Blog entries

ACMC Annual Meeting Planned For Saturday, January 14th.

Lyndon Greene — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:09:46 +0100

Put this date on your calendar -- Saturday, January 14th ACMC Annual Meeting at the Anacortes Library from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Already, we are planning 2012. Priorities include:

El Toro Sailboat classes in the Spring
Small Boat Messabouts at SeaFarer Memorial Park from May to September
Restore & sail Mecca to Port Townsend Wooden Boat Show in September

The year will begin with a field...

Good News -- El Toro Sailboat Talk & Building Classes In The Works For 2012

Lyndon Greene — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:11:38 +0100

Good news for those sailors who want to build the popular El Toro Sailboat. We are putting together two El Toro boat building classes scheduled for February and March. Plus, ACMC will host a Saturday lunch & talk on the history, building, etc., of this popular little boat. The lunch & talk is free.

So, here is exactly what we are working on right now:

Saturday, February 18th - Introducing the El Toro Sailboat.&nbs...

If It's Worth Building. It's Worth Lofting -- True For A Small Model, Skiff or Sawn-Frame Vessel

Lyndon Greene — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 01:42:49 +0100

Pete Culler once wrote: However you built it, a proper lofting job is essential. I know of nothing better to get a craft off to a good start, be she a skiff or a sawn-frame vessel. Pete is not alone in his appreciation of the lofting process. In fact, the popular boatwright Greg Rossel agrees with him.

Last week, Vernon Lauridsen did an excellent job in making sense of this now ancient science. The class was full......

Boat Building Classes, ETC., Including Activities in 2012

Lyndon Greene — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:12:32 +0100

ACMC boat building classes are on the web site. Please go to the Education page & Class button to learn more about these classes. Note, the lofting & lines two day classes (evening only) begins Monday & Tuesday, November 28th & 29th.

Also, I hope you are thinking about ACMC activities for 2012. Of course, ACMC is looking for volunteers; it can only happen with your help. There is a whole lot of things to do next year...including&nb...

Winter Boat Building Classes...Now Posted

Lyndon Greene — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:23:18 +0100

Three classes are now planned for this winter -- beginning Monday, November 28th. ACMC classes include:

1. Lofting & Taking Lines - Instructor Vernon Lauridsen
2. Introduction to Small Boats & Traditonal Small Craft - Instructor Lyndon Greene
3. Building the El Toro Sailing Boat - Group Leader - Lyndon Greene

A big "thank you" to James McMullen (Emerald Marine Carpentry) and Owen Huffaker (Pelican Build...

Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival - To Good For Words

Lyndon Greene — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:45:57 +0100

I know. I promised to say something about the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival...and honestly, once again, I was blown away. It is not only the largest wooden boat festival in the Pacific Northwest, but it is also the only place you are going to see 200 plus wooden boats sailing on the water in the traditional sail-by last day of the festival.

As Boatwright Jay Smith said to me...and I'm paraphasing here: so many beautiful woo...

CWB - Cama Beach Small Boat Saturday

Lyndon Greene — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:27:16 +0100

Andrew Washburn at CWB - Cama Beach is to be congradulated. He not only put together a wonder Small Boat Saturday event this past weekend; but also, he has done a great job with the CWB Cama Beach facility.

The Small Boat Saturday enjoyed fine weather, great workshops, and, of course, several small boats you could sail, row, or just sit there and stare at some beautiful small boats for the whole morning. It was heaven if you are a small boat nut. A...

Don't Miss The 35th Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival -- Beginning September 9th

Lyndon Greene — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:53:36 +0100

This is a plug for the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. And, why not! It's the largest wooden boat festival on the West Coast. More than 300 boats attend the festival. And, there is something for everyone.

Of course, there are plenty of beautiful wooden boats to see and board. Kids activity. Several great booths to visit. Live music in the evening and throughout the day. Plus, free workshops on everything from cruising to Alaska, s...

ACMC Summer Picnic & TSCA Messabout Was Fun...Good Food, Too!

Lyndon Greene — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:26:49 +0100

I really must get out to Bowman Bay more offten; what a beautiful place it is in late summer. The ACMC Summer Picnic & TSCA Messabout was fun -- plenty of good company, lots of wonderful treats, boats on shore & in the water, and, once again, the weather was near perfect.

I think everyone had a good time. It was overcast in the morning only to break-out into a beautiful sunny afternoon especially on the water. Go to our Photo Gallery and see...

The Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brian

Lyndon Greene — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:52:46 +0100

In the last blog, I noted the small park near the Guemes Ferry Landing is a great place to watch the boat traffic in the channel; well, it is also a great place to read a book. May I suggest The Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brian.

Many of you already know about the popular writer of maritime historical fiction, Patrick O'Brian. His series about the adventures of Lucky Jack Aubrey and his companion Dr. Steve Maturn are read nationwide...if not worldwide!...

