1990 Schooner Chapelle Pinky

PLEIADES

This is a splendid example of a Howard Chapelle designed Pinky Schooner. Chapelle spent a lot of time and research effort on Pinky Schooners, which he considered to be one of the finest sea-going traditional craft ever built. ‘Pleiades’ is based on Chapelle’s ‘Pinky Yacht’ design (as seen in his book American Sailing Craft), and it represents a slightly modified ‘Eastport Pinky’, well known for speed and weatherliness in all weathers and sea states. These little schooners have a history in New England and Nova Scotia of well over 200 years, and the “Eastport” version was the fastest and most capable of all. “Pleiades”, as an example of one of Chapelle’s favorite designs, is stoutly built, well-equipped, and in wonderful condition. “Pleiades” is currently in the Charter trade in Puget Sound.

The Pinky has been around in New England waters in various forms since at least 1725! Earlier versions of the Pinky were referred to as 'Chebacco Boats,' which differed primarily from the later Pinky schooner by having no bowsprit or jib. By 1825, the classic Pinky schooner had been developed, and at first, these were quite 'chunky' craft, designed for mackerel and cod fishing along the coast as as far out as the Grand Banks. In order to fish for mackerel, which generally swim in schools directly against the wind, a very weatherly and fast boat was required, and it was for these reasons the Pinky never 'fell out of fashion' for as long as such fishing was done under sail. In their later versions, the Pinky became quite 'yachty,' with very sharp lines and an excellent speed, primarily because New England fishermen began a career of 'poaching' fish from Canadian waters, and therefore needed not only a good fishing boat, but one which could make a very hasty escape as well when the Canadian fisheries authorities might arrive! It is this later type type that Howard Chapelle used as his model for his 'yacht' version, referred to by it's first name 'Glad Tidings.' 'Pleiades' has been built to these lines, and is a splendid example of this famous schooner type!

Pleiades interior. Forward cabin offers two single berths with custom cushions and covers, table, variety of storage lockers and shelves, large Trawler oil lamp and folding Companion ladder. The galley is located in the starboard aft section of forward cabin.

The forward and aft cabins are connected by a passageway, which includes tankage, electrical panels, batteries, and storage.

Aft cabin has double berth on starboard and storage and a head compartment on port side. Engine access under companionway steps. Hatch and steps up to the cockpit and aft deck.

Heat is provided by the diesel stove in forward and by Red dot in aft cabin.

• Large Dickenson Diesel stove w/ Oven, 3gal Day Tank
• Fiddles and Pot Holders
• Frugal 12 Volt/ 110 Volt Fridge/ Freezer
• Double SS Sink w/ Sreshwater and Saltwater Footpumps
• Whale Gusher Drain Pump
• Storage

• 30 amp Shore Power
• Two 12 Volt Bilge Pumps
• Two 8D AMG Batteries
• One 12V AMG Start Battery
• 110 Volt all GFCI Outlets
• True Charge 20 Battery Charger 

• Lowrance GPS/ Sounder wired to VHF DSC
• Uniden VHF
• Airmar 744V Transduser
• Danforth Compass w/ Light
• Brass Barometer
• Brass Storm Glass
• Sony Stereo

• Gaff Pole-Headed Schooner
• Gaff Main
• Gaff Fore
• Club Footed Jib
• 42' Solid Spruce Main Mast (Complete Renovation 2006)
• 37' Hollow Sitka Spruce Birds Mouth Fore Mast (New 2006)
• Oregon Pine Bowsprit (New 2006)
• Tanbark Heavy Dacron Voyaging Main Sail w/ 2 Reef Points (New 2006, Carol Hasse)
• Tanbark Heavy Darcon Voyaging Fore Sail w/ 1 Reef Pint (New 2006, Carol Hasse)
• Tanbark Heavy Darcon Voyaging Working Jib (New 2006, Carol Hasse)
• Total Working Sails = 785 sq ft
• Halyards and Sheets 1/2" Darcon Double Braid by Brion Toss (New 2006)
• Standing Rigging: Galvanized Wire (New 2006, Brion Toss)
• Deck Hardware: Bronze Cleats and Chocks, Bow Roller, Outhauls, Kranz Irons
• Custom Sail Covers
• Sunbrella Boat Cover (2006 by Canvas Magic in Port Townsend)

