Nautical Lore – Modern | Oral Narratives Of Modern Seafaring Watercraft With Multihull Pioneer Jim Brown

DANNY, DOUG AND DAD   "Put yourself out there," is the theme of this caper, with three examples of how it's done. Danny Mydlack, our new media consultant, put himself in here by taking the initiative to contact us and make two trips down from Baltimore for gathering footage for our upcoming video "tractor."   Doug Jayne has put himself out there for years by building eight large cattlemarans in Constant Camber, selling some and operating others. Danny and I were able to attend the launching of number eight.   My father, Ralph Brown, was pretty much forced, -- by the 1930s depression -- to put himself in the line of fire. Listen in to get the story.

PLAY IT WHEN I'M DEAD​  Wishing that I had collected more voice recordings when my subjects were alive, this caper is offered while the subject IS alive, miraculously.  My particular friend Bruce Matlack tells of just one of many youthful exploits from back when he was trying to get to Tahiti without his own boat. He eventually made it, in his twenties. Now he is contemplating going again in his 60s, in his own boat, SCRIMSHAW.   Also here is a report on the status of The Outrig Project, now at a crucial juncture.

ANCHORAGE CONVERSATIONS - Part One   This is what happen when two or more old  boat nuts find themselves in a secure anchorage with old friends, a lobster in the pot, and "...A little more than enough to drink, for thirst is a dangerous thing."  (Jerome K. Jerome)

A CONSUMMATE CRUISER SPEAKS   Here's a guy who sailed in multihulls as an infant, and now owns DELPHYS, a 34' Searunner trimaran which has been called, by John Marples (one of her designers), "The most developed Searunner in the world."  And her usage? Well, with her owner/builder crew of Mark Johnson and his wife Mariam, the boat has visited  some twenty countries.   To learn what Mark would do -- if indeed he had it all to do over again -- listen-on!

BOATBUILDING -- WHICH KIND? After doing several interview capers, we have here the results of some interesting comparisons, resulting from hurricane damage, between good old sheet plywood construction, and "cold molded" or Constant Camber (CC) construction. Design differences between the Searunner 34 and the CC 35 are discussed, as are the challenges of getting good wood for these boats today. And, oh yes, the virtues of epoxy! In the end, if you want to go NOW, buy a good, used monohull. There are lots of them around begging to go cruising.

GONE AGAIN While I'm away appraising the hurricane damage to Scrimshaw, I hope you will enjoy the conclusion of my telephone conversation with Lee Bullock, which exemplifies the committed lifestyle of those many individuals who invested substantial portions of their lives to creating the modern multihull. Then, please offer your critique of my seemingly fanciful predictions of the possible conformation of the NEXT modern monohull. Something new -- under the sun??

CLOSE FRIENDS, CLOSE CALLS​ Jo Hudson speaks of "thrilling" incidents recalled, in 2004, from his first seafaring voyage (in the mid-1960s) in his owner-built 30' Piver Nimble trimaran, from California to Australia. These Capers are the only examples of Jo's recorded voice telling his own stories. He is very matter-of-fact, not so effusive as I am, but he sailed a lot farther than I did, mostly in boats that I designed and he built or re-built. This is a glimpse at the client's side of a 55 year-long designer/client relationship, the ending of which has left me feeling like a single-hander. Please know that Jo died of gradual heart failure and final pneumonia, without pain, in his wife Sherry's arms, while being liberally kissed by his "family" (their dogs).

THE SECOND FIRST ENCOUNTER Responding to Jo Hudson's passing, I feel obliged to share with you something of our 55-year, 9-multihull connection.  This Caper tells of how we first men (for the second time), and continues with a glimpse of the "can-do" commitment and enthusiasm that typified the early California trimaran happening. Eventually, I will attempt to describe my late friend himself, his person, his warts and his quest for beauty and adventure.  I have now outlived about all of my early multihull contemporaries, and it makes me feel the need to share their stories with you.

A BLAST FROM THE PAST, AND PRESENT This recorded telephone conversation reveals more of the boundless enthusiast, willingness to risk, and lifestyle commitment that typified the advent of the early modern multihull. It also contains, at the end, a sad announcement.​

IN THE CROSSHAIRS   "There's a hurricane coming! What do I do with my boat?"   There are several answers to that question, including "Maybe nothing." But that's only if you're out at sea. The more common calamity happens when your boat is in a crowded harbor or marina, or hauled out on land. Then, there are lots of things you can to to protect your boat, unless of course you are in the crosshairs of a really big one.  Even then, don't rely on your insurance company. Get her ready yourself. Here are some suggestions, especially for multihulls.​

MEMORIAL AND MAINE Jim discusses his most recent capers in both Michigan and Maine. First, he talks about the memorial service he attended on behalf of his old friend Meade Gougeon, immediately followed by his travel to the rugged, northeast coast of North America.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT "THE KING OF GLUE" This Caper is a small collection of remarks made to me about how Meade Gougeon, and the whole WEST System phenomenon, has influenced their lives.  It reveals a lot about how "appropriate technology" can make a difference in unexpected ways.

