Where are all the Marinauts?

R

RoseDoctor

New member
I am curious to know how many Marinaut 215s have been built, where they are, who owns them and what their names are. From poking around in the C-Brats website I have put together the following provisional list. Can anyone fill in the missing information for me?

1 – “Solis Ortis”; built for Michael Granath in Vancouver, WA; recently sold to someone in Seattle.
2 – Marinaut 215 with square rear window. Name and location unknown.
3 – “Betty Anne”; in New York.
4 – “Irish Queen”; in NY or Connecticut.
5 – Marinaut 215 in Victoria, BC: name unknown.
6 – Marinaut with tan hull; in Toronto?; name unknown.
7 – “Seeker”; the first Marinaut 215 built; now in Olympia, WA (my boat).

Gary
 
That sounds like "Solis Ortis". She has a Honda 115 and a small Honda kicker.
Hull is light gray and the hull stripe is dark gray. If so, it was built for Michael Granath who sold it a year ago to someone in Seattle. Very nice boat.
Gary
 
Hello,

I apologize for not keeping current on reading this site. I am Rich, and my wife Betty and I own the first production Marinate, Hull #1, "Betty Ann." Our boat is kept in a rack storage facility in Niantic, CT. Your boat is the prototype, but it did come out of the same mold as the Betty Ann, so technically it was the first boat built. However, while your boat may look the same, your boat was made by blowing fiberglass into the mold with a chopper gun -- at least that is what I was told. All other boats were made with hand-laid fiberglass over closed cell foam (the Betty Ann was manufactured at Townsend Bay Marine.) In addition, from Hull #1 forward, Mascoat Delta T insulation was sprayed on the inside to reduce condensation and deaden sound. Again, from what Les told me, there is quite a big weight difference between the prototype and the production boats going forward: your boat is heavier. Again, I am no expert, and this is what I was told.

Does this mean to imply your boat is inferior? -- Absolutely not. There are days on Long Island Sound where I could really have used that extra weight in your hull to cut through a heavy chop. The other thing I really like about the prototype is that with that Hydroplane Dave installed, it can keep your bow down so far into the water, that at slow speeds, you could submarine the boat (figuratively.) On our test drive, I accidentally did this, and had to quickly close the window before a huge wall water came through the window! I'll bet you can really keep your bow down in head seas, and much better than my boat. Yes, your prototype is a great boat, and it convinced us to take the chance on purchasing the first production boat. We have already spent a month on the water on her this year, and this is our 6th season! Family and friends keeping asking us if we want to get a bigger boat. We respond, "why would we?"

Finally, the "Irish Queen" is in CT -- not NY, and it is currently a trailered boat.
Rich
 
There is another in Gig Harbor (Grayce) that I have seen once or twice. The owners were local and just got the boat about a year ago.

Greg
 
Rich,
Thanks for the information. I had heard a bit of that from Les when we were talking to him about buying the boat. You're right about keeping the bow down. I had a similar experience my first time out and have learned that you employ those trim tabs slowly and carefully. I especially appreciate them when I have more weight on one side of the boat than the other. But once I get them set I don't fool around with them very much. SEEKER rides very smoothly even in a strong chop. Maybe it's the extra weight - I don't know.
Gary
 
Greg,
Thank you - very interesting. We cruise up to Gig Harbor every now and then and will keep an eye out for Grayce. I wonder if that means there are actually 8 Marinauts out there rather then 7. Or maybe I'm double counting somewhere.
Gary
 
Here is a picture of Grayce at the Gig Harbor boat launch from the Marinaut website. The couple who owned it seemed fairly quiet, but I did talk to them a little about the relationship to C-dorys and my positive impressions of the first Marinaut hull. They mentioned the fact that they had not really been out of the harbor just yet and the boat was very new to them.

http://www.marinautboats.com/images/img0184.png

Greg
 
Greg,
Thanks - I had seen that photo on the Marinaut web site and didn't connect it with any boat I knew of. Interesting that it is right here in Gig Harbor. We'll look for it the next time we are up there. Unfortunately, we have taken our boat out of the water until next spring - so it may be a while.
Gary
 
This boat is now officially named Sapphirina (also VHF call sign). Teal-coloured hull, black canvas, often a tiny inflatable on top. We winter it on-trailer under roof on our own property.

