Klaus Schmitt has responded to our post last night with three more designs he has sketched up. He is definitely in a nice vein –classic workboat-inspired yachts. All look like they would be comfy and pleasant while not looking far removed from hauling a barge or a net. Of the first,Klaus writes:“[The first] is a raised mid deck cruiser…a nice way to get some room inside without [the sheer] looking too lumpy.”I agree the approach works well here,thanks to the strong trim on the sheer plank.
The next is “a small motorized pinky that will take you most anywhere. Incredibly seaworthy boats.”And sooo gorgeous. This is easily my favorite of the three. I love the lines of a pinky and this is a great take on the tradition. In fact,it really is what we call a Fusion of Tradition boat,is it not?
Finally,a boat Klaus call “a tough little motor sailor.”Indeed –no one is kicking this one out of the anchorage without a fight. And who’d ant to anyway? Charming.
We here at Chine bLog are just getting back into the grind after a nice vacation at our fave port,Cuttyhunk Island,MA. We got in some good paddles in the skin-on-frame outrigger canoe,AL DEMANY CHIMAN,and,along the way,key our shutter ready for interesting craft that were also there. There were several of note. Below are some highlights.
An interesting-looking pocket-cruiser ketch
Sweet little gaff sloop
A well-appointed mini-tug
Workboat-inspired power cruiser DORETHEA L
Trawler-yacht ACADIA
As in the past,we are inclined to award a Boat of the Trip,given to that vessel that best captures our heart,pure and simple. The ones above are all nice,and we were thinking we’d have to make a tough choice,but then,on the last full day,the dark horse appeared and sewed up the award. I saw her from the house,about a mile away,and knew I had to check her out. Up close,I found what I expected:a gorgeous sheer,fine woodwork,and tons of character. She’s the delightful lovechild of ROSINANTE,a Maine lobsterboat,and a 20′s commuter. We call that fusion of tradition,my friends. In the end,with no disrespect to the other entrants,it wasn’t close. So congratulations to BARNACLE of Guilford,CT –you’re the Boat of the Trip!
I had a couple management meetings this week that provided for doodling space. I have been thinking about a larger skin-on-frame craft ad that led me to umiaks. The name then came to me and so a boat needed to come of it:an umiak-construction hull with lines and rig evoking that classiest of classics,the Friendship sloop. Fun to noddle on.
I finished up the spars for the sailing rig on my skin-on-frame outrigger canoe,AL DEMANY CHIMAN today. That meant setting the sail for the first time. Some kinks to work out,but good progress.
We are feelin’South Pacific here at Chine bLog. We have some sweet new tunes from Papua playing (Akave by George Telek) and just had the pleasure of discovering an amazing boatbuilder and artist. We found Tevita Kunato via our friend Gary Dierking over at Outrigger Sailing Canoes. Tevita Kunato is the business name for the creations of David Kunert,a man of Papuan birth who now lives in Hawaii.
David also makes canoe paddles,and I might like these more than the boats,and I like the boats a lot. The paddle here is of Hawaiian and West Papuan origin and couldn’t be more beautiful. $625 and its yours,and I’d say its well worth it.
We here at Chine bLog are decidedly down on most of what comes across the cable wire these days as TV programming. I realize that,with the Charlie Sheen show fresh on our minds,this is hardly a brave statement. I say it,however,to distinguish from the pack of schlock one program I really admire:“Chopped”on the Food Network. For those who haven’t seen it,here’s the deal. They bring in four true chefs and have them prepare pieces of a three-course dinner. For each course,there is a set of mandatory ingredients,and they are usually random and/or esoteric (e.g.,geoduck clam,Buddah’s hand,black radish,and taco shells was on last night for an appetizer). Preparation time is extremely limited,of course. At the end of each course –round –one chef is “chopped,”that is,removed from the competition,based on judging from celebrity chefs. Desert is,therefore,a one-on-one for the final prize,usually $10K.
Obviously,the competitive element,augmented by heavy editing,creates the requisite amount of drama. What makes the show so different,though,is that it is truly a test of skill and creativity. The chefs have to be able to cope with any possible combination of ingredients with no time to think about a menu. You must truly know what you are doing and be able think on your feet. I am always amazed at what these folks pull off.
Some time ago a made a crack on my Facebook page about why there isn’t a boat equivalent of “Chopped”and how crotchety,middle-aged men with power tools would be grounds for good TV. I began thinking,though,that we could try this,here in our own little corner of the blogosphere. So I propose a contest,as follows:
I provide a “basket”of boat design elements below. These are mandatory,but you can bring any thing else into the mix as well (the chefs have access to a full kitchen).
You take 30 minutes over the next week,honor system,a draw a boat (cartoon-level sketch) that uses at least those elements.
You contact me through the contact form and let you know you have a picture to send. I’ll give you an actual email to send to.
I won’t chap,saw,chisel,plane,or otherwise mentally abuse anyone. I’ll show off all comers,including one of my own,and we can all admire. Sound good? Here we go!
The category is:coastal cruiser (interpret how you see fit). Your “basket”contains:
30′LWL
A balanced lug sail
Double ended
A large supply of bamboo
That seems suitably random. Remember:you must use all mandatory elements,but not necessarily in a substantial way (though we’ll give you more props if you do. I am hoping to see some fun and interesting designs come out of this. Enjoy!
For those of you that have been following the progress of my skin-on-frame outrigger canoe,AL DEMANY CHIMAN,I thought I’d provide an update. I have gotten a sail-plan more or less in place,working with Todd Bradshaw of “Canoe Rig”fame.
I have added a boom from the original conception. It is now an Arabian lateen with a boom;please don’t call it a balanced lug. ;^) Unlike the drawing,the sail will not be laced to the boom. I hope it will be faux tanbark.
I have also begun work on building pieces of the sailing rig. I have a roughed out take on the leeboard,which I a proud to say uses a bunch of scrap wood I’d been itching to use. I expect it will still look great once sanded.
I had not been aware that in the Persian Gulf region they sail modern racing dhows. Imagine a sandbagger crossed with a traditional lateen rig crossed with modern construction and rigging. These look fun fun fun! Fusion of Tradition-y too.
Several months ago,we were honored,here at Chine bLog,to post two sets of designs by an amateur designer named Klaus Schmitt (post 1 and post 2). Recently we were excited-as-all-get-out to have a guy contact us looking for Klaus’s info. Yes,Chine bLog generated a well-deserved lead. It turns out we have been sitting on more great stuff from Klaus which he augmented in a replying email. His work was popular and exactly the kind of stuff we love (note that some are Fusion of Tradition-y),so shame on us for waiting do long to post this new installment. Enjoy!
We’ll start with a couple larger boats that I think are incredibly handsome interpretations of work boats. Klaus’s words introduce them.
…this is not a small boat…she is 45′…It was my own idea about the ultimate live-aboard. The hull is based on the Chesapeake Bay buy boats (although smaller) from your neck of the woods. An easy hull to drive with a thrifty diesel and a working boom to launch the dingy!
Posted on February 20th,2013
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We are feelin’South Pacific here at Chine bLog. We have some sweet new tunes from Papua playing (
) and just had the pleasure of discovering an amazing boatbuilder and artist. We found 
Here is another 