• Cast Bronze Double Cat-Head Windlass (2006 by Pete Langly)
• 70lb. Fisherman Anchor
• 100' 3/8 HT Chain
• 200' 5/8 Nylon Rode
• 45lb. CQR anchor w/ 300' Chain
• 2hp Evinrude Outboard
• Hella Deck Light
• Hand Carved Name Boards
• LED Masthead TriColor Light

Shore Power Cable: 30 Amps
Bilge Pump: 2 x 12 Volt

Bilge Pump Manual: Cockpit mounted flip down handle.

Compass: Danforth with light

Horn: Button under compass mount, horn mounted inside port forward Dorade vent

Barometer: Brass, Interior

Storm Glass: Brass, Interior

Clock: 8 day

Engine Gauges: Tach, Oil Pressure, Temperature, Ammeter

Engine Alarms: Oil pressure and water temperature with test function

Cooling: Vetus Water Lock muffler new May 2006 exhausts hoses, bronze elbows new 2006

Raw Water Strainer:

Stove/Oven: Dickenson Diesel with 3 gal gravity feed day tank, filled by electric pump from main tank. Fiddles and Pot Holders to keep everything in place.

Heating: Diesel Stove in Forward Cabin, Red Dot Engine Heater in Aft Cabin.

Refrigerator: Frugal 12 volt /110 volt fridge freezer

Head: Airhead composting, with hard wired battery power vent fans

Sink: Double Stainless with bronze faucets, freshwater and saltwater foot pumps, Whale Gusher drain pump.

Water Tank: Two 50 Gal Aluminum tanks, with single deck plate and Y valve. Total 100 gals. Tiller Steering
Cruising Speed Engine: 6 knots @ 2300 rpm, Full Speed 8 knots
Hull Speed: 8 knots

Decks: 5/8th Hydrotek Marine Plywood new 2006

Hull: White Oak to turn of Bilge then Old growth yellow cedar 1 1⁄4”, Carvel planked, copper and bronze fasteners

Keel: White Oak, Inside custom fitted lead ballast,
Frames: White Oak
Rudder: Aft Hung, Galvanized Pintles and Gudgons
Companion way Hatches: Forward and Aft Cabins Teak
Skylights: Forward and Aft Cabins, Teak, Butterfly Hatches with custom bronze hardware Chain plates, gammon, sprit tangs new 2006

Anchors: 70 lbs. Fisherman with 100’ 3/8 HT chain plus 200’ 5/8th Nylon Rope Rode. 45 lbs. CQR anchor with 300’ 38th HT all chain rode.

Windlass: Cast Bronze double cat-head anchor windlass by Pete Langly / Pt. Townsend Foundry new 2006

Hand Carved: Name Side Boards

Rig: Gaff Pole- headed Schooner, Gaff Main, Gaff Fore, Club footed Jib

Main Mast: 42’ solid spruce, complete renovation 2006, Wooded 2015

Fore Mast: 37’ hollow Sitka Spruce Birds Mouth, filled with tin foil, new 2006, Wooded 2015

Bowsprit: Oregon Pine new 2006

Main Sail: Tanbark heavy Dacron voyaging sail with 2 reef points, Carol Hasse new 2006

Fore Sail: Tanbark, heavy Dacron voyaging sail with 1 reef point, Carol Hasse new 2006

Working Jib: Tanbark, heavy Dacron voyaging sail, Carol Hasse new 2006

All sails inspected and repaired where needed by Carol Hasse Apr 2016

Total Working Sails = 785 sq ft

Fisherman’s: White with green Pleiades star constellation

Halyards and Sheets 1⁄2” Dacron double braid by Brion Toss new 2006

Standing Rigging: Galvanized wire new 2006, parceled and served by Brion Toss, tarred April 2018.

