Old Bluewater 40 photos

[Capt. Dave]

Just ran across a few more Bluewater 40 photos taken in the early 70s. The three at anchor are the SuJan, S-Cro and Christiana II. Location is Potato Slough in the Sacramento Delta. The black and white photo is during commissioning of two trawlers in San Rafael, CA. The BWT model was made by my father in about 1975. I eventually replaced the original wooden mast with a modified aluminum sailboat mast and mounted the radar on that. My hull number was #11 (CHRISTIANA II) and I was very familiar with other owners and trawlers at that time. SUJAN (#4), S-CRO and China Doll. I’m compiling a draft list of original boat names and owners and would be glad to share what I have so far, as well as make corrections from your own valued input. I enjoy the forum and look forward to various new posts. Capt. Dave (Dave Mathew)(Dm@zebis.com)

 

[Bmarler]

Good stuff Dave, thanks. My boat “rendezvous” is hull#8 and was originally named s-cro.
Love seeing the old pictures, and that model is fantastic! Do you still have it?

 

[syjos]

Wow! Great pictures. Thanks a lot for posting them.

It's always fun to see old pictures of BW's.

 

[Capt. Dave]

Wow! Great pictures. Thanks a lot for posting them.

It's always fun to see old pictures of BW's.

Syjos: I think I have the info. but was your Sandpiper the original name? If not, do you know it or perhaps the hull #. There are various owner/name lists out there, but I’m trying to build and contribute what I can recall. So many mix up the original BWT design by McPherson with others. If the hull has no strakes, it’s not a 40’ BWT. As you know, several west coast dealers got on board, but I think that Bud Lowrie in San Rafael, CA had the majority of sales for the 1st 15 years or so. Of course Dan Mazzetta had the 1st three and then your letter from Norm Milne accurately describes what happened from there on. I knew Norm very well and we discussed every great and not so great feature of those early trawlers. We replaced things, fixed things and supplied plenty of feedback. Perhaps to our collective advantage, they rarely sat at the docks and we sometimes used them to ‘our’ limits. Thankfully we never reached the limits of the vessel, other than with minor components that were neglected or of poor construction or quality from day one.
Thanks, Capt. Dave

 

[syjos]

Sandpiper was named by the original owners and I kept the name.

Did you get the list of hull numbers and original owners I sent you?

 

[syjos]

Here is the list of BW owners again in case you missed it.

 

[Capt. Dave]

Thanks. Very helpful. I will build from that and fill in as many gaps as I can.
My spreadsheet attempts to add new vessel and owner names, locations where last known and specific design / engine options. I’d rather not post it until sharing a draft with you. How does one send a private message on this forum? Capt. Dave

 

[syjos]

Click on the envelope icon at upper right of page and click on "start a new conversation"

Enter name of recipient, message and any attachments.

 

[syjos]

Is that a model BW in the pictures? What's the story on that?

 

[Capt. Dave]

Is that a model BW in the pictures? What's the story on that?

Yes. About a 36” model was built by my father. It actually had a vacuum-formed hull. Dealer used it now and then because boat deck roof and parts were all removable. Although built to scale from the McPherson plans, it was more of a sales model and was intentionally not 100% accurate. As a master ship model maker, he later was commissioned to build a very detailed scale model for John Klopfer “Marianette II” (Then Commodore of the St.Francis Yacht Club in SF. He used the same vacuum-formed hull shape, but the details were well defined. That model remained on the club’s fireplace mantel for as long as John was a member.
He also made a large scale model of the 52’ Vagabond ketch for Lowrie Yacht Sales marketing purposes. Had I not purchased a 40’ BWT, I was very tempted to purchase the CT 41 Ketch that they also imported from Taiwan and was built alongside the BWT.
Such a classic ketch design that was easy for two to handle. Of course it was so heavy it hardly moved - but such a good plan and so nautical.
However I was already pushing my luck when my wife kindly approved my down payment on the BWT. Capt. Dave

 

[Capt. JB]

I believe I'm the owner of the original "Marianette II" which is been "Freedom II" since I've owned it for the past 12 years. Do we know how many of these trawlers were made? Your list stops at 19. Just curious....thanks!

-Capt. JB

 

[syjos]

I believe only 19 were built. Maybe Capt. Dave can verify that.

Capt. JB, where is Freedom moored?

 

[Capt. JB]

I believe only 19 were built. Maybe Capt. Dave can verify that.

Capt. JB, where is Freedom moored?

Long Beach, Ca

 

[Capt. Dave]

Thanks Syjos and Capt. JB: From my original logs and a bit of first-hand info, I’ve built a spreadsheet that is surely a work-in-progress. Many BWT names have changed so that makes it difficult. So I’ve tried to identify as much as I can with each vessel and then verify info. when I see one for sale. I have also had to use color to distinguish original names, later names and current names. Also have added original Ports and current Ports where known. Also included Original owner, current owner, Plan, Engine/s, and Misc. So the spreadsheet needed a color code to keep one sane.

