Gold Star

History

The Schooner Gold Star began as one man’s dream in a barn in Richmond, California. George Krenkel had been buying, refurbishing and selling boats all his life when he saw the schooner’s plans in Yachting magazine in 1948. “It appeared to have everything I always wanted in a sailboat.” 

Krenkel spent fourteen years building the schooner with blueprints purchased from J. Murray Watts, naval architect. The original plans called for a working gillnetter without a bowsprit. In 1957, Krenkel received an offer to buy the boat and declined to sell, saying he had not yet completed building the boat. “My building program is both recreation and hobby, and I am taking the time to do a job that will do justice to the same effort and feeling that Mr. Watts must have put into the design. The fairness of hull and sheer is surely a thing of beauty.” At that time, Mr. Krenkel obtained blueprints of the bowsprit sail plan. The original plans called for a gaff mainsail, which was changed to a Marconi mainsail. The Gold Star is outfitted with three additional sails and the foresail is gaff-rigged. 

Krenkel launched the Gold Star in 1960. When the present owners, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence H. Cullen, purchased her in 1962, she was a barebones hull of 2 x 2 fir. The steering gear was a 1937 Chevrolet transmission with a Model A rear end. Mr. and Mrs. Krenkel requested that the schooner remain named Gold Star in memory of their son, who was killed in the war. Larry, Margaret and their three children spent the next three years outfitting the Gold Star for ocean sailing as well as bay sailing. Larry improved the original sail plan from gaff main to Marconi main and increased the height of the mainmast and foremast. Teak decks were salvaged from the heavy cruiser Oklahoma City. Oak bunks, a chart table and oak drawers were removed from a navy vessel before it was put into mothballs. Blocks and most stainless steel fittings were designed and built by Cullen. Ballast of approximately four tons were melted and cast to fit below the cabin. 

The Schooner Gold Star has been sailing on San Francisco Bay since 1965 and has logged more than 35,000 miles of ocean sailing including trips to Mexico, Hawaii and four trips to Alaska. The crew always comments how comfortable the vessel is on a long ocean trip. 

The Waukershaw gas engine installed by Krenkel was removed in 1963 and replaced with a 35 hp Buda diesel engine (war surplus). This engine was replaced with a new diesel Yanmar in 2001. 

Four generations of the Cullen family and their friends can often be seen sailing on San Francisco Bay.