Coastal and estuary micro-cruiser

Winter unofficial started here last week. The summer abruptly ended with the first rain in more than three months and hasn't stopped yet. I don't expect to see clear blue for more than a day until April. 

(taken besides Sundew after an tiring 5 mile row against a stiff breeze and harbor chop)

But I imagine a couple years from now, it's late summer, the days made of sparkling clear skies after burning off each morning's fog after a chilly night. 

I crawl out half out of my sleeping bag, situp and look out the port window. Through the dense fog I can make out a heron wading the mud flat where the Preachers slough meets the Chehalis river. The boat's turned towards the river with the incoming tide. Yesterday I slowly worked ten miles down the river tacking under light winds with the ebbing tide. It reminded me of learning to sail rivers in a nine foot Turnabout my grandfather had given me more than 40 years ago.

After a coffee egg breakfast, I tuck the galley box back into the cabin. It takes me only a minute to set sail by unhooking a couple bungees, pulling two halyards and loosely setting the sheets. There's just a ghost of wind. I preposition the oars, work forward to lift anchor, quickly start to row to the river. It's slow going but with little effort the boat is moving a couple knots against the current. The exercise and breakfast help break my chill. The blue heron cries in protest, unfolds it wings and lifts off the water in a few powerful strokes; he's heading downriver, I wonder if I'll see him again in a few minutes.

Today I'll reach Grays harbor, a wide shallow bay, take some pictures and prepare to dash the 40 miles up the exposed coast the next day, or stop in one of the coves along the way. I've been wanting to see Falls Creek from the water, but entering Goodman creek through the rock pile at the mouth would need perfect conditions. If the weather doesn’t' look promising, I'll explore the lower reaches of the Humptulips river and perhaps try to catch a sea run cutthroat for supper. If the weather still doesn't look good the next day, I'll sail to the south end of the bay and explore the Johns River. I'm in no hurry.

What I envision 15 to 16 feet.

A foot or less draft and sit nearly flat when dried out.

Honest 2 person bed flat for V-berths with a place to set my wet feet and shoes out of the rain.

Can make 6 knots in 15 knots winds without white knuckles.

Progress to windward against four foot seas and 20 knot winds under reefed sails.

My 220 pounds can right the boat after a capsize-a rare freaky wind or moment of stupid.

Cockpit for 2 people and a tackle box, self draining.

No board that splits the cabin—twin boards, one off center or a leeboards.

Enclosure or cut out for a 2 to 4 four-stroke outboard plus fuel can so it's out of the way.

Space for a couple deep charge batteries and a 5 amp solar panels.

Can rig from trailer to sail away in 15 minutes by myself.

A porti potti space in the cockpit.

Tabernacle mast(s) I can lift with one arm to pass under bridges.

Best matched designs:

John Welseford's Pilgrim—tough and nearly has me smitten, won't sit flat.

John Harris/CLC Pocketship—cute, won't sit flat.

Welseford's Tread lightly—Close. Perhaps stretched 10%? Raised flat cabin floor? Leeboards?

Selway Fisher's Goshawk & Heron 15-- heavy but purposeful

John Pruitt's No Frills 15---worth mentioning; clever cabin but a bit homely looking; doubt it's weatherly.

Sam Devlin's Nancy's China—cute, not crazy about dagger board that split the cabin.
Jim Michalak's Oliveoyl--functional but not crazy about slab sided look. 


Her her name will be Willet or Selkie.