A beautiful classic wooden boat changed my destiny

This is the story of a little wooden boat created in 1965 by my mentor, and rescued from a life of dormancy by a young man with incredible vision.
“ Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.” - John Lennon. Life has its own strange ways of flowing, like a river, which is undecipherable by the human mind.
The river of life is flowing in its unique and special way. Sarah Ann has followed me up to Queensland, and I am now her custodian, embarking on a very unique wooden boat restoration project.
I was coming to the end of a fiberglass boat restoration and had just put Saffron on the water for the first time when the phone rang...... "would you be interested in my wooden boat?" My heart went to goo, and soon she was parked in my front yard ready for the hard work to start.
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[@j.raaschou8901]

Very happy to see the progress you are making Chris. I look forward to seeing photos of her on the water in the not too distant future. As much as I'd love to be the one restoring her, studying Naval Architecture abroad is too great an opportunity to turn down. I am very happy you have taken her on Chris. I look forward to seeing regular updates!

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Thanks Jayce it couldn’t have happened without your vision an passion to see her rescued from her incarceration.

[@brentsutherland6385]

Debussy is a great musical choice for this video. I sail in thin waters, so I am always very interested in shallow draft sailboats.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Glad you enjoyed it! My Sonata 6 only drew 10 “ whereas this one is closer to 2 feet. She will be sailed mostly in Tasmanian coastal waters so draft is not as much of an issue there.

[@geirskjo]

Great to see this boat being restored. And with passion, not quick fixes.. :)

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

She is a delight to work on. Because I was mentored by the builder I am familiar with his methods. This helps a lot with the work.

[@zooknut]

Beautiful boat, reminds me of a little wooden 18ft clinker putt putt we used to use on Gippsland lakes.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

They are a unique experience for sure. Cheers Chris.

[@petersly3761]

Great to see Sarah Ann being brought back to life like this.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Thanks Pete. The work required is relatively minor.

[@squiddly-diddly]

Good luck with the new project... looking forward to wetting my reno... just one task left before doing so...that is putting in a bilge pump...as she is now parked 65km away at the lake ( Rotoiti ) have to plan everything proper...

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

You have reminded me I too have to install a bilge pump. Good luck with the launch of your project

[@iandickinson4420]

G'day Chris, I am so pleased you are reunited with Sara Anne. Although I'm sad she is lost to Tassie, I am so glad she is in the hands of someone who will respect her. I too have personal memories of her, we were born the same year🤣, John and my father were friends through scouting, and at Coles Bay. John was a sailing mentor of mine, many years of memories with her moored at the Fisheries. I will follow with keen interest. I'll send you a photo I found of the boat he built in memory of his son Maurice.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Thanks so much for that Ian. My vision is to explore SE QLD for a few years then return her and Moonlight to Tasmania where they belong. So not lost to tasmania. I would be very grateful for anything you can add to my understanding of her history. This is intended as a tribute to John and Maurice.

[@whiteraven3753]

I am still looking for Moonlight's loa, beam, draft, and designer... My first blush she is not - eg a Herreschoff Prudence... But were boats people, I think these would have been very good friends...

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

She’s a custom design. 12ft long. Not sure the beam, she’s in Qld with my daughter I’m in Tasmania. She was designed in Tasmania by John Philp a local boat builder. There are no plans. I built her to Eyesweet lines with the aid of some frames and patterns for the tuck stem and stern. John told Me she was based on the Tasmanian cadet dinghy. That’s All I know. Cheers chris

[@whiteraven3753]

@@SmallSailboatCruising I meant the motor-sailer with the iron centerboard... Sorry, I must have the names confused... I thought she was in the 18'-25' range. I am 7:40pm now - What is your local time?

[@sailingseriously2035]

Very envious Chris. Stunning ship. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

She is a sound a little vessel as you will ever find. 57 years used once a year then the last 12 in a shed.

[@sailingseriously2035]

@@SmallSailboatCruising Something like that is priceless in my view. Please keep the vids up with her.

[@Zack-mp5gw]

This will be a fascinating project

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Thanks

[@chrisstockman904]

A wonderful reunion. These boats are so beautiful and worth the love and care. Well done Chris.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Thanks. This one is in really good Nick.

[@TheAjmiel]

Nice Chris! Good to see you working your boats

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Thanks 👍

[@jameswembridge7395]

Congratulations Chris, it's amazing how some things work out, it is meant to be that you have the responsibility to care for a buitful little boat, that you have know for so long, its builder and history. I look foward to watching you both restore each other.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

I guess if I’m honest I admit that I could do with some restoring. Thanks for that comment.

