thunderbird sailboat for sale seattle

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A History, and Review of the 2020 Sailing Season

From the December 2020 issue of 48° North.

A successful season of racing on Port Townsend Bay has come to an end. At the center of the planning and implementation, as every year, was the Port Townsend Sailing Association (PTSA). And once again, the Thunderbirds were the big local fleet.

Many 48° North readers will be familiar with the venerable Thunderbird, but the boat’s rich Pacific Northwest history is nearly matched in intrigue by the recent coalescence that brought a fleet home to Port Townsend, and Port Townsend sailors to this fleet.

Ben Seaborn penned his design for the Thunderbird in response to a 1958 challenge by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association for a design that could be “both a racing and a cruising boat … sleep four … capable of being built by reasonably skilled amateur” and, crucially, “outperform other sailboats in its class.” And it did. By 1980, there were more than 1,000 Thunderbirds sailing. Perhaps more impressively, the class association received more than 25,000 requests for the building plans (which first cost $2, and are available today for $60).

Thunderbirds immediately showed their speed, beating many larger and more expensive boats. Three sailing enthusiasts in Port Townsend — Jim Daubenberger, who owned a clothing store on Water Street, attorney Glenn Abraham, and physician Bill Scheyer — took notice. In 1963, they commissioned hulls 241 ( Zaca ), 242 ( Dorado ), and 243 ( Caveat ) from Bill Knottingham Marine in Tacoma.

“The boats were inexpensive,” says Jim’s son, Joe Daubenberger. “In 1963, the bill of sale for these Thunderbirds was $2,650, including sails and other options,” said Joe in a tribute to his father in the Port Townsend Leader . That’s a little less than what this author paid for a Thunderbird ( Falcon , #1177) two summers ago.

Putting that in perspective, median income in the greater Seattle Area in 1960 was $6,225, so the purchase of a new Thunderbird in 1960 set you back nearly one half year’s median income in Seattle. Even back then, a Thunderbird was not so inexpensive for most people. Today, median income in metropolitan Seattle is $102,500 (2019) and you can purchase a new J/80 (also 26 feet) for $55,000 — or a little more than one half of a year’s median income. The Thunderbird was the J/80 of 1960. Well, not quite as fast, but much better to cruise!

As the years went on and the region’s economy boomed, more sailors were able to afford bigger, faster boats. In Port Townsend, too, Jim Daubenberger, Bill Scheyer, and Glenn Abraham moved on to bigger boats and longer races. Zaca , Dorado , and Caveat were sold off and fell on hard times, neglected, down on Bainbridge Island, in Port Hadlock, and Port Ludlow. But you couldn’t keep the Thunderbird and Port Townsend sailors apart long.

In 2000, Scott Walker purchased an old woodie, Tzieu , which he lovingly restored to pristine condition. John Carey had C oco Solo and raced it avidly. In 2008 Joe Daubenberger attended the 50th anniversary party for the Thunderbird. The event also marked the launch of a beautiful new woodie, Thunderbaby (#1255), which turned out to be the last Thunderbird built. “We kept running into someone who said ‘I have your dad’s old T-bird,’” says Joe Daubenberger. The Daubenbergers found Zaca in Port Ludlow, and Dorado in disrepair and with a foul bottom. Both were brought to Port Townsend and restored. Caveat was at the Wooden Boat Center. The three original Port Townsend Thunderbirds had returned like prodigal sons.

Suddenly, there was the core for a one-design fleet in Port Townsend. Glenn Abraham’s daughter Anne and her husband, Doug Bolling, owned Raven which they painted shiny black. John Lynes purchased his first Thunderbird in 2008. The Bollings acquired the old family boat, Caveat , from the Wooden Boat Foundation in a trade, and they sold Raven to Stig Osterberg and Steve Scharf. Piper Dunlap acquired Blew Bird and later Magic Bus with fellow 505 sailors. Dale Dunning, the president of the International Thunderbird Association, brought his boat Water Torture to Port Townsend in 2013, and acquired Owl from the Victoria fleet in 2016.

