A needful read, somebody else’s future, and in the “a matter of choice” department…
I just saw that Jim Melcher’s old boat Alert is looking for a new owner. When we lost Loose Moose 2, Bolger’s Manatee (Alert) design was one of the possible designs we considered building. Jim had changed Alert from a gaff yawl to junk rig and it seemed to make a lot of sense.
The downside of such a boat is, Alert being a leeboard boat, you’ll spend a lot of time explaining to people who should know better how sailboats actually work. On the other hand, scandalizing the anchorage can be somewhat entertaining.
Certainly a boat worth checking out…
Nice photo. I have coveted this boat for years. Phil Bolger drew the design Berengaria based on this hull. Never got around to building it – just too big a project – but Manatee is a beautiful sailboat and capable without a fin keel or rigid rig.