Jerry Gilbert, wrote:
We finished our year long restoration of our kittiwake and put her in the water on July 3rd, '06. We (my wife) decided she did not want the boat named after her (June Ellen) so we settled on "Somewhere Else". Not my first choice but there will be other boats. Our restoration included 75% core replacement due to water damage, new lifelines, all new hardware and running rigging and new opening ports. We also repainted the entire exterior using "Perfection" 2 part poly paint and V2 Offshore bottom paint. The Boom and Mast were also stripped and painted white to give the boat a very clean appearance.

We made several upgrades to the exterior including taller toe rails which we steam bent out of mahogany. We made them a taller dimension for what we feel is a safer deck for our 3 young boys. The layout of all hardware and running rigging was also redesigned to allow for easier and safer deck layout. New cockpit cushions (a must). Remote throttle controls for the outboard so the hatch does not have to be opened. New compass mounted to the port bulkhead. New mahogany tiller handle and various other upgrades. The finished look is very clean and functional.

She is on Cedar Creek Lake in Texas which is only 15 minutes from our house, very convenient for evening sails. We took her out last night in 15 - 20 knot winds. I had never reefed the main before but I know how to now. She sails great in those conditions. Reefed and we were still making 5.5 kts. We plan to keep her on the lake for now while we upgrade and galvanize the trailer, then in November bring her home and start the interior project. We have already started planning a trip next summer to Apalachee Bay, Florida for a week long sailing vacation. I have attached a few picks of the finished boat but if anyone is interested in seeing more pictures of the actual work performed I would be glad to email them direct. You can contact me at the address below. Thank You,
Jerry Gilbert
jgilbert@venturemech.com

Bob Gulledge, wrote:
I just purchased a Kittiwake that has been sitting under a tree for ten years. Obviously, they had to almost give it away. I know very little about sailing, but hate to see anything rot away from neglect. So I have a winter project for 2007. It was purchased from James and Sandy Wentworth of Ava, Illinois. If there is anyone who has restoration tips and would care to share them with me, please email.
Bob Gulledge
bgulledge@verizon.net

David Leach, wrote:
Greetings, I just assumed responsibility for a 1968 K23, whose name used to be Ghost. I am not sure about the number, where is it located? It needs significant cosmetic work but still sails well and looks excellent at her mooring on Anti-Poison Creek in the Chesapeake Bay. The Yankee Point Yacht Club near here has an annual regatta for "classic" yachts that I hope to enter with the K23.
Regards,
David J. Leach

Patrica Clarke, wrote:
Hi--Just purchased Kittitwake with #450 on the main sail. Believe it's a Ray Greene. The boat's new owners are Matt & Pat Clarke, hailing port Lewis & Clark Lake, NE. Add us to the registry, please. Bought her in St. Louis from a guy who says he had every intention of learning how to sail but never did--sold her to us instead! Her new name--Miss Kitty. Thanks!

Ken Domina, wrote:
In the summer of 2003 Chasse Mare'e, Kenner # 160, and I sailed into Holiday Marina on the Severn River, off of Mob Jack Bay. There I saw a boat for sail and within two weeks I owned two boats. I left Chasse Mare'e there, for sale, and headed up the Chesapeake Bay, with boat # 2, to home on the West River. In September she was hauled as Hurricane Isabel approached and in the storm surge and accompanying 6' wave she was washed off her stands. When I arrived to inspect the damage she was standing upright. Her mast snagged the power line which keep her form drifting afar but also kept her among the other boats and debris for a pounding. Her hull was deeply scratched, a stanchion and fore stay bracket bent, the radio antenna and the wind vane gone but, dry as a bone inside. She now has a good home with an owner who knows boats and looked forward to fixing her up for sailing the waters of Gloucester, Virginia. I sailed Chasse Mare'e for three years. In three summers we sailed for a straight month making our way form Annapolis to Norfolk each time. In my current boat, a 26' Ocean Voyager, I can now stand below deck, I have a galley, head and inboard diesel but, I miss the ease of getting under way and the relatively low maintenance and cost. But mostly I miss the closeness to the water. The low profile hull not only drew admiring looks, it kept me close to the sea. What a great boat she is!
Ken Domina

Wayne Higgins, another former Kenner Boat Company employee (1969-1970) wrote:
Good morning Larry,
I seem to have lost the text of your message in the shuffle here (got deleted somehow so I'm going by memory). You stated that you visited the Kenner plant in September of 1969 and met John Wheeler at that time. That was during my contract year at which time that I shared John's office in the plant. It's been thirty-five years, but I vaguely remember your visit...if I'm not mistaken you were escorted from the Kenner offices, on the other side of the highway, to the plant by Bill's brother-in-law Ernest Parks. If so you probably remember that...Ernest was something more than a memorable character. Our glass fronted office was located on the south wall of the plant...John's desk faced the door as you walked in...my desk and drawing board was immediately to the left of the door. At that time my white hulled Privateer 35 was on the line three bays to the east of the office. I have no doubt that you also met Truett Williams while you were there...he was the "rigging-master". I've not kept in contact with Truett, but John tells me his health is failing.

