Special Collection of Non-Floating Historic Small Craft 1. Poulsbo Boat 16 feet, inboard. Carvel planked. This boat was designed by Ronald Young, who built about 900 of these craft between 1933 and 1965 in Poulsbo, Wash. They range from 14 to 22 feet, with the 16-footer being the most common size. These boats were originally intended as sport fishing boats to be used in Puget Sound and adjacent waters. Their reputation as seaworthy boats in these sometimes hazardous waters, under hard usage and minimal care, contributed to their popularity. Poulsbo Boats are characterized by generous freeboard, springy sheer and flat oval transom, all above water; more than average flare forward, and a tumblehome aft. This boat was restored here at our boat shop at The Center for Wooden Boats. Photo A Poulsbo boat underway at CWB. Used by individuals and liveries as personal fishing boats. 2. Geary 18/Flattie Hull No. 179 A very early example of the Ted Geary designed sloop. This particular boat, which has not been modernized, was owned by Sonny Vynne, a legendary Northwest sailor. The Geary 18 was designed by Ted Geary in 1927 as a boy's racing boat. It was chosen by a Seattle Yacht Club committee from several designs submitted. The original class name was"flattie." When Ted Geary passed away in 1960, it was changed to "Geary 18." This boat is more complex than it first appears - including its narrow deep centerboard, which is adjustable fore and aft and is removable from the inside, and its removable and fore-and-aft-adjustable rudder. This boat is quite fast and very maneuverable. The Geary 18 has been a popular class since its beginning. There are active fleets from British Columbia to California. A Flattie sails downwind on Lake Union. Designed and built in King County. Used on all major lakes and Puget Sound by individuals and Yacht Clubs.
3. Mojean skiff A Flatiron 12 foot skiff built in the mid-1930s at the Mojean & Ericson Shipyard of Tacoma, Wash. The skiff is a good example of a Puget Sound-type skiff. Its construction consists of a three plank bottom and two plank sides, all of clear Red Cedar. It has no chine. 4. Davis Skiff 16 feet. An excellent example of a Davis skiff. For three generations, from 1900 to 1950, the Davis family, members of the Tsimshian Tribe of Metlakatla, Alaska, were the dominant small craft builders in Southeast Alaska. Their double-ended rowing boats were the most popular of their stock boats. An unusual aspect of these boats is that, unlike the double-ended Peapods of Maine, the Davis boats are not symmetrical from front to back. The stern is slightly more narrow than the bow. They were used for hand trolling, as ship's boats and for general shore-side work and pleasure. Personal boat used by residents of King County. Again, a common boat here because it was built locally. Connection to King County Heritage Used at Ray s Boat House, a Seattle livery (boat rental). 5. Bering Sea Skiff 12 feet Designed by H.L. Hanson. This Scandinavian-style skiff was designed to be used as a dinghy on halibut boats. The rocker in the keel allows to be rowed up onto a cobble beach, an action that is much harder with a Flatiron skiff. This particular skiff was used on a halibut boat. Used on a Halibut Boat based at Fisherman s Terminal, in Seattle.
