David MacLean lives in Sedgwick, Maine, a town surrounded by the waters of Penobscot Bay. He sails a 32′ Eastport pinky, INTEGRITY, built in Rockport in 1972, and wanted to have a tender that would complement his classic sloop. A peapod, he thought, another smaller Maine-coast double-ender, would fit the bill. INTEGRITY is currently getting a new, more easily managed ketch rig. When she's afloat again she'll take HARMONY in tow.
David MacLean
Read this article now for Free!
Ready for a second free article? Create a free account by entering your email address and a password below.
— OR —
Subscribe now for $29.99 a year and have immediate access to all of our content, including hundreds of small-boat profiles, gear reviews and techniques, adventure stories, and more! You can also browse our entire archive of back issues starting from September 2014, as well as post unlimited classified ads. This is an extraordinary value!
I’m wondering how close to the wind you can sail, lacking a centerboard. It does appear that you have 3″ or 4″ of keel, which I assume helps. Also, do you find that the rudder get sufficient grip, being shallow also? Bolger probably would square off the bottom of the rudder and put an end plate on it—but maybe you haven’t found that necessary.
You’ve done a beautiful job on the boat, and the paint and varnish job is striking.
We at first thought a deeper rudder would be necessary and built a second flip-up one. Did not improve. The answer was to gently head up into the wind and right before the sail luffs to push the tiller over and she comes about easily. Because she is light, it’s more difficult to gain enough headway otherwise. Once you’ve mastered her ability, she behaves beautifully.
I used a similar keel approach with my 17′ faering. Having no centerboard or daggerboard trunk really opens up the interior. Very handsome peapod, David. She looks like a strong and stable boat.
She tracks like she is on rails and handles impressively in both calm and fairly challenging circumstances.
Beautiful lines. I love the pinky, Tancook whaler, Block Island Cowhorn stern as well as the sheer. Bravo.