John undoubtedly related to you the account of the original South Coast 23 molds transfer to Shrevesport, but he may not have mentioned the backdoor deal that Hollis Metcalf (owner of South Coast) tried to cut with him (without Kenner's knowledge) thereby accelerating the process. He (Metcalf) evidently wasn't aware of, or greatly underestimated, the close friendship between John and the Kenners and hence the loyalties involved. It's my understanding that had it not been for the underhandedness of Metcalf's approach that the Kenner brothers, quite possibly, would not have been prompted hold back the hull (at the time of transfer) that was modified to become the Kittiwake and that the Kittiwake would not have come into being. I don't think the behind the scene intrigues ever became common knowledge, but I think all of the majors are now deceased and little harm would result if the Kenner "brotherhood of owners" were privy to it. Actually it isn't very important but very interesting never-the-less. John's role in this was pivotal and, hence in the larger picture, he and his response to the Metcalf offer may have been the impetus to the birth of the Kittiwake. I know for fact that Kenner employees were fiercely loyal to the Kenners and that they were enormously proud of the quality of the boats they produced.

I've no doubt that you are correct that the Kenner Kittiwake records, now in John's keeping, are sketchy with regard to the number produced...however...I think they are quite reliable with regard to the Privateers, Skipjack and the Rosie.

I don't pretend to be a great repository of knowledge in these matters as I was there only a year, but the time I spent there was spent almost exclusively in the company of John and the Kenner Brothers and I did pick up a few tales...some of them "out of school" so to speak, and John was privy to all of it. He is all that remains in that capacity.

I left Kenner's employ in March of 1970. My boat was loaded aboard one of their low-boys and I rode in the cab with the driver when we transported her to Lake Huron at Bay City, Michigan. Quo Vadis was launched the day after our arrival on St. Patrick's Day. Attached please find a photo of Privateer 35 Quo Vadis.
Warmest regards,
Wayne
Postscript: I plan to start soon to do a "generic" painting of each of the Kenner production sailboats and to offer reasonably priced prints of each. Attached please find a couple of examples of my work. Until about ten years ago I used to do an annual Marine Art show at Landmarks Gallery in Milwaukee with John Stobart...perhaps you're familiar with his work?

Note:   Wayne worked as an advertising consultant to the Kenners. He is also an artist and is considering doing some prints of the various Kenner boats.

John Embler wrote:
I bought Reprieve in 2000 from Delbert Plante, the owner of River City Sailcraft. Del said she was the last Kittiwake built before the molds were destroyed in a fire. She's actually the second hull #520. The original (also named Reprieve) was hit by lightning and the owner asked Del to make a replacement with the same number - which explains the out of sync hull numbers between 1976 & 1978. Del built the second Reprieve as a semi-custom boat. The deck is cored in closed cell foam, the mast is supported by a compression post stepped on the keel, and the lead balast was cast to conform to the cavity in the keel and then glassed into place. The foil-shaped rudder was made with vinylester rather than polyester resin. Instead of a well in the lazarette there is a demountable motor bracket that fits into a heavy tube glassed into the stern. The motor and mount can be completely removed.

Reprieve's second owner had neglected her, so Del brought her back to his home in North Carolina with the intention of doing a complete restoration. Del subsequently had to deal with other obligations that delayed the project and I was able to buy the boat from him. Over the summers of 2001 and 2002 the hull was completely stripped and faired. The bottom was epoxy barrier coated and Weeks Yacht Yard in Patchogue, NY did a flawless job of awlgripping the deck & topsides.

Weeks also replaced all of the brightwork (toe-rail included)using the original pieces as templates. I finished everything with 12 coats of Epifanes varnish before installation. Bristol Bronze cast the frames for the deadlights, and George probably still has the molds if anyone wants to upgrade the aluminum frames that came with the boats.

The running rigging and most of the deck hardware was replaced, and a Harken Heli-Foil furler was added. The continuous genoa tracks are a standard Schaefer 1" section that was easy to bend to the radius of the hull as the tracks were being installed over the toerail. Reprieve came with several jibs that had never been out of their bags, but the main sail had been heavily used and the draft had moved aft - contributing to a nasty weather helm. A new, relativly flat-cut main with full length lower battens and two sets of reef points makes a huge difference in how Reprieve balances in the 15 to 25 knot breeze we often get on the Great South Bay of Long Island. I'd originally thought that restoring Reprieve would be good "training" for working on a larger boat. The biggest lesson I learned is that a classic 23' boat is plenty big enough to restore and maintain in good condition.

Dan Somerville wrote:
Thanks for setting up this great site for the Kittiwake 23's! I own #55, a 1967 by Kenner. I keep her on Harris Creek, MD, just off of the Choptank River. I'm 2 miles past the well known hurricane hole, "Dunn Cove". I bought her a few years ago for my 4 daughters to use at our summer house and it is certainly a perfect little cruiser. They all love the boat. I take her out when the wind pipes up and she really sails beautifully. I have a 3.3 hp Mercury that does a good job moving her along when the wind dies. In fact, that engine worked just fine on the 28 mile delivery on a light air day.