A Great Place To Watch The Boats In Anacortes

Lyndon Greene — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:31:30 +0100

It's that time of year again...beautiful weather. The onshore breeze is good for both sailors and beach visitor alike. And, it is an opportunuity to watch the sail and power boats make their way along Guemes Channel. And sometimes, an experience kayaker lands on the beach here.

Of course, I am talking about the small park beside the Guemes Ferry Landing. This is a great place to watch the action in the channel. The beach is intimate with pl...

Still Working on Boats, Web Site, and Mackinaw Boat

Lyndon Greene — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:01:19 +0100

Some things never change. And yes, I am still working on the Beach Peapod, the web site, and the Mackinaw boat. In fact, the Mackinaw Boat is in front of my house right now; hopefully, the roofers will be done so that I can move it to the back yard and begin working on it.

Herb McMurtry send me a good book with some great information about the Macknaw boats on the Great Lakes at around the turn of the century. The book is entitled A Good Boat Speaks For Itself - I...

Wawona Exhibit at the Anacortes Maritime Hertiage Center Is Really Informative

Lyndon Greene — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 04:03:04 +0100

If you have a space Saturday, etc., be sure to take in the new Wawona Exhibit at the Anacortes Maritime Hertiage Center. It is vey interesting, especially if you want to hear learn more about the fishing industry at the turn of the century. Or, how the Wawona was built. There is a great presentation of the building of the Wowona, incluing line drawings and even a half model.

More about the Wawona later...I plan to take in the exhibit again.

Fidalgo Flyer Was A Great Success At The Anacortes Arts Festival This Weekend

Lyndon Greene — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:58:57 +0100

I guess you can hav e a "Messabout" just about anywhere; at least, it sure seemed like a messabout for kids at the Anacortes Arts Festival this past weekend. It was a whole lot of fun for everyone--the kids, parents, and volunteers!

I'm talking about the 50th Annual Art Festival. For the past five or six years, ACMC has participated in the festival. You'll find us in the Kids Area. We are the folks with the paddle boats. This year, Den...

ACMC Members Are Still Talking About Our Trip to Boat Builder Jay Smith & Viking Boat

Lyndon Greene — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:56:48 +0100

Our field trip to Jay's shop was fantastic. I think everyone had a good time; and hopefully, we all learned something in the hour or more visiting with Jay.

I'm back...

What can I say. A big "thank you" to Jay Smith for inviting several ACMC members and friends to his shop to talk about building a real Viking ship in your backyard. Naturally, Jay has one of the best boat shops in Anacortes -- if not in the state! Work benches from Denmark are more...

Summer Is Here

Lyndon Greene — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:48:50 +0100

Summer is here! So, I'm off enjoying the good weather especially after so much rain earlier this summer. ACMC has been busy this past month including...

Making paddle boats for the Anacortes Arts Festival
Field trip to Jay Smith & his Viking boat
Visiting the Anacortes Maritime Museum and the new Wawona Exhibit
Taking in the Canoe Journey near La Conner

So much to see, visit, etc. It's really hard to keep-up with ...

Lap Top In The Field...Well Not Exactly

Lyndon Greene — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:59:51 +0100

Like I said...not exactly. I have our wonderful new lap top with me at CompuMatter. I'm trying to get a few helpful hits on how to best use it to enhance our web site and education workshops. My first priority was to put some pictures on our site; however, I changed the program. First, I need to learn how to use this lap top. Then, pictures!

Meanwhile, I hope to provide some on-site blogs...

Ideas include:

It's A Wonderful Time For Rowing At SeaFarer Memorial Park...

Lyndon Greene — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:32:55 +0100

The warm weather and high tide make it a perfect time to row the Peapod or Swampscott Dory in the early evening.

If you just want to hang around Q dock, that's o.k., too. The rowing is very easy this time of the year. For the beginner, it is a safe place to practice rowing skills and to become comfortable in a small boat. You really don't need to cross the traffic over to Sea Farer Memorial Park to enjoy yourself.

Blues Cruise on the Willemette River...

Lyndon Greene — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:03:07 +0100

Maritime related? Maybe not. Carolyn and I just returned from the 2011 Portland Blues Festival. For blues fans, it was paradise -- four solid days of music from early in the morning to midnight or later. Pluse, a Blues Cruise on the Willemette River!

The festival is located in downtown Portland in front of the Marriott Hotel. And, of course, it is right on the waterfront beside the Willemette River. It's really a fundraiser fo...

Some Personal Thoughts About A Maritime Center in Anacortes

Lyndon Greene — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:39:33 +0100

Our recent visit to the Gig Harbor Boat Shop and the Foss Waterway Seaport brought to my mind (once again) our recent efforts to bring a maritime center to Anacortes.

As you might already know, ACMC has visited several maritime centers and maritime museums from Astoria, Oregon, to Victoria, British Columbia. We have visited the big centers, including the Center For Wooden Boats in Seattle and the new Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, and we ha...