Deck Hardware: Bronze cleats and chocks, bow rollers, outhauls, kranz irons, PT Foundry

LED Masthead TriAnchor Light.

Steaming and Deck Light: Hella

Canvas: Custom sail covers, and boat cover Sunbrella, 2006 by Canvas Magic Pt. Townsend

Safety Equipment: Mounted USCG approved fire extinguishers, emergency signaling kit, 12 flares, 1 x boarding ladders, 1 x boat hooks, 1 x throw able rings,

1 first aid kit, 12 life jackets, heaving line with monkey fist

Spare Parts: Sail patching material, engine belts, impeller, blocks, turn buckles, belaying pins, lines, fuses, etc.

Forward Cabin: Two single berths, table, variety of storage lockers and shelves for storage, custom cushions and covers. Large “Trawler” Oil Lamp. Folding Companionway Ladder

Passageway: Tankage, Electrical Panels, Batteries, Storage

Aft Cabin: Double berth, storage, head compartment, shelves, chart table, bosun locker. Engine access beneath Companionway steps.

Jan 2012:

New wood hatch boards with bronze locking hardware fore and aft cabins

May 2012:

Haul out, Swantown boat works.

Pressure washed hull, New bottom paint,

New zincs,
Serviced Max Prop with service kit. Painted hull flat black.
Painted name and hailing port. Varnished deck cross logs. Varnished Tiller
Installed Horn

Moved VHF Radio to aft bulkhead Built Head Compartment
Installed Airhead Composting Toilet Installed Airhead Toilet Exhaust Fan

Oct 2012:

Tarred parceled and served standing rigging with mixture of Stockholm Tar, Black Paint, and Varnish.

Apr 2013:

Sanded and 3 coats Epifanes Wood Gloss Varnish on Main Mast Painted Pin Rails Interlux White
Painted Bowsprit Interlux White
Painted Bulwarks (Inner) Interlux, Hatteras Off White

Sanded and Varnished Cross-logs (Fore + Aft) Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Bulwark Knees, Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Companionway Trim, Epifanes Wood Gloss Painted Cabin Tops (Fore + Aft) Interlux Hatteras Off White

Painted Cabin Hatches (Fore + Aft) Interlux Hatteras Off White Painted Cabin Sides (Fore + Aft) Interlux Bristol Beige Rebedded Port Light over Fore Cabin Sink with 4200
Serviced Engine Through Hull

Serviced Sink Saltwater Through Hull and Closed It
Bottom Paint: West Marine Bottom Shield Copper Non Ablative Installed New 2013 Lowrance HDS 5 GPS / Sounder
Installed New Airmar 744V Transducer
Oiled Fore and Aft Skylights: Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled Sampson Posts: Uncle Bobs

Oiled Forward Bulwarks Wood Port + Stbd
Oiled All Deadeyes Main + Fore Masts
Oiled All Blocks
Engine/Tranny Serviced by Aloft Marine May 2013 May 2014

Painted Fore Gaff, Fore Boom
Painted Main Gaff, Main Boom
Installed New Reefing Lines Fore Sail
Installed New Reefing Lines Main Sail
Installed wood fairleads for reefing lines on Main Sail
Sanded and Varnished Cross-logs (Fore + Aft) Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Bulwark Knees, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Sanded and Varnished Companionway Trim, Epifanes Wood Gloss Bottom Paint: West Marine Bottom Shield Copper Non Ablative
Oiled Fore and Aft Skylights: Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled Sampson Posts: Uncle Bobs
Oiled Forward Bulwarks Wood Port + Stbd
Oiled All Deadeyes Main + Fore Masts
Oiled All Blocks
Serviced Engine, Oil Change, New Impeller, New Filters (oil, Fuel, Air) Serviced Transmission, Changed Oil
Serviced and greased Max Prop

