Gaff Cutter Crusoe

Designed by Charles Mower and built by Julius Peterson of Nyack, NY, in 1934 she appeared on both the cover of The Rudder; and the design pages of Yachting – quite a feat at a time when traditionally-designed boats were falling out of fashion. She’s planked with teak below the turn of the bilge, and Honduras mahogany above. Fastenings are Everdur screws and Tobin bronze bolts. Cabin trunk, deck, rail, and deck joinerwork are all teak, and her original cast bronze hanging knees and steel angle bars are still fitted around the mast. She has not been significantly modified since first launched at the height of the Great Depression; even her spars are original. Longtime owner Roger Nisbet attributes her longevity to designed-in ventilation and a certain easy grace that made folks want to care for her.

Port Townsend shipwright Arren Day purchased her in late 2003, and has spent the past several years doing major restoration work to keep her sailing for another 70 years. Crusoe was the poster boat for the 2007 festival; she and Day exemplified the Shipwrights and Sailors theme.

Thursday sail information

Guests will board Crusoe at her dock in the Boat Haven Marina. She will end up docked at the Festival. She will take up to 4 guests. Crusoe has a comfortable cockpit and is a fun boat to sail on. Being a smaller vessel, people with a bit of boating experience or at least people who are up for more sailing motion, are welcome aboard by Maggie and Arren.

The contact phone # is (360) 301-1277, Arren Day is captain.