Re: Boat plans
Matthew- Reminds that Pete should be finished if he got to it back after his posting... Did he give an email address? He got the plans from Susanne, as I recall, so maybe he has sent photos??
Pete Thielin and all, are there any pics of your Storm Petrel available in this group or elsewhere? I have long admired this design--I actually have both Storm Petrel and Zephyr plans using the same rig--and would love to see one build to the plans. Cheers all, Matthew
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Peter Thelin <pthelin1@...> wrote:
-----------------------
http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/Bolger4Sale/message/26
Mon Jan 8, 2001 11:58 pm
This is a true "Instant Boat", spend that time you would have been
building sailing instead.
Bolger Storm Petrel 16' sharpie motor sailor -Sprit rig (traditional,
trapezoidal sail). Berthed in San Francisco Bay
This is a small boat with big boat aspirations:
- Classic lines, full steel keel, no centerboard! The boat is very
seaworthy and safe on the Bay. Hard chine, epoxy over plywood, there
is no
rot.
- Very dry, I've been out in some big blows, and got back
with about 2 cups of water in the cockpit. If the weather is not
rough, I rarely get wet at all.
-the cuddy (small cabin) is big enough to sleep in, plenty
of dry storage for gear. Camp on Angel Island?
- The boat is in great shape for it's age, and is relatively cheap to
own and
maintain.
- comes with main, tanbark jib, anchor and pfds.
Needs paint and some running rigging, all of which can get for
under two hundred dollars. I get compliments on this boat literally
every time I go out.
Photos are here:http://homepage.mac.com/marcos/
$1575.oo
------------------------------
Photos are absent there, but Marc is still around.
> Built as designed with the steel keel Storm Petrel(which is what IFYI
> unimaginatively named her) was confidently stiff, even in a good S.F.
> breeze.
-----------------------
http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/Bolger4Sale/message/26
Mon Jan 8, 2001 11:58 pm
This is a true "Instant Boat", spend that time you would have been
building sailing instead.
Bolger Storm Petrel 16' sharpie motor sailor -Sprit rig (traditional,
trapezoidal sail). Berthed in San Francisco Bay
This is a small boat with big boat aspirations:
- Classic lines, full steel keel, no centerboard! The boat is very
seaworthy and safe on the Bay. Hard chine, epoxy over plywood, there
is no
rot.
- Very dry, I've been out in some big blows, and got back
with about 2 cups of water in the cockpit. If the weather is not
rough, I rarely get wet at all.
-the cuddy (small cabin) is big enough to sleep in, plenty
of dry storage for gear. Camp on Angel Island?
- The boat is in great shape for it's age, and is relatively cheap to
own and
maintain.
- comes with main, tanbark jib, anchor and pfds.
Needs paint and some running rigging, all of which can get for
under two hundred dollars. I get compliments on this boat literally
every time I go out.
Photos are here:http://homepage.mac.com/marcos/
$1575.oo
------------------------------
Photos are absent there, but Marc is still around.
Brings to mind the "Soup Nazi" episode of Seinfeld. Where would the world be without purists?
From:prairiedog2332 <arvent@...>
To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
Sent:Tuesday, March 13, 2012 1:00 PM
Subject:[bolger] Storm Petrel (was Re: Boat plans)
I never lasted past one post on that group.
I inquired as to what size OB he recommended on a Paradox, not realizing
mentioning a motor was a banishable offence.
Nels
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Douglas Pollard <dougpol1@...> wrote:
>
> I never thought I'd say this but I miss Don and the list. He threw
> me off a couple times and made me promise to keep my ideas to
myself:-)
> . I really did appreciate his drawings and thoughts on small boats.
> Oh well nothing stays the same. Some of us used to go to another
> group to to discuss some of the things that were on his list. I draw
> and paint a few pictures now and them so I really appreciated his art
as
> well as his writing. Doug
>
I never lasted past one post on that group.
I inquired as to what size OB he recommended on a Paradox, not realizing
mentioning a motor was a banishable offence.
Nels
I inquired as to what size OB he recommended on a Paradox, not realizing
mentioning a motor was a banishable offence.
Nels
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Douglas Pollard <dougpol1@...> wrote:
>
> I never thought I'd say this but I miss Don and the list. He threw
> me off a couple times and made me promise to keep my ideas to
myself:-)
> . I really did appreciate his drawings and thoughts on small boats.
> Oh well nothing stays the same. Some of us used to go to another
> group to to discuss some of the things that were on his list. I draw
> and paint a few pictures now and them so I really appreciated his art
as
> well as his writing. Doug
>
Oh well nothing stays the same. Some of us used to go to another group to to discuss some of the things that were on his list. I draw and paint a few pictures now and them so I really appreciated his art as well as his writing. Doug
On 03/13/2012 11:00 AM, c.ruzer wrote:
Looks like it's been closed for normal business, or rather put on ice - the spam was bad there a while ago. There's only three posts up for all last year. Don passed away in 2008, and I think someone from his family caretakes - kind of in memorium. I don't know if this would bounce, but try an email to the ownerSmallboats-owner@yahoogroups.comthat's Smallboats-owner at yahoogroups dot com
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Chester Young<chester@...>wrote:
>
> How does one join the Smallboats group? Clicking on the link takes me to a page that says "Sorry, this group is available to members ONLY. You are not allowed to access this group." I know I am old and slow but if there is a simple means for requesting membership it escapes me. ~Caloosarat
Looks like it's been closed for normal business, or rather put on ice - the spam was bad there a while ago. There's only three posts up for all last year. Don passed away in 2008, and I think someone from his family caretakes - kind of in memorium. I don't know if this would bounce, but try an email to that owner at: Smallboats-owner at yahoogroups dot com
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Chester Young <chester@...> wrote:
>
> How does one join the Smallboats group? Clicking on the link takes me to a page that says "Sorry, this group is available to members ONLY. You are not allowed to access this group." I know I am old and slow but if there is a simple means for requesting membership it escapes me. ~Caloosarat
How does one join the Smallboats group? Clicking on the link takes me to a page that says “Sorry, this group is available to members ONLY. You are not allowed to access this group.” I know I am old and slow but if there is a simple means for requesting membership it escapes me. ~Caloosarat
From:bolger@yahoogroups.com [mailto:bolger@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Ofc.ruzer
Sent:Monday, March 12, 2012 9:29 PM
To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
Subject:[bolger] Storm Petrel (was Re: Boat plans)
> Don Elliot made five (5) serialised design/build/usage analysis posts...& also let it be known here
> specifically on STORM PETREL
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bolger/message/9489
"...Mr.Bolger believes its a good-looking
boat, but he has strange tastes in boats, to me I like its looks. But
I might admire it sea-keeping ability more. Don
This post has been posted on my new E-group and I am reposting it
here for the Bolger E-group members, I am hoping the members here
will check out this new E-group it's called Small boats...It's at:
http://www.egroups.com/group/Smallboats..."