Jerry Gilbert wrote:
My family and I purchased hull # 264 this past weekend. My son and I drove from south of Dallas Texas to Alton Illinois on Friday. This may seem a long ways for someone to drive (11 hours by the way) just to look at a boat but for those who truly have this affliction it is but a mere afternoon drive. "Avior" turned out to be all I was lead to believe and we pulled her home Saturday (12 1/2 hours). Although in good shape overall there are the usual maintenance issues as well as a soft spot in the deck to be repaired. We are planning a gradual complete restoration of the hull and deck as well as complete refit of the interior finishes and electrical systems. Our main objective in these projects is to not have her out of service for any extended periods of time since we bought her to sail. In keeping with a long tradition she will be renamed after my best friend and wife "June Ellen".

I have been searching for the perfect boat for my family a relatively short but intense time. Through lots of reading and conversations with some sailors I had built an idea boat in my head. Trailerable, stable, room for my family, ease of use and sea worthy. A very hard bill to fill in the 22 to 25' range. Then I came across a boat for sale that instantly caught my eye. It sold before I could go see it but I started checking on this boat I had never heard of or seen before. Thanks to your website for helping me realize what a gem this boat could be. I found "Avior" on your site and she is home now. I have read and enjoyed many accounts of sailors fondness for their boats and you can tell there is something special there. The feeling is somewhat akin to realizing your purpose in life and knowing you have just embarked on that journey. I look forward to getting to know some of the other Kittiwake owners and am interested in seeing other boats.

Becky and Lance Williams wrote:
Thanks to a posting by Jerry McCann in the "Kittiwakes in Search of New Homes" section of your website, we are bringing home a derelict Kittiwake this weekend. We do not know much about her, the deal was just struck today. We haven't even seen her yet, that will happen tomorrow.

We will probably be creating a website about the renovation. We have done 3 other boats and we feel that we never documented the rebuilds enough. Thanks for your website, I am sure it will be a constantly used resource.

Roger Gravis wrote:
Hello everyone. I have had a Kittiwake for twenty five years. I live in Little Rock, AR. I gave my boat to a young man that works with me. I'm looking very forward to seeing it back in shape. It is great to see so many people keeping the old boat alive. The ones built here are hard to kill.

Pamm Howerton, a private pilot with a seaplane rating, writes about a Kittiwake she formerly owned and her recent acquisition of another.
Originally #212 was a Kenner hull and deck kit purchased and completed by Carlton "Chappie" Chapman. Upon completion he christened her "Enfin". Chappie was a charter member of the original "Kittiwake Fleet #1" located at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City. Chappie was with the FAA and it was obvious the sea and sky were his domain as "Enfin" was as beautifully maintained as a sailor's dream. We purchased "Enfin" from Chappie in the late 1970's but parted with her in the mid 80's. My search has now ended for another. Kittiwake 23 #145 (nameless since manufacture) will now carry on "Chappie" Chapman's legacy with great honour and will be christened "Enfin". Number 212 still lives, but the guy to whom she was sold, changed her name to "Illusion", referencing a book of the same name by Richard Bach who, years ago, had written "Johnathan Livingston Seagull". "Illusion" #212 is featured on www.kittiwake23registry.com.

"Illusion" was subsequently purchased by Phil Warner who has lovingly kept her in sterling condition and he is just as proud of her great lines as he is to have a boat with such "Kittiwake" history. I am so honoured to have been part of that history and so elated to be a Kittiwake owner once again. I know Phil will be happy to know that "Enfin" lives within #145. At this point #145 is a cosmetic work-in-progress. Once complete she will have a deep sapphire blue hull (polyurethane), red waterline and red or white bootstripe. Her topsides will be white edges w/ dove gray non-skid. She has a new toerail, coaming and lots of bronze on her exterior with new mahogany and brass inside to give the cabin a warm ambiance. I am adding shore power plus an inverter, a small gas range to be placed forward of the starboard quarter berth where a cabinet and drawer assembly once was but was removed when she was a racer, portlight looking forward in the V-berth and a porthole looking aft. She has a healthy compliment of sails w/ spinnaker and rollerfurling for the jib/genoa. The main is in excellent condition with reef points, the Kittiwake emblem and #145 and new boom cover. Her rigging is heavy duty as she was formerly a racer prior to the owner I purchased her from. I am looking for a good stern pulpit as she seems bare on the counter without it. All lines and sheets lead aft for single handed sailing. I hope to master that as #212 did not have that configuration. I am making a bimini top w/ clear side curtains for those sunny/rainy times at anchor and a galley sail as well for the forward hatch to facilitate a breeze. I am also making the Kittiwake insignia out of red and blue ripstop for all the sails and their bags. I am constructing the curtains out of small glossy line to be tied in square knots hanging from the original wooden dowels. Colours are deep blue, light blue, white and a bit of red.

Fred Bennett, from whom I purchased #145, is a craftsman with wood as he flys and builds small wood constructed aircraft. His wood work on #145 is very very beautiful. He also restores old cars and took my 1976 Triump TR-7 in on trade that I had purchased new in 1976. Fred is 73 and loves to tinker in his shop in southeast Dallas. He has welcomed me with open arms and gave me the keys to his shop just to accommodate me so I can work on "Enfin" right there. It is a treasure to drive to a little shop tucked in amongst old buildings in a spanish speaking area, open a gate that is at the very least 20' across and see a Kittiwake, various cars, a green TR-7 and a disassembled Mooney Mite in the shop. This is his 3rd Mooney and 30th airplane. Fred has also owned larger sailboats, sailed the Atlantic to England and back, the Gulf and south Pacific. His websites are a great photo essay to look at. Fred and his wife live in Sunnyvale, east of Dallas and his daughter and grandchildren just moved from California to Corpus Christi.

