Allen Farrell rowboat

[Stephen]

I'm beginning the restoration of a tired old rowboat built by Allen Farrell. I'll try to keep the pictures coming as progress happens.
I have an imagestation album going too.
The picture hosting is still new to me, so let me know if you can't view the album.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4289032847

It's 13'6" long. I have the coamings and lower exterior rub rail stowed in the shop's rafters. The planking is red cedar. The frames are steam bent oak with clenched nails (I need a cheap source for some more nails if anyone knows of one). It is strictly a rowboat, but I am contemplating a simple junk rigged sail (in the true Farrell spirit!) that would stow inside the length of the boat.
I'd like to have it done before next spring - perhaps in time to row it over for the annual sail-in/ Farrell memorial day - anyone know the date/location of when that happens?
Here's a couple of pics. Note the nice green vine growing in there....
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid81/p30eaf5c936d5b08a55b7bd2dcb31c7fa/faff221a.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid81/pce0cfa5273584abc05fae87ad9b19b3f/faff1d2e.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid81/p7836cd584aa7b1b872c258dc0433642b/faff1b00.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid81/pe3fa4e1eab1e70dcc38eb754720ef524/faff2036.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid81/p23d65fe0b79b6c033f22c9897f51e499/faff1f6b.jpg

[Paul Scheuer]

She's going to be a beauty.

[JimD]

Stephen, that is one nice looking rowboat

[Dave Fleming]

Stephen, might wish to fill in a bit about Allen Farrell for them's what don't know.

[ion barnes]

Nice project, Stephen, it appears to be in reasonable condition, so the work sould go quickly. So do you mind telling us were you and your project call home? Ion

[Stephen]

Here's a little bit of info for starters:

http://media5.hypernet.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000503

and this book is great too:
http://www.hiddenplaces.net/ourbookssailing.html

as well as this one:
http://www.heritagehouse.ca/horsdalschubart/SaltWind.html

oh - and there's Woodenboat #67. That has a great article on the Farrells in it.

I'm on the Sunshine Coast in the Palm Beach / Lang Bay area.

[ 09-25-2003, 01:36 AM: Message edited by: Stephen ]

[Dave Fleming]

I have Salt on the Wind but forgot that our hosts featured the couple in an early magazine.

40 boats over the years! Now THAT is some accomplishment particularly when you keep it in the perspective of building in out of the way places and using salvaged timber.

Wonder where the majority are? We know Stephen has one but....?

[plimsol]

Take the lines! Besides restoring the boat, this is a really fitting tribute to the man. This ensures that the boat will not be lost or just be a photographic memory of what was. She is a beauty.

[skuthorp]

That is one beautiful boat! She'll come up a treat.

err... by the way, how DO you manage to keep your shop so clean and neat!.

[nedL]

She's a little beauty! smile.gif

[TR]

Stephen;

Good for you! If you want a hand to take the lines off this boat I would be happy to help out.

Skuth; the shop is kept clean by constant stoking of the black box in the back corner.

All the best, Tad.

[Matt J.]

THAT is a beautiful rowboat. Are there comparable boats for which plans are available? Is there a namefor the "genre", or type, or style? I just really like the looks of that boat, to my eye, the proportions and curves are perfect.

[Stephen]

The boat was built sometime in the fifties - Allen himself wasn't even sure when. The BC Maritime Museum in Victoria has taken the lines and has them recorded. Thanks for the offer of assistance though.
There was recently a "Pacific Yachting" magazine article about similar "type" boats working from the Texada/ Lasqueti Island area in the same time frame as this boat. Can't remember what term they coined them though. Hand-fishing boat? Hand trollers? Sorry - not ringing any bells.
The boat needs new frames, oars, floorboards, and three thwart knees. So far I have removed the frames/nails in disrepair, and plan on sanding and priming the interior while the frames are out of the way. Then new frames will start to go back in.
As far as other Farrell boats:
"August Moon" was for sale last year - not sure where she has gone to recently. She was previously owned by Dan Rubin, author of another account of the Farrells - "Salt on the Wind".

"China Cloud" is in the good hands of Gerry Fossum (previous owner of "Native Girl")in the Victoria area. He knows that the boat is a treasure and puts his heart into it.

"Native Girl" sold last summer. I'm not sure if she remains in BC or where she is.

I think the cutter "Ocean Bird" just finished a lengthy haul-out and is in the Lund area.

The Fishing boat "Kivi" is at the Silva Bay Shipyard school.

"Wind Song" was sunk in a harbour in a hurricane in the Fijian islands back in the 50's.

I'm not sure if anyone knows the whereabouts of "Ocean Girl" anymore.

I haven't run across any smaller Farrell boats like the one in my shop. Possibly a trip to Lasqueti might reveal a few....

Can anyone shed further light on the recent whereabouts of some of these boats?