> Don Elliot made five (5) serialised design/build/usage analysis posts...& also let it be known here
> specifically on STORM PETREL
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bolger/message/9489
"...Mr.Bolger believes its a good-looking
boat, but he has strange tastes in boats, to me I like its looks. But
I might admire it sea-keeping ability more. Don
This post has been posted on my new E-group and I am reposting it
here for the Bolger E-group members, I am hoping the members here
will check out this new E-group it's called Small boats...It's at:
http://www.egroups.com/group/Smallboats..."
Memory. Distant glimpses of water below had set me to thinking somehow it was built on your bay, but no, it was actually far away in the UK!
I've no info about the photos other than they were a "Tony's", then
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bolger/message/53437that led me to their source - almost. Those smallboats Files are all but cleaned out. Someone is monitoring the group again since Don's passing, cleaned out spam etc. I think many Photos have gone too; at least there's the message archive info, AND the group hasn't been deleted like some others Don ran were.
I'll put the UK SP pics in the bolgergroup's Storm Petrel Files for a while.
Theres 139 returns when searching for [storm petrel] in the message archives at the smallboats yahoogroup founded by the late Don Elliot.
Don Elliot made five (5) serialised design/build/usage analysis posts specifically on STORM PETREL commencing Mon Feb 11, 2002 11:30 pm, at message #3069. Those, and direct commentary continued to about Thu Feb 21, 2002 5:58 am, at message #3131 = 62 posts.
Earlier, on Mon Nov 26, 2001 2:12 am, in message #2306 "Storm Petrel correction" Don Elliot refered to a prior SP warm up thread he'd commenced at #26 which ran to #38 with Steve Hansen of the "Belljar" Storm Petrel making contributions = 12 posts
Immediately prior to that, at message #2305, "Storm Petrel", he linked to message # 57 "STORM PETREL STUDY NO 1" of Thu Feb 1, 2001 1:33 am. Apparently the analysis series was put away for some good while. Perhaps this was the template of many similar design/build/usage critique threads that followed? Ardent Bolgerista and Storm Petrel afficcianado Matthew Long (created this group's storm petrel file and last years LULU boat calendar, etc, etc... Say, how'd you and family go in Tunisia last year Matthew? Long time no hear, all well I trust.) contributed = 3 posts.
There's an interesting "Storm Petrel Keel" thread of discussion between M Long, S Hansen, and Doug Pollard commencing at message #1631 = 6 posts.
Tony Hook in the UK posted that he placed those photos of his Storm Petrel build in the smallboats Files on Mon Oct 29, 2001 7:52 am at message #1948 = 4 posts, in which D Elliot posted these links which are the Storm Petrel posts headed numbers 1 to 3 again
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smallboats/message/57
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smallboats/message/70
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smallboats/message/87
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smallboats/message/112
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smallboats/message/126
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smallboats/message/131
In "The Storm Petrel" announcement #1613 of Mon Aug 27, 2001 11:35am Don Elliot posted that Tony had started building and linked to photos put up on his, D Elliot's, own webpages = 2 posts
Storm Petrel was referenced many times in passing by Don Elliot... maybe it was to do with "DESIGN-LATERAL RESISTANCE 17" or "WATER BALLAST", or, or, etc, & etc. A fair few that took part in any Storm Petrel discussion built Matt Layden's Paradox when those plans became available a while later than most of the above posts date from. That was after Don had done the serialised design/build/usage analysis on that boat - and built one. It's a pity that various aspects of Storm Petrel he focused on in the sketched illustrations put in the smallboats Files, and the links to material kept on his own pages are gone. One may not have agreed with Don, heck, ONE!, many didn't - but he was talented and stimulating, and certainly channeling something boatwise.
I've no info about the photos other than they were a "Tony's", then
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bolger/message/53437that led me to their source - almost. Those smallboats Files are all but cleaned out. Someone is monitoring the group again since Don's passing, cleaned out spam etc. I think many Photos have gone too; at least there's the message archive info, AND the group hasn't been deleted like some others Don ran were.
I'll put the UK SP pics in the bolgergroup's Storm Petrel Files for a while.
Theres 139 returns when searching for [storm petrel] in the message archives at the smallboats yahoogroup founded by the late Don Elliot.
Don Elliot made five (5) serialised design/build/usage analysis posts specifically on STORM PETREL commencing Mon Feb 11, 2002 11:30 pm, at message #3069. Those, and direct commentary continued to about Thu Feb 21, 2002 5:58 am, at message #3131 = 62 posts.
