cape cod knockabout sailboat

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The Kin of Cape Cod Shipbuilding

• By Joe Berkeley
• Updated: July 13, 2021

Wendy Goodwin had been so busy running Cape Cod Shipbuilding, the 122-year-old family business, she didn’t have time to have a family of her own. Then the pandemic hit, the opportunity arose, and she began the process of fostering to adopt an 8-year-old girl.

On a day in early spring, when the sun shines on the Cape and the winter is almost forgotten, Goodwin’s daughter is in her office attending math class remotely. Goodwin is in a spare room, once the domain of the parts manager. Long before that, this space was where her grandfather, Les Goodwin, slept with his ballerina bride, Audrey, in the early days after they purchased the boatyard.

The place today certainly looks its age. Past Cranberry Highway, on the south side of the two-lane Narrows Road, a sign welcomes visitors onto the waterfront property along the swift-running Wareham River, which feeds into Buzzards Bay. A dozen buildings of different sizes and shapes are strewn about the 9.5-acre grounds. Most wear their patina of age with pride. All serve their purpose. No one ever said that a working shipyard had to be fancy, but quite a few boats inside and under Cape Cod’s care certainly are.

The past here is omnipresent. Outdated molds gather moss and have become part of the landscape, proving the longevity of fiberglass. Old-growth wooden floors inside the buildings are worn smooth by generations of boatbuilders. Big machines, lathes, jigs and tools created by dearly departed artisans live on, ready to put in an honest day’s work on designs that may well be immortal.

A nautical archeologist would have a field day here; it seems that bits of the past are behind every open door or cracked windowpane. Beneath these buildings and buried deep in the soil, he or she could very well unearth artifacts from the late 1800s, the time when—according to local historians—brothers Myron and Charles Gurney were manufacturing wagons and carriages on the western bank of the river. The Gurney brothers later got into skiffs and dories, and then ­sailboats—namely the Cape Cod Knockabout, an 18-foot one-design by Charles Gurney, first built in 1925 and still raced in parts of New England.

Upon the passing of Charles Gurney, a fellow by the name of G.S. Williams took ownership in 1935, but according to company legend, Wendy Goodwin’s grandfather Les Goodwin, a dealer from New Jersey, bought the company after visiting to complain about the quality of the builds he was selling. He and Audrey relocated to Wareham and moved into the office to run the new company.

In 1940, so their story goes, Goodwin purchased the Sparkman & Stephens-designed Mercury and built more than 200 of them while also building military tugs and launches for the US Navy. Postwar production then returned to small craft and one-design sailboats. According to the company archives, the Goodwin family enjoyed a rush of fiberglass production: Herreshoff Bull’s Eyes (derived from the Herreshoff 12½) in 1949, followed by Ravens in 1951, the W. Starling Burgess-designed Atlantic in 1956, the Knockabout in 1959, and the Capt. Nathanael Herreshoff-designed Goldeneye in 1960. It was 1962 when now-Hall of Fame inductee Cornelius Shields turned to Goodwin to build his eponymous one-design, drawn by Sparkman & Stephens.

Goodwin’s son, Gordon L. Goodwin, began working full time for the family company in 1969 and led Cape Cod Shipbuilding through its next chapter as a full-service boatyard. As it should come as no surprise, in 1993, Wendy Goodwin joined and brought a generational trifecta to the yard. The following year, E.L. Goodwin passed away at the age of 95, right before the yard was contracted to build new boats for the Day Sailer one-design class, which continues to this day.

Family is the keel of Cape Cod Shipbuilding, and it has kept the business upright and on course for more than 100 years. Goodwin’s first memory of the shipyard is feeding ducks from the dock when she was 4 or 5 years old. When we meet in early April 2021, she was out of breath, having just launched a flotilla of docks, which marks the beginning of another busy season on Massachusetts’ south coast. It’s the ebb and flow of every New England boatyard: Good weather brings customers out of the woodwork, and on this day, Goodwin’s phone and email inbox are blowing up.

