Re: centennial 11

--- In bolger@y..., "captjbturtle" <captjbturtle@y...> wrote:
> the plans for centenial 11 were in the pilot issue of sbj and i
[much snipped]

Wow! I'm impressed.
You obviously loved the boat.


One question: PCB's stated intention
for Centenial II was for the boat to
be 'seaworthy enough' to cross that
Atlantic.

Would you describe it as exceptionally
'seaworthy', I.E. An ocean crosser?


> I'm grateful for his longevity and creativity.

Me too.
the plans for centenial 11 were in the pilot issue of sbj and i
built one shortly afterwards. Unfortunately pcb got an undeserved
screwing on that design so ill do my best to set things right. she is
a double ended dory with ballasted leeboards fixed in place, set up
to row. i think she had the birdwatcher hull, a lovely sweeping
sheer, cat yawl sprit rig. She also had the ugliest box cabin. Still
pcb advertised her as buildable for $1,000 and fit to keep the sea.
So I built her in Cocoa Beach, Fl, stream,lined the cabin easily and
she was a beauty. Tons of compliments from everyone who saw her. It
was that Gloucester Gull type sheer I guess. She could really sail
too. didnt have to touch a sheet tacking or jyebing. I had put nice
sections on the spade rudder and leeboards. Bought an old Star boat
main, (North, always folded, long enouight for both main aand mizzen)
for$100 fixed her up with a hiking stick and quick release cleats and
she sailed like a laser. She was fast and handy actaully sailing
circles around other similar sized cruisers. With that rig i took her
into the tightest places never worrioed she would miss stays.She
would sail herself and you could balance her for fingertip control.
A great sailboat. She rowed pretty well too. Antway i was so happy
with my , yes, $1,000. yacht. I wrote to sbj asking i they would like
a story on my 80 mile cruise down the Indian River. Sorry, they said
we just bought a piece from another builder. Well , when the article
came out he didn"t have much good to say "I think he had named
her "Frog". She had the boxy cabin, now I know where the term,
doghouse comes from, and I still remember his quote 20 years
later."She sails like and anchored lobster pot," he wrote in SBJ.
Well I figured he must have been caught in a tidal rip because she
was an excellent sailer, a very nice boat. She didn"t deserve that
bad review. I sent a photo of my boat to Mr Bolger and received a
pleasant reply. I learned a valuable lesson with that boat though.
When i had sent for the plans Bolger wrote back I might be happier
with his Black Skimmer design because of the shallow Florida waters.
He was right. The 3 foot ballasted leeboards were a pain down here
and thats why I eventually sold her. I"ve built about 8 of his
designs since then and every time i change something I later
realize"Ishould have stuck to the plans and trusted his experience.
Now I check with his about changes. My latest "Bantam" is another
super boat, a great performing bargain. Many deserve to be built.One
of his best, I'm grateful for his longevity and creativity.