November 27, 2011:

Udell Update 2011

This update has been in the works for quite some time, but this is what has been going on.

U10 - Kona II with the Chicago skyline, courtesy Robert Christie

U5 Patriot

Barbara reports that Patriot has been under restoration since the winter of 2010.  Patriot attended the 2010 22s championship in Sweden where Patriot was very appreciated. During the event Patriot ran a ground damaging her keel.  During the restoration many things were found wrong on Patriot's hull dating a long way back and lots of work ended up having to be done at Mashfords.  A report of the restoration will be documented on their new website www.cremyll-keelboats.org.uk.  Check it out as it is very nicely put together.

U8 Rush Forth

The report is that Rush Forth was in the water at Belmont in 2011 and is in good shape, but Kirby also reports she is woefully under sailed.

U9 Grail

The report is that Grail stayed out of the sun in 2011, but is in good shape and in storage.

U10 Kona II

Kona II also sailed out of Belmont this year with Rush Forth. 

U1-Windjak, U3-Vinst-2, U-11 Auf Wiedersehen, and Vinst-3

The news from California is that all are still in good shape and are none the worse for wear. 

U6-Odine, U7-Skipjak

In 2009 the report was that both were sailed at the Jubilee and were in tip top shape.  Their current owners could not be reached for an update this year.  If you are out there Robin and Judy please contact this website so we may be able to keep in touch.  We promise to check in only every couple of years.  Thanks.

May 19, 2011:

Generations of Boat Builders

This site had the pleasure of conversing with Mr. Ryan Hunwicks of Port Credit, Ontario Canada about his family’s boat building history.  In particular the construction of the 22 square metre boat Isabella which was launched on July 19, 2002.

Isabella, Port Credit Ontario Canada photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

What follows is Ryan’s narration of his family’s boat building history.  Enjoy!

I can’t really begin to tell my story without first giving you some history of modeling in our family.  As of right now it spans three generations with myself (Ryan Hunwicks) my uncle (Darrell Johnson) and my grandfather (Clare Johnson). 

  Clare Johnson, Ryan Hunwicks, and Darrell Johnson, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

The first model my grandfather received as a gift was an R Class 60” that was built in 1920 (the same year he was born).  He raced it at the Royal Canadian exhibition in the 30’s and early 40’s along with many other models such as the 22 squares and Marblehead’s.  We still have a number of plaques that were won over the years at the exhibition races. 

  Clare Johnson third from the right circa 1930's, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

Back then they had to free sail the models from rowboats by way of vane gears for the rudder. 

  Clare Johnson, circa 19030's, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

During this time he became good friends with a local boat builder and his designer son Jack Rutherford and Gus Rutherford respectively.   Jack had heard of a 22 square meter (Malahini) being built at a yard called Sachau in the west end of Toronto so he went down and spoke to those folks and managed to get a set of plans.  His son Gus then scaled the plans down to a 75” length with the thought of building a model yacht.  They then set to work building the 22 Sq model.  My grandfather actually witnessed Malahini being launched from his rowing skiff in the mid to late 1930’s.  Once finished they surprised my grandfather with it in front of their little water front cottage on lake Ontario during the late 1930’s.  It was the most beautiful yacht he had ever seen with long graceful lines that are present in most meter boats. 

As the years past and he had a family of his own the modeling was put aside and the boats rested peacefully on top of the piano and out of reach from the little ones. 

It wasn’t until the early 1990’s that my uncle Darrel took an interest in the models.  At that time they had the original R boat that was first to be remote controlled and a Marblehead named Elaine that my grandfather had built.  With the help of a fellow model yachting enthusiast Walter Tremell they repaired and remote controlled both boats.  Over the early 1990’s two more of the old Marblehead’s were donated to our fleet and remote controlled as well as an AC Class boat and some smaller craft. 

My grandfather received a phone call one day from an old friend Garry Gooder who actually sailed the 22 Sq Malahini in the 1950’s for the owner Murray Brooks.  He had possession of the original 22 Sq model that Mr. Rutherford built and had remote controlled it himself.  Garry generously gave that model back to my grandfather as well as another 22 that was built by Fred Woodall.  The “Woodall” model was completely rebuilt by Walter Tremell who did a marvelous job and included a hooked spar on the rig.  All the models sail at a pond in front of my house in Port Credit Ontario Canada.

 Darrell Johnson and Walter sailing on the pond in Port Credit, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

My story begins with a move from Swift Current Saskatchewan (about as far from yachting as you can get!) back home to Southern Ontario.  It was 1994 and I was 18 at the time.  I spent many weekends in Port Credit sailing the boats with my uncle and grandfather.  During the winter of 1995 I decided that I was going to build my own model yacht.  I had never really built anything before let alone a remote controlled model.  I turned to Garry Gooder (skipper of Malahini) for some much need help and direction.  I found some plans for a model of the 1930 America’s Cup winner Enterprise that I liked the lines of.  We got the plans scaled up from a book and I went to work.  All the original boats had been built using the bread and butter method.  When I refer to “bread and butter” method I mean they used to build models by roughly cutting out the hull lifts and then gluing 1” boards together and then carving the hull from that.  You had to be really careful to keep a consistent hull thickness.  I prefer to use plank on frame in my modeling which is basically the same way the real boats were built. I learned quite a lot over the few months building the Enterprise (53” long/ western red cedar) and she was launched in the spring of 1995.

Enterprise during a refit, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

The following year was my last year of high school and we had moved yet again to Newmarket Ontario.  I was lucky enough to land in a high school with a very small woodshop but an excellent shop teacher named Jon Evans.  He was a fellow model boat builder.  I brought the Enterprise in to show him and he then agreed to let me do an independent study and build another model yacht. 

This time around I wanted to go with something completely different, more modern.  I settled on a Star 45”.  Under the close supervision and the perfectionist eye of Jon Evans the boat took shape.  We used aircraft grade plywood for the frames and Sitka spruce for the stringers.  She was then double diagonally planked with 1/32” western red cedar.  We made a sand cast and poured the lead keel.  The fittings were made from brass stock and I had the sails made by a fellow in Victoria, British Columbia.  She was launched in the late spring of 1996 and sailed well. 

