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I did it. I sold my 7 ton cutter, and bought a trailerable boat. In a few weeks I am going to go pickup a Bolger Black Skimmer. I am excited in so many ways... no moorage fees, being able to park it next to the shop, no inboard to futz with, and something that just doesn't require much effort to go sailing. Can't wait to join a raid or other meet up.

I do see a cockpit tent in my future.

very nice. Welcome to the skinny water!

Congratulations!

A friend of mine owned a Black Skimmer back in the 1980's.

As I recall the mast was a b . . . ear to set by just he and his wife, but it sailed very well. Odd leeboards, but they do work. Room for a lounge chair on the bridge deck.

Yeah, this is the "new" rig. I think Bolger called it a solent rig. Looks a bit like a gunter. Shortened up the main mast a good bit, and its on a tabernackle so it shouldn't be to much of a chore.

Made it home!

The spars needs some love and so do the braces that keep the leeboards off of the hull other than that the boats in good shape. So far the only oddity is that there is no bilge pump, manual or otherwise. This weekend I will start the sanding/stripping of the spars.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JCP8JaNdx0g9c1WE3

What a lovely boat. Have a name yet?

She looks really nice. Happy sailing!

McKee wrote:So far the only oddity is that there is no bilge pump, manual or otherwise.

Still nothing else beats a scared man and a bucket.


Very nice. One of Bolger's best efforts. The Gunther rig looks interesting. Our current is a gaff, and I have played with dipping and balanced lugs but never a Gunther.

Enjoy. She's a beauty!

The kids saw otters on the trip so Otter it is. Still need to stencil the name on, or buy decals.

Rig wise, it looks like a gunter, and smells like a gunter, but isn't. Apparently a gunter rig is laced to the mast. This is not. Its more like the highest peak lug ever. Bolger called it a solent rig for whatever that is worth.

I always thought gunter rigs were just very high peaked gaff rigs? Laced, hooped, or slotted to the mast does not matter.