May 2015
Sanded and Varnished Cross-logs (Fore + Aft) Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Bulwark Knees, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Sanded and Varnished Companionway Trim, Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Drop Boards, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Bottom Paint: West Marine Bottom Shield Copper Non Ablative

Oiled Fore and Aft Skylights: Uncle Bobs Wood Oil Oiled Sampson Posts: Uncle Bobs
Oiled Forward Bulwarks Wood Port + Stbd
Oiled All Deadeyes Main + Fore Masts

Oiled All Blocks
Serviced Engine, Oil Change, New Impeller, New Filters (oil, Fuel, Air) Serviced Transmission, Changed Oil
Serviced and greased Max Prop
New Zincs
Wooded Mainmast, applied 3 x Coats Cetol
Painted Hull Topsides Kirby’s Semi Gloss Black
Painted Fore Pin Rail Interlux White
Painted Cap Rail, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Fore Cabin Sides and Front, Interlux Bristol Beige
Painted Aft Cabin Sides, Interlux Bristol Beige
Installed Cockpit Mounted Running, Steaming, Deck Light Switches Updated Safety Flares, and Safety Equipment

April 2016
Sanded and
Wooded / Sanded Hull from Waterline Down
Primed Hull with Red Lead Replacement Paint, Far West Paints
2 x Coats Bottom Paint: Trinidad Pro Modified Epoxy Red
Oiled Fore and Aft Skylights: Uncle Bobs Wood Oil

Varnished All Bright Work in Interior of Fore Cabin Epifanes Matte Painted Interior of Fore Cabin, Pettit EZ Cabin White
Varnished Cross-logs (Fore + Aft) Epifanes Wood Gloss
Varnished Bulwark Knees, Epifanes Wood Gloss

Varnished Companionway Trim, Epifanes Wood Gloss Varnished Drop Boards, Epifanes Wood Gloss

Oiled Sampson Posts: Uncle Bobs
Oiled Forward Bulwarks Wood Port + Stbd
Oiled All Deadeyes Main + Fore Masts
Oiled All Blocks Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled All Leather with Neats Foot Oil
Serviced Engine, Oil Change, New Impeller, New Filters (oil, Fuel, Air) Serviced Transmission, Changed Oil
Serviced and greased Max Prop
New Zincs
Wooded Foremast, applied 3 x Coats Cetol
Painted Main Pin Rail Interlux White
Painted Cap Rail, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Fore Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Main Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Main Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Aft Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Inner Bulwarks, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Fore Cabin Sides, Back and Front, Interlux Bristol Beige Painted Aft Cabin Sides, Back and Front Interlux Bristol Beige Serviced All Blocks, Cleaned, Oiled
Painted All Booms, Gaffs (Fore and Aft) and Bowsprit
Fixed Main Skylight Leak
Carved USCG Document Number into Aft Companion Way
Built New Hatch Table
Updated Safety Flares, and Safety Equipment

APRIL 2017
Sanded and Varnished Cross-logs (Fore + Aft) Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Bulwark Knees, Epifanes Wood Gloss

Sanded and Varnished Companionway Trim, Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Drop Boards, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Bottom Paint: Trinidad Pro Modified Epoxy Red
Oiled Fore and Aft Skylights: Uncle Bobs Wood Oil

Oiled Sampson Posts: Uncle Bobs
Oiled Forward Bulwarks Wood Port + Stbd
Oiled All Deadeyes Main + Fore Masts
Oiled All Blocks Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled All Leather with Neats Foot Oil
Serviced Engine, Oil Change, New Impeller, New Filters (oil, Fuel, Air) Serviced Transmission, Changed Oil
Serviced and greased Max Prop
Replaced all Zincs
Sanded Foremast, applied 3 x Coats Cetol
Sanded Mainmast, applied 3 x coats Cetol
Cleaned all upper rigging, neats foot oil all leather soft eyes
Painted upper mast tops Interlux White
Painted Main Pin Rail Interlux White
Painted Cap Rail, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot painted Fore Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Main Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Main Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Aft Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot painted Inner Bulwarks, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot painted Fore Cabin Sides, Back and Front, Interlux Bristol Beige Spot painted Aft Cabin Sides, Back and Front Interlux Bristol Beige Serviced All Blocks, Cleaned, Oiled
Spot painted All Booms, Gaffs (Fore and Aft) and Bowsprit

