MBH&H Boats of the Year 2009 by Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors

ShT BE of t e BEST

2009 BOATS OF THE IN THE DEEP OF WINTER LAST YEAR,

I took to the road with Leila Murphy, the manager of the MAINE B OATS, HOMES & HARBORS SHOW, to visit some of our customers. We wanted to peek behind the curtain. We traveled up and down the coast from Portland to Mt. Desert Island on days when the temperature hovered around ten degrees, when even ocean coves sported ice floes. Boats and boating were a distant glimmer in most people’s minds, but behind boatshop doors quite the opposite was true. Winter is an incredibly busy time for boatbuilders; the spring launching season is never far away. There is an element of faith at play in their shops during the chilly months, faith that the weather will warm again, faith that parts will merge to create a whole that will float, faith that hard work and a passion for what one is creating will result in a perfectly finished product. “Don’t be too McIntosh-esque,” a college professor once wrote on a paper I had submitted. What he meant by that was to stick to the facts, ma’am. Don’t romanticize the world around you, especially the rough-and-tough world described so well by Jack London in Sea Wolf. Resist hyperbole and unfettered wonder, he was suggesting. The professor could very well write that in the margins of this introduction. Yet I couldn’t help myself from being McIntosh-esque during our road trip, and I can’t help myself now. When I consider the nuts and bolts of boatbuilding, I am swept away by the dedication, the craft, the enthusiasm, the do-it-for-love-notmoney that drives so many of the craftspeople I met. I can’t help but see more than just molds and tools and launching ramps. My impressions are sensory: the smell of pine resin and wood shavings, the sheen of varnished surfaces, the ubiquitous crackle of fire in a woodstove, the sight of a landlocked flotilla of Lyman runabouts tucked in a shed next to a Model-T Ford while rain thundered overhead on a metal roof. The shop spaces and locations we visited varied: a converted garage, a small shop with corgies inside and chickens outside, large concrete and metal structures on main routes away from the water, yards and marinas at the ocean’s edge. A sense of

BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 Around the Yards

YEAR BY JENNIFER WILSON MCINTOSH

welcome pervaded every one. There was a willingness to explain techniques, a recurring acknowledgement of each being one builder amid a larger tradition. At Ellis Boat, for example, Donny Ellis talked about discovering his father’s handwriting on the planking inside a boat that had come back to the shop for repairs over the winter. He spoke of the cooperation that had always existed among neighboring builders, of all builders working from the building block of the basic downeast hull, of the subtle variations that differentiate the style of one builder from another. The Ellis crew was like a family; they enjoyed lively conversation and argument during their coffee break. The human element is never far beneath the surface of the handmade. The boats we discuss in the following pages carry stories and hidden hours we will never know. If you have time and the inclination, I recommend a road trip of your own along the coast. Have a look at the behind-thescenes activity, chat with the dedicated people who build high-quality vessels, glimpse Maine through their eyes… and for heaven’s sake, don’t forget to stop now and again for a doughnut.

The following boatbuilder listings are alphabetical by company name or boatbuilder’s last name. Every attempt was made to be all-inclusive; however, if you know of a builder that is not mentioned here, please tell us about their work so we can try to contact them for next year’s edition.

Chris Cushman of ANDROSCOGGIN WOODEN BOAT WORKS likes to work simultaneously on multiple boats of the same model, as it allows for more efficiency in the process, and 2009 brought him 3 22' Lymans, all in need of substantial work. Repairs to the 1967 model included replacing 22 frames in one piece from rail to rail. Gunwales, decks, the stem, and some planking were replaced before the boat was refinished and its interior partially updated. The 1969 needed similar attention, plus a custom swim platform and ladder setup, a new engine and fuel tank, and rewiring and plumbing of the cooling system. The 1970 received new bottom planking from the waterline to the keel. Other repair jobs at the Wayne, Maine, shop included: 2 1959 Lymans; a 1967 Century Resorter; a 1966 25' Lyman Cruisette; the refinishing of a 1961 16' Penn Yan Baltic, and repairs to a 1907 Palmer one-lunger launch. Restoration began on a 1900s Carlton Canoe Company cedar rowboat—purchased by its present owner in 1939—to replace the backbone, which is plagued with rot, though the planking is amazingly in great shape. Cushman said that with the rowboat and launch in the shop it is like working in a museum, that it created “a feeling in the shop that we can save history.” A changing of the guard saw one employee leave, another join, and a change in hours for Billi the Boatyard Cat, who transitioned to a part-time work schedule to create time for his other passions: leading hunting trips and demonstrating the highest dragonfly jump. www.webnow.com/awbw; 207-685-9805.

photos by Leila Murphy(10)

Apache Boatworks High-MPG Car The first project to grace the newly built, 1,500-sq.-ft. heated workshop of Camden’s APACHE BOATWORKS was a new Bristol Channel Cutter. The Lyle Hess design is

Jeff Scher

scheduled to launch early in 2010 for a customer in Newfoundland. A small iceboat was built for a local customer from ash and mahogany, varnished, and fitted out with a wicker picnic basket and oriental rug. In the spirit of boatshop diversification, the oneman shop is developing a prototype highmileage car using lightweight wood-composite construction techniques for the body that should allow it to produce mileage in the mid 90s with a top speed of 75 mph. Stay tuned for reports from an upcoming cross-country high mileage race. 207-975-6980.

Apprenticeshop: “The Twins” Full-time and community students at Rockland’s APPRENTICESHOP OF ATLANTIC CHALLENGE launched “The Twins,” two 28' double-ended training boats designed by Nigel Irens. The boats are traditional plankon-frame construction, outfitted with multiple dagger boards and interchangeable carbon-fiber sailing rigs, for ketch, schooner, and yawl rigs. The school described the project as “a blend of the historic and contemporary that is emblematic of our educational mission: honoring our heritage while embracing innovation.” Other launchings included: 1 Abeking & Rasmussen lapstrake cedar-over-oak tender, 1 peapod, 1 Mermaid sailboat, 1 Susan skiff, and 1 Whitehall. A Lawley tender built by the Apprenticeshop was purchased at the MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS SHOW in August; we were told that its new owner wasted no time and rowed it promptly away from the docks. Repairs were made to a Finn boat, and as ever, new students built toolboxes based on the design of an 1800s ship’s box. www.atlanticchallenge.com; 207-594-1800.

Arey’s Pond Boatyard Fleet AREY’S POND BOATYARD of South Orleans,

Massachusetts, launched 4 14' catboats, 2 Open Lynx 16' cats, 1 22' wooden cruising cat, 1 20' catboat in wood, and 1 10' Acorn dinghy of traditional construction. These boats echo the traditional wooden catboats that sailed on Narragansett Bay 200 years ago, but with modifications to the sheer, bow, stem, and gaff rig to create a lower

Gordon E. Reed, courtesy Robinhood Marine Center(2)

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

BRILLIANT FRED BEAMAN / FIVE ISLANDS by Brian Robbins BEAMAN… Fred Beaman… boy, that name sounds familiar,” you might “F RED be saying to yourself. Well, here’s a clue: If you were around the Maine waterfront

between 1985 and 1999, chances are good you crossed paths with Fred Beaman, especially if your boatyard or marina of choice did business with the now-defunct Essex Machine Works. “That’s it!” you say. “Fred Beaman! He was the road guy for Essex—always smiling; had the artificial leg…” And it’s okay that the latter is how you remember Beaman. Never one to use his infirmity as an excuse, Beaman was famous for freaking out the unwary by wanging objects off his metal prosthetic leg just for the sound it made. Fred Beaman’s smile was the deceptive part; looking much the part of Sean Connery’s younger brother, Fred loved the challenge of “the deal.” He loved making the deal happen with a customer—but more than anything, he loved beating the competition on deals. Reps from other marine companies that sold driveline equipment and hardware would shudder when they met Fred in a customer’s parking lot, knowing that they were undoubtedly quoting against him on a project. And Fred would just give ‘em that smile…. Upon retiring from Essex in 1999, Beaman found himself in an interesting spot. There he was, in his 60s, in good health, and he suddenly had the time to do all the things he’d been wanting to do, including a project he’d been talking about for years: building his own boat. “Over time,” he said, “I’d been gathering up gear for this boat I was talking about building. By the time I retired, I had an engine, a shaft, the packing boxes, the exhaust system. Everyone knew I’d been talking about doing it, so I couldn’t back out.” One of Beaman’s “deals” led him to an arrangement with Five Islands Boat Works, builders of the Five Islands 35 (formerly known as the Bruno & Stillman 35), designed by Royal Lowell. He was finally going to build his boat; his wife Sue joined him in waxing the hull mold. Every space has been used to its fullest. MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

February / March 2010

Issue 108

BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009

SPECIFICATIONS / BEAMAN 35 LOA: 35' LWL: 32'2" Beam: 11'6" Draft: 3'0" Hull & Top: Fiberglass/balsa-cored Power: Caterpillar 3116TA

(300 hp @ 2,800 rpm) Speed: 20 knots (WOT); 16 knots @ 2,400 rpm (cruise) Prop: 23"x22"x4 Michigan Fuel: 150 gal. Water: 70 gal.

Metal Fabrication: West Fabrication Builders: Fred & Sue Beaman Hull Design: Royal Lowell Hull: Five Islands Boat Works,

Artisan Boatworks: Murmur ARTISAN BOATWORKS launched Murmur, a

full-keel version of Herreshoff’s Buzzards Bay 15. The Rockport shop collaborated with maritime professionals who specialize in such reproduction work—from sails to reproduction hardware—“to ensure with every detail that modern innovation was tastefully combined with historical accuracy,” in the words of the shop’s owner, Alec Brainerd. Brainerd will present a paper at the 2010 Classic Yacht Symposium, sponsored by the Herreshoff Museum in Bristol, Rhode Island, describing the project in depth. The 44' Winthrop Warner cruising yacht Congar was in for work. Two major rebuilds are in progress this winter: a 110-year-old Clinton Cranedesigned sloop from Upper St. Regis Lake in the Adirondacks, and a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Dark Harbor 20 from Islesboro. The shop grew with a 5,600-sq.-ft. indoor storage facility designed for wooden boats and an expanded service department. www.artisanboatworks.com; 207-236-4231.