 Star 45, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

After high school I went to college for Industrial Design.  In 2000 I got my first job at a custom fabrication shop in Toronto where I was lucky enough to have access to every tool imaginable.  We had a complete woodworking shop/ fiberglass studio/ paint department and metalwork shop.  Over the next few years I learned how to weld and use the milling machines and lathes. 

In the winter of 2002 I once again came down with boat building fever!  I made a copy of the 22 Sq plans and got to work laying out the frames for what would be Isabella.  I decided to complete the whole project in secret and surprise my uncle and grandfather with the first 22 Sq model to be built in 60 plus years.  The shop I was working at was very gracious and gave me space to construct the model before and after work as well as every weekend.  I can get pretty obsessive about things like this so virtually every spare second I had was spent building.  It took me exactly 4 months from start to finish and cost about $3500.00 Cdn to build.  It sounds like a lot for a scratch built model but I spared no expense, only the best for a Square Meter!!  All said and done I estimate it took about 700 hours.

The first step was building the base for all the frames to sit in and make sure that everything is lined up and true. 

Isabella, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

Once they were squared off I was ready to start planking. 

Isabella, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

The original boat was Red Wood with a solid top of spruce or pine.  I decided to go with what looked good and use redwood for my hull as well.  The planking went pretty smoothly, lots of clamps and 5 min epoxy.  I could only do one of each side at a time without the clamps being in the way so it took some time.  It sure was exciting to see the hull achieve its beautiful shape as each consecutive board went on! 

Isabella, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

Once I got her planked and the hull sanded I marked out the keel and cut her dead wood off to get the mold going.  I decided to go with a 2 part plaster mold that I let dry for a few weeks before the pour.  If memory serves she has about 20 lbs of lead and the overall boat weight is around 32 lbs.  After I had successfully poured the lead keel it was bolted to hull and ready for a little epoxy fairing and filling. 

Isabella, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

Before the decking began I coated the whole inside and outside of the hull with epoxy to make sure that she was good and sealed.

 Isabella, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

 Isabella, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

 The next step was to flip her over and begin work on the deck.  At this point I made a plywood crate for her to sit in while decking and it eventually became her shipping crate for safe transport.  I had gone online to try and drum up some pictures of the real meter boats to try and reproduce the deck look and layout.   I really wanted to incorporate the decking lines and eventually decided to use mahogany veneer on its edge to achieve this look.  What I did was cut ¼” strips of mahogany and lay them flat on the workbench and then sandwich and glue the veneer on.  Once glued up I just flipped them over and started to deck piece by piece.  Next I ran a router down the king plank to give me a nice clean track and slipped in another length of Redwood.   You have got to have patience with a project like this.  At times it gets quite tedious with all the sanding.  Between prepping the wood for epoxy and then multiple coats of epoxy with sanding I can tell you my right arm got quite the workout! 

 Isabella, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

The transom needed some attention which involved cutting it to shape and gluing on another piece of wood.  I did some refinement on the hatches and deck details.  While waiting for glue to dry I would often be working on other parts such as the mast and booms which were carved from Redwood as well.  The fittings also needed fabrication which is where the 2 years of metal working experience was a benefit.  I was able to make everything out of brass except for the turnbuckles.  We had a lamp maker next door and he agreed to polish them up for me.  When they were done I didn’t even want to touch them, they looked like mirrored brass.  Just a little Brasso every year and they shine right up again. 

The time came to start varnishing the hull and hatches.  I used the Epifanes high gloss marine varnish with the UV protection.  It took about 8-10 coats but came out looking pretty good considering that I didn’t have access to a sprayer and had to brush it.  The sails were ordered from a company in the US called Carr Sail.  It took a few weeks to get all the remote controls figured out.  I have a servo for the rudder and a winch for both main and jib. 

Isabella, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

I was now ready for the big surprise reveal at my grandparent’s house.  I snuck down the night before and left the model in her shipping crate (screwed shut so grandpa couldn’t get nosey in the morning).  I had my parents distract them while I rigged the model the next morning.  I can only imagine what was going through his mind when he came out and saw a brand new 22 Sq sitting in his garage. 

 Isabella, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

I thought it was fitting to surprise him seeing how the original boat built by the Rutherford’s had not been expected back in the late 1930’s.  Isabella was launched on July 19 2002 in Port Credit Ontario Canada and has been sailing ever since! 

 Isabella, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

Isabella, Photo courtesy Ryan Hunwicks

I often feel that boat building bug around January.  I have some 22 and 30Sq plans that I got from a visit to Mystic that would one day make another great model, until then.

Ryan is a very dedicated boating enthusiasts if you have and questions or interest in the models please contact him at  ryanhunwicks@hotmail.com.

March 08, 2010:

Skerry Search Update

Orn - S90 (S58)

One of the boats that we are trying to determine the status of is that of Orn a.k.a. Bonny.  The boat was owned by several prominent 22 sqm sailers in Chicago including Roland Rayment and Dr. Craig Travis, but it left Chicago in the late eighties..  It was thought that Dr. Travis sold the boat to the last known owner Stephan Quenoville, but that is not the case.  This weekend this site was contacted by Dr. Travis and he indicated that he sold the boat to a fellow by the name of Steve and he has never heard of Stephan Quenoville.  The one lead we did have on Stephan Quenoville came up empty as it was thought he worked at or was a student of the University of Chicago. The university has no record of him.  At this point Orn will have to be classified as a hope boat in that it is hoped that she turns up someday. 

As it turns out Dr. Craig Travis was also the owner of U3 Vinst II for a period of time and has shared the following photos of her while she was in Chicago.

Vinst II (U3), photo courtesy Dr. Craig Travis

Vinst II (U3), photo courtesy Dr. Craig Travis

March 07, 2010:

Everyone Pitches In!

