Owner’s Description
Lightning Bird is a 25′ 1938 Ben Seaborn design built in Seattle by Norm Blanchard. She is made with red cedar over white oak frames. Lightning Bird was commissioned for the owner of Seattle Cedar Lumber Company. Luckily, I purchased Lightning Bird from John Goodfellow back in 2008. Brad Rice (The Boatwright) had been taking care of the boat and did many upgrades for John including installation of a new 2GM20-16hp Yanmar engine. The previous owners had an outboard on the stern. I sold Lightning Bird in 2011 to get a Doughdish (Herreshoff 12 1/2) and felt guilty ever since. A few years ago, I was at the Wooden Boat Festival and saw her sister sitting on the hard needing new frames and planking. They had a flyer on the boat talking about her (Juna) and Lightning Bird was described in the listing as having possibly fallen in disrepair and was most likely gone. I was sick. I called a friend that always admired her when I owned her and told him that he should buy Juna and restore her. He told me that he had bought LB in 2017, and had worked on her off and on for 3 years and was going to launch her. I offered to help. After getting her launched, about a week later he called and asked if I wanted to buy her back. My response was “hell yes” and now she is back in my care. With the help of a shipwright, Dennis had put a new canvas deck and horn timber in her. I have since put all new standing and running rigging on, a new bronze keel bolt and floor timbers. After having to remove the cabin sole and furniture, I replaced the sole and remade the berths with mahogany to match what Brad had done in the galley and engine compartment area. I am looking forward to sailing her back to the Wooden Boat Festival in 2023
In 2022, I replaced the cockpit sole with teak on marine plywood and added a bronze access hatch. I had this laser engraved with her name, year and builder info (see photos)
My wife Paula and I sail her out of Squalicum Marina in Bellingham, WA
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4 thoughts on “25' Seaborn/Blanchard Sloop (1938) - LIGHTNING BIRD”
Owner’s Description
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4 thoughts on “25' Seaborn/Blanchard Sloop (1938) - LIGHTNING BIRD”
Lightning Bird is a beauty. I’ve been lucky to sail her with Dave. She’s light on her feet and dances across the water. Pure poetry in motion- what makes us love boats and sailing.
What a wonderful story! She’s a beauty!!
Beautifully proportioned. Looks like a bigger boat. Very nice looking.
Lovely boat.