Instead found that the Original, Prototype Chesapeake Light Craft Skerry was offered for sale as a rowing boat and bought it.
Mr. Lawrence Mass of Wilmington North Carolina had rescued the damaged, stripped, hull from the CLC barn while attending a Skerry building class. The boat was badly damaged in Portland Oregon when someone forgot to secure the painter, which was trapped under the front wheel when the truck moved forward, launching the boat through the air onto the pavement below. Surprisingly, only the top starboard strake and gunwale were deatroyed, the strake below only being cracked. Larry bought the hull for $350 and the bits to fix her from John C. Harris. He then had a small Skerry fleet, which was to be used for rowing to a nearby island. This never happened, the kids not interested, so after his own Skerry had been sold some time he finally parted with the Original. And I bought it.
It was in workboat shape, original white topsides, brightwork interior had been succeeded by a Petit yellow hull and gray interior. The repaired strake a little rough, the paint could have had a little more surface prep but all the hardware was good and it was in good, useable condition. Even came with a trailer I had always wanted, a Trailex aluminum. (Be careful what you want, the trailer is so light the boat bounces horribly between 46-55 mph, my preferred crusing speed.)
So I bought a lug sail from Super Sailmakers, who had made me a nice sail for the Peep Hen, and proceeded to make the spars and sailing bits I needed. CLC came through and gave me a good deal on the daggerboard and rudder and I needed very little else.
Had her done before the Sarasota Traditional Boat Gathering, the Crystal River Boat Bash, and took her to Cedar Key where these photos were taken.
