Prior to my purchase of Nonchalant in May 2023, she was owned by Mike Wallaston. He donated the vessel to The Center For Wooden Boats in 2020 (they sell donated vessels to support their work on Lake Union). The vessel had been surveyed in 2018 with no significant issues.
The Center For Wooden Boats displayed the vessel at their docks in Lake Union. Several prospective buyers made offers, but for various reasons did not close (including one who agreed to pay the asking price, hauled the boat out and determined too much work was needed to close at that price). I made an offer in Spring 2022 that was accepted contingent on a visual inspection. The offer was significantly lower than the asking price, but after an in person inspection I also chose not to close at the agreed upon price. I made a lower offer that reflected the fact that I considered Nonchalant a “project boat”, but that offer was rejected by CWB.
I followed the CWB boats for sale listing for the next year and Nonchalant was still for sale in the Spring 2023. I made another offer (even lower than in Spring 2022) and CWB accepted with the stipulation that the boat be moved off their dock within three weeks. Being Spring in Seattle, I could not find a boatyard that would perform a haulout to inspect the hull. I hired a dive team to clean the bottom and do an underwater inspection (documented by video). They concluded that there were no visible issues. I hired a mechanic with vast experience working on Detroit diesels and he spent two days tuning, changing fluids, belts, hoses, batteries etc and had her running well.
I hired a skilled Captain that had piloted Nonchalant on several occasions to make the journey from Lake Union to my waterfront property in Egmont BC – 153 NM. He brought along another certified Captain as crew.
Nonchalant (piloted by Captain Doug) left the Center for Wooden boats dock on the evening of May 17 to spend the night at Shilshole marina.
They passed through the Ballard locks without incident.
Thursday morning (May 18 2023) they set off at first light.
Things were going very well from lake union to port townsend where they stopped for fuel. Captain Doug reported that the engine is really strong, running smoothly and that the bilge pumps were not running at all. They then headed to Sidney to clear customs. They hit some rough water and fog and after about an hour of pounding started to take on water at the bow. Captain Doug messaged me and reported that they were turning back to Port Townsend to wait for better conditions. Before long (less than an hour) the bilge pumps were not keeping up. Doug declared a mayday and shot a flare…
The coast guard responded by sending a helicopter with a crewman and water pump. They quickly discovered that a single pump was not sufficient to keep up with the inflow of ocean water.
Soon after a coast guard boat arrived and dropped another crewman and a second water pump.
With those pumps they were able to get ahead of the inflow and motor back to Port Townsend under her own power.
I arranged for an emergency haul out.
As Nonchalant was lifted, the caulking material was draping from the garboard seams and water was coming out on both sides of the keel.
I was able (with Doug assistance) to get a trusted shipwright (Clint Thompson) to go and examine the hull to determine status. After a preliminary inspection, the shipwright concluded that he could make her seaworthy by reefing all the seams and replacing the stuffing/caulking. He thought there would also likely be a plank or two that would need replacing and he would discover that during the process of repairing the seams. He estimated the work would take about 6 weeks and he could start in late July 2023.
That turned out to be far to optimistic! Follow the full restoration (Port Townsend restoration).
Hi – a couple of comments and questions: I do not believe the boat was built for Bill Boeing – he took delivery of Taconite in 1930 – the same year that Nonchalant was delivered – Nonchalant was built, I believe, by Boeing Aircraft of Canada which had acquired the Vancouver shipyard to build floats for airplanes being built, I believe, for the US Army (shaky recollection here). Nonchalant was one of three or four sister ships and I am in search of one of them – the Pamanus, built for Ernest Mallory of Olympia (my grandfather). We currently cruise on the lates Pamanus out of Bainbridge/Anacortes. I believe Hulakai was one of the three sister ships as well. Anyway – should you have any clues on the original Pamanus – I would appreciate anything you could share.
Kevin.. I do not have any info on Pamanus. As far as Nonchalant being built for William Boeing, almost all articles and references state the he owned and used the yacht for the first three years. What is confusing is the year Nonchalant was built. It is alternately listed as 1927 and in other places 1930. What is clear is that it was documented in 1930 and that seems to be the year that the foreman of the Boeing boatworks took ownership. It seems likely to me that Nonchalant was built and launched in 1927 and documented in 1930. There is no way that I know to reconcile the different dates and accounts. You may be right in your assertion that nonchalant was not in fact ever owned or used by William Boeing… if that is the case, it seems unusual that the assertion is made in so many accounts of Nonchalant’s history. Hulakai, the sister ship you referred to, is an active member of the classic yacht association and is well maintained and actively cruised.
as it turns out…nonchalant was the boat that was owned by Kevin’s grandfather and named Pamanus (at that time). I met kevin in 2025 and he was aboard Nonchalant.