Archives

Why I Bought a Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20

Sampaguita Sailing up Jervis Inlet People who originally ordered a Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 could get a new, well built, high-end, blue water capable cruiser with or without big boat amenities. It had a design that sailed well and looked good. This strength and variety have been good for the second-hand market. Having owned the 1985 Flicka 20, Sampaguita, now for six years, I have a lot of first-hand experience to talk about… Read More

Category: Culture, Life in 240 Inches, The Dock Life Tags: blue water, Bluewater, bristol channel cutter, Buying, cockpit sole, dana 24, Flicka 20, Flicka20, hawaii, inboard, John Hazen, john vigor, liveABOARD, outboard, Pacific Seacraft, port jervis, port townsend, sailboat, sailing, Sampaguita, Twenty Small Sailboats, Vancouver Island, westsail, Windward Pilgrim

Flicka 20 Mast – Tang Removal

After lowering the mast on Sampaguita, my 1985 Flicka 20, disassembly was next. All was well until the shroud and stay tang assemblies. Even installed, I could see there was galvanic activity where the stainless steel tangs met the aluminum mast. Since the tangs share the same loads as the chainplates, and I would be removing and inspecting those, it made sense to do likewise with the tangs. The mast was 34… Read More

Category: Gear & Maintenance, The Dock Life Tags: aluminum, bolt, compression tube, dog bone, flange bushing, Flicka 20, galvanic corrossion, Kenyon, liquid wrench, Mast, Pacific Seacraft, propane torch, rigrite, Sampaguita, stainless steel, tang, tangs, tef-gel

Lowering the Mast on a Flicka 20

It’s time to do some work on the Sampaguita, starting with the mast. I had the mast down in 2014 for some minor work, but there will be a bit more going on this time around. The last time I lowered it, I had to ask for some help when it was about halfway down. This time I was able to do it by myself thanks to Bruce Bingham’s, The Sailor’s Sketchbook…. Read More

Category: Culture, Gear & Maintenance, The Dock Life Tags: block and tackle, bruce bingham, crutch, Dock, fenders, Flicka 20, Gin pole, Lowering, Mast, tabernacle, The Sailor's Sketchbook

The Most Satisfying Sailing Experience?

What is the most satisfying sailing experience for you? I would expect everyone to have a unique and personal answer. It might be an event or a particular place. Maybe it is weather dependent or a favorite companion. For some, it might be the exhilaration of racing, while others, the calmness of cruising. A few enjoy the zen of building or working on a boat. For me, it is a day of sailing… Read More

Category: Overnight Trips, Vancouver Island 2018 Tags: anchorage, anchoring, british columbia, Canada, Clayoquot Sound, engineless, Flicka 20, Flores Island, hot springs cove, motor, Pacific Ocean, sailing, sailing off the anchor, Sampaguita, Satisfying, Tides, Vancouver Island, west coast, White Pine Cove, Wind

United States Maritime Academy

United States Maritime Academy U.S. Coast Guard Approved USCG Captain’s License Course Masters & OUPV (Six Pack) 100 Tons Sailing & Commercial Assistance Towing Endorsements Classes A special thank you to Captain Jeff Sanders for his experience and leadership, Captain Jennifer Sarthou for her attention to administrative detail, Captain Rip Knot for his technical and moral support and Lucas for being a leader’s Little Brother. Also, thank you to the Center For… Read More

Category: The Dock Life Tags: black hat, Captain Sanders, Captain's License, Center for Wooden Boats, CWB, Flicka 20, lake union, puget sound, sailing, Sailing endorsement, seattle, towing endorsement, U.S. Maritime Academy, United States Maritime Academy, USCG, USMA

Dixie Cove Provincial Park and Walde Sailing

There is another YouTube video from Walde Sailing. The episode shows some awesome panoramic video of Dixie Cove Provincial Park in Kyuquot Sound. It coincides with my blog post: Wonderful Cove and Wonderful People In hindsight, this was my favorite anchorage of the 2018 Vancouver Island circumnavigation. It was very protected with good holding. Without VHF reception and a weather forecast, it felt the most isolated. No other boats were heard or seen. The narrow… Read More

Category: Vancouver Island 2018 Tags: anchoring, Canada, dixie cove, Flicka 20, Park, sailboat, Sailing with Josh, Sampaguita, Vancouver Island, Walde Sailing

The Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival

I attended and volunteered at The Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival, hosted by the Northwest Maritime Center, on September 8th and 9th, 2018. My motive is to share some positive encounters I had over the weekend. Highlights of my festival experience were Joni Blanchard’s Varnishing Tips and Tricks presentation, meeting Kaci Cronkite, Steve Wystrach’s film on Robert Manry, and Maria Coryell-Martin’s Adventure Sketching workshop. My experience was centered on my volunteer commitments… Read More

Category: Overnight Trips, The Dock Life Tags: admiral ship supply, adventure, bronze, center, documentary, festival, film, Flicka 20, foundry, joni mitchell, kaci cronkite, manry at sea, maria coryell-martin, maritime, northwest, olympic peninsula, port townsend, robert manry, sailboat, Sampaguita, sketching, small boat, tinkerbelle, varnish, volunteer, wooden

Klaskino Basin and Walde Sailing

There is another YouTube video from Walde Sailing. This episode shows some really great video of black bears in the wild! It also coincides with my blog post: I’d Rather be Anchoring and Vancouver Island Wildlife Click the link for more about Tiffany and Lyndon’s story. They in their Niagara 35, and me in my Flicka 20, tag-teamed down the West Coast of Vancouver Island for 11 days in June 2018. They are very… Read More

Category: Overnight Trips, Vancouver Island 2018, Wildlife Tags: adventure, anchoring, Canada, Flicka 20, maritime, northwest, Park, sailboat, Sailing with Josh, Sampaguita, small boat, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Walde Sailing

Rounding Cape Scott…and more Walde Sailing.

There is another YouTube video from Walde Sailing. Click the link for more about Tiffany and Lyndon’s story. They in their Niagara 35, and me in my Flicka 20, tag-teamed down the West Coast of Vancouver Island for 11 days in June 2018. They are very nice and generous people, and I enjoyed their company. The Walde’s documentation of the trip is superior to my own, with their digital movie camera and… Read More

Category: Overnight Trips, Vancouver Island 2018 Tags: 2018, adventure, anchoring, bull harbor, Canada, cape scott, dinghy, Flicka 20, forward inlet, inflatable kayak, june, kains island, life raft, light, lighthouse, maritime, motor, nahwitti bar, niagara 35, north harbor, northwest, outboard, Park, quatsino sound, queen charlotte sound, red, robson, rock, sailboat, Sampaguita, scott channel, sea, sea otter cove, small boat, tow, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Walde Sailing, west coast, whale, winter harbor

Flicka 20 Vancouver Island Circumnavigation, May/June 2018

The circumnavigation of Vancouver Island is complete after 39 days and the return to the home port achieved. There are many boat chores to do, and the adjustment of re-entry into the world begins. I am fortunate that the systems worked and maintained well and the experience was positive. The above list reflects the costs incurred during the trip. It does not include preparation, supplies and provisioning costs. Gasoline –… Read More

Category: Overnight Trips, Vancouver Island 2018 Tags: 2018, Canada, circumnavigation, entertainment, Fair Harbour, Flicka 20, fuel, gasoline, government dock, june, log, moorage, propane, sailboat, showers, trash, Travel, Vancouver Island