I. Florida
First and foremost, to my Florida friends and clients – My thoughts are with you today. Please let me know if and how I can help. My list of high-quality service providers in Florida is long and well-tested, so just launch a flare for even the smallest question.
II. A Classic Pocket Yacht
I’m almost done pulling together my extensive notes for what will end up being a ten-part series on the history of downeast style boats. As far as I can tell, no one has told this story in the way it deserves. Which is why it’s also going to be the core of a pretty cool book proposal. I expect to have it out to agents and publishers shortly. Either way, it’s a fun project, and I’ll keep you posted.
A significant part of that story swirls in and around Duffy Yachts. Duffy’s, built by the Atlantic Boat Company of Brooklin, Maine (home to the Wooden Boat School, of which I am thrilled to be a graduate). run from 26 to 48 feet, and are pure lobster boats. ABC has built as many for commercial use as for recrational, and they all share the same DNA: A fine forefoot up front, joined to flat sections aft that combine to produce good speed and excellent rides. When it’s ten degrees on a downeast February morning, and you’ve gotta go out to check your lobster traps in a a 35′ boat, you better hope your boat is safe and comfortable. That’s been the key to Duffy’s success.
When a small builder like ABC produces over 350 of one model over a forty-five year run, you know you’re looking at a great boat. That boat is their 35:
Many of my clients have owned Duffy’s at some point in their boating life. It’s usually at the beginning of their downeast path, before moving up to Hinckley’s, Vicem’s, Saber’s and Reliant’s. But even after many boats and years have passed, I’ve seen them get a touch misty-eyed when they talk about their old Duffy.
Well, our latest listing is for a 2001 Duffy 35:
Doro has just undergone $65,000 of work at the fine Pettigrew yard in Southwest Harbor, Maine. I’ve never seen any work come out of Pettigrew that was less than perfect.
The owner of Doro is asking $159,000. You can find the complete listing here:
Wanna see a video? Here she is, doing her downeast thing:
She’s down in the Carolina’s, and I’d be happy to show her to you at any time.
II. Night Moves
A friend of mine by the name of Gregg Clarke currently owns a beautiful Vicem 51, Serenity. And, coincidentally, a Duffy before that. Gregg keeps her in Connecticut, at the historic Riverside Yacht Club (founded in 1888, RYC is the second oldest Yacht Club in Connecticut). I last saw Serenity at those thrilling America’s Cup trials in lower Manhattan last year, where she was the prettiest boat in the harbor.
Gregg pens a regular column on seamanship for the RYC’s newsletter. A recent column on operating a yacht at night rang loudly for me, and I thought my readers would enjoy it. So here ya go:
I have one extra tip for you about night moves, and I’ll cover that in my next posting.
III. Heading South
Your next opportunity to see out Reliant 40 Commuter is at the Annapolis Powerboat Show, from October 12th through the 15th. Not the Sailboat show, the week earlier. How can you tell the difference? Well, it’s not just the tall sticks in the water. The waitresses and bartenders celebrate when the last sailor leaves town. They scream the difference this way:
“Bring on those powerboaters! These sailboaters are so cheap that if the wind weren’t free, they wouldn’t sail!”
Here’s our Commuter 40:
So that’s the story, Jack. Launch a flare for any questions. Until my next posting then, stay safe and sound.
Big Wave Dave
PS: You knew, you just knew, I was going to end with this, from 1976. Bob has an enviable race record, btw, on a very hot sled in the Great Lakes. I’ve tried to get his autograph for years, from fellow racers. Hint, hint…
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