Got a silly question from a stink boater

[Guest]

As much I would like to think I know everything, I just gotta ask this one little bitty inquiry of this fine and faithfull group, here. Why is it that Frank is in California, and I find a large percentage of completed and working on being completed boats in the State of Washington? Frank, do people build the Weekender in California, or are you a transplant?

[Barry Pyeatt]

Judging by the number of California transplants here in Washington. I would have to state that once they see the San Juan Islands, along with all the varied recreation available within veryshort driving distances, that they just settle down. Mecca of Starbucks, Seattle's Best and a dozen or so more plus the finest wineries in the world and moderate climate. Who could ask for more? :roll: Microsoft is still building buildings and new campus'. Must be working somehow.

[Frank Hagan]

Ahem. I have to remind you folks that California is the birthplace of the Weekender, having been designed and first built here. Then I built mine. :?

Just kidding ... there are quite a few Weekender builders here in the Golden State, but I haven't actually met anyone who has finished theirs! I know they are out there, but so far, haven't seen them! I have shown Aslan to a couple of people who wanted to see one close up (not being as fastidious as Capt Jake, I usually keep people 10' away!) Last couple that came by were residents of this fair state, but were moving soon ... to Washington!

[Guest]

Let me see if I get this right, then. You move from the "best" place in the country, sunny, dry, roller blading pretty blond wimmins, to fog, rain, and hiking boots. Something is in the water in California. :wink:

I think some of you Washingtonians should tell Capt. Jake, the San Juan Islands are there. Maybe next gathering, give him a slide show presentation. Jake will you have your boat water ready by next spring? Oh do you have Spring in Seattle?

[P Doug (WA)]

Don't tell people how wonderful WA is. It is already too populated. Calif. is great, stay there, please Or, come to my side of the mountain first, you won't think it is so beautiful.

Holy cow! Got up this morning and there was frost out there! Two days ago it was 78'

[MikeStevenson]

Actually, we've wondered about this question before (many times over the decades...): Why are there so few boats from California? There are a lot of people here, and we sell a fair amount of plans here (though not as much proportionally as we did in the past), but not too many finished boats. Part of the problem is the size of the state. Even if we did have a lot of boats here, they'd be spread all over (same problem for Texas though). Another problem is the lack of places to sail as compared to Back East. The SFO bay is big, and has some great places to sail, as do the other big cities (San Diego, L.A.), but most of the coast is crashing waves and big rocks or long lee shores. Not too great for our little boats. The lakes are frequently overrun with power stuff, so that's a problem too. Trailering your boat anywhere (which is pretty much a given) means longish distances (approx. 150 miles to Tomales Bay from here, 110 to Sausalito, etc.)

We think these are some of the reasons why we don't see more CA builders. None of the problems are really that discouraging by themselves, but altogether they may be enough to dissuade potential builders.

Mike

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply, also, Mike. I live on the outer banks region of North Carolina, just down from Grahmn Byrnes. There is a lot of open water, but it gets nasty for the size of the rivers and sounds. When the boat first came about, what was it intended for, and what perimeters around absolute worse case scenario? I am just curious, because it seems to offer a weekend cruiser for a couple. But we just don't see them here. I do have a friend in Greenville, under two hours to the coast, but will bring it down to Ocracoke to sail it.

But as we speak about Washington State, the weather is marginal at best, and surely consists of a lot deeper water, which in our area does creates a bigger swell for small craft. That in turn really keeps you in water over the boat when the wind blows. Interesting to say the least. But some of these guys go all out in extreme workmanship. Thanks again. Enjoy the site

[Steve Tarry]

It's true; Washington is the boating capitol of America, but I suspect that is more because of access than anything else. We have several large lakes, lots of little ones, and the relatively protected waters of Puget Sound, with the San Juan Islands and the BC channel islands above that.

Our worst problem is not weather, as most of the rest of the country perceives, but lack of it. After all, if man was not intended to sail in Washington, God wouldn't have given us Gore-tex. No, the real problem is that the best winds come in the coolest weather. In really nice weather (and no place has better weather than we do from July 5th until early October) there's often not enough wind to battle the tidal currents. And the waters here are only about three degrees above "brrrr" regardless of time of year. You get a nice sailing breeze in December coming across that frigid water and you'd best be ready to heave to with the Kleenex.

No, if our weather itself were so awful, we'd have never been Californicated so thoroughly. Most of the big plastic money tubs sailing the Sound are piloted by expatriots from other states who came here for the beauty of the place and the fact that at least our water isn't bobbing with used hypodermic needles.

I guess it shows that I'm a proud native, huh?

[MikeStevenson]

Well I don't know about needles, as Monterey Bay has some of the cleanest waters I 've ever seen, but the cold thing id sure true: Our average water temp here is about 54