bshanafelt
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2007
- Messages
- 439
- Vessel Name
- Isobel K
- Vessel Make
- 37' Custom Pilothouse
My vessel is a custom built pilothouse trawler, named Isobel K (after the builders wife).
The boat is classic cold-molded construction using 5 layers of western red cedar strips and epoxy resulting in a hull thickness of 1 5/8".
Let' just say that when I first saw her, that was pretty much it. I was pleased to purchase her in 2002.
She was built in a boatshed in Canoe Cove BC shown in picture 1.
The project was begun in 1990 and she launched 8 years later in 1998.
Probably the most impressive part of the story is the builder Rod Knight who was 80 years of age when he started the project.
He is seen in the 2nd picture at launch at the fine age of 88.
Of additional interest is the fact that Isobel K was not Rod's first boat build.
In Picture 3, Manathine is shown next to Isobel. Manathine was built during the 60's and is a 46' Ed Monk ketch.
Rod then took his wife and 2 kids aboard for a shakedown cruise down the coast from BC to Acapulco then to Hawaii before returning to Victoria (a 5+month trip)
After some refitting, they then (again with kids aboard) set off for the Galapagos, Marquesas and other exotic ports south.
We were aware of much of this history when I purchased Isobel K.
At that time Rod was still alive, in fact he lived an active and thriving life to 102 years of age.
While we made numerous attempts to meet him in person over the years, we were not able to ever have that meeting.
This summer however, we did meet one of Rod's sons in Victoria face to face.
We had an exceptional discussion with him and his wife about his Dad, this boat and some of the amazing adventures that were characteristic of this man.
These photo's are courtesy of his son.
All this to say, great man, great builder, great boat.
The boat is classic cold-molded construction using 5 layers of western red cedar strips and epoxy resulting in a hull thickness of 1 5/8".
Let' just say that when I first saw her, that was pretty much it. I was pleased to purchase her in 2002.
She was built in a boatshed in Canoe Cove BC shown in picture 1.
The project was begun in 1990 and she launched 8 years later in 1998.
Probably the most impressive part of the story is the builder Rod Knight who was 80 years of age when he started the project.
He is seen in the 2nd picture at launch at the fine age of 88.
Of additional interest is the fact that Isobel K was not Rod's first boat build.
In Picture 3, Manathine is shown next to Isobel. Manathine was built during the 60's and is a 46' Ed Monk ketch.
Rod then took his wife and 2 kids aboard for a shakedown cruise down the coast from BC to Acapulco then to Hawaii before returning to Victoria (a 5+month trip)
After some refitting, they then (again with kids aboard) set off for the Galapagos, Marquesas and other exotic ports south.
We were aware of much of this history when I purchased Isobel K.
At that time Rod was still alive, in fact he lived an active and thriving life to 102 years of age.
While we made numerous attempts to meet him in person over the years, we were not able to ever have that meeting.
This summer however, we did meet one of Rod's sons in Victoria face to face.
We had an exceptional discussion with him and his wife about his Dad, this boat and some of the amazing adventures that were characteristic of this man.
These photo's are courtesy of his son.
All this to say, great man, great builder, great boat.