Reader Photos
Back by popular demand we bring you photos sent to us by our readers. Apparently no sailor can avoid being proud of the boat he owns and impressed by other boats he sees while out there sailing. Some of these are boats in action, some are at rest. All are boats well loved.
Hunter 27
My wife Jodi and I bought this 1976 Hunter 27 on EBay in July of 2008. We had to go to Fairplay, CO to pick it up, a distance of about 700 miles. The seller had it on a trailer, that he would also sell us. Since we didn't have another option, we bought his trailer too. We then trailered it back to South Dakota where we live and will sail. My wife is brand new to sailing so didn't know much about it. I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm completely crazy. We sail it on one of the Missouri River impoundments in central South Dakota called Lake Francis Case. The as yet unnamed boat is still earning her name. Pandemonium and Chaos are two options, based on our experiences thus far. Another option is Recovery Room, since we are both nurses. Being new to us, we have not done much work on it yet, but probably will spend a few days fixing in Spring before we set sail again for the summer.
There were no slips or moorings available when we got the boat, so we anchored her in a little bay with pretty good protection. The problem with the Missouri River reservoirs is that the water level fluctuates. Usually dropping some in the summer, and quite rapidly in the fall. We found our newly purchased boat in about 12 inches of water in that bay, because the Army Corps of Engineers had dropped the water several feet! It was interesting getting her out of that spot, to say the least! Because of dropping water levels our sailing season usually ends on Labor Day. After that they really start to lower the water, like 6-12 inches a day. -- Don Wipf
Dufour 27
Here is a picture of a much loved, Good Old Boat, in action at the 2008 Good Old Boat Regatta in Annapolis, MD. We had a great time racing Petite Cherie, our blue hulled, 1974 Dufour 27. We had such a good time that we did not mind coming in next to last in the Fin Keel II Division.
Dufour 27’s are not well known so I am including the link http://web.mac.com/donnapaden to Petite Cherie’s web site for anyone interested in more information. -- Richard Paden
CSY 44
Mix four old friends and the absolute CLASSIC good old Caribbean boat, a CSY 44 named GoldyLux, with liberal sun block, a lot of books and some fine cooking, and you get the perfect stew of a guys' week off... God Bless our loving wives for knowing this is important! Garnish the whole affair with the occasional G&T and some snorkeling, stir in time on Anegada and some long outside sails, and it makes the Michigan winter seem like it never happened... "Let's go check the tarp when we get home, Spring is just a few feet of snow away!"
The group is mostly intermitent boat partners on everything from Snipes, to Lightnings and Alberg-era Pearsons, with decades under the keel and another 10 in the saddle before some version of retirement beckons... Life is good. -- Dave Lathrop
Cal 34
Attached is a photo of our good old boat, Quest, underway from Cambridge Cay (AKA Little Bell Island) in the Exumas in Feb 2005. We are Bob and Julie Norman of Wicomico Church, Virginia, and have sailed Quest, a 1969 Lapworth designed Cal 34, since 1983. During that time she has been to the Bahamas five times and extensively sailed the Chesapeake Bay. Among the many modifications we have personally made to Quest for coastal cruising and liveaboard comfort are a boom gallows, bimini, mast steps, roller furling headsail, inner forestay, diesel engine (Yanmar 3GM), wind generator, high output charging system, 12v refrigeration, doubled fresh water tankage, quarterbirth stowage and nav station, new cabin windows and frames and an anchor windlass and chain rode. -- Bob Norman
Venture 17
This is my boat. I don't have any underway pictures of the whole boat, 'cause if I fell off and watched it sailing away, I probably wouldn't have my camera with me.
