Anyone Here Sail a Wooden Boat?

[anotherT34C]

Wow. Did you do that work yourself?

Does she single-hand comfortably (in a blow)? I'm guessing she's about 15 tons.

I'm asking because I have this ever-nagging desire to trade up to a Finisterre clone (or a bit bigger... there seem to be quite a few that were stretched to 42'-45'), but I'm scared of big wood boats (out of ignorance).

[S&S]

Originally Posted by anotherT34C

Wow. Did you do that work yourself?

Good God, no. But I do everything else. It really was a once-per-lifetime job so the time vs. $ calculation worked out.

Does she single-hand comfortably (in a blow)? I'm guessing she's about 15 tons.

18 net for the documentation (30-35k lbs actual depending on who's measuring). She is the best heavy weather boat I've even been on- very strong and forgiving. (and very fast ) As to singlehanding, I don't have the lines set up for that, but she's very mannerly in heavy weather so I wouldn't have a problem with that.

I'm asking because I have this ever-nagging desire to trade up to a Finisterre clone (or a bit bigger... there seem to be quite a few that were stretched to 42'-45'), but I'm scared of big wood boats (out of ignorance).

IIRC Finisterre is a centerboarder and I'm not a fan of those for ocean sailing, but a well built 40+foot wood hulled boat if maintained would be fine.
Here's one that's built like ours. I can recommend Bob Derecktor's build techniques without qualification:
Wild Goose

[unbusted67]

My family just bought a Herreshoff 12.5 that is back East. I am dying to go back there and sail it.