Repaired transom, new wood, lead cap flashing and new leather for boom gallows Repaired center hawse hole wood
Repaired on deck fire extinguisher bracket
Updated Safety Flares, and Safety Equipment

OCT 2017

Painted deck with Interlux Deckover gray deck paint.
Varnished fore and aft cross logs and companionway trim Epifanes Gloss APR 2018
Sanded and Varnished Cross-logs (Fore + Aft) Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Bulwark Knees, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Sanded and Varnished Companionway Trim, Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Drop Boards, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Bottom Paint: Trinidad Pro Modified Epoxy Red
Oiled Fore and Aft Skylights: Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled Sampson Posts: Uncle Bobs
Oiled Forward Bulwarks Wood Port + Stbd
Oiled All Deadeyes Main + Fore Masts
Oiled All Blocks Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled All Leather with Neats Foot Oil
Serviced Engine, Oil Change, New Impeller, New Filters (oil, Fuel, Air) Serviced Transmission, Changed Oil
Serviced and greased Max Prop
Replaced all Zincs
Sanded Foremast, applied 3 x Coats Cetol
Sanded Mainmast, applied 3 x coats Cetol
Cleaned all upper rigging, neats foot oil all leather soft eyes
Tarred all Standing Rigging
Painted upper mast tops Interlux White

Painted Main Pin Rail Interlux White
Painted Cap Rail, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot painted Fore Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Main Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Main Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Aft Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot painted Inner Bulwarks, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot painted Fore Cabin Sides, Back and Front, Interlux Bristol Beige Spot painted Aft Cabin Sides, Back and Front Interlux Bristol Beige Serviced All Blocks, Cleaned, Oiled
Spot painted All Booms, Gaffs (Fore and Aft) and Bowsprit
Sanded, Faired, Painted Hull Top Sides Interlux Black with Flatting Agent Painted Cockpit and Cockpit Trim
Inspect Replace Bowsprit Foot Rope lashings (port and starboard)
Tarred Whisker Stays port and starboard
Tarred Bob Stays

OCT 2018
Sanded and Varnished Cross-logs (Fore + Aft) Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Bulwark Knees, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Sanded and Varnished Companionway Trim, Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Drop Boards, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Bottom Paint: Trinidad Pro Modified Epoxy Red
Oiled Fore and Aft Skylights: Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled Sampson Posts: Uncle Bobs
Oiled Forward Bulwarks Wood Port + Stbd
Oiled All Deadeyes Main + Fore Masts
Oiled All Blocks Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled All Rigging Leather with Neats Foot Oil
Serviced Engine, Oil Change, New Impeller, New Filters (oil, Fuel, Air) Serviced Transmission, Changed Oil
Serviced and greased Max Prop
Replaced all Zincs
Sanded Foremast, applied 3 x Coats Cetol
Sanded Mainmast, applied 3 x coats Cetol
Cleaned all upper rigging, neats foot oil all leather soft eyes
Painted upper mast tops Interlux White
Painted Main Pin Rail Interlux White

Painted Cap Rail, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Fore Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Main Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Main Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Aft Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot painted Inner Bulwarks, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot painted Fore Cabin Sides, Back and Front, Interlux Bristol Beige Spot painted Aft Cabin Sides, Back and Front Interlux Bristol Beige Sanded Hull Above Water Line
Painted Hull Interlux Black with Flattening Agent
Serviced All Blocks, Cleaned, Oiled
Spot painted All Booms, Gaffs (Fore and Aft) and Bowsprit
Updated Safety Flares, and Safety Equipment

