A Solo Voyage in an Open Boat
Shipbuilder Ole Johnson navigates the rugged coast from Puget City to Grays Harbor in a 17-foot open boat.
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Ole Johnson, a shipbuilder by trade, arrived in Aberdeen early this week from Puget City, having made the entire distance in an open boat, 17 feet long at the top line, 16 feet on the bottom, with a 5-foot-4-inch beam and 2-foot-4-inch depth. He claims his boat did not take on a drop of water during the entire trip and that anyone who understands the first principles of handling a boat can accomplish the same feat. From Puget City to Cape Flattery, he was obliged to row against the wind, not having his sail up for more than two hours. It took him only one and one-half days to make the trip from the Cape into Grays Harbor. If unable to secure work here, he plans to sail his small boat all the way to San Francisco.
“He says, his boat did not take a drop of water during the entire trip, and that any one who understands the first principles of managing a boat can do the same as he has.”
Johnson's solo, open-water navigation of the Washington coast serves as a stark reminder of the isolation and physical grit required in the early days of Grays Harbor. While modern technology has made such coastal transit safer, the spirit of DIY coastal exploration persists in the region's current boating culture.
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