Flotsam & Jetsam
Your notes and letters ...
First off, have you been reading the entries to our Island Escape Boat Design Contest? All we can say is—wow! I guess it shouldn’t surprise us, but our entrants have really gone overboard with fascinating details, storylines and illustrations.
At least one of our entrants is a recognized survival expert, and almost every entry we’ve pubished so far has offered some practical or creative survival strategy, technique or design idea we hadn’t considered.
Who will safely escape the island and return to $400 worth of gift certificates at Glen-L Marine, Chesapeake Light Craft, Duckworks Boat Builders Supply and Small Craft Advisor? Stay tuned as we post several more entries over the next week or so and then our judges get to the dififcult job of choosing winners. —Eds
Regarding Welton Rotz’ question about being less mobile and boarding small boats…
Reader Christian Oliver wrote: Jeff Spira had a design for a garvey type skill with a WW2 landing craft style bow ramp specifically targeted at the mobility challenged. Unfortunately he has passed away but I wonder if there are similar designs from others.
John Nystrom wrote: Welton Rotz asked about camp-cruisers for older, 'less mobile' sailors. I wanted a Dovekie for years, but prices were a bit outside my boat budget. When one came along in fantastic shape, and low price, I concluded I was just not up to the demands of that vessel given my current mobility. My current dream boat is a Sea Pearl tri-hull. That is one that most anyone still on the water should be able to manage. Baring that, I am looking for something suitable to convert to a terminal trawler, with Aquarius or MacGregor/Venture in the 19 to 26 foot range good examples of suitable boats. Doing the Great Loop, or parts of it, in a camp-cruiser of terminal trawler is the dream voyage of choice.
Hugh Horton wrote: A paralyzed friend and I have been working on getting him sailing. He's a born Cedar Key waterman, but like most, hasn't sailed. Being a reader, though, he wants to sail. Clam Girl seems a good choice with her open interior, high boom and stability, but the sailing venture's dependent on a floating dock to place her gunnel at an acceptable height. We missed last fall's tides and winter's are harder, so we're aiming for later in the year.
A central small seat with a low, minimal back, which can move side to side, might work. Handholds so he can adjust his balance to move with the boat are important.
If any readers have experience with sailing for disabled sailors, or advice to give, please do.
About Marty Loken’s article on the Traditonal Boats of Ireland, Phil Truitt wrote: Thanks! I'm not sure how I avoided knowing, but to see the various examples of craft known as curachs was an education. An overall good read!
I grabbed a copy of Traditional Boats of Ireland on the advice of Walt Peebles, the coracle builder with whom I voyaged down the Eel River in SCA #116. It was a big purchase back then but wish now I bought two. Delightful book for traditional boat fans and fools who love coracles.
It's not a sailboat, but Bolger designed a garvey for hauling a lawnmower to a small island that needed maintenance. It has an opening bow with a broad gangplank, He called it an LCM (Landing Craft Mower). It could be adapted for handicapped usage.