719 Five Islands Rd., Georgetown, ME 04548. 207-371-2837 House: Downeast Boats & Composites, Route 175, Penobscot, ME 04476. 207-326-9400

Well entrenched in his “one small job at a time” approach, Beaman spent his last two summers in Maine doing nothing but working on the boat. “One day,” he said, “I realized that I didn’t have any room left in the cockpit for the table saw. That’s when I realized I was finished.” Brilliant performed well during July sea trials; the 300-hp Caterpillar diesel drove the boat to a 20-knot top end and a 16-knot cruising speed. The big news, though, was that Brilliant, now completed, was for sale. Wasn’t Beaman going to miss his companion of the last 10 years? “Oh, no,” he said. “Life’s a trip—forward you go.” He began listing some of the things that he and Sue wanted to do in the years ahead, then paused to share a bit of advice: “Life’s like a roll of toilet paper—the closer you get to the end, the faster it spins off.” “Plus, who knows?” he said. “I might build another one.” N And he might, especially if he got a deal.

www.maineboats.com

center and smoother ride. November saw the completion and launch of a threeyear project, a 38' Spencer Lincoln powerboat. www.areyspondboatyard.com; 508-255-0994.

Alison Langley

Having seen more than his share of boat projects gone wrong over the years, Beaman went into the process with his eyes open. “Frankly, I was scared to death,” he said, “but I figured the best way to tackle it was one small job at a time.” Five Islands assisted in many ways, including the installation of the boat’s engine and drivetrain. A sharp eye will note that the house is not a standard Bruno/Five Islands unit. “We built our own custom house with a panel from Downeast Boats & Composites on top,” Beaman said. “It’s actually a Northern Bay 36 roof. By the time Sue and I were done sanding, [Five Islands owner] Bill Plummer claimed we’d made enough dust to build a dinghy.” Eventually, the boat, named Brilliant (as in “That was a brilliant idea, Fred”), was shuttled up the road to the Beamans’ home for the final years of the finishing process. That’s right: years. Working summers, Beaman spent 10 years on his 35footer. (The Beamans take off in their motor home each winter. They cover their expenses by doing handyman work at parks around the country— another “deal” you could say.) There were no shortcuts taken along the way. Beaman was adamant that there be no visible fastenings in any woodwork, for example. “After awhile,” Beaman said, “I began telling people I’d been a boatbuilder for a number of years. It was just the same boat, that’s all.” Below, Brilliant has the accommodations of a much bigger boat, with V-berths, a full galley with stove and refrigerator, an enclosed head with shower stall, and plenty of storage. “It would probably scare you to see how much stuff you can tuck away down there,” said Beaman. Up in the wheelhouse, there is plenty of seating, including the helm station, a mate’s chair, and a dinette that can be converted into a double berth.

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

Back Cove 37 BACK COVE YACHTS, based in Rockland and

owned by Sabre Yachts, builds downeast-style lobsteryachts in express and hardtop styles. The line includes the Back Cove 26, 29, 33, and now the Back Cove 37, which launched in February. Summer 2010 promises to bring the launch of a new model, the Back Cove 30, a hardtop with molded-in cockpit seating, a transom door, and a 315-hp Yanmar diesel engine. www.backcoveyachts.com; 207-594-8844. BASTILLE WOODWORKING AND BOAT WORKS

of Saco told us of the drama of the West Wight Potter, or “Is a Sandwich Aboard Too Much to Ask?” It all began with a phone call to the shop’s owner James Bastille from a fellow on a lake in Maine who reported that he “had a problem with his 14' sailboat,” a rather dramatic understatement. After launching the

Maine Boats, Homes & AUGUST 13-15, 2010

We are pleased to acknowledge the following

Classic Boat Shop

Jeff Scher

www.ClassicBoatShop.com

The 8th Annual MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS SHOW will once again showcase the best boats and marine gear, art and jewelry, home wares and fine furniture. The show’s overall theme, Tradition Shapes Innovation, reflects the evolution of Maine’s finely crafted products, the principles of simplicity and resourcefulness, and the many ways that Maine’s natural resources continue to inspire creation and invention as we move forward. VISIT WWW.MAINEBOATS.COM for more information, a complete list of exhibitors and a schedule of events—on and off show grounds! 800-565-4951

Visit us on the web at www.maineboats.com

Harbors

SHOW T R A D I T I O N S H A P E S I N N O V A T I O N™

exhibitors who have already signed up for this summer’s show:

GREY BARN B O AT WO R K S

Redfern BOATS

www.bigship salvage.com

ANNE KILHAM D E S I G N S

LAKE PARLIN Artisans

For more information call us at 800-565-4951

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR boat, heading into the house to make a sandwich, and returning to the dock to enjoy said sandwich aboard, the owner discovered the boat on the bottom of the lake. By the time Bastille arrived, the boat had been hauled halfway up the beach, at which point the bow eye had torn from the stem. A larger eye, a backing block, and one hydraulic winch later, the boat was on the trailer, where a broken hull and rotted plywood were revealed to be beyond salvage. The two parties â&#x20AC;&#x153;talked price and came to an agreement.â&#x20AC;? Lines were taken from the boat, and a new one constructed of okoume plywood and oak for less than the cost of repairs. We do not know if the owner ever ate that sandwich. In a less dramatic fashion, the one-man shop made repairs to Alacrity, a 23' 1973 Stonehorse, including fiberglass repair, extensive wood work, and repairs to the engine and fuel tank. 207-284-9535. BAY OF MAINE BOATS of Kennebunk built four tendersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;12' Arundels and 10' Kittery Pointsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and expanded their product line by adding a 13'6" peapod. These Ram Island â&#x20AC;&#x2122;pods will be available in both sailing and rowing models. www.bayofmaineboats.com; 207-967-4298.

chusetts, with 30 boats competing. www.beetlecat.com; 508-295-8585.

Beetle Boat Shop BEETLE BOAT SHOP of Wareham, Massachusetts, constructed 10 new 12' gaff-rigged Beetle Cats, 1 Beetle 14, 3 Willy Potts rowing skiffs, and what promises to be the first of many Onset Island outboard skiffs. Thetis, an exact replica of Nat Herreshoffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal daysailer, the 26' Alerion III, was launched in September after 2 years in construction. The 7-person shop completed 8 Beetle Cat rebuilds and the complete makeover of a 1950s Glamour Girl launch. A 32' Noank schooner is currently being restored and will be for sale once completed. Inside storage capacity doubled with the addition of a new 50 x 100' storage barn; more than 125 Beetle Cats are stored at the shop along with several larger classic wooden boats. The shopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Willy Potts rowing skiff received an award at the 2009 WoodenBoat Show for the best professionally built â&#x20AC;&#x153;manually poweredâ&#x20AC;? boat. The Beetle Cat Championships were held on Pleasant Bay in Chatham, Massa-

In June, BOOTHBAY HARBOR SHIPYARD launched Belle Aventura, an 85' William Fife ketch built in 1929, after a major 16-month refit. Work included: replacement of the original plank/frame rivets, new engine, interior joinery and refinishing, electrical system, complete exterior refinishing, extensive mast rebuild, stereo system, and electronics. Cherokee, a replica of a 1930 Sparkman & Stephens 6-meter, was launched in May. The project represented a collaboration between the Museum of Yachting in Newport, Rhode Island, and the yard, which donated the lumber and project management; 90% of the work was carried out by International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) graduates and interns. Ernestinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hull and deck were rebuilt from the stem to the forward chainplates. Built in 1894, the 112' vessel is one of the last remaining examples of a Gloucester fisherman. The bow of the 120' 3-masted Friendship of Salem was replaced, including the stem, billethead, framing, planking, stanchions, and hawse timbers, to repair decay caused by fresh water that had entered the laminations of the 11-year old schooner. www.boothbayharborshipyard.com; 207633-3171.

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MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

February / March 2010

Issue 108

BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009

Alison Langley

BRIGHTSIDE WOODEN BOAT SERVICES , a repair and rebuild shop in Belgrade Lakes, reframed and refinished a 1958 lobsterboatstyle picnic boat, updated a Penn Yan with new spray rails, and installed a new sole in a 1957 17' Thompson. A Whitehall and a 1955 Chris Craft Capri both had some wood replaced before being refinished. A 1943 Gibbs took center stage when it arrived for new decks, frames, and plank replacement. The Gibbs is equipped with an air-cooled Wisconsin one-lunger, and has a reverse gear. Ten of these boats were originally ordered by the U.S. Army, and were built and delivered between April and August of 1943, according to the shop’s Shawn Grant, who wondered, “How did one get to a barn on Great Pond in Belgrade Lakes?” brightsidewoodenboat.com; 207-495-3680.

designed by Stephens, Waring & White Yacht Design and the largest boat to date built by the shop. The hull construction is of cold-molded wood-epoxy. The rig features automated sail handling thanks to a hydraulic system that runs nearly 30 different functions, such as sail furling, winches, and anchor deployment. The hydraulics are powered by either the pair of 15kw generators or, when silent operation is desired, by the DC electrical system. See page 60 for more about the interior layout and features. www.brooklinboatyard.com; 207-359-2236. CALEDON BOATWORKS built a Caledon 27 pocket trawler, now in residence in the Bahamas far from its beginnings in Caledon, Ontario. The shop crew built two 10'3" sailing dinghies, and spent the remainder of their time replacing the transom and cockpit of a 42' Chris Craft, repairing the cockpit and deck on a Cheoy Lee, and updating a 44' Charger speedboat with new decks, transom, cockpit, and engine beds. As the year closed, the complete restoration of a 38' Tripp-designed sailboat continued. www.caledonboatworks.com; 519-940-4493.

