Preview: Outfitting a Small Sailboat with Geoff Kerr

25 Responses So Far to “Outfitting a Small Sailboat with Geoff Kerr”

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  John Reynolds says:

  Great video. I just bought a small sailboat (Sea Pearl 21) on the other side of the country and need to give a list of items to buy before I arrive for a camp-cruise with it. Made a good list after watching this video.

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    John Reynolds says:

    Forgot my question. Would floating line be better for an anchor line if an out haul is used?

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      Geoff Kerr says:

      Floating line seems logical. I’d want to make sure it was of sufficient strength to stand alone in case some combination of wind /tide/ mischance resulted in all the load being on the outhaul rather than the anchor rode. Lately I find using my packraft as a tender far simpler than rigging the outhaul.

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  Scott Petit says:

  Geoff do you have a name for a good CY boat cover maker.

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    Geoff Kerr says:

    I have a great local shop, with a gifted artisan who happens to also be a neighbor. Marine canvas shops are few and far between, and if they are any good they are often booked out for months. Most shops will want to book you, and then have your boat at their place for efficient work; otherwise you’ll be paying for several trips to your house.

    Cloth-n-Canvas in Colchester, VT is my savior, and they have a great design for Caledonias, but are unwilling to make them without having your boat on hand. There is enough variability from builder to builder that simply building and shipping a cover doesn’t work.

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  Joshua Parker says:

  Geoff can you share some more information on how to mount pennants and flags from the sails and masts. I love seeing all the ones you have on the boat.

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    Geoff Kerr says:

    I certainly enjoy “dressing the ship”, to the point of stitching my own house flag. It is a matter of personal taste, and I occasionally wonder about going too far…my 25th anniversary pennant for Ned Ludd was simply toooo big, but way fun. I have rigged “pig sticks” to signal halyard on both my masts, using 1/8″ dacron braid and tiny little blocks. The sticks themselves can be hardware store dowels, or something shaped in the shop. It is very simple rigging; just hitch them to the halyard (once midway, once at the butt) so that a major portion of the stick projects above the block when fully hoisted. I suggest playing around with it as the length and projection should probably be in proportion to the size of the flag and the relative position of the masthead. I’ve rigged pennants to my sails with simple lashings thru peak cringles, or by stitching them to the leach of the sail. Were one to look closely one pennant might even be rigged with a pair of zip ties through the leech of the main, using hole punched with a hot awl. Have fun!

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  Donald Musselman says:

  Had the pleasure of building a wherry w/ Geof. His boat appears to be the same or very similar to the “Daughter of a sailor”boat. Where are these boats sourced?

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    Geoff Kerr says:

    Both are designs by Iain Oughtred, with plans available from Iain or through the WoodenBoat Store. There are several boats in this double ended family of designs. The Sooty Tern featured in the Daughter of a Sailor video was owner built, as was Ned Ludd, my boat. No one “manufactures” these designs, but they can be commissioned from professional shops such as Two Daughters Boatworks. I’m just finishing up my 25th( or thereabouts) Caledonia for delivery in 3 weeks.

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  Michael Quigley says:

  Another good video! Thank you.

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  Terry Lent says:

  All bases covered! Another great video!!!

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  Alan Mudd says:

  Tons of really good ideas. Geoff, what’s the big wood cross in the bow in the last shot?

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    Geoff Kerr says:

    That is a “haul-out” buoy. One end fixed to an anchor set in deep water, the opposite arm is rigged with a clothesline type loop, then one can haul the boat out to deep water after unloading on the beach. The theory behind the cross it that is keeps the loop from twisting up on itself. use it regularly when beach camping. I will proudly admit to having adopted it from the Maine Island Trail Assoc. Guidebook.

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  John Simlett says:

  I’m a boat-builder so any clues on boat-sailing are highly ‘collectable’ …. thanks a lot

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  Carolyn & Ron Pease says:

  Lots of great ideas that not only can apply to small boats but any size boat. Thats what I love about you gentlemen . You cover it all!!!

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  Steve Zutter says:

  What is the purpose of the hole in the paddle end of your boathook?

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    Geoff Kerr says:

    It is a hand grip. Were I to make another I’d increase the blade width a bit.

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  Peter A. Viau says:

  Who and where can the bronze hook be sourced? Regards Pete

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    Erik Sayce says:

    Toplicht.com is where Geoff mentions he got the hook, I did a little searching for you Peter and found this. http://www.toplicht.de/en/shop/schaekel-fender-ausruestung-und-zubehoer/bootshaken/bootshakenspitzen-und-stiele/bootshakenspitze-messing

    Enjoy!

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  Ken Kleeman says:

  Forgot to mention the kayak is still great. have had to refinish a couple of time from scratching it up on the rocks and the UV raysl

  Ken

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  Ken Kleeman says:

  From a former student nice video and best wishes for the holidays

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  Richard Greenway says:

  I really like the idea of using the boat fenders for added floatation as well as beaching the boat . I will use them on my John leather Oyster. I hope to do the Eggmoggin Reach in her one day.

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  Michael Owen says:

  Lots of good tips. Did I meet Geoff at this year’s Wooden Boat Show at Mystic?
  I painted the inside of my little daysailer grey after I saw his CY. Lot less glare than the former white paint.

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  Eric Winter says:

  re: Outfitting a Small Boat with Geoff Kerr

  Where can I find Geoff Kerr’s anchor line bucket? It looks perfect, but I can’t find one.

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    Geoff Kerr says:

    It’s just a laundry basket…any large grocery store, discount store etc.I drilled a few holes in the bottom to insure drainage.