I have owned several different boats over 29 yrs of sailing...my most recent is a Flicka 20. I figured I would share my reasoning for purchasing it, if for no other reason than to stir a debate.I believe 1st and foremost ,people must be honest with them selves on how they will use thier vessel. All too often people (in my opinion) buy too large a vessel for reasons that never seem to materialize and then in the process they pay way more marina/storage/maintainance/insurance fees and spend more $$ sailing do to much larger anchors,sails,mooring lines,fenders etc etc......all the while quite often sailing less do to the lack of simplicity of a 'quick sail cause the wind just came up'. I have been there. Might just be me, but on a night with a 35knt wind I just never felt as safe on a 34ft boat with a ton of freeboard and a 35lb anchor as I did on a low to the water 25fter and a 25lber. And if ya do drag (and we ALL do sometime)...it's WAY easier to haul in and reset a 25lber!!! Back to my reasoning on the Flicka...I sail approx 2 1/2 to 4 mths each year in southern Florida and the Bahamas...so obviously shallow draft is a must (Flicka 3ft 3in) Judy is not yet retired ,so joins me for 3weeks leaving much of my cruising solo.Small size means easy singlehanding (flicka 20) Anchoring alone can be entertaining both setting and retrieving..the Flicka has 2 anchor rollers on its bow sprit...both anchors ready at all times.When solo it is nice to have a sence of security...flicka has a small bulwork,bow/stern pulpit and double lifelines.For me ,gulf stream crossings are the norm, so a 'safe' and comfortable boat is a must as any one cruise will have several crossings of the gulf stream and Bahama banks. The flicka has a long record of safe ocean passages with many many documented Pacific crossings. Her heavy displacement and full keel make her as safe and comfortable out there as a 20 could be.Her 'capsize screening' and 'motion comfort' numbers exceed many 30fters !! Her small sails make reefing and sail changes easy as well as a much lower price adding light air sails etc. It is nice to have 'range' under power and the lil 9hp diesel 'sips'only a 1/4 gall per hour @ 4 1/2 knots !! (18mpg!) the 12 gal. tank with a 5gal spare gives lots of fuel. Judy and I spoke about what we REALLY needed/wanted. A comfortable bouble...hopefully one I can get out of and let her sleep in and one that does'nt have to be set-up/taken apart. Flicka has a real nice sized Vberth...I can get up ,make coffee,read below in the rain or go out to the cockpit and let Jude sleep.Standing headroom (or close) is a must and the flicka comes through with 5ft-11in. We have 3 teenagers..all 3 at once on ANY boat for a full week (unless the queen mary) would be stressful but we want to bring 'one at a time' for a week each...more fun..more 1on1...more 'bonding' ..less stress. The 1/4 berth on the flicka is great for a teenager on an adventure. There are some moments in life I simply don't like to share and I'm just not comfortable with the head in the open under the V berth arrangement in many small boats. The flicka comes through with an inclosed head !!! (amazing on a 20fter). So there you have it....smallest size possible for easy single handing (and MANY other reasons)shallow draft,safe/seaworthy,seperate double bunk,additional berth for a 'kiddy',private head and standing headroom=flicka 20. Add in Pacific Seacrafts build quality and Flickas 'salty look'.....thats how I ended up with 'Jubilee'
Frank, all I can say is congrats. Sounds near perfect to me. Had I found one before I got my Ariel I would have snatched it up quick. Very livable sounding, all those features sound great. Like a woman ( & and a man ) no one is completly perfect , but that sounds very close! You should have many happy days & niights of sailing. Sweet! 8)
Reminds me of the old show, "My friend Flicka" :D
Frank, you won't get any arguments from me. I've been casting about for a boat at the local yacht club and marina. Recently I was talking to the skipper of a Catalina 25, and commented that the nearby Sanibel 17 was a cute little boat (for lake sailing). He and his wife laughed at the thought of it. Last week I got a chance to sail on the Sanibel. The skipper had the jib on in a flash, and we were out sailing in a very few mins...while all the other boats were tied up. Granted, the Sanibel per se is not my cup of tea, but reinforces your principal of easy to afford/use.
