| Home |
| Search |
| Today's Posts |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Interesting old boat......
My Gal
William Garden was born in Calgary, Alberta, in 1918. The Garden family relocated to Seattle about the time young William was ten years old. After graduating from a Seattle High School, William attended Edison Tech's Boatbuilding School and then landed a job at Andrew's Boat Company on Portage Bay. Garden served in the army from 1942-46 where he worked at a ship repair facility in the Aleutians. By 1947 he was a licensed naval architect, and he launched one of the most influential careers in modern boat design. Among many hundreds of designs, he drew this month's NW Classic, "My Gal", built in 1967 at Vic Franck's Boatyard on Portage Bay. The design was a departure from the prevailing norm in its day, but as Bruce Ramon of Wolfe Marine observed, "This boat really inspired a long series of Pacific Northwest cruisers." As we inspected the 64' cedar on oak motoryacht, it was easy to appreciate Bruce's insight. Sixty to seventy-foot pleasure boats of the mid-1960's were typified by flush deck motoryachts from legendary builders such as Chris Craft and Pacemaker. Stylish designs featured a long foredeck and inconsequential sidedecks, with most superstructure and a high bridgedeck well aft. Garden's earliest designs were primarily working commercial vessels, and the propensity for creating stout boats with excellent seakeeping characteristics endured throughout his career. "My Gal" features a raised pilothouse behind a Portuguese bridge, a high bow, decks sloped to drain aft, and wide, covered side decks. So advanced was Garden's design that "My Gal" doesn't appear badly outdated in 2005, but she must have garnered some intrigued stares from owners of Chris Craft Commanders, Matthews Voyagers, and horizontally layered Pacemaker Flush Decks when first debuted. We boarded "My Gal" at Vic Franck's Boatyard, where she was launched thirty-eight years ago. Dan Franck reported that the boatyard has been doing periodic refits on the boat for a short list of successive owners. Her hull and superstructure gleamed, even on a dark January day, "We repainted her not all that long ago," said Dan Franck. "We were about to do some minor updating on the interior when, unfortunately, the owner of the boat passed away and its now being sold as part of his estate." Vital statistics: "My Gal" has an LOA of 64-feet, (61' 7" at the waterline). She carries a 17-foot beam, displaces 77,500 pounds, and draws 4' 9". A pair of 350HP Detroit 8V71's provides comfortable cruising speeds of 12-14 knots, with a top speed of 16. A fuel capacity of 1,280 gallons and 600 gallons of potable water (plus a watermaker) provide adequate range for extended summer cruising. AC power can be produced underway by two generators: 12 and 15kw Kohlers. She has been fitted with a WESMAR bow thruster, and Vosper stabilizers. A walk through: We went aboard "My Gal" by crossing the swimstep and stepping through a transom door. A flawlessly finished teak caprail adorns the cockpit and the Portuguese bridge. Decks are painted, non-skid fiberglass to provide solid, low maintenance footing. A cold plate chest freezer is positioned on the port side of the aft cabin bulkhead, inspiring conclusions that "My Gal" could be provisioned for extended cruises. The salon is most aft. A smartly upholstered settee is just to port of door between the salon and the cockpit, and it takes a 90-degree turn to extend up the port side as well. A carpeted perimeter surrounds a large central area of teak parquet on the cabin sole. Interior walls are premium grade teak, and large windows prevented the salon from seeming overly dark on a gloomy January day. A dining bar, with seating for an easy three or close four, is in the port forequarter of the salon and doubles as the pass-through counter for the U-shaped galley just beyond. One is immediately aware that the same general layout is still used on some of the most popular selling, mass produced, pilothouse motoryachts being produced today- (but without the "custom crafted" effect). A companionway leading to the pilothouse steps extends between the starboard edge of the galley and teak stowage lockers below the starboard windows. The galley proper is centered on an oversize ceramic sink with single lever mixing faucet, situated immediately below a port side window. The galley leg situated along the forward bulkhead includes upper lockers, lower drawers, and terminates in a four-burner, double oven, 220-volt electric range. The