wilson Posted January 12, 2004 Posted January 12, 2004 I just came into possesion of a 26 ft sharpie (measured to the tip of the 18 inch bowprite). This is my first contact with sailing ever . She came on a trailer and with 2 masts one measuring 14ft 6in above deck and the forward mast measuring a foot shorter neither one having a track. Also came with 3 booms . One being 160 inches , yolk type , the next being about 90 inches , yolk type and the smallest being about 60 inches , no yolk or goose neck . There is no hardware at all and no wear at all on the hull so I am led to believe this is sombodys not quite complete project. I bought "the sharpie book " upon reccommendation but it had no info on setting up sails . Is there a source of info out there that might tell me how to finish this project ,select sail style , attach sails to the mast & boom etc ? Even a collection of pictures that show some details would be helpfull. Thanks for any help ....Wilson [/i][/b] Quote
capt jake Posted January 12, 2004 Posted January 12, 2004 Wilson, do you have any pictures to post?? That in itself may help us to provide you with some answers. Sounds like a real score! Is there a source of info out there that might tell me how to finish this project ,select sail style , attach sails to the mast & boom etc ? I can always come over and remove it for you! No charge of course!! :) Quote
Arnie Eaton Posted January 13, 2004 Posted January 13, 2004 I would like to see your boat. Sounds like it would have a schooner rig, maybe with a gaff main sail, triangler foresail and standard jib. I live in Hamilton Montana and that's about 300 miles from you. If you could post pictures it would help. Jake (above) lives in Puget Sound area and might be a little closer. I have a friend in the Spokane area who maybe could help. Here is his e-mail address. tcsurbrook@surbrook.org. His name is Tom. Let me know what you do and/or find out. Arnie Eaton Phone 406 375 8290. Quote
wilson Posted January 13, 2004 Author Posted January 13, 2004 I took a pic this morning , I dont know how to post it ( web tv here ) but I'll be happy to email it. briananderin@webtv.net Quote
capt jake Posted January 15, 2004 Posted January 15, 2004 Here is a picture of Wilson's Sharpie. Quote
Phil Gowans Posted January 15, 2004 Posted January 15, 2004 Looks like a Bolger Light Schooner. See HH Payson Site: http://www.instantboats.com Quote
Johannah Posted January 15, 2004 Posted January 15, 2004 O yes, that's a Bolger light schooner, a screamer of a boat and the subject of one of my favourite websites. http://www.ace.net.au/schooner/index.htm Wishing you much fun with this find. You might want to try sailing something a bit simpler first. Maybe a few lessons with a club or friend? Quote
Johannah Posted January 15, 2004 Posted January 15, 2004 Follow this link so see the building sequence and a picture of the schooner fully rigged. Maybe someone who knows how could put that picture up here for all to see. http://www.carlsondesign.com/lscooner.html Quote
capt jake Posted January 16, 2004 Posted January 16, 2004 Really good links there Jo!! I hope Wilson can gealn some information from these. If not, I can always bring it over here! :shock: LOL Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted January 16, 2004 Posted January 16, 2004 Lets give it a try. This is a Bolger Schooner. It is a flat bottom, unstayed gaff rig schooner with a staysail. It is definintely not a beginner boat. It is unballasted and with a full sail platform requires 4-5 people to really keep it upright in a good breeze. 3 to handle the tiller and sails and two good sized dead weights just for ballast. All will need to not be shy abut hiking out and a couple of trapeze rigged to the mast would be a definite plus. As Johannah stated, it is a speed demon when in a good 10-15 knot wind and is light enough that it will make good headway in a light breeze. With a couple good set of reef points on the mains, it will fly in a heavy breeze. But it will also capsize easily in a variable wind. Now then it is a blast to work and sails like a witch ( to paraphrase Peter Stevenson). I have a friend with one in Michigan. He is an experienced hand with multi sail platform and very aggressive in competition. He loves it. I've been out with him once and we capsized twice. Fortunately with good flotation it is relatively easy to right and bail out, then keep going. You will all want to wear flotation vests all the time. I would recommend obtaining a copy of "The Gaff Rig Handbook" by Fisher and also reading all the information on the Dynamite Payson web page having to do with the construction and outfitting of the boat. You can make up a set of sails for it from the Polysail website easily enough and they will work well if you don't want to spring for a set of custom sails. Then if you want some help with it maybe Capt. Jake and I can make a trip to Moses Lake this late spring or early summer and get wet with you. [attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin] Quote