I'd expect you'd see a lot more Flickas out there except for the cost. Of course, you can't build all the features of the Flicka for the cost of the average boat.
Speaking of cost, if only I could justify the time and expense of towing Revival from Fla to OR! ;D
Oh, Frank, There is one downer, I'm sorry to tell you about giving up your Ariel and going Flicka. I noticed it once I sold mine and so did "5 miles from the bottom" Starcrest :)
You will be pretty much ignored when/if you show up to a certain On-line board. You now bare the mark of Trader! :o
;D ;D ;D ;D
Do not let that bum you out whilst you're there having loads o fun though ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
We still love ya man! :D
Quote from: xroyal on May 20, 2006, 11:49:24 AM
Speaking of cost, if only I could justify the time and expense of towing Revival from Fla to OR! ;D
Oh , I can help with that!
Life is short, sometimes you have to go for it! The tomorrow you wait for may never come! Enjoy today! ;)
need more, I got several ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Of course your wife may not relate to that philosophy, but you could alway live on the boat.
or...
Fly to Fla and sail her home, some young'ns did it, with no experience!
Zen..I plan on posting pics 'over there' of my pearson electra and flicka. It will be OK....I used the 'search button' 1st and there weren't any ,so they will be welcome.The electra is kind of a 'mini ariel' anyway.I gotta keep checkin back..it is a great bunch and Ebb is tooooo funny...gotta love his wit !!!
Kurt...I'm chuckling to myself here....guess you'l be seeing me here for a very long time. All of my recent boat transactions are to smaller vessels. By 2016 I'll be into a 'real good 15'....I can see it comin !!! Here's to "small boats/long distances"
Frank,
The Flicka is a great boat! I will never forget when I went below on one. I literally had to step back up in the cockpit to figure out if the boat had magically grown!
It was a fero-cement flicka (yes, there are a couple of them) Imagine fero-cement on a 20' hull!
Much like other things in life...... sufficiency is a beautiful thing.
Satisfaction is wanting what you already have. ;D
You definitely have me thinking smaller. Yesterday I sailed on the Catalina 25 I mentioned above.
Most of my current sailing will be on our big lake. The wind can really pipe up, and this boat's freeboard is a hinderance to me, especially when docking in close quarters. Add to that, who needs to drag around berths for 5-6 and a galley when you only hope to grab the wind for a few hours or a day.
I'm on a 30 mile long lake that can get down to 6' depth in lots of spots. Yet the boats are getting bigger and bigger, including a just arrived Catalina 30 and a 36' double ender Perry design (new mast for the 36'er cost him $10,000!). Bear in mind, the latter 2 boats are for hubbies whose spouses don't go out. On the Cat25, I'm 6', and couldn't even sit up straight in the cabin without hitting my head. I will add one positive....the self furling jib was sweet.
I'm beginning to think a Santana 22 or Ranger 23 might fill the bill for me. Heck, even a Cape Dory Typhoon Weekender (if I could find one) might be the perfect boat for now. Even if I do move back to the SF Bay area in a year or so I'll be concentrating on smaller is better. Thanks for reinforcing the principle! :)
Better yet...ya can have a small 'fleet' of them for way less than a good 30fter !!
Frank,
I won't say that I'm jealous, but the Flicka was for many years the boat of my dreams. Unfortunately, being Pacific Coast boats, Flickas very scarce here in New England--and very expensive. The only one I ever found that I could afford had been holed after running up on rocks--and the repair job didn't look too good.
After a long, fruitless search for a Flicka in my price range, I decided to go with the "East Coast Flicka" instead. For those who don't know it, that's the Cape Dory 25D. It's a wonderful, Carl Alberg classic that's built to take heavy weather, although it's probably not as sturdy as a Flicka.
With its 19-foot waterline and cutaway keel, the 25D is probably a bit faster than a Flicka. But the real difference is the standing headroom (at least if you're relatively short, like me and my wife). Instead of a V-berth, the entire forward compartment is devoted to a head and small sink. This is a feature that my wife adores, especially after sailing for 18 years on a sitting-headroom catboat with a portapotty.