6. Willits Canoe 17 feet. Although the Willits brothers built only one model of canoe, it changed over the years. The most common Willits canoe, the one they felt was "developed to a high state of perfection," was their final design-17 feet long with a beam of 34 inches, depth of 12 inches and significant tumble-home. The bow was 23 inches high, and the canoe always had a teak or mahogany keel, and inside and outside stems of white oak. A layer of waterproofed cotton muslin was sandwiched between two layers of 5/32 inch vertical grain red cedar planking which was finished inside and out with clear spar varnish. There were no inwales or ribs. Trim, including outwales, thwarts, and 2-foot long decks, was usually mahogany. Spruce slat seats were installed unless left out by special order. Planking was attached with more than seven thousand copper tacks. All other fasteners were brass. A brass plate identifying the canoe as a Willits Brothers canoe was attached to the bow deck coaming. 7. Geary 18/Flattie Hull No. 445 18 feet. This particular boat s hull and rigging are stock from the post-wwii era. Its plywood bottom was an innovation seen in later examples of this craft. The Geary 18 was designed by Ted Geary in 1927 as a boy's racing boat. It was chosen by a Seattle Yacht Club committee from several designs submitted. The original class name was"flattie." When Ted Geary passed away in 1960, it was changed to "Geary 18." This boat is more complex than it first appears - including its narrow deep centerboard, which is adjustable fore and aft and is removable from the inside, and its removable and fore-and-aft-adjustable rudder. This boat is quite fast and very maneuverable. The Geary 18 has been a popular class since its beginning. There are active fleets from British Columbia to California.. Personal watercraft used by individuals. A fleet of these canoes were rented out of the canoe house at the University of Washington on Union Bay.. See previous
8. Willits Launch 24 feet. The Willits Launch was designed and built by Floyd C. and Earl C. Willits in Tacoma, Washington in 1929. The brothers built exquisite canoes in their shop from 1919 until Floyd s death in 1959. They built this launch with the same construction technique and careful craftsmanship with which they built their canoes. Planking is two layers of 5/32 -thick red cedar with a layer of muslin in between. The planks are fastened with thousands of copper clench nails. The launch was used mainly for the Willitts brothers annual trip to the mill in Commencement Bay where they selected the perfect cedar log and towed it back to their shop to be resawn for their planking. The boat was donated to The Center for Wooden Boats by the Willits family. We are seeking donations toward the restoration of this unique boat which represents some of the finest craftsmanship the world has ever seen. 9. Reinell skiff 12 feet Believed to be a standard Pal design of Reinell Boat Works of Marysville, this skiff was used as a launch off a large Monk cruiser. Its keel was drilled for an inboard engine. Likely built in the late 1930s. Used in the building of the Willits Canoes which are described earlier. Used in boat rentals in Seattle, including Ray s Boat House, and West Seattle Boat House (Now City Park Pier). 10. Acme Skiff 14 feet. The original of this classic row boat was built by the Acme Boat Shop in Seattle about 1900. Its fine entry, long run, low wetted surface and light weight allow it to accelerate quickly. The long skeg keel makes this boat track well while being rowed. It is typical of the livery boats of this area around the late 1890s and 1900s. The lines and table of offsets of this boat are available through CWB.
11. McCurdy Dory 12 feet The dory is an all purpose boat type. Its flat bottom makes it easy to beach and to store upright on a deck or dock. Its flaring sides give it great carrying capacity and reserve buoyancy. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to build. Dories stack neatly when the thwarts are removed, which saves space on deck. This particular boat was built by Tregoning Boatworks of Seattle in the 1920s. The boat was custom built for Horace McCurdy as a vessel his sons could use to learn boat handling. This boat is one of a kind. Unfortunately, no plans are available. It was donated to The Center for Wooden Boats by Jim McCurdy. 12. Point Defiance Boat A livery boat designed and built at the Point Defiance Boat House. This boat was used for sport salmon trawling. A legendary boat type used widely in Commencement Bay, Wash. There are no other known examples in the Seattle area. 13. Grandy skiff 12feet From 1922 until 1967, the Grandy Family ran the Grandy Boat Shop on Westlake Avenue North (on Lake Union) where they primarily built custom cruising boats. Tenders for these boats were made by a full-time lapstrake boat builder. Marty Monson, the builder of this model, started working for the company at the age of 16, became their best boat builder and left in 1932 to start his own shop. This boat is more than 50 years old. The planking is red cedar and the frames are white oak. Copper rivets and clench nails were used as fasteners. Connection to King County Heritage Built in Seattle. Personal use boat by citizens of King County. Built in King County..
14. Grandy skiff 9 feet From 1922 until 1967, the Grandy Family ran the Grandy Boat Shop on Westlake Avenue North (on Lake Union) where they primarily built custom cruising boats. Tenders for these boats were made by a full-time lapstrake boat builder. Marty Monson, the builder of this model, started working for the company at the age of 16, became their best boat builder and left in 1932 to start his own shop. This 9 feet model was a favorite of the Seattle Parks Department for their life boats. The planking is red cedar and the frames are white oak. Copper rivets and clench nails were used as fasteners. 15. Lake Oswego Original 14 feet. The original 60-year-old boat was found in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Built by a Finnish boatbuilder in Portland as a stock boat, it was made using a half model which a customer brought to the builder. It became a popular boat at Skunk Lake, Oregon (which later became known as Lake Oswego). It may be a copy of the Rangely boat, a sporting boat developed on the Rangely Lakes of Maine about 100 years ago. The unique features (i.e. a flat-bottom plank in place of a keel and a two-part stem with inner and outer pieces) make the boat relatively fast to build. Built in King County for personal use and as a life guard boat for Seattle Parks. Personal use boat by citizens of King County.
