I first saw this vessel at Wooden Boat Fest 2012, having been a boater for many years already, I was drawn to what I perceived as a “doable” boat to be able to handle. I became the “next and current steward” of St. Brendan in February of 2013.
The St. Brendan Voyage is a fascinating book, recounting the tale of this 6th-century Irish bishop and crew crossing the Atlantic, with vivid descriptions of passing by Iceland, Greenland, and eventually making it to “the New World”.
I have been able to cruise and enjoy a great deal of this Salish Sea with St. Brendan. St. Brendan went through an extensive year-long restoration here in Port Townsend by the previous owner in 2004 at the local Shipwrights Co-Op. All while retaining much of the original Matthews design and character. Most of the side decks and several planks were rebuilt with white oak staves and stringers, and mahogany by local expert shipwrights such as Dave Thompson and Mark Stout, of Scow Bay Boatworks.
St. Brendan was shown at the Wooden Boat show, South Lake Union, at the Center for Wooden Boats, back in around 2013 and several times at the Classic Yacht Association’s show at Bell Harbor Marina in Seattle.
St. Brendan has beautifully finished varnished and/or painted interior surfaces, granite galley counters, an undermount SS sink, and those gorgeous green glass tiles for the backsplashes, which just have to be seen! She’s a definite “Resto-Mod” classic!