By Sail Or Paddle: Meet the 17′ Salish Voyager

The Salish Voyager can be rowed even while the sail is up. Plenty of headroom underneath the boom. Courtesy Gig Harbor Boat Works

Gig Harbor Boat Works, which was founded in 1986, says the 17’ Salish Voyager it is premiering this month at the Annapolis Sailboat Show has quickly become its most sought-after model.

“It rows and sails equally well, and can be rowed while the sail rig is up, so it’s super easy to switch modes as conditions change,” says Katie Malik, general manager of Gig Harbor Boat Works. “The balanced lug rig is quick to rig, simple to learn, and forgiving to sail. It rows like a dream with the included sliding rowing seat, and has an optional tandem slider so you can share the journey with a partner. With that kind of versatility, and low cost of ownership, there’s a lot of appeal in a small trailerable boat in this day and age.”

The balanced lug rig is easy for one person to sail singlehanded. Courtesy Gig Harbor Boat Works

The boat is intended for long-distance rowing and sailing, with tandem sliding rowing seats. Gig Harbor Boat Works’ team used its Jersey Skiff and Melonseed models as inspiration to blend top features into one craft.

More specifically, the 17’ Salish Voyager has the Jersey Skiff hull with a new interior that supports the lug rig, along with features of the Melonseed for ease of assembly and forgiving sail attributes. The boat has enclosed storage and a self-bailing sole in case of rough seas or heavy rain.

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“The Salish Voyager can be launched, rigged, and under sail in a matter of minutes, so you can take advantage of a nice breeze whenever the mood strikes,” says Falk Bock, production manager at Gig Harbor Boat Works. “She’s well-suited to both daysailing and overnight beach camping due to the  enclosed flotation, a self-bailing floor, and ample dry storage. With shallow draft and a hull designed for beach landings, the Salish Voyager lets you go where a lot of larger vessels can’t.”

Nancy Pfeiffer, who with her partner, Fredrik, rowed and sailed a 17’ Salish Voyager for a little over a year and 1,500 nautical miles in Southeast Alaska, said the boat “occupied a unique niche between the kayakers we were previously and the world of ‘big boats.’ She was far easier to fish from than a kayak, and made a great photography platform. We loved being right at eye level with the wildlife.”

Pfeiffer said she and her partner would have one person on the oars, and the other on the tiller.

Overhead view of the sailing version with optional storage hatches. Courtesy Gig Harbor Boat Works

“We could generate our own wind and really move along while having a light feeling on the oars,” she said. “We often sailed when bigger boats were motoring. It felt good to not be consuming fossil fuel.”

Where to learn more: go to ghboats.com.

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