.R-Boat: Pirate

Pirate is the flagship of the collection at The Center for Wooden Boats, Seattle. Since her rechristening in 2005, she has become the center of a new focus at CWB on Pacific Coast yachting and boatbuilding. A museum-quality restoration using techniques and materials as close to original as is humanly possible, Pirate is now sailing and regularly accommodates the public for weekend sailing and interpretation of early pleasure boat construction on Lake Union.

Pirate is significant to northwest maritime history for being the best extant example of the R-class, the adoption of which in this region is a very interesting and complex story. She won the National Championship in the class in 1929.

She embodies the most advanced skills and talents in both yacht design and yacht construction in the Seattle area in the early 20th century. She is a direct descendant of the Sir Tom, an earlier R-class yacht designed by Ted Geary which won the Lipton Cup every year from its inception in 1914 until 1928.

Pirate was built by the Lake Union Drydock Company, a firm that often worked with Geary. Pirate's framing and construction were specified to the highest standards of material and craftsmanship. Her keelson and structural members were specified solid full length Douglas fir timbers, with no scarfs or joints. The hull is double-planked with 5/8" Burma teak exterior planking over 5/16" Western red cedar. The decks and house top are double-diagonal planked Western red cedar, with canvas covering on the deck house and laid teak on the main deck. Pirate was built for Tommy Lee, son of Los Angeles yachtsman, and broadcasting pioneer, Don Lee, as a reward for the son's Pacific Coast Star Championship victory at Victoria, BC in 1925.

A national landmark, Pirate is on the National Register of Historic Properties and the Washington State Historic Register.

Learn more on the Pirate website.