One of the many challenges of keeping this boatbuilding business afloat in the United States in general, and on Cape Cod in particular, is balancing repairs with new builds. When people are not commissioning new boats, Goodwin takes on more repairs. Managing customers’ expectations, she says, can be more challenging than managing the workflow. “The hard part is letting customers know that we have an abundance of new boat orders and we can’t get to a repair,” she says, “or vice versa.”

Some in the industry might call that a good problem to have. Diversification is a sound financial practice. It’s also a wise strategy for a boatbuilder.

“The fact that we don’t have all of our eggs in one basket is the reason why we are 122 years old,” Goodwin says. “We don’t do just one thing. Right now in my shop, we have three Day Sailerss, one Heritage, some Bull’s Eyes and Herreshoff 12½s. If I didn’t have the Herreshoff 12½s to varnish every year, we couldn’t keep the payroll going. There’s no one bread-and-butter boat.”

At times, being the president of the operation means difficult decisions must be made, such as retiring boats like the Cape Cod Knockabout, which are no longer financially viable. “Dad didn’t talk to me for a week after I decided that,” Goodwin says, “but it was the right decision for the company.”

Regarding Wendy’s work ethic, the tree isn’t far from the fruit. Gordon could be retired at his age, but instead, you’ll find him at the boatyard every day. “You’ve got to get out and get the men and get them going so they can build the boats so I can go home and put bread on the table,” he says.

Is building antique one-designs romantic? Wendy Goodwin laughs when I ask—it’s something she does quite frequently. “This is not a romantic job,” she says. “That’s how people sell books and ­stories—the romance of boatbuilding. In reality, boatbuilding is dirty and smelly. What I find fantastic are the relationships and connections I make with other people through boatbuilding.”

One of those people is Matt Holt, the new owner of an older boat. Holt lives in the British Virgin Islands, and his boat, Tern , is a Cape Cod Marlin, designed by Herreshoff and built at Cape Cod Shipbuilding in 1961.

Holt describes Tern as “your most comfortable pair of jeans,” and says before he took ownership, Tern was cared for by Englishman Dr. Robin Erskine Tattersall. Tattersall modeled for the famous photographer Richard Avedon, represented the BVI in the Soling class in two Olympic Games, and cared for the medical needs of his community.

For 40 years, Tattersall loved and sailed Tern . Two back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria, however, did a number on it. Tern ’s dock was ripped out, it was struck by numerous charter yachts, and partially sunk deep in the mangroves. Its spars were broken, but the hull was intact.

Tattersall sold Tern to Holt for $10, with the understanding that he was its new steward. Holt reached out to Goodwin, and a trip to the records room in Building No. 33 revealed that Tern had indeed been built by her grandfather in 1961, and she was able to locate the paperwork, which documented all of its parts.

The historical records collection at Cape Cod Shipbuilding is vast, not so much because grandpa Les Goodwin was trained as an archivist, but because he didn’t throw away anything. The old invoices, Goodwin says, are invaluable when new owners of older boats ­discuss refits. “The fact that these boats are going on three, four generations, it’s pretty awesome.”

Goodwin and her team were able to re-create a spirit of a ­traditional rig for Tern featuring a single extrusion tapered mast, a new boom, standing rigging, running rigging, sails and covers, all shipped to the BVI. “The crate they built for me was two-by-fours ­covered in carpet. The rigging was laced into the crate using the sails as cushion,” Holt says. “The two-by-fours were covered in plywood. They hit a home run with the delivery, which was no small feat getting it down to this little island in the Caribbean.”

This dedication to craftsmanship brings all types of customers back to Cape Cod Shipbuilding. One fan is Olympian, sailmaker and world champion of many classes Steve Benjamin, who once fell in love with Atlantic No. 128, Cassidy . Benjamin was struck by the beauty and sailing capabilities of the W. Starling Burgess design. He also was impressed by the competition, the camaraderie, and the opportunity for mature sailors to remain competitive.