Earlier, on Mon Nov 26, 2001 2:12 am, in message #2306 "Storm Petrel correction" Don Elliot refered to a prior SP warm up thread he'd commenced at #26 which ran to #38 with Steve Hansen of the "Belljar" Storm Petrel making contributions = 12 posts
Immediately prior to that, at message #2305, "Storm Petrel", he linked to message # 57 "STORM PETREL STUDY NO 1" of Thu Feb 1, 2001 1:33 am. Apparently the analysis series was put away for some good while. Perhaps this was the template of many similar design/build/usage critique threads that followed? Ardent Bolgerista and Storm Petrel afficcianado Matthew Long (created this group's storm petrel file and last years LULU boat calendar, etc, etc... Say, how'd you and family go in Tunisia last year Matthew? Long time no hear, all well I trust.) contributed = 3 posts.
There's an interesting "Storm Petrel Keel" thread of discussion between M Long, S Hansen, and Doug Pollard commencing at message #1631 = 6 posts.
Tony Hook in the UK posted that he placed those photos of his Storm Petrel build in the smallboats Files on Mon Oct 29, 2001 7:52 am at message #1948 = 4 posts, in which D Elliot posted these links which are the Storm Petrel posts headed numbers 1 to 3 again
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smallboats/message/57
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smallboats/message/70
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smallboats/message/87
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smallboats/message/112
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smallboats/message/126
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smallboats/message/131
In "The Storm Petrel" announcement #1613 of Mon Aug 27, 2001 11:35am Don Elliot posted that Tony had started building and linked to photos put up on his, D Elliot's, own webpages = 2 posts
Storm Petrel was referenced many times in passing by Don Elliot... maybe it was to do with "DESIGN-LATERAL RESISTANCE 17" or "WATER BALLAST", or, or, etc, & etc. A fair few that took part in any Storm Petrel discussion built Matt Layden's Paradox when those plans became available a while later than most of the above posts date from. That was after Don had done the serialised design/build/usage analysis on that boat - and built one. It's a pity that various aspects of Storm Petrel he focused on in the sketched illustrations put in the smallboats Files, and the links to material kept on his own pages are gone. One may not have agreed with Don, heck, ONE!, many didn't - but he was talented and stimulating, and certainly channeling something boatwise.
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "c.ruzer" <c.ruzer@...> wrote:
> There's photos of another SP building about 10 years ago - somewhere near your neck of the woods again too - modified cuddy top, compartments aft, samson posts - you may have seen it. The build process was altered too IIRC, it was built upright and the builder made their inclusions/modifications as they went. Photos show it to about the stage of being ready for glassing/painting. Even though it was close to finish, and seemed wery well built, I don't believe it actually got there.
sail |
In the Instant Boat series, Payson built one and developed the ply panels and created a cut sheet, so no lofting. If lofting is required, it is not an Instant Boat. Several of Bolgers earlier popular designs became Instant Boats by adding the cut sheets that eliminated lofting to the earlier plans.
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "c.ruzer" <c.ruzer@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> On the plans, at least as published in Different Boats, the drawings are marked as being done for H. H. Payson & Co. Allowing the provisos of the unusual decks first construction method, and the steel keel, the design is pretty much a typical instant boat type of build. Assembled upside down on assembled deck acting as building base/jig - same method as explained in building for Centennial2 in next chapter of DB (and similar for AS19 - but this one raised to comfortable working height on saw horses) - neither DB key tells when to turn the boat, though I think that would become apparent depending on builder's slight variations (yet one SP at least was built to near completion right way up on raised working platform from the start!). "In this unusual construction method, the deck goes down first, and serves as the alignment base for the bulkheads (molds)." - Tim's, see near bottom of page here:http://www.boats.backwater.org/StormPetrel/construction_photos.html)
Years ago, a little less than a year after launch by Tim it was, I asked Fritz about this, and have found the reply he was kind enough to send me.
Fritz advised that Tim and his dad went with a plywood keel, that they trailered the boat removing/adding the keel on their beach seasonally. He mentioned the keel is one PCB talks about... but I am not sure where he means that to be. (There is the report of the shallower one sketched by PCB for Steve Hanson from the Belljar sitehttp://www.belljar.net/bolgersp.htmThis would seem more problematical in some ways to remove/add/trailer than a steel one. Perhaps, as with the sail, PCB wrote/sketched something to do with the keel specific for Tim and his dad?)
Fritz mentioned the larger lug sail drawn for Tim by PCB which he says looks to him to be the rig off WINDSPRINT. Also that Tim went with a 4hp outboard after trying many, but reckoned SP doesn't need even that much. He didn't know if they'd yet slept in the boat, it was being contemplated though, and "a good number of adventures have been had in her." He wrote "She is indeed "Storm" petrel, so not a lively performer in light air, which is of course exactly what Bolger says." (Fritz's boat page:http://www.boats.backwater.org/)
Fritz advised that Tim and his dad went with a plywood keel, that they trailered the boat removing/adding the keel on their beach seasonally. He mentioned the keel is one PCB talks about... but I am not sure where he means that to be. (There is the report of the shallower one sketched by PCB for Steve Hanson from the Belljar sitehttp://www.belljar.net/bolgersp.htmThis would seem more problematical in some ways to remove/add/trailer than a steel one. Perhaps, as with the sail, PCB wrote/sketched something to do with the keel specific for Tim and his dad?)
Fritz mentioned the larger lug sail drawn for Tim by PCB which he says looks to him to be the rig off WINDSPRINT. Also that Tim went with a 4hp outboard after trying many, but reckoned SP doesn't need even that much. He didn't know if they'd yet slept in the boat, it was being contemplated though, and "a good number of adventures have been had in her." He wrote "She is indeed "Storm" petrel, so not a lively performer in light air, which is of course exactly what Bolger says." (Fritz's boat page:http://www.boats.backwater.org/)
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "c.ruzer" <c.ruzer@...> wrote:
> Tim's Storm Petrel didn't get the keel in the end. PCB also on
> request did supply Tim along with the plans an alternate much
> larger sailplan drawing - a lugsail, IIRC, of the handy balanced
> type.
