I have a Islander 44', that turns out to be one of the last boats built by Joe Mc glassen who was the original owner and designer of Islander yachts. I worked at Joe's wooden boat shop, Cape Fowl Weather, in Newport Oregon in the mid 1970's.
I found my Islander in Astoria about 3 years ago and was fortunate to be able to buy it. My Islander was sold as a kit to a guy in Gig harbor Wa. in 1970 and he spent the next 30 years building it from a bare hull. He did a good job and when it was ready for launching he suddenly got leukemia and died before he could use the boat of his dreams. I plan on putting a plaque commemorating his life long work, in the cabin. I have been rebuilding parts of the house as that certainly was the first part of the boat to be built. The hull looks nearly new with its plank lines in the fiberglass which was one of Joe,s innovations.
My Islander 44 handles better than any boat I have ever sailed. there is absolutely no weather helm. As soon as an up wind tack is settled upon I can let go of the wheel and she will either stay on the exact point or will correct the point and increase speed. I love to take newbies out for a sail, and when they seem to be struggling at the wheel, I say just let go,and to their amazement she settles into the best point and sails on.
Crazy Love is sloop rigged with a 55' mast, she is 44' loa. and only 11' beam with 6'5" draft. All sheets lead back to the steerage cockpit with a winch, port and starboard for the jib sheets and a winch aft to starboard for the main sheet and roller furling jib. In short she is very easy to single handle, but with the jib winches at the back of the passenger cockpit, having one or two crew to handle the Jib sheets make for rapid tacks.
If any one else has a similar boat or is interested in more about Joe Mc Glassen, who in my opinion was one of the greatest designers and craftsmen period. As a young apprentice I could ask Joe any dimension of any part of the boats we were building and Joe would turn and take one step toward the office, then suddenly turn back and give me the exact measurement and even the angle if it was needed. He was by far the most talented wood worker and to this day I try to emulate his skill when I am fitting joinery. His skill with fiberglas was equally outstanding and he was the lead form builder for the origional Disney land, building the molds for Micky, Minny, the tea cups etc.
Enjoy Your Sailing! Snekker
I found my Islander in Astoria about 3 years ago and was fortunate to be able to buy it. My Islander was sold as a kit to a guy in Gig harbor Wa. in 1970 and he spent the next 30 years building it from a bare hull. He did a good job and when it was ready for launching he suddenly got leukemia and died before he could use the boat of his dreams. I plan on putting a plaque commemorating his life long work, in the cabin. I have been rebuilding parts of the house as that certainly was the first part of the boat to be built. The hull looks nearly new with its plank lines in the fiberglass which was one of Joe,s innovations.
My Islander 44 handles better than any boat I have ever sailed. there is absolutely no weather helm. As soon as an up wind tack is settled upon I can let go of the wheel and she will either stay on the exact point or will correct the point and increase speed. I love to take newbies out for a sail, and when they seem to be struggling at the wheel, I say just let go,and to their amazement she settles into the best point and sails on.
Crazy Love is sloop rigged with a 55' mast, she is 44' loa. and only 11' beam with 6'5" draft. All sheets lead back to the steerage cockpit with a winch, port and starboard for the jib sheets and a winch aft to starboard for the main sheet and roller furling jib. In short she is very easy to single handle, but with the jib winches at the back of the passenger cockpit, having one or two crew to handle the Jib sheets make for rapid tacks.
If any one else has a similar boat or is interested in more about Joe Mc Glassen, who in my opinion was one of the greatest designers and craftsmen period. As a young apprentice I could ask Joe any dimension of any part of the boats we were building and Joe would turn and take one step toward the office, then suddenly turn back and give me the exact measurement and even the angle if it was needed. He was by far the most talented wood worker and to this day I try to emulate his skill when I am fitting joinery. His skill with fiberglas was equally outstanding and he was the lead form builder for the origional Disney land, building the molds for Micky, Minny, the tea cups etc.
Enjoy Your Sailing! Snekker
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