capt jake Posted January 16, 2004 Posted January 16, 2004 Then if you want some help with it maybe Capt. Jake and I can make a trip to Moses Lake this late spring or early summer and get wet with you. There ya go! road trip in the works! I like this idea!!! Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted January 16, 2004 Posted January 16, 2004 If you want sails made for you, you can contact Paul J at www.Ultasail.com He will make a set for you and help you with the things necessary to set up the rigging to work correctly. Just don't be in a hurry. He does good work but has had a lot to do to catch up with orders. If you need someone else, let us know and we can recommend a couple other sources. But, first check the Bolger website for information and get what you can. Quote
wilson Posted January 20, 2004 Author Posted January 20, 2004 Thanks for the great help here , I do view the links and Paysons book is on its way now . I also ordered " the gaff rig handbook " but this one is by John Leather , did I get the wrong book ?abe.com is a great source for books . As much as I would love the hands on help , hold off on the road trip as will be living in or near Bend OR. by the end of winter. For the suggestion of sailing a smaller boat first , would sailing this one with just one mast work or would that be like wanting less power from your 8 cylinder so unplug 4 sparkplug wires ? ( I had a friend try that ). Would posting in the main forum get me more views or would I appear redundant ( annoying ) ? More questions coming ... Quote
Frank Hagan Posted January 21, 2004 Posted January 21, 2004 For the suggestion of sailing a smaller boat first ' date=' would sailing this one with just one mast work or would that be like wanting less power from your 8 cylinder so unplug 4 sparkplug wires ? ( I had a friend try that ).[/quote'] Your analogy works well ... with just one sail, the boat could be unbalanced, and might not sail well at all. But I'm not sure ... you might be able to fly with the staysail (jib) and one sail. Would posting in the main forum get me more views or would I appear redundant ( annoying ) ? More questions coming ... Go ahead and post there ... I know some people don't venture anywhere but the Main Forum, so you will get more responses. Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted January 21, 2004 Posted January 21, 2004 No, Leather is the author and you ordered the correct book. I had something else on my mind when I typed that in. Sorry! I would agree with Frank. Go ahead and post on either of the other forums. I'm sure you will get some good responses. Darn, I was kinda thinking it would be a good road trip. :cry: Quote
Johannah Posted January 21, 2004 Posted January 21, 2004 Frank, I was wishing this thread was on the main forum as others will surely be interested. Can it be moved there or copied? Wilson, You could have a try sailing the boat with one mast only but it won't be ideal for learning because the helm will be affected by the boat being out of balance with its sails. Small catboats used for coastal fisheries on the East Coast sometimes used 2 masts or one depending on season and winds. But such a boat (sharpie cat ketch) had a different mast step for use by a single mast to balance boat with sail. Truth is you can mess around however you like, but it is usually pretty easy to borrow a small boat to get a bit of experience. Anything will do and might be easier. But please don't let us put you off your wonderful find. The Bolger Light Schooner is a hoot, a worthy boat that's beautiful and fun to sail. Its only drawback is that it is a bit of a challenge for a beginner. Persevere and there will be much fun ahead. Quote
Guest Posted January 22, 2004 Posted January 22, 2004 Dang it, why is this thread in the basement? I just came in from a venture out of town and stumbled here by the wrong click. I am lost. :wink: Jake you and a few been keeping this part to yourself? But I guess this is the palce for it. I like the under sails shot, though. Quote
capt jake Posted January 22, 2004 Posted January 22, 2004 Jake you and a few been keeping this part to yourself NOPE!! you must schroll down one in a while, to view all of the new ventures! This is very unlike the other place we know (though I have been in the bowels of the other recently). This is a better place! :) Quote
Mike Pennington Posted January 22, 2004 Posted January 22, 2004 This boat belongs to my friend Lar's Opland. He modified the boat to be four feet wide and left off the bow sprit. She also has a single sheet, twenty four foot by four, three quarter inch marine plywood bottom. I have sailed off Homer Spit in this boat in Ketchimak Bay, Alaska. I also sailed her once in the San Juan Islands years ago, the Loon is fifteen years old. Though the rigging is not gaff, I wanted to make this post to point out that this much sail area is all that size boat really needs in my humble opinion. We have furled the sails in high winds a round the spruce masts to reduce sail area. Like the post above indicated your boat will be a kick in the shorts. Also with two sets of oars, even with one man pulling on one set you will be the fastest think on the lake with a single hull rowing or under sail, light or heavy winds if you dare. Well there might be a faster boat out there, but not many in the class we are speaking of. Quote
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