https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/island-bird/ Thu, 08 Aug 2024 15:23:57 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/island-bird/#comment-89047 Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:14:23 +0000 https://smallboatsmonthly.com/?post_type=article&p=92046#comment-89047 I enjoyed your article and thought that you might be interested in this picture of Capt. Syd. Covington.

He is my great great grandfather and a distant relative graciously shared this picture with me years ago. Notice ISLAND BLOSSOM in the background.
Laura Bobbin

]]> https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/island-bird/#comment-88841 Tue, 18 Apr 2023 04:19:12 +0000 https://smallboatsmonthly.com/?post_type=article&p=92046#comment-88841 “….trying to come to grips with the notion that the boat I’m sailing on is over there!” Priceless!!

]]> https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/island-bird/#comment-88538 Thu, 06 Apr 2023 03:02:42 +0000 https://smallboatsmonthly.com/?post_type=article&p=92046#comment-88538 I sailed on MAGIC, a heavy rival of the Judge, for a couple of years and could provide lots of info about the rig. We pioneered hollow wooden masts and hollow hiking boards and maybe hit the limit on mast length, which is controlled by the fact you can only have one set of spreaders. The mizzen, or as they call it, the main has to be a certain percentage of the main (fore). I graduated from board riding to “main” sheet tending on the outrigger to foresheet tender. We only used a 2×1 and working with the skipper had to time trimming, but we were more interested in how fast you could let the sail out than being able to trim under load. I only capsized MAGIC once.
The bitter end of that 2×1 foresheet was on a ‘biner that was hooked around horn of a cleat abaft the main, so the sheet had to get shifted each tack or jibe. Harken 2″ rachets were just coming on the market (late ’70s) and we used to blow up the ball bearings frequently, sent the blocks back for replacement under warranty. They finally asked what we were doing…now they have big boat blocks.
The real point of log canoes is that the boats are optimized for Force 1, 2, and 3. Takes under 10 to take them to hull speed which is what we get on the Chesapeake in summer. When it blew hard, we left the main on the beach, no jib, and a small fore, still crossing 4 boards, and carrying someone on the outrigger to help keep the boat from submarining.
Jibs, which have to be balanced at the 1/4 point, and the main really dictate where the boat wants to go. I used to trim the main when I was on the outrigger by watching Capt. Nasty (Jimmy Wilson) steering and slack or trim sheet to follow him. Jimmy’s brother ran the local Peterbuilt dealership and equipped us.
The Judge has done a nice book on log canoes.

]]> https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/island-bird/#comment-88517 Tue, 04 Apr 2023 19:15:38 +0000 https://smallboatsmonthly.com/?post_type=article&p=92046#comment-88517 Chris, you never cease to amaze with your exploits. Another great bit.

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