Today at Valentine
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 6:54 pm
We like walking around the foreshore at Valentine on East LM . Mainly as it’s a large mooring area and has a large jetty that attracts many boats. Some doing basic maintenance, some cleaning, some dining at the adjacent Bowling Club. We often chat with boat owners about their vessels. Today I struck a boat I’d seen once before, mainly attracted to the restored wooden cabin and teak decks .
Today I was lucky enough to strike the owner just emerging from the companionway and complimented him on his vessel and ongoing restoration. This as some will note is a yawl. The rear mizzenmast is mounted aft of the rudder post, which was my opening comment to him. It’s my favourite sailing trivia question. What’s the difference between a ketch and a yawl?
This he told me was a Cheoy Lee yawl, one of any a handful left in Aus apparently. It’s about 50 years old and he’s been slowly restoring it from the far poorer condition he found it in. After a few questions on the use of the mizzen he told me if he wanted to run on minimum canvas the foresail and mizzen was quite comfortable and gave negligible weather helm. The boat is still a work in progress. Main cabin is restored and varnished and the teak deck after a few minor repairs will be left natural which will be great I think. I mentioned my association with the Investigator and how many of these were being restored for a second life. Glass and stainless can always we be refurbished with elbow grease but there is something bloody wonderful about wooden boats. If a tree has a life then this must carry its soul onwards. Made our day.
Today I was lucky enough to strike the owner just emerging from the companionway and complimented him on his vessel and ongoing restoration. This as some will note is a yawl. The rear mizzenmast is mounted aft of the rudder post, which was my opening comment to him. It’s my favourite sailing trivia question. What’s the difference between a ketch and a yawl?
This he told me was a Cheoy Lee yawl, one of any a handful left in Aus apparently. It’s about 50 years old and he’s been slowly restoring it from the far poorer condition he found it in. After a few questions on the use of the mizzen he told me if he wanted to run on minimum canvas the foresail and mizzen was quite comfortable and gave negligible weather helm. The boat is still a work in progress. Main cabin is restored and varnished and the teak deck after a few minor repairs will be left natural which will be great I think. I mentioned my association with the Investigator and how many of these were being restored for a second life. Glass and stainless can always we be refurbished with elbow grease but there is something bloody wonderful about wooden boats. If a tree has a life then this must carry its soul onwards. Made our day.