It's a 1972 Venture 17 that I bought in Feb of 2006. It had been full of rain water and the forestay had ripped the forward part of the deck off the boat. I was so excited about learning how to sail I bought it and rebuilt it and by June of '06 (pictured) I was on the water. I redid every part of the boat. I seperated the hull from the deck and replaced pretty much everything. I put way more into it than it's commercial value, but it's worth a lot to me because it was such a great experience. Also in the picture are two of my boys, my first and second mates. And we were putting in on Lake Hickory, NC. -- Joe Carter
Aluminum Ketch
Attached is a picture of my GOB. She is an 38 ft Aluminum Ketch designed by Tom Clovin, built in Hawaii in 1964. Her name OLA LOA means "long life" in Hawaian. I bought her 6 years ago this month in Oxnard, California had her shipped to the East coast (Ipswich, Mass.). To date I have painted her Dark Blue (a mistake), added new sails, running rigging, electric windlass, galley stove, bow and stern pulpits, stanchions, repowered her, painted most of the interiors and the deck, rebuilt the worm steering and a lots more. She still needs more upgrading.
In speaking to the previous owner and Tom Colvin, I found she was custom designed and only one was ever built. Truly unique owning the only boat ever built from the plans. Her specs are 38' 6 loa, 32 water line, 10 ft beam, 6 draft, sail area 664 sf, disp 20,000 #. She sails very nice although i have only coastal cruised her, I do have plan to go further some day. Ola lives in Ipswich, Mass at the Ipswich Bay Yacht Club. --Andy Thibeault
Morgan 30
This is a picture of our 1969 Morgan 30, Magic2, reaching on lower Charlotte Harbor (FL). The boat, owned by Jim & Theresa Ewing, is seen returning from Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa to its home berth in Port Charlotte, Florida. It was a little puffy that day so Theresa is dumping the main to keep the boat on her feet. We were just about to fall off on to a broad reach or I would have put a reef in. Picture was taken in November 2008. -- Jim Ewing
Compac CP23
Taken aboard Remote Access, 2001 Compac CP23/3 #629, at Marthas Vineyard, MA on approach to Vineyard Haven, August 2003. The boat in the background is well known in the area but her name escapes me at the moment. The background of the historic sailing vessel framed by the rigging of a small cruiser makes the photo. The boat is well heeled. Sails are trimmed well. The boat is clearly moving. There is a sparkle from the sun on the water seen beneath the mainsail. The water is a bit choppy, maybe 12-15 knots worth. -- Curtis Villamizar
Grampian 26
Knowing the qualities of the Grampian 26 and her strength, stiffness, extra-ordinary amount of space for a 26' boat, and her honesty and forgiving nature, it was the perfect choice for the tenderfoot sailor and, well, to teach my children the art of sailing. Sundance was definitely the right boat, at the right time, and at the right price! She has exceded our expectations and the original plan of selling her and moving up to a bigger boat after a couple of years has been well and truly put off to the far future as the whole family is enamoured with her. In fact, my kids have emphatically told me I am NEVER allowed to sell Sundance, and if Jeanette (my wife) and I want a bigger boat, then we better get used to having two, until I finally give Sundance to one of them when they can afford dock fees! Sundance is a 26' Bermuda rigged sloop with an original sized mainsail with two reef points (Lake Ontario winds around here can get wicked!). Winches have been upgraded to two speed Lewmar for the jibsheets and one on the cabin top, with the original winches moved to the sides of the mast. All lines lead aft and pass through a clutch. She has resisted any attempt to 'super modernize' her and any and all improvements have been in concert with her classic heritage. -- Dave Irons
Tartan 34
This one's of two very good old boats, Tartan 34s. The white one on the left is my wife's and mine. Her name is Squander. The other is David and Mary Ina Bourdons' Celebration. Celebration is the Boudons' fourth Tartan, all previous boats (all have been Tartans) have also had that name. The others were a 27, another 34, and a 4100. -- Chris & Diana Crighton
Spencer 35
Here is my good old boat Onrust, Spencer 35 departing SF Bay on the way to Hawaii, May 29?, 2006. The picture was taken from the Golden Gate bridge by a crew member's daughter-in-law. That's me at the wheel. -- Jamie Harris
Auckland 34
OASIS II is a Hartley designed Auckland 34 built in 1982 using the cold moulded method and was originally raced throughout the world-renowned Bass Strait from Westernport Victoria. Many Melbourne-to-Devonport and Melbourne-to-Hobart races were competed in before being sold to a Queenslander in the late 90's. We bought her in 2003 and her home port is now Mooloolaba just north of Brisbane. Now refitted as a cruiser for our family needs we try to get out to some of the islands a couple of times a year and hope to sail to Tasmania soon. Mooloolaba is a popular marina port for visiting international yachts to shelter the cyclone season in summer and do some touring of our wonderful district. The main marina's are located on a spit with beautiful beach on one side and river on the other. We also have very good haulout facilities and all services and trades close by. Hope you can visit someday. -- Steve and Lea George.
