. She was built in 1962, of beautiful "old growth" spruce. The topsides are made up of two 12 inch planks each side!
No one builds boats like that anymore.

Please, serious inquiries only:
michelangelo89 (at) yahoo.com

Read More..

Inheritance Beach Pea Revisited

Almost exactly a year ago we looked at a Doug Hylan designed peapod called the Beach Pea. As fate would have it, Doryman has inherited the plans, building frames and full sized plank patterns for this hardy little tender. Its an honor to be able to continue another mans dream. Im sure there is an old boatbuilder who would be happy to see the finished product, and possibly hes watching, who knows?

Heres a Beach Pea belonging to the Woodbury family, sitting pretty on the shingle.

Watch these pages for updates in the new year to come....

Read More..

Sam Crocker Revisited

The fiberglass Stone Horse one-design produced by Edey and Duff is our standard impression of that boat and few know there were several options available in the original carvel-planked hulls. True to an age when one-off boats were hand-built everywhere, by everyman, options to a design revealed the builders personality and character. Some of us keep that tradition alive today, despite a culture of mediocrity. It is to those of you I speak.

Joe Evens, on the Oregon coast has a true historic treasure in his barn and is looking for someone to give her the love and attention she deserves. I will be visiting Joe soon, to get the measure of this project. When I do, Ill take you along. Perhaps that perfect person will emerge. Who will take this on? As you will see from the photos, this is an original Stone Horse in very good condition. But she stands to be delegated to the burn pile.



Recently Joe wrote to me and this is what he said:

"She was launched in1948, and first lived on the Columbia, later sailing north to the Puget Sound where she served until a few years ago. Shes hauled out now and its time for major maintenance."


"The boat has a carvel-planked hull, Red Cedar on White Oak. The pictures clearly show a few planks the surveyor marked for replacement.. At some point, the propshaft was removed from the keel and mounted out the port side. This caused some structural problems. It needs to go back, or better, replaced with an outboard. The frames are all good, though the boat needs to be re-fastened. The original galvanized fasteners are beginning to give up. There is a small area of rot on the hatch cover."

"The surveyor indicated that the teak deck was getting thin and should be replaced. Personally, I think that it is serviceable. The deck is beautifully built and is very solid. I am confidant that diligent maintenance would delay that job till the next quarter century maintenance. The builder was obviously a master craftsman. Quality shows everywhere. The mast, boom and the spinnaker pole are truly beautiful, old growth spruce. The rigging includes the original wood blocks and the sails are serviceable."

"Unlike the fiberglass knockoffs, This Crocker Stone Horse is a standard sloop rig, The mast is round and stayed to the bow, no bowsprit. It shows a lot of sail, and uses a wishbone boom to carry it."

"The interior is beautiful and virtually perfect."




"I think that there were only 40 or so of the carvel Stone Horses finished and I suspect that today they could be counted on your fingers."



"It would take a man with no soul to burn it. Or it would be gone with the embers."


Couldnt have said it better, Joe.

Read More..