Brooklin Boat Yard: Bequia BROOKLIN BOAT YARD , of Brooklin,

launched the 90' pilothouse yawl Bequia,

www.maineboats.com

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

Callinectes Boatworks 16' Runabout During its first year in business, CALLINECTES BOATWORKS of Kennebunkport completed hull molds for its 16' classic-styled, jetpump-driven runabout, and designed an 18-footer. Two 16' Callinectes runabouts were slated for completion in early winter. The infused fiberglass/Soric cored hulls are bonded to laid mahogany decks, blending classic runabout styling with modern technology. The boat weighs in at 1,200 pounds, and has a top speed of 50 mph with its 150hp turbocharged engine. Over the summer the runabout was recognized with the Antique and Classic Boat Society’s “Best in Class for Contemporary Replica” award. www.cboatworks.com; 207-468-0746. CAPE COD SHIPBUILDING CO. built 24 boats, 10 of which were 15' Mercury sloops for Community Boating in Boston, to replace some of the older boats in their instructional fleet. One project in the works at the Ware-

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

Carpenter’s Boat Shop: Republican THE CARPENTER’S BOAT SHOP of Pemaquid welcomed 10 apprentices from all over the map—even Scotland—to its program, which runs from September through June. They joined the 6 staff members to create a flotilla of new craft: 10 Monhegan Island skiffs, 5 Jordan Cradle boats, and 1 Acorn dinghy. The dory that sits outside the lighthouse on Monhegan Island (subject of many a photo and painting) was revived after too long in the salt air. The Marblehead Gunning dory Republican, originally built by Capt. Gerald Smith of Marblehead, MA, and featured in some of John Gardner’s books, was brought to the shop by its new owner, a friend of Captain Smith. After refastening, the addition of a mast step, the refitting of seat risers and thwarts, and a bit of paint, the boat returned to the water after a long hiatus to be used for recreational winter rowing on the Maine coast. Other repair projects included skiffs, dinghies, a Friendship sloop, and a Boothbay Harbor One Design. Visitors are always welcome at the shop during the 10 a.m. public tea-time. The 2010 summer program will include a Shaker woodworking class. www.carpentersboatshop.org; 207-677-2614.

Alison Langley(3)

ham, Massachusetts, company is the rebuild of Nat Herreshoff’s 23' Marlin design to look more like the Fish. The prototype is slated to make the boat show rounds in the fall of 2010. Repair jobs included brightwork and bottom work. www.capecodshipbuilding.com; 508-295-3550.

BEQUIA

BROOKLIN BOAT YARD by John Snyder

N THE FALL OF 2007, STEVE WHITE, owner of the Brooklin Boat Yard, thought that it might be time to upgrade the yard’s Travelift to accommodate some of the larger boats stored at the yard. He purchased a refitted 80-ton capacity rig and rebuilt the Travelift piers. He could not have made the upgrade at a better time. Two years prior, designers Robert Stephens and Paul Waring of Brooklin Boat Yard Design Associates, now known as Stephens, Waring & White Yacht Design, had begun design work on a 90-foot yawl with world cruising capability. The owners had sought out the design team after seeing examples of the yard’s previous work, especially Donald Tofias’s 76-foot Spirit of Tradition racing stallions Wild Horses and White Wings, which were built in 1998. They were drawn to the graceful sheer and overhangs that are so much a part of Stephens’s work. But the owners wanted more than a thoroughbred racer; they wanted the same classic look in a more substantial yacht that could take them anywhere in the world in safety, luxury and style.

Chesapeake Light Craft Dory CHESAPEAKE LIGHT CRAFT builds new boats

and produces kayak, rowing craft, canoe, and sailboat kits. The Annapolis, Maryland, company released a kit for the 17-foot rowing and sailing Northeaster dory in May, after working on the prototype over the winter. By early fall, 50 kits had shipped, and a number had already been built and launched by October. More than a dozen were built in week-long “Build-Your-Own-Boat” classes held at the WoodenBoat School in Brooklin and the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, Rhode Island. You can view one of those classes, captured in time-lapse video

White woodwork and ebony-stained sole, the saloon exudes restrained elegance. MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

February / March 2010

Issue 108

BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 Work began on Bequia in the spring of 2007. At 90 feet LOA and a cost of about $7.5 million the new yacht is the yard’s grandest project ever, both in terms of design and construction. The job took 20 months to complete and required approximately 85,000 man-hours in labor for the yard’s 60 employees. Like the majority of Brooklin Boat Yard’s boats, Bequia’s hull is cold-molded using West System adhesives. It was built upside down, a composite of Douglas fir, cedar laid diagonally, and an outer layer of Honduras mahogany covered with two layers of 12 oz. fiberglass. The yard is noted for this method of construction,

Extensive three-dimensional computer modeling allowed the designers to minimize the intrusion of the systems on the accommodations. A network of rectangular channels below the decking accommodates wiring and hydraulic lines, and also serves to stiffen the deck itself. Below decks, the arrangement is simple and roomy. Forward, there is a double stateroom with access to a full head and tiled shower. Quarters for two to three crewmembers are located to port, off the large galley, while in the passageway to starboard is a shower, laundry, and a pair of additional bunks for offshore crew. The large owner’s suite is located under

visibility over the house. The side decks are wide and unobstructed. Perhaps the yacht’s most elegant feature is the bright-finished deckhouse, which rounds out the yacht’s classic styling with what is essentially an elevated saloon with large windows, comfortable seating, a spacious chart table, and a modern electronics panel. Although Bequia is a complex yacht in terms of systems, its classic looks and feel have been maintained thanks to the engineering and design work of Stephens, Waring & White, combined with the legendary skill and craftsmanship of one of the world’s premier wooden boatbuilders. Like the yacht’s smaller stablemates, Bequia has set a new standard for the breed. As for Steve White’s new 80-ton Travelift? Once the news of Bequia spreads, Brooklin Boat Yard is destined to become an even busier place, and that lift is sure to get quite a workout. N SPECIFICATIONS / BEQUIA LOA: 90'9" LWL: 63'5" Beam: 19'4" Draft: 9' Displ.: 135,000 lbs. Mast Height: 109' Sail Area: 3,424 sq. ft. Fresh Water: 120 gal. Fuel: 750 gal. Hull: cold-molded wood/

Natural light in the owner’s aft stateroom is provided by elliptical and clerestory portlights.

which is relatively light weight, low cost, and low maintenance. Other advantages include improved soundproofing and thermal insulation, and the beauty of exposed wood in the main saloon and staterooms. One of the most demanding tasks for the designers and builders was to integrate modern systems into the yacht’s traditional deck layout and joinery. A custom hydraulic system runs 27 different functions, including boom vang winches, sail furlers, ground tackle, and a unique starboard boarding platform. The system can be powered by one or both Westerbeke 15 kW generators, or, if silent operation is desired, by a DC electrical system. www.maineboats.com

the aft cabin trunk and includes a full head with two sinks and a separate tiled shower. The main saloon has the dining area to starboard and is fitted with bookshelves and a gas fireplace to take off the chill. Seating is on custom-made couches. The paneling is painted offwhite to keep things bright and is offset by an ebony-stained cabin sole. Natural light is provided by elliptical portlights and butterfly hatches on both the forward and after cabin trunks. The large galley is fully appointed and features walnut countertops. On deck the layout is classic and clean. The center-cockpit helm is fitted with Whitlock steering and has excellent

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

West System Power: Cummins QSB5.9

330-hp diesel Aux. electric: two 15 kW

Westerbeke generators Rigging: Southern Spars, NZ Sails: North Sails - 3DL Cost: approx. $7.5 million Designer: Robert Stephens,

Stephens, Waring & White Yacht Design, Center Harbor Road, P.O. Box 143, Brooklin, ME 04616. 207-359-2594; www.swwyachtdesign.com Builder: Brooklin Boat Yard, Center Harbor Road, P.O. Box 143, Brooklin, ME 04616. 207-359-2236; www.brooklinboatyard.com 61

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR that compressed 6 days of dory building into one minute and 40 seconds of viewing, at CLC’s website (look under product catalog, then rowing craft, then Northeaster dory). www.clcboats.com; 410-267-0137.

Samuel Finley Morse Badger (1873-1919) , Monhegan, oil on canvas,   x  

 main street | rockland maine     .    .     | w w w. d o w l i n g w a l s h . c o m

W E AT H E R

Classic Boat Shop: Pearl CLASSIC BOAT SHOP built 6 new Pisces 21s, Jean Beaulieu’s adaptation of Herreshoff’s Fish Class design, available in fiberglass or wood, with either gaff or Marconi rig. The Bernard shop celebrated two milestones in 2009: the May delivery of the 25th Pisces, Pearl, to Hamilton, Bermuda, and the recent delivery of Splendid, its second “international” sale, to Tokyo, Japan. Service activity increased, the shop took on some new storage boats, and activity on the brokerage side of the business was up significantly. Margaret Beaulieu said, “All in all, we are doing just a bit better than in 2008, which is a blessing given the current state of the industry and economy as a whole. A customer at the MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS SHOW told me ‘Americans are only going to deny themselves for so long before they begin buying again.’ Let’s hope it holds true for 2010!” www.classicboatshop.com; 207-244-3374. COVEY ISLAND BOATWORKS of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, has rebounded from the 2008 fire that destroyed its previous yard in Petite Riviere. Construction began on a 58' Nigel Irens “fusion” schooner that’s geared toward short-handed sailing and is a design evolution of the 62' circumnavigator Maggie B, which was lost in the fire. The new boat has two round-section unstayed composite masts, and a “square head” sail profile (which some liken to a gaff rig with the topsail included). Boats refitted were the 36' Spencer Lincoln lobsteryacht Nautilus, a Sable Arrow fishing boat, and the 25' Ted Brewer/Tom Goodwin Bahama sloop Mystery. The rigging was repaired on a 47' Swan , as were the spars of a 30' Cheoy Lee Bermuda ketch. www.coveyisland.com; 902-688-2843.