> --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "pthelin1" <pthelin1@> wrote:
> > Looking at the pictures on their website I'm sure Fitz built
> > their Petrel to spec. Mine was made 15 years earlier.
> > --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Harry James <welshman@> wrote:
> > > I think the one Tim built was to the plans. Fritz was not one
> > > to modify Bolger.
> > >http://www.boats.backwater.org/StormPetrel/
On the plans, at least as published in Different Boats, the drawings are marked as being done for H. H. Payson & Co. Allowing the provisos of the unusual decks first construction method, and the steel keel, the design is pretty much a typical instant boat type of build. Assembled upside down on assembled deck acting as building base/jig - same method as explained in building for Centennial2 in next chapter of DB (and similar for AS19 - but this one raised to comfortable working height on saw horses) - neither DB key tells when to turn the boat, though I think that would become apparent depending on builder's slight variations (yet one SP at least was built to near completion right way up on raised working platform from the start!). "In this unusual construction method, the deck goes down first, and serves as the alignment base for the bulkheads (molds)." - Tim's, see near bottom of page here:http://www.boats.backwater.org/StormPetrel/construction_photos.html)
Maybe we will never know why Storm Petrel was not offered by Instant Boats. Some idle conjectures now -- as published in DB it is a finished design, but was it finished per the usual to and froings between PCB and Dynamite to the final satisfaction of Dynamite?
Chapter 10 of BWAOM, Sweet Pea, gives an indication of how much back and forth discussion went into the development of the far from simple overall design of the instant boats range - maybe at some point Dynamite dropped the SP idea? Mindful of incoming customer phone calls he'd have to field he may have dropped it for being a little too complicated (upside down, steel keel, etc), too expensive in materials, and too large a project to be an instant boat? Mindful of the dangers at sea himself, from personal long experience, he may have thought Storm Petrel could encourage a bit too much dangerous overconfidence in others? I believe the build key is PCB's work alone. I don't think Dynamite ever built one and wrung out the plans according to the deal for an instant boat plan... have'nt heard of that, and there are no revisions noted on the plans, eg the keel is spec'd at two thicknesses 3/8 & 3/4 (which confused Marc Lander, owner of the boat Peter built)
BUT, IMO, SP is in principal as brilliant as any Instant Boat plan. Only 8 sheets of 3/8 plywood!!! (wish it were metric though :-(
Maybe we will never know why Storm Petrel was not offered by Instant Boats. Some idle conjectures now -- as published in DB it is a finished design, but was it finished per the usual to and froings between PCB and Dynamite to the final satisfaction of Dynamite?
Chapter 10 of BWAOM, Sweet Pea, gives an indication of how much back and forth discussion went into the development of the far from simple overall design of the instant boats range - maybe at some point Dynamite dropped the SP idea? Mindful of incoming customer phone calls he'd have to field he may have dropped it for being a little too complicated (upside down, steel keel, etc), too expensive in materials, and too large a project to be an instant boat? Mindful of the dangers at sea himself, from personal long experience, he may have thought Storm Petrel could encourage a bit too much dangerous overconfidence in others? I believe the build key is PCB's work alone. I don't think Dynamite ever built one and wrung out the plans according to the deal for an instant boat plan... have'nt heard of that, and there are no revisions noted on the plans, eg the keel is spec'd at two thicknesses 3/8 & 3/4 (which confused Marc Lander, owner of the boat Peter built)
BUT, IMO, SP is in principal as brilliant as any Instant Boat plan. Only 8 sheets of 3/8 plywood!!! (wish it were metric though :-(
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "sirdarnell" <sirdarnell@...> wrote:
>
> I assume the Storm Petrel is not one of Bolger's "Instant Boat" designs. Dynamite mainly carried the Instant Boat line and some older sharpie designs. The sharpies designs I mean required lofting, but were supposedly still easy to build.
Bruce,
I doubled it because I beached Micro a lot early on, not feeling confident taking a chance of a half-ton supported by ¼ inch ply on a pointy rock. Besides you need some extra weight to get Micro down on her lines and the bottom was the best place for a little more. If I did another one I’d probably go for 3/8ths on the bottom.
MylesJ
I assume the Storm Petrel is not one of Bolger's "Instant Boat" designs. Dynamite mainly carried the Instant Boat line and some older sharpie designs. The sharpies designs I mean required lofting, but were supposedly still easy to build.
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "c.ruzer" <c.ruzer@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Peter Thelin <pthelin1@> wrote:
>
> > I can't say why Dynamite didn't carry the plans for SP.
>
> > My Petrel got lots of attention on the Oakland Estuary. One of my
> > liveaboard neighbors was almost obsessed with it, saying he thought
> > it was the perfect boat. I had many people call out unsolicited
> > compliments whenever I sailed her.
"With the keel (which never seemed to be in the way) she stood up to
her enlarged sail plan well, though when rowing it made turning her
really tough. She was fast under power (5 hp)."
I also took her out into the south bay and dozed while she reached lazily along, holding course like she was on rails. She was fast enough under power. She was also fun and stable to row, my wife preferred rowing her to my Gypsy because the Storm petrel wasn't as squirrely and kept a nice straight line, plus you could lean back against the doghouse. But, the Petrel was a bear to turn; You really had to use the rudder, though you could do that easily enough with your knees.
I had a problem getting her to point. My neighbors said that the SP
covered as much ground sideways as she did going forward, and it
was impossible to tack her up the Estuary. That was solved by
moving the mainsheet to the top of the rudder and adding a boom
(closet pole diameter) to the foot of the sprit. After that my
Petrel outpointed the SF Pelicans and Potters, though at 16 feet
she was still a slow little boat.