Fred will eventually purchase a fix-r-up-r sailboat and put it down on the coast as Corpus is Fred's favourite coastal town. I am blessed to call him "friend". I see many a days spent tinkering in the shop with Fred and in return I gave him a card to the marina gate to enjoy "Enfin" whenever the desire calls him.

I know Chappie is smiling. As for me, it has been a long, long wait to find and actually buy another Kittiwake. Sailboats and airplanes... blend them and a seaplane is the answer. Pilots seem to be drawn to the sea. Chappie's #212 was in my life at a time when there was such peace and serenity in seaplanes and a little sailboat. "Enfin" was a large part of that serenity. I am so fortunate to be able to share "Enfin" so many years later with my family, Brad, Izzy and Beka now. Her slip is waiting for her at Lake Lavon. Life is good and we are so blessed.

I'm very excited about my acquisition!!! My fiance, who lives in OK, hasn't seen it yet. I copied some of the pictures for him from the original brochure. Neither he nor I have ever sailed, but both have always wanted to. The people I bought it from gave me their books, I just ordered a DVD, and....best of all....the man I bought it from is going to give us sailing lessons in the Spring!!! Right now it is still at his dock, and will remain there until Spring. I desperately want to go get better acquainted with it. I understand, from looking at the Registry site, that no one knows exactly how many Kittiwakes were built. Any estimate as to how many exist now? What is involved in the Registry? Are there ever any events where owners get together?

I think there needs to be a get-together!!! Maybe some good pictures will have to do, unless someone does care to bring their boat for show and tell!!!! Maybe it could be an annual event, and each year it could be where one of the Kittiwakes is located!!!!!

We just named the boat, since it didn't have one. Part of the name is after the people I bought it from because they were attached to it and I thought a part of them should remain with it. Her name is KC Chase. I have the former owner's name, of course, but don't know how many owners there were before them. They bought it in 1989.

George Grimm, former owner of Ray Greene Kittiwake #442 reports on how he traced and solved a problem with water getting into the bilge.
After having water in the bilge after an afternoon of sailing a Ray Greene '74 Kittiwake for about three years I solved the mystery. After much effort to solve the problem from inside the engine well I finally drilled a hole low down in aft. bulkhead (inside below the level of the engine floor) to accept the " blowing effect " of a vacuum cleaner. This positive pressure effect plus soap bubble solution on the transom revealed the leak for me. The lower bolt on the strap securing the back stay appeared to be above the engine floor but actually from the outside entered just below the flooring and exited just above on the inside. With people in the cockpit the stern was low enough so water could leak in. Backing out the bolt and applying a dab of silicone caulk solved the problem.

Also, I found the boat quite tender in fresher winds and spent a fair amount of time reefed to keep the winches out of the water on Lake Michigan. Lots of weight in the keel but not low enough!!!

I wonder if those characteristics ring a bell with anyone, perhaps the current owner. I last saw her on Back Creek, Annapolis a few years after I sold her. She was in great shape. I will be glad to share my experiences with Shortswing with anyone that's interested.

When David Herndon sent in his information to the registry, he provided the following account of his experiences while restoring a neglected Kittiwake:

The hull and rigging were sound, but the gelcoat was very crazed and about 1 foot of weeds were growing on the bottom. She had been moored in an off-shoot of the Chesapeake Albamare canal for several years without being used. After a major cleanup, she was in good shape. The only major repair was the rudder. The bronze fitting in the rudder was loose and had to be re-set (I had a professional do this). The tiller handle was split so I purchased a 6' teak 4"x4" and had a local cabinet maker carve a new one using the old one as a model. I also ripped out the in-place propane galley and replaced it with a more usefull chart table. The hull crazing was so bad that waxing did no good so I used a quality paint. Good paint holds on the fiberglass hull and decks last at least 5 years. I cleaned the teak and am now using Cetol Marine to keep the teak looking great (3 coats the first time and one each year after). I replaced all the running rigging and a few pieces of the standing rigging.

The boat had virtually no electrical system. I now have both a 12 VDC system and a 110 VAC system on board. I use 4 small (30 amp) gel batteries to give me 120 amps. These small West Marine gel batteries were the only ones that I could find to fit in the area on top of the keel and not reach the flooring. I put a 12 VDC distribution fuse box in the area under the port quarter bunk and ran various lines around the boat to the mast (anchor light, running power light, spreader light, etc.) to the sides and stern for running lights, to the cabin lights and to the various navigation instruments (Autopilot, Loran, Compass, Knotmeter, VHF, Cell Phone Outlet, etc.). I also installed a fuse box for 110 VAC for shore line hookup when I am at my pier or where 110 VAC is available. The only thing hooked up to the 110 VAC system is a small computerized battery charger that keeps the batteries topped.

