62' Geary Schooner (1920) - RED JACKET

Excerpt from the Classic Yacht Association:

The schooner Red Jacket was an early design by Ted Geary, and has had a long and illustrious life. She has always been a private yacht and has suffered numerous mishaps over the years – a typhoon, two fires, one sinking and the loss of her keel to name a few.

“Red Jacket” was built in the NW in 1920 by Blanchard Boat Co and Designed by Ted Geary. Geary is a highly reputable NW designer in both sail and power designing such well known vessels as the fantail yachts “Malibu” (also built by Blanchard), “Thea Foss”, “Blue Peter” and “Gosling”. He also designed sailboats. “Sir Tom” and “Pirate” which won most of the West Coast competitive races of their time. “Red Jacket” is of such pedigree.

“Red Jacket” was originally built and launched on Seattle’s Lake Union and named ‘Katedna” which was named for the owner Fred Baxter’s wife Kate Edna McGraw the daughter of the states 2nd Governor. Frank was the Vice Commodore of Seattle Yacht Club and participated in the first Opening Day Ceremony with “Katedna”. She was then sold in 1921 to a LA banker whom sailed her to Australia for their honeymoon.Upon her return she was sold to a California land developer Otto Wildey, who was the first Commodore of the California Yacht Club at Wilmington, and whose company built the Los Angeles Coliseum. In 1925 they cruised the South Seas for 5 years.

In 1933 she was purchased by George Webb who brought her back up to Seattle and renamed her “Red Jacket” after Chief Red Jacket a prominent Seneca orator who wore a red uniform coat given to him by a British soldier.In 1935 she was purchased by Paul Henry who was the incoming Seattle Yacht Club Commodore who had Geary redesign the rig and transform “Red Jacket” into the most elegant sailing yacht in Seattle.In 1950 something, George Parsons became caretaker of Red Jacket.  George Parsons was an avid yacht racer campaigning Red jacket in decades of Northwest Races.  Records of  International Yacht race “Swiftsure” show many entries and a well regarded racing record.

From 1990 to 2019 Terry and Renee Paine were the lucky caretakers.  They put much love and time into her over those precious decades.  Terry rigged her for nearly singlehanded sailing with furlers on 3 of the 5 sails.  Many items were addressed under his watch.  Rebuild of the deck, new tankage, repower of her auxiliary diesel, complete rebuild of the spars….That brings us to today.

Longship Marine, otherwise known as Nico and Aaron.  We took over stewardship October 2019.  She’s consumed us the last year starting with a haul out to address anti-fouling, two dutchmen repairs, one plank, through bolting of her chain plates, and strip and re-varnish of the transom with a new, hand painted name plate. Once in the water we began replacement of spreaders, removal and repaint of her booms, partial rerig, new sail covers and canvas deck covers, removal of two furlers and return to hank-on sails, repair and repaint of her decks, strip and re-varnish of the focsle, cap rails, and steering box. She was a sailing machine spring through fall, bringing much joy to her crew. Presently she sits at anchor in Liberty Bay and enjoys an occasional Sunday winter sail when the weather behaves.

Spring 2021 brings her new chapter of chartering Puget Sound with Captain Tami Allen of Bainbridge Island.

Keel Laid 1919, splashed 1920
Builder: Blanchard Boat Co.
Designer: L.E. Ted Geary
Previous Names: Katedna
Rig: Staysail Schooner
LOA: 72ft
Max Draft: 8ft
Beam: 14’2″
Hull Displacement: 58,000lbs
Length on deck: 62ft
Length at waterline: 54ft
Sail area: 2050sf
Fuel Tank: (2) x 150gal.
Water Tank: (2) SS 300gal
Holding Tank: 30gal
Keel Type: Full
Hull Planking: Carvel Planked, 2″ Port Orford cedar,
Frames: Alternating Steam Bent and Sawn Frames White Oak 2-1/4″-2-3/8″ on approx. 12″ centers
Plank Fastenings: Galvanized Steel Screws
Stem: Hardwood
Keelson: White oak sided 16″
Ballast Keel: External cast lead approx. 14,000lbs
Floor Timbers: White Oak
Exterior Decks: Alaskan yellow cedar with painted fiberglass overlay
Coach Roof: Marine plywood with fiberglass sheathing over bright finished red cedar tongue and groove.
Cabin Sides: Solid Teak Cabin Sides
Cabin Sole: 5/8″ Tongue and Groove Varnished Angelique
Transom: Varnished Mahogany

Deck/Mast/Rigging/Sails:
Electric windlass with capstan and chain wildcat
175# Navy anchor
275ft 7/16″ G4 chain
Mast & Booms: Laminated spruce linear polyurethane painted
Bowsprit & Boomkin: Varnished laminated spruce

Chain Plates: Silicon Bronze 1/2″ thick x 36″ long 2 per side
Winches: 2 primary Merriman #6 sheet winches
2 secondaries, 1 Merriman #6
Lewmar ST55 for Main Halyard and Mainsheet
5 Bronze winches mast mounted

Sails: Dacron
Hankon Main Staysail,
Hankon Fore Staysail,
Full Batten Main,
Fisherman Topsail
Jib/Genoa on Harken Furling

Engine:
Isuzu diesel model 4JB1 NA 75 HP Repowered 1995 with major overhaul 2020
Borg Warner Velvet Drive 10-17004 transmission with 1:1 ration
Vee-Drive-Walter RV-20 w/ 2.05:1 gear ratio
1 belt driven 12V alternators