Challenge: Mystery 'Crealock' Sailboat

[bobola]

The canvas shop that made the sail covers was called Canvas Designs, 2841 Canon St. in San Diego. That same address is now a Neal Pryde sail loft.

Ballas Sails made the main, which I washed last night. According to Google they don’t exist.

So it looks like the boat could have been made in San Diego, and most likely fitted out there. Maybe the next step is to contact a long time sailboat builder there and ask if they know of this mystery boat.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

I think what he bought is a Bobola 26. It may become a classic.

Without a doubt ~ It's a Bobola 26 Classic!

[bobola]

Perfect..!! This mystery boat is hereby called a Bobola 26.

[GordMay]

A little grinding, at which you're expert, will transform that "T" to a "D".

[speedoo]

Nice work on the mainsail Bob. But that insignia is a complete mystery.

Oh, no it's not.... it's a Bobola 26 insignia, of course!!

(But I have to note that I have never seen the insignia and # affixed to the same location on both sides of the sail like that.)

[bobola]

Gordo, great idea. I could make this boat a one-off - 21 years after it was built.

Speedo, I am determined to find the builder. I have it narrowed down to San Diego.

The daughter of the late owner said that when her dad saw the boat, there were 2 identical hulls at the same location. So, there should be at least one more out there somewhere.

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by speedoo

Nice work on the mainsail Bob. But that insignia is a complete mystery.

Oh, no it's not.... it's a Bobola 26 insignia, of course!!

(But I have to note that I have never seen the insignia and # affixed to the same location on both sides of the sail like that.)

I was struck by the overlapping insignias, as well, speedoo. Whatever that pattern represents, it does look better overlapped like that, but the number overlap is disconcerting.

And from the look of the insignia on the main, it's actually a Bobola 27 Classic.

TaoJones

[Bash]

Originally Posted by TaoJones

And from the look of the insignia on the main, it's actually a Bobola 27 Classic.

Clearly, from the look of the insignia on the main, it's a Bobola 27 mkII.

[bobola]

The boom looks first rate, made by Kenyon. The Forspar pole was jammed, but this morning I tied one end to my deck, twisted the crud out of it, which un-jammed it and thoroughly cleaned it using the hose. Nice gear, I like it.

The mildew stains didn't come out of the main sail, but I may just leave them.
Read a bunch of stuff on getting mildew stains out, including 2 good threads here, and I’m leaning toward a comment that one sailor made, something like; “Let the sun and saltwater take care of the mildew stains, they will eventually dissipate, and leave the bleach in the bottle.” And one sailor here made a comment that after 6,000 sea miles his sails are looking cleaner and cleaner.

Personally I am more interested in function over form. The rest of the boat will look pristine, however. I’m afraid that I will do more damage to the sails the cleaner I try to make them.

[bobola]

A tiny clue....Sea Ray was allowed to use B in the first character, but did they ever build a sailboat..??

My search now turns toward the Coast Guard as they assigned the HIN's. They must have a record somewhere...

[speedoo]

Bob, that Kenyon boom looks just like the boom on the J-24 I sailed for many years. I see the outhaul line, but are the reefing lines in place? You may find those reefing line levers at the gooseneck inadequate, but we hardly ever reefed the main on J-24's so you will want to check it out yourself.

A trick for tensioning the outhaul: standing near the mast, put your weight on the outhaul line just aft of the gooseneck while tensioning the bitter end at the cleat... that will pull the mainsail clew aft, then take up the slack in the outhaul line and secure.

I assume the mast is Kenyon also.. is it a masthead rig or fractional?

Re. the USCG, you might find it easier to call them for help with that boat number... if you find the right person, they can probably help.

[Bash]

It just occurred to me that all HIN numbers start with three letters, no numerals. So, what if the person setting the stamp was missing the appropriate die for a letter and substituted a numeral in its place? I went to the HIN database, and ran BTG rather than BT6 (note the close resemblance of G/6) and came up with Birchminster Marine, which made a boat called the Birchminster 27. The mystery thickens when we discover that Birchminster was located in Santa Ana.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to locate a photo on the net.

[speedoo]

The sail logo for Bob's boat is completely different that that for the Birchminster 27, so that's likely a dead end.

[bobola]

Speedo, I took the reefing lines off the boom and ran them through the washing machine. Will re-rig them after I clean the boom. I didn’t get a good look at the mast yet. I believe it’s a masthead rig. This morning I sent an email to the USCG. Also sent an email to the folks at Good Old Boat. The Coats Guard must have a list somewhere dating back to their early records of HIN’s.

Bash, I put a thread up at Sailing Anarchy yesterday and someone came up with Birchminster as well. But like you said, and that other sailor said, there are no photos of that boat online.

Hatteras built a few sailboats some years ago. It’s quite possible a powerboat builder in SO Cal tried the same thing and then dropped it after a few hulls were made.

[amolitor]

The rudder and sheer line are dead ringers for the Pearson 27, but the stem seems to have a bit of a schooner style to it, with a little reversing. The coachroof is completely wrong.