Epiphany - S203

One of the enjoyable parts of working with this website and helping to keep track of the square meter boats in North America is the people I have made contact with over the past few years, but that pales in comparison to the excitement one feels when a previously thought to be lost boat magically reappears.  When one does appear it generates a few phone calls, a flurry of e-mails, and several happy people. Looking back on one of these events I thought it would be nice to share some of the e-mails and information about the boat that turned up.  It makes for a long post this month, but a lot of good information was shared.

It all started with the purchase of a boat that was for sale on the side of a road in Maine and a e-mail to Sweden. 

Epiphany (S203), sailplan courtesy Ted Lameyer

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Hello Brad!

I hope everything is alright with you and your family over there!

Do you recognize this boat? We received an E-mail the other day from a guy in Maine called Ted Lameyer.  He claims his boat is an Erik Nilsson design and he may be right, but I am not sure... Let me know if you have seen her in Belmont sometime over the years!

I will contact him to try to decide which boat this is. If you can help me i any way, just go for it!

Take care!
Peter
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Hi Peter and Hello Ted,

Peter: good to hear from you and receive another mystery!

This looks exciting.... If I can assume that the "38" draped over the side of the boat is an old sail number I would say that we have found Icicle (aka Quest) US 38. She looks about right and should be in about the 38' to 40' length range (?).

If, indeed, this is Icicle she would have been owned for many years by Andrew "Andy" Johnson (Johnston?). When in Chicago she was always varnish over a bleached Mahogany hull, very light in color, clean and about middle size for the Chicago boats. I think Andy was the last owner her (there might have been one more) and then she was sold out of the area but I don't know to where but it would have been sometime in the early '70's. I remember that she could always point a few degrees higher than all the rest of the boats and keep good speed meaning that Andy often was the first to the weather mark. He went on to purchase a fiberglass Udell 22 (I believe now Ro Rayments Grail) and sailed her for a few years. She was always more delicate looking in the water than she actually was.

Unfortunately she is one of the boats I don't have any additional information on but suspect was in Chicago prior to WWII. I know she is not "Defensor" (S-222) or Lilleflu (Skol: S-208)... could she have been Charlott (S 203) or Rayona (S-200) Peter? Ted... can you find a hull number in her? I remember she was bow heavy on the crane (but that could have been the way Andy had her set up) because he used me as stern ballast a couple of times when he put her in. If you have any old sails with the makers name that might help us identify her (Murphy and Nye Sailmakers?). Any old wooden cheeked blocks marked "Burmans" or something close to that? Any old papers?

Good to meet you Ted. Please feel free to send me any other information you might have.

Regards to you both,

Brad

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Hello Brad!

I talked with Ted over the phone last night, and his boat is S 203 "Charlott" built by Kungsors yacht yard in 1935. He knew that she has been in New York for a very long time, so I don't think she has ever been in CYC...?

"Charlott" is a sister ship to Richard's Van Valkenburgs S 200 in Detroit, so I guess Richard will be able to advise Ted how to make his repairs, although, upon viewing this boat seems to be in a lot better shape than Sonja was when Rich. started working on her.

Peter

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Brad,

Thank you for your reply to Peter letter. Indeed my boat is the old "Quest" I removed the name plates myself. Does this mean that I am SSS 203 as I have been told. The sail numbers on the main is "38" I have one genoa that was from Keneth A Nelson Sailmakers, Chicago, Ill. I have a Hood Genoa, and a storm jib that has a triangle sail mark, but no name.

To help you fill in some blanks. I researched the registration number on the bow. It was from New York. It was registered to a Mr. Bruno Andretto of Medford, New York. It was registered under this name from 5/28/76 - 10/9/87. Around 1990 this boat was brought to Rockport Marine, in Rockport, Maine to rebuild a mast. The yard never met the owner. They did the work, and were never paid. They never heard from the owner again. A court awarded the boat to the boat yard as compensation for work done.

The yard sold the boat to Bill Glover of Camden, Maine in 1992. (It was in poor shape.) He put paint on the bottom, Strengthened a few floor timbers and launched her. He sailed her one season. When I bought her last fall. Quest was sitting on the side of the road with a for sale sign on the bow. She had been stored in that large barn that you see behind her for 10 years.

Epiphany (S203), photo courtesy Ted Lameyer

Epiphany (S203), photo courtesy Ted Lameyer

Epiphany (S203) in the boat shed, photo courtesy Ted Lameyer

Brad any information you have is greatly appreciated. It is great to contact you. I am looking for information regarding rigging of this boat. I have a sail plan from Erik Nilsson's 1935 drawings that shows a spreader and jumperstrut rig that goes to within 1 meter of the top of the boat.

The mast I have does not have this rig. Mine only has lower shouds that goes to the jumbers and upper shouds that goes as high as the forestay. There are running backs and of course a backstay as well as a place for 2 forestays. I am concerned that the top of my mast has no apparent lateral support. Have you ever heard of this? Does any 22 in Chicago have a rig like this? When I spoke to the previous owner, he remembers that he had trouble with the main brushing the backstay a lot. I think he did not angle the mast back like my sail plan shows. I am very interested in seeing photos of the rigging of these boats so I can make good decisions. I think I should restore the rigging to the original. I just would like to understand why it was changed. It appears that this rigging was changed perhaps in the seventies.

"Quest" has been renamed "Epiphany" and still has glorious lines. There are over 25 cracked frames inside and the bow was poorly repaired after a collision. The sternpost and rudder have also been changed and repaired. I have a great deal of work in front of me, but I am young and foolish, and her beauty calls me.

Please pass my name on to others who may be able to help me.

Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Ted

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Ted,

This is indeed exciting news! I feared Quest (Icicle) had long ago rotted into a dust heap somewhere. She is very worth your efforts and I will help all that I can. If she is indeed Sonja's sistership (S200) then I am sure Rich will be able to lend some insight for you also.

We only knew her here (or remember her here) as Icicle and Quest (US 38). Peter is very good at figuring out which boats are which and has a long history with the 22's so I would guess that he is right about her being Charlott. The Kungsors yard where she was built means she was made very well. She was exported to the USA in 1937, I would bet by Knud Reimers (one of the best 22 designers of all time) as he was brokering boats over here at that time. Our boat, Javelin, was long thought to be one of his designs until Peter determined her origin a few years back from a photo I sent him so I think you can trust his guess.

