29' Winterborne Cowhorn Dory (1990) - PELICAN

Pelican a 2-masted cowhorn dory built by Michael “Miguel” Winterborne in Port Townsend, WA circa 1990. We were told this was Miguel’s own boat but she came to us without a name. We call her Pelican as she is an unusual bird, with both masts of equal height but only one yard, so she is both ketch and schooner – or neither. She is a true one-off, 29’ LOA, with 8 ft beam and 33” draft. We have a clean title from Ben Kahn who refurbished her while he was an instructor at the NW School of Wooden Boatbuilding. Both my wife and I are NWSWBB grads, classes 1992 B & C – well before Ben’s time. (I think she shares a theme with Bill Garden’s Toadstool; my wife does not).

A daysailer or camping boat, in addition to her Marconi rig we’ve added a pair of 10’ ash sweeps and bronze oarlocks. I have also installed an Electric Yacht motor and 8 Dakota Lithium batteries (each with BMS) in place of the original (but missing) diesel. I have a 48v electrical panel and other parts (see photos) from Matt Mortensen of Revision Marine in Port Townsend that I have not yet installed or wired. This boat will never need fuel. Her batteries should last for at least 10 years and should provide about 6 hrs of operation at full throttle making 4 knots.

The boat is clinker-built – copper riveted Port Orford cedar strakes bronze-fastened to sawn Douglas fir frames. Interior finish is some variety of boat sauce. She smells fantastic. Her oval cockpit is large and deep. There are two forward berths in the cuddy cabin. Her canvas deck is in good condition, as is her mahogany tiller and varnished spruce spars. Her Hasse sails have been re-registered with PT Sail Loft. All rigging, mast wedges, hardware, etc that came to us will go with her, as will the wiring diagram. Due to time pressure we may have Revision wire it for us now if Matt can fit us in.

We have also acquired a bronze cleat and 4 bronze belaying pins from PT Foundry, a 12 ft aluminum pike pole, a 22# Danforth style anchor with 150′ rope and 30′ of 3/8”chain, 30’ of additional 3/8” chain, a new fender, a stout double-braid mooring line, and 100# of Portland cement ballast (to be poured between frames under the motor). We have the original fuel tanks with brass caps too.

There is one bad frame which is why I haven’t poured the ballast or finished the wiring. The plan was to add a single battery 12v house system, separate from the propulsion system once the primary wiring was done. The pine battery trays should probably be refastened as I built them with galvanized nails. Hull paint is in good shape but her bottom will need caulking and her cockpit will need new paint and sauce. If the ballast is poured, she will need a 2nd bilge pump (one forward, one aft). Running lights, shore power inlet, and solar panels were planned adds.

Pelican currently sits on a trailer in our driveway in Naselle, WA double-tarped against the winter wet. We are willing to sell our 1995 F250 4WD 7.3L diesel (171,000 miles) with the boat. Asking price is $25,000 for all or $15,000 for just the boat & trailer. This is below break-even price but we are open to reasonable offers. Our plan was to sail upriver out of Cathlamet until we were confident enough to move down to Astoria. Now a new job takes us to Alaska and we’ll tow her if we must but would rather travel light. This is a great opportunity to get into an electric boat of unique design built by a master craftsman – with every line fair and no questionable wiring.