[bolger] Re: Light Schooner Rough Water Performance
Sorry Brian, I easily get confused when I think there are issues I can
actually comment on in this forum. You obviously live quite far from Jim
Michalak, who I belive still resides in Illinois. I was confusing you with
Tim, who lives in Minnasota. Jim does describe Birdwatcher at length on his
website, or at least the site reached through Bolger Boats. He also goes to
consideralble lengths to describe modifying her for outboard aux., which
PCB&Friends cleary shun. Contact me via my email if you would like to
contact the owner builder here in NS I mentioned earlier.
jeb in the fog of Fundy
actually comment on in this forum. You obviously live quite far from Jim
Michalak, who I belive still resides in Illinois. I was confusing you with
Tim, who lives in Minnasota. Jim does describe Birdwatcher at length on his
website, or at least the site reached through Bolger Boats. He also goes to
consideralble lengths to describe modifying her for outboard aux., which
PCB&Friends cleary shun. Contact me via my email if you would like to
contact the owner builder here in NS I mentioned earlier.
jeb in the fog of Fundy
Brian, if you're considering something in the range of the Light Schooner but want it to offer dryness and security to a wary crew take a close look at Birdwatcher. Same length as LS but beamier and mucho shelter. Find it in Boats With an Open Mind and /or Bolger Boats website, etc. I can connect you (at least by phone) to a local owner/ builder here in NS. Also I think Jim Michalak lives in your region of the continent.
jeb, in the freezing rain on the shores of Fundy
jeb, in the freezing rain on the shores of Fundy
Thanks Brian,
Mixed, I think. The schooner is narrow, and does not seem to pound like my
Micro, for instance. Generally, for a open boat of its type, and
considering it's intended for protected water, it does OK in chop.
It's stable at the dock, but, being a centerboarder with lots of canvas,
it's liable, maybe likely?, to capsize. You'll note we did so and later
sealed up 4 sections with the hope(?) to be able to recover on the water
rather than the beach. Capsize in warm water doesn't bother me, but it
would a non-swimmer, especially with all those sails and gear in the water.
Dry doesn't spring to mind, either. Carrying 277 sq.ft. of sails and
weighing 500 lbs, it surges often over 10 knots. And, come to think of it,
we did manage to poke the sprit right through a wave or two and ship on
some water.
There is a light scooner in S.F., linked from my site. You might look him
up and get a second opinion.
Gregg Carlson
At 08:40 AM 1/25/2000 -0800, you wrote:
Mixed, I think. The schooner is narrow, and does not seem to pound like my
Micro, for instance. Generally, for a open boat of its type, and
considering it's intended for protected water, it does OK in chop.
It's stable at the dock, but, being a centerboarder with lots of canvas,
it's liable, maybe likely?, to capsize. You'll note we did so and later
sealed up 4 sections with the hope(?) to be able to recover on the water
rather than the beach. Capsize in warm water doesn't bother me, but it
would a non-swimmer, especially with all those sails and gear in the water.
Dry doesn't spring to mind, either. Carrying 277 sq.ft. of sails and
weighing 500 lbs, it surges often over 10 knots. And, come to think of it,
we did manage to poke the sprit right through a wave or two and ship on
some water.
There is a light scooner in S.F., linked from my site. You might look him
up and get a second opinion.
Gregg Carlson
At 08:40 AM 1/25/2000 -0800, you wrote:
>Hello Gregg,
>
>Beautiful Web site, and the same for your boats. I
>live near San Francisco Bay, and have always loved
>traditional schooners.
>I've done a little sailing in the Sea Scouts on
>the Bay in all types of weather and know what it
>can dish out. I've built a
>Bank Dory and know it to be a competent handler in
>the bay on gusty days, albeit a handful under oars
>with all that windage and
>no meaningful payload except my personal, generous
>mass.
>
>The light Schooner appears to be very similar to a
>dory in that Sharpies and Dories are shaped with
>flat bottoms with or without rocker, and straight
>sides. With the bow up, pounding occurs and
>creates lots of noise and shuddering.
>
>How does the light schooner perform in this
>respect?
>
>I'd like to have a boat stable enough that a
>non-swimming, water fearing wife will go sailing
>with me (she's been out in the Dory, and a couple
>of big glass boats before and liked it!) Also,
>space for two babies would be nice, and a "dry"
>boat would
>be the clincher. What are your feelings on the
>Light Schooner.
>
>Regards,
>
>Brian Mifsud