Our family of five has been sea kayaking and canoeing for several years around the islands and coastline of Maine’s mid-coast. Paddling took us where we wanted to go, but on some days when a breeze came up and we were fighting headwinds home, I started to think about a larger boat, one that would sail well to weather and would row easily when the wind died. I wanted it to have some of the simplicity of our kayaks or canoes and allow us to continue day-trip exploration and overnight adventures. The gunter rig comes into its own in a 10-knot breeze and the boat can get up to 6 knots and better.
Buzz Bilik
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We were impressed with the Penobscot 17 as well and owned a schooner rig, beautifully fitted out by Turner Matthews and Bob Pitt. She was well travelled with previous owners Turner and Doug Engh, having attended the Small Reach Regatta, Mid Atlantic Small Craft Festival, Cedar Key, and Florida 120. A proven camper cruiser and very fast under the schooner rig. And a real head turner. She has a new home in Pensacola nearby. We are currently building her little sister, the Penobscot 14.
You can read a bit about her on our Small Boat Restoration blog.
Great blog, Kent! I would love to see her set up for camp cruising!
Great looking boat and build. Good choice of rig. I sail the Maine Mid Coast every year at the end of August to the beginning September—maybe we will cross paths sometime.
A new owner of a Penobscot 17′ from the Chesapeake Bay, but built in Pennsylvania, I am in love with this “beautiful swimmer.” I have moved her south to North Carolina so she can join in with a fleet of other traditional small-craft skiffs sailing the southern Outer Banks near Cape Lookout. I did have to cut out and re-fabricate a new mahogany centerboard because it was permanently wedged from warping and internal obstruction. I love the way she begs to sail, so easy an attitude and glides through the water with grace!
I look forward to introducing her to her sailing heritage after having been garaged for the past decade! I know she will turn heads wherever we go. Thank you for this article. As a life-long sailor and restorer of small craft, I am smitten!
I built the same boat beginning in 2009—schooner rig. I had the same problem with the centerboard. My advice to a new builder would be to be careful that the material for the centerboard are dry and use several—three to five—pieces glued up to make the full width. I used white oak but the pieces were wider—hence the cupping.
Recently bought the plans from Arch, and I’m setting up shop and will take the Penobscot 13 course at WoodenBoat School this summer. Not new to inshore or offshore boats, but never sailed. My wife said: “But you will flip the boat.” Knowing nothing, I said: “Not if I pull the line from a jam cleat and drop the sail.” I hope I’m right. Really looking forward to starting the class.
The easiest way to avoid flipping the boat is to leave the main sheet in your hand. A small boat will react to gusts so fast you will not be able to uncleat the halyard in time, but you can always ease the sheet. For years I sailed a Comet, a 300-lb boat with 125 sq ft of sail and was able to avoid swamping it, although couple times I came really close. And always wear a life vest so when you flip the boat… Good luck with it.
I built my Penobscot 17 in 2012 and have sailed it in Monterey Bay. I did capsize moving along down wind and then jibing, she rolled over pretty quick. With two of us in the water, I climbed up on the hull and grabbed the centerboard, as the boat rolled back up my partner boarded and the boat floated with about 6″ of freeboard. I scampered aboard, and we were able to sail into the Santa Cruz Harbor. The fuel dock attendant gave us a 5 gallon bucket and we bailed her out. Nothing lost, nothing broken, except for a wet iPhone. I have since built a Somes Sound 12.5 which has a 600-lb keel, so I am looking to sell the Penobscot.
Nice article, Jim. I built one in 2014 and live in Friendship. We come to Round Pound often to eat lobsters. I like the idea of putting the boom to the right while rowing. This should make it easier to row. And it is beautiful to look at and fun to sail or row.
Thanks, Elliot. When we’re in Round Pond the boat is moored on the north side of the harbor, not far from the lobster docks. We are usually around either sailing or kayaking so hopefully we can run into you at some point. Would be fun to see your boat.
Great article. It’s a beautiful looking boat with great lines. Thank you.