Oops, I'm getting really wordy--and I didn't mean to give a sales pitch for my particular boat. The point is, she's small enough for me, and big enough, too.
Enjoy that Flicka!
--Joe
Headroom is a feature that is well worth having. I looked at many boats during my search for the boat I finally bought. One of the things that helped me choose the Pretty Gee was having enough headroom to stand up and be comfortable. Several of the boats I had looked at were so low that even a short (5' 4") person like me could not stand upright. UGH.
As I plan on spending many days at sea on this boat, i wanted one I could at least stand up in. It has a forward head compartment, like your Cape Dory 25D, rather than a v-berth. Some of the boats I looked at boasted room to sleep six or seven, but realistically, they were better suited to being floating condos. I doubt that I will ever take a long passage with more than myself and another person... daysails with a half-dozen are one thing, long voyages with that many a totally different story.
Frank: June 1 I said above I was thinking about a Santana 22. Then I spotted one on craigslist in Vancouver, WA. June 4 at 1AM she rolled in front of my house. Has 1230 lb ballast, 7'10" beam, 3'6" draft and a comfy 6'9" cockpit. Should be about perfect for my lake. Should I decide to move back to the Bay Area, she'll handle that fine too. I sailed and raced on the same boat on the Bay for several seasons. Would have preferred a Ranger 23, but I'm a happy camper.
http://home.earthlink.net/~xroyal/public_html/Santana.jpg
Congrats on the new to you boat. What is her name going to be?
Thanks! I'm chewing on that one.
I continue to thank Frank for helping me think small is better!
Santana handle this lake? I just read where this boat did the first SSSociety Transpac race from San Francisco to Hawaii in 1978 in 17 days. ;D
Nice looking boat, congrats!
Early Christmas treats are fun!
Well any treats are fun ;D ;D
Thanks Zen.
I'd say she looks pretty good for a 39 year old boat. She may be sporting a navy blue hull, etc before the summer is out. First, I've got to paint my house....darnit.
pic
pic
pic
Getting my version of 'the perfect lil cruiser' ready for south. Hope to leave by next weekend to trailor to Florida. Then home again for Xmas/newyears...then back down and over to the Bahamas. If timings work out I will cross the stream with 'Connie'...'Pixie Dust'...AKA-'gadjet girl'. Nice to make an ocean passage knowing some else is out there with you.I've always done it 'lone boat'..it would be a nice change. I'll have to leave earlier....she'll be faster(most all boats would be faster than the speedy flicka). Been too busy at work..but have gotten lots done. Inside teak varnished,fuel tank cleaned out(highly recomended..CRUD),new storm curtains,new dodger,new dingy with spray dodger( Judy's request...if momma ain't happy...nobodies happy)(the spray didn't bother me...tucked behind her ;))ext teak cetoled etc etc.Still lots to do.Can't wait.Have been e-mailing friends in the Abocos...it will be nice visiting again.
WOW!! NICE!
Look forward to hearing about how the crossing goes... and seeing photos from both you and Connie.
That's not the interior of a 20 foot boat.
You're not fooling me Frank
Didn't you know.... most Flicka's had a Tardis module installed...that's why they're so good as long-distance crusing boats, even though they're small. ;)
Interestingly there was a Flicka that came into my marina YESTERDAY..... :D
and get this... the owners name is Frank! ;)
lol
I remember the first one I went aboard, it was... get this.. ferocement! some doubt there were 20' boats made of fero, but the Frank in my marina who has this one was aware of a couple others that had been made in Fero.
I really like the little boats, and they have a record that any make would be proud of... many trans pac's, a arctic or two, and I remember reading of a Flicka rounding the horn a few (10?) years ago.
Really great little boats. ;D
Remember- Bruce Bingham originally designed the Flicka to be home built in ferro cement. He won a Rudder Magazine design competition with Flicka back in the 60s. She originally had either a gaff or marconi rig. THe criteria of the contest was that the boat should be buildable for under $1000. Not including frills of course. There was at least one boat that WAS built for that amount. Whether it was complete with sails and engine I can't recall, but Rudder ran some pics of it.