Regarding your broken ribs. Almost all of the Chicago boats suffered this fate as they were sailed (raced) very hard in heavy winds and wave. Our boat has 100 sister ribs (imagine when I have to remove all of those) and 25 ribs forward that are cracked would seem almost normal and a relief to me.... Javelin has numerous new timbers, a new rudder, some new planks and deadwood. Next year we are finally going to replace the stern deck and jack some more shear into her. There is always work but it is well worth it. Rich's repairs on Sonja have been even more extensive but he has a new boat to show for the effort (that looks like a piece of fine furniture)!

Regarding your rig it sounds similar to our own. The big jumperstrut (ours was drawn at almost 3') never really showed up here on the boats but a smaller "v" jumper, or even single jumper, often did on the original masts. These original masts were curved aft at the top to resemble a gull wing tip (rather an elliptical curve aft). When curved they needed the extra support but it was primarily aft and a little to the sides. The curve, of course, let the mains clear the back stay.

Our current rig is a Udell (they were one design 22's designed in the late '50's by Reimers for Lake Michigan) version. Two for stays (side by side so they could switch foresails when racing quickly), two shrouds to the hound, a diamond from the base of the mast to the spreaders at 1/3 total height and on to the hounds, two running backstays and a permanent back. No jumpers anymore and the masts are much straighter than the original. The Udell rig is less complicated, sails fit better, there is less rigging aloft, and we thought faster. Your rig sounds very similar except the spreaders go through the deck (our original rig did that). Whether you need a jumper up on top really depends upon the section of the mast. If it is thick enough, and it does not curve aft, I would think you are safe. If it is very light and does curve you might want to consider an addition. This could well have been modified during the repairs. We led a little tang aft from the masthead for the backstay when we decided to take some of the rake out of the mast. Otherwise raking it a foot or more should clear the top of the sail (new sails have a bigger roach up top than the sails in the 30's).

The top of the mast does lay off a bit in a good wind but this also helps spill some unwanted air from the main. 22's can take a heck of a lot of wind.... Our original drawings also showed a large jumperstrut from an extra forward forestay, the block for it is under the bow plate, but it was never used...

Some of the boats here have been out of the water more than 10 years and have gone back in with minimal effort (in comparison to a total rebuild). I would suggest you not over caulk her (or put any in if there was none there), do not over tighten any keel bolts, and maybe not do that until you have soaked her for a couple of weeks (we do this every year on the trailer so she swells before we put her in). Do not "fill up the boat" but soak with blankets and sprinklers. Real damp. I am sure you will have some things to deal with but she might fair better than you think. Let me mention again... do not tighten up the keel bolts until she has been soaked!!!

In Sweden, and maybe Peter has filled you in, they refasten the boats, spline the seams, soak them in raw linseed oil (for weeks), and then varnish them inside and out. This seems to do an amazing job if you have or want to take the time. Someday I hope to do this to Javelin as her 70 years really show. But first those decks, ribs, and some new timber and deadwood.... I am not that young but still crazy and enough in love with the boat to look forward to it! But like the Swedes we sail her every year (some of them remove a deck, replace the deck, sail the boats, then remove the deck again to do more work every year)...

I have attached a photo of Javelin under sail so you can get an idea of the rig (although you can't see the important parts... it is all I have scanned right now). She is 35.5' x 6' x 4.5' and about 3800 lbs.

Will send more once I have some stuff together...

Brad

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Ted, Brad!

It seems to me that the boats US 38 "Quest" and S 203 "Charlott" must be the same boat. I guess that until yesterday neither Brad or anyone else in CYC knew about the history of "Quest". Now we all know that she was built at Kunsors yacht yard in 1935 as a lottery boat for the Stockholm Sailing Society, SSS. Designed by engineer Erik Nilsson, an won by a well known sail maker in Stockholm whos last name were "Ortengren".  He sold the boat to the US approximately. in 1937, so there should be some racing results from 1935 and 1936.  I`ll see if I can find them for you Ted!

I think Brad mentioned that quest was sold from Chicago in the early 70's. Maybe she was sold to New York, where she obviously spent a number of years?

The 1938 boat (S 228) that Ted mentioned is out of the question. First, this boat is 12,70 meters long (almost 1meter longer than Ted's boat). I also think she is still in the Chicago area called "Brita" with the sail number US 10. I think Brad can confirm this?

I guess Ted with some help from Brad will be able to find some old owners in Chicago to find out more about her history.

I must congratulate you Ted to have found such a nice yacht, in what seems to be in pretty good shape, even if I realize that she will need a lot of work. I hope you can get in touch with Richard in Detroit soon. I think he will be very excited to find out that there is a sistership to his "Sonja" S 200 in the US.

If you should have any further questions about the boats, just let me know!

Peter

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Hey gentlemen!

Ted, I received a copy of Brad's email and thought I would pass on a link to some photos. The one on the 'ofoto' site in black and white was taken in 1939 on Lake St. Clair and shows the strut that you talked about. Right now Sonja is rigged with a V strut. The current mast is not original, which explains some other differences that I've noticed.

Here's the current project, the forekeel replacement. It was rotted at the forward two keelbolts and wouldn't quit leaking when we finally launched last year. When I got it out, I was able to get my patterns, and then it started to fall apart.

I'm at work and only have a few minutes but will forward more later from home. Brad, I've been at this since we milled the log in December. Only had access to the boat on Saturdays so It's taken awhile to get this far. I'm almost finished with the forekeel rabbets, and then I have six new floors forward to fine-fit, and then on to the horn. Got a quart of red lead primer from Kirby's yesterday and I should have the forekeel ready to install by Saturday,if I only had the bronze for the bolts. Gotta get the order in to McMaster-Carr today or tomorrow.

Good to find another 22 owner!

Rich

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Ted,

That Reimers was a sneaky guy! Great designer but a tad sneaky!

