All right...it's a new project.

[Tim]

OK, I guess I won't keep you poor souls in suspense any longer.

It looks like I have succumbed to the temptation for yet another project. It's related to the whole Rhodes 41 craze of earlier this summer, but it's not a Rhodes. Buckle in: here's some history and ruminations about the whole deal.

Why even look for something else? There are a few reasons behind this. First, and maybe foremost, is my wife Heidi's desire to bring dogs aboard. We have two dogs currently, both of whom are older. They are also too large to ever consider bringing on a Triton--or at least I would never find it an attractive option. When we go cruising for longer periods of time, Heidi misses the dogs terribly--they're our children. So, in order to consider longer cruises--in Maine, to Canada, or down the coast--bringing dogs along would seem a must. Fair enough. But in order to do so, we'd really need a bit more room to make it comfortable over the long haul. While our current dogs will likely never make it aboard any boat, we'll always have dogs. So in the future, this will remain an important consideration.

Need is, of course, a relative term. But we're being realistic here, and while anything is possible on any boat, this is how we look at it in this specific case.

Next, I freely admit that I enjoy projects. The Daysailor will be wrapping up over the winter, and I have, for some time, been looking ahead to what might be next. Our Lyman 23 is a smaller scale project, mostly cosmetic in nature, that can, and will, occur throughout the winter and beyond, as required. I consider that to be an entirely different kind of project altogether--one that is satisfying, but has completely different ramifications in the end.

Glissando was my first major rebuilding project. While there are few decisions I made during the process that I regret, and while I am more than thrilled with the end result, there is, naturally, room for improvement: not necessarily because such improvement is required, but because I, as a sort of craftsman, desire to better myself and my results. Each boat is a learning experience, and I want to take the experiences from the last time and build upon them, improving where possible or desirable. So my desire to build upon those lessons learned, and to create, in the end, a better overall result, fits in easily with the aforementioned "need" for a slightly larger boat.

Finally, there's the undeniable notion that a bit more room on a boat is a good thing. Although I would be happy going about anywhere on Glissando, with some minor improvements and modifications to suit whatever trip, there's no doubt that some more elbow room for longer cruises would be nice--not to mention the whole dog thing. If upsizing the boat were not an option, time and dollar-wise, then we'd never even consider it, and would be more than happy on the Triton. But time and money are available, as is the desire and inclination. None of this stems from any level of dissatisfaction with the Triton as a cruiser--far from it. She does everything we want and need, really. But room for a larger galley (important), larger tankage (nice), more storage (just what I need, right?), and, for Heidi, at least, the extra feeling of sailing security that comes with a larger, rather than smaller, boat.

Besides, I'm dying to have a yawl: they just look so right. But this is mostly about the dogs, and about the fact that I won't be sad to have yet another project looming ahead. I'd never undertake this venture if I didn't look forward to the project; nor would I do so if, by doing it, it in any way slowed, or prevented, our sailing and cruising enjoyment. Doing this won't force us to work harder, or longer hours, or in any way reduce the quality of life.

I'm going far off track here. If you're still with me, I'll get back on the rails.

Following the chance sighting of a Rhodes 41 during the cruise this summer, I actually traveled to look at Rhodes 41 in MA earlier this September, and also to nearby Wiscasset, ME to view a Bounty II there. These two boats share the same hull, but different decks and interiors. Either design would make a nice cruiser. The problem was, both boats were too expensive, and were not derelict enough for my tastes and needs. Both needed substantial work, at least to make them the boats I would want, but were not project boats in the truest sense.
Bounty II photos
Rhodes 41 photos

Through the owner of the Bounty II (1958), I located a person who put me onto a derelice Bounty II in Castine, ME. Apparently, the boat was quite rough, and the asking price was in the high teens--about the price of entry into these large, rare boats. Unfortunately, this boat was sold before I ever had a chance to see it. Just as well.

The 41s, while gorgeous, were, upon reflection and a reality check, simply too big. While going for a project on one of these hulls was tempting, I think in hindsight it's better that I ended up headed in a somewhat different direction.

A friend (Art) owns a 35' Allied Seabreeze sloop; I originally met him because he was the former owner of Triton #124, Rondo, which was, long before that, owned by his father. The Seabreeze is a centerboard boat designed by McLear & Harris--two talented S&S alums who worked on, among others, Finnestere. I'd been aboard a number of times in the past, and had been impressed with the interior room, at least as compared to a Triton. And she has a sweet sheer.

