PAGE 18 • WINTER 2007 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
FEATURED SAILBOAT • MARSHALL SANDPIPER
ASA MEMBER BOOK REVIEW • BY WALT WOOD
T
he Marshall Sandpiper was
Title: Things I wish I’d Known Before I Started Sailing
It is opinions Vigor offers. You may not agree with
originally designed in 1972 to Author: John Vigor
everything, but if, for example, you share my frustrations
round out the Marshall catboat Publisher: Sheridan House, 2005
with getting a spinnaker to fly right, it is nice to read: “The
fleet with a smaller half-decked
Format: 187 pages, paperback $17.95
most unseamanlike sail is a spinnaker.” I like this guy.
version of the 18-foot Sanderling and
the Marshall 22. The idea was to
Do you yearn for a catchy saying to help you or your
create a boat that was an easily
handled, trailerable boat with
responsive sailing characteristics,
I
f you are like I am, you love to sail, you love to dream students remember the color and numbering of
about sailing, and you would appreciate a little book navigation aids? Did you know that an inexpensive AM
to stir a dream or add to your understanding of radio can be used
while maintaining the classic
sailing or sailing lore. A book you can spend a few as a navigational
Marshall catboat appearance. It was
minutes with as you doze off at night or that you can aid to find your way
apparent from the beginning that this
finish in an hour, this little jewel by John Vigor fits the
home in the fog? Is
boat achieved those goals.
bill perfectly. And whether you are new to sailing or a
it news to you that
salty dog, Vigor’s latest book has something new for you.
bigger boats are
At 15 feet six inches LOA, a beam of not necessarily
seven feet one inch, displacement of
He offers advice on just under 200 subjects, listed
more seaworthy?
1050 pounds, and a sail area of 166
alphabetically from anchoring to zinc blocks. Each
Would it surprise
square feet, she will not break any
subject is headed by a catchy subtitle, such as “sea
you that drinking
speed records. However, she is
monsters really do exist,” and followed by a tip, in this
seawater (a tiny
surprisingly nimble even in a light
case what to do if you encounter a giant squid.
bit) may help when
breeze and incredibly stable when the you are seasick? Do
breeze builds. Perhaps her best
The appendix contains tables and formulas sufficient for
you understand
feature is the draft of 16 inches with
With its easy-to-raise-and-lower, one-sail design, the Sandpiper makes a perfect small
even the oldest salt to discover something new. For
why wave height is
the centerboard raised. It is not
vessel for a singlehanded sail. With its spacious cockpit, it will accommodate up to five.
example, Vigor presents ways to use your arm and hand
always
uncommon to see a Sandpiper
to estimate horizontal or vertical angles. At the end of
exaggerated? It is
skipping over the waters within a stones throw of a beach
the book is a reference to other valuable books on sailing
all there and much
or marsh. She also makes a great picnic boat that can be
For more information
entitled, you guessed it, “Books I Wish Someone Had
more.
nosed up to a beach for the day and easily pushed off
Told Me to Read.”
Visit www.marshallcat.com
when it is time to head for home. For those of us who
John Vigor is the author of numerous articles and eleven
teach sailing and sometimes overemphasize jargon, it is
The simplicity of the gaff rig is quickly discovered on
unstepping the mast. This innovation added a great deal
sailing books, including the Boatowner’s Handbook and
good to be reminded by Vigor that “almost anybody can
this boat. There are two halyards to raise the gaff and
of versatility to the boat. It now became a very simple
Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere. The
learn to sail in an hour.” Sailing is, after all, about
adjust the shape of the sail if need be. Once the sail is
process to lower the mast and pack the boat up to take
foreword is by well-known cruiser and author Don Casey
enjoying a safe trip from one point to another. He wisely
set, the only line that needs tending is the mainsheet.
on vacation. With the growing lack of mooring or dock
and illustrations are by the cartoonist Tom Payne.
observes that, “if you can sail a 10-foot dinghy, you can
This aspect makes the Sandpiper a very easy boat to
space availability, the Sandpiper with the hinge is also
sail anything.”
singlehand. However, with a very spacious cockpit, I
very conducive to trailer sailing.
Vigor’s advice ranges from subjects as complex as how to
don’t know of many other 15-foot boats that can
estimate your boat’s battery needs to as simple as a way
Maybe you are in the process of moving up or moving
accommodate four and sometimes five adults
The Sandpipers have become very popular up and down
to help prevent mold from growing down below. There is
down, and it is time to sell your boat. Vigor has some
comfortably.
the East Coast, especially in shallow protected waters
such Cape Cod and the Islands, the New Jersey shores,
advice for the small boat enthusiast, “even on a
often overlooked advice: “When you want to sell, move
daysailer, you need to dog down the locker lids with
all your personal gear off and scrub everything spotlessly
The hull is solid hand-layed fiberglass. The deck is also
Chesapeake Bay, various parts of Florida and many
secure hasps;” for the cruiser who has had the
clean.” Or here is one I especially like: “Varnish your
fiberglass with foam core in the foredeck to provide
harbors in between. As typically happens, once two or
frustrating experience of cooking with an alcohol stove;
teak only once just before you put your boat up for sale.”
additional strength. Each boat is fitted with hand crafted
more of the same boats are on the water together an
and for the voyager, “after heavy rainfall, the top inch or
teak trim and bronze hardware to create a classic
impromptu race develops. Today, there are at least ten
so of the ocean is mostly fresh water floating on top of
For those planning to cast off the lines to shore and sail
appearance. The cockpit is a molded gel-coat finish,
well-organized racing fleets in various parts of the
salt water” - just scoop it up.
the seven seas, Vigor cautions you not to expect to make
which is easy to maintain. Closed cell foam is installed
country that continue to grow.
a living from writing books or articles. Without
under the seats to provide positive flotation. The
I have been sailing for years, and when the wind is up I
reservation, I suggest you help to make this advice
ruggedness and durability of these boats is evident as
Over the past 35 years, Marshall Marine has built over
still find pulling into a slip a challenge. There are, of
inaccurate, at least for Mr. Vigor, and buy this book.
almost all of the Sandpipers are still being sailed today,
550 of the Sandpipers in both the open deck version as
course, basics to docking a boat, but what a relief it was
and the older boats are still as solid as the newest ones.
well as the cuddy version. The annual production is
usually about fifteen boats, and each one is customized
to read: “It’s no good pretending that practice makes
Walt Wood has been sailing for over 30 years. During the week
perfect; the circumstances are never the same twice.
he is an employee benefits consultant, and on the weekends he
In 1990, Marshall Marine developed an aluminum hinge
to the owners’ specifications. Marshall is fairly flexible
There are always differences in the speed and direction
runs the ChesBay Sailing School out of Galesville, Md. on the
for the mast that allowed Sandpiper owners to easily
towards the wishes of each owner as they want to create
of wind and current, and the number of idiots who get in
Chesapeake Bay. He holds a US Coast Guard license and is an
raise and lower the mast without removing the sail or
a boat that matches their needs as closely as possible.
the way as you line up your approach.”
ASA certified instructor.
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