ALL – Page 7 – PT Watercraft Blog

October 2, 2015 by admin in ALL, Events, Nesting Dinghy Activities

Sailing off to wild places

This last June and July, Russell and I sailed our multi-hull from Port Townsend to Haida Gwaii/Gwaii Haanas park (also known as Queen Charlotte Islands) and back down the west coast of Vancouver Island.

ptwatercraft.com — Soaking in a hot tidal pool

There is really no way to accurately describe what it was like for me, or the feeling that we dropped off into another world for a wonderful but all too brief period of time. “What does one do in absolute wilderness?” This was a question asked by my adult daughter. “It’s more about being there.” I finally said, but I lacked for words and still do.

I did take some pictures and videos but not many, nor do they capture the wonder that surrounded us. I simply spent more time looking, listening, breathing, and just being.

We were tandem sailing with dear friends, Alex and his rotating crew (all the coolest of people), and we met up with “Blackbeard II” and “Able” along the way. We also met some really interesting people in port. There was a lot of curiosity, honesty, generosity and simple human graciousness in the people of North Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. Thinking about some of those people still kind of blows my mind. A blog post just isn’t the place to do them justice. Of the Haida villages, we visited Skedans, Hotsprings Island, and SGang Gwaii. I was very impressed with the “Watchmen”; each one very different, each one with a story to tell in their own way, and each clearly passionate about their culture, history, and path into the future. I am so grateful, for the whole experience.

This adventure was in the planning since summer 2014, with our friend, Alex, on his lovely and magical boat, ‘Vito Dumas’. Sailing in tandem with Alex is one of our great pleasures in life and we try to make at least one small trip every year. This one was a big one, 6 weeks and over a 1000 miles. He carried a PT 11 on his fore deck and we had ours on the trampoline. We were able to go adventuring in both boats and actually get some new video. Alex has become our PT 11 Star. Thank you, Alex! Some video is already published, others yet to come. Here is a video glimpse into our trip.

My ‘take-away’? .. Nature, harmony with nature, back to nature; it is so nurturing so let’s do more to preserve and help nature recuperate from human destructiveness. I left Gwaii Haanas feeling hopeful.

If you want to go to Gwaii Haanas, you need to do their orientation, make reservations and buy passes. It is not difficult and it is so very worth it.

Contact: Ginette,
Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site
60 Second Beach Road, Skidegate BC V0T 1S1 |
PO Box 37, Queen Charlotte BC V0T 1S0 |Email: gwaii.haanas@pc.gc.ca Website: www.pc.gc.ca/gwaiihaanas
Telephone | Téléphone 250-559-8818
Toll Free | Sans frais 1-877-559-8818
www.parkscanada.gc.ca | www.parcscanada.gc.ca
www.facebook/gwaiihaanas | www.facebook.com/GwaiiHaanasFR

For an interesting approach to harmonious living that you can visit, see: http://www.roseharbour.com/

September 16, 2015 by Ashlyn Brown in ALL, Events, Nesting Dinghy, PT Skiff Updates

2015 boat festival was great!

This is kind of a long post featuring my festival pictures, our booth, the Pt 11 on the water, a customer built PT Skiff, end show humor, & video links…

The Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival is a great event any year. This year, the 39th, was no exception. We had two hot and sunny days and Sunday cooled considerably under cloudy skies. In spite of the Hood Canal Bridge closing earlier in the week and again for a flotilla, people made it to our peninsula.

I did not get as many festival photos as usual but here are a few. It is hard not to get the same pictures as everyone else. Everywhere you look seems photo-worthy.

For PT Watercraft, the festival is increasingly a family reunion of sorts. Among the thousands who visited, were quite a few builders of our kits; some of our earliest customers, some who recently completed beautiful boats, and some who are just beginning construction. We were so happy to see everyone. We even have show regulars who are still dreaming about building a PT 11 or a skiff, and they come every year to stroke the bright-work, listen to conversation, ask new questions. It is great to see familiar faces.

Our booth photos;

Schooner Martha has returned to Port Townsend. The Port Townsend Sails loft cheered as Martha tied up at the dock:

You can probably tell that I love our wooden boat festival even if I talk myself hoarse over the three days. I walked the docks Thursday afternoon as boats were filling the harbor, and again early Sunday morning. The Sunday Sail-by is a highlight, though this year I found myself talking to booth visitors more than watching the hundreds of boats out on the water at once. Still very impressive! I expect lots of videos will appear on Youtube.