[@michaelsimpson9779]

What a beautiful storey. Be lovely to see this at the 2023 Bribie Classic and Wooden Boat weekend. No pressure, lol. There's nothing like the pleasure of using well sharpened hand tools. Soldier on Mate.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

I’m keen. Will work towards that.

[@daleskidmore1685]

Wow! What a beautiful boat. Makes me wonder what new opportunity Jase has taken on that made him pass this one on to you. Mind you, he made the right choice of new custodian.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Thanks Dale. It will take time for the whole story to be told. What a journey we are on.

[@daleskidmore1685]

@@SmallSailboatCruising We've got plenty of time, if you have the inclination.....

[@davelawrence6777]

Yes my friend they do have souls and i always listen to her when she tells me what she wants and being a man i always give it to her but just like a beautiful woman what ever i give it makes me look good when I'm with her

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

This one was born in 1965 out of the pain of losing a Son. She is courageous and seeking adventure.

[@afloatinawoodenboat]

Awesome ❤

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

I’m still pinching myself to see if I’m awake or this is a dream.

[@afloatinawoodenboat]

@@SmallSailboatCruising that’s so lovely!

[@gregsaunders9472]

Congratulations Chris So good to know the legacy is not lost Must say I’m a little envious Blessings

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

@@gregsaunders9472 great to hear from you Greg. How’s your project going? I here a boat would come in handy down there? Bit damp eh?

[@ianmcgillivray4228]

So lovely to see this old girl getting a new lease on life. Can't wait to see her on the water. I have a question about dynema. I'm very close to reinstalling the keel on my Spacesailer and think dynema would be so much better than cable and a shackle. Can I get away with a bowline or should I take the extra time and learn to splce dynema? Thanks again for a great video series

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Definitely use dyneema. It gets slippery when wet so a bowline won’t work. Learn the splice. It’ll take half an hour to learn. Tie a clove hitch then locking splice. Perfect you will never lose sleep over it again.

[@Antipodean33]

Lovely looking little boat, a bit more info as to her design, length, beam etc would be interesting. I have to admit as much as I love the positive aspects of glass boats, there is something unique and special in a wooden boat. There has been a lot of effort made to build one, a ton of love has gone into it, hence that's where it gets a "soul". Most wooden boats (or proper boats as some say) get admiring glances and comments, often from people who have no interest in boats (I know it's hard to believe such people exist) which is another aspect to her having a soul. Look forward to watching your progress on this little beauty

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Thanks for your post. She has a story to tell and I will be devoting quite a bit of time and energy to that. I have noted your comment about her vital statistics and will include them in the next video.

[@rosslane8641]

It was meant to be found it’s way back into your loving hands !

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

How about that? Amazing eh! Purely serendipitous in my view. Glad you see that. Ross

[@CaptMarkSVAlcina]

Hi Chris, yes I reply to your last message on your last video. Anyway, this could not of happened to a better person then you to fix her up in Australia. Looking forward to seeing you fix her up and then going sailing. Now the big question, what are you going to do with all those yachts ???

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

That’s very kind of you. And you are right, I have a dilemma. 3 boats is definitely 1 more than I can easily manage. I’m working towards selling the Sunmaid. Just some cosmetic work to do.

[@CaptMarkSVAlcina]

@@SmallSailboatCruising I was looking at a Sunmaid some time ago, what do you think you will ask for it ?

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

@@CaptMarkSVAlcina I’m thinking that through. I’ve got some cosmetic work to do on her soon. Doubt I will recover anywhere near what I put into her though.

[@rhysstapleton1074]

This is very nice to see an all Huon hull would be very nice to have mine is inch thick King Billy planks over gum frames so I have rot issues that is rare in Huon and of corse Huon is much more common than kb. Enjoy!

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

She’s actually King Billy planked with Huon bones

[@rhysstapleton1074]

@@SmallSailboatCruising that’s a good combination and with the billy planks you should have a lot less splitting than with Huon. She looks like she’s in good nick so should be an easy resto.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

@@rhysstapleton1074 mostly cosmetic. Very stable hull. Well built boat. Installing the new engine is the biggest challenge

[@rhysstapleton1074]

Sertainly can be with some hulls,what do you have lined up to put in the old girl?

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

@@rhysstapleton1074 I’ve got a nice rebuilt Volvo MD1.