A skipper known to keep his race boats in Bristol condition, Benjamin has refit at least 10 boats over the years. Cassidy needed new deadwood on the keel, which was completely waterlogged, a topsides paint job in Awlgrip, and a bottom job coated with Baltoplate.

Past Olympians are not the only sailors who enjoy boats built by Cape Cod Shipbuilding. Geordie Shaver has sailed in five America’s Cups, and these days he gets his kicks racing in Newport, Rhode Island’s cutthroat Shields fleet. Shaver estimates that 90 percent of the Newport Shields fleet were built by Cape Cod Shipbuilding. And when there is a problem, people are happy to have an active builder nearby.

Like many boatbuilders, Cape Cod Shipbuilding would like to receive group orders for one-design fleets because building one boat at a time is less efficient. In fact, if a group order of six boats arrives for a retired design, Cape Cod Shipbuilding is happy to build the boats.

With the Shields class, Goodwin says, the goal is to always keep things one-design. “We’re walking a fine line keeping the class alive and making sure the competition is fair,” she says. “I don’t want the new boats to be slower or faster than the existing boats. We’re loyal to all of our fleets to make sure things don’t change.”

After listening to all of her customers, Goodwin noticed that many Herreshoff 12½ owners were tired of wrestling with outboards and outboard brackets. Looking to the future, Cape Cod Shipbuilding invested in crafting a redesigned Cape Cod Marlin Heritage. Designed by Herreshoff, the classic combines the best of the Fish and Marlin designs, and offers modern amenities such as inboard power, an iPod-ready sound system, and USB charger ports. A just-built flag-blue example sits on a railway cradle that leads to the water, freshly varnished brightwork shining like a gem.

No amount of cajoling will get Goodwin to name her favorite boat at Cape Cod Shipbuilding, but she will admit that the boat the family owns is a Shields. She was the Shields-class secretary for quite a few years and co-wrote a book about the class turning 50. “I adore the racing and the competition,” she says. “There’s nothing I like better than getting together in the cockpit and working together to make the boat move. It’s about the people in the cockpit and the smarts that’s shared between them.”

Goodwin’s love of sailing would strike a chord with her grandfather Les, who once wrote, “Sailing is a family sport that can be enjoyed by young and old together, so I hope my little girl may learn to sail, race and love small sailboats as real insurance against becoming a ‘sailboat widow.’”

In due time, Goodwin may well say the same thing to her daughter, who, should she keep up with her math homework, could be the next Goodwin to keep Cape Cod Shipbuilding sailing into the future. ν

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Cape Cod Knockabout

February 11, 2010 by Sail1Design Editor Leave a Comment

A Cape Cod Knockabout is a one-design class of 18-foot sailboat sailed primarily out of Upper Cape harbors in Massachusetts. Knockabouts were designed by Charles S. Gurney and were popular in the 1940s and well into the 1970’s with fleets of 50-60 boats at the annual regatta of the Knockabout Class. There are still active racing fleets in Megansett (North Falmouth), Waquoit (East Falmouth), Lewis Bay (Yarmouth), and Woods Hole (Falmouth). Many knockabouts throughout Southern New England are still used for pleasure sailing. The Town of Yarmouth Recreation Department owns and runs the Lewis Bay fleet where most of their 15 boats are used for sail training. Yarmouth also maintains a select group of their knockabouts for their racing program. The Cape Cod Knockabout Association holds an annual regatta each summer which is held at one of the above four locations on a rotating basis. Nearly 20 boats attend this regatta each year. Local fleets are generally increasing their numbers. Cape Cod Ship Building in Wareham manufactures the boat.

Crew: 2 sailors.

Length: 19’

Hull weight: 650 lbs.

Main and Jib Sail Area: 187 square feet.

Spinnaker Sail Area: 150 square feet.