MEADE GOUGEON HAS SAILED AWAY This issue is a collection of my own personal recollections of a long friendship with Meade, founder of WEST System epoxy products. We are also posting a link on the show notes page for this podcast episode at OutRigMedia to the full manuscript of an article I wrote for WoodenBoat about Meade. In another audio we will collect a number of comments made by others of Meade's friends.  We have lost a pillar in the marine community, and a loss is a loss.  However, Meade and his brothers have shown -- by example -- how boats, and life, are done well. Jim’s Woodenboat article about Meade (link): http://outrigmedia.com/outrig/multihulls-media/other-multihull-stuff/counterrevolutionary-craftsman-catching-up-with-meade-gougeon/

Pedalcat   After all the techy, deep sea stuff we've offered lately, here's something for even an old duffer (like me) or a new angler (like me), or a futuristic sailor / winger / foiler / pedaler ... to think aout.   With all the new technologies coming to the fore these days, it seems obvious that there will be combinations emerging, and I see pedal power as being almost ready for combining with sailing in a new way. Why don't we, at the OutRig Capercast, make that combination?   Developer's website: http://www.blueskyboatworks.com/ See the first developer ad video here: https://youtu.be/u68FotzU3Kk

CAPSIZE RECOVERY   People have been contending with multihull capsize for millennia. It now appears that modern design and materials make it possible to almost eliminate the propensity for multihulls to be "more stable when upside down than right side up." The difference is in buoyant "wing" masts and/or masthead floats, all strong enough to withstand capsize even at hydrofoiling speed, thereby arresting the 180 degree "turned turtle" capsize at the 90 degree "knockdown" position. This position improves the survival chances of the crew, and makes possible re-righting the vessel either with or without the participation of the crew -- depending on vessel design. Hear all about it.

WINGS WITH FOILS Here's yet more about the Hybrid Wing, its history, and that of other fully-rotating but unstayed, "free standing" rigs. The problem with unstayed rigs in multihulls, and the problem with foiling, are both discussed. How to resolve these shortcomings is suggested, leaving some questions unanswered. In the next session, I promise to offer my latest thinking on multihull capsize as it relates to wings and foils, and how that all relates to proas, and to pedal power. Do all these things relate? You bet they do, and it’s all coming around on the guitar right now.

WING SAILING (PART TWO) Here is the conclusion, for now, of my infatuation with the Hybrid Wing. There is a lot more to learn about this thing, but I have now had the opportunity to actually sail in a Wing-equipped catamaran, and I hope my description explains why I'll never get over this thing. I feel certain it is headed for long term historical -- if not hysterical -- significance.  Listen in to learn why I sing hymns to this revelation.

WING SAILING​ Now I've actually been there, folks. Under a 62' Hybrid Wing rig, on a 40' "beach cat" racing catamaran, with Randy Smyth and Tommy Gonzales with Scott Brown taking pictures. It's a transcendent experience for an old shellback to sail effortlessly at speeds in the high twenties, and without hydrofoils yet. I'll tell you about it in this (and the next) Capercast. Welcome aboard.

There are some BIG experiments happening with multihulls right now.  In this amazing capercast, Jim talks about the convergence of multihull developments that are coming together in a very unique way within the creation of a new type of sailing-fishing boat conceived by entrepreneur Tim Mann. Tim and his wife own and operate Friendly Aquaponics in Hawaii.  (See link below).  But prior to that, he built and sailed his own cruising multihulls for a number of years and found a way to sustain his cruising lifestyle by fishing.  This inspired Tim to develop some very unique ideas about practical, economical and sustainable fishing ... which he is about to personally try out in a special boatbuilding project. But it doesn't end there. Jim takes things even farther, by taking about a possible convergence between a modern proa, the self-rescuing multihull capsize technique (developed years ago by Jan Gougeon) and the new hybrid wing mast (under current development and testing by Randy Smythe and his partners at FA

FROG MAN BUMP   Here's another old story, this one about a shark. And about feeding time at the "lion house." And about what to do with fish cleanings if you just might be swimming around the boat the next day. Okay?