I also installed a marine head with both a holding tank and through-hull fitting with a Y-valve for use in open waters. I made a freshwater tank for the sink pump from one of those plastic shower bags. I hang it in the space in back of and under the sink area.

The most usefull instrument aboard is my Autopilot. I do a lot of cruising by myself and when crossing the Chesapeake Bay (30 miles where I live), it acts like a mate and relieves me of routine tiller operation.

One innovation that I made was to change the OB engine exhaust system. When I first got my Kittiwake, the engine choked out at high speed because exhaust gas was collecting (from the engine spit hole) in the engine compartment preventing oxygen from reaching the engine. The only way I could go at max power was opening the hatch to let air in. I solved this problem by putting a nipple (using epoxy putty) over the engine spit hole, putting a cheap plastic through-hull fitting on the transom, and connecting them with a plastic hose. Now this exhaust gas goes out through the transom like the exhaust of an inboard engine.

I also modified the engine well. When I first got my Kittiwake, water would come in over the sides of the engine well when on a hard starboard tack in choppy water. I solved this problem by adding about 4 inches of flexible rubber sheeting on top of the well sides.

One year, after I restored my Kittiwake, she was hit by lightning even though I had her rigged with lightning protection (sharp rod on the top of the mast, and the base of the mast connected by heavy cable to a ground plate on the hull). The superbolt caused the bolt holding the grounding cable to the mast base to explode out the mast and the lightning voltage then went into my entire wiring system frying all my electrical and electronic systems and melting most of my wiring. The lightning then arked down to my knotmeter through-hull fitting and blew it out, causing the boat to fill with water and sink. Within two weeks I had her hull repaired and sailing again, but it took the better part of the year to restore/replace all the other destroyed wiring, instrumentation, and equipment.

I replaced the sails a few years ago. The sails that I had (which were probably the originals) started to rot. I replaced the main with a full-battened, loose-footed main. This allows much better sail shape and the boat now sails significantly better in both low and high winds.

I have a few minor leaks in the decking which allows minor water in during rain storms. Most of this I believe comes from the mast step. I put a mast sleave on the mast base last year and it cut the leaking in half. The core in the decking near the forward hatch is damp from this. I drilled a small hole through the bottom of the decking above the head and keep a small bucket underneath to catch any droppings. If I get the time, I will chase this leak down. I get some mold and mildew growth in my cabin (Virginia is rather humid). I have been able to eliminate most of this by installing a small solar-powered vent on the front hatch.

Although my bilge is almost always dry, I have installed two pumps. I have a small electric pump under the flooring in the engine well. The switch is inside the lazerette for easy operation by the helmsman if needed. Another pump is in the main bilge under the cabin. I have both a automatic switch and a manual switch for this pump. I also restored and now still carry the original old bronze manual pump that came with the boat.

PAINT: The paint that I used (and still use) on my Kittiwake is one part polyurethane paint. This paint is easy to apply and reasonable in price. The specific paint that I use is as follows:

Hull: Interlux Brightside Polyurethane #4241 Sapphire Blue Decks and Interior: Interlux Brightside Polyurethane #4208 Hatteras Off-White Teak: Sikkens Cetol Marine Bottom Antifouling: Pettit ACP-50 #1670 Red

LIGHTNING PROTECTION: The only thing that I would have done differently on my lightning protection system was to periodically check the stainless steel screw connecting the grounding cable to the mast base. I believe that this connection had become corroded and had a poor connection. When the lightning hit, water in the connection turned to steam and blew out the screw. Since that time I have replaced the screw with a stainless steel bolt.

This is all that I can think of right now. If I remember anything else, I will get back to you. Feel free to pass any of this on to other Kittiwake owners if you think it will be helpful. I hope some of this information will be of interest or helpful to you.
David H. Herndon
Phone: (804) 435-2056
Cellular: (804) 761-0409
dhherndon@aol.com

Thanks David, for sharing this information.

Would love to find other Kittiwakers in the general vicinity. Are there any Kittiwake-specific events in the area?

Don't know if this is of any use to you, but found this spec sheet for a 1976 Kittiwake on our boat. If nothing else, it's interesting to read... The 1977 BOAT SHOW SPECIAL package price of $8,995 included choice of hull and deck color, cove stripe and boot top as well as mainsail and jib, fabric-covered foam berths, interior and navigation lights, head, galley unit, stainless steel standing and Dacron running rigging, anti-fouling bottom paint, cast lead interior ballast, oiled mahagony interior trim, natural teak exterior trim and solid teak hand rails.

I moor Patch in Queens Creek, a tributary of the Piankatank River, lower Western shore, Chesapeake Bay. Yesterday I returned from the Turkey Shoot Regatta, a hospice regatta reserved for boats 25 years or older. It attracts over 80 boats, many of which are gorgeous, classic designs. On hand were several Chesapeake skipjacks, the Miss Ann from Tides Inn, and the Godspeed from the Jamestown Foundation. There were two or three Typhoons, a Seasprite, and one other Kittiwake, # 54 owned by Tom Richardson of Carters Creek, who bought her two months ago. Last year there was a very nice Triton. I talked to Tom before the start of the pursuit race on Sunday. It is really a lot of fun to see other Kittiwakes out there, and that is fairly rare in this part of the Chesapeake. I have listed her phrf rating at 270.