Of such stuff a one-design fleet is made: energy, camaraderie, and an infatuation with these funky old boats that are fun to sail, truly inexpensive in this day and age, and still fast. Now, there are many others in Port Townsend. Steve Scharf has personally brought in three boats and has donated a motor yacht committee boat, which is staffed by a regular committee. The Port Townsend fleet was incorporated as International Thunderbird Fleet 33. It is vibrant. And growing.

In 2020, the year’s on-water sparring began informally in January, with several Thunderbirds and Bertram Levy’s Murrelet gathering on Saturdays and sailing up to the mooring buoys off Fort Worden, down to the green buoy off the naval facility on Indian Island, and across to the wooden tower off Rat Island — the old anchor point for an anti-submarine net that stretched across Port Townsend Bay during World War II.

Twenty-six boats — a happy gaggle of 505s, classic woodies new and old, plastic fantastics, and eight Thunderbirds — showed up to mark the leap year on February 29 for the Shipwright’s Regatta, under snow-capped peaks. Dorado , Raven , and Kuma San took top honors in the Thunderbird class.

With the state in Coronavirus lockdown, six-to-eight Thunderbirds raced informally, with family units, single-handed, or double-handed on Saturdays from March through May. To keep things even, a decision was made not to use flying sails and to use the working jib as a headsail. This proved to be a popular solution and became the model for the formal PTSA racing during the balance of the year.

PTSA sponsored their Midsummer (June), Catspaw (July), and Dog Days (August) series, which consisted of Wednesday night windward/leeward courses and Friday night romps around the Bay starting and finishing at City Dock. The Wednesdays turned out to be a one-design event for the Thunderbirds. Fifteen Thunderbirds showed up in total, with 7-12 boats on the line each week. Corvo , Owl , and Dorado dominated the summer with Corvo winning the first two, and Owl and Dorado trading second and third. Dorado won the third series, with Raven second, and Owl third.

Eleven total boats turned out for the annual Ted Pike Regatta, held on August 22. This is a quintessential Port Townsend event. In normal years it starts on the beach below the Marine Science Center in Le Mans fashion. One crew member from each boat rows, paddles, or swims from the beach to their boat to be pulled up by eagerly waiting crews who may not hoist sail or begin to weigh anchor until the marooned sailor has rejoined the boat. The first turning mark is off the beach near the Point Wilson lighthouse, where the fleet surprised a family on their trawler enjoying lunch tied to a mooring buy. This year the start was from “at anchor,” but the finish still involved sending a swimmer to shore to drink a double shot of rum and ring a bell at the Northwest Maritime Center. Thunderbirds Corvo and Falcon were the top two finishers.

Owl won the single light air race of the Fall Thunderbird Regatta, followed by Raven and Magic Bus . The racing for this season concluded with the Saturday Nightcap series. Raven , Owl , and Corvo bested a field of 10 boats in the Thunderbird fleet.

Many of this year’s races have been documented on video by Dale Dunning. Check out his YouTube Channel at OP Sailing for coverage of the Thunderbird fleet.

The wind is full of promise for sailing on Port Townsend Bay next year. Classic wooden boats, fast modern racers, and funky still-fast old boats will keep the sailing in Port Townsend diverse and interesting.

Photos courtesy of Thunderbird Fleet 33.

Roland Nikles

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International Thunderbird Class Association

More than just a sailboat… a way of life!

The current Board of Governors Who we are: The International Thunderbird Class Association is the governing body of the Thunderbird Sailboat. The purpose of the organization is to promote and Read More ...

Latest News

Photos from the 2023 Thunderbird International Regatta are available on ptsail.org

• Raven Wins 2019 Internationals August 7, 2019 Team Raven from Port Townsend, sailing a loaner boat (Atomic Salsa), took three first place finishes on the last day of racing to win the 2019 Thunderbird International Championship Regatta in Boston.  Congratulations to Steve Scharf, Jon Piskula, Simon Miles, Jeff Brantley, and Angie Brantley! To see the official results please visit the regatta web … Read more

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Below you’ll find a list of sailboats, powerboats, rowboats, kayaks, and other boats for sale by owner or from the Northwest Maritime Center. We regularly list boats for sale on the Olympic Peninsula, Seattle and the greater Puget Sound. Do you want to reach more people with your boat for sale? We’re happy to list your boat for a nominal quarterly fee.