When the boats were brought over from Sweden and registered here they were all given US numbers. Many of the new owners kept the Swedish numbers (much to Peters surprise to see S on the sails) either because it was not a big deal to change back then, they wanted to maintain the Swedish heritage, or they were too cheap to buy new sails and have them remarked (my guess is the last and the first). I don't even know our US number.... This is also how we ended up with 3 S90's on Lake Michigan... that was the sail that came with the boat!

On the other hand in Sweden, as I understand it, an individual "owned" the number and subsequent boats of the class would often use that same number. Hence there are also repeating numbers there.

About the cracked ribs I would reinforce that seam. They typically do crack in a row like that and, on one real heavy day years ago, we popped a couple of more in a row and the planks started moving in and out letting in copious amounts of water. While sister ribs are the quick and traditional fix if you do not plan on trying to get her in this season I would shy away from it (I look at 100 sister ribs put in in the early 70's and shudder sometimes). The main reason is that, while it does the job, they make extra holes in the planks, don't solve any rot problems at the broken ends of the original ribs, and eventually cause a water trap between the ribs (and then rot). Of course you have to realize that we sail in fresh water and rot is much more of an issue (we "salt" our boat every year to try and control it some). I would suggest one of the following two options to keep things together for now (or longer):

A good fix that I have not used but seems sensible is to cut away the bad part of the rib plus a plank or more on each side by dishing out from above (this is often offered up in wooden boat and one of their books... I can find more info if you need). Then a new section is bend laminated into the dished out area and epoxied to the old (now curve scarfed) ribs and refastened with the old holes. I think it would last for a very long time and might actually try this on a few of our ribs this spring.

Another "quick" option we have used to keep her in the water to to bend a 1/8" stainless steel strip the width of the rib over the top of it that extends a plank or more above and below the crack. We then fasten this in with stainless bolts through he old rivet holes. This worked pretty well for us also but sometimes leaves a bit more flex than one might want.

And a third option, one that was done years ago in our boat that I took out but had apparently done its job for a long time, was a similar length cut sister that was laid next to the existing rib, bolted in four places through the old rib, and pulled up tight. The bolts then run parallel to the planking and through the rib that you will probably replace someday anyway.

The only bad thing that I have found about epoxy laminated oak sister ribs is that epoxy and oak, after ten or fifteen years, tend to separate from each other (wooden boat reported this the year after we laminated a section of deadwood in place). This is only an issue when the laminated section is submerged often (like the deadwood or the tails of the ribs in the bottom of the bilge in our case). Resorcinol glue would probably not do this.... I have not had the guts to try Gorilla glue yet!

And those keel bolts.... many of the 22's I have seen that have been out of the water for 10 years have a gap between the bottom of the deadwood on the keel and the lead (up to 1/2") and/or the bolts are loose (i.e. you could take up an 1/8 to a 1/4 of an inch on them!). This is because the oak dries out and shrinks away (we have had gaps in cracks in our deadwood up to 1/4" that would close every year when we soaked the boat). If one were to tighten these loose bolts, or pull up the lead, or caulk the heck out of the deadwood there is a fair to good chance that something will let go when the boat swells. A timber will crack, the deadwood would crack, the old iron keelbolt would break, or something will squish big time. That is why I said not to tighten loose looking bolts until the boat had soaked up. If we assume the whole boat is a tad "loose" tightening one thing without tightening everything is going to find some weak point....

If the bolts seem tight, the keel is tight, and we assume no one tightened them while the boat was sitting around for years (you can often tell by looking to see if the nuts have been tightened if the paint that is probably over them and on the thread above them has been cracked or new paint exposed) then I would just leave them alone until the boat is soaked. In the spring when we replace a timber or something the boat is dry so we would normally only make the bolt comfortably snug (it is a guesstimate). When the Swedes do "big work" they often humidify the boats by wetting down a big pile of sawdust under he hull. Bacchant (a 75 square meter out of Milwaukee) is keep in a climate controlled environment off season and during work. A building at 50° and some 80% humidity). If your the deadwood seams are less than 1/4", the lead almost touches the wood, and the nuts touch the timbers consider yourself lucky and the owner of a very tight hull in great condition!

Your mast does sound like a Udell type rig. Something used here but not in Sweden I don't think as Peter didn't seem familiar with it (of course they are into aluminum masts for their racing boats). If the mast was built (or repaired) for the boat it is probably the right size, if it is a Udell mast that was found somewhere (the fleet had spares) then you might find that it is a hair short depending upon the boom length and your sail area a hair small. Udell masts always step on deck and I failed to ask you about that. Ours is stepped on deck now (we didn't change it by the way, my dad had sold the boat once in the early '60's,the new owner changed it, and then he bought it back after the new owner sank her... Javelin has actually seen the bottom of the harbor twice over the years). The old rig was very pretty but the new ones are not bad, eliminate a second spreader and the jumpers, and easier to cut sails for (the old curved sails never fit right. They might have been able to make them in Sweden but not here).

The "rake" of the mast, how much it leans aft, is a tad subjective. Here we have tried everything from almost straight up and down to almost 3' of rake looking for more boat speed. On Javelin we finally settled in at about 1' of rake. She seemed faster in light air (we were never good in heavy anyway) and the helm balanced better. That is what you are going for with rake, a balanced helm. On the other hand when we did that she suddenly seemed to get a bit wild downwind with a spinnaker when it was windy (over 15 knots for us) and oscillated like mad requiring a lot of spinnaker trim input. It seemed to be a function of the rake and new spinnaker design. Eventually our fleet went to longer (and illegal) spinnaker poles (at the suggestion of the sail maker) which made a big difference, stabilized the boat in wind, made flying the chutes in heavy air much more pleasing, let us keep them out of the water in light air, and really increased performance.

To keep the backstay off of the mainsail, as I mentioned, we just added a bit of a stainless fitting that extends back four or five inches at the top of the mast (much like Etchells or Soling mast tops). our biggest problem was clearing the headplates on the sails but this might help you also. More rake will also take care of it as would moving the backstay position aft. The problem with just moving the rake back is that it might adversely affect the helm and still not clear the sail.