--
The fellow I sold her to was restoring a Herreshoff 28 in a
warehouse in Alameda and wanted something to sail to keep his
spirits up. I saw the Petrel a few years later in the Emeryvillle
marina; she'd been completely repainted a ghastly red. (that's the
picture I see in the Bolger@yahoogroup files)
All in all Phil was right; either despite or because of her modest performance, the Storm Petrel was a boat you could become very fond of.
Peter
her enlarged sail plan well, though when rowing it made turning her
really tough. She was fast under power (5 hp)."
> That's interesting: that the keel never seemed to be in the way. Did you always keep her moored in sufficient depth - no drying berths and such? What do you think of the shallower rudder and longer shallower keel PCB sketched for someone else? I bet the keel sucked some power out of the rower too! Turning - I thought SP would track well - imagine a tiller comb and dozing off or making a cuppa while she kept on course...I kept the Petrel tied up in the slip alongside the Columbia so she had plenty of water. I did often sail her through the shallows around Coast Guard Island, rubbing that steel plate across the barnacled bottom occasionally but never got stuck. I also didn't worry about scratching up that stainless steel plate.
>
I also took her out into the south bay and dozed while she reached lazily along, holding course like she was on rails. She was fast enough under power. She was also fun and stable to row, my wife preferred rowing her to my Gypsy because the Storm petrel wasn't as squirrely and kept a nice straight line, plus you could lean back against the doghouse. But, the Petrel was a bear to turn; You really had to use the rudder, though you could do that easily enough with your knees.
I had a problem getting her to point. My neighbors said that the SP
covered as much ground sideways as she did going forward, and it
was impossible to tack her up the Estuary. That was solved by
moving the mainsheet to the top of the rudder and adding a boom
(closet pole diameter) to the foot of the sprit. After that my
Petrel outpointed the SF Pelicans and Potters, though at 16 feet
she was still a slow little boat.
> That's quite interesting - and outpointed eh?I often "raced" the West Right Potters (15 footers), tacking up the Estuary to Jack London Square. Pretty even going upwind, though they were slightly faster downwind. I was faster than the S.F. Pelicans.
--
The fellow I sold her to was restoring a Herreshoff 28 in a
warehouse in Alameda and wanted something to sail to keep his
spirits up. I saw the Petrel a few years later in the Emeryvillle
marina; she'd been completely repainted a ghastly red. (that's the
picture I see in the Bolger@yahoogroup files)
> In the picture I see there she's black topsides with off-white decks, but red spritsail - do you mean she was painted again later? I've looked through the groups for the photos of the unfinished one I mentioned that may have been built near your area, but can't find them. I was pretty sure they were in a bolger group, but maybe they were off another site. I have them saved on an old machine I think, and there maybe info about their source - I'll have a look when I can.She only looks black in the picture due to the angle of the sun, but she was definitely red. Those are the original "tanbark" sails I had made up. The new owner left the topsides alone, the same white I painted them. By the way, the teak grating in the bilges came from some teak shower grating I picked up at the Encinal marine flea market and cut to shape.
>
>
> Peter do you have any tips to pass on from your experience about building Storm Petrel? Did you ever have to sit a while in the moaning chair? How about the recesses in the deck for the sides buttstraps for example? Just match up and trace around first?? Galvanise or epoxy the keel? How about those staunchions? At particular stages of the build if things do look a bit tricky, or some unobvious measurement needs be wrung out, or another hand might be "handy", did you invent any instant boat solutions in the Dynamite manner? I'd be interested to hear about that.Lots of moaning! The buttstraps were on the inside and not visible so I didn't bother to recess them. These days I prefer to sand the joined edges down a bit and use 6" fiberglass tape as per Dynamite's suggestion. Its a stronger joint the the actual wood. I always use stainless steel screws and bolts, usually from Svenden's or West marine. The stanchions were probably fir, epoxied and bolted and varnished. those teak gratings kept my feet dry since it was impossible to keep a little water from accumulating in the cockpit. There was always water in the forward well while the boat was tied up, even with a 5 hp motor on the back. It drained as soon as anyone got aboard and shifted the weight back a bit. I've found that these boats go together better if you follow Phil's/Dynamite's instructions. I did end up adding the jib, which made her slightly faster, but she was never in the same league as the Gypsy.
>
All in all Phil was right; either despite or because of her modest performance, the Storm Petrel was a boat you could become very fond of.
Peter
> You beat me to it. I doubled the ¼ on both the bottom...The bottom of my Micro has 1/4" plywood and I see no problems. There
is a good deal of curvature in that plywood which gives it a lot of
rigidity. Personally, if I were to build a second Micro, I would use
1/4" plywood for the bottom. YMMV
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Peter Thelin <pthelin1@...> wrote:
Peter do you have any tips to pass on from your experience about building Storm Petrel? Did you ever have to sit a while in the moaning chair? How about the recesses in the deck for the sides buttstraps for example? Just match up and trace around first?? Galvanise or epoxy the keel? How about those staunchions? At particular stages of the build if things do look a bit tricky, or some unobvious measurement needs be wrung out, or another hand might be "handy", did you invent any instant boat solutions in the Dynamite manner? I'd be interested to hear about that.
> I can't say why Dynamite didn't carry the plans for SP.Well, Peter, PCB did say SP looked good to his eye... That you're going to build another one says much about the boat...
> My Petrel got lots of attention on the Oakland Estuary. One of my
> liveaboard neighbors was almost obsessed with it, saying he thought
> it was the perfect boat. I had many people call out unsolicited
> compliments whenever I sailed her.
> With the keel (which never seemed to be in the way) she stood up toThat's interesting: that the keel never seemed to be in the way. Did you always keep her moored in sufficient depth - no drying berths and such? What do you think of the shallower rudder and longer shallower keel PCB sketched for someone else? I bet the keel sucked some power out of the rower too! Turning - I thought SP would track well - imagine a tiller comb and dozing off or making a cuppa while she kept on course...