I N S T R U M E N T S

www.maximum-inc.com 62

Lynne Layman

Get the complete weather story. Maximum’s range of beautifully crafted, technically precise instruments and weather stations let you watch, forecast, or simply enjoy the weather. With wireless versions of both analog and digital instruments, it is now easier than ever to bring the complete weather story into your home. All instruments are offered with brass, chrome, or satin nickel cases. Contact Maximum today or visit our website for a FREE catalog. 508.995.2200

CYC/OWRI 4-With-Cox CYC/OWRI of Phippsburg custom builds two

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

February / March 2010

Issue 108

BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 high-performance, open-water rowing boat designs, the Pilot 21 sliding seat double and the Pilot 26 sliding seat four-with-cox. Fall construction began on one of each of these cored composite boats, which will be ready in time for spring delivery. Builder Chuck Mainville shared his boatbuilding motivation: “I enjoy the satisfaction that comes from doing things really well even when it involves extra effort and cost. At the end of the day, a handsome boat under construction in the shop warms the spirit and gladdens the heart. Once the boats are delivered I enjoy participating in my client’s rowing adventures and racing successes. It’s great fun to get a call from a client on a Sunday morning telling me how well they did in Saturday’s big race. It makes me feel that I am an important part of their programs, which often help get kids or physically challenged individuals on the water and having fun.” http://home.gwi.net/cycowri/; 207-389-2749.

PIERCE YACHT COMPANY

370 SPC 440 465 485 NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND’S GOLDEN WRENCH DEALER FOR

ISLAND PACKET YACHTS AMERICA’S CRUISING YACHT LEADER

40+ Years of quality products and service to help you select the proper yacht for you and yours

YACHT BROKERS & CONSULTANTS P.O. BOX 236, BOOTHBAY HARBOR, MAINE 04538

Dark Harbor Boat Yard: Slipper DARK HARBOR BOAT YARD repaired and upgraded Slipper, a BB10 ten-meter daysailer/racer, which arrived at the yard for headto-toe attention after a coastal misfortune. The crew rebuilt the engine and transmission, rewired the boat and installed an electronics package, and built a new bulkhead and seats. After extensive fiberglass repair, cosmetic work was done to the hull, cove, and boot stripe, before the final touch of repainting the name, hail port, and registration numbers. A new 25' Edgewater was commissioned with an electronics package, a safety package, and antifouling for the bottom. The yard on 700 Acre Island near Islesboro also installed Evinrude outboards, performed annual maintenance on Osprey, its resident Bunker and Ellis, and packed its storage buildings full of boats for the winter season. www.darkharborboatyard.com; 207-734-2246.

Eastern Boats 24-footer The majority of the boats built at EASTERN BOATS were downeast-style fiberglass boats in 18' to 24' lengths, plus two 31-foot cruising boats. A new 24-foot model was unveiled in January, in pilothouse and center-console www.maineboats.com

Phone: 207-633-2902 • E-mail: PIERCEYACHT@worldnet.att.net

Leaders In foul weather and fair, Downeast Energy leads the way in providing fuel for homes and businesses in Maine and New Hampshire.

1-888-665-2727

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

www.downeastenergy.com

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

Jamie Bloomquist

EASTSAIL YACHTS of Bow, New Hampshire, builds pilot and cruising cutters. The latest offering is the New Moon II, a modification of the 2005 Coastal Cruiser. The design features a clipper bow with bowsprit to accommodate the cutter rig with a boomkin, meaning this boat now carries 400 sq. ft. of sail area. A 20-hp inboard diesel version with teak exterior trim awaits purchase and customer instruction as to the interior wood trim and finish. The company added a brokerage unit during 2009. www.eastsail.com; 603224-6579.

Edgecomb Boat Works EDGECOMB BOAT WORKS, in—surprise—

Edgecomb, completed major restorations of 1 26' and 2 25' Lyman runabouts. One went to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, while the others stayed in Maine. Annual repairs were made to the 65 wooden boats that are stored and maintained at EBW. Misty, a 40' Norman Hodgdon, received a new sternpost and system upgrades. Owner Mike Mayne reported a harrowing tale of a 3-foot-tall pirate named Captain Rodi, who appeared at the shop during a blinding winter snowstorm and demanded a pirate ship, and fast. The crew obliged, and the well-equipped craft has made many a circumnavigation of the shop, en route to Treasure Island. www.edgecombboatworks.net; 207-882-5038.

Elk Spar and Boatshop Luders 16 Bar Harbor’s ELK SPAR AND BOATSHOP restored and launched 3 Luders 16s and an L24, a 38' daysailer also built by Luders. Sylph,

Brian Robbins(2)

configurations; hull no. 16 of the 24-footer was in production in the fall. The 24-footer’s hull design reflects updated technology below the waterline, with a clean running bottom, soft chines aft, and integrated lifting strakes forward. The Milton, New Hampshire, company completed the rebuild of an oldermodel 22 that encompassed new stringers, fuel tank, sole, cabin windshield and roof, and a new engine. Retooling was in progress on their 20' center-console boat to create the same inner liner construction as the 18' center console and new 24' models. www.easternboats.com; 603-652-9213.

KELLEY ANNE FARRIN’S BOAT SHOP by Brian Robbins

T WAS A RAINY DAY ON THE DAMARISCOTTA RIVER, but nobody noticed; they were too busy smiling. We were in the middle of sea trials for the 34-foot tuna chaser Kelley Anne, and it was a case of “all systems go.” Builder Bruce Farrin, Sr., and I watched from our photo boat as the Kelley Anne ripped by off our port quarter. “She’s keeping that bow down and picking herself up nicely all over,” I said to Farrin. He nodded, spinning the wheel to give us an unobstructed view as the Kelley Anne slowed and swung back towards us. “That’s what we were after,” said Farrin. “Let’s see what Patrick thinks.” Patrick is the Kelley Anne’s owner, Patrick Simmons of Yarmouth, Maine. The pilot door by the steering station slid back, and there he was, his wheelchair angled so he was facing toward us. That’s right, Simmons, 36 years old, has worked from a wheelchair since 1994, but that doesn’t slow him down much. And the flying pass he had just made proved that he had excellent visibility at the helm of the Kelley Anne—even “right in the bucket,” (with wide-open throttle) as we say around here. At that moment, Simmons had a big grin going, as did Farrin and his sons, Brian and Bruce, Jr. So did everybody else on hand for the sea trials. The Farrins had done it again. When Patrick Simmons isn’t busy chasing tuna (or skiing, scuba diving, deer hunting, kayaking, or anything else he puts his Simmons and Landrigan: mind to) he should be giving motivational The “why not?” team. speeches. Some folks spend a lifetime questioning the hand that’s been dealt them; others look at their cards and move forward. The latter is what Simmons does. When he tucked into a VW Jetta with a bunch of friends from college on a summer evening in 1994, he wasn’t planning on ending the ride in a rollover with serious spinal injuries, but, as he says, “that was that.” After four months of extensive rehab, Simmons was back at school; he graduated in 1997. “The first year was tough,” Simmons said. “You definitely have your up days and down days, but you realize there’s no reason why you can’t do the things you enjoy, you just need to learn how to do them differently. I really believe that everybody has MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

February / March 2010

Issue 108

BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 that drive; you just need that initial push to get you going. I had a great rehab facility and came back to the support of a lot of great friends.” One of those great friends is Keith Landrigan, who shared Simmons’s love of the ocean and his “why not?” attitude, which led them to try tuna fishing. “Right after I returned home from school,” Simmons said, “I found a 1984 32' Wellcraft for sale. It looked like a good starter boat for what Keith and I wanted to do. I renamed it Possibilities.” With guidance from some helpful tuna vets, a boom arm and winch to load/unload the wheelchair, and a bunch of ratchet straps and eyehooks to secure the wheelchair on deck, Simmons and Landrigan spent the next few years “getting our bearings, learning the ocean, and slowly getting into the tuna.” (That “learning the ocean” part included Simmons getting dumped out of his wheelchair on more than one occasion.) Experience and the need for a more stable working platform eventually led Simmons to look at downeast-style hulls—and to Farrin’s Boatshop. “To be honest, I’d been thinking about something a little bigger—maybe in the 38' range,” said Simmons, “but when fuel got up around four bucks a gallon, I ended SPECIFICATIONS / KELLEY ANNE

(500 hp @ 2,600 rpm) Speed: 25 knots (WOT) Prop: 26”x30”x4 Hall & Stavert Hy-Torq Windows & Doors: Diamond/ Sea-Glaze

Metal Fabrication: Bluewater

Fabrication & Henry Berne Fuel: 320 gal. Water:24 gal. Builder: Farrin’s Boatshop,

19 Sproul Rd., Walpole, ME 04573. 207-563-5510; www.farrinsboatshop.com Hull Design: Calvin Beal, Jr., SW Boatworks, 358 Douglas Hwy., Lamoine, ME 04605. 207-667-7427; www.swboatworks.com

up sizing back. Basically, I wanted the width and stability of a downeast-style hull and really liked the looks of the Calvin Beal.” (Currently, all of the hulls designed by Calvin Beal—34' 36', 38', and 44'—are available from SW Boatworks in Lamoine, Maine.) Simmons said he knew he wanted the Farrins, of Walpole, Maine, to build his boat as soon as he met them. “I just liked the idea of a family-run business—father and sons working together,” he said, “and they seemed like down-to-earth guys.” A ride on a Calvin Beal 34 lobsterboat that the Farrin shop finished a few years ago sealed the deal, according to Simmons. “We laid side-to in the chop, and I said to myself, ‘This is more like it.’ Another concern was the visibility thing, as I could never see out of the Wellcraft to run it at speed; Keith always had to steer. I was worried how a custom wheelhouse like that would look, but Brian Farrin told me, ‘Don’t worry—we don’t build an ugly boat.’ That was all I needed to hear.” When it came to designing the wheelhouse, the Farrins struck a balance between the 34'x13' hull’s lines and Patrick Simmons’s line-of-sight from his wheelchair. An 8" step-up from the cockpit to the pilothouse sole provides 6'2" headroom at the tallest point. A removable ramp allows Simmons to wheel his way from the main deck to the wheelhouse; a hinged transom door allows him to move from the deck to dock. During sea trials the Kelley Anne (named for Simmons’s wife) topped out at 25 knots, a good speed for a fairly hefty workboat. The real success story, however, was the attitude of the hull when under way. “The visibility is great, even at full throttle,” said Simmons. “I could never do that in the old boat.” “This boat is such a step up,” said Landrigan. “We’ve come a long way since our first trip offshore—with the help of a lot of good people. It’s awesome seeing Patrick N at the wheel with that big grin, man. Just absolutely the best.” www.maineboats.com

Brian Robbins

LOA: 34' Beam: 13' Transom: 12'4" Draft: 3'10" Displ.: 16,000 lbs. Custom wheelhouse: by Farrin’s Power: Cummins QSC8.3

the L-24, and Seawolf, one of the 16s, were in such bad shape that the only option for repair was to cut the bottom off each boat and splice a new section back in. Three layers of 1/8" cross-directional veneers were vacuum bagged over the rotten part of the original boat. The bottom was then cut off, the new laminated section was spliced to the remainder of the original boat, and the rest of the veneers—two layers on the L-16 and four on the 24—were then vacuum bagged on, with the new veneers overlapping the splice. Seawolf went on to receive a new deck, bulkhead, coamings, cockpit and cabin seats, and veneered cuddy. Both boats are in their third generation of family ownership. Shop owner Jim Elk received grants from the Maine Technology Institute to design and build an articulating sawmill to cut curved shapes from logs and timbers up to 80 feet in length. www.elkspar.com; 207-288-9045.