I guess I would rig it up, see how much of a problem it is, play with the rake a bit, then decide what to do the next season. Could be your sail simply has a bit too much roach (or maybe is just too big).

Looks like I have to get to work myself....

Will talk again,

Brad

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Brad,

How nice it is to hear the history of my boat. She is far from rotting somewhere. I had a great old-timer survey her here and he was impressed. There is very little if any rot in the stem and horn timbers. This boat has suffered under poor craftsmanship and stupidity, but she looks like we could recover her well. The trailer is markered "Quest US 38". Why did the sail number change when it was brought over to the States? Is this the only US38 or are there others?

Like you, I was told my boat was a Knud Reimers design when I bought her,but after seeing the Erik Nilsson drawings there is no doubt that it is his design. As for the cracked ribs. The previous owner did sail her with them cracked. There are a few places where there are 5 or 6 in a row all cracked at the same plank. Perhaps it would be best to do a fairly quick sistering of these places to hold the shape, Then after getting a year or so under my belt, I can understand what will be needed.

My rig sounds like yours. It has 2 forestays side by side. There is a diamond from the base of the mast with small spreaders about 1/3 the way up, and coming in at the forestay height. I have 2 running backs that comeback behind the jib winch and go through the deck to a wheel winch mounted to the side of the hull in the cockpit. My mast is staight and appears quite sturdy. The mainsail feeds inside a slot in the mast.

I was told by the previous owner that he had trouble with the main catching on the backstay. I suspect he did not have the propper angle to the mast when he stepped it. How do you know when the angle is correct?

Your warning on the keel bolts sounds ominous. They are tight now. Should I loosen them? It sounds as though there will be some expansion of the floor timbers or keel timber when the boat swells

Well thanks for now. I must go to a meeting, but I am looking forward to our connection and perhaps someday challeging Javelin once again.

Sincerely,

Ted

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Hello Ted!

After seeing the photos of your boat on the 22Klubben web site, I agree that she looks very much like Sonja. I hope you received the other email that I sent with a link to photos. Here's a few from last year before we discovered the forekeel problem.

I'm very curious as to the arrangement of the deck hardware for the running backstays. I plan to change Sonja's from the original wire-slide to something a little more friendly. How are your's laid out?

Best regards,

Rich

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Hello Ted,

I rezipped as an .exe so you should be able to see these. There's an overhead view of Sonja in 1972 where you can see the locations of the deck openings for the shrouds, the original wire-slide running back arrangement, and the locations of the jib tracks. I found another old photo from '78 that shows the shrouds through the deck. This was during a deck replacement, so some of the hardware is missing.

I can't figure why they changed the shroud setup, unless the mast isn't original and the spreaders are wider than designed. So much gets lost over the years, but I'm confident that the current dimensions of Sonja's rig are the same as the one that was broken in the 1940's. It's keel stepped, too. The other thing is the frames that the shrouds run to below decks. Sonja has only two steel frames in the boat and those carry the load of the shrouds. She's never seen salt water except in '34-'36, so the frames aren't in bad shape. If S203 has been a salt water boat, are those two frames still solid?

I never had a standard jib other than an old, cotton storm jib, and I never flew that. I have a 150% genoa , and a 170 genoa for real light air, but I'd love to find a 135. Either way, they all cleared the shrouds. See the short jib tracks up near the forward part of the cabin? They're set out far enough to clear ok. When you're as close-hauled as you'd ever want to be, the genoa foot runs right along the edge of the deck. The head clears the spreaders fine.

The overhead shot was when Sonja was still in fiberglass. The Oregon pine deck had been sanded to the point where the galvanized edge nails were showing through.

You going to do a total restoration? If so, don't do what I did. Start at the bottom. Make sure the hull still has shape and hasn't hogged. If your keelbolts are original, they're probably just about gone. Mine were down to 1/4 at the keelson. If you need photos showing locations of the nut cavities, I can send those too.

I'm really up in the air over the running backs. I still have the old fittings, but the sheerclamp isn't the greatest and needs a Dutchman, and I really didn't want to put that many holes in the deck again. I was thinking of an eyebolt with two-part blocks, as I've seen on the SSKF website.

Regards,
Rich

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Richard,

I have a question for you. I am including a photo of my deck view of shroud locations. In it you can see the mast step, the chalked ovals where the original shrouds went through the deck and a hole out through the covering board where the current shroud goes through the deck, as well as a eye bolt that goes through the shear strake for the aft shroud.

I am confused. It appears that by moving the shrouds out, the jib will not be able to come all the way in. My questions for you are: Where are the shroud locations on Sonja's deck? Does your boat have a large genoa? and a storm jib and where are the jib leads for each jib?

I was unable to open the Launch 2001 due to missing zip software. Perhaps I can update soon.

Thanks,

Ted
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Hello Ted,

When I started on Sonja, I had no idea what I was getting into either. When I saw the boat for sale in '76, I called one of the previous owners to get his opinion. He said, "Don't do it!" I did it anyway. I too try to be a perfectionist, but it doesn't always work out that way. LOL! I've ended up redoing almost everything. If I was going to do it again, I guess I'd start at the bottom and make a list. Take lots of pictures of the 'before' state so you can see where everything went.

The keel is most important. Even though you can see the blind nails in the deck, don't be tempted to start there. If you do, and the boat is hogged, (yes, slumped at the stern) you'll never get the hog out since the deck provides some support. I suppose there's a couple ways to check for hog, but I saw it easiest in the shear strakes. In Sonja, there's a butt block on each side adjacent to the aft part of the cockpit. The aft shear strake was lifted up slightly at this point and there was a distinct gap between that strake and the next one down. The gap goes away 4 or 5 inches aft of the butt block. Lay a ruler edgewise on a table with only a couple inches on the table, the rest hanging over the side. Tilt the outboard end down and you'll see a gap between the ruler and the table. The shear will act the same way. If you have it on one side and not the other, then chances are the hull has a bit of twist. Sonja does. I tried my damndest to get it out, but it's still there. It took a set after being on the hard in mud for 5 years.

