British Columbia


 Read Past Articles...


Sea Wolf

     A few boats aspire to be an extension of the sea itself. By concept, design and execution they seem as natural a feature on the surface as a whitecap. One gets a certain, salty feeling when boarding such a craft, and it is not even slightly surprising that many of these special vessels are crafted in wood. We first encountered Sea Wolf at the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show, where she was represented by Dave Hebert of Hebert Yachts in Seattle. It was immediately apparent that Sea Wolf was exceptional: a custom yacht built up to a standard rather than down to a price point.

      Dave Hebert shared some of her history with us. Her keel was laid in 1958. She was the third in a series of four boats built for the head of an industrial corporation, Winslow "Casey" Jones. The four boats were all christened Blue Heron and designed by Bill Garden.

      Norm Blanchard built the Blue Heron series in Seattle. Sea Wolf is carvel planked, yellow cedar on bent oak frames. She is just over 62 feet on deck and 58 at the waterline. She carries a 16-foot beam, draws 5'6" and has a design displacement of 77,500 pounds. A boat drawn by Garden and built by Blanchard is likely to be at least slightly magnificent, and Sea Wolf is well served by her pedigree.

      Bill Garden devoted a chapter to Blue Heron III in his boat design book. Nobody is more qualified to comment about her purpose and concept than her naval architect, and here are a few of Garden's remarks:

      "The layout development was dictated by family use. Blue Heron III is fairly typical and generally bears a resemblance to a fleet that we did in this style. All of the type have the saloon aft over the machinery. The saloon-galley combination has proven out well for western waters, where boats up to 80 feet may be a family operation without a permanent crew-the upkeep being done by a shipyard or part-time help. With this layout, a pleasant galley-saloon interchange is possible, or the galley may be shut off with sliding panels and the door to isolate the areas."

      "Balancing off the several plus factors of the layout is the loss of cabin room when compared to a double-decked boat of the same leading dimensions. A double-decker's aft stateroom and high saloon, well above the marina traffic, makes it the usual choice for the marina cruise. But for a handy layout capable of providing reasonable comfort for a sensible number on board, the sunken saloon arrangement is a pleasant one."

      Garden continues: "The Blue Heron type has a shippy look, and while many yachts have this general appearance today, the Blue Heron I was unique when she was built. For the big ship man or the ex-sailor, the type has real appeal and avoids the usual gin palace, two-storey yacht appearance."

      It is possible that Bill Garden underestimated the appeal of his design. Almost anyone who has ever so much as dipped a toe into saltwater can find something to admire about Sea Wolf.
The forward stateroom incorporates a Vacu-Flush head and a hand sink in the forepeak, with resplendent teak locker doors and trim accenting smooth-finished surfaces painted out in glistening bright white. When the bulkhead door is closed for privacy in the forepeak, the stall shower may still be accessed in the forward stateroom. A double lower and single upper berth are located in the forward stateroom, and a fabulous chart drawer has been incorporated in the base of the upper single berth. A bank of five teak drawers, a hanging locker, a settee and a dressing table complement the forward (guest) stateroom-amenities often lacking in the master staterooms of lesser boats.

     A companionway, to port of the centerline, leads aft to the main guest or day head. Two roomy bunks are built-in along the length of the companionway, with a curtain for privacy and stowage below.

      The master stateroom is also just aft of the forward stateroom, to starboard and opposite the companionway with the stacked bunks. A double berth is fixed athwartships, just aft of a mirrored bulkhead, with ample stowage in the base. Two hanging lockers and other fixtures can stow a good assortment of personal items and attire. An en suite head with a tub and a shower facilitates greater privacy and convenience for the master stateroom. An anemometer and a speed log are mounted next at the head of the bunk, and the anemometer would seem to be rather useful for skippers awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of a rising wind.
Aft of the master stateroom is a central companionway, flanked by the port and starboard engine rooms. The starboard engine room has a serious workbench, and the port engine room includes a laundry center. The twin GM 671 naturally aspirated 185-hp diesels were last overhauled in 1991, and the meter records only 750 operating hours since. Dave Hebert's listing suggests a 10-knot cruising speed, and that would seem realistic.

      Moving aft from the engine rooms, one steps up to the main cabin housing the galley and the salon. Galley chefs frustrated by the skimpy surface area of the cooktops on most boats (where room for a standard-size frying pan is seldom available if a big saucepan is in simultaneous use) will appreciate the full-sized gas range and oven aboard Sea Wolf. A deep, double stainless galley sink and generous food prep surfaces round out a pleasant and efficient workspace. Cold storage is accommodated in a huge, teak 32-volt refrigerator/freezer locker on the starboard side of the salon. Little imagination would be required to provision Sea Wolf for cruises of several weeks' duration. An icemaker and entertainment center is to starboard in the salon, aft of the cold-storage locker.

      A dining bar divides the galley from the salon, the "sliding panels and door to isolate the areas" originally envisioned by Bill Garden as optional design features seem never to have been installed. Contemporary boaters will find the open galley arrangement customary by modern standards. The spacious salon provides lots of room for entertaining guests or simple relaxation.
The pilothouse is accessed up a short set of steps from the salon. One remembers Bill Garden's reference to "big ship men" when contemplating centerline teak and stainless helm surrounded by a console with almost every useful gauge and navigation aid ever envisioned aboard a boat. The screens and monitors are well organized, leaving room for charts near the helm. A pilot berth, a table and an overhead communications console with several radios and a weatherfax are situated against the aft bulkhead of the pilothouse.

      One of the more distinctive features of Sea Wolf is her Portuguese bridge, with a second set of engine controls on its cap rail and a wheel fixed to the front of the pilothouse. The extra controls will allow a skipper some "deck time" on a pleasant day.

      Sea Wolf features teak decks. Her spacious foredeck incorporates a samson post just forward of a large winch. Ground tackle consists of a navy anchor hauled on chain rode by a heavy-duty windlass, with a Danforth and a second navy anchor chocked down for spares. Two spare props are mounted on the foredeck, but the area isn't just strictly business: two forward-facing seats immediately below the Portuguese bridge enable passengers to enjoy a forward view when underway.

      Her covered side decks are a popular Northwest feature. Her enormous cockpit boasts a shower, a fish freezer and access to a cavernous lazarette. High gunwales reduce the risk of accidental overboards, but a stout transom door facilitates easy access from a wide boarding platform.

      Sea Wolf is a splendid Northwest coastal cruiser. With 1,000 gallons of fuel onboard, she should achieve respectable range. She is the sort of vessel one might envision cruising through the Panama Canal and into the Caribbean. Alaska, or a summer spent gunkholing through the Gulf and San Juan Islands, would be as easy as a summer breeze. Pilothouse aficionados will be impressed with her, and should consider giving Dave Hebert a call at 206-283-6400. Dave's a pleasant guy who knows boats, and he would love to show her off. She is currently listed at $399,000.