Between 1957 and 1970 Cheoy Lee produced approximatley 133 folkboats originaly sold as the the Offshore 25, better known as the Frisco Flyer.

There were three versions of this small blue-water boat. 91 in all wood and 42 in Fiberglass with wood. There were 55 Type I's and II's and 78 of the Type III's. The Type I (aka the Pacific Clipper) was an all wood boat, had a mast that was stepped through the deck, a traditional folkboat fractional rig and a smaller cabin. The Type II's had a larger teak trunk cabin and a masthead rig. The Type III's had a larger teak dog-house cabin, some "standing" headroom and a masthead rig stepped on deck. The earlier Type III's were solid teak built onto a fiberglass hull and the later Type III’s (1966-1970) were made entirely out of fiberglass with teak paneling.

This boat, Yard # 1507 is one of approximatley only 30 Type III's left. It was out of the water for the previous 16 years when I got it and then about another 5 more while I rebuilt it. It was an empty, cracked hull when given to me and needed a complete restoration/refit. It took about five years of long nights and weekends of working outside under a tarp, in the garage or in the boat during cold winter nights, wet rainy afternoons and everything in between. The occasionally eager assistant on the project was my four (now ten) year old daughter who can have this boat as soon as I convince her mother to get another one. This blog is the record of all the work that "we" have done to the boat as well as some other somewhat related events with friends and family. Eventually, this will be put together in a book which will stay with the boat.

She still has plenty more to go but for now, Jackaroe has been in the water for a couple years now and thats all that matters...

To see past projects, use the links below.



Questions and comments to Matthewearlgarthwait@gmail.com





Saturday, April 19, 2008

"New" Dragons for Jack A Roe!

The other day I received an email from a Flyer owner out West who is restoring his 1968 Type II (a well known Flyer named Steppenwolf, which had a brief moment of fame when it appeared prominently in a 1984 movie named "Thief of Hearts"). He knew that I was looking for these carved dragons that were in some of the earlier Cheoy Lees and he very generously offered his to me and the Jack A Roe restoration. Despite my offering to pay for them and/or for their shipping they were sent along to me free of charge. I was however able to persuade the sender (also named Matthew, so no surprise he is a good guy) to accept a bottle of Bourbon.

They just arrived and look great! They are designed to fit between the portlights in the cabin of a Mark II. Jack A Roe has larger portlights so they wont fit in the same spot but I expect to use them up in the bow flanking the forward berth.

They are about 20 inches long, beautifully carved, perfectly matched with a slight taper from end to end.

Front and back view


Detail



So, to Matthew (and Steppenwolf) in San Diego...Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for your generous contribution to my project.

A bottle of "shipwright's lubricant" is on its way!


(I'm still looking for the larger dragon that goes over head in the main cabin)
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