[bolger] Re: Old Folding Schooner
Rich,
What a great post. I personally find the insights various Bolgeristas have
into sailing their boats is a great part of these exchanges. I don't know the
rules about posts to this group, maybe you are only supposed to talk about
building the boats. Anyway, please see my further comments inserted into your
story:
<< Thanks for the interest. The schooner trails nicely behind all of the
four cars we have towed it with. Most had four cylinders and I don't
think towing the boat did any harm. You hardly know it is there, the
boat and all the gear probably runs about 600 lbs. We push the boat
off the trailer (bearings dry) and lift the end down into the water.
We turn her around so the folded middle faces the ramp and drag her up
onto the ramp far enough that she won't slide back into the water when
we open it. One on each side and LIFT. Over the top and catch her on
the way down.
(M) I'll bet other people are amazed when they see this boat unfold before
their very eyes! I'm curious about why you chose this boat? What criteria did
or does it fill? As I recall the boat from Bolger and Payson books, it's
about 30' long but has no accomodations, right?
I use a 4 hp outboard to run her out of the ramp area
and anchor. It takes about 20 minutes for us to set up the masts and
rig everything.
(M) On my small boats I rig on the ground before putting in. I just don't
have a picture in my mind of being able to insert masts rig up the boat on
the water. It must be stable enough to walk around on, yes?
She is FUN to sail. The length does away with a lot
of the pitching you get with a samll sailboat and she is very stable,
having a flat bottom and flared sides. Being gaff rigged, she does not
point well into the wind, but you can always get to where you want to
go. Tacking involves sailing into the turn and then easing the jib and
fore and using the main to weathervane around onto the other tack, then
hauling the jib to pull the bow around. Going downwind we try wing and
wing and the jib just lays there. Gybing is fun in low to moderate
winds. The fore always swings over first so you have good control. On
a reach in a strong wind, she really powers along. It is fun to pass
some of the small power boats that have slowed down in a little chop!
There is a row of reef points in the main but I have never used them in
22 years (mostly because I'm a fair weather sailor). Light air sailing
is fun, things don't get out of hand fast. This is just off the top of
my head. She sails good, she looks good.
(M) Sounds like great sailing. Do you go on outings to various points of
interest? Picnics on little islands? You can, I presume, run the boat right
up to the beach?
In 22 years we have never
tipped over (except ALMOST once!). By the way, she rows well too! Four
oars or two.
(M) The single most amazing thing to me is that you have kept and sailed this
boat for 22 years! Is there much maintenance? Howcome you don't feel like you
have to get a "bigger, better boat?" - something that plagues many of us I
fear.
Mike Masten
builder and sailor of a Windsprint
What a great post. I personally find the insights various Bolgeristas have
into sailing their boats is a great part of these exchanges. I don't know the
rules about posts to this group, maybe you are only supposed to talk about
building the boats. Anyway, please see my further comments inserted into your
story:
<< Thanks for the interest. The schooner trails nicely behind all of the
four cars we have towed it with. Most had four cylinders and I don't
think towing the boat did any harm. You hardly know it is there, the
boat and all the gear probably runs about 600 lbs. We push the boat
off the trailer (bearings dry) and lift the end down into the water.
We turn her around so the folded middle faces the ramp and drag her up
onto the ramp far enough that she won't slide back into the water when
we open it. One on each side and LIFT. Over the top and catch her on
the way down.
(M) I'll bet other people are amazed when they see this boat unfold before
their very eyes! I'm curious about why you chose this boat? What criteria did
or does it fill? As I recall the boat from Bolger and Payson books, it's
about 30' long but has no accomodations, right?
I use a 4 hp outboard to run her out of the ramp area
and anchor. It takes about 20 minutes for us to set up the masts and
rig everything.
(M) On my small boats I rig on the ground before putting in. I just don't
have a picture in my mind of being able to insert masts rig up the boat on
the water. It must be stable enough to walk around on, yes?
