Spring 2020

fantastic to be completely true a squall blew s/y TRUANSEA into the harbor and our anchor started to Nassau to Allens Cay, Bahamas, 2012 drag. David thought that out rode had We put out more rode and set the anchor and wrapped around our keel so I put on my felt confident that we had picked a better spot snorkel and fins and dove over the side to for the night. clear the keel.

By the time I surfaced David had hopped into his dingy and rowed out to unfoul our anchor, which had wrapped around his own anchor line. He lifted our 70ft of chain and anchor not once but twice into his dingy and reset out anchor before rowing back to our boat and calmly said to my wife. “And that is why I remain so fit!” That a 73 year-old man could row out at night, in a squall and rescue our boat was more than a little like watching superman swoop down out of the sky and lift a plane about to crash back to safety. Where is David and s/y MIST? He is delivering a sailboat on the east coast and s/y MIST is on the hard in Florida. Editor: Ron contacted me about David, recently asking if my Rolodex included him. No, but I did recall seeing Mark’s blog. Could it be the same guy? When Ron saw the photo, there was no question. It was David. Flicka Friends F

By Tom Davison While all of us would prefer being on our Flicka 20, it is likely there are a few things in our house or workshop that remind us of our favorite little yacht.

Starboard aft view of a Peter Kunst model of the Flicka 20. Photo: Peter Kunst © 2020

Photos are likely the most common method of reminding ourselves of places we have been. A broad reach in our favorite bay in the afternoon, or an incredible anchorage visiting on a recent trip. Photos from the last issue of Flicka Friends came in from all over the world. That issue included Flickas from Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United States. A Flicka 20 model might be the ultimate addition to your home office or study. Peter Kunst makes custom Flicka 20 models. The one shown is twelve inches long and built at the scale of one-half inch to one foot. You can reach him using the following link. It is a Facebook Page. Use the Send Message on the page to contact him.

This particular Flicka 20 model was made a few years ago at a cost of $2,200, including shipping. His models are popular and prized, orders are placed on his production schedule and several months may be required for him to begin your Flicka 20 model.

This Flicka 20 is built at a scale of 1/2” to one foot. Photo: Peter Kunst © 2020

A Flicka 20 model might be the perfect birthday or Christmas present for your favorite Flicka 20 captain. This is especially true for the colder climate captains were winter forces them and their sailboats indoors for months on end. 5 F

Approaching the marina on the Columbia River aboard s/y EARENDIL, Winds were against us and I didn't fancy tacking under the bridge, so we dropped sail and motored in. Photo: Brandon Tattersall © 2020

With the wind on the nose, tacking through the Hood River Bridge wasn’t a good idea. Opened in 1924, the mile long bridge has a lift section with a 57 foot clearance closed and a span of 246 feet. The bridge is 169 miles form the mouth of the Columbia River and above the Bonneville Lock and Dam. Photo: Brandon Tattersall © 2020

We took s/y EARENDIL down to Newport, OR for the solar eclipse in 2018. That was a bit of an adventure. Two adults and three kids lived aboard for four days. Try that on any other twenty-foot sailboat! My favorite thing about the Flicka is that we could take her to the adventure, not just stay in our local area. Sailing to Newport wasn't practical, so being able to tow her down was great. Photo: Brandon Tattersall © 2020 Flicka Friends

The mast step was flat on the deck so this was the first indication something was wrong aboard s/y ARIELLE, but I didn't know what. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

I noticed my plastic hatch wasn't closing correctly and at first I thought it was a defective hatch. The back hinges were broken. After inspection, I found that the deck had sunk and so did my heart! Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

The straight edge is showing the extent of the problem. Another indication of the problem was that my Stays and Shrouds kept getting loose. Water must have entered the fiberglass/wood arch that gives the Flicka its wide-open interior. At this point I had to pull the boat and take it home to figure out what was the next step. The beauty of the Flicka is you can take her home. I searched the web and found a few other Flickas have had this problem. Most were corrected by a center mast support pole. This was not an option since I would have had to dance around the center pole to use my porta-potty. Though it might not be so bad to have a pole to hang onto for support in a rough sea! Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

Here is what that glassed-in arch looks like with a temporary 2x3 on a scissor jack to hold it back in place. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

Next, took a cut-off wheel to the outside fiberglass encasement and here is what I found. The wood was actually dripping with water. No surprise really. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

There is a block of some sort of hard putty to support the end of the wood. I managed to destroy one side before I understood what it was for. I preserved the starboard side better. After the new arch was in place, I used epoxy putty to rebuild the port side. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

I preserved the starboard side better. After the new arch was in place, I used epoxy putty to rebuild the port side. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

Next step was to build a form to bend the new arch. If I had it to do over, I am not so sure I would go to all this trouble but instead just use the roof itself as a form, bending each arch board into place using the scissor jack and glue. I used cardboard to make the pattern then built this arch. This was not easy! Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

Using red oak (white oak would have been better but this was what was available to me) I kerfed the board on my table saw so it would bend. Then bent it to the form. I was hoping that by gluing two more on top the curve would hold. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

I tested a small sample filling the groves with epoxy putty but the putty shrunk when dried and caused it to spring back so I just glued the next board on top. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

And the second, then the third. Again, hoping each glued board would hold the shape. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

It did! Pretty much anyway. I did have about a 1/4” spring back which wasn't an issue. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

The next step was to cut the ends at the perfect angle to match those end blocks mentioned earlier. A scary procedure since you only get one chance! Then jack the unit into place and glue it to the roof. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

Building the knee supports turned out to be the most difficult part. There are so many darn angles to account for! Again, with a lot of cardboard patterns using trial and error. They are bolted to the side walls with stainless steel lags and fender washers from the outside. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