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

Farrin’s Boatshop: Kelley Anne FARRIN’S BOATSHOP built a 34' Calvin Beal

tuna boat for a captain who, wheelchairbound after a car accident, needed a boat with excellent stability, a good turn of speed (the boat topped out at 25 knots during sea trials), and a clear line of sight from wheelchair height. Oh... and he wanted it to look good, too. (See page 64 for more information.) The crew at the Walpole shop also built a 37' yacht for a Canadian couple, repowered a 34' 1984 wood pleasure boat and a 36' lobsterboat, and refinished the decks, pilothouse, and cabin of a 32' yacht. www.farrinsboatshop.com; 207-563-5510. FLANDERS BAY BOATS of Sullivan introduced a 27' cuddy-cabin cruiser model of their imported Dutch-designed launch. The boat was recognized at the Newport International Boat Show as the 2010 Best New Powerboat in the under 30' class. www.flandersbayboats.com; 207-422-2323.

Florimbi Studios Timberframe FLORIMBI STUDIOS of Rockport began the

restoration of a 44' wooden yawl that once belonged to Francis Kinney, a designer at Sparkman & Stephens and author of Skene’s Elements of Yacht Design. The boat in ques-

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

Builders of Fine Custom Homes 207-236-4985 • www.visionbuilders.com • West Rockport, Maine

tion—then known as Santa Maria and now as Gesture—appeared on the cover of the eighth edition of Kinney’s book, which includes the story of its 1968 construction at the Walsted yard, Denmark. After an estimated 20 years out of the water, the boat required structural repairs to the frames and cosmetic work topsides. To preserve the old mahogany, the shop is taking the approach of “repair rather than replace.” The deck hardware, toerails, coamings, and house sides were removed, repaired, and reinstalled. Repairs were made to the fiberglass and to the rotten deck beams, and the deck was resurfaced and finished. The multiphased project should be completed by the fall of 2010. The company also built a timber-framed workshop for a colleague. www.maineboats.com/maine-coastaldirectory/florimbi-studios; 207-542-3253.

Billy Black

Flower’s Boatworks FLOWER’S BOATWORKS builds downeast hulls configured as anything from a bass or sportfishing boat to a cruiser. This year, the crew of 7 built a 33' bass boat, a 30' kit boat, and 2 new 36-footers—one a tuna boat and one a flybridge cruiser. The 36' model is shop owner Ken Flower’s favorite; it’s based on a Spencer Lincoln design that Flower has been refining for several years. The shop’s drop-in molded interior units speed the assembly process and provide a clean finish. A new crane and a new yard truck now grace the Walpole yard. www.flowersboats.com; 207-563-7404.

E N D L E T O

YACHT•YARD

R e b u i l d e r s o f C l a s s i c Ya c h t s 525 Pendleton Point Road • Islesboro, ME 04848 (207) 734-6728 • www.pendletonyachtyard.com 66

French & Webb: Zogo FRENCH & WEBB built a 29' diesel-electric launch named Zogo. This innovative new design from Stephens,Waring & White Yacht Design utilizes a Steyr Motors diesel engine coupled to a 10-kw electric motor/generator for propulsion. The 48-volt lithium-ionphosphate battery bank is charged by the generator as well as by an array of solar panels that cover the carbon composite canopy. Construction is cedar-strip, sheathed with carbon fiber. (See MBH&H, Issue 107, “Off the Drawing Board,” for more about this launch.) Venture II, a 1938 Schuman 8meter yacht, received a structural rebuild and a new interior at the Belfast shop. The

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

February / March 2010

Issue 108

BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 107 Elm Street, Camden 04843 mainecoastconstruction.com (207) 236-6000

deteriorated cabin sides of Malachi Mudge, a 1961 41' Newbert & Wallace poweryacht, were rebuilt and the main decks and rails were replaced. The new year may bring a new construction project in the shape of a 30' Herreshoff sloop. www.frenchwebb.com; 207-338-6706. GENERAL MARINE of Biddeford completed a 26' commercial fishing boat that was begun in February, and worked on other projects as well. The bulk of 2009 was spent attending to the storage and annual repair side of the business. The new year brought the start of construction on a “full blown” 26. www.generalmarine.com; 207-284-7517.

What can we build for you?

Northeast Boat

Affordable, quality services for your boat.

Great Island Boat Yard’s New Building After a devastating fire, Harpswell’s GREAT ISLAND BOAT YARD teamed up with Houses and Barns by John Libby to build a high-tech boatshop and office in a traditional-looking boatyard-style building. (For more about the fire and the new building, visit www.maineboats.com and search on Great Island Boat Yard.) The crew teamed up with many local businesses—including Maloney Rigging, Cumberland Ironworks, Hallett Sails, Fortune Canvas, and Great Water Marine—during a 4,500-hour refit of a Little Harbor 52. Restoration of a F&C 44 ketch required cutting 10 integral chain plates out of the hull; Custom Composite Technologies was brought on board to infuse the repair patches and significantly reduce the cost of the work. A wooden Arno Day lobsterboat received deck and hull repairs, electronics work, and a paint job, and numerous Awlgrip jobs were completed. As the winter season began, 2 major refits were under way on a Grand Banks 36 and a 46, as was the complete fit-out of an Alajuela 38 sailboat. www.greatislandboatyard.com; 207-729-1639.

• Wooden boat repairs and maintenance • Shrink wrap • Storage • Boat rentals and sales

Located in Northport & Camden • 207-322-7014 • www.northeastboat.com

‘Warming Maine hearths for 30 years’

Stoves ~ Fireplaces ~ Inserts Hearth Accessories Wood ~ Gas ~ Pellet Professional Sales, Installation & Service www.smithandmay.com

Smith & May, Inc - Hearth & Patio Showroom Rte 90 - West Rockport Mon-Sat 9-5 236-9444

New Construction • Restoration • Nautical Furniture From start to finish it’s all about the details. Grey Barn Boatworks North Shore 22 At GREY BARN BOATWORKS in Newton, New Hampshire, one year plus one builder equaled 2 new North Shore 22s. Hull no. 15, built for a customer in Maryland, included many custom options, including a tow bit that drops through the cockpit deck. Hull no. 16 was finished with nearly every available www.maineboats.com

Falmouth, Maine • 207-650-9554 • www.MacLeodCustomBoats.com

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

AVAILABLE HODGDON YACHTS by John Snyder

HERE ARE FEW MAINE BOATBUILDERS that can claim the lineage of Hodgdon Yachts. For almost 190 years, five generations have served at the Hodgdon yard in East Boothbay. Since 1985, fifth-generation boatbuilder Tim Hodgdon has been at the helm of the yard that has become known for its large, cold-molded custom boats and developed a reputation for its state-of-the-art work with carbon fiber. Most people these days associate Hodgdon with the extraordinary Bruce Kingdesigned superyachts Antonisa (124 feet, built in 1999) and Scheherazade (154 feet, 2003), but the new Hodgdon 65, Available, the yard’s latest custom yacht, is not a King design. Rather, it is a collaboration with Connecticut-based Tripp Design. Tripp designed Available, a cross between a true ocean racer and an elegant passage-maker, for fast, extended cruising in open water. It is comfortable and easily driven, seakindly and very fast. On a recent test sail on Penobscot Bay the boat sailed effortlessly and tracked like an arrow. Under these conditions a couple could easily handle the boat. While smaller than the yard’s recent superyacht classics, the new Hodgdon 65 is certainly no less complex in its design, build, systems engineering, and finish. (The boat actually began as a 62-footer but gained 3 feet by the addition of a scoop transom, handy for boarding from a swim ladder or tender, after the hull was built.) One might think that building a smaller boat would be a bit easier, but it has presented some unique challenges to boatbuilders who are used to working in large interior spaces, where they can essentially set up shop and work unencumbered, day in and day out. The boat is also unique for Hodgdon, in that it is built to rigid CE (Conformite

Alison Langley

Hadden Boat Company: Surprise At HADDEN BOAT COMPANY, what began as a simple deck replacement quickly became more involved. A 1952 19-foot Lyman Islander arrived at the Georgetown shop with broken frames, long depressions along the hull, and rot in the deck, transom, and stem after sitting on a trailer for 20 years. Once rot was also identified on the underside of many frames, builder Alex Hadden expanded the scope of the job: “After the transom and stem were in,” he said, “we realized that by merely removing the full-length engine stringers and floor frame, we would have wide-open access to all the frames. The floor assembly hoisted out in one piece, and three temporary molds went in the bilge, the lapstrake frames came out, new ones went in—self-fairing as they went—and after 3 days, all the frames throughout were new, top to bottom. The rest of the job went together in the usual laborious, timeconsuming way—decks, guards, windshield, trim, staining and varnishing—but those three days were gratifying.” Other boats in for repair at the predominantly one-man shop were: a 16' Bolger Whitehall “Spur” design, a 15' Banks dory, a 12' Dory skiff, a 19' Culler Buzzards Bay sloop, a 19' Penryn dory; and the ongoing restorations of a 1960 34' Knutson and a 1972 25' Crosby cat. www.maineboats.com/mainecoastal-directory/hadden-boat-company; 207371-2662.