She is FUN to sail. The length does away with a lot
of the pitching you get with a samll sailboat and she is very stable,
having a flat bottom and flared sides. Being gaff rigged, she does not
point well into the wind, but you can always get to where you want to
go. Tacking involves sailing into the turn and then easing the jib and
fore and using the main to weathervane around onto the other tack, then
hauling the jib to pull the bow around. Going downwind we try wing and
wing and the jib just lays there. Gybing is fun in low to moderate
winds. The fore always swings over first so you have good control. On
a reach in a strong wind, she really powers along. It is fun to pass
some of the small power boats that have slowed down in a little chop!
There is a row of reef points in the main but I have never used them in
22 years (mostly because I'm a fair weather sailor). Light air sailing
is fun, things don't get out of hand fast. This is just off the top of
my head. She sails good, she looks good.
(M) Sounds like great sailing. Do you go on outings to various points of
interest? Picnics on little islands? You can, I presume, run the boat right
up to the beach?
In 22 years we have never
tipped over (except ALMOST once!). By the way, she rows well too! Four
oars or two.
(M) The single most amazing thing to me is that you have kept and sailed this
boat for 22 years! Is there much maintenance? Howcome you don't feel like you
have to get a "bigger, better boat?" - something that plagues many of us I
fear.
Mike Masten
builder and sailor of a Windsprint
>>
Thanks for the interest. The schooner trails nicely behind all of the
four cars we have towed it with. Most had four cylinders and I don't
think towing the boat did any harm. You hardly know it is there, the
boat and all the gear probably runs about 600 lbs. We push the boat
off the trailer (bearings dry) and lift the end down into the water.
We turn her around so the folded middle faces the ramp and drag her up
onto the ramp far enough that she won't slide back into the water when
we open it. One on each side and LIFT. Over the top and catch her on
the way down. I use a 4 hp outboard to run her out of the ramp area
and anchor. It takes about 20 minutes for us to set up the masts and
rig everything. She is FUN to sail. The length does away with a lot
of the pitching you get with a samll sailboat and she is very stable,
having a flat bottom and flared sides. Being gaff rigged, she does not
point well into the wind, but you can always get to where you want to
go. Tacking involves sailing into the turn and then easing the jib and
fore and using the main to weathervane around onto the other tack, then
hauling the jib to pull the bow around. Going downwind we try wing and
wing and the jib just lays there. Gybing is fun in low to moderate
winds. The fore always swings over first so you have good control. On
a reach in a strong wind, she really powers along. It is fun to pass
some of the small power boats that have slowed down in a little chop!
There is a row of reef points in the main but I have never used them in
22 years (mostly because I'm a fair weather sailor). Light air sailing
is fun, things don't get out of hand fast. This is just off the top of
my head. She sails good, she looks good. In 22 years we have never
tipped over (except ALMOST once!). By the way, she rows well too! Four
oars or two.
Rich
four cars we have towed it with. Most had four cylinders and I don't
think towing the boat did any harm. You hardly know it is there, the
boat and all the gear probably runs about 600 lbs. We push the boat
off the trailer (bearings dry) and lift the end down into the water.
We turn her around so the folded middle faces the ramp and drag her up
onto the ramp far enough that she won't slide back into the water when
we open it. One on each side and LIFT. Over the top and catch her on
the way down. I use a 4 hp outboard to run her out of the ramp area
and anchor. It takes about 20 minutes for us to set up the masts and
rig everything. She is FUN to sail. The length does away with a lot
of the pitching you get with a samll sailboat and she is very stable,
having a flat bottom and flared sides. Being gaff rigged, she does not
point well into the wind, but you can always get to where you want to
go. Tacking involves sailing into the turn and then easing the jib and
fore and using the main to weathervane around onto the other tack, then
hauling the jib to pull the bow around. Going downwind we try wing and
wing and the jib just lays there. Gybing is fun in low to moderate
winds. The fore always swings over first so you have good control. On
a reach in a strong wind, she really powers along. It is fun to pass
some of the small power boats that have slowed down in a little chop!
There is a row of reef points in the main but I have never used them in
22 years (mostly because I'm a fair weather sailor). Light air sailing
is fun, things don't get out of hand fast. This is just off the top of
my head. She sails good, she looks good. In 22 years we have never
tipped over (except ALMOST once!). By the way, she rows well too! Four
oars or two.
Rich