I am writing to encourage other Kittiwakes to make it to the Turkey Shoot next year. It is scheduled over the Columbus Day weekend, during a part of the season that usually produces great winds. The regatta is professionally managed with happy hour on Friday, and a great dinner on Saturday. If you register early, there are plenty of slips. If not, there is a taxi that makes the rounds in Myer Creek (in the Carrotoman River, just off the Rappahannock River, Northern Neck, Va.). The races take place in the Rappahannock a few miles northwest of the Rapp. River bridge. If we could get a few more Kittiwakes together, we could have a small fleet sailing together. If you are not a serious sailor, don't be intimidated: it is primarily a hospice regatta, a place to come together to see beautiful boats and have a good time. Most boats don't fly spinnakers, but you may if you wish; there is a 20 second penalty.

If you can't make the Turkey Shoot, why not a raft-up of Kittiwakes sometime in the summer of 2003? We could even have a run around the government marks somewhere in the middle or southern Bay. Do the boats in the Northern Bay do this regularly already?
I have attached two recent photos. Looking forward to hearing from other boats,Thanks for the registry.
Johnny Stevens, # 78, Mathews VA

We transported the boat from Ohio and will be sailing on the Chesapeake near Annapolis, MD this season. We found the boat (which came with a trailer) on the web after a long search for a Kittiwake after falling in love with one we saw for sale closer to home and were out-bid on. It was well worth the 1200 mile weekend road trip to bring the boat to the East Coast. There is some damage to the rudder which is partially split but repairable. Otherwise, all is in great shape.

As far as we know, the boat does not have a name. Understanding the bad luck often associated with re-naming a boat and the ceremony that must take place to make things right, we have decided on Architeuthis unless you or someone has more information on the original name. Thanks for all of the great work on the web site.
Ben and Sarah Cadbury
bacadbury@yahoo.com

We sail in the Chesapeake Bay and our home port is in Whitehall Creek, just north of Annapolis, MD. As I type this I can look out the window and see her floating happily at our dock.

I also have an original price list (similar to that displayed on the Registry web site), original blueprints for the sails and rigging, and 2 different color brochures with some very good interior photos (one of which is displayed at the Registry web site). I have made high quality scans of all of the documents and would be happy send them to anyone who would like them. I hesitate to post them in the files or photos section of the newsgroup as each scan is about 3-4MB and I would end up using most of the allocated space; as I said they are high quality scans. I can be contacted privately at skittlebiscuits@hotmail.com. Regards,
John Faunt Le Roy

The email address for Brent Lambert, hasn't worked since last summer. I would like to see that brochure he supposedly has. Would you try to get it and post it on the website for downloading? Thanks for the great website. I'm going to Kemah, TX soon and will try to look up the Kittiwake owners listed in that area.

I made my own trailer for my first Kittiwake. I do not have plans, but I might be able to sketch something up if it would be helpful. Is the cradle you have made of steel? If so, you could probably use that for a start and pick up another flatbed trailer to weld the cradle to. One of the Kitti owners a few miles north of me has done just that.

Good luck on your search for other Kittiwakes as you travel. I do the same thing. I met some very nice people that way at Heron Lake in NM last fall, but I did not find any Kittiwakes there. I'll be looking forward to hearing from you about new ones you locate.

Regarding your mast, check with Rig-Rite, Inc., http://www.rigrite.com/. I believe that the Kenyon "E" section or the Spartan "CD-3" will make a suitable replacement. I have no idea what the price of either one is. I hope you have all the other necessary hardware from your old mast. I am sure that building a mast from scratch using all new components will be an expensive undertaking.

By the way I'm going to start soon on transferring many of the detailed drawings to Auto Cad 2002. This should allow me to get dimensions for just about any part of the hull and interior. I'll be in the Naval Architecture program at UNO for a few more years so whatever calculations or info I can get I'll pass it on. Thanks for the great site. I can't wait to spend more time on it.

Because of the weather this winter I have sailed straight through. If its 50 degrees and a breeze, I'll be on the bay. That makes it hard to do any maintenance though I do intend to rebuild the interior as time permits, and I'll haul her out for fresh paint when the wind dies out this summer. The exterior wood is original, it shows its age and could use a lift as well. In the mean time she's busy sailing.

Thanks for providing your web site. Its been a big help and a pleasure reading.

It is great that you have been able to enjoy sailing all during this winter. Most of us are not so lucky.

The vessel has been very well maintained except for the past few years. She is very well outfitted and needs some TLC. The motor well was plugged and a 5hp outboard was mounted on a bracket. Looking through all of the correspondence on this site, I was hoping to find some info on installing an inboard diesel. I have a BMW - D7 (7hp) diesel in a box on the counter in my shop. I am currently figuring out how to get it into the boat. It looks like I may be one of the few to attempt this.

The bracket plus shaft length on this engine (which is required to make it work right) makes it impossible to change a shear pin. When you tilt the engine up, the prop is way back there and cannot be safely serviced. Plus.... I've got this engine in my shed and I just can't help myself. I'm sure you know that feeling. These boats (Kittiwakes) are just such a beautiful little work of art as far as the shape and ideaolgy behind the design, I've always felt that the diesel would definately finish off this little yacht and truly put it into the class that it should have been in from day one.