I think I’ve identified 25 different BWTs - most with original names, but a few with current names only. Until I can figure out how to add a PDF to the discussion, I’ll attach a list of just names for now. Perhaps name change input will condense the original list further.
Hope this helps others to jump in and add their own knowledge.
Capt. Dave

 

[Tator]

We sold Oz in 2023. She is stilled named Oz and still has her rainbow waterline on the bow.. Her previous name was Williwaw. She lies in Hobart Bay Alaska which is in the SE corner of Stephens Passage.

Tator

 

[Capt. Dave]

Tator: Thanks so much for the input. Looks like you owned Oz for about 20 years. I’ll attach what I have on the spreadsheet for further input. Do you know the name of the new owner and or whether it’s still in Hobart Bay ?
What engine and Plan is the Oz? I show her as a 1979 Hull #17, but that may be off. Thanks again. Capt. Dave

 

[syjos]

Capt. Dave,

Sandpiper was built in 1976.

 

[Capt. Dave]

Thanks for the correct date. I’ll add it.
Sending you a private message.
Capt. Dave

 

[Tator]

Tator: Thanks so much for the input. Looks like you owned Oz for about 20 years. I’ll attach what I have on the spreadsheet for further input. Do you know the name of the new owner and or whether it’s still in Hobart Bay ?
What engine and Plan is the Oz? I show her as a 1979 Hull #17, but that may be off. Thanks again. Capt. Dave

I don't remember the early names of Oz other than the previous name-Williwaw. There were many old surveys that might have that info that we left on board for the new owner, David Jorgenson(sen?). He lives in Hobart Bay where he is the caretaker for 40k thousand acres the tribal corporation owns around the bay. He and his partner occasionally come into Petersburg on Oz to provision and take care of business. She is powered by twin 120 Lehmans. Not sure what you are referring to as far as "plan" and I don't remember the hull #. We loved her and missed not being out on the waters of SE Alaska. This past summer we chartered, with some friends, a 68' Williard out of Petersburg.

Tator

 

[Capt. Dave]

Thanks Tator. Glad to learn your BW is in good hands and in use out of Hobart Bay. I kept my BW for about 12 years and can remember so many fond memories on board a very sound and safe trawler. I’ll keep on the hunt for the original owner/name prior to Williwaw. Thanks again.

 

[Capt. Dave]

I just located the photo I mentioned previously that shows off-loading of my 40’ BW - Hull #11. After months of commissioning, she was named Christiana II - and is now named Chez Maree. Ready to attach a line, we nervously stood by on the bow of the tow vessel that was another 40’ BW called S-Cro - Hull #8 - and is now named Rendezvous. The location was beside an Indian freighter at a dock in San Francisco and the photo was taken in 1973. She was towed without incident to the Lowrie Yacht Basin in San Rafael, CA where other Ta Chiao BW trawlers and misc. CT ketches were being commissioned. A great day indeed. Capt. Dave

 

[Bmarler]

Dave,
I’m looking at the boat in the slings and it appears to be the bluewater I saw for sale in Portland a while back. This boat had a reduced width salon and walk around decks. There can’t have been many produced that way, as the full width salon is so nice.

 

[Capt. Dave]

Bmarler you are so correct. Thanks for catching. I should have looked closer. I was so focussed on just finding the lost photo that I failed to realize the offloading was of another BW.
I’m definitely on the bow of S-Cro, but am just guessing she must have been fully commissioned and that Fred Burger (1st owner) agreed to allow the dealer to use his BW for the tow. (They often used other BWs for towing new BWs that arrived as deck cargo on various freighters.). My vessel was delivered the same way but on a different day. And for sure it was the wide salon “Acapulco L” plan with a u shaped galley and table on stbd.
Now for the mystery of which narrow salon BW this was. Indeed there were very few. Perhaps you and Simon can help as I sort through my spreadsheet that is still being created and tweaked. Yes, there was a beautiful 1980 BW for sale in Portland and it had the narrow salon. That BW might have been “Athena” but that’s just a guess so far. If so, she was sold in 2015 by Boatshed to ‘Airstream345’ and has been re-named “STE-LIN-TIME”.
See photo). It’s also way beyond an off-load date that I would have witnessed.
The two BWs that were just ahead of mine (#9, #10) were “STARGAZER” 1973 and then “OLA NANI” 1973. One of those could have had the narrow salon. I think Stargazer went to Huntington Beach and OLA NANI went to Honolulu. And so the research continuous with contributions most welcomed.
Capt. Dave