See a fun NWMC video of getting the boats into the harbor:

Our annual helper, Cooper Parrish, raced the PT 11 in the 26ft & under, and then sailed around during the Sail-by. Cooper makes very cool things at Scaled Composites in Mojave and we are so grateful that he is happy to take time out and join us at the show. Our friend Simon Miles of 206 Composites here in Port Townsend, had the Patin out as well. The Patin is probably the first beach cat design ever. Interested cat sailors might want to check out videos of the Vela Patin.

Customer built PT Skiff ‘Mojo’, was in the water. It was great to have a skiff at the festival for folks to check out. Builder/owners Mark and Meg were rightfully proud of their boat. Mark chose to really spiff it out with various woods, a sprayed paint job in indigo blue, and some plush outfitting choices.

At the end of the festival, packing up has a party like feel to it. We all survived a fun but physically challenging weekend. Our friends and show neighbors, Chesapeake Lightcraft, often display a bit of end show humor. This year, they thought the Wee Nip bar next to them was closing the festival with ‘BYOB’ for a fill up. Well, John and crew brought a boat! Thanks John for all the laughs!

August 28, 2015 by Ashlyn Brown in ALL, Events

Fair winds, Ted

Monday August 24th, A good friend, Ted Pike, passed away. I never knew a lot about Ted and his personal life. I did know and appreciated the energy and joy he created where ever he went and I want to honor him in my own small way with this post. He was a larger than life kind of guy, gregarious and smart. He was a great supporter of the work that Russell and I have been doing. He advised us, cheered us on, and kept us believing that maybe we really are on to something good. He was always ready with a hug, a joke, a story.. and he always took time to ask important questions both about us, as people, and about business and our ideas. I deeply appreciated Ted and I know I am but one of so many people who did.

Kiwi Ferris of Edensaw Woods appropriately said in a recent message, “The Edensaw Family, Wooden Boat community, and Maritime world mourn the loss of our dear friend Ted Pike. The ancient mariner, dear friend, teacher, mentor, dear father and husband, the best hugger in the world.”

I found some photos I took at the Classic Mariners Regatta one year, from the cockpit of s/v Vito Dumas. Ted, on Annie Too, was always in the fleet and often Master of Ceremonies afterwards.

With only one day notice, a large crowd accompanied Ted’s sailboat, Annie Too, (link to a slide show) as it was carried in the travel lift to the water. In a way, it was a chance for the many people who loved Ted, to be together and support one another through the shock and sadness of his sudden passing. What brought us all together was our mutual love and appreciation for Ted’s presence in all our lives. As my sister says, “Ted was a Boddhisattva and wherever he went, he spread love and compassion.”

If you feel like listening to Ted Pike talk on Proboat radio from 2 years ago, follow the link here. The intro is lengthy but I liked hearing his voice again… http://www.blogtalkradio.com/proboatradio/2012/11/27/ted-pike-on-wood-boats-and-sailing

In Honor of Ted here is a fun little film of a human Boddhisattva..it will put a smile on your face..

Ashlyn

June 9, 2015 by admin in ALL, instructional, kit options, Nesting Dinghy, Nesting-PT11 Construction, Non-nesting 'Spear'

Painted interiors

As beautiful as clear coated Okoume is, a couple of builder’s have chosen to paint their dinghy interiors. They have also added non skid. I have to admit, I think these boats look super smart!

exterior paint job on Sadee Ann includes a nice racing stripe.

ptwarercraft.com — Sadee Anne PT 11 nesting dinghy nested

June 8, 2015 by admin in ALL, Events

Race to Alaska has begun!

With 2 boats carrying our Pacific Swift emblem, you can guess Russell has been helping get them ready for the race. We have been very excited about this race mainly due to the spirit of it, in the tradition of the early OSTAR, where practically anybody with a boat and perseverance could enter and possibly the least likely could win.
Some boats have been designed and built from scratch and been launched a little too close to the race date to be ideal. But, they made it to the starting line and the shakedown leg to Victoria has been a great learning experience. For entrant details you can see the Race to Alaska website. As of writing this blog the racers have left Victoria on the second leg of the race. The spot trackers allow you to follow their progress in real time.

So what was the start like? Numerous great videos have been posted online but that morning, with so many boats on the water at daybreak and the sudden cheer that erupted from shore at the starting horn, is hard to capture on film.