(((Bows head over the demise of a GREAT boating mag. Sheds a tear also for the murder of Small Boat Journal)))
QuoteRemember- Bruce Bingham originally designed the Flicka to be home built in ferro cement.
No, I did not know that.... wow.
The 'flicka' was a design based on the 'newport' work boats in Rhode Island of over 100 yrs ago. Bingham stumbled on a couple of derilect ones in the 50's and was taken by their lines...which he copied. He submitted his drawings to 'rudder' magazine and they published them in 1972.....the rest is history. Several built in ferro cement,homebuilt fiberglass and wood.Northstar marine bought a 'plug' Bingham was working on in the early 70's (he needed the $$) and produced the 1st 'factory' hulls in glass with wood cabin/decks. Pacific Seacraft purchased the molds in 77 and went on to produce 434 of them over the next several years."Jubilee' is hull # 418 and was literally owned by an older knowledgable lady whom ordered it in late 92 and took delivery in 93. Only 'fresh water' sailed and stored inside every winter....I am happy to have found her.Pic is a ferro cement one.
LOL- ok ok early 70s ;D The mists of age are closing in ;D
I know I drooled over the boat way back then. That was the same contest that Jay Benford submitted his Puffin design, which came in either second or third. I still recall the ferro layup schedule however- it called for welded mesh, with every other layer reversed so the longitudinal wires laid alongside each other, for a finished thickness of 3/8 inch.
I saved the set of articles on building her for years. There was also somewhere an article on building a scale model of the boat- may also have been in Rudder.
And it WAS available ( as a design mind you) with either a marconi rig OR as a gaff rigged boat.
Charlie...hats off to ya...you know 'flickas'. Here's a gaff cutter.I'd be saying your memory is darn fine.
'Bout all I can contribute is:
Them Flickas sure are might pretty boats. Keep the pictures coming... ;)
Wasn't Rik with a Flicka posting here for a while WAY back? I know he had some personal stuff going on, but has anybody heard from him?
Rik and his wife are doing pretty good. Sandy had a stroke some months ago and has been in rehab. She is regaining control nicely, but has a ways to go. So yes, he's not been spending much time on the internet.
Rik says he HOPES she is well enough to spend some time at the boat by Christmas. Laura and I are hoping so also- he's a really nice guy and a long time internet friend of ours. Plus we've met him personally too.
Frank- here's another sail rig on a Flicka ;D Versatile hulls aren't they? ;)
(http://downloads.c-2.com/photos/1164087142.jpg)
Flickas are great boats. Congratulations and may you and your Flicka have many wonderful days sailing.
Frank -
What's yer latest news/pics here? And - what did you name her? I don't recall seeing that anywhere...?
update....Left Ontario with 5500lb boat,2400lb trailor and about 500lbs of gear in tow last tues. It was literally 'the lil truck that could'....my honda ridgeline pulled it all ..through the hills of NY..the mountains of PA and hills of VA,NC,and SC all the way to Florida...1570miles total and near $600 in fuel but we made it!! Pulled into Indiantown marina thurs night.It went better than I invisioned but was somewhat stressful. Been 'putting' around on her since.Got the mast up today and figured out the rigging. WOW..these Pacific Seacrafts are BUILT !...no..OVERBUILT !! The more time I'm onboard,the more things I do and see on her..the more impressed I am. The cooler really keeps ice,the fittings are all top grade,the rigging is overdone,the plumbing/wiring is extremely well done.All through hulls are bronze,through bolted with plywood backers,labeled and wired individually with a wooden plug.No wonder they were so expensive new.I'm putting a new dodger on tomorrow...kinda scary..it's my pattern..if it don't fit..OOPS.I'll cut a new opening port into the cockpit side for air to the 1/4 berth on thurs and do what ever else time permits.Then leave for home on friday to do Xmas/new years with Judy and the kiddies....returning early Jan. to launch and head to Bahamas.Judy will fly over in Feb.I'll take a few pics with the mast up tomorrow (dark now).The boats name is " JUBILEE". I can't change it. It was a one sailor boat...a knowledgable lady who's husband died in 1988.She found their 30 too much alone and ordered the flicka in 93. She told me that her husband had always said 'if I ever order the boat I want,I'll call her Jubilee'....She named it and Jubilee it will stay.