The faceplate curves on the fore and aft were easy to pattern and that is what made the arch super strong! A few nails and glue there too. The faceplate only covers the first two arch boards leaving a space for antenna and mast light wires and a place for the ceiling panels to lay on top. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

While I was at it I added a small arch to the hatch cutout frame just because I could. Fortunately the plywood deck was not damaged or wet. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

The block under the mast step was a bit of a concern. It was not rotten but it did show a little water damage and some punky areas. Since there is so much weight on it I decided to drill holes clear through to the new arch. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

The six dowels were glued in place, and then glassed. This would take the weight straight to the arch. The dowels are directly under the mounting bolts. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

I took out the stand up blocks for the halyards and bought this base place and blocks from Dwyer mast. The less holes in my deck the better! I also moved the thru deck fittings so they do not fall directly over the arch. If they leak now I will know. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

Even though this arch is made of oak and not teak I used Zar Premium Teak stain from Ace Hardware and it came out to be a perfect match! Now the question is: do I install that little side support spindle or not. I doubt it's needed since this new arch is so much stronger than the old. I had to make new overhead panels around the arch. They are vinyl glued to a flexible Formica backing. The roof is insulated with that foiled bubble wrap stuff. The panels are then screwed or Velcro to the roof. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

Two months later it’s done! And yes, the spindle post went back in and I'm glad to have it's support not so much for the arch support but for the “me” support in rough seas! Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

After a wonderful day of sailing, s/y ARIELLE is back to her mooring in Port San Luis, California. She now has a new mast support arch after two months of what was to become a major repair. Photo: Jack Russell © 2020

I don't think build the form would be used again. As long as you kept those side blocks intact I believe you could cut the boards exact, then jack up and glue each one in it's place. The first board butts against the blocks then the next two will overlap the blocks to the sidewalls. That would have made this much easier and cheaper if it would have worked. Someone else will have to determine whether it will. Total cost of this repair was about $750 and that included a new $300 plastic hatch. All said and done, it wasn't so bad to do this repair. I know that s/y ARIELLE will now be sailing with a new caretaker long after I am gone.

The former owner left his Flicka with a relative after moving to Poland. HABIBI was found in an alley. Photo: Michael Connolly © 2020

HABIBI was moved to a boat yard to begin preparations for launching. Photo: Michael Connolly © 2020

Refitting HABIBI was a battle, but worth the effort in the end. Photo: Michael Connolly © 2020

Back in the water again, HABIBI is waiting for the mast, boom, and sails. Photo: Michael Connolly © 2020

Sunset colors around s/y GOOD NEWS in Alameda, California. Photo: Ariu Levi © 2020

Boat maintenance includes varnishing the teak coaming, handrails, and eyebrows. Photo: Ariu Levi © 2020

GOOD NEWS at the docks, ready for another trip on the San Francisco Bay. Photo: Ariu Levi © 2020

s/y MIRA JANE (1980 PSC # 126) from last year on an overnight to Falmouth, MA. Photo: Lynne Silva © 2020

The interior of s/y MIRA JANE. Photo: Lynne Silva © 2020

The electrical panel, stereo, and radio installation aboard s/ y MIRA JANE. Photo: Lynne Silva © 2020

The white hull was painted blue. This is an “after” photo of my Flicka s/y AMNESIA (1978 PSC # 9). Photo: Jon Unruh © 2020

Flicka s/y AMNESIA (1978 PSC # 9). Note the dorade on the bow and the Bruce and CQR dual anchors. Photo: Jon Unruh © 2020

The “after” shot of the interior. Photo: Jon Unruh © 2020

Some T-L-C was needed. Photo: Jon Unruh © 2020

Fresh seafood is available right at the dock at Roche Harbor. What could be easier? Photo: Tom Davison © 2020

While Friday Harbor has more services, a stop at Roche Harbor will not disappoint you. There is a proper restaurant that required reservations with a menu that reflects the bounty of seafood in the Pacific Northwest. There is a also a small cafe that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can forget dirtying dishes for the time being. The last option is a fish store located near the gang way to shore. North Sound Seafood stocks oysters, Dungeness Crab, Spot Prawn, and smoked Salmon. 28

With two nights at Roche Harbor, I tried two of the three options. Dinner from the Lime Kiln Cafe, breakfast and lunch as well.

I gave him more than he was asking for. They were cheap compared to the prawns in the restaurant: $15 for a prawn appetizer.

Dinner would be fresh caught from the dock seafood vendor after confirming that he would be open when I returned from the grocery store. Yes, he would be there. Walking to the store, I bought crackers, cheese, and a drink.

A few minutes later, they were cooked and I was heading down the dock. BLUE SKIES was only thirty yards away at most.

Back at the dock, I asked for four spot prawn. He asked if it was four pounds? No, just four prawns. Since my refrigeration was not being used, there was no place to keep them. He asked cold or cooked. Cooked would work for me.

A few minutes, I was sitting down to a basic meal of prawns. It couldn’t be better: a simple meal aboard a fine little yacht in the Pacific Northwest. Tomorrow, I’d be heading back to Friday Harbor. The currents were right around midday. It was another lazy day on the Salish Sea. Flicka Friends F

There is plenty of outdoor space to eat. Photo: Tom Davison © 2020

The Lime Kiln Cafe served breakfast as well. Photo: Tom Davison © 2020

The small grocery store is well stocked. Photo: Tom Davison © 2020

Their beer selection should provide something for you. Photo: Tom Davison © 2020

A restaurant for your dining pleasure as well. Photo: Tom Davison © 2020

My choice? Spot Prawns - fresh from the dock.