We were out on the water, not as an entrant, but signed up as a “chase-boat” / support for the arrival side. We sheeted in the sails along with everyone else at the start. We were fast; making the crossing in just over 3 hours averaging 9+ knots in windy rough conditions. About midway our tack pennant gave way and the genoa raced up the stay. We ‘parked’ long enough to retie it and continue. Russell sent me down below for a specific line and I realized too late what a bad idea that was. The boat was jumping around faster than my eyes could keep up and and by the time I was on deck again, I was on my knees heaving. Yuk… I hate heaving but I did feel better afterwards! Some time after that I realized I was cold. I had not dressed warm enough under my foul weather gear. I was doomed to go below again and all I could manage was to lay down on the floor and cover myself with a sleeping bag and hugging a bucket. So I have been thoroughly initiated for our upcoming sailing trip.

HERE is the only video I got before I got the queezies.

We were still leading the fleet until right near the harbor entrance, where Team Golden Oldies slid by to receive their well deserved victory. They made a perfect crossing in conditions, (strong wind, upwind) well suited to both our boats!

In Victoria we quickly cleared customs and headed back out to cheer on arrivals and get some pictures. It was a good test for our boat, Jzerro, which Russell considers a cruising boat and not a racer. Had we tried to create a way to human power it, we might have entered this leg of the race, but we were swamped with work leading up to it and Russell spent a lot of time helping two of the teams prepare. We just wanted to be there and are grateful to Jake Beatty of the NW Maritime Center for our ‘back stage’ passes and a fascinating event.

While in Victoria, we enjoyed a lot of conversation and brainstorming on improvements and routes north with some of the crews. The rough and windy conditions were nature’s way of sussing out weaknesses and filtering out those less well prepared. I know I will pack some warmer clothes than I had.

The internet is full of reports and commentaries on the second leg. See Youtube, Vimeo, Sailing Anarchy and of course, the R2AK website and facebook pages!

“on, on!” racers! We are thinking about you! AEB 😉

May 14, 2015 by admin in ALL, Events, international

Keeping up with Google

Google recently announced that if your website is not ‘mobile friendly’ then you are going to the back of the line. Essentially, they will not show your website in the search results unless someone types in your specific website address. I have known for some time that my website, ptwatercraft.com, is not mobile friendly as they say. Thus when I got a call from a company promising a solution for a good price, I begrudgingly accepted. I will say that it took a very persistent salesman to wear me down. I was told they would use my own text from my website and I could request changes at any time. I already knew my site had issues and thought I would save some time…what was I thinking? (I wasn’t, apparently)

The snap shot of boatkitsinseattle.com below is a site created by a third party and not my creation. I am working now to have it  removed from the web.

This is a snap shot of the repaired site but even repaired it feels alien.

When I saw the site I cried. They did not have a clue what they were talking about and had taken way too many liberties in re writing my text to sound like a used car salesman…in the worst way. I spent hours on the phone with them for changes only to have them tell me to ‘agree’ that my changes might adversely affect the visibility of my site on the web and effectively negating their responsibility to get top search results. Not agreeing to that, I had to tone down my changes and in the “end” (of my patience) I asked them to terminate the service. This fabricated persona was not worth a penny and in fact feels damaging.

I am learning something real here.. If it feels wrong in your belly, DO NOT let a salesperson change your mind. HANG UP THE PHONE! As I write this, I am disputing my ‘contract’ with this company, called Local Lighthouse, in S. California, and have sadly discovered that they are totally insensitive to their customers’ satisfaction. They do not hear the word, terminate. They want their money in full, point stop. I do not know what the outcome will be but I have been seriously upset about it. I have had to re-write almost everything but within their parameters that I don’t like, and I am still expected to pay them. (They should pay me for the stress and time I have wasted.) (May the final outcome be happier….?)

Bottom line: If anyone saw or sees the site pictured above, I apologize. I may not be able to create as visible a site that the search engines especially like, but I would rather our name, Port Townsend Watercraft, is spread through referral from happy customers. We are clearly not selling used cars.

A mobile friendly interim site of my own making will be forth coming before the year is finished and it will represent the PT Watercraft that many have come to appreciate and respect. I send out warm thanks to all of my customers for their feedback, support, and the pride and joy they have taken in the boats they have built. Ashlyn E. Brown

As an update, I finally did manage to persuade them to cancel the agreement. Yay…it took many many tries.

