Owner’s Description
BISH is a Murray Peterson SUSAN, 30′ Gaff topsail schooner he originally designed for use by he and his wife Susan for weekend outings in the 1930’s. The topsail plan was designed by his son Bill. The original sails were built by Nat Wilson of Booth Bay. He also made my sails just before having his son take over. You can follow the build on bischoffboatworks.com. It is not a commercial yard. I owned a branding firm so I have to name everything (sorry). It took 12 years to build. I work alone, 2 days a week. BISH is Port Orford Cedar on Tennessee White Oak frames. Teak deck laid on laminated Doug Fir deck beams. Purpleheart keel. All spars are solid Alaska Sitka Spruce.
The name BISH comes from my dad’s nickname. He was a California State worker, but was an armchair adventurer… with an emphasis on Canadien Voyaguers, wolves, canoes, explorers, tugboat captains. He was the founding president of the American Whitewater Association, American Canoe Association, American Square-dance Callers Association, American Speluncking Association, etc. He loved venturing out with me on my 37′ cutter and pretending he was an explorer. My wish is that his spirit of adventure lives on in this build.She launched in July 2022 at Canal Boatyard in Seattle. Masts were stepped and final rigging measurements taken. All rigging (except forestay which is stainless steel) is 7×7 galvanized wire from UK, parcel and served. Due to thinness of top mast, I had to hire a crane to fit the upper shrouds. She is currently at Edmonds Marina (F04) in Edmonds, WA. There is a feature article about the boat, including some sailing shots, in the March/April 2024 issue of Wooden Boat Magazine.
To see progress pictures of the build, go to http://bischoffboatworks.comPhotos
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21 thoughts on “29' Peterson Susan Schooner (2022) - BISH”
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21 thoughts on “29' Peterson Susan Schooner (2022) - BISH”
Impressive, indeed, Karl! …love of wood, work, family, attention to detail, a belief in the value of the pursuit of excellence …all things that Murray Peterson valued, pursed and espoused in his work and personal life. BISH should have all the qualities necessary for fine sailing and continued, romantic adventuring after launching, both arm-chair and actual. Sails, and gams below, aboard SUSAN with Murray and Sue are among my favorite memories. Fair breezes! -Art
Great progress Karl since I last visited the shop, back in the good old days. From the engine room, the interior looks spacious. Can’t wait to see it in the water (the boat, not the engine.) I’ll be back in a few weeks for work, so let’s go sailing! Bob B.
Karl!!!
Absolutely classic. Love every bit of the Bisch.
MK
Karl!!!
Absolutely classic. Love every bit of the Bisch.
MK
Thanks for visiting!
Breathtaking! Greatly appreciate all you are doing with so much love and respect. Delighted to be able to see your work. These pages in this virtual boat show make me long to again be around creative, thoughtful, interested and interesting people and their boats. Building our own boat was an especially wonderful experience. Will follow up on your website.
Thanks so much for visiting my page. Hopefully when we get this puppy in the water we can meet up somewhere out there!
Thanks so much for visiting my page. If I can ever get this puppy in the water, I hope to see you out there!
Lovely boat and beautiful workmanship! I love the Murray Peterson Schooners. Can’t wait to see her out on the Salish Sea. Look for me on Cape George 31’ Cutter, ‘Tally Ho!’ Carry on with your wonderful work!
Thanks Scott. I sure hope we get to have a Wooden Boat Festival this year. There is a 50/50 chance I’ll splash before that, but hopefully will see you there (with or without BISH).
Wouldn’t that be great! A quick question-
What paint are you using in your interior? Mine is due, and yours has a nice color and sheen. Building some laminated teak and yellow cedar hanging knees, so of course, I need to repaint the house sides! Hope your beautiful boat is coming along well.
I use Marshall’s Cove paint everywhere. He personally makes the paint on Bainbridge Island. I used Cream gloss on the hull, yacht white gloss elsewhere, and off-white satin on the interior.
Thank you so much! I was just about to buy the off-white satin, but thought it might be too ‘cream’. I can see in your pics that it looks perfect! Besides, I grew up on Bainbridge Island.
A very beautiful boat and fine choice of designer. Any cruising plans upon completion?
I had a glass boat (Eglantine… a Bob Perry Tayana 37 cutter) for 35 years set up for cruising. I just turned 69, so this boat is non-varnish, no electronics, no electrical and a hand crank SABB engine. I imagine I will be doing local singlehanded cruising only (including Barkley Sound and Big Bay).
Barkley is my favourite! Hope we can sail in BC this summer, but not looking good.
BISH is coming along so beautifully! A fitting tribute and a great way to carry on the family tradition of adventuring afloat.
I agree it’s a tribute to my dad. Altho…. there is NO WAY he would ever fit in the saloon on this boat (for others: Bish was a big guy.. 6’6″ and 250 lbs)
By the by, my humble entry here is named ‘Whisp’R’.
Long ago, I was a ‘black shoe’ enlisted Navy Machinist Mate (E6), I could gladly make my berth in that engine room and be a happy sailor. Beautiful craft and beautiful work.
Press forward BISH, always forward!
Your Dad’s spirit will certainly be with you on your future adventures into the wilds….
I guess it’s from 8 years of living aboard, but the smell of diesel (other than in a rolling sea) does not bother me. Thanks for the compliment. As it says on my website: Compliments accepted, criticisms deleted. I have a painting of my dad with a Greek fisherman’s hat and smoking his pipe…. I look silly in one and even sillier with the other 😉