Thoughts on a 1962 Columbia 29

[Don C L]

Yeah that pirate thing... years ago crewing on a big boat we were concerned about pirates off Malaysia. We never let the boat get below 10 knots, motoring or sailing... in the wee hours, when we were motoring with no running lights, I often could have SWORN I heard engines behind us in the darkness! For me that was exhausting and not much fun.

Do you have a Monitor windvane? Couldn't remember, just curious.

[Columbia29]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Do you have a Monitor windvane? Couldn't remember, just curious.

I have a Norvane, California built unit less bulky than most other selfteerring units. The company is now out of business because the main guy retired and couldn't sell the business (if I am not mistaken). It's a shame because it a very good unit.

[Don C L]

Well I know there are at least 2 of us with C29s with no provision for an inboard, so an outboard is a necessity. And I know it is unattractive if not sacrilegious to hang an outboard on the stern, but in this case the PO engineer did a really good job on the geometry, utility and strength of the rig, so I present it as possibly the best way to rig an outboard, for a C29 or any similar boat. I do not suffer from this long shaft coming out motoring in swells. I can hoist it and lower it in seconds and no need to reach over the rail, no tilting of the engine.
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ture30311.html

[Don C L]

For the handful of us who call the C29 our own particular passion, this website may be of interest. As you may know from this article:
https://www.jordanyachts.com/3291
The C29 was intended to be a scaled up "Bear" boat, a design that was born on the San Francisco Bay and became fairly popular and an active class from the 30s through the 60s. So check out this site, they are bringing them back to life:
San Francisco Bay Bear Boat Association
You'll certainly see the similarity in the lines right away I bet.
So, just out of curiosity, I am now trying to find out if Olin Stephens actually drew the lines or someone else in the S&S shop, and if so I wonder who that may have been. Even though Larry Walters said Bill Tripp, I have my doubt since he was on his own by 1952 I think.
So if anyone out there knows, I'd love to hear about it.

[Don C L]

For those interested in the genesis of the Columbia 29, there is an article in the July Latitude 38 about the Master Mariners Regatta they hold in the bay and the first part describes the Bear boats participating. (The Bear boats, native to the SF Bay, were the inspiration and source for the design S&S were hired for.)
https://www.latitude38.com/issues/july-2019/

[Don C L]

Here's one that was just lost to whatever the state does with them when they are given up. Hull 132. Unbelievable. The owner could not find anyone to take her for free. I could have picked out 5 other boats on the same dock that I'd rather scrap in a second before this one. Just a bit sad for the few of us who know them, love them and sail them.

[mitiempo]

There are old boats that deserve to be broken up, some pictured on the free thread.

But not that one. Even if stripped inside it could be made whole again. Sad.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

There are old boats that deserve to be broken up, some pictured on the free thread.

But not that one. Even if stripped inside it could be made whole again. Sad.

Yes. And it wasn't stripped inside. It was a bit dirty, needed a new mainsail and not sure if the A4 still ran, but structurally, and rigging, in good shape. Kinda heartbreaking.

[mitiempo]

Deck dirty but even the wood on the hatches and handrails looks pretty good.

[406Columbia]

I have a call in to harbor patrol on this tomorrow am to speak to the supervisor. I spoke to the duty officer and its supposed to get scrapped. I will try my best to get her before she gets scrapped.

I have two friends who are interested. One is right in the L.A. area and the other is in San Diego. Don has been kind enough to offer his help to move her and line up a temp slip and I can trailer that boat anywhere if needed so we shall see.

Everyone pray she doesn't get scrapped.

[appick]

If you need any help moving her in in SD as well. I miss my old Columbia 29 but she's in good hands back in Michigan.

[Adelie]

I’m available to help too in SD.

[Sailing August]

Our first sail boat was a 1973 Columbia 29'.
Very solid boat and a bit of a collectors items we have come to learn.
The Universal Atomic (gas) engine was bomb proof. It never let us down.
Our boat was old and a little crusty but everything worked.
It is a small boat. We sailed her for 10 years on the north Chesapeake Bay. As our cruising range increased we wanted a larger more comfortable boat so we moved to a Morgan OutIsland Ketch 41.6.
At the time, our old Columbia had nearly no commercial value even though everything worked. We ended up giving her away to someone who would sail her and take care of her as much as we did. She is still tied up at George Town yacht basin on the Sassafras River in Maryland.
The last we heard, she is on a mooring ball these days. I guess a 47 year old boat does not rate the expense of a slip anymore.

[Don C L]

There are a few boats that owners find very endearing and this seems to be one of them. Before I bought mine she only had 2 previous owners... each one had owned her, and sailed her, for 25 years. Even with this one that was given up, the owner lamented that she loved sailing her but she was just too small to liveaboard for her now.

[406Columbia]

Sad news, I spoke to three folks all the way up the supervisor at Harbor Patrol. Turns out the owner turned the boat over under a state program for derelict boats. As such they said it was out of their hands as it belonged to the state and must be scrapped as conditions of the grant.



Last shot will be for me to call the trash company taking delivery of the boat and see if they will sell it for what they hope to obtain for the lead and aluminum prices. Such a shame.