Congrats!
I always liked the Flicka. When I was first searching around for boats I came across a web site called 'The Comfortable Pocket Yacht'. The guy had a Com-Pac 19 before he bought his Flicka. Wow...now that's a thought! ;D
-Kevin
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Forest/2727/
One thing about the Flickas is that they were really fairly high-end pocket cruising boats... so the hardware on them is usually pretty solid. I am a bit surprised that a Honda Ridgeline was able to handle the load... didn't think they were that beefy a truck.
Love to see some photos of Jubilee when you can. One way to get them on the web is to get a free flickr.com account and post them there, and then post a link to them here. Saves CapnK some server room and bandwidth. :D
Here is my Ridgeline and Jubilee at the 'welcome to Florida' office...yep..the Honda did it. I posted some inside pics back about 20 posts on this thread
couple of dodger pics...I just installed it today.The storm curtains aren't installed..just 'hung' to see how they'd look.Cutting in a opening port to the 1/4 berth tomorrow.The list is getting shorter
Congratulations, Frank! You have managed to get the first-ever picture I have seen which makes a Flicka look *huge*... :D
Cool pic!
Interesting thing, that "storm curtain" is!
I like the concept for it, but I am curious, wouldn't that increase the windage of the boat?
Reason why I asked is because there was an argument against certain small boats (with real standing room below), for having too much "freeboards" and the 'resulting windage".
Most would have one believe that "low freeboards" is good and "high freeboard" is bad.
What do y'all think?
Your point is valid. Another 'against storm curtains' thought is that on a passage,a boarding wave could damage the lifelines and stantions if it hit the curtains....not to mention the additional 'leverage' on the boat up high like they are. That said...2 'long distance' flicka sailors (one over 10500 knm) had curtains. All that aside..I had the opportunity of sitting on a triton last year with them while anchored at Manjack Cay and I'm here to tell ya....NICE. Our ariel was a similar if a bit smaller boat and on that cool windy day their cockpit was WAY warmer and more livable/comfortable. On my crossing last year I was getting cool with a stern wind...they would have been nice. and finally...'privacy'...cockpit showers etc will be less of a 'show' as well as warmer.I will be spending 10-11 weeks straight cruising this winter and except the trade offs for the comfort they give. Nothing is perfect....everything a compromise. I'll take the comfort in this case.
Simple remedy on the storm curtains. From reading the Hiscocks or the Roths by the way.
Secure them solidly at the top lifeline, but use only light lashing on the lower edges. That way normal spray or smaller slop waves won't do anything but a boarding sea will break the lower lashings before damaging the life lines or stanchions.
When we do serious offshore sailing, we'll have curtains for sure.
LauraG's solution sounds pretty good...gives you the privacy and shelter of the lee cloths, but allows them to give way if necessary. One other thing I've seen on many lee cloths is having the name of the boat on the lee cloths.
Thanks Laura...kinda funny,but mine 'by accident' ended up that way.Turns out the genny track/car is right where I'd screw the lower eyes on the toe rail to tie them down. I decided against potentially interferring and apart from 2 lower at each end...the center is not fastened...much the same end result. I've seen names on the storm curtains...kinda looks like a 'billboard' to me...na
Names on the lee cloths make it easy to identify who you are from a distance when it is really snotty, though. I recall a pic like that, in some book of mine... Maybe not a purty solution, but practical...
Frank - that Flicka looks *AWESOME*! Really well cared for, you must be loving it. :D
Here's a pic on the trailor basically 'ready' to launch.
(http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10005/flickaalldressed.jpg)
Edit: Captain Smollett: Added Picture