Cruising destinations in past 2 years:
Canadian Gulf Islands (multiple times). Favourites so far: Winter Cove and Narvaez Bay on Saturna, Conover Cove and Montague Hbr on Galiano, Pirates Cove on DeCourcy

US San Juan Islands. Favourites so far: Garrison Bay on San Juan, Sucias.

Northern Strait of Georgia & Desolation Sound: Favourites so far: Manson's Landing on Cortes, Roscoe Bay on W. Redonda, Grace Harbour on Malaspina Inlet. + Many other places nearly as nice. We were usually the smallest boat in these anchorages, but had little trouble going anywhere we anted to in summer weather.

Alberni Inlet& Barkley Sound: Favourites so far: Jacques-Jarvis lagoon in Brokens, Robber's Passage in Deer Group. Much more to explore, we were there on a short trip with some strong winds.

To be added in 2017?? Clayoquot Sound, Broughtons, maybe Okisolos, maybe south-central Puget Sound at edges of season

Dave Mackas and Karen Burns
 
Dave and Karen,
That must be #5 on my list - right?
Thanks for all your cruising information.
We're planning a trip to the San Juans this coming summer.
Sucia for certain.
It would be great to meet up with you if possible.
Any photos of your boat?
Gary
 
Dave and Karen,
That must be #5 on my list - right?
Thanks for all your cruising information.
We're planning a trip to the San Juans this coming summer.
Sucia for certain.
It would be great to meet up with you if possible.
Any photos of your boat?
Gary
 
1_10_2012_from_Canon_091.sized.jpg

Dave and Karen,
This might be your boat. It is the first Marinout, and this was taken at a Sequim CBGT when Dave brought it up to show off. It was a nicely done, well put together and finely crafted vessel. I had a chance to drive it and it was very responsive and able.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

JC_Lately_SleepyC_Flat_Blue_070.thumb.jpg
 
Gary, I followed "The Marinaut Boat Company" on facebook for years. Les posted pictures of the boats as they were built. I didn't count them all or the hull colors but I remember blue, black, teal, grey and tan. I think the last one was the tan hull that came to Toronto(close to me). Lots of different layouts. One had 4 swivel seats - one had a standup head, etc.

Regards, Rob
 
Yesterday (June 25, 2017) while motoring near Olympia, WA Marilyn and I spotted a Marinaut 21.5 pulled up to a beach at Cooper Point. We pulled up by her and met the owner, a young man named Mike. Mike said that he had seen our Marinaut, "Seeker", moored off our property near Tolmie State Park, photographed it, and looked up "Marinaut" on line. This led him to Whidbey Island where they found Solis Ortis for sale and purchased it. Solis Ortis was originally built for Michael Granath of Vancouver, WA. He sold it to a person living in Tennessee, who sold it to Mike and his wife just recently. Mike keeps her in Olympia at Swantown Marina. I told Mike about the C-brats web site and am hoping that he will join and contribute.
Gary
 
Based on the responses I received from you kind fellow boaters, I have updated my Marinaut list as follows. The numbers are NOT hull numbers, they are just numbers. If you can provide further info I will be pleased to enter it. Thanks for your help.

Gary

1 – “Solis Ortis”; built for Michael Granath in Vancouver, WA; recently sold to “Mike” in Olympia WA where she is kept at Swantown Marina.

2 – “Betty Anne”; kept in Niantic CT. Owned by Rich and Betty.

3 – “Irish Queen”; in Connecticut. Owners’ names not known (by me).

4 –“Sapphirina”, kept in Victoria, BC: owners Dave Mackas and Karen Burns.

5 – Marinaut with tan hull; name unknown, in Toronto, Owner “Rob”.

6 – “Seeker”; the first Marinaut 215 built; now in Olympia, WA, owners Gary and Marilyn Ritchie (my boat).

8 – “Grayce”, Marinaut 215; in Gig Harbor, WA. Owner names unknown.

7 – Marinaut 215; seen just outside Ballard Locks in Seattle; name and owner unknown.

9 - Marinaut 215 with square rear window. Name, owner and location unknown.
 
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