Class Association:

http://www.ccknockaboutclass.org

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Junior Knockabout

A vintage daysailer emerges from hibernation.

Cape Cod Shipbuilding has been a prolific producer of daysailers, one-designs, and cruiser/overnighter sailboats since 1899. While the focus in recent years has been on fiberglass, the yard began the century building in wood.

An early design, now retired, was a small wooden daysailer known as the Junior. A classy looking one-design, it is 15 feet long, lapstrake, with a 4' 10.5" beam, and carries a Marconi rig with 98 square feet of mainsail, a 13' boom, and a 15-square-foot, club-footed jib. The Junior can be sailed in shallow waters with an adjustable centerboard, and,  with its beam and high bow, it also handles well in a moderate chop. But rarely does one spot a Cape Cod Junior, especially one that is 91 years old (1930), in Bristol condition, and ready to race around the buoys.

That is until now.

A Junior that came to Maine three generations ago has been meticulously restored and is now a regular presence in South Freeport.

Cape Cod Shipbuilding produced Juniors until sometime in the 1930s, according to company president Wendy Goodwin, whose grandfather bought the company in 1939. The design had been discontinued before then, she explained.

Originally named Lao-Tze , meaning “Old Man” in Chinese, this Junior was sailed for years by the Chapman family and friends off Wildwood Beach on Cumberland Foreside, Maine. From the late 1960s to 1982, it was stored in a garage while providing luxurious digs for wayward chipmunks. Then in 1984, family members Marc Miller and Julia Lockwood stepped up to save the boat. They moved the noble but failing craft to their shed in South Freeport, and with help from an apprentice from the WoodenBoat School, they began the resurrection. The ribs, decking, planking, thwarts, finishes, and the mast all needed work. Following extensive repairs, they trailered Lao-Tze to a quiet cove and slipped it into shallow water for a few days to allow the bottom planks to swell up tight. The launching was a quiet event; there were no speeches, no champagne, no heavily decorated Admirals, no prayers, no band, no lobster bake or fish fry, no flags fluttering, no fireworks, no flyovers, and no singing of the National Anthem. It was just a backyard project that saved an important family heirloom.

But the story does not end here. Miller and Lockwood put the Junior back in the shed for more rest, from 1984 to 2021. They were sailing, instead, on a J24 sailboat that got them to wherever they wanted to go and had room for their family.

Those 37 years on the hard took a toll on the Junior; light leaked through the lapstrake planking. Another level of general repairs and a high level of finishing was called for.

Rather than do the work themselves again, the owners put up a poster at nearby Strouts Point Wharf offering the boat and its trailer for free to anyone willing to fix them up. Leon Rioux, a talented boatwright who works at the yard saw the sign and went to check out the boat. “My boss told me the job was right up my alley,” he recalled. Rioux transported the antique Junior, and its broken-down trailer to his home, where restoring both became his winter project.

Over the winter he refastened, caulked, faired, fitted, and refinished. The Junior, which Rioux refers to as “The Crown Jewel,” now sports new sails, a new rubrail, a newly painted white hull, and varnished spars, deck, and coaming. The results are true to classic designs of the era that included the Mercury 15, Bulls Eye 15, and Herreshoff 15.

Rioux has enjoyed sailing the boat. “It handles beautifully,” he said. He added that the newly restored boat has been a big attention-getter in the yard as older customers have told him stories about sailing Juniors in their youth.

Boats like this have a place in museums, but this revamped Junior now rocks gently at a slip at Strouts Point Wharf, waiting for a fresh breeze.  

Bob Knecht is a broker at Town & Shore Real Estate in Portland.

Cape Cod Junior Knockabout

LWL:  13' 6"

Main Sail Area:  113 sq. ft. (Marconi rig)

Cape Cod Shipbuilding Co.

