Don't Disrespect the Martha Jane!
I am nearing completion on the Martha Jane as originally designed,
with a few minor modifications. Primarily, I am using lead ballast
instead of water. This decision was made before the questions of MJs
abilities or seaworthiness, and involved wanting to use the tank space
for food and gear storage.
No disrespect to those who have had unpleasant experiences with their
MJs, but I think a lot of people (and I fear the majority of these
were armchair sailors) took a quote from a _Woodenboat_ article too
far, and to heart. The article said "The MJ should be selfrighting . .
." meaning the author thought it would be selfrighting in most
situations. I think this led to the idea that it WAS selfrighting, and
when it turned out not to be in some situations (although there are
many cases where MJs have come right back up after knock downs) people
became concerned.
I think that the original design of the MJ is one of Mr. Bolger's most
enduring designs because it offers a lot of features that make it a
fine boat. If you like it, build it and sail it, and disregard the
opinions of this list. What we do here is fun, but no one should live
their life by committee.
Sad fact is, gentlemen (and ladies, if you're there) history is full
of boats that were not ideal. The vast majority of them provided
lifetimes of good sailing despite what some have now come to consider
the fatal flaw of not being selfrighting. Many designs proved to be
downright dangerous, yet people still sail them, and come safely home.
I would assert that risk is an unescapable part of any
worthwhile recreation. Sailing's not as safe as golf, but it's
probably safer than skydiving.
If you hear someday that I flipped my MJ and drowned, you can still
quote me on this. The water isn't for the faint of heart. If you
spend all your time trying not to die, you're not really living. If
you have to have absolute safety, stay on shore. But watch out for
cars, falling trees, disgruntled employees . . . you get the picture.
Now go build the boat of your dreams, and don't make me come back in
here!
Mark Zeiger
Juneau, Alaska
with a few minor modifications. Primarily, I am using lead ballast
instead of water. This decision was made before the questions of MJs
abilities or seaworthiness, and involved wanting to use the tank space
for food and gear storage.
No disrespect to those who have had unpleasant experiences with their
MJs, but I think a lot of people (and I fear the majority of these
were armchair sailors) took a quote from a _Woodenboat_ article too
far, and to heart. The article said "The MJ should be selfrighting . .
." meaning the author thought it would be selfrighting in most
situations. I think this led to the idea that it WAS selfrighting, and
when it turned out not to be in some situations (although there are
many cases where MJs have come right back up after knock downs) people
became concerned.
I think that the original design of the MJ is one of Mr. Bolger's most
enduring designs because it offers a lot of features that make it a
fine boat. If you like it, build it and sail it, and disregard the
opinions of this list. What we do here is fun, but no one should live
their life by committee.
Sad fact is, gentlemen (and ladies, if you're there) history is full
of boats that were not ideal. The vast majority of them provided
lifetimes of good sailing despite what some have now come to consider
the fatal flaw of not being selfrighting. Many designs proved to be
downright dangerous, yet people still sail them, and come safely home.
I would assert that risk is an unescapable part of any
worthwhile recreation. Sailing's not as safe as golf, but it's
probably safer than skydiving.
If you hear someday that I flipped my MJ and drowned, you can still
quote me on this. The water isn't for the faint of heart. If you
spend all your time trying not to die, you're not really living. If
you have to have absolute safety, stay on shore. But watch out for
cars, falling trees, disgruntled employees . . . you get the picture.
Now go build the boat of your dreams, and don't make me come back in
here!
Mark Zeiger
Juneau, Alaska