How do you your keel bolts look? They original?

I know that Brad told you the guys in Sweden work in shifts, making sure they sail the boat every year, but sometimes that isn't possible. You'll know what needs to be done when you take a hard look. You know what 'project creep' is? I've had that and then some. Every time you turn in a new screw and it just keeps turning. Arghhh!

btw, the original genoa track is a U shaped bronze channel that sits on deck and screws down through the covering board and into the shear strake. Not sure what the Swedish guys are using now, but I've seen them get away from a lot of the original hardware. It doesn't seem important to them to keep it.

Call whenever you get a chance.

Cheers,

Rich
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Rich,

Your photos of Sonja are extremely helpful. Seeing the shrouds in their original location makes sense. I'm not sure why it was moved outboard to the covering boards on my boat.

I obviously don't know exactly what I am getting into, but I love it anyway. I am not planning a total rebuild, but I am a woodworker and a perfectionist, and I'm not sure where I will be drawing the line on each project. My deck is currently in the same condition yours was in. I can see the edges of the blind nails all over the deck. I also have the two metal frames that originally supported my shrouds. Now there is a jury rig below deck for one shroud and an eyebolt on the deck for the other. It looks really bad, and it would not let me pull the jib in as far as I should.

What does the term "hogged" mean in your last email? I assume it means slumped. How do I know if this has happened?

I would like to live a life where I can go out to the shed and work on her after work. I am hoping that by building the shed next to my house, I will be able to do the work myself. That is why I find your commitment so attractive. You are doing the work.

I'll be calling soon just to introduce myself, and perhaps get a good feel for what to look for in each of my projects. Until I have done it once, I am a little hesitant to open her up. But I must start soon.

Thanks for your help.

Best Wishes,

Ted

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Based on the company Ted keeps I think Epiphany is is good hands.  Below is a photo of Ted racing with Olin Stevens when Olin was 97 years old.

Epiphany (S203), photo courtesy Ted Lameyer

February 03, 2010:

A Bit of Boat History

Windjak - U1

This site follows up on any and all leads concerning the whereabouts of square metre boats in North America.  Sometimes these leads turn out to be boats that are already known to us.  Following up on these leads still gives us the ability to speak with past owners of these magnificent boats and collect their experiences and photos.

Richard Latham commissioned the construction of the first Udell, and in 1955 Windjak was completed.  Windjak has been owned by just a few people over the years and is currently in storage awaiting restoration of her keel and cabin.

The following pictures where provided by Leif Erickson from Sister Bay, WI.  He owned Windjak from 2004 to 2005.  Can you spot her in the picture below?  Not too hard is it? 

Windjak (U1), photo courtesy Leif Erickson

Windjak before her spruce up in 2004. 

Windjak (U1), photo courtesy Leif Erickson

The following pictures where of her launch day.  Leif told me the reason for the green and gold hull other than the fact that it looks great. 

GO PACKERS! 

You may not understand if you do not live in the United States or in the state of Wisconsin.  The Green Bay Packers football team has quite the following and their team colors are green and gold.

Windjak (U1), photo courtesy Leif Erickson

Windjak (U1), photo courtesy Leif Erickson

Windjak (U1), photo courtesy Leif Erickson

Here is Leif at the tiller.

Windjak (U1), photo courtesy Leif Erickson

Windjak (U1), photo courtesy Leif Erickson

Windjak (U1) Sailing Magazine, photo courtesy Leif Erickson

It has been said that square metre owners are often the last to pull their boats from the water come fall.  Here is the proof!  Above is a photo from a story done by Sailing Magazine titled "Summer's Last Sail"  by Greg Jones.  As the story goes the reporter was in Door County, Wisconsin looking for a sailboat for his story and Leif was still out there even after the trees had lost their leaves.

January 03, 2010:

Twice Owned

Monica - S202

Monica (S202)

With the help of Jim Faugust this site has made contact with the two time owner of Monica S202.  From 1948 to 1978 Monica was sailed on Walloon Lake near Harbor Springs, Michigan.  In 1978 Monica was purchased by her current owner and was sailed to Menominee, Michigan.  Monica was reluctantly sold in 1983 and after being owned by a couple of less than enthusiastic sailers she was repurchased in 2002, by the same person that sailed her over from Michigan in 1978. 

Monica (S202)

Monica is in remarkable original condition, although work is needed on the deadwood (rudder connection) and the cockpit combing.  She could also use a set of self tailing winches. 

Her spruce banana mast and rigging is in excellent condition having been redone by the Palmer Johnson company of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and she also has a new set of sails.

Her interior is being stripped of old bubbling varnish.  We were asked to not show the before pictures.  It was not a pretty sight.

Monica (S202)

Monica (S202)

Monica is currently in cold storage and has not been in the water since the mind 1980's.  Monica will not be launched for several years when she is the plan is for her to sail the waters of Lake Champlain.  Lake Champlain is located in the Northeast United

States between the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Adirondack Mountains of New York, and reaches into Quebec, Canada.  It is a very pretty place to sail a very pretty boat..

Monica (S202)

The hull plate indicates that Monica was built at the Kungsör yard in 1938.  There is some question as to her build date and her designer as other sites list her build year as 1935 and her designer as being Eklund.  We believe she looks more like a Harry Becker design.  We would appreciate any and all help to finally verify Monica's build year and designer.

December 07, 2009:

Two Boats, Two Different Stories

Teal - US20 / Javelin - US24

Javelin (S183) Teal (US20), photo courtesy Brad Jirka

The photograph above was most likely taken off of Belmont Harbor, Chicago during the late 1940's when they were considered the "first two" 22s at the Chicago Yacht Club.

Since then Javelin has been lucky enough to remain in the same sailing family since 1952 being own by Don and Doris Jirka and now by their son Brad Jirka. 

Javelin sailed out of Belmont Harbor for years, but just last month she took to the highway and has ended up in Northfield, Minnesota.  Brad Jirka is still the owner and he plans to do some restoration work on her over the next few years.  You might think that it would be great to have a lake in your backyard.  Unfortunately, the lake shown is only about 500 acres with a maximum depth of 10 feet, but do not worry, living in Minnesota means Brad has another 9,999 lakes to choose from. 