aft leg of the galley has the doublewide countertop that also serves as a dining bar and pass through, with lockers above and below and terminates with a Whirlpool side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. All galley fixtures are teak, carefully preserved and maintained and glowing with a patina only achievable with a bit of graceful aging. "My Gal" is a three-stateroom vessel, with the staterooms one deck below the salon and galley. Headroom in the staterooms is a minimum of 6'6" throughout. The master stateroom is most forward, with a generous double or modest queen "walkaround" centerline berth headed to the chain locker bulkhead in the forepeak. The teak that prevailed on the main deck gives way to a soft white yacht enamel and fabric surfaces in the staterooms, once again creating an environment that is lighter and seems more spacious by virtue of more reflective tones. The lockers and fixtures built into the master stateroom are skillfully assembled to the highest standards. "My Gal" incorporates a very impressive master head, with a soaking tub, hand basin, and marine toilet all mounted in fields of hand laid ceramic tile. The second stateroom is a set of upper and lower bunks in the portside companionway leading aft from the master stateroom. Just aft of the bunks is a large, fully tiled head, with an oversized shower stall. This "day head" serves the salon, galley, and pilothouse areas without any need to pass through a stateroom to reach a head. The third stateroom is aft of the master stateroom, and to starboard. The third stateroom features a double bunk, a hanging locker with built-in drawers, and a ceramic tiled private head with sink and shower. A stacked washer and dryer is just inside the entry to the engine room. The machinery space itself has standing headroom, (but just), for a 5'11" magazine writer. The Detroit 8V71's can be easily serviced on all sides, a benefit of a 17-foot beam. Ample space for a workbench, easy access to major systems, and an inventory of tools, fasteners, and spares allows the engine room to be extremely user friendly. An enormous lazarette is aft of the engine room bulkhead, and one suspects that William Garden may have considered this huge stowage area as a sort of converted "fish hold". While an interior helm is often a minor afterthought on many powerboats (and tucked somewhere out of the way where it won't interfere with food and beverage service), a pilothouse motoryacht places appropriate emphasis on the business end of boating. "My Gal" has a large, six spoke wheel at a center helm, with large expanses of working and charting space extending to both the port and starboard edges of the pilothouse. A settee and table with built-in stowage is situated in the aft port quarter of the pilothouse, encouraging guests to visit the skipper without disrupting the operation of the vessel. If "My Gal" were put into charter with a paid captain, he or she could sleep in the pilot's berth just above the settee to create additional privacy for the guests in the staterooms below. "My Gal" has a complete array of modern electronics, with two computer display screens and fully interfaced radar, GPS, and autopilot systems. A skillful installation has brought the electronics into the pilothouse without fostering an overwhelming presence of electronic monitors. The integrated control console is organized, efficient, and doesn't unduly impair visibility. Like most pilothouse motoryachts, aft visibility from the wheel is poor. Backing down isn't a blind operation aboard "My Gal", as there are two additional control stations to port and starboard on the Portuguese bridge. Each of the exterior stations has a set of engine controls as well as a bow thruster lever. There is an exterior wheel on the front of the pilothouse, easily accessed from either control station on the Portuguese bridge. When backing the vessel, a skipper standing at either station gets an excellent view aft along the side decks. The exterior stations would also prove useful when bringing the vessel alongside a float or dock as they allow very good visibility over the rail. Cruisers arriving at a summer anchorage in "My Gal" will deploy a Fjorford anchor, with stout chain rode hauled by an extra heavy-duty windlass. The windlass is yet another reminder that Bill Garden designed tugs and fishboats before he expanded into yachts, and apparently developed an appreciation for the importance of a serious windlass in the process. The shoreboat, mounted on the boatdeck, is a 17-foot Boston Whaler with an outboard motor. Originally launched 38 years ago at Vic Franck's, "My Gal" is temporarily moored at her birthplace and waiting for new owners to take her on yet another series of adventures. She would appear to be a coastal cruiser more than sufficient to the task. There is enough room in the lazarette to add additional fuel capacity and give her true passage making range. She no longer looks like an oddball, nonconformist design but instead appears exactly like what Garden's original pilothouse motoryacht ultimately became: often imitated, but seldom surpassed. |
