Alan Olson, a Sausalito boat builder and founder of the educational sailing nonprofit Call of the Sea, has some ambitious plans. He wants to build a new 140-foot wood long brigantine to be used as a sail training ship for the San Francisco Bay area and he would like to see it completely to coincide with the San Francisco America’s Cup during the summer of 2013. His new project has been named, Educational Tall Ship for San Francisco Bay.
Sailing in Marin: Sausalito boat builder out to construct tall ship by America’s Cup
Olson’s tall ship for San Francisco will embrace the design and construction methods developed by Matthew Turner, a founding member of the San Francisco Yacht Club. Considered the most prolific boat builder on the Pacific coast and the San Francisco area, Turner built 228 sailing ships between 1864 and 1908, partnering with companies like Spreckels Sugar, C&H Sugar and Matson Lines.
They weren’t clunky old boats but highly sophisticated, fast and able commercial vessels capable of making trips to Hawaii in just nine days.
“There’s an historical connection and we want to show how shipping and boat building of that era was very significant,” Olson said.
With sustainability in mind, Bauer described the unique “green” propulsion system that will be used. It can produce the majority of the ship’s propulsion and electrical needs through electric motors that turn into generators once under sail.
“It’ll have twin propellers and electric motors that propel it,” Bauer said. “Under sail, when water passes by the props, it generates electricity. At high speeds we can generate significant amounts of energy that can be stored in batteries on board. We don’t believe anyone else has really done this before.”
Thanks to Irwin Bryan for passing the news.
I totally support Call of the Sea and love what they do aboard Seaward, but I think this notion of building a new tall ship is extremely short sighted. Infuriating even! When there are tall ships all over the country faltering and being laid up, what makes one think it’s a good business model to build a ship?
There are already boats for sale. Why not buy one the Exy Johnson, built specifically for education? Or the schooner Virginia? Or the Spirit of South Carolina?
And it’s one thing to fundraise for a capital project – I have no doubt that he could have it built – but what about operating costs *after* it’s built? Costs for maintenance, for crew and staff, for moorage and fuel?
What I appreciate about this project is it’s dedication to the environment – the green propulsion system. But I’d bet you could buy and retrofit an older boat for less than you could build an entirely new one.
I also appreciate acknowledging S.F.’s boatbuilding heritage by utilizing the designs of Turner. But on the whole, I do not agree with building a new tall ship when so many are failing. Just my two cents.
You make some very good points. There certainly is not a shortage of good traditional vessels, only the money to keep them running.
i am a Davenport, CA. boatbuilder and designer working on a carthaginian-style cutter of mahogany cold-molded construction in some ways very similar to Alan Olson’s dream-ship: i was there Wed looking at the proceedings, and speaking with Alan and his shipwrights, and i think they are doing a fantastic job and are very inspiring to the local boat tribe. In addition, they should go full speed ahead, ignoring the above cynical detractors, and continue laboring lovingly in the true spirit of San Francisco seafaring, especially as those earlier shipbuilders (1820-1890) were the the original authentic “49ers”, and don’t forget that Jack London (original Oaklander) was working in the same tradition!! The design has some excellent new features, such as northern Calif. selectively harvested lumber, laminated frames, massive bronze super-powerful floors, and very eco-appropriate powerplant!!! Andy Davis and Co. have outdone themselves on the design, and i for one will be very proud of all those local over-achievers!! Go for it!!