Javelin (US24), Northfield Minnesota, 2009, photo courtesy Brad Jirka

Teal is another story.  The last known owner of Teal was Mr. Finney Berry of Chicago back in the 1970's.  This site has managed to track down Mr. Berry's family in order to trace the whereabouts of Teal.  Teal was sold by the Berrys in the early 1980s and Mr. Berry's family does not remember who purchased Teal or where she was taken. 

We are all very busy these days and also at this time of year, but this site is looking for any tid-bit of information concerning the whereabouts of Teal in order to revive this search.  We would even accept gossip.  If you were an active sailor in Chicago during the 1980s, please try to remember any mention of what happened to Teal.  If you know of someone that this site should contact concerning Teal please leave us a note at  info@squareskerryyachts.net or alert the person to contact this site. 

This site is also interested in collecting the ownership history, photographs, and documents relating to Teal for our archive.  All photographs and documents would be returned postage paid. 

December 05, 2009:

Sad News

Bill Denton

Word has reached us that Bill Denton passed away about 10 days ago at the age of 90.  Bill restored and owned the 22 square metre sailboat “Lancea” (US-22) and for many years kept her in fine shape. It is always sad when square metre sailing loses such a dedicated enthusiast.  Bill's family will be providing information to this site to document "Lancea" and is also looking to find a new home for their father's pride and joy.

November 21, 2009:

Where have all the Udells gone?

U1 - Windjak

Windjak is not being sailed at this time and is in Newport Beach California.  U1 is being well cared for but is in need of a new cabin and the planking near her keel needs to be replaced due to dry rot.  It will be next year before U1 will be in the water.

U2 - Kona

The last owner reports that Kona was destroyed in Chicago in the summer of 2004.

U3 - Vinst-2

Vinst-2 is in prime condition and will be taking part in club activities at the Balboa yacht club in Newport Beach California this year.

U4 - Solution

Solution is thought to have been destroyed.  U4 was last seen during the 1980s in rough shape along side a freeway in Chicago.

U5 - Patriot

Patriot is operated as part of a youth sailing program out of Cornwall in the United Kingdom.  U5 is in very fine shape and is raced every year though the British Classic Yacht Club. 

                              Patriot, photo courtesy Barbara Bridgman

U6 - Ondine

Ondine is in Marstrand, Sweden.  Ondine was at the Jubilee event last year and was in excellent shape.  The couple that purchased her and Britta US-10 did a fine restoration. 

U7 - Skipjak

Skipjak is in Stockholm, Sweden and has been restored.  The website www.skipjak.com documents her restoration.  The restoration of U7 was completed in time for her to participate in the Jubilee.

U8 - Rush Forth

First of the fiberglass Udells produced by Creekmore Yachts in Florida from a mold taken from U7.  U8 sails out of Belmont Harbor in Chicago.  This year touch up work will be done to her hull.  In past years Rush Forth has survived a hole being punched into her hull on one occasion and on another she was T-boned by a J boat. 

U9 - Grail

Second of the fiberglass Udells produced in 1969 and was sailed out of Belmont Harbor in Chicago for years.  Currently in her winter storage and plans are in the works to move her to California.  U9 is in good condition needing a little work on her winches and her bright work.

                                                  U9 - Grail, photo courtesy Roland Rayment

U10 - Kona II

Kona II is moored in Belmont Harbor, Chicago and will be taking part in club activities this year.  The original KONA, U2 was destroyed in the summer of 2004 and Kona II uses the mast and boom from U2.

U11 - Auf Wiedersehen

Auf Wiedersehen was the last of the fiberglass Udells created by Creekmore Yachts.  U11 is being stored in Newport Beach California and has been stripped of her hardware and rigging.  Her hull has been prepared to create a mold for the creation of additional Udells.  The word is that the original molds used by Creekmore Yachts in Forida have been destroyed.

There are four additional Udell class boats that were built in Sweden and never imported to the United States.  Three of the four were at the Jubilee and contact with the fourth has been lost.  One of the three is owned by the same owner as U3 Vinst-2 and it is named Vinst-3.

November 20, 2009:  

It's taken some doing for sure, but I think we can now say that the space here for all things 22 Square Meter is gaining its own feet.  It is going to start out small and modest.  The presentation page is going to be something like that for the 30 Squares, but its content will be all about 22s.  Brian Rasmussen of Wisconsin will be developing this page (he has sent letters of inquiry to many known 22 owners already) and as stated below last year, the 22 have a very different kind of story than the 30's to tell.  Brian's enthusiasm promises a really good story.  So you 22 folks out there, contact the site to let Brian know you are out there. 

November 21, 2008:  

While awaiting the more detailed presentation on this website of the history and present whereabouts and activities of 22 Squares, the thought occurred to us that there is no reason for not posting, in the meantime, the comments and photos 22 square owners and other aficionados have already contributed to this site.  This thought only reflects what is quickly becoming an undeniable fact:  that 22s today have a major presence in North America, possibly greater than 30s, and that the 22 square story is clearly unique in comparison to the 30s. It is a story which needs to be told.  So think of the presentation here as a prologue of what holds promise to be an intriguing tale.. 

1950s:  Bacchant, at Green Bay, Wisconsin.  Contributed by John Lamont of Portland, Oregon 2008.

1950s:  Bonny, photo courtesy Peg Stearns, collection of Brad Jirka, 2007.

1960s:  Trident, photo courtesy Bob Duff, Marblehead, 2007.                

  2007:  Jim Faugust and John Kropp's Britta.

2008:  Swedish 22s rafting up.  Photo courtesy Rich VanValkenberg

Unknown Date but circa 1960s, Lilleflu.  Photo courtesy Eric Sutton.

                                                                         1940, Sonja.  Photo courtesy present owner Rich VanValkenberg.           

                                        2001, Sonja.  Photos courtesy present owner Rich VanValkenberg.

2007, Javelin.  Photo courtesy present owner Brad Jirka