CS 34
Anytime two sailboats are on the Bay at the same time, it must be a race. This photo was taken in Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron during a Saturday pleasure cruise with our landlubber friends. Clearly they are enjoying themselves, and hopefully will even be converted to sailors. This is our 1990 CS 34, Doc Escape. -- Phil and Julie Dean
Pearson P-28-1
These were taken Labor Day weekend
of 2005 in Long Island Sound right off Hart Island by our friend Tom Governo. We were on the way
to Port Washington Harbor. We were there with a flotilla from our yacht
club.
Tancook 47
The small cropped photo is another solo sailor (me) on a nice reach with 47 foot Tancook, Sara B, built in early 1950s, also sailing on Lake Ontario. This photo was taken a couple years ago by my spouse who was sailing our other good old boat Titania, the 1968 Chris Craft. It's a cropped photo, as he was pretty far away, but I liked the shadows on the sails in it. -- Susan Peterson Gateley
Sea Sprite Tiger Lilly
Ron Gill sailing solo with his newly acquired Sea Sprite Tiger Lily sailing on Fair Haven Bay off Lake Ontario last spring. It looks like he's reaching for the main sheet to dump a little air- he was out on the lake with us earlier and it was fairly obvious he hadn't got his reefing gear set up yet! Anyway, he was doing great with her that day. -- Susan Peterson Gateley
Balboa 22
I am new to sailing and have a nice little Balboa 22 from 1981 that I tool around beautiful Fort Gibson Lake in Wagoner Oklahoma with. It is a good boat for a retired person beginning to sail, but I am most proud of the dining table my daughter Lori painted for me, and the loan of my grandson to help show it off. -- Frank Gadberry
Pearson 28
Attached are a few pictures of my wife and I sailing our 1976 Pearson 28-1 in the 2008 Buzzards Bay Regatta, "Expressly for Fun Division". Boat name is YOGI. Upgrades include Harken roller furler, Harken cabin top traveler, Lewmar self tailing winches, Martec folding prop, wheel steering and all new upholstery. Home port: Marion, MA. PS: We were not among the top contenders but we had a blast!
Regards, Dave and MaryEllen Yeo.
Herreshoff Cat Ketch 31
Attached is a photo of our Good Old Boat, Puffin, a Herreshoff Cat Ketch 31. The picture was taken in Buzzards Bay (MA) in October 2008 by a passing tug boat -- as we knew the tug and its crew, there were mutual pictures being taken. This was the last sailing weekend for us and it was about as nice a sailing day as one can have on the Bay. We are the 2nd owners of the boat and purchased her in 2002. Since then, we've repowered, replumbed, filled voids, repainted, new sails, enlarged the cockpit locker, upgraded the main spar from the original mahogany to Sitka Spruce and this year are insulating the ice box in the hopes we might be able to keep two blocks of ice longer than 36 hours in the summer! -- Parsons and David Clark
Olympic Dolphin
Here is a photo of me and my son on my 1974 Olympic Dolphin, Bella Luna, sailing the Cumberland sound area out of Fernandina Beach,Fla. We are both new to sailing and have basically taught ourselves by reading and making a few trips with others on their boats. As I've told my wife many times, "I wish we had done this twenty years ago when our kids where young instead of waiting so long." I always thought it was an activity for those with lots of money. Now I own two sailboats, the other being an O'Day daysailer that was given to me to get it out of someone's yard. This is a great family activity that we all enjoy. -- Dave Waldo
Father/Son sailing
My son, Matt Alberts, lives in Colorado, and we rarely get a chance to be together, so our yearly father and son sailing trip has become more special as the years go by. This shot was taken on the Chesapeake Bay between Howell Point and Rock Hall. Our boat is a 1963 Pearson Ariel, named Haabet. -- Bill Alberts
Albin Vega 27
A picture of our 1971 Albin Vega 27 on her way out from her home moorage at Pedder Bay Marina, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.
