Kirin is a 29 foot 6 inch Lyle Hess designed Channel Cutter. Kirin is a heavy displacement Marconi rigged cutter. The late Lyle Hess designed it based on the hulls of the traditional gaff rigged Pilot Cutters of England.
Kirin was built in 1990, the year I was born, though I’d like to think she shows her 28 years more than I do! She is of carvel construction; Douglas Fir planks on copper riveted double-sawn White Oak frames. She is a true Pacific Northwest boat having been planked with Doug Fir that was grown only a few miles from where she was built, in Shelton, WA.
My friends Rick and Barb commissioned Kirin’s construction and did a lot of the work themselves. They lived aboard in Olympia for 11 years, cruising around the Puget sound and as far north as the Canadian gulf islands. When Rick and Barb moved ashore they had Kirin hauled out and stored in a three sided tin shed about 50 feet from where her keel was laid. I discovered her in 2013. She was in needed some attention but her potential shined through from under the moss.
It took 3 years of work but in November of 2016 Kirin once again floated in the water of Puget Sound. By spring she was rigged and sailing. Since then she has voyaged between Olympia, Port Townsend, and the San Juan Islands. Under sail Kirin is fast and incredibly well balanced, perfect for either an afternoon sail or a longer expeditions. Kirin recently relocated to Port Hadlock where she is getting lots of love in preparation for summer and fall adventures.