> her enlarged sail plan well, though when rowing it made turning her
> really tough. She was fast under power (5 hp).
> I had a problem getting her to point. My neighbors said that the SPThat's quite interesting - and outpointed eh?
> covered as much ground sideways as she did going forward, and it
> was impossible to tack her up the Estuary. That was solved by
> moving the mainsheet to the top of the rudder and adding a boom
> (closet pole diameter) to the foot of the sprit. After that my
> Petrel outpointed the SF Pelicans and Potters, though at 16 feet
> she was still a slow little boat.
> The fellow I sold her to was restoring a Herreshoff 28 in aIn the picture I see there she's black topsides with off-white decks, but red spritsail - do you mean she was painted again later? I've looked through the groups for the photos of the unfinished one I mentioned that may have been built near your area, but can't find them. I was pretty sure they were in a bolger group, but maybe they were off another site. I have them saved on an old machine I think, and there maybe info about their source - I'll have a look when I can.
> warehouse in Alameda and wanted something to sail to keep his
> spirits up. I saw the Petrel a few years later in the Emeryvillle
> marina; she'd been completely repainted a ghastly red. (that's the
> picture I see in the Bolger@yahoogroup files)
Peter do you have any tips to pass on from your experience about building Storm Petrel? Did you ever have to sit a while in the moaning chair? How about the recesses in the deck for the sides buttstraps for example? Just match up and trace around first?? Galvanise or epoxy the keel? How about those staunchions? At particular stages of the build if things do look a bit tricky, or some unobvious measurement needs be wrung out, or another hand might be "handy", did you invent any instant boat solutions in the Dynamite manner? I'd be interested to hear about that.
You beat me to it. I doubled the ¼ on both the bottom (done as part of initial construction) and the deck (after seeing how it flexed when 250 pounders jumped on).
MylesJ
| I can't say why Dynamite didn't carry the plans for SP. My Petrel got lots of attention on the Oakland Estuary. One of my liveaboard neighbors was almost obsessed with it, saying he thought it was the perfect boat. I had many people call out unsolicited compliments whenever I sailed her. With the keel (which never seemed to be in the way) she stood up to her enlarged sail plan well, though when rowing it made turning her really tough. She was fast under power (5 hp). I had a problem getting her to point. My neighbors said that the SP covered as much ground sideways as she did going forward, and it was impossible to tack her up the Estuary. That was solved by moving the mainsheet to the top of the rudder and adding a boom (closet pole diameter) to the foot of the sprit. After that my Petrel outpointed the SF Pelicans and Potters, though at 16 feet she was still a slow little boat. The fellow I sold her to was restoring a Herreshoff 28 in a warehouse in Alameda and wanted something to sail to keep his spirits up. I saw the Petrel a few years later in the Emeryvillle marina; she'd been completely repainted a ghastly red. (that's the picture I see in the Bolger@yahoogroup files) --- OnWed, 3/7/12, c.ruzer<c.ruzer@...>wrote: |
> but the bottom of the MICRO will be much tougher and longer lasting if built with 1/2 ply instead of the more flimsy 1/4" prescribed.The decks could be stiffer for dancing on too - say 3/8.
Tim's Storm Petrel didn't get the keel in the end. PCB also on request did supply Tim along with the plans an alternate much larger sailplan drawing - a lugsail, IIRC, of the handy balanced type.
There's photos of another SP building about 10 years ago - somewhere near your neck of the woods again too - modified cuddy top, compartments aft, samson posts - you may have seen it. The build process was altered too IIRC, it was built upright and the builder made their inclusions/modifications as they went. Photos show it to about the stage of being ready for glassing/painting. Even though it was close to finish, and seemed wery well built, I don't believe it actually got there.
Hey, maybe you know the answer to this: per the notation on the plan SP was drawn for Dynamite; so why didn't Dynamite, Instant Boats, ever market it?
There's photos of another SP building about 10 years ago - somewhere near your neck of the woods again too - modified cuddy top, compartments aft, samson posts - you may have seen it. The build process was altered too IIRC, it was built upright and the builder made their inclusions/modifications as they went. Photos show it to about the stage of being ready for glassing/painting. Even though it was close to finish, and seemed wery well built, I don't believe it actually got there.
Hey, maybe you know the answer to this: per the notation on the plan SP was drawn for Dynamite; so why didn't Dynamite, Instant Boats, ever market it?
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "pthelin1" <pthelin1@...> wrote:
>
> Looking at the pictures on their website I'm sure Fitz built their Petrel to spec. Mine was made 15 years earlier.
>
> At the time, in a reply to an inquiry regarding the sail plan modification, Phil wrote that he was aware of only two others having been built and neither of those was to spec.
>
> Peter
>
> --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Harry James <welshman@> wrote:
> >
> > I think the one Tim built was to the plans. Fritz was not one to modify
> > Bolger.
> >
> >http://www.boats.backwater.org/StormPetrel/
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Carl Volkwein <carlvolkwein@...> wrote:
I built a MICRO and it took about 18 months of very enjoyable part-time work.It was not difficult or "hard" as it is of a small enough size to readily manhandle and visualize the different elements.Probably the best use of 14 sheets of plywood around.
No idea what type of sailing you plan on doing(trailer sail, at a mooring or at a quay) but the bottom of the MICRO will be much tougher and longer lasting if built with 1/2 ply instead of the more flimsy 1/4" prescribed. Unless you are buying high end plywood, a lot of the less expensive 1/4" ply on the market today is not what it was when those plans were first drawn.Thus my 1/2" suggestion.
You can see some pictures of my MICRO here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bolger/files/Micro/Lenihans%27%20%20%22LESTAT%22%20/
There are some slight modifications to my boat, but that was just my own craziness.If you are new to building a boat from plans, it may be best to stick closely to the plans, as many have already been successfully built and launched by doing so.
