California’s San Joaquin Valley is often called “the food basket of the world.”
The summer’s hot sun is ideal for growing cotton, grapes, nuts, tomatoes and various other fruits.
Far from the seashore or even the hint of an ocean breeze, it is an unlikely locale to find a blue-water sailor building a yacht.
For Lee Simpson, who raised grapes in Madera, Calif., in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, the farm’s 11,000-square-foot shop was situated in the middle of vineyards — and seemed the perfect place to build a Bruce Roberts-designed, 62-foot steel trawler that would be named Sonata.
Lee, who holds a 100-ton master’s license, and his wife, Diane, are experienced mariners who have owned power boats and sailing vessels that have carried them to Hawaii, Tahiti, Mexico and Alaska.
Lee also possesses a characteristic found among most farmers and that is the ability to build their own specialized farm equipment.
For example, he designed and built is a piece of equipment that mechanized the picking of raisins that eliminated 80 percent of the labor.
Included in the plans Lee received for Sonata was a computer disc that contained the cutting plans for all of the steel that would be used in its construction.
The CD was sent off to a Dutch steel maker who loaded the data into a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine that cut out all of the components.
Each piece was then identified and marked with a thin line of white paint that not only delineated the weld-line but was also used to assemble the yacht — much like a paint by number set this was a build a boat by number set.
Lee recalls that all the steel showed up on the farm one day in two 20-foot containers, and said, “That was an exciting day.”
He then engaged the services of two young craftsmen, Jeremy Rhoades and Lance Tatro — each having proven expertise in welding, woodworking and painting but neither having had applied his talents to building a boat.
Sonata’s hull and house were built separately because they each had to be transported individually by tractor-trailer for more than 100 miles to the Port of Stockton, where they were then assembled prior to launching.
I was invited aboard Sonata, now at Platypus Marine Inc.’s yard in Port Angeles, and the first stop was the engine room.
This is not your grandfather’s engine room.
Wiring, piping and ducting were visually absent.
So were the 9-kilowatt generator and the John Deere 330 horsepower diesel engine.
Lee built a sound shield that encloses the generator and engine in a fully insulated and soundproofed cabinet with access through large stainless steel doors on either side.
An automated fire extinguisher is also built within the confines of the sound shield.
Adjacent to the engine room is a well-stocked workshop that has, to name only a few toys, a small metal lathe, drill press, band saw and a TIG welder that Lee uses to maintain the yacht as well as helping other mariners with their repair issues.
This space is also where the AC-DC electrical panels, the fuel filtering systems and the reverse osmosis fresh water maker are located.
Lee and I took a quick peek at the cozy guest quarters, which has a full-size head and the spacious owner’s suite with its own full-size head — and a stacking washer and dryer.
The full-sized appliances in the galley are just what you would find in a home. Lee said they don’t have a dishwasher for a number of reasons, not the least of which was that his wife wanted a set of drawers to go into the space.
The salon is unquestionably as inviting and comfortable as the living room in a home could possibly be.
A large flat-screen monitor is positioned on the bulkhead above a pellet stove, and on the opposing bulkhead sits a Yamaha Clavinova digital piano.
I listened to beautiful classical music come out of that piano, yet at no time did I see Lee’s fingers touch a piece of ivory — I’m still mystified.
Lee took me up to the wheelhouse, and the first thing that I noticed was that there is no wheel to steer the Sonata.
Lee said he uses the auto pilot most of the time, and there is a joy stick in place of the wheel when manual maneuvering is necessary.
A couple of computer screens are used for navigation, and another set monitors the weather and the status of all the systems onboard Sonata.
The most impressive aspect of the gadgetry and electronics in the wheelhouse is that Lee installed it all himself.
his included running all of the wiring from the mechanical and electronic systems throughout the vessel into the wheelhouse and into their appropriate modules.
Very impressive.
Sonata has been sitting on the ground in one of Platypus Marine’s satellite buildings for nearly a month.
According to Lee, dual-pane windows built by Diamond Sea Glaze of Langley, B.C., were installed in the wheelhouse, and personnel are giving her a new coat of paint from the masthead light to the keel.
Lee said Sonata should be back in the water by the middle of the week.
Then they’ll head to Friday Harbor, where the yacht will be moored for the winter season.
Out in the harbor
Out in Port Angeles Harbor on Monday, Tesoro Petroleum bunkered Global Explorer, a 778-foot bulk cargo ship with an 85-foot beam.
Tesoro on Saturday provided bunkers to American Progress, a petroleum products carrier that is 575 feet long and 105 feet wide.
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David G. Sellars is a Port Angeles resident and former Navy boatswain’s mate who enjoys boats, ships and strolling the waterfront.
Items involving boating, port activities and the North Olympic Peninsula waterfronts are always welcome. Email dgsellars@hotmail.com or phone him at 360-808-3202.