Nautical Lore – Modern | Oral narratives of modern seafaring watercraft with multihull pioneer Jim Brown

DANNY, DOUG AND DAD "Put yourself out there," is the theme of this caper, with three examples of how it's done. Danny Mydlack, our new media consultant, put himself in here by taking the initiative to contact us and make two trips down from Baltimore for gathering footage for our upcoming video "tractor." Doug Jayne has put himself out there for years by building eight large cattlemarans in Constant Camber, selling some and operating others. Danny and I were able to attend the launching of number eight. My father, Ralph Brown, was pretty much forced, -- by the 1930s depression -- to put himself in the line of fire. Listen in to get the story.

PLAY IT WHEN I'M DEAD​

Wishing that I had collected more voice recordings when my subjects were alive, this caper is offered while the subject IS alive, miraculously. My particular friend Bruce Matlack tells of just one of many youthful exploits from back when he was trying to get to Tahiti without his own boat.

He eventually made it, in his twenties. Now he is contemplating going again in his 60s, in his own boat, SCRIMSHAW.

Also here is a report on the status of The Outrig Project, now at a crucial juncture.

ANCHORAGE CONVERSATIONS - Part One This is what happen when two or more old boat nuts find themselves in a secure anchorage with old friends, a lobster in the pot, and "...A little more than enough to drink, for thirst is a dangerous thing." (Jerome K. Jerome)

A CONSUMMATE CRUISER SPEAKS Here's a guy who sailed in multihulls as an infant, and now owns DELPHYS, a 34' Searunner trimaran which has been called, by John Marples (one of her designers), "The most developed Searunner in the world." And her usage? Well, with her owner/builder crew of Mark Johnson and his wife Mariam, the boat has visited some twenty countries. To learn what Mark would do -- if indeed he had it all to do over again -- listen-on!

BOATBUILDING -- WHICH KIND?

After doing several interview capers, we have here the results of some interesting comparisons, resulting from hurricane damage, between good old sheet plywood construction, and "cold molded" or Constant Camber (CC) construction.

Design differences between the Searunner 34 and the CC 35 are discussed, as are the challenges of getting good wood for these boats today. And, oh yes, the virtues of epoxy!

In the end, if you want to go NOW, buy a good, used monohull. There are lots of them around begging to go cruising.

GONE AGAIN

While I'm away appraising the hurricane damage to Scrimshaw, I hope you will enjoy the conclusion of my telephone conversation with Lee Bullock, which exemplifies the committed lifestyle of those many individuals who invested substantial portions of their lives to creating the modern multihull.

Then, please offer your critique of my seemingly fanciful predictions of the possible conformation of the NEXT modern monohull. Something new -- under the sun??

CLOSE FRIENDS, CLOSE CALLS​

Jo Hudson speaks of "thrilling" incidents recalled, in 2004, from his first seafaring voyage (in the mid-1960s) in his owner-built 30' Piver Nimble trimaran, from California to Australia. These Capers are the only examples of Jo's recorded voice telling his own stories.

He is very matter-of-fact, not so effusive as I am, but he sailed a lot farther than I did, mostly in boats that I designed and he built or re-built. This is a glimpse at the client's side of a 55 year-long designer/client relationship, the ending of which has left me feeling like a single-hander. Please know that Jo died of gradual heart failure and final pneumonia, without pain, in his wife Sherry's arms, while being liberally kissed by his "family" (their dogs).

THE SECOND FIRST ENCOUNTER

Responding to Jo Hudson's passing, I feel obliged to share with you something of our 55-year, 9-multihull connection. This Caper tells of how we first men (for the second time), and continues with a glimpse of the "can-do" commitment and enthusiasm that typified the early California trimaran happening.

Eventually, I will attempt to describe my late friend himself, his person, his warts and his quest for beauty and adventure. I have now outlived about all of my early multihull contemporaries, and it makes me feel the need to share their stories with you.

A BLAST FROM THE PAST, AND PRESENT

This recorded telephone conversation reveals more of the boundless enthusiast, willingness to risk, and lifestyle commitment that typified the advent of the early modern multihull.

It also contains, at the end, a sad announcement.​

IN THE CROSSHAIRS "There's a hurricane coming! What do I do with my boat?" There are several answers to that question, including "Maybe nothing." But that's only if you're out at sea. The more common calamity happens when your boat is in a crowded harbor or marina, or hauled out on land. Then, there are lots of things you can to to protect your boat, unless of course you are in the crosshairs of a really big one. Even then, don't rely on your insurance company. Get her ready yourself. Here are some suggestions, especially for multihulls.​