T-Bird #2, Pirouette and #3, Windsong, are the ‘templates’ for all subsequent Thunderbirds as they exhibit altered construction details that Ed Hoppen implemented when he realized that Thunderbird #1 was overbuilt. For example the longitudinal hull framing in #1 is a ‘T’ section. In T-birds #2 & #3 and all other subsequent wood Thunderbirds that framing is a simplified rectangular section. Thunderbird development can be attributed to Ben Seaborn, who developed the concept and lines, and Hoppen who developed all construction details, rig and layout. They answered the Douglas Fir Plywood Association competitive design call to design a boat that could be: both a racing and cruising boat, that could sleep four, be capable of being built by reasonable skilled amateur, be powered by an outboard auxiliary and outperform other sailboats in its class. Hoppen’s Eddon Boat Company built Numbers 1, 2 and 3 and delivered 13 more finished T-Birds as well as delivering 100 Thunderbird kits to home builders. Thunderbirds #1 and #2, tell a physical story as prototypes of T-bird design evolution. As a small boy I remember Ben and my Dad noodling on napkins on the dining room table as they discussed, over coffee, bending plywood, conical development and the design competition. The Hoppen’s sold the Pirouette to the Thorpe’s, the family of festival harbor master Daniel Evans, in the early 1960’s and Bob and raced her for years thereafter. When Gig Harbor BoatShop formed and leased the Eddon Boatyard in 2007 it became an initial goal to find Pirouette and bring her home for restoration.