We recommend also listing your boat at 48north.com to extend the reach of your listing.

Did you know that when you list your boat for sale with the Northwest Maritime Center, you’re supporting our youth maritime programs ? Another way to support our programs is to donate your boat to our organization. Learn more about donating your boat.

Length: 26′ Beam: 8′ Draft: 4′ Price: $15,000 Description:

S/V Ripple is a William Atkins gaff-rigged cutter launched in 1994 by the Northwest School for Wooden Boatbuilding. She is cedar-planked on oak frames. Bronze stanchions, anchor rollers, winches, cleats, and openable port lights. Parceled, wormed and served standing rigging and lifelines.

Ripple was re-powered in 2017 (Beta-14 2-cylinder diesel, ~1500 hours currently) Fuel Consumption: ~ 1 ¼ liters per hour @2700 RPM (~5.2 knots).

Ripple has completed 4 trips to Alaska since 2015 and many shorter trips in British Columbia.

Equipment: Standard Horizon Chart-plotter Standard Horizon VHF with DSC Vesper XB-8000 AIS transceiver Raymarine ST2000 tiller-pilot Raymarine depthometer (original) Lifeline AGM batteries (2022), all new battery cabling (105 Ah cranking battery, 210 Ah housebank) Balmer SG200 smart-battery-monitor Victron 3-channel, 30 amp battery charger Lewmar V700 electric anchor windlass Bruce anchor (30’ chain, 300 feet nylon), Vulcan storm anchor (7’ chain, 200 feet nylon) Wood and coal burning stove, bronze charlie-noble Original Hasse sails (mains’l, jib, yankee, stays’l, tops’l, drifter) Ian Oughtred ultralight lapstrake Feather Pram, oars Full boat cover and sail covers Dodger and bimini Dometic CFX3 35 liter 120/12v electric cooler Iwatani 13,000 BTU butane cook stove Custom stainless-steel exhaust riser installed 2022, and spare

For more information, contact Stuart at   [email protected]

Length: 34′ Beam: 9′ Draft: 5′ Price: $15,000 Description:

Chance to own a piece of NW Sailing history” (probably one of the first fiberglass sailboats)  name, “SHAMAN” (hull #17) … sloop, masthead rig, fiberglass hull, shoal-draft with daggerboard. Yanmar diesel 3GM30F, 24 hp, freshwater cooled, new SS mixing elbow, interior wiring upgrade, Dometic electric toilet, 23-gallon holding tank, hot/cold water, Monitor wind vane, stove-top and microwave (in marina use), interior restored from original. Diesel cabin heater with dedicated custom tankage, (3) anchors, CQR, Danforth, and claw. full boat-cover, (2) boom covers, and (2) head sail deck bags, #1-#4 head sails, many spare parts, lifejackets, etc. too many to list here, $15,000 obo (steel rudder epoxy coated after haul-out picture) located in Port Ludlow.

For more information, contact William at [email protected]

Tomahawk Sweet Sixteen

Length: 16′ Beam: 5′ Draft: 1′ Price: $9,000 Description:

Rare classic runabout was built in 1954 by Tomahawk Boat Co., Tomahawk, WI. Lapstrake construction of marine plywood with an enclosed bow, windshield, and water well in the stern. Underwent restoration in 2002. All brightwork is a rich, brilliant red mahogany, and hardware was re-chromed. Original 1955 Evinrude Big Twin 25HP OB motor and controls. Included is a 1967 TEE NEE trailer with modern updates including bunk rails, fresh wiring, and larger wheels and tires for highway travel. Serious inquiries only.

