We Asked our 25 Expert Guides to Tell Us
About The Three Boats They Lust After (and Why)…
They gave us the inside scoop on 75 great boats!
Here’s one of those blogs by OCH Guide, Nat Benjamin.
The Three Boats I Lust After (and Why)
This question should really be directed at amateurs, not “experts.” The problem with experts, professionals or whatever misnomer you choose is that we’ve all been messing about with so many boats for so long that any vestige of unbridled desire has been distilled into a raw assessment of facts and qualities that make up a particular craft. Having said that, I’m reminded that just the other day my heart went pitter patter as the 65’ schooner Juno came roaring through the harbor under full sail and the locals lined up on the beach observed in silent… amazement, bewilderment, awe…lust? Ask an alcoholic to name his three favorite drinks and he’ll give you an equally ambiguous stare through a similar blurred vision.
More often than not, I find myself appraising a vessel by the company it keeps. The chaotic tub that sails off every afternoon with a pile of happy kids aboard who are firing water balloons at unsuspecting targets has more appeal to me than the sleek an exotic 6-meter or 8-meter sloop locked to its mooring most of the summer. Unfair as this may seem, it is human nature to pass judgment subjectively and these days my subjects are between the ages of four and nine—all armed with water balloons.
Having excused myself from serious consideration, I’ll briefly describe three boats that my children and grandchildren could sail aboard in full pirate attire and adventuresome spirit.
#1: The Bay Bird
The Bay Bird was designed by W. Starling Burgess for shoal draft sailing in Pleasant Bay on Cape Cod. I learned to sail in this lovely craft back when I was around 12 years old at the Pleasant Bay Camp. At 18’ on deck, 16’3” on the waterline, 5’6” beam, and with only 6” of draft with the centerboard up, this sweet little gaff sloop could carry two or three campers plus an instructor in relative comfort. The sloop rig is just right to keep everyone occupied—one person tending the jib, one on the main sheet, a helmsman at the tiller, and perhaps a bailer. This is a great sailing, responsive open boat with the bare essentials for the essence of sailing. I understand that the class is being revived. Contact: www.pleasantbayboatandspar.com
#2: Pocket Cruisers
Pocket cruisers would be very popular if people only understood how much freedom you can have with a minimalist approach. I designed Celeste for this purpose, and we have built two so far—one with a gaff rig and the other Marconi. The 28’ auxiliary centerboard sloop is capable of gunkholing or offshore sailing. The distinctive canoe stern compliments the spoon bow and is interesting to build. Reports from the owners confirm a nice balance and good performance. Below deck are two comfortable berths, a drop leaf table, galley and Porta Potti are all you need. The opening ports and a skylight offer plenty of ventilation. A 2-cylinder, 14hp Beta diesel pushes her along at 5-6 knots when the wind dies. Great adventures could be had in a vessel like this. (See Wooden Boat issue #178, June 2004)
#3: Charlotte
It would be disingenuous of me if I did not include our family cruising schooner as one of my three favorites. As in many cases, the design criteria were larger than our checkbook so old Mr. Compromise was called in to mitigate the confusion. Our requirements were 1) that she be easily daysailed by two people; 2) that she comfortably accommodate 12 guests for day chartering; 3) that she be responsive, well performing, and easy to steer, with the emphasis on directional tracking; 4) that she have lots of deck space and substantial bulwarks; 5) that she have a traditional gaff schooner rig with a minimum of winches; 6) that she have eight full berths plus two kid’s bunks; 7) that she have diesel auxiliary power with a 300 mile range; 8) That she’d have a powerful hull capable of long ocean passages; 9) that she’d not to exceed 50’ in length on deck or 7’ in draft; 10) and that she was being built for a parsimonious owner (me) who does not like to part with his money.
With this checklist in hand, I designed CHARLOTTE and, with a lot of help from out boatyard crew, built her over a four year period, and her launched in 2007.
To say that I’m pleased with this schooner would be an understatement. However, I should point out a few “challenges” that I’m still working on. In order to move CHARLOTTE’s 57,000 lbs to windward in less than 10 knots of wind requires significant sail area. I don’t like the sound of motors so I’m working with Sperry Sails to re-configure the mainsail, and I’m designing a main gaff topsail as well for a bit more sail power.
Since I discovered eBay and sailing friends with spare winches, I’m planting old self-tailers around the deck to make life a bit easier when sailing short-handed.
Most schooners are good passagemakers, and CHARLOTTE seems to love the deep blue sea. We managed to have all ten of our rapidly expanding family aboard last winter for ten days in the Caribbean, and everyone got along famously. Having passed that ultimate test, we look forward to next year when the little ones get bigger and the water balloons fly farther.
CHARLOTTE: LOD: 50’6” LWL: 43’10” Beam: 14’ Draft: 6’8” Displacement: 57,000lbs
Sail area: 1,319 sq. ft. in four lowers.