March 31, 2015 by admin in ALL, Events, international

Summer closed dates

June & July 2015

There is a good reason we have a business based on boating. We love sailing! But what good is it if you only get to hear about others going on voyages? We have been pretty good about getting away from time to time but generally we keep those trips short. For 2015, we have been planning something bigger.
A sailing trip to the Queen Charlottes (HAIDA GWAII) has been on our radar for years and this Summer we know a few friends that are making the trip. After a year in the planning, we are going too, for what might be our last real trip on our sailboat Jzerro. (raising the FOR SALE flag)
This means PORT TOWNSEND WATERCRAFT will be closed from early June through late July. I will have someone shipping out books during our absence. {UPDATE: for more immediate print book ordering, please see the links below}
I am bringing this up now because we do get some orders, primarily from the southern hemisphere, during the summer months. Besides that, it is a slow time for us

since most folks who get this newsletter in our hemisphere are on the water playing. So here is the plan;
~~-We will be shipping kits through May but the sooner we know about your order, the better.~~ {All done here.}
-Some orders will go out in August. Again, the sooner we know about them, the better. {some are already on order. Yours can be too. See below for quick deposit instructions}
-We will be participating in the Port Townsend Annual Wooden Boat Festival in September and will be taking orders for shipping from October on. We hope to see you there!

How can you secure a kit quickly? There is a quick deposit link (green box on the right hand side bar under the form links) on our ordering page. A hull number is assigned to names in the order deposits are received. Kits will ship in that order.

Upon our return we will go through all mail and reply in detail so please do email us! We apologize in advance if this timing inconveniences anyone.
The reality about this trip is that we do not expect to have access to internet or mobile phone coverage except on rare occasion. Yes, that is still possible. I am so excited! (AEB)

Our print books are on AMAZON: But, beware of crazy prices in the “used” section. Our books new are priced under $20. There are likely to be delays getting builder’s manuals shipped. Our apologies for this. Please use the BUY NOW buttons (not the order-form) on the manuals page and our trusty caretaker will get them shipped.

Epoxy Basics

Scarfing Basics

Sailor Sai Aboard Big Blue

March 30, 2015 by admin in ALL, Events, instructional

New Books Spring 2015

**Scarfing Basics is finally an e-book/PDF too!**

I know …it took forever! I will just say that I am a MAC person and if I never have to use a certain MS word processor again, I will be happy. After a lot of tutorials and finally formatting the book, the version I used did not allow active links even for the table of contents. I scratched it and went back to my free word processing program. It took a while to get over the lost time. So now you can get the DIGITAL version of SCARFING BASICS HERE.

I have also just published a children’s book.

I created this book when I was cruising with my daughter many years ago. Sailor Sai Aboard Big Blue is a little tour of life living aboard a sailboat from the eyes of a child. The book hosts rhyming verse, a colorful illustrations and colorable line drawings. Each page is a sampling of living on a boat and the nature seen while cruising. The story was inspired by the real life of a little girl named Sailla who sailed many of the worlds oceans before her 10th birthday. Best suited for ages 2 to 10.

I have it priced at $12.95 (26 full color pages) and can send it postage included for that price anywhere in the USA. You can also buy it from AMAZON.com HERE. Amazon.com likes to play with numbers and they offer the book at a range of prices. Thank you! (Ashlyn)

March 16, 2015 by admin in ALL, Events, Nesting Dinghy

Shipwright Regatta 2015

February 28 2015 was a beautiful sunny and breezy Saturday, and it was the occasion of the annual Shipwrights Regatta in Port Townsend. Russell and I are not racers but this seemed like a good excuse to get out on the water. We entered the PT 11 thinking there would be a host of dinghies in the fleet as is often the case in Port Townsend. Well, we turned out to be the only actual dinghy! Our 11 footer was the most “water-line challenged” in the fleet. Next up in size were 505 Olympic class racing dinghies, then 6 Thunderbirds, and lots of racing and cruising yachts of a wide variety.

When the horn sounded for the start, we were first across the ‘line’, together with the ‘cruising class’. We made the course around the bay twice and crossed the finish line just over 2 minutes behind the last large boat. Yes, we finished last which, after-all, was pretty much a given at the start! It was a lot of fun and nobody was ever left far behind as even we were able to stay close to the fleet and boats with 10 times our sail area and 3 or more times our waterline.

A great thing about this town and this sailing community and regattas like this one is the fun loving spirit and a trophy of some kind for almost everyone. We won the Boat Hook, as the boat that ‘could have used a little pull’… or one less crew, perhaps.. but we were tickled with our “win” and had a blast out on the water. I was having so much fun, cold as I was, that a childish grin was frozen on my face.

My fingers were too cold and stiff to work the Gopro camera very well but what I got is HERE, wet lens and all.
Other pictures of the day can be seen on the Port Townsend Sailing Association website. We are seen under the results and Annual Awards as “Lil B”.

😉 Ashlyn

March 15, 2015 by admin in ALL, Events

A new book in the family

In another lifetime, I lived on a large sailboat. I wrote a little book for children highlighting moments of living aboard with small children for small children.

You can see it on Amazon Here: Thank you! 😉 Ashlyn

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