By the way, I'm going to write and article for submission to "Good Old Boat" magazine about my Kittiwake, Kittiwakes in general and a little on Alberg. I am also interested in putting a set of Kittiwake drawings into autocad, mainly a sail plan and arrangement but also a full set if I can find the drawings. If not I will probably develop them from my boat. If you can give me any info regarding any scale drawings that you might have heard of I would appreciate it. I will definately be doing a set of engine install drawings for the D7. Maybe we can develop a little technical cache for the registry.

Just to let you know... I was in the market to switch boats (latest before this one - a C22) and hopefully to find a larger boat or at least one with personality. Every day for over a year I drove by a house with this good-looking boat on a trailer in the back yard. And for all of that year it didn't ever move. The day before I was going to make an offer on an Irwin 28 I decided to stop in and ask about this "back-yard" boat. The long and short of it is that I bought it in about 15 minutes for $2,000. I hadn't even looked inside the cabin! But, the day before the owner parked it he had purchased brand new sails and a new stainless steel bimini. It also came with a complete electrical shore/sail panel, custom bow and stern pulpits (with teak seats in each), dual lifelines, a teak & stainless Samson post, built-in charger, 10 hp. Honda fourstroke, etc. etc. Needless to say, I'm quite pleased.

Though everything is solid, I'm now involved in a full-up restoration process. I've stripped the paint and sanded and now I'm waiting for the weather to put on a couple of primer coats of Awlgrip on the deck. I can't wait to get it back in the shape a beautiful design like this deserves and go sail. She has previously carried no name but now she is "Sanctuary III" I've spoken with a couple of Kittiwake owners in the Kemah (TX) area who sail the bay and beyond. Both say she's the best sailing boat this size you could have. Looking forward to finding out for myself.

I would really like to see more interior shots and deck shots. As I am re-modeling my boat, I would like to see how others have re-modeled theirs. Sailing in Texas, heat is more of a problem than cold, and I am curious how different sailors have rigged their boats to accommodate ventilation and cooling. I am a member of the Lake Worth Sailing Club.

Note: Pat also had several questions which are posted on the Q & A page.

Mike had sailed Illusion avidly for several years at the Grand Lake Sailing Club and had even placed fourth one year in the club's annual 100 mile PHRF race which heavily favors larger boats that can finish before the wind dies; sailing all night is a tough slog for a small heavy air boat when most years have long periods of light to no air when the sun goes down.

We joined the GLSC where Illusion was berthed because we liked the facilities and the friendly folks, and I remember our first day there when Larry Prins, owner of the other Kittiwake in the club at the time, walked up and said, "I want to shake the hand of the man who bought a Kittiwake." Larry became a good friend and valuable source of advice for two neophyte sailor wannabe's. When I acquired her, Illusion had been through a period of minor neglect and the wood trim Mike had added to the hatch sides and the plywood overlay he'd added to the transom were a bit the worse for wear, and after a season of learning to sail from scratch on this very forgiving little boat I hauled her to Springdale for a little TLC which turned into nearly a year of work inside and out. A re-launch in the spring of 91 (I believe it was 91) saw her with new interior paint and bulkhead trim, new head, new switch panel, a fresh boot stripe, new transom treatment, a fitted engine well plug, a forward round portlite, forward deck light, anchor light, new windex, cockpit led halyards, new grab rails on dog house and hatch, and new cockpit speakers(which as yet still don't have a radio or player attached).

In my stewardship she's given us many hours of pleasure along with a few moments of abject terror, but she's never let us be victims of our own inexperience beyond a few groundings and wettings and things disappearing overboard from time to time. Perhaps her finest hour came in 1994 placing first in class in the Club Long Distance race (now a 50 miler for smaller PHRF boats) when she surfed to 7+ knots at times and the wind blew all night allowing her to make 3 to 5 knots for most of the course. A McGreggor 26 sailor who traded tacks with us the better part of the daylight hours said he never expected to see a kittiwake on his beam all day; I told him it was all right - it was just an illusion.

Lately, other hobbies have intervened and the last two years have seen Illusion on her trailer again awaiting a refresh from the ravages of the last ten years of weathering. In the mean time, periodic reminders get me to thinking of good friends and the good times I've had on the water when the wind is right, the sun shining, and the Kittiwake is on a nice 20 degree heel and in the groove with the sails full and the water lapping by.

Larry, attached are a few pics. One of 212 when mike bought her, and a few after her refit in 90-91. I have some of the "in-process", if you're interested, and two promotional photos that Larry Prins gave me when he sold his Kittiwake for a Chrysler 26. (BTW, Larry Prins was second in '94 with the Chrysler and in announcing the first place our Commodore said, "and in first place, in a boat like the one Larry just sold, ...".)
-- Cheers, Phil in Northwest Arkansas

UPDATE: . I have now verified that it is hull 516. The serial number (engraved in the lower transom) is RVY00516M76E. I'm assuming that is River City Sailcraft and was bulit in 1976, the date the previous owner said it was built.

