Hove to off Swan Point

Recently there have been a few comments on the Ourhouse Page that could use a wider audience. With the implied consent of Jppe, Peter and Colin here are the recent comments; mostly concerning Sjogin’s name origin.

Here is Jppe’s Comment on Sjogin’s name. I was told by the widow of the second owner that the name came for a very loose anagram of his name, Joe Shinn. If you say the name to yourself you hear how easy to mash up the syllables. Though the suggestion that her name means sea-going has appeal. Even though she’s never been to sea as far as I know.

“Over the time I had seen this lovely boat in WoodenBoat. In last issue, you came up with the mysterious origin of Sjogin. My own thoughts in that direction is danish because of her stern. She is more danish than swedish. If swedish, it had to be the part of Sweden next to Denmark. The name is not so strange. After a short time, the word sjøgang came up. This means the way and how, but also in Danish and Swedish the sea walks in the wind. Sjø is danish for sea. Sjö is swedish for the same. Ø and ö is also the same letter. Gang is the same as going. In norwegian we use the word gange for the way you walk. I think that from scandinavian to english, the word sjøgang turned over to sjogin, that for me is closer to danish way of speaking. The letter ø is the same as the u in the english word turn. The sj is a way of wisling, as chalk without the first t when spoken. The a in gang is spoken like the a i part or barn. In scandinavian we put words together to a new one. Sjø and gang is two different words put together to a new one. The danish stern in Sjogin may be a relative to the wiking ships stern. I wish you a happy new sailing year with Sjogin. Me myself is sailing in the Oslofjord in Norway with short trips to near by Sweden and eventually longer to Denmark and the Norwegian south coast with my Maxi Fenix named Tootikki after Tove Jansons Moomin troll figure.”

Here’s the comment from Peter in Scotland.  Further evidence of Sjogin’s cousins.  Here’s the link to the Orkney Yole Association.  Seems the Yole’s have a finer stern with easy buttocks and a straight sternpost.  Sjogin has a fuller stern and curved sternpost.  Sure looks like she would be at home in the Orkneys.

“I’ve been reading your blog with interest for some time now. I would agree with Jppe’s comments about the origins of your fine boat. Here in northern Scotland we share the same boat origins. We have developed over time our own version of Sjogin. We call them ‘yoles’ or ‘yawls’ and they have been tailored to suit the seas around us. I would refer you to the website of the ‘Orkney Yole Association’. I’m sure you will spot the similarities.
Sail on,
Peter Sw.”

Finally, here’s a comment from Colin, also in the Orkneys.  Indeed, they are Viking designs all.  Though the only thing this Viking lays waste to is sausage bread.

“I have been reading about you in WoodenBoat. I own an Orkney Yole named Bee from the island of Stroma. She is almost identical to Sjogin. 25ftLOA 10ft beam.
The original boat was built in 1904 at Mey in Caithness in Scotland. I will send you pictures if you give me an email address.
This is a Viking design!
Colin”

I sent Colin my contact details and look forward to posting pics of his boat.

Of course I can’t miss an opportunity for a pic or two.

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Lightly frozen in a few weeks ago. Always cozy below.

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Seems we’re having a bit of snow this winter. But it’s mid-February and Spring sailing beckons. (With the stove crackling below of course.)

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Sjogin’s new bespoke Paul Smith chopping block. Simple with a Sandy backstory.

The heart of Sjogin glows again. Her Sardine wood stove is back in place and providing the usual quick sizzles and cups of something nourishing. It was first installed in the Spring of 2003 (Thanks Bob!) and has been providing warmth and comfort ever since. (Sandy lay up time sadly excluded.)

Having the stove available has slowed down progress on refitting the admittedly meager cabin furniture. The berth flat still needs to be spilled to the profile of the new ceiling but is now shimmed enough to be useful as is the galley box. It’s just too tempting to eat, drink and stretch out to read.

Once the berth is secure, a platform for the galley box will be built. The forward end will serve as a seat to tend the stove. It’ll be about the same height as the berth flat/seat. Stay tuned.

Here are some pics from the last few weeks:

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since the shape of the frames changed and with new ceiling pieces it was necessary to do some creative planing.

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Showing the effects of a decade of hard use and a dunking by Sandy.

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Fitting the stove pipe and bolting the stove in place. Almost ready.

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Finally. Even at my glacial pace, it’s been too long. Of course with the first fire since Sandy we have the first sausage bread sizzle. When the third piece was just right, I cut it up and brought it to the woodshop crew. Very well received.

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A bit further along. Note the bright light forward. It’s all due to the round deck prism Paul installed when the deck work was done. Quite a difference.

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First read of the hot stove season. Here Ms. Prim is being plied with something nourishing. Always a pleasure to re-read the The Compleat Cruiser by L. Francis Herreshoff.

More soon though it may just be more of the above.

Both full and junior size Sjogin’s are underway.

There’s a nice Thread on the WoodenBoat Forum about a Sjogin 3 (the 19′ version) being built in southwest France. Here’s the link to the Thread and a few pics showing the builders fine work.

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Station molds done. These are to be set up on a strongback and will define the shape of the hull.

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This is what you need to do when natural timbers can’t be found. It’s actually stronger.

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Starting to look like a boat. Notice the kids doodles?

There’s also word of a full size Sjogin to be built in Blue Hill, Maine by my friend Steve Brookman. He’s a long time Sjogin fan as can be seen from this page from his Traditional Small Craft website. Steve originally planned to build the 19′ version but since he now has a larger building space, he’ll be building the full size version. I hope it’s the gaff yawl version.

Steve also built a full model of Sjogin 3. Here are a few pics of same. More fine work.

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This is the 19′ Sjogin 3 version all framed up.

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Working on a model like this helps the builder work out details prior to building full size.

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It was a thrill to see Sjogin’s little sister in the flesh. Nice work Steve.

And here’s a pic of your very happy Skipper with the WoodenBoat Sjogin issue. Available at your better magazine stores. Still can’t wipe that smile of my face.

Thanks all for following along on this journey.

After picking away at an article for WoodenBoat magazine for the last five years or so and delayed by the Sandy repairs, Sjogin has pride of place on the cover of the current issue to go along with her story.

Amazing photo by the very talented Jay Fleming. Once again hove to off Swan Point.

Here are a few sample photos sent to me by Jay after the photo shoot in late August:

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Reaching along the marsh by Sloop Point. Jay took most of these from his kayak.

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Hove to again in just enough breeze. We had an early start, hoping to have early sunrise light but found a hazy light overcast morning. Probably just as well from the photographer’s standpoint.

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Jay must have taken twenty minutes to get just the right shot hanging off the dock when we returned to Beaton’s. Note all the dings and dents from a well sailed life.

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Finally a portrait of your extremely happy Skipper.

Hope you enjoy the article; WoodenBoat is available at most chain bookstores and larger newsstands. There were more things I wanted to cover in the article such as a brief history of Beaton’s and their place in local sailing history and more about the WoodenBoat Forum where this all started but editors edit and here we are. As I said to Matt Murphy at WB, I guess that’s what books are for.