Winter Boat Show (Day 5)

Yep, there's more to see....

Sea Pearl Tri, Richard Scott: “I am the third owner of Wing It, a 2000 Sea Pearl 21 Tri. In addition to the many great attributes of the monohull Sea Pearl (shallow draft, beachable, un-stayed cat-ketch rig, ease of setup, sails furled on the rotating masts, fun to sail) the Tri adds stability and roominess, including a larger center cockpit and stretch out sunbathing space on the wing decks. The Tri hull carries more sail area than the monohull, although this is offset by more wetted surface. The downside, typical for tri hull boats, is the 14 foot width with amas extended, which make maneuvering in tight quarters a challenge. The width and protruding amas also makes it a bit more difficult to tack, especially if the seas are choppy. My personal gripe is the helmsman’s position which is so far from the outer edges of the amas that singlehanded docking becomes tricky. 

Those who enjoy heeling may prefer the SP 21 monohull, but in my opinion the pros of the Tri (stability and roominess) outweigh the cons. A fun boat. 

The photo of Wing It was taken at Atsena Otie during one of the annual Cedar Key, Florida Small Boat Meets.”

Core Sound 17, Paul Bargren: “Here are a couple pictures of my Core Sound 17, CarrieB, designed by Graham Byrnes of B&B Yachts.  It is a terrific sailer, is fast, points well, and has plenty of room for gear for expeditions and camping.  It has served well on several sail-camping trips, including the first 150 miles or so of the 2022 Everglades challenge.  It has taken me and the family on numerous day sails.  We've had as many as 8 aboard, but it easily single-hands, too.  There are oars and a 2.5 hp outboard for those calm spots.  I built it from the B&B kit.  The only drawback is that it takes me about 45 minutes to set up at the ramp, and another 45 to take down.  All in all, I'm a big fan.”

Chameleon and ComPac 16, Ben Bierman: “Here are two for your Winter boat show. First, my  Danny Greene Chameleon sailboat built from Duckworks plans, Kermit.

The Chameleon is a great nesting rowboat and outboard dinghy that sails well.  It’s a bit heavy for cartopping, but very easy to trailer, and the boat and Harbor Freight utility trailer take up hardly any space when folded for the winter. It has ample dry storage in three watertight flotation compartments. I’ve had it out on the Columbia in very short 2’ waves in a 20 knot wind blowing against the current and it took on a little spray over the bow, but felt solid and safe.  The nesting does create some compromises to comfort for sailing and rowing comfort, with the center bulkheads taking up a bit too much space. Having one boat that can be used so many ways and can easily be stored in a small space is perfect for my needs.

The ComPac 16 Mark II is an old favorite, but this 1983 version is new to me this year and I’m excited to take it on more adventures.  I can get it rigged and in the water in about 40 minutes, and it’s a pleasure to sail or motor. Very solid and stable and feels like a larger boat.  The cabin is tight, but cozy for one person, especially after improving the lighting and adding a removable table. Other boats are faster, but it’s gotten me where I needed to go so far. The downside is launching. I’ve had to abort twice because the water at a ramp was too shallow.  I’ve just added a tongue extension and am hoping for higher water on the Columbia in Spring for easier launching.

Loving the new digital format…”

Menger 19 Catboat, Michael Scheibeck: “Attached is a shot of our 2003 Menger 19 catboat Virginia Mae, going at it hammer and tongs on a sunny October day back in 2015.  The venue was Alum Creek Reservoir, a Corps of Engineers impoundment near Columbus, Ohio.  I was at Virginia Mae's helm, with a stiff breeze blowing and the first reef tucked in to keep her in hand.  My son Eric was out in a dinghy with a couple of cameras to capture some dramatic action images and video.  This is one of my favorites.

The late Bill Menger built Virginia Mae to order for us in 2003.  We campaigned her extensively, both "cruising in place" on our local lakes, and with frequent road trips to other venues for more extended adventures.  Recently, my wife's declining mobility, and my need to spend more time taking care of her, prompted us to pass Virginia Mae on to new caretakers in 2020.  We couldn't bear the thought of our beloved treasure becoming another one of the sadly neglected derelicts in the mast-up boatyard where we kept her near a launch ramp at Alum Creek State Park.

My wife and I had many splendid adventures as a couple aboard Virginia Mae over those seasons.  I often took a grandchild or two with me on extended trailersailing ‘adventures with Gramps as well.’  Sometimes just being anchored out for a few nights on our local lakes provided us with "big adventures in small spaces."  We all miss Virginia Mae now, but we have many fond memories, and lots of photos to help recall all the wonderful times we shared aboard her.”

PROS:

• With a displacement of 2900#, she is just about the most boat I'd want to routinely launch off a trailer--something of a "maximal minimalist" trailerable pocket cruiser.  Bill Menger supplied her with a well set up Load Rite single axle trailer, which safely carried her many thousands of miles.
  

• The optional mast tabernacle was an essential part of being able to transport, rig, launch, and recover her singlehanded.
  

• The optional outboard motor well was also an essential part of being able to keep the boat on the trailer when not in use.  A Honda BF8 was situated in this well just ahead of the rudder, controls right by the helmsman and ready to fire up to assist whenever needed.  It was almost like having a single screw inboard, except we could remove the motor for annual maintenance over the off season.  Unlike a bracket mounted outboard motor, I didn't have to hang over the stern and risk falling overboard to come at the motor controls.
  