While I did get a phone # for Wilcox-Crittenden, they do not make any of the major parts for the Kittiwake anymore. I have gotten the "plans" from Kenner, and while they are not actual plans, they will be very helpful in restoring my boat since the interior has been completely stripped. I am currently trying to reconfigure a power boat trailer to hold Destiny while she is getting her refit. I am also trying to identify an engine that will fit in the well and provide enough power. If anyone has a photo of the well plug that can be Emailed please forward as I am going to attempt to fabricate one. Anyway, that is the update. I look forward to some correspondance from some other owners, especially from FLA.

She was christened "Etc." Our first sail in her was a "cross country" trip to Saugatuck, Michigan. We never had a test ride in her and we had to rig her ourselves. We owned the boat for four years. Our recollections of her was that she was a very small boat as we are both relatively tall people, being 5' 7" and 6' 0" respectively.

But she was a strong boat. All of her prior life and all during our period with her, she was sailed on Lake Michigan. We put her through 8 to ten foot seas on several occassions and never did we think of reefing. On one trip, we spent the night at Port Shelton and came out into some fresh weather. We beat home into some heavy, 6 to 8 foot seas. We took only a little water on deck and nothing in the cockpit. Nancy had collected some driftwood and had casually placed them loose on the foredeck. When we came out of the breakwater, we knew that they were expendable and, without life lines, they weren't worth going forward to secure. Regardless, that stable little boat kept her feet so well that the driftwood souveniers never moved. One hell of a boat!

We think of her frequently with fondness. In fact, her trail board, an oval piece of mahogany with gold inset lettering, still hangs on our family room wall. We don't remember who we sold her to in 1978 (or so) because we didn't want to look back. Etc was a good friend and really a dependable member of the family. I'm sure we will see her again some day.

The original owner was a Houston geologist named Wendell L. Lewis. I never met the man, but I was told at the Houston Yacht Club that he was very successful in the oil business. The boat owner berthed next to the K23 said Mr and Mrs Lewis had many great years with the boat. Mr Lewis died and his widow sold the boat in March 1993 for $3000 to a student from California who was attending med school in Houston.

The medical student's name is Mike C. Ford. He used the boat to keep his sanity while becoming a doctor. He kept the boat where it had always been at the HYC. He sailed the boat frequently and had some fun with her. When he became Dr. Mike Ford, he left for New Orleans to specialize in opthamalogy. He put the boat up for sale for $1500. When I first saw the boat I wanted it more than anything. On August 10, 1995, we (Blake and Nancy Riggs) became the current owners of Kittiwake #135.

The boat came with a mainsail, a jib, and a spinnaker. There was a Mercury 7.5 mounted on a motor bracket. There was extensive crazing of the gelcoat on the deck and topsides. Despite the less than bristol cosmetic appearance, she sailed nicely. Other boatowners would come alongside to ask what kind of boat she was and tell us what a beauty she is.

We sailed her for a while from the Watergate Yacht Club on Clear Lake. After a couple of seasons I hauled her to do a bottom job. When we did this we found the bottom had a serious case of blisters. I decided to do a complete restoration of the whole boat. I had a trailer built and now have the the boat in a storage shed. The hull repairs were a long learning experience for me. My tool inventory has grown to where I have every tool I could ever use including a compressor, air tools, and electric power tools. It has cost more for tools and storage fees than the boat could ever return. Still, this boat is my main hobby. The work has taken much longer than anticipated. But, she will sail again and she will be the most beautiful, well-found boat on Galveston Bay.

She was unnamed before but she will be named "Lauren" when she is relaunched. Lauren is my wife's niece who was killed by drunk driver when she was seven years old. It happened many years ago but she still lives on with those who knew her.

I am sure this is much more information than you need to register our boat. I wrote more than intended. I am looking forwad to meeting other Kittiwake23 owners.

Any time any one of you might be in the Dallas area just let us know and out for a sail you will go. The gangplank is ready to show you some hospitality. Call 972-938-2585 or e-mail rrmaina@flash.net and lets talk sailing.... Ralph is the first and only owner of the best Kittiwake afloat.

On arrival she found that the boat had been moved to the back of the lot. On talking to the salesmen she learned that the boat had been raffled off over the weekend and that the new owner did not know how to sail, his car was too small to tow it, he had to have it off the lot in 3 days and he didn't have a job so he could use the money. We made him the offer and after thinking about it for 24 hours he accepted.

We brought the boat home and are slowly taking it a part and restoring it. The sales were all in good shape but the running rigging and cushions are all shot. Mostly all she needs is cosmetic work and i wish to also add holding tanks a new propane stove an engine and new elelctric and manual bigle pumps.

There is no plate on the mast support inside the hull but from reading your article, due to the mounting of the winches on the boat (seperate fiberglass pads bolted to the boat) that she is prior to hull number 200. We were told that she was manufactured in 1973.

Our intention is to finish her and put her on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pa so that we may sail the Delaware River which gives us access to the Chesapeake and the Atlantic Ocean.

We are not sure how many owners she has had but we are at least her second (technically 4th if you include the car dealership and the fellow who owned her for a few days). Her present name is Vulture and we look forward to when time and money avail themselves to us to finish her and get her wet.

Having looked without success for the boats' Hull Number the other day, my wife and I opened up the mainsail and found that the sail number is 82. This would seem to make our boat older than first suspected.