Wareham, MA

508-295-3550

capecodshipbuilding.com

Restoration:

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Cape cod knockabout

The cape cod knockabout is a 18.0ft fractional sloop designed by charles s. gurney and built in wood or fiberglass by cape cod shipbuilding since 1925., 2700 units have been built..

The Cape cod knockabout is an ultralight sailboat which is a very high performer. It is reasonably stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a racing boat.

Cape cod knockabout for sale elsewhere on the web:

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1935 18' CLASSIC CAPE COD KNOCKABOUT SLOOP

Description

Seller's Description

NAME : MAYALINDA MODEL : Cape Cod Knockabout, Lake George Fin Keel Version YEAR BUILT : 1935 LOA : 18′ Beam : 6′ Draft : 3′ 0 Displacement : 1500# (including 900 # lead ballast keel)

Builder : Cape Cod Shipbuilding Company

Designer : Charles S. Gurney

Location : Sarasota, Florida

MAYALINDA is a classic 1935 wooden sailboat that has undergone a recent (completed Fall, 2023) full restoration including a complete new centerline, new laminated white oak frames, new garboards, new deck planks and canvas deck. She is all bronze fastened and includes all original antique bronze hardware. Other than the garboards, all of the planking is original. The garboards came from another Cape Cod Knockabout of the same vintage that was acquired for parts during the restoration. The original transom was used in the restoration but with a white oak veneer laminated on the surface. The tiller, coaming and seating is original and all have received 10 coats of varnish. The original spars have received 12 coats of varnish. During the restoration, all of the bronze hardware was cleaned and stripped of paint that had built up over the years and then polished for a uniform finish that is now being allowed to weather to develop a rich patina. She come with 2 sets of sails. The tandem trailer has 4 new tires, 4 new hubs and bearings and new led lights and is included. The boat has a Florida title & registration & the trailer is registered in Florida. Although most of the Knockabouts built by Cape Cod Shipbuilding Company were centerboard boats, there were a small number built (records are sketchy and the exact number is uncertain) for Halls Boats in Lake George, New York. Halls sold them to the Lake George boating community & a one-design fleet held races on the lake for many years. It is believed that there are only 4 or 5 of these classics remaining.

Glenn Schroeder

Barnegat Bay Yacht Brokerage

609-312-8263

[email protected]

** THE CLASSICS ARE WHAT WE SELL **

THANK YOU, Glenn Schroeder

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Originally called the CAPE COD BABY KNOCKABOUT. Charles Gurney was the founder of Cape Cod Shipbuilding. Fiberglass construction was approved in 1960. Spinnakers were added in 1938. (150 sq. ft.). One of the most popular one-design classes in New England for many years. A fixed keel, ‘Lake George’ version (sailed at Lake George, NY USA), was also built.

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CAPE COD KNOCKABOUT Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of CAPE COD KNOCKABOUT. Built by Cape Cod Shipbuilding and designed by undefined, the boat was first built in 1925. It has a hull type of Centerboard Dinghy and LOA is 5.49. Its sail area/displacement ratio 35.24. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined.

CAPE COD KNOCKABOUT has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about CAPE COD KNOCKABOUT and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, contributions, who builds cape cod knockabout.

CAPE COD KNOCKABOUT is built by Cape Cod Shipbuilding.

When was CAPE COD KNOCKABOUT first built?

CAPE COD KNOCKABOUT was first built in 1925.

How long is CAPE COD KNOCKABOUT?

CAPE COD KNOCKABOUT is 4.72 m in length.

Member Boats at HarborMoor

Stuart Knockabout

L.f. herreshoff design 53, stuart knockabout: the legacy.

This boat is a descendant in a long line of great Herreshoff creations. In this case, L. Francis succeeded admirably in utilizing all his earlier experience and familiarity with his father's great designs, advancing them with his own independent genius and artistry. What evolved is his own pure creation, and an exceptional daysailer.

