MAKARI skiff~

[Caribbean SeaWolf]

Have just adopt'd a dink which is purported to be a handbuilt '93 version of the Joel White designed rowing skiff tender to E.B White's MARTHA.
This in Key West~ Boca Chica way~
Oak, spruce, Brunzeel Ply, spruce splined transom~
Nine foot & six inches LOA.....

A real sweetheart~

Anyone have any info of this dink/skiff.....??
Anyone have info of the MARTHA?

RSVP
Caribbean_SeaWolf@Yahoo.com

Admiral SeaWolf
Sloop MAKARI REVENANT
Cayo Hueso
~~~~~~~~~~~

[Steve Lansdowne]

Rich Hilsinger, the director of the WoodenBoat School, at one time not long ago (and may still) owned a sailing vessel that Joel had designed and built for his father. I'm not sure if this is the Martha, though.

[Keith Wilson]

WB magazine sells plans for Martha's Tender here. (http://www.woodenboatstore.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=400-025&variation=&aitem=4&mitem=4) It's also in Fifty Wooden Boats. The original Martha is a pleasant little traditional-looking sloop, 22' or so, that was anchored in "Woodenboat Cove" when I was there a few years ago. I don't seem to be able to find a picture on line.

[ 12-17-2003, 01:29 PM: Message edited by: Keith Wilson ]

[Steve Lansdowne]

Guess I was right that Rich Hilsinger owns Martha, as the boat I was referring to was anchored in the WoodenBoat cove but was not owned by them.

[Caribbean SeaWolf]

Thanks kindly for the quick responses~
As a result I have located her plans~

Here then is another sort of piece I
wrote, hoping to solicit information of her, having had just brought her alongside
Sloop Makari .....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Le Dinkeeee!"

Now this day has become an early
visit from Santa~
Due to various anomalies of tide,
current, wind, and sea..... he usually
carouses the ports, brothels, dens of
various iniquity & meeting places, well
before his regular civilized chart/plot
becomes necessary!

Alongside MAKARI REVENANT now
is tethered her new dink..... tender,
or really: rowing skiff.

I was able to strike a deal with her builder
and ten year owner yesterday at dockside.

I had lusted after her for near a month....
thinking she had such a nice line to her,
an interesting bow, and was a classic sort
of dink which I would love to adopt.

Upon our meeting, as just I was to hand over
the cash..... this liveaboard sailor stopped me
cold. Wait just a second. You need listen and
understand what she is all about.... he so said:

He had built her in Michigan in 1993, her hull is of Brunzeel Plywood.... her keel is of oak, her frames, and knees are of oak as well; her transom is then a splined and unusually stout spruce epoxy laminate.
I agreed she was even more than I had thought in terms of being a classic, and promised her a great new home.
We shook hands and consummated the bargain.

She has a dual station (fore & aft) oarlock rig, three athwartship seats... and a sculling oar slot at her transom.

High freeboard, 9foot 6inch LOA 4foot 6inch beam..
Her original designer was Joel White, and she was
designed as tender to E.B White's MARTHA.

Towed from Michigan to Key West, she has been here
ever since. An aluminum worm shoe was added to her keel a few years back, ( keel a substantial affair, of near four inches depth and the last 1/3rd of the hull ) and a 3 inch oak Dutchman was scarfed into her keel when one borer found a home in the oak, same few years back~

In need of only a cosmetic re-fit.... new bootstripe, bottom paint, and paintjob.... she is alongside with not even a minor leak and she has a very sweet movement to her.

Unusually light, very stable, and should be a fantastic tender, not only under tow from astern, but as a rowing or powered skiff.

She has a nice high bow.... very cute chine at entry.... very serious transom.... ( I stood with my entire 165 lbs at the transom and she only nosed up just a tad!) and looks just dandy alongside.

Her builder suggested I look in Wooden Boats, where I would find her history and design plans. I have thus posted an inquiry in Wooden Boats online, and await response.

Today I go to find a set of oars to complete the picture, then I shall row her into the Atlantic just off Boca Chica Channel..... and drift with the tide and wind for a tad.....
She can then take her time and tell me all those stories which she has to offer, show me her finer points, and we shall become friends.

From South Haven, Michigan to Key West..... she has now found a new home, and her sea-mile future shall continue well~

Then, after serious deliberation, I shall find her a name.......

SeaWolf
Sloop Makari Revenant
N24 33.7 / W81 43.5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Jon Etheredge]

... tender to E.B White's MARTHA.

Anyone have info of the MARTHA?
Well, I was killing some time in a bookstore today which gave me a chance to peruse the book <u>Joel White</u> by Bray, Mendlowitz, and Mayher.

Martha was designed by S. S. Crocker and built by Joel White for his father. She is 20' LOA. I am fairly certain that this is the boat Sallee Rover that is shown in <u>Thirty Wooden Boats</u>.

Joel White wrote an article for WoodenBoat about estimating the cost of materials for a boat a number of years ago and used Sallee Rover as an example.

BTW, the book looks terrific. Lots of great photos and lines drawings.