"Traditional" Boats

Fall 2008 through 2010: Keeping in mind that the notion of a traditional boat implies the acceptance of a particular boat-fabrication technology using an arbitrary set of fabrication skills, which undoubtedly ceased at a certain time to make way for modernized technologies, I submit that it is easy to appreciate an old boat out on the water, showing her lines, evoking a former time in which we imagine ourselves as skippers.  You will find a few such boats on this page.

Here is a wooden catboat, designed by John Beetle and built by the Concordia company in 1964.  We are restoring her over the winter 2009-2010 and will launch in late spring 2010.

Beetle Cat Canvas Back

Next we see gaff cutter Elf, restored by Graham Ero, Independence Seaport Museum, Bill Hamilton, and a host of un-named volunteers under the auspice of Rick Carrion's Classic Yacht Restoration Guild.  We duly commend the skipper for his enthusiastic garnering of resources to complete his restoration of the 19th century Lawley sloop/cutter (2 diesel engines in 2 years sailing!), but we lament the loss of so many volunteers and benefactors who abandoned this craft long before the 17+ year restoration was completed.  We hope that Elf enjoys a long life as she is campaigned in the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. 

Gaff cutter Elf

Spring 2008: New York Bay Sloops, aka Sandbaggers.  Howard Chapelle, Robert Baker, Lee Scarborough and John Brady have, at different periods, contributed to sustaining the memory of another 19th century American original design, with rigs that ranged from reliable working rigs to ridiculously over-powered racing rigs.  Only a few are sailed these days - they look terrific based on these pictures on the web.

Sandbagger Sorceress, built by Lee Scarborough (2002)

Sandbagger Bull, built by John Brady. Philadelphia Seaport Museum (1997) - see awesome Bull Bear Sailing website

Sandbagger Bear, built by John Brady, Philadelphia Seaport Museum (1997)

Winter 2007: Here is a wonderful cat-ketch rigged Sharpie built by Graham Ero, underway in New England in 1986...would make H. Chapelle, B. Schwicker, and Commodore R. Munroe all smile!

Sharpie Grimalkin built by Graham Ero (1985) after Egret (see WoodenBoat 71, 1986).

Summer 2007: This part of the website is dedicated for photos of wooden sailing craft we stumble across up and down the Chesapeake Bay.

Pride of Baltimore II and Sultana at Chestertown Wharf, October 2003 (photo by Brian).