OCT 2018
Replaced Engine Raw Water Pump

DEC 2018
Installed 1000 watt Inverter

APR-MAY 2019
Sanded and Varnished Cross-logs (Fore + Aft) Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Bulwark Knees, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Sanded and Varnished Companionway Trim, Epifanes Wood Gloss Sanded and Varnished Drop Boards, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Bottom Paint: Trinidad Pro Modified Epoxy Red
Oiled Fore and Aft Skylights: Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled Sampson Posts: Uncle Bobs
Oiled Forward Bulwarks Wood Port + Stbd
Oiled All Deadeyes Main + Fore Masts
Oiled All Blocks Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled All Rigging Leather with Neats Foot Oil
Serviced Engine, Oil Change, New Impeller, New Filters (oil, Fuel, Air) Replaced Engine Cooling Water Exhaust Elbow
Serviced Transmission, Changed Oil

Serviced and greased Max Prop
Replaced all Zincs
Unshipped Rudder, Removed Gudgeons and Pintles
Sandblasted Gudgeons and Pintles
Galvanized Gudgeons and Pintles
Painted Gudgeons and Pintles with Interlux 2000E Barrier Coat (3 Coats) Sanded Foremast, applied 3 x Coats Cetol
Sanded Mainmast, applied 3 x coats Cetol
Cleaned all upper rigging, neats foot oil all leather soft eyes
Painted upper mast tops Interlux White
Painted Main Pin Rail Interlux White
Painted Cap Rail, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Fore Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Main Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Main Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Aft Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Inner Bulwarks, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Fore Cabin Sides, Back and Front, Interlux Bristol Beige
Painted Aft Cabin Sides, Back and Front Interlux Bristol Beige
Serviced All Blocks, Cleaned, Oiled
Spot painted All Booms, Gaffs (Fore and Aft) and Bowsprit
Spot painted hull as needed
Repaired 2 Planks (aft starboard)
Updated Safety Flares, and Safety Equipment

2020
Hull cleaned / inspected by divers in water (April / Oct)
Prop cleaned by divers (April / Oct)
Zincs replaced as needed

All blocks oiled, upper rigging cleaned, leather soft eyes oiled, all rigging inspected Engine strainer cleaned (sucked up a jelly fish while ideling at dock)
Replaced Impeller
Replaced Impeller cover gasket

Replaced Bronze Groco Vented Loop valve
Replaced Carbon Monoxide Detector 12V hard wired Tarred Bobstays

MAY 2021
Sanded and Varnished Cross-logs (Fore + Aft) Epifanes Wood Gloss
Sanded and Varnished Bulwark Knees, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Sanded and Varnished Companionway Trim, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Sanded and Varnished Drop Boards, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Bottom Paint: Trinidad Pro Modified Epoxy Red
Oiled Fore and Aft Skylights: Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled Sampson Posts: Uncle Bobs
Oiled Forward Bulwarks Wood Port + Stbd
Oiled All Deadeyes Main + Fore Masts
Oiled All Blocks Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled All Rigging Leather with Neats Foot Oil
Serviced Engine, Oil Change, New Impeller, New Filters (oil, Fuel, Air)
Serviced Transmission, Changed Oil
Serviced and greased Max Prop
Replaced all Zincs
Sanded Foremast, applied 3 x Coats Cetol
Sanded Mainmast, applied 3 x coats Cetol
Cleaned all upper rigging, neats foot oil all leather soft eyes
Tarred all parceled and served standing rigging
Painted upper mast tops Interlux White
Painted Cap Rail, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Fore Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Main Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Main Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Aft Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Inner Bulwarks, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Painted Fore Cabin Sides, Back and Front, Interlux Bristol Beige
Painted Aft Cabin Sides, Back and Front Interlux Bristol Beige
Serviced All Blocks, Cleaned, Oiled
Spot painted All Booms, Gaffs (Fore and Aft) and Bowsprit
Painted entire hull new color Interlux Steel Gray
Painted Trim Interlux Maroon
Mounted new custom Name and Hailing Port Boards
Greased Windless
4 new white fenders
Updated Safety Flares, and Safety Equipment

