Bright Star is from a design by Renn Tolman of Homer, Alaska. The Alaskan Skiffs were meant for rough waters, and have been customized to be just what the builders want in a boat. Tolman boats began as open skiffs, primarily for fishing. Renn’s basic design evolved, and a few have been built at 26′. Most of the cabin boats are 22′-24′ long, and have been home-built by the people who plan to use them.
Our boat is a Jumbo 24. It is a plywood “”stitch-and-glue”” wooden boat, customized as a cabin cruiser for cruising and fishing. The boat has a Cummins diesel MerCruiser 1.7L, 120hp, inboard/outboard. Cruising speed is 18 knots and cruising weight is 3800 pounds. The boat is light for its size, gets great fuel economy, and is easy to tow. Cabin heat while underway has extended the cruising season in the Pacific Northwest, for early season fishing and fall cruising.
As we explore the rivers and salt water of the Pacific NW, we continue to refine both the boat and our ideas of what we need, adding things for safety, and comfort. For cruising, we have a swim platform. For safety, radar was added. For cool weather, there is a “”red dot”” heater, which works while underway. Helpful equipment includes a crab-puller/davits set-up, for easier stowing of the inflatable dinghy and our new electric auxiliary motor. We have added more solar panels to up the energy efficiency.
Local area cruising has been in the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, but we have more miles under our keel in salt water. Having a trailerable boat allows us freedom to easily go farther, and to enjoy salt water cruising in Washington and BC. We’ve explored the South Sound area between Olympia and Seattle, and spent time in the San Juans, Gulf Islands and beyond. Pre-Festival, we like being in Deer Harbor for the Wooden Boat Rendezvous. Post-Festival cruises with some excitement include the Broughton Archipelago, off the far end of Vancouver Island. For the Broughtons, Bright Star crossed to Victoria on board the ferry Coho, and was hauled to Port McNeil, for launching. Another cruise’ up the “”outside”” of Vancouver Island saw Bright Star make it almost to the Brooks Peninsula.
Future cruising plans include the Delta out of San Francisco, the Great Loop on the east coast, and taking this Alaskan Skiff up to Alaska.