Alison Langley(2)

teak option. An extensive electronics package includes a Garmin Plotter with XM Radio weather overlay, Sirius Radio, depth sounder, and VHF radio. A 1978 Sisu received a power makeover, with the swapping of a 4-cylinder Volvo for a 110-hp 4-cylinder Yanmar. www.greybarnboatworks.com; 603-382-0055.

Hodgdon Yachts: Available HODGDON YACHTS of East Boothbay

launched Available in June and debuted the Tripp Design 20-meter sloop at the MAINE B OATS, HOMES & HARBORS SHOW. The performance hull is a carbon/Kevlar/cedar composite structure. Luxury systems include hydraulic/electric sail controls, a lifting keel, bow thruster, water makers, and a full package of electronics and entertainment equipment. (See page 68 for more information). www.hodgdonyachts.com; 207-633-4194.

The low, sleek house defines the main saloon and is designed to provide maximum visibility. MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

February / March 2010

Issue 108

BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009

SPECIFICATIONS / HODGDON 65 LOA: 65' LWL: 59.5' Beam: 15.7' Draft: 8' (lifting keel up), 12.5' (keel down) Displ.: 50,400 lbs. Mast height: 88' Sail area: upwind 2,325 sq. ft.,

down 4,951 sq. ft. Fresh water: 163 gal. Fuel: 264 gal. Engine: Volvo D3 110 Turbo Diesel Sails: North Sails—3DL,

LorLam, NorLon

Nav/Comm: Northstar dome radar and

GPS, Sirius Northstar weatherfax, ICOM VHF, B&G depth sounder and sailing instruments, Nobeltec Admiral 9.0 navigation software, VEI hard drive 2/15" display onboard computer, Simrad AP28 autopilot Rigging: Custom Harken hydraulic system, Hall Nitronic-50 stays, Hall carbon high modulus mast, Harken winches and jib furler, Hall Vee-boom with lazy jacks

Designer: Bill Tripp, Tripp Design Naval Architecture,144 Water Street,

South Norwalk, CT 06854. 203-838-2215; www.trippdesign.net Builder: Hodgdon Yachts, P.O. Box 505, East Boothbay ME 04544.

207-633-4194; www.hodgdonyachts.com electric primary and secondary winches, jib furler, and a carbon fiber Vee-boom with lazy jacks and boom vang. Additional sail inventory and rigging include a spinnaker on its own furler, a staysail on soft hanks, and a removable inner forestay. The yacht’s cockpit is a true hybrid: spacious, comfortable, and secure for family cruising and passagemaking, yet well laid out for serious racing. A sleek, low-profile pilothouse serves as a spacious main saloon and nav station. A large wraparound windscreen offers excellent visibility at the interior helm and bathes the galley with natural light. Electronics and navigation equipment includes everything you would expect in a yacht of this caliber. Below decks, Available has three cabins with en-suite heads featuring showers and toilets. All of the joinery material is cherry veneer and white-painted tri-cell panels to save on weight. The forward cabin has a double centerline berth and settee, bookshelves, and ample locker space. The port-side galley is U-shaped and bordered by the lift-keel trunk. The proportions and layout lend themselves to ease of food preparation when offshore. Available has demonstrated Hodgdon’s versatility and will surely attract buyers eager to own a yacht of this pedigree in a package shorter than 100 feet. Call this new class of yacht what you will—mini-superyacht, café racer, or hybrid racer/cruiser—it will be at home racing from Camden to Castine or from Monaco to Marseille. N www.maineboats.com

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

C.W. HOOD YACHTS of Marblehead, Massachusetts, launched Mischief, an Aldendesigned Wasque 26 downeast-style yacht for a couple on Long Island Sound. Hull no. 1 of the Hood 32 daysailer was due to launch in time for a “frostbite” sail, and hull nos. 2 and 3 were spoken for and in the early construction stages. Sailors as far away as the Midwest have expressed interest in this new design. The Hood 43, with a passenger seating area forward of the helm for effortless mingling with the captain, was awarded “Best Boat” at the 2009 Newport International Boat Show. www.cwhoodyachts.com; 781-631-0192. MARC HOREY BOATBUILDING, a restoration and repair business in West Bath, recently completed the overhaul of a Tayana 37 that ranged from a new teak deck to plumbing and electrical updates. Projects in the shop as 2010 began were a 45' wooden topsail schooner named Aries and a 32' Alberg. www.maineboats.com/maine-coastaldirectory/marc-horey-boatbuilding; 207841-7472.

Howard Boats Catboat HOWARD BOATS completed 6 Barnstable

Catboats—a design based on John Beetle’s wooden catboat, 1 skiff, and 10 Fisher Cats, bringing the total number of Fishers built to nearly 20 in the 2 years since its introduction. The shop annually cares for a “blend of 50 to 60 wooden and glass traditional boats,” with the usual mix of frame and deck repairs. Winter promises to bring an addition to the Barnstable, Massachusetts, shop to create more production and office space. www.howard-boats.com; 508-362-6859.

Billy Black

Europeéne) standards, necessary certification for all recreational boats in the European Economic Area (EEA). Available’s hull is cold-molded from 6mm Douglas fir and sheathed outboard with a cored, PVC-foam, resin-infused carbon-fiber skin, which combines strength with lightness. The interior is ceiled with Douglas fir in the accommodation spaces, providing an elegant look. The decks are teak. The wood composite enhances the sound proofing, serves as thermal insulation, and cuts down on much of the condensation common to carbon fiber. The hull form is quite narrow, lending itself to a powerful fractional rig height of only about 88'. This means less weight aloft than you would typically find on a boat of this size. Tripp notes that their designs create boats that “sail on the water, not through it.” True enough, the fore deck remained remarkably dry on all points of sail despite a slight chop on the bay. On all tacks the plumb bow cut cleanly through the water, with some slight stern turbulence appearing just 8-10" aft of the transom scoop. Available is equipped with a hydraulic lifting keel with an L–shaped profile stainless steel fin and lead bulb. Rigging includes a centerline below-decks mainsheet system, a custom hydraulic system, a high modulus three-spreader carbon-fiber mast,

Hunt Harrier Hardtop Coupe HUNT YACHTS of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, introduced 3 new hardtop coupes—in the Harrier 36 and Surfhunter 29 and 33 models—in response to customer requests for an all-weather bridgedeck area. A sliding sunroof is an optional detail. The first Harrier 36 Hardtop Coupe was launched in November and then left for the Bahamas for the winter season. The first Surfhunter 29 Coupe acted as a chase boat in the Newport Harbor area dur-

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR Light Space

ing summer sailing competitions. Construction of hull no. 2 of the 36 Coupe was under way during the winter, with a planned spring launch. www.hunt yachts.com; 401-324-4201.

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D.N. Hylan & Assoc. D.N. HYLAN & ASSOC. did some refinishing and systems work on Kuan Yin, a 33' Laurent Giles cutter that was built in the far east, and built a 12' flatiron skiff for a longtime customer for use in the Bahamas. The construction of a 43' traditional powerboat was put on hold at the beginning of the year, but the project has recently come back to life, with the planking nearly finished at year’s end. The Brooklin shop owner, Doug Hylan, echoed the sentiments of many builders— that a slow 2009 has given way to a much better looking 2010, allowing him to rehire most of the crew that was temporarily laid off. The shop will be busy with the continuation of the 43-footer and the start of a 28' cold-molded lobsterboat and a 14' lapstrake tender—all of which are Hylan’s designs. Restoration is slated to begin on Molly B, a 29' C. C. Hanley catboat. www.dhylanboats.com; 207-359-9807.

Lane’s End, Newbury, MA 01951 Custom wooden boats, mast hoops, and authentic nautical furnishings

We launched the first “Townie” in 1932 and have built 2000 more since. This 16.5' lapstrake centerboard sloop is so popular because it’s a great family daysailer and a fun racing boat. It’s also beautifully built. Available in either wood or fiberglass. Send for our brochure. (978) 462-7409 • Fax (978) 465-1064 email: pertlowellco@comcast.net www.pertlowell.com

Island Falls Canoe Co. ISLAND FALLS CANOE CO. reported that 2009 was a good year for large canoes. A cooperative of 3 independent businesses—Island Falls Canoe, J.C. Minott Boats, and R. Volock/Cedarwood Canoes—turned out an array of large boats from its shared 4,000-sq.ft. shop in Atkinson, including two 20' Y-Stern rowing canoes, one 20' Moosehead Laker with a standing lug sail rig, one 20' E.M. White Guide canoe, two 18'6" E.M. White Guide canoes, and a 17'4" Penobscot canoe. Medium-sized canoes included two 16' Guides and a 16' Featherweight. On the small end of things was an 8' Old Town Salesman’s sample with sponsons (possibly the only one ever made). A number of canoes and boats by Old Town, B.N. Morris, Kennebec, and E.M. White were rebuilt, including two 25' war canoes, one by Kennebec and the other by Old Town. Jonathan Minott rebuilt the bottom of a Penn Yan runabout, and “worked miracles” on a misshapen Ellis Rangeley boat. www.islandfallscanoe.com; 207-564-7612. MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

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Issue 108

BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 Cape Cod’s Sailing Headquarters & Wooden Boat Center • Established 1945 •

Johanson Boatworks: Audrey JOHANSON BOATWORKS completed more than 40 repair projects, with the most extensive being the preparation of Audrey, a Little Harbor 54, for a world cruise. The work checklist included Awlgrip the hull and deck, rebuild the engine and generator, update the air conditioning, refurnish the teak deck, install a new windlass, and complete the standing rigging and furlers. A Fox Island 40 had new fuel tanks installed, electronic and wiring upgrades, and cosmetic work. The Rockland shop began construction on a Far Harbour 39 for Container Yachts, and the crew built a new inside storage building for 10-plus boats. www.jboatworks.com; 207-596-7060.