16. El Toro sailboat, Hull No. 523 A West Coast One Design craft, acquired in California. Hull No. 523 is a very early example of the El Toro boat class. The class now numbers greater than 10,000. Popular boat used for sailing classes in Greenlake and owned and raced by many citizens of King County. 17. Port Madison sailboat 12 feet. Designed by William Garden in 1957. A Northwest adaptation of the El Toro idea. This design was a bigger, more stable boat that could be sailed on the Puget Sound. A West Coat One Design craft. Designed by a Seattle Naval Architect whose design office was at Lockhaven Marina. 18. Pelican sailboat 12 feet. Known as a San Francisco Bay classic, the Pelican 12 feet long and 6 feet wide. The design, wide and stable, has a large following across the Northwest. Designed by a Seattle Naval Architect whose design office was at Lockhaven Marina.
19. Blanchard/Seaborne Kit Boat A post-world War II venture into kit boats. A part of the Blanchard local history. Another part of the Seaborne design legacy. It is unlikely that another example of this boat exists. Designed and built in Seattle. 20. R A Long Boat 16 feet. This very pretty boat has a wineglass transom, cedar lapstrake planks, steam bent oak frames and cooper clench nail fastenings. Boats of this design were built in Olympia for various liveries around town. 21. Olympic Racing Canoe 17 feet. A 1924 Olympic Games racing canoe. Olympic racing canoes and kayaks are still made of wood because of its high strength/weight ratio. The lines of this boat were designed for speed in flat water. The stem and stern posts are plumb; providing a long waterline length. The bottom is V-shaped at midship, rather than flat as in a typical canoe; this reduces wetted surface. The freeboard is low, reducing wind resistance and weight; the long foredeck protects the rower from spray and adds strength. This boat was loaned to CWB, for display, by CWB member Nelson Miller. Because these were built nearby in Olympia, probably used as a watercraft by King County residents. While the boat s origins are on the east coast, a fleet of beetle cats have been part of CWB s livery for 30 years..
22. Beetle Cat 12 feet. A scaled down version of the Cape Cod catboats used for lobster fishing, these gaff-rigged catboats were designed in 1921 by Carl N. Beetle as a sail-training boat for the New Bedford Yacht Club. Costing $300 complete, they were built by the Beetle Company of Massachusetts, which was well known for producing whale boats and Cape Cod catboats. Leo Telesmanick was responsible for building most of the Beetles. He started building them in 1930 and retired in 1983. The Beetle Cat became a class in 1921 and is the oldest continuing sailing class in the U.S. It is still popular, especially in New England. The construction is Cape Cod white cedar with oak frames and coaming. The boats are 12 4 long with a 6 beam. They are still being built by Beetle, Inc. in South Dartmouth, MA While the boat s origins are on the east coast, a fleet of beetle cats have been part of CWB s livery for 30 years... 23. Millacoma skiff 16 feet Very old row boat from western Oregon. Millacoma was the name of the boatyard where boat was built. The craft is a traditional plank on frame, round bottomed boat. Boats like these were built for use as general transportation in a region where there was lots of water but very few roads. Designed late 1800s. Part of broader northwest region s history.
24. Whitebear skiff 16 feet. The Amundson family of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, built these boats in 14 feet, 16 feet and 18 feet lengths (length of sheer strake) as a winter project in their lakeside shop. The shop specialized in sailing scows which were the dominant recreational sailboat of the 1880s to early 1900s. The skiffs were built for the nearby lake and river boat liveries. The original White Bear skiffs of 1870 were double enders, but they became transom-sterned in 1875 to accommodate the lady passengers full skirts. The traditional planking is Minnesota white cedar, with white oak frames and copper fastenings. This 16 feet model is planked in Port Orford cedar. The builder is Dean Haynes, a third-generation White Bear skiff craftsman. This boat was used in Seattle liveries (boat rentals) and is a part of CWB s history.