Irresistible Tidbits You Can’t Live Without

(…Or Maybe You Can, But Here They Are Anyway)

Every once in awhile, like right now, we run across smaller items we’ve got to share with readers, so here goes.

Small Boat Festival

Thanks to many Small Craft Advisor readers for sharing your appreciation of our recent Small Boat Festival, held July 26-27 at Port Ludlow Marina.

We thought the first-ever event went well, too, so if it happens again next year, SCA readers will be the first to know.

Sally Gadow photo

(We loved reader comments on the August 1 Shallow Draft recap of the Small Boat Festival, and maybe especially the observation by Chris O, who’d read our two earlier “Dock Walk” photo spreads—focused on mostly-big boats docked in Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor. Chris described our image-rich review of the Small Boat Festival as “Dock Walk III,” and he felt the latest marina stroll exhibited far more desirable (small) watercraft. Thanks, Chris and everybody else!)

Mouse Update…

Sailing Oak Bay, south of Port Townsend, in light winds. Denis Wang photo

Since the Small Boat Festival we’ve had more time to daysail our little gunter yawl, Mouse, and each time we gain a greater appreciation for the boat. And during every outing we find more tweaks to make in the rigging…mostly in an effort to simplify, bring all control lines back to the cockpit and make sure jib sheets never foul when coming about.

Mission accomplished: At this point we’re comfortable sailing Mouse in different wind and weather conditions, so along with friends we’re setting out this week on our first camp-cruising adventure.

Upon return, we’ll draft a two-part series covering the origin of Mouse’s design, along with construction, and then offer a photo spread on the boat’s inaugural cruise. So, stay tuned if you can tolerate more stuff about Mouse.

Recent Small-Boat Launches…

Here are a few Small Craft Advisor readers who’ve splashed newly-built boats. (Please email photos of small-boat launches you’ve witnessed—your own builds or those of friends—to me, Marty Loken, via email at Norseboater22@gmail.com. I’ll happily consider them for a future column.)

The New Scout 14

Our friends at Duckworks Boat Builders Supply have been happy with the rowing-sailing Scout 10 skiff they developed a few years back…available as a CNC-cut kit that includes everything folks need—full sail rig, rudder and daggerboard, epoxy and fiberglass, hardware and hatches.

A few weeks ago, the recently-built upgrade, Scout 14, debuted at the Small Boat Festival. We had an opportunity to sail alongside the boat, which is a bigger and faster version of the popular Scout 10. The Scout 14 comes as a kit with the same kinds of components found in the smaller Scout 10…and with a sail-color choice of white or tanbark.

For details on both models, go to www.duckworks.com

The new Scout 14 reaching across Port Ludlow Bay during the Small Boat Festival. Kits are available from Duckworks. Marty Loken photo

Hideaway, a Newly-Designed Shantyboat

This past Friday, the long-awaited solar-electric Hideaway splashed at a ramp in Port Townsend. We had a tour and can’t wait for a ride with owners Chelcie and Kathy Liu…and we can announce today that SCA will publish a multi-part feature on the design, build and early adventures of Hideaway…starting in the next month or so.

Hideaway is a fascinating custom design by Sam Devlin, with some pre-construction tweaks by Brandon Davis of Turn Point Design in Port Townsend, who handled CNC cutting of all marine-plywood panels. The 22’ boat was skillfully built by Kees Prins in his area boatshop, with assistance from Laingdon Schmidt.

Owner Chelcie Liu will go into more details in the upcoming series of articles, but for now, here are a few photos.

The just-launched shantyboat, Hideaway, in her Port Townsend slip. Note the eight solar panels on the cabintop. Unlike some shantyboat designs, Hideaway has a very seaworthy bottom design, capable of cruising Puget Sound and other such waterways. Besides a roomy interior, the boat offers comfortable outdoor seating fore and aft, along with screened, sliding side windows for ventilation. Marty Loken photo

Happy owner Chelcie Liu aboard Hideaway, perched on one of the two side berths. (The helm seat, at left, folds up and out of the way.) To the right, just barely in view, is a dinette table that drops down to become a second berth. Behind that is an enclosed head with shower, and beyond Chelcie to left is the galley. Marty Loken photo

Hideaway’s electric outboard is a new model, the 6kW Ilmor ION, with five-blade power prop. Ilmor, a U.S. company, has been contracted to build electric outboards for Tohatsu…quite an impressive score! Marty Loken photo

A New Welsford Pathfinder, Chinook

Roger and Jo Beachy have been out almost daily, test-sailing their new Pathfinder build, Chinook, in Port Townsend-area waters.

With lots of sailing experience, Jo and Roger opted for a Chinese lug rig on Chinook, making the mainsail and mizzen in their Marrowstone Island boatshop.