Bluewater Boatworks was in operation from 1977 through 1981 in Amarillo, Texas, building 2 sailboats designed by Dave Autry, the Bluewater 14' catboat and Blackwatch 18' cutter. I worked there a short while in 1980-1981 before leaving Amarillo due to my new wife's job change.
David Luckenbach's article on the Bluewater 14, originally stating that no one seemed to know where the boat came from, indicated there was scant knowledge available on these boats. I've started this page to share what I have and know about the boats.
If you're a Bluewater or Blackwatch owner or Boatworks employee who wants to contribute more to these pages, or have questions about the boats, please eMail me (brentc(a)jbcmusic.com).
Blackwatch for Sale!
Blackwatch #28 is FOR SALE by Ed Saile. Ed says it's "a bit of a project," located in Clear Lake, Texas. Email me (brentc(a)jbcmusic.com) for Ed's contact info.
2nd Blackwatch for Sale!
Blackwatch #32 is for sale in Sacramento CA, on Sailing Texas
We bought a Blackwatch!
We've bought Blackwatch No. 38 from Joe and Mary Schlichte in LaSalle, Michigan. The purchase took a couple of months, since the boat was in Joe's back yard in Michigan, we're in Houston, I hate winter, and didn't really want to tow a trailer through ice and snow with my brand-new F150 pickup. But Joe had a trucker friend, Ron Thomas, with some time between jobs, who had no problem checking out the trailer and delivering the boat to us at a reasonable price.
So the boat's now in Houston, but of course, there's problems - like the mast got bent somehow in storage, the bowsprit is missing, toerails need replacing, no interior cushions, no motor...I can handle fixing all that (except the cushions - Debbie's department) for the price. We weren't really looking for another project boat, but just decided a Blackwatch is worth it. I'm trying to remember back 31 years, but I think now this particular boat was built just a few hulls before I started there. Hopefully we can splash it this fall and it won't take 18 months like our last project, the San Juan 24 (now SOLD).
30th! Anniversary of the Blackwatch! (2009). The inaugural GATHERING OF THE FLEET was hosted June 26-28 2009 by the Oklahoma City Boat Club as part the Lighthouse Charity Regatta on Lake Hefner. Those who came are hoping to make it an annual event.
Check out the report posted on the Small Craft Advisor blog (2nd June story-scroll down. Dave McFate's tribulations getting there are further down the page).
Blogs, Forums, Bulletin Boards:
Good Old Boat magazine:
Blackwatch sales brochure (pdf), (provided courtesy of Dave McFate)
Bluewater Boatworks Blackwatch ad (pdf), Texas Sailing magazine Feb. 1981
Romance! Adventure! How a Blackwatch Changed my Life! (Brent Clifton)
Pictures: :
Other:
Other sailing links:
Website Copyright 2011 Jeffrey Brent Clifton
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eMail to: brentc(a)jbcmusic.com
Updated 11/1/2011/jbc