|
#2
|
|||
|
|||
|
"Harry Krause" wrote in message ... Did our Thaiboy Tuuuuu,,,,k lose his job pulling the pedicab and delivering sushi? Seems so...probably for sassin' the customers. If he's not careful, his relatives may cancel his sponsorship and ship him back home. |
|
#3
|
|||
|
|||
|
"John H" wrote in message ... On Sat, 05 Feb 2005 15:48:06 GMT, "Don White" wrote: Be honest, Don. You were laughing your ass off as you typed that, now weren't you? No sir! He's certifiable. |
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
|
Somebody wrote:
Harry Kruase Feb 5, 7:16 am show options Newsgroups: rec.boats From: "Harry Kruase" - Find messages by this author Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 10:16:54 -0500 Local: Sat, Feb 5 2005 7:16 am Subject: Interesting old boat...... Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse Yup I have an interesting old boat,, Actually I own about 30 interesting old boats, if you define old being 30 years or more,, but not less. My great grand pappa, had a few old boats, when he traveled over here on the Titanic he was allowed to put the boats in cargo cheap (because he knew the captain, good friends) ************ There may be credibility to a current theory that Tuuk is an Australian sock puppet. There's a bit of the Blunderbus from Down Under Us in that parenthetical clause. Who else hates Krause so bitterly that they would take the very first opportunity to make an unprovoked attack? If his best friend in the NG made an attempt to slop up and disguise her style, would it not read almost exactly like the yellow pus oozing from "Tuuk"? Innocent until proven guilty, of course, but it is not unsual for people on an internet crusade to invent a few allies for their questionable causes. |
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
|
On Sat, 05 Feb 2005 20:25:32 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote: On 5 Feb 2005 11:36:44 -0800, wrote: ~~ snippage ~~ Who else hates Krause so bitterly that they would take the very first opportunity to make an unprovoked attack? If his best friend in the NG made an attempt to slop up and disguise her style, would it not read almost exactly like the yellow pus oozing from "Tuuk"? Heh. There was a dead giveaway in a couple of those posts. Later, Tom I wonder if the 'dead giveaway' to which you refer is what allowed a few of the posts to bypass my filter. Hmmm? John H On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD, on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! "Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it." Rene Descartes |
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
|
JohnH wrote:
Chuck, you guys come up with some of the most *interesting* theories! ******************* That's the difference between a progressive and a conservative, JohnH. "We guys" are always imagining how things could be, and working toward the better alternatives. "You guys" are more concerned with preserving whatever status happens to be quo. No big deal, the world would come to grinding halt without one side or the other. |
|
#9
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
|
#10
|
|||
|
|||
|
wrote in message oups.com... JohnH wrote: Chuck, you guys come up with some of the most *interesting* theories! ******************* That's the difference between a progressive and a conservative, JohnH. "We guys" are always imagining how things could be, and working toward the better alternatives. "You guys" are more concerned with preserving whatever status happens to be quo. I knew you would somehow turn a boating thread into a political one Chuck. It seems to be your ultimate agenda with anything you write. |
| Reply |
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Forum | |||
| rec.boats.paddle sea kayaking FAQ | General | |||
| rec.boats.paddle sea kayaking FAQ | General | |||
| Dictionary of Paddling Terms :-) | Touring | |||
| I was a Mac26X owner | ASA | |||
| Essentials of a Marine Boat Alarm System | Electronics | |||
Linear Mode