The Stuart Knockabout is a splendid example of her pedigree. She is exceptionally fast and, therefore, a joy to sail. She also has surprising power, considering her modest sail plan, and is not slowed perceptibly by an oncoming sea. She is comfortable and forgiving, and with every unnecessary piece of complicated gear absent, what is left is an uncluttered, simple, easily handled thoroughbred.

Every boat is, to some extent, some kind of compromise. But if you are looking for such attributes as space, comfort, ease of handling and shallow draft, combined with lots of speed in a larger elegant daysailer, you will probably not find a more qualified boat than this.

The Stuart Knockabout is an excellent option both for people wishing to upgrade from a smaller daysailer, and those wanting to experience a more simple alternative to their large cruisers. The Stuart Knockabout has been a great next step for many Herreshoff 12 1/2 sailers because the SK offers more flexibility and excitement, while retaining the classic aesthetic. The larger boat owners have also enjoyed the SK for their next boat because of it's convenience and ease of sail. How many owners of cruising sailboats habitually day-sail their boats? How much better off might some be in a really fine day-boat? The Stuart is easy to get underway and quick to put to bed with or without a crew.

Stuart Knockabout on the water

E&d stuart becomes stuart knockabout llc.

With the closing of Edey & Duff in 2010, and Bill Harding's retirement, Steve Ballentine and his daughter Amy Ballentine Stevens bought the molds and rights to continue building and marketing the Stuart Knockabout. Stuart Knockabout LLC is located at Ballentine's Boat Shop where final construction, finish and sales take place.

If you would like to know more about these boats, or would like to go for a test sail, please Email Us!

We are currently taking orders! New boats are made in Massachusetts, and can be shipped all over the world. Call to place your order or for additional information: 508-563-2800

Stuart Knockabout Overview - PDF

GOOD NEWS! October, 2016 - Stuart Knockabout and Ballentine's restoration of BEN MY CHREE are the cover story for this month's Classic Boat Magazine - Get your copy HERE ! .

Read Classic Boat Editor's Blog post by Rob Peake - " Knocking About on Buzzard's Bay "

See our Restoration of Ben Page.

18' Cape Cod Knockabout (1935) - MAYALINDA

Description

18′ Cape Cod Shipbuilding Co Cape Cod Knockabout, Lake George version 1935 MAYALINDA

Length- 18′ Beam- 6′ Draft- 3′ 0” Displacement- 1500# (including 900 # lead ballast keel) Located in Sarasota, Florida

Mayalinda is a classic 1935 wooden sailboat that has undergone a recent (completed Fall, 2023) full restoration including a complete new centerline, new laminated white oak frames, new garboards, new deck planks and canvas deck. She is all bronze fastened and includes all original antique bronze hardware. Other than the garboards, all of the planking is original. The garboards came from another Cape Cod Knockabout of the same vintage that was acquired for parts during the restoration. The original transom was used in the restoration but with a white oak veneer laminated on the surface. The tiller, coaming and seating is original and all have received 10 coats of varnish. The original spars have received 12 coats of varnish. During the restoration, all of the bronze hardware was cleaned and stripped of paint that had built up over the years and then polished for a uniform finish that is now being allowed to weather to develop a rich patina. She come with 2 sets of sails. The tandem trailer has 4 new tires, 4 new hubs and bearings and new led lights and is included in the price. The boat has a Florida title and registration and the trailer is registered in Florida. Although most of the Knockabouts built by Cape Cod Shipbuilding Company were centerboard boats, there were a small number built (records are sketchy and the exact number is uncertain) with a fin keel for Halls Boats in Lake George, New York. Halls sold them to the Lake George boating community and a one-design fleet held races on the lake for many years. It is believed that there are only 4 or 5 of these classics remaining.