Best of luck with your build!
Peter Lenihan
>Hi,
> I would like information about Micro plans prices etc.
> has anybody built one, how long did it take,m how hard was it?
> carlvolkwein@ yahoo
>
I built a MICRO and it took about 18 months of very enjoyable part-time work.It was not difficult or "hard" as it is of a small enough size to readily manhandle and visualize the different elements.Probably the best use of 14 sheets of plywood around.
No idea what type of sailing you plan on doing(trailer sail, at a mooring or at a quay) but the bottom of the MICRO will be much tougher and longer lasting if built with 1/2 ply instead of the more flimsy 1/4" prescribed. Unless you are buying high end plywood, a lot of the less expensive 1/4" ply on the market today is not what it was when those plans were first drawn.Thus my 1/2" suggestion.
You can see some pictures of my MICRO here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bolger/files/Micro/Lenihans%27%20%20%22LESTAT%22%20/
There are some slight modifications to my boat, but that was just my own craziness.If you are new to building a boat from plans, it may be best to stick closely to the plans, as many have already been successfully built and launched by doing so.
Best of luck with your build!
Peter Lenihan
Hear, hear.
Build as 'is'. Then try and live with
her. Then consider what still needs changing..
Susanne
Susanne
----- Original Message -----From:BruceHallmanSent:Tuesday, March 06, 2012 4:05 PMSubject:Re: [bolger] Re: Boat plansOn Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 5:26 PM, Carl Volkwein <carlvolkwein@...> wrote:
>
> I would like information about Micro plans prices etc.
> has anybody built one, how long did it take,m how hard was it?
> carlvolkwein@ yahoo
I built a Micro. "how hard" is not a simple question to answer.
Mine took too long to build, in hindsight. Every 'improvement' I made
to the plans added cost and time, with dubious improvement in function
of the boat. If I were to build another one I would strictly follow
the plans, and go for the simple cat-yawl version. I like to think I
could accept a dare to build a Micro in 200 manhours or less. <smile>
That said, I bet several Micro builds took 1,000 manhours.
I strongly recommend building a scale model first.
On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 5:26 PM, Carl Volkwein <carlvolkwein@...> wrote:
Mine took too long to build, in hindsight. Every 'improvement' I made
to the plans added cost and time, with dubious improvement in function
of the boat. If I were to build another one I would strictly follow
the plans, and go for the simple cat-yawl version. I like to think I
could accept a dare to build a Micro in 200 manhours or less. <smile>
That said, I bet several Micro builds took 1,000 manhours.
I strongly recommend building a scale model first.
>I built a Micro. "how hard" is not a simple question to answer.
> I would like information about Micro plans prices etc.
> has anybody built one, how long did it take,m how hard was it?
> carlvolkwein@ yahoo
Mine took too long to build, in hindsight. Every 'improvement' I made
to the plans added cost and time, with dubious improvement in function
of the boat. If I were to build another one I would strictly follow
the plans, and go for the simple cat-yawl version. I like to think I
could accept a dare to build a Micro in 200 manhours or less. <smile>
That said, I bet several Micro builds took 1,000 manhours.
I strongly recommend building a scale model first.
Guten Abend Carl.
Design #422 MICRO on 11 sheets is available for $250 to build one boat, sent rolled in a tube.
Never built one though... But others will help you discussing respective details.
Design #422 MICRO on 11 sheets is available for $250 to build one boat, sent rolled in a tube.
Never built one though... But others will help you discussing respective details.
Susanne Altenburger
Phil Bolger&Friends
66 Atlantic Street
Gloucester, MA 01930-1627
----- Original Message -----From:Carl VolkweinSent:Monday, March 05, 2012 8:26 PMSubject:[bolger] Re: Boat plansI would like information about Micro plans prices etc.has anybody built one, how long did it take,m how hard was it?carlvolkwein@ yahoo
I would like information about Micro plans prices etc.
has anybody built one, how long did it take,m how hard was it?
carlvolkwein@ yahoo
Thanks for the reply Susanne, and no, I hadn't written to you yet, though that would have been the logical course.
I'll be sending you a check shortly!
Peter
I'll be sending you a check shortly!
Peter
> Peter,
> I hope you are not one of those inquiries in my 'stack' here...
>
> Here is a quicker answer as Phil listed them:
> - #337 STORM PETREL = $50.- to build one boat.
> - #375 OTTER II = $150.- to build one boat.
> Make out and send check etc. to
>
> Phil Bolger & Friends Inc.
> 66 Atlantic Street
> Gloucester, MA 01930-1627
>
> Yours
> Susanne
>
Looking at the pictures on their website I'm sure Fitz built their Petrel to spec. Mine was made 15 years earlier.
At the time, in a reply to an inquiry regarding the sail plan modification, Phil wrote that he was aware of only two others having been built and neither of those was to spec.
Peter
At the time, in a reply to an inquiry regarding the sail plan modification, Phil wrote that he was aware of only two others having been built and neither of those was to spec.
Peter
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Harry James <welshman@...> wrote:
>
> I think the one Tim built was to the plans. Fritz was not one to modify
> Bolger.
>
>http://www.boats.backwater.org/StormPetrel/
>
> HJ
>
I think the one Tim built was to the plans. Fritz was not one to modify
Bolger.
http://www.boats.backwater.org/StormPetrel/
HJ
Bolger.
http://www.boats.backwater.org/StormPetrel/
HJ
On 3/5/2012 10:18 AM, pthelin1 wrote:
> Now that Phil has passed, is there a resource for his boat plans?
>
> I would like to find a set for Otter II and Storm Petrel.