For more information, contact Alan 503-507-2370  [email protected]

• Recessed jib leads
• Molded gunwales
• Mainsheet bridle for centerline sheeting
• Revolutionary hull design allows planing in 12 knots of breeze; widened transom for maximum stability downwind
• Non-tapered mast
• Molded kick-up rudder
• Daggerboard eliminates the need for gaskets

The Mycia is a hand-made, wooden, gaff-rigged, American sailing-fishing schooner. Built entirely by hand in the Pacific Northwest, the Mycia was designed and lofted in Port Townsend, Washington, by Jim Franken and Robert Prothero at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building in 1981. Currently located in Orcas Island, WA.

For more information, contact John at  [email protected]

View more boats for sale & find your next boat on 48 North Classifieds Length: 32' Beam: 11.5' Draft: 3' Year: 1987 Price:   $14,000 price reduced Description: Panope is a Bayliner 32 with lots of interior space and a comfortable lay out for both cruising or living aboard. She has well maintained, twin Hino diesel engines, and along with the usual features of a Bayliner, she has fresh bottom paint and new zincs, and new battery switches. Certainly an older boat will always need upgrades and repairs, but Panope has a history of being taken care of. V-berth forward, adjacent to the galley with gas stove and 110 fridge. Across the companionway is a head with sink, shower, and toilet. The raised saloon contains a large settee and table for seating as well as the interior helm station. Large windows all around let in plenty of light. Ladder aft leads down to a small cabin with its own basin and a large double berth. The aft deck is spacious with a bar sink and ladder leading up to the fly bridge and excellent access to the engines, batteries and kohler generator. On the bridge you'll find another seating area and 2nd steering station. Panope is currently hauled out in Port Townsend and available for viewing, inspection or survey. The sale of this boat will benefit programs of the Northwest Maritime Center! Contact us at [email protected] [x_gap size="2%"]   [x_custom_headline type="left" level="h2" looks_like="h3" accent="true"]Cal 2-29 Cruising Sloop[/x_custom_headline] [x_gap size="2%"] [envira-gallery id="18837"] Length: 29' Beam: 9.25' Draft 4.5' Year: 1976 Price: $8,000 price reduced Description: The Cal 2-29 is a cruising sloop which is both comfortable and stable while still being relatively quick. The 2-29 has many of the features of the Cal-29 but with upgrades to make her more comfortable for cruises and extended voyages, even living aboard. Her interior layout is simple, spacious and low maintenance. Her hull with fin keel and spade rudder is in excellent shape, no blisters. Standing and running rigging in good shape with chain plates easily inspected from inside. Currently stored on land at SEA Marine in Port Townsend and available for viewing. Includes: Pressurized water Wallas diesel stove and heater V berth, two quarter berths and convertible settee. 30amp power system with house and starting batteries with charger 16hp Farymann diesel inboard Pedestal steering with Autohelm Simpson Lawrence manual winch and Bruce anchor Selden Furlex Roller furling jib as well as the original hanked on jib and stay Light air headsail and reaching pole Lectrasan head Bimini frame and boom tent Mast step --the achilles heal of Cals-- has been replaced in stainless Survey available from 2014. The sale of this boat will benefit programs of the Northwest Maritime Center! Contact us at [email protected]. -->

Thunderbird 26

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Sail monohulls 25ft > 30ft,        thunderbird boats for sale, thunderbird 26 boats for sale.

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1969 26 foot Thunderbird Thunderbird Sailboat for sale in Seattle, WA

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An Introduction to Sailboats

Sailing is a timeless and exhilarating activity that allows you to connect with nature and experience the thrill of gliding across the water. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a beginner looking to embark on your first sailing adventure, understanding sailboats and the world of sailing is essential. This introduction to sailboats will provide you with some tips and recommendations to help you un ...(click to read more)

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Remarks 1969 Thunderbird Classic Sailboat 26' • Hull is wood with fiberglass. • Comes with 6hp Yamaha outboard - runs well • Sails and rigging all in great shape, • Cabin is in great shape with lots of extras. • Camp head, Autohelm and dehumidifier Moored on Lake Washington at Leschi Marina.

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