PREVIOUS PAGES—Sweet Pea, inside and out. ABOVE (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT)—Cockpit detail. Tabernacle and rigging. Owner, Judy MacFarland.
cued an unfinished 18-foot hull built by Dave in 1999. Te hull was designed in the 1930s by noted catboat designer Fenwick Williams. Dave constructed it with cypress strip planking, then covered it with fiberglass. Dave had decided he wouldn’t have enough headroom when he finished it, so he dragged it back into the palmettos. Howard added 6 inches to the coach- roof height to provide seated headroom and finished her with a handmade wheel and a natural pine bead-board interior. A local Bradenton sailmaker made the sail. A two-cylinder 16-HP Volvo diesel engine was installed for auxiliary power. Judy saw the boat, fell in love with her, and bought her on
the spot. Dave and Howard brought the boat on a trailer to her home in Charleston. Judy stripped all of the painted woodwork down to bare wood and varnished it. Many of the finishing touches that now distinguish Sweet Pea were added by local Charleston craſtsmen. John Merritt converted the boat from wheel steering to tiller steering which Judy much prefers. “I like the direct connection to the water much better,” said Judy. Gage Bayne replaced selected fittings and details. Judy added her own personal touches in hull color selection, fabrics, cushions and interior finishes Judy and Sweet Pea moved to Apalachicola in 2015. A local
canvas maker made all new canvas covers and cushions through- out the boat. She finds the boat perfect for sailing the local waters of Apalachicola Bay and she gets out at least once each week. Te
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John Merritt converted the boat from wheel steering to tiller steering which Judy much prefers. “I like the direct connection to the water much better,”
large cockpit allows her to take out frequent guests for picnic sails. One sailing day, a sudden squall dusted up and she lost the mast over the side. She and her crew were able to retrieve the mast, gaff and sail. A local Apalachicola craſtsman, Greg LaSchum, was able to repair the mast and rebuild the taberna- cle and bowsprit. Sail ing and proper
maintenance are equal partners in her passion for the boat. Every inch, inside and out, is kept in perfect condition. She visits the boat each day. Judy may be retired in one
sense, but she is full speed ahead with Sweet Pea.
Bill has been racing and cruising for 50 years and writing about boats for the last ten. He sails Sarasota Bay year-round in a beautiful Alerion 20.
Sweet Pea Specifications
LOD: 18' • LWL- 17' 6" Beam - 8' 6"
Draſt (cb up) - 2' (cb down) - 4' 8" Displ. - 3,700 lb
Sail Area – 250 sq ſt SMALL CRAFT ADVISOR
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