2022
Reefed out all Covering Board Seams Re-Caulked and New Seam Compound
Repaired Covering Board Cracks port and starboard bow and port stern
Repaired Port side mid ship plank end split
Installed new cockpit hatch snorkel trim
Repaired Fore Cabin starboard aft trim
Replaced Galvanic Isolator
Replaced Start Battery, Group 31 AGM 105 AH
Replaced Both House Batteries 8D AGMs
Upgraded Battery Charger to 60 Amp / associated wiring and fuses
Installed New Carbon Monoxide Detector
Sanded and Varnished Cross-logs (Fore + Aft) Epifanes Wood Gloss
Sanded and Varnished Bulwark Knees, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Sanded and Varnished Companionway Trim, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Sanded and Varnished Drop Boards, Epifanes Wood Gloss
Bottom Paint: Trinidad Pro Modified Epoxy Red
Oiled Fore and Aft Skylights: Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled Sampson Posts: Uncle Bobs
Oiled Forward Bulwarks Wood Port + Stbd
Oiled All Deadeyes Main + Fore Masts
Oiled All Blocks Uncle Bobs Wood Oil
Oiled All Rigging Leather with Neats Foot Oil
Serviced Engine, Oil Change, New Impeller, New Filters (oil, Fuel, Air), Water Pump, Exhaust Elbow, Oil Analysis
Serviced Transmission, Changed ATF Fluid, ATF Analysis
Serviced and greased Max Prop
Replaced all Zincs (CMT 21 x 5, ZHC-2 x 1, CMR-3 x 1, CMR-2 x 1)
Sanded Foremast, applied 2 x Coats Cetol
Sanded Mainmast, applied 2 x coats Cetol
Cleaned all upper rigging, neats foot oil all leather soft eyes
Spot Painted upper mast tops Interlux White
Painted Main Pin Rail Interlux White
Spot Painted Cap Rail, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot Painted Fore Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot Painted Main Cabin Roof, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot Painted Main Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot Painted Aft Cabin Hatch, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot Painted Inner Bulwarks, Interlux Hatteras Off White
Spot Painted Fore Cabin Sides, Back and Front, Interlux Bristol Beige
Spot Painted Aft Cabin Sides, Back and Front Interlux Bristol Beige
Serviced All Blocks, Cleaned, Oiled
Spot painted All Booms, Gaffs (Fore and Aft) and Bowsprit
Spot painted hull as needed Interlux Steel Gray
Updated Safety Flares, and Safety Equipment
Tarred Upper and Lower Bob Stays

Builder: Stallcup and Duncan at Suavi Island Boat works

Place Built was Suavi Island on the Columbia River

Materials Used:  Oak Keel, Stem, Keelson, Frames.  Planks are Oak up to the turn of the bilge and then Alaska Yellow Cedar, Decks are Marine Ply (no leaks) Cabin houses are a mix of oak, yellow cedar, mahogany, Interior is a mix of mahogany, oak, and some very pretty exotic woods that I don’t have the names for.

Construction is Carvel over Bent Frames

Main Mast , Douglas Fir (could be spruce), Fore Mast, Sitka Spruce (Birds mouth / hollow filled with thick gauge aluminum foil for radar reflection), Booms and Gaffs Spruce, Bowsprit Oregon Pine 

Fasteners, all Bronze Screws, and bronze and copper Rivets, for planks and backbone. Rudder Gudgeons and Pintles are Galvanized with Galvanized Bolts 

Ballast is 13,000 lbs. of lead bars cut so the rest on the frames and not the planks all ballast is interior none exterior (helps give the boat a very easy motion as the weight is spread out fore and aft)

Overview

The S/V Pleiades is constructed entirely with drawn cooper rivets and clench nails. This method of construction was developed in Europe centuries ago, and has proven though time to be the strongest and most longest lasting fastening method for wooden vessels. Viking long boats constructed with copper rivets are among the best preserved archeological specimens, because of the longevity of copper in the marine environment.