• Shallow draft of just under 2' (centerboard raised) made her a great boat for exploring places other cruising sailboats dared not go.  If necessary, she could safely lie aground over a low tide.
  

• Her broad beam (a bit over 8') allowed for a nice cabin, a large cockpit, and ample storage lockers for gear and supplies.  Bill used to say that these girls would "sail 6, feed 4, and sleep 2" without feeling crowded.  My wife and I sometimes lived aboard her for a week or more--without her killing me!
  

• With a sail area of 270 square feet, she was a great light air sailer.  She could readily chuckle along at 4 knots in less than a 10 knot breeze, could do 5 knots and a bit more hard on a breeze of 10 to 12 knots if the waves weren't getting up too much, and a steady 5-1/2 to 6 knots with the wind free.
  

• The single line reefing for the first reef made sail reduction for winds more than that 10 to 12 knot sweet spot--necessary to keep her manageable--a fairly straightforward task.  When things got really snotty, she behaved quite well with the second reef tucked in.
  

• Inside the cabin, there is a secure recess for a Thetford portable toilet at chair height on the starboard side next to the companionway, usable with the boat underway.  Privacy was possible with the companionway hatch closed and the hatchboard in place.  (A fixed head with holding tank was also an option, perhaps suitable for a boat kept in the water rather than on a trailer.)
  

• The construction and hardware were of very high quality throughout.  The only thing which ever broke was the centerboard, sheared off on an invisible, submerged, floating deadhead in western Lake Erie, sailing upwind with a nice breeze and waves running 2 to 3 feet.
  

• She's a beautiful boat, drawing admiring looks, broad smiles, and many compliments wherever she went.

CONS:

• With the cabintop extending very far forward (which increases space below, a good thing in itself) and the massive mast tabernacle forward of that, there is little room on the foredeck for handling anchors, mooring lines and other such tasks.  This became more of an issue as I got older and began to look more like an old bear than a nimble young deck ape when I left the cockpit to work on deck.  I worked around this by cleating off appropriate scope before anchoring and then handling the ground tackle from the cockpit.
  

• The rudder was of the traditional catboat's rounded "barndoor" shape.  In working boats, this was helpful for lessening the chances of fouling pot warp.  For a pleasure boat which doesn't spend a lot of time working among crowded fields of lobster or crab pots, a narrower, squared off rudder with an end plate would likely be more effective and easier on the helmsman's arms.  This is not unique to Menger boats, of course, but would likely be the case with any recreational catboat modeled after working boats.
  

• There is no boom vang, nor sufficient room below the boom at the mast to rig an effective one.  Traditional gaff rigged catboats had their booms peaked up a good bit, and the goosenecks were therefore very low on the mast.  A higher gooseneck and a more level boom to make room for an effective boom vang would, admittedly, spoil the traditional look, so this is also a typical issue with recreational catboats modeled after working boats, not just Mengers.
  
  Without a boom vang or other means of restraining the boom, it will rise significantly when the sheets are eased, causing the upper part of the sail to twist off excessively, especially in strong winds and even more especially with a lightweight aluminum boom instead of the heavy wooden spars typical of wooden working cats.  With a single large sail on a boom about as long as the boat, gybes, even in moderate wind, must be handled very carefully to keep the boom under control and to avoid potentially catastrophic problems.  This can be a bit intimidating to a sailor who is new to the type, working his way through the learning curve.
  

• No standing headroom in the cabin.  It's just not possible in a shallow draft boat of this size without the result looking like a cargo container with a sail stuck on top.  For some folks, this would be a real show stopper.  We found that it wasn't really that hard to deal with, since there was good sitting headroom  all around the folding leaf table built onto the centerboard trunk.
  

• The running rigging--multipart peak and throat halyards and four part mainsheet--was made up from 5/16" three strand polyester with a very rough "hand".  Some sort of 3/8" low stretch double braid with a softer, though not slippery, surface would have been a lot easier on the hands, but Bill Menger thought the 3/8" would look "too large for her size" and that the three strand construction was in keeping with her "traditional" look.
  
  I thought about changing it all later, but I was afraid of getting a visit from the Ghost of Bill Menger.  Sailing gloves were mandatory for working with these lines, especially the four part, flesh eating mainsheet.  Executing a gybe required rapidly hauling most of 100' of the hairy stuff at the beginning, and then, even more rapidly, easing that same 100' back out under firm control as the boom came flying across.  Exciting stuff, it was, with the heady smell of smoking leather from the line sizzling through your hands (hopefully gloved) to complete the effect!

Sadly, these beautiful boats are no longer being built.

Laser, Dave Weglicki: “Attached is a photo of my 1993 vintage Laser No.148478 - Low Rider. The boat was in storage for 20 years until I recently retired. I got the boat back in the water this past summer to participate in some local club racing.  Moderate success! The Laser cat rig is deceptively simple at first glance. But with five mainsail controls (main, vang, outhaul, downhaul and traveler) it is far from simple. There is only one optimal sail control combination based on the given conditions, but an infinite number of incorrect (and slow) sail control combinations. Boat handling can be physically challenging at age 68 (hiking isn't what it used to be), but three sail rig sizes are available. This is as pure as sailing gets. Fun for racing (no crew required) or just day sailing. This is an Olympic Class with a great following and support.  Over 220,000 have been built in the last 50 years since it was first introduced.”