• AREY’S POND 22' CATBOAT • G.A. Davis design Arey’s Pond Boatyard–builders of the new daysailer as well as 14', 16', 20' & 22' catboats. Our boats are designed for comfort and stability: suitable for family or single-handed daysailing. Arey’s Pond boats are built to the highest standards with either wood or fiberglass hull, bronze hardware, Sitka spruce spars, teak coaming rails and floorboards. APBY has specialized in custom-built boats since 1972.

P.O. Box 222 43 Arey’s Lane, off Route 28 South Orleans, MA 02662 (508) 255-0994 e-mail: catboat@cape.com www.areyspondboatyard.com John’s Bay Boat: Sand Dollars III JOHN’S BAY BOAT COMPANY launched Sand

Dollars III, a 41' Peter Kass-designed “lobsterscalloper-cruiser,” to be used by a Maine fisherman for fishing and fun. The boat placed first in its division at the annual Stonington Lobster Boat Races—that would be the fun part. A 24' wooden launch and a 38' downeast cruiser were in progress at the South Bristol shop. Restoration of a Brewer catboat that had been in storage for 19 years included a new keel, a new stem, an engine and systems, and interior work. www.johnsbayboat.com; 207-644-8261.

John Hanson’s Fiery Jubilee Jonesport Shipyard The rebuild highlight for JONESPORT SHIPYARD, in Jonesport, was a 1986 Willis Beal 34' torpedo-stern launch, one of only two remaining. Here is a detailed report from the shop floor: “We replaced the deck framing, toerails, rubrails, and the steam-bent circular cockpit coamings. After selecting white oak for rails and bending oak for coamings, we made up bending jig blocks clamped to the deck framing. The oak bent very nicely after an hour of steaming. No new swear words www.maineboats.com

photo Tom Kiley

Rockland, Maine (207) 596-7293 E-mail: info@popesails.com

www.popesails.com

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

KITTERY POINT YACHT YARD’s Patten, Maine, shop was in full swing, having completed a period of extensive rebuilding after a 2008 fire. The new 60' x 120' storage and work barn features a green design, with solar-gain doorways and radiant heat in the ceilings. The crew rebuilt the fire-damaged mold for the center-console PYY 22, and crafted a deck mold for a bass-boat-style cabin version. Notable projects at the yard included finishing touches on a 38' wooden Rybovich sportfisherman, in for winter storage under a custom-built humidifier tent; refurbishment of a Menger offshore sailing catamaran; and the refit and repowering of a 48' Cheoy Lee for its Spain-based owner. Meanwhile, at the Kittery Point location, a fleet of Sabre sailboats was lined up for service, a classic Mackenzie Cuttyhunk bass boat was in for a refit, two 50-foot Bruckmann offshore cruisers were in for brightwork refurbishment, and work was in progress on a Tayana cutter that sailed to Kittery from New York with a multi-page work list. www.kpyy.net; 207-439-9582.

Billy Black(2)

were invented, but a few old standbys were used occasionally. We also upgraded the fuel hose, valves, vents, and fittings, and cleaned and re-installed the fuel tanks. A newly built 350 Chevy engine will be installed in the spring.” Also in for repairs were Mairi Leigh—a circa-1970 30' Ernest Libby Jr. cedar-on-oak lobsterboat—and a 1960 Century Sabre 17. The shipyard celebrated its 20th anniversary, and saw a surge in interest in the 15' Jonesport Peapod. www.jonesportshipyard.com; 207-497-2701.

WHISTLER LYMAN-MORSE BOATBULDING by Art Paine

MONG POWERBOATS there is probably no more recognizable hull shape than that of the Hunt deep vee. Developed by C. Raymond Hunt to compete in— and win—such prestigious powerboat races as the spine-crunching smash from Miami-to-Nassau, the hull was designed to go purposefully airborne, land intact, and “keep on truckin’.” The original shape, seen on the likes of Moppie and Stingray, consisted of a nearly continuous V from bow to stern, along with a somewhat flat sheer and uncomplicated wall sides. Little has changed over the years; it’s a purposeful look, instantly recognizable. The C. Raymond Hunt Associates yacht design firm has for many years made good use of Maine boatbuilders, particularly the Lyman-Morse yard on the St. George River in Thomaston. Last spring, Lyman-Morse launched their latest Hunt, a 54-footer named Whistler. To my eye it is obviously a Hunt design, although rounded off in places, with a few sexy curves. In subtle ways it is a moderate departure from Hunt’s typical work. I view Whistler as a real outlier and, to be complimentary, a real Duesy. If you are of an older generation, you probably understand that reference; of a younger, maybe not. So for the latter, let me explain:

The Landing School LS-30 THE LANDING SCHOOL’s staff and students

built 9 new boats in Kennebunkport: 2 LS30 performance daysailers of wood and composite construction; 4 Joel White Catspaw dinghies; and 4 Doug Hylandesigned Beach Pea lapstrake sailing and rowing boats. A Swan 40 was repowered, 2 launches received repairs and electrical work, and electrical and propulsion repairs were made on a lobsterboat-style race committee boat. The composites program students were building 20' versions of the LS-30, due to be launched at the end of 2010, and a new saltwater flyfishing boat was in development. www.landingschoolboats.com; 207-985-7976. LOWELL BROTHERS/EVEN KEEL MARINE SPECIALTIES did mold making and layout

work on the Lowell 38, the latest addition to the line of downeast hulls offered by the Yarmouth shop. Another recent addition to

Comfort, speed, and magnificence, Whistler on water rivals a classic Duesenberg on land. MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

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BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009

SPECIFICATIONS / 54’ EXPRESS JET LOA: 55'2" LWL: 47'10" Beam: 15'10.5" Draft: 2'11" Displ.: 58,000 lbs. Fuel: 800 gal. Water Capacity: 160 gal. Construction: infused FRP

composite with CoreCell PVC foam core Engines: 2 x Caterpillar C18 Horsepower: 1001 BHP @ 2300 RPM

Jets: 2 x Hamilton HJ403 Cruising Speed: 30 knots Top Speed: 36 knots Designer: Peter Boyce, C. Raymond

Hunt Assoc., 5 Dover St., New Bedford, MA 02740. 508-717-0600; www.crhunt.com Builder: Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, 84 Knox Street, Thomaston, ME 04861. 207-354-6904; www.lymanmorse.com

Probably Whistler’s most unique feature is the huge dinghy “garage” and launching system. We’re speaking not of storing and launching a puny little punt with oars, but a serious hard-bottomed inflatable with an outboard motor that will provide a frightening turn of speed. Like a Duesenberg automobile, a lot of what defines Whistler involves power and drive train. There’s an actual engine space into which a mechanic can descend and, if necessary, swing the largest imaginable wrench. How desirable and yet how rare! The boat has two mighty engines, Caterpillar C-18s, that together produce more than two thousand horsepower at a moderate 2,300 rpm and spin Hamilton water-jets. The most conspicuous result of that arrangement is that the hull can have a shallow, three-foot draft and is able to glide over flotsam and jetsam (and lobster-buoysam). Whistler’s hull was resin-infused using Scrimp technology over Core-Cell foam. The result is more about strength than lightness: this boat weighs in at 58,000 lbs. But then, for a boat that is more than 55 feet long, that’s really not bad. And indeed, Whistler pleasantly surprised both the designers and the owner by exceeding their expectations for speed, topping out as it did at around 38 statute miles per hour. As for the fuel mileage, it’s pretty darn good considering the horsepower output, because these cutting-edge electronically managed diesels get the very most out of every drop. Nevertheless, there is a cost. If you want to cruise stingily, or inconspicuously, either on the highways in an automobile or on the waterways in a yacht, you won’t want to do your business in a Duesy or a Whistler. Magnificence does have its price. N www.maineboats.com

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

the line was the Hunky Dory, an 11-foot fiberglass dory. www.lowellbrothers.com; 207-846-4878.

Billy Black

The late 1920s and early 1930s were arguably the heyday of the classic and beautiful touring car. Among the many automobile companies, perhaps the most far out was Duesenberg. This outfit hand-built racing cars that not only won races but were fabulously beautiful (and fabulously expensive) machines for the fabulously rich. The most famous Duesy was yacht-like in many respects. Called the boat-tail, its after section was reminiscent of the tail-end of a rumrunner or a Gold Cup race boat, such as Baby Bootlegger. The ultimate incarnation was a decadently elongated, custom-built car for just two people. With an engine of eight huge cylinders, chromed exhausts sweeping outside the bonnet, built-in assets such as a liquor bar and a trunk you could, if necessary, sleep in, this was the biggest, fastest, and most outrageous land-yacht for cruising the highways. It would roar by, and people—particularly children—would stop what they were doing and stare. “That’s a real doozy!” became part of the lexicon. Like that rare Duesenberg, the Hunt/Lyman-Morse Whistler is the most impressive and amazing motorboat I can recall that is mainly dedicated to the enjoyment of just two people. The main berth space is forward, so there’s no mistaking being accommodated inside the flaring bows of a macho motor craft. Whistler does have an extra cabin of sorts, with an en-suite head, but that is likely going to be used as an owner’s office. The well-appointed galley is “down.”