>
> I've built a few of Phil's boats already, a Gypsy, Cartopper and what Phil thought was the only Storm Petrel built without alteration's (this was the Storm Petrel that I sold to Marc Lander in S.F. about 20 years ago). I did ultimately modify the Petrel; I switched from the Zephyr lateen rig to a sprit, then added a tiny jib which I had made at Hogin Sails in Alameda.
>
> At the time I lived on a Columbia 45 in the Oakland Estuary where I sailed the Petrel. I wanted a little more sail for the light evening winds. Now I live on a floating home in San Pablo Bay where the problem is too much wind!
>
> Anyway, I'd like to build another Petrel or maybe the Otter II, but have lost my plans to the Petrel over the years. I could build them from my copy of Different Boats, but the images get fuzzy when I enlarge them too much. (I have all the Bolger books)
>
> Peter
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Bolger rules!!!
> - NO "GO AWAY SPAMMER!" posts!!! Please!
> - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, respamming, or flogging dead horses
> - stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no 'Ed, thanks, Fred' posts
> - Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts, and snip away
> - Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax: (978) 282-1349
> - Unsubscribe:bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> - Open discussion:bolger_coffee_lounge-subscribe@yahoogroups.comYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
Peter,
I hope you are not one of those inquiries in my 'stack' here...
Here is a quicker answer as Phil listed them:
- #337 STORM PETREL = $50.- to build one boat.
- #375 OTTER II = $150.- to build one boat.
Make out and send check etc. to
Phil Bolger & Friends Inc.
66 Atlantic Street
Gloucester, MA 01930-1627
Yours
I hope you are not one of those inquiries in my 'stack' here...
Here is a quicker answer as Phil listed them:
- #337 STORM PETREL = $50.- to build one boat.
- #375 OTTER II = $150.- to build one boat.
Make out and send check etc. to
Phil Bolger & Friends Inc.
66 Atlantic Street
Gloucester, MA 01930-1627
Yours
Susanne
----- Original Message -----From:pthelin1Sent:Monday, March 05, 2012 2:18 PMSubject:[bolger] Boat plansNow that Phil has passed, is there a resource for his boat plans?
I would like to find a set for Otter II and Storm Petrel.
I've built a few of Phil's boats already, a Gypsy, Cartopper and what Phil thought was the only Storm Petrel built without alteration's (this was the Storm Petrel that I sold to Marc Lander in S.F. about 20 years ago). I did ultimately modify the Petrel; I switched from the Zephyr lateen rig to a sprit, then added a tiny jib which I had made at Hogin Sails in Alameda.
At the time I lived on a Columbia 45 in the Oakland Estuary where I sailed the Petrel. I wanted a little more sail for the light evening winds. Now I live on a floating home in San Pablo Bay where the problem is too much wind!
Anyway, I'd like to build another Petrel or maybe the Otter II, but have lost my plans to the Petrel over the years. I could build them from my copy of Different Boats, but the images get fuzzy when I enlarge them too much. (I have all the Bolger books)
Peter
Yes for some specifically you can buy from Dennis who was Dynamite Payson's protoge. Dynamite wrote the books that included many of phil bolger's designs.
Scot McPherson, PMP CISSP MCSA
McPherson Family Farms
Le Claire, IA, USA
On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 1:18 PM, pthelin1<pthelin1@...>wrote:Now that Phil has passed, is there a resource for his boat plans?
I would like to find a set for Otter II and Storm Petrel.
I've built a few of Phil's boats already, a Gypsy, Cartopper and what Phil thought was the only Storm Petrel built without alteration's (this was the Storm Petrel that I sold to Marc Lander in S.F. about 20 years ago). I did ultimately modify the Petrel; I switched from the Zephyr lateen rig to a sprit, then added a tiny jib which I had made at Hogin Sails in Alameda.
At the time I lived on a Columbia 45 in the Oakland Estuary where I sailed the Petrel. I wanted a little more sail for the light evening winds. Now I live on a floating home in San Pablo Bay where the problem is too much wind!
Anyway, I'd like to build another Petrel or maybe the Otter II, but have lost my plans to the Petrel over the years. I could build them from my copy of Different Boats, but the images get fuzzy when I enlarge them too much. (I have all the Bolger books)
Peter
Now that Phil has passed, is there a resource for his boat plans?
I would like to find a set for Otter II and Storm Petrel.
I've built a few of Phil's boats already, a Gypsy, Cartopper and what Phil thought was the only Storm Petrel built without alteration's (this was the Storm Petrel that I sold to Marc Lander in S.F. about 20 years ago). I did ultimately modify the Petrel; I switched from the Zephyr lateen rig to a sprit, then added a tiny jib which I had made at Hogin Sails in Alameda.
At the time I lived on a Columbia 45 in the Oakland Estuary where I sailed the Petrel. I wanted a little more sail for the light evening winds. Now I live on a floating home in San Pablo Bay where the problem is too much wind!
Anyway, I'd like to build another Petrel or maybe the Otter II, but have lost my plans to the Petrel over the years. I could build them from my copy of Different Boats, but the images get fuzzy when I enlarge them too much. (I have all the Bolger books)
Peter
I would like to find a set for Otter II and Storm Petrel.
I've built a few of Phil's boats already, a Gypsy, Cartopper and what Phil thought was the only Storm Petrel built without alteration's (this was the Storm Petrel that I sold to Marc Lander in S.F. about 20 years ago). I did ultimately modify the Petrel; I switched from the Zephyr lateen rig to a sprit, then added a tiny jib which I had made at Hogin Sails in Alameda.
At the time I lived on a Columbia 45 in the Oakland Estuary where I sailed the Petrel. I wanted a little more sail for the light evening winds. Now I live on a floating home in San Pablo Bay where the problem is too much wind!
Anyway, I'd like to build another Petrel or maybe the Otter II, but have lost my plans to the Petrel over the years. I could build them from my copy of Different Boats, but the images get fuzzy when I enlarge them too much. (I have all the Bolger books)
Peter