Photo by Steve Lofts. -- Peter & Ulla Jacobs
Alberg 30
I would like to see more real sailing photography. A lot of us yearn for and love the times when the adrenalin runs high, the lee rail is under, and everything is as taught as a well-tuned fiddle string. These shots are hard to get, especially of your own boat. That’s why my sailor buddies and I, here in Vancouver, make a point of getting shots of each other’s boats when we are out on a cruise together. As an example, I offer a shot I took of my friend Ross Walsh’s Alberg 30 Anila Vara. As you can see, he is taking a shot of my boat at the same time I was taking this shot as we entered English Bay after a fast and exciting crossing of the Georgia Strait. -- Andy Vine
Watkins 27
It occurs to me that I have never sent you any pics of our Watkins 27. I know that you have seen bits and pieces, grating, air conditioning, cabin sole, etc.; but never a shot of the entire boat. So, here she is, at Boyne City, Michigan.
If you look real close at the lower burgee, you might recognize a familiar logo. -- Jim Shroeger
Finnclipper
This Finnclipper is a great boat to sail in open seas and in inland waterways like we did in Europe. Our usual sailing areas are in the central Mediterranean which include also the Sicilian and Croatian waters (depending on weather conditions) but normally we are based in Malta. We have been having a great summer season and doesn't seem to end. However Le Phenix is to be hauled out this month for some underwater maintenance and change of suction and discharge shipside valves. The boat proudly wears the Good Old Boat pennant everywhere she goes. Regards always from us in Malta. -- Joseph Amato
Nicholson 35
This is a picture of Passport, our Nicholson 35 (featured in Good Old Boat in September 1999) with the three-masted schooner Victory Chimes in the background. We were anchored on the south side of Rockland harbor and a lot of wind was forecast out of the south, so a few boats in the schooner fleet anchored near us.
Last summer Sandy and I spent a couple months on Passport sailing the Maine coast. The winter before that, we had Passport's topsides painted so she has a new look. Actually a new/old look because the boat came from the factory with navy blue topsides.
As a matter of interest, Victory Chimes which I believe was built either just before or just after World War II (I'm not really sure of the building date) was located in Duluth, Minnesota, for a few years some time ago. At that time Sandy and I were able to get aboard and go through the boat. As I understand it, she was sold to someone on the East Coast, and is now booked for cruises by the general public.
--John Larson
Wooden hull, Gaff rig
The attached picture is of a wooden boat sailing in Rockland Harbor. They sailed by us on port tack, while we were sitting at anchor, took down the topsail, tacked, and rehoisted it on starboard tack - all in a matter of less than a couple minutes. Pretty little wooden boats like this are pretty much everywhere in Maine. --John Larson
Rhodes Reliants, Offshore 40s Over 40
Six classic Rhodes Reliants and Offshore 40s, all more than 40 years old, raced at the Good Old Boat Regatta, October 11, 2008, in Annapolis, Maryland. Their sparkling varnish, wooden masts, and graceful lines were unmistakable reminders of what boats of the 1960s (and earlier) were. After the race, some rafted up together in Mill Creek near the regatta party site so their owners could celebrate the wonderful day together while comparing boats. The Regatta was sponsored by Good Old Boat magazine and hosted by the Shearwater Sailing Club in Annapolis.
The boats pictured here are: Dolce Vita, Shearwater, Astarte, and Whimbrel.
-- Ben Stavis. Photo by: David Brooks