Lyman-Morse: Mala Conducta LYMAN-MORSE BOATBUILDING launched

four totally different boats from its Thomaston facility, and brought another to nearcompletion as of press time. Mala Conducta, a 60' Morrelli and Melvin catamaran, was constructed using the pre-preg method to create a light and agile craft. The boat’s modern interior was laid out for family cruising, with the owners weighing in on design modifications during the full-scale mock-up review process. Whistler, at 54 feet the largest twin-jet express cruiser to be built by the company, is a C. Raymond Hunt design. (See page 72 for more information.) A special dinghy garage with hydraulic gate and sled launches a 10' tender from the boat’s interior storage compartment. The boat cruises in the low 30s, topping out at 37 knots during sea trials, thanks to twin 1001-hp Caterpillar C18s coupled with Hamilton HJ403 water-jets. Scout, a 31' aluminum center-console in the “rum-runner” style, was built for use off the west coast of Florida by customers whose other Lyman-Morse boat summers on Cape Cod. Designed by Dieter Empacher, the boat has teak and varnished wood accents, and is powered by a 422-hp Volvo D6-435 diesel connected to a Hamilton 292 Jet, with a top speed of 34 knots. Ring Leader, a 65' express sportfisherman, is equipped for serious fishing. There are two 600 lb./day ice makers for fish storage, Rupp 46' hydraulic outriggers and center rigger, and plug-ins for downriggers, deep drop electric reels, and standard reels in each cockpit corner. At year’s end, the yard was about to launch a powerboat designed with a built-in piano for a long-time client and Renaissance man, and had 2 sailboats under construction plus 2 major refits. The company’s Zero Base solar-power units continued to gain momentum for various off-the-grid applications. www.lymanmorse.com; 207-354-6904. MACLEOD CUSTOM BOATS is the one-man Falmouth shop of Chris MacLeod, who builds the Macleod Custom 22 based on the hull design of Royal Lowell’s Sisu 22. MacLeod and his father have also been restoring a Lyman that was originally built for Chris’s grandfather, who will most definitely get a ride when it’s done. www.macleodcustomboats.com; 207650-9554.

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

Maine Cat: P-47 Moxie MAINE CAT reveled in the 2008 completion of Moxie, the first production-built Maine Cat P-47. The fuel-efficient catamaran is now in residence in the Bahamas, along with 2 other Maine Cat models that are available for bareboat charter. (See page 74 for a complete profile of Moxie.) Hull no. 2 of the Maine Cat P-47, Sweet Spot, launched in December. The boat is equipped for cruising the Northwest Passage to Alaska from its homeport of Port Townsend, Washington. The boat has a diesel-fired hydronic central heating system, a dehumidification system, dual-transducer sonar package, and an electrically operated sunroof over the helm. A great many construction projects were under way at the Bremen shop this winter: 3 P-47s, two of which are flybridge configurations; a Maine Cat 41 sailing cat; and completion of the Maine Cat P-38 power cat prototype for a customer in Virginia. The crew welcomed a cabinetmaker and a ship’s joiner, who are busy at work in a new 1,500-sq.ft. mezzanine, complete with a “dust-free” varnish room. www.mecat.com; 207-529-6500.

Billy Black(3)

Billy Black

MAINE BUILT BOATS was established in 2005 to strengthen and expand Maine’s boatbuilding industry. The organization is creating a unified brand that presents Maine as a worldwide leader in boatbuilding quality, technology, and craftsmanship. Approximately 450 Maine companies, representing 5,000 workers, are tied to the boatbuilding industry. www.mainebuiltboats.org; 207-899-7570.

MOXIE MAINE CAT by Ben Ellison

HE LARGEST AND MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT production powerboat introduced last year in Maine—or most anywhere else—might just be Moxie, the new Maine Cat P47, but it didn’t get much attention. Maine Cat’s proprietors, Dick and Lynne Vermeulen, who have built 98 sailing catamarans ranging from 22 to 41 feet since 1993, are used to that. The multihull is still a weird concept to many, especially in Maine, and, besides, the Vermeulens and their building crew of 20 work way down Route 32 in Bremen, many country miles from the state’s boatbuilding hotspots. So I’m here to shout to my fellow Maineiac boat nuts: Open your eyes, people, and take a good gander at concept Moxie! The P47 is unlike all of the other power catamaran designs that have been gaining popularity (outside New England). For starters it looks a heck of lot better, at least to my eye, and that eye favors a uncluttered, well-proportioned downeast style. Even the flying bridge model looks good, at least in drawings, and I may not be alone in that opinion, as hulls no. 5 and no. 6, to be launched later this year, will be built to that design. Perhaps more importantly, the P47 adheres strictly to tenets of the small but passionate school of high length-to-beam power cat design: each 46'6" hull sporting a maximum waterline beam of just 42 inches. Upside down the boat looks like two

Maritime Marine 23 Patriot MARITIME MARINE completed a 6-boat

order for the State of Virginia’s Game and Inland Fisheries Department. The 23 Patriot models were built to commercial specifications and outfitted with a complex array of communications, safety, and rescue equipment. The Augusta company built a larger, semi-custom 23 Patriot rigged for offshore sport fishing for a customer in Rockport, Massachusetts. In progress was the building of a 25' Voyager with twin outboards for Maryland’s Department of Environmental Protection; it will be used to respond to oil

The pilothouse—spacious in proportion to the boat’s length—spans the two hulls. MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

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BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 giant kayaks. Maintaining that 13.5-to-1 ratio was not easy during the design process, but it definitely paid off. The P47 prototype began as the P38 but had already been stretched to 42 feet by the time I got a ride on it in late 2007. That particular design sliced through Muscongus Bay beautifully, with hardly any wake or bow lift at many comfortable speeds. Still, Dick Vermeulen kept testing various hull and wheel modifications, and ultimately decided to build a 47-foot production hull mold from scratch. This hull has just the shape and buoyancy he thought right for good engine access and the ability to carry 9,000 pounds of people and gear while keeping the bridge hull almost three feet off the water—an important factor for ocean-going power cats, especially fast ones. Slicing through waves is one thing, pounding them with a flattish center underhull is quite another, especially at speed. And Moxie’s 23 knots at wide-open throttle is darn fast, given that only 360 horsepower are pushing 15 tons of boat. Moxie’s delivery south was telling. Vermeulen reports that the boat went from Bremen, Maine, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with Chesapeake side trips, at an average speed of 15.8 knots, and used just 890 gallons of diesel over 115 hours of running time. At 8 knots, Moxie’s twin engines use just 1.6 gallons per hour, but Vermeulen says his design is generally so soft-riding and quiet at speed that it’s difficult

In profile, Moxie is as refined as the best monohull powerboat.

to slow down. In fact, he thinks the new tier-three Volvo diesels slated to go into the four P47s now being built will give them even faster and more fuel-efficient cruising-speed choices. It took a tremendous amount of moxie for the Vermeulens to switch from sail to power (they can’t build both without a major shop expansion), but they brought along solid experience in making a catamaran hull feel like a commodious abode, and in picking and installing first-class cruising systems. You can check this out for yourself by visiting Bremen or, better yet, by chartering Moxie at its Hopetown, Abaco, Bahamas, winter base (charter information is available at Maine Cat’s website, www.mainecatcharters.com). N SPECIFICATIONS / MAINE CAT P47 LOA: 47'3" LWL: 44'6" Beam: 18' Draft: 3' Displ.: 29,900 lbs. Power: Yanmar 180-hp diesels Fuel: 400 gal. Water: 20 gal. Waste: 40 gal.

Speed: Max.-23 knots,

cruise-15 knots Cruise Range: 770 nm

spills in the shallow waters of Chesapeake Bay. www.maritimeboats.com; 207-620-7999. The main focus at MARSHALL MARINE was the cockpit redesign of the 18-foot Sanderling catboat. The 47-year-old design was updated to include a molded fiberglass cockpit to increase comfort and reduce maintenance. Among the changes: the supporting structure, sole, and seats are now gelcoated fiberglass construction, the seats are wider and canted back, and the self-bailers drain directly through the sole instead of into the centerboard trunk. The South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, company built 9 of the new model, as well as 3 15-foot Sandpipers and 1 Marshall 22. www.marshallcat.com; 508-994-0414. At year’s end, the crew at the North Falmouth, Massachusetts, shop of DAMIAN MCLAUGHLIN, JR., was halfway through the building of a shoal-draft yawl designed by Bruce Kirby. The 39' canal boat—an interim construction project over the last 4 years— was close to completion. Designed for the canals of France, the boat has nothing against American waterways, and will venture domestically on the Hudson River, Erie Canal, Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, Richelieu River, and Lake Champlain. www.dmcboats.com; 508-563-3075. J.C. MINOTT BOAT, a one-man shop in DoverFoxcroft, finished a 16' cedar-on-oak lapstrake boat, and reported that the boat “rows fast, is very steady, and performed well on some pretty squally days.” It was built for Minott’s personal use, but he would build another one right now should someone ask. Repairs were made to a Whitehall during a spring trip to the Nemours Mansion in Delaware, followed by annual spring work on the pinky Summertime. All the frame butts of a 1954 Penn Yan Captivator were replaced, with the new ones laminated and scarfed in place with new half frames along the length of the bottom, which was then refastened. Jonathan commented, “It would have been a good job for the flexible young person I used to be.” Repairs were also made to a 1938 Old Town sponson boat, two 25' Kennebec Canoe Company canoes for Camp Kieve/Wavus, a 1960 Ellis Rangeley, a 17' circa1930 E.M. White closed-sponson boat, a 1960 Old Town salmon boat, and a 1959 Old Town 25' canoe for Lasell College in Boston. From the water-on-the-inside department, a 4' x 6' water tank to irrigate a customer’s garden was under construction. www.maineboats.com/mainecoastal-directory/jc-minott-boat; 207-564-7612.

Designer: Dick Vermeulen Builder: Maine Cat, P.O. Box 205,

Bremen, ME 04551. 207-529-6500; www.mecat.com MJM Yachts 40z MJM YACHTS told us they have launched 105

www.maineboats.com

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

MORRIS SERVICE, with yards in Bass and Northeast harbors, completed the usual variety of projects including these highlights: Five Luders that sank during Hurricane Katrina were sent to the yard for repairs, and during the spring, one of them was completely overhauled. Falcon’s deck was refastened, fiberglass work was done, and the sailboat received new spars, rigging, sails, hatches, handrails, and coamings. Lexington, a Morris 46, was given the royal treatment: all the hardware was refit, the decks and bottom were repainted, solar panels were mounted on the top of a custom hard dodger, a teak bench seat was built for the stern rail, the

exterior brightwork was refinished, the electronics and entertainment systems were upgraded, and a custom spinnaker/whisker pole was installed. The Cape Dory 34 Annie Laurie was repowered, a Luke three-bladed feathering prop was installed, and all exterior brightwork refinished. The next big project is the refit of S/V Bandera, a custom Hinckley. www.morrisyachts.com; 207-244-5511.

Onne van der Wal

boats since 1993. In 2009, they