Earlier this spring, I became aware, through Art, of a Seabreeze yawl that, because of unfortunate circumstances, might be in need of someone willing to undertake a large project. After some back and forth with the owner, I sort of let the thing slide during the summer, and had put it mostly from my mind this fall when I heard back from him, asking if I'd like to come have a look at the boat. I decided that I might as well, and set up a date.

But the real clincher for me, which got me excited about the Seabreeze for real, was a great sail recently on Art's boat. I was impressed.

Saturday, I drove to MA to check out Perelandra, Seabreeze #16. She has quite a story. Check out the whole story here.

This is not yet a done deal, officially. But my purchase of this boat is pretty much a foregone conclusion at this point, and awaits only final details.

Eat your heart out!

[Figment]

oooh, and she oughta juuuuuuust fit in the barn! ;)

Once again, you've painted the proverbial town green with envy. I applaud wholeheartedly!

That's (the charred exoskeleton of) a VERY pretty boat. I love that sheerline.

[Tim]

oooh, and she oughta juuuuuuust fit in the barn! ;)

And that's another reason why a Rhodes 41 or Bounty II wouldn't have ended up being the right boat!

That's (the charred exoskeleton of) a VERY pretty boat. I love that sheerline.

To my eye, the Seabreeze hull and rig proportions approach that elusive "just right" criteria. Boats like this just look so good with the yawl rig...


In any event, poor #16 is still years away from the water (I guess 5 years). But if I buy her, I promise she'll be a looker. I'm not sure what next winter will bring for the barn, but perhaps she'll be able to get in by then. Things are getting busy around here.

Further, rest assured that I intend to continue to be a Triton owner for the forseeable future. Plans for a larger boat include the possibility of keeping her in a "destination" harbor down the coast somewhere, where she'd be used each weekend and for longer stretches as possible, with Glissando staying local for the ever-present need for weekday sailing. Of course for the next 5 or however many years, we'll continue cruising Glissando as extensively as possible.

Anyway, perhaps I ought to wait till I actually own the boat before making any firm plans!

[JetStream]

Tim-
The Allied looks like a fun project. She certainly has that "right" look that very few boats have ever had. You are welcome to borrow my GelPlane for stripping the bad gelcoat when you get that far. You might be able to keep a lot of the fairness by controlled stripping rather than grinding and total refairing.

I was wondering where the Rhodes 41 was located. I might like to measure her gooseneck toggle. The roller furling boom appears identical to Jet Stream's. The castings are likely the same manufacturer. My problem is that the gooseneck toggle from Jet Stream is missing and I have no idea of the dimensions and so forth. I've researched it a fair amount and have never found another boat with the same rig. I was also wondering if that boat was built in Holland.

[Tim]

Thanks for the offer, Bruce. I imagine I might take you up on that when the time comes.

The Rhodes is located at the Brownell yard in Mattapoisett, MA, right off I-195. She's being brokered by Brewer's in Mattapoisett by Dick Sciuto. It's certainly possible that the spars share manufacturers, but the Rhodes was built in RI.

Many of the boats of that era had spars by Zephyr Spars, which is still around. Go to www.capecodshipbuilding.com and follow the links.

I'd also recommend Metalmast Marine in Putnam, CT for custom spar parts construction, as needed.

[bcooke]

Boxford is right next door to me. I hadn't heard about that boat.

Nice looking boat, lots of opportunity to pour you heart into it. One question though. How does the integrity of the epoxy stand up to the high temps of a fire? If it looks okay, is it okay? or can the fire break down the epoxy at the molecular level?

I see some tough choices in your future. Hmm... Do I take Glissando out for a short trip or leave it hanging on the mooring all summer while I cruise <insert name here>. I take a couple of days off from my boat and I swear it gets jealous and starts to pout. I personally will never own multiple boats that have similiar functions again ( I will always own several boats that serve different needs). I just hate seeing one sitting around, getting dirty and going unused.

When do you start up the new website?

-Britton

[Tim]

I agree. That's why, many years down the road when the Seabreeze project is actually finished, I expect to leave the two boats in separate locations. I guess time will tell how that works out, but I certainly agree that boats with like uses in the same location is silly. With the larger boat located down the coast, she becomes a "destination", for weekends and longer periods. I don't mind this sort of use for a boat as long as I have the opportunity for day sails in between--hence, Glissando stays nearby for that. I'm not a fan of long unattended periods, though.

I also feel the jealousy/pouting of my boat when I don't see her frequently. That's why I go down at least every couple days in the summer (worst case) to at least check her out. Boats have souls and must be treated accordingly, I think.

In any case, I have probably at least five more years of "just" Glissando for all my boating needs, so I'm not worrying about it now.