Cold drawn copper has some very unique qualities that makes it ideal for this application. To begin with copper is the most galvanically neutral of all metals used in boat construction. This means that it is not prone to galvanic wasting, nor does it normally induce galvanic wasting in other metals in the vessel. Because of this quality, copper is extensively used in production of Bronze alloys, which while never as neutral as pure copper, are highly resistant to galvanic corrosion. Although such copper alloys have a long service history in marine environments, their corrosion behavior can be poorly understood when compared to copper. While cooper itself is basically neutral, the mixing of copper to make alloys takes those metals notably away from the unique galvanically neutral position of pure drawn copper.

Secondly, copper attains high corrosion resistance by the formation of protective surface films. These are visible to the naked eye, form gradually over a period of time - both in the atmosphere and in seawater - and are due to a reaction between the air or seawater and the surface of the metal. In the atmosphere, copper develops a brown patina in a few days, which gradually weathers into a green patina. Continued weathering results in conversion of sulfide films to the basic copper sulphate patina which, when complete, gives the distinctive light green color of older copper roofs. In marine climates, the surface patina will also contain some copper chloride. The development of the light green patina can take 7 to 9 years in marine environments. Data from exposure tests of up to 30 years duration in various marine sites show a high corrosion resistance to the marine atmosphere. Under immersed conditions, the surface films are formed by interaction with the seawater itself. These films can be multi-layered and complex, involving forms of oxides and chlorides and take several weeks to mature. It is important to note that the full development of these films is what gives copper its high resistance to galvanic wasting and general degradation.

Another quality of copper when used in this application is its ductility, unlike other marine metals, like Silicon Bronze and Stainless Steel, copper is less inclined to crack or fatigue under the normal stresses experienced by fastenings in a wooden vessel. This allows such copper fastenings, clench nails and rivets, to be of slighter cross section while providing superior holding power. The nature of this method of fastening basically makes every fastening a “bolt” effectively having a head at each end that prevents extraction. While this is ideal for holding a vessel together, it does make the fastenings more difficult to remove and replace. Unlike actual bolts which has a nut that is threaded to allow removal, the clench or rove (equivalent to the nut in this comparison) are permanently installed. The only way to remove them is to grind, cut, or file the material away, which basically renders the extracted fastening useless. This is further complicated by the construction of the Pleiades, by the fact that the hull has a full ceiling covering nearly all the roves and clenched ends.

It was the development of the wood screw which led to the decline of this method of fastening in wooden vessel construction. The ease of installation, extraction and replacement of screws made riveting obsolete, much in the same way that welding made riveting metal hulls obsolete. While the advancement of screw fastening did greatly reduce labor costs it is really not comparable to riveted construction of strength and longevity. The bronze alloys simply do not have the same qualities as pure copper.

Findings and Opinion

While building boats with copper rivets has fallen into disuse, due to high labor and material costs it was generally favored for ocean racing boats before the development fiberglass and composite construction. My personal experience with copper riveted construction includes building and repairing wooden sail boats, as well as surveying vessels of this construction over the last 40 years. Rarely, in damaged or wrecked vessels, have I found an example of fastening failure, more typically the fastenings would remain intact while the wooden structure failed around them.

While it is still possible for copper rivets and clench nails to fail, it is quite rare. The signs of plank fastening failure are; cracking plank seams, uneven plank face (from one plank to the next) and caulking being expelled from the seams when the vessel is heavily worked. During the survey of the Pleiades, this surveyor saw no signs of any of these symptoms. The hull was solid, fair and sound. A full sounding of the hull was performed with a nylon head mallet, and revealed none of the telltale signs of fastening fatigue or failure, which include the sound of hollowness and what is known to boatbuilders and surveyors as “buzzing” which is caused by the plank in question vibrating differently than all the other planks.

The few fastening ends that were visible on the inside of the vessel (ceiling covers nearly all), were in good condition and showed no signs of corrosion, water weeping (another sign of through-fastening failure)or staining (a result of weeping). These findings, along with my knowledge and experience with this type of construction, support my opinion that the plank fastenings of S/V Pleiades are sound and secure

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.