Perfect Boat? Chip Hanauer Finds His
Chip Hanauer, the Boat Guy, is still racing, just at a much slower speed. Here he shares his criteria for buying the perfect sailboat.
I love to sail! I don’t have to be sailing to any place in particular, I just love the quiet and the feeling of being moved across the water by nothing more than the wind, provided freely to us all. So I decided to buy a sailboat. I quickly came up with a list of requirements my boat would have to meet:
1. Wood. I prefer being in a wood boat.
2. Small. Because I want to pull it with a normal car, store it in a one car garage, and maintain it myself.
3. Dry. I want to sail year round in the Northwest, without making a wetsuit part of my standard equipment.
4. Safe. This boat would have to get me home safe and sound if I got caught in some “snotty” weather.
Notice I’m not even mentioning sexy or fast. Remember, I just like being on the water. I’m not trying to get anywhere quickly, and I'm certainly not looking for a boat to impress young, hot women.
The Pelican class comes with its own set of characters, who enjoy both racing and cruising their boats.
Luckily, I found the perfect boat in my own neighborhood, while I was walking my dog. It was covered by a plastic tarp, under a tall fir tree, with all kinds of branches and assorted “stuff” on it. I knocked on the door and asked the retired priest what it was. Turns out it was called a Pelican. And if I got it out of his yard that day, it was mine—for free!
I took it home and spent time refinishing and re-rigging it, a process I really enjoyed. During that time, I learned more about the boat. It's a little over twelve feet long, with a six foot beam. It was designed by Bill Short and built by the Smith Brothers. Top speed: 4.5 knots.
I also learned that there is a very active Pelican club right here in the Pacific Northwest. The club races during the winter months (every other weekend) and cruises together during the summer.
I can’t tell you how many wonderful days I’ve spent in my little Pelican. After a few years of learning the art of racing, Don Mock and I won the winter series championship! I’ve ambled Lake Washington and Puget Sound, going in whatever direction the wind decides to take me that day. I’ve also loaded my camping gear aboard and spent over a week cruising, moving on to a new camping spot each day.
I suppose there’s no such thing as the “perfect” boat, but my Pelican comes pretty darn close for me. If you don't believe me, watch this video and maybe you'll understand:
