"Irene Agnes" -- 1936 Sea Bird yawl

[CarlZog]

Work kept me out of the water most of this summer, but I finally launched Aggie, as we call her, in mid- to late August. So I thought I'd share from Labor Day.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b177/CarlZog/LaborDay2006001_edited.jpg

We've had her three years, but she's still a little rough around the edges, mostly in need of a lot of brightwork, but I don't figure 'ol Tom Day would be too upset with me for sailing instead of fussing over making her yachty.

I'd love to get rid of the ouboard, but I'd like to keep some aux power in her, and a diesel is out of the budget for the foreseeable future.

Wrinkles in the miz were from a poor clew lashing. Fixed it later that day.

I love the Sea Bird yawl design, and I'm very lucky to have one of the best builds of it that I know of. She's incredibly solid, and a well-balanced, fun boat to sail.

Carl

[nedL]

She looks fantastic! I've always had a real liking for the Seabird design, so simple & so classic looking. Glad to see you enjoying her.:)

[Thorne]

Lovely boat -- have fun!

[Will Wheeler]

Actually, your sail trim is much better than in most of the pics of the original Sea Bird.

[davidagage]

Carl, I keep gravitating to the Sea Bird plans in the 50 Wooden Boats book. Would it be possible to get some more pictures of the interior and such?

Thanks DG

[JimD]

I didn't think a Seabird could look so good!:cool:

[JimD]

Hope I'm not out of line here by changing the subject but I think I may have found your next project for you:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid215/pe639c6c7c8cb8908198675c13b67217c/ecf7eb20.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid215/pcc5d15fba0d112b1cec171df70b80f91/ecf7eb1b.jpg

:D

[davidagage]

Jim, now you're just teasing me:D
Any more pictures/details? where is it located?

DG

[JimD]

David, it's in Genoa Bay, Vancouver Island. I only had a moment to speak with the owner's mrs. She told me some of the history but my memory is foggy. I recall she said it was built on the Island and although she's rough on the outside the hull is sound. That's about all I remember. Hopefully restoration will begin soon.

[martin schulz]

Nice boat!

[CarlZog]

Carl, I keep gravitating to the Sea Bird plans in the 50 Wooden Boats book. Would it be possible to get some more pictures of the interior and such?

I've never taken many pics of the interior, but there isn't much to show. Aggie has exactly the interior of the original Sea Bird, which is very minimal, a couple shelves and a couple berths.

When I get a chance, I'll take some additional detail pics for you and post here. In the meantime, you may want to consider picking up a copy of "How to Build a Cruising Yawl", the Rudder magazine's book on building a Sea Bird. Reprints of the book are available here (http://www.dngoodchild.com/4912.htm)

[CarlZog]

I didn't think a Seabird could look so good!:cool:

The Sea Bird was intially publicized as a simple backyard build, and unfortunately Sea Birds got a bad rap for a long time because so many shoddy builds were done in the 1930s to 1950s by people who really didn't have the skills to do it right or attempted to alter the original design specs to suit personal preferences.

Don't confuse these wayward results with the qualities of the original design. Built to specs by those with the right skills, she's a great boat!

Carl

[Karl A. Hilbert]

Carl,
Can you give some information about her name? I know them separately as hurricanes?

[Lew Barrett]

I recall she said it was built on the Island and although she's rough on the outside the hull is sound.

I've heard that one before!

[keelbolts]

I keep looking at the Seabird. I draw 6' on the Chesapeake Bay & that's way too much. When the wind whips up I'm glad to have all of that under me, but it keeps me out of a lot of nice places. I would also like to see some photos of her interior & even more of her exterior.

[skuthorp]

I looked at one a few years ago with a long spoon overhung stern, mizzen mounted aft of the rudder. Gaf rigged, built in the 1920's She'd been sunk for some years at one stage, part restored and sailed for another few. When I saw her she'd been on the hard in a backyard for 4 years. Don't know where she is now but I understood she was to be rebuilt. I think a big job. Only Seabird I've seen with that mod. To make it easier for one-handed operation maybe?

[CarlZog]

Carl,
Can you give some information about her name? I know them separately as hurricanes?

A former owner in the Chesapeake named the boat "Irene Agnes" (for his mother-in-law) after an outrageously extensive rebuild in the late 1980s. I don't know what the boat's name was prior to that, if she even really had one.

Carl

[CarlZog]

I keep looking at the Seabird. I draw 6' on the Chesapeake Bay & that's way too much.

Aggie has a full keel (Sea Birds have also been built with centerboards) and draws 3.5 feet. The full keel and gaff rig are particularly stable, though I think mine is slightly under ballasted. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the marconi rig and centerboard, which at least one owner has described as being pretty tender.

Carl