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• 1983 25' Catalina $3,000 CHATHAM
• S2 6.8 Exciter for sale $3,500 Yarmouth
• 37’motorsailer $15,000 Edgartown
• 1972 25' WIANNO SR. "WILLOW" $15,000 Oak Bluffs
• 1976 L. F. Herreshoff H-28 "GWYLAN" $25,000 Oxford
• Wanted Compass Hurricane $0 Cotuit
• J22 Sailboat & Trailer $15,000 Chatham
• 25 Catalina pop-top + swing keel $5,995 Newport
• Two C420 Sailboats $3,250
• Menger 19 Catboat $21,000 North Kingstown
• 2000 Compass 14' Catboat $6,900 Brewster
• Sunfish/Minifish Parts $1 Harwich
• 46ft center cockpit ketch $42,000 East Dennis
• Precision 16 Sailboat Wanted $0 Orient
• O'Day Sprite 10' sailing dinghy $400 Swampscott
• 1984 25' FENWICK WILLIAMS CATBOAT $27,000 Westport
• 2007 Rhodes 22 Sailboat $16,750 Hyannis
• 2016 20' JOHN WELSFORD GAFF RIGGED SLOOP $27,500 Camden
• 1996 19' MENGER CATBOAT $25,000 Hingham
• Dinghy Sling Davit for Inflatable Boats / Kayaks $285 Hingham - Pick up available.
• 1916 26' CROSBY CATBOAT "VICTOR" $32,500 Island Park
• 1928 16' ANDERSON CATBOAT "INNES" w/ TOTAL RESTORATION $20,000 Norwalk
• 1934 HERRESHOFF 12 1/2 "CATHERINE" $26,500 Wiscasset
• MULTI BEACH TOWEL $5 CAPE COD
• Vintage Nautical Design Bone-China Trinket Box - Daniel Hechter $25
• Martec folding sailboat prop $200 Harwich
• Model Sail Boat Nautical Decoration $75 South Dennis
• CLASSIC CRUISING YACHT $30,000 FALMOUTH
• Sailboat Mast Wanted $0 Cape
• 60 in Destroyer Sailboat Wheel $800 Yarmouth Port
• Vintage Pair of Kapok Boat Cushions/Life Preservers -Sailboat Designs $50
• TRIAD Boat Trailer $9,995 Barnstable

'Rising sea levels': Flooding closes Wellfleet roads

WELLFLEET — Roads in the Bound Brook Island area of Wellfleet remained closed Wednesday after coastal flooding on Sunday pushed water inland from the overwash area at Duck Harbor .

The road closures stymied the back route from Wellfleet center to Truro center, leaving Route 6 as the only alternative for vehicle travel. The closures also made road travel to Bound Brook Island difficult or impossible without a specialized vehicle.

Similar flooding and road closings occurred in January, when Wellfleet firefighters helped a Bound Brook Island resident and her dog off the island by boat.

On Tuesday morning, a short section of Pole Dike Road was closed and underwater where Pole Dike Creek typically flows under the road. Farther north, about a third of a mile of Bound Brook Island Road leading into Pamet Point Road was also closed. The water appeared to be more than a foot deep in places.

The flooded sections are about a mile away from Duck Harbor.

According to information provided by the Cape Cod National Seashore , overwashes "were first observed at Duck Harbor in January 2021." The overwashes have continued regularly since then on robust high tides, a dynamic that is more significant when the high tides are combined with coastal storms and coastal flooding.

An overwash is when water and sediment, driven by storms, breach the crest of a dune or beach.

The continuing overwashes at Duck Harbor "are the result of rising sea levels in Cape Cod Bay," according to the Cape Cod National Seashore, and not associated with the Herring River salt marsh restoration project that is ongoing nearby.

Saltwater intrusion from the overwash killed vegetation in a forested area behind Duck Harbor Beach. The Seashore and Ducks Unlimited partnered on a project to remove the dead vegetation from a roughly 120-acre area, to "restore conditions favorable for salt marsh vegetation," according to a release from the Seashore.

Almost immediately, "salt marsh plants began to recolonize Duck Harbor" after the overwashes began, according to the Seashore.

Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at  [email protected] . Follow him on X: @capecast.

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