M/V Lotus

In addition to being a certified boat nut, I have been practicing the Japanese martial art aikido for many years. In the fall of 2005 the two worlds crossed when I met ship rigger Brion Toss and his wife Christian Gruye at an aikido event. We had a lovely time practicing together and I came away with an invitation to visit them in Port Townsend. For those readers not familiar with Brion, his is the author of, among other books, The Complete Rigger's Apprentice, which is pretty much the book on boat rigging. He and Christian live aboard the motor vessel Lotus, a 92' wooden yacht built in 1909 and designed to cruise the inland passage between Puget Sound and Alaska. In addition to being their home Lotus is also the home of the M/V Lotus Heritage Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of this historic vessel and her use in education. Brion Toss can be reached through his website.

I'd like to thank Brion and Christian for a wonderful two days on board Lotus.

Portside, looking forward past the pilothouse.

Brion chatting with the skipper.

Portside looking aft. The settee is varnish oak and forms the top of the salon skylight. All the chairs etc. had been stowed away for our trip from Port Townsend to Port Hadlock.

Looking forward.

Inside the pilothouse, looking aft. It's a cosy place to watch aikido videos!

The sills of the pilothouse doors are decorated with this lovely copper detail.

 

In the salon, looking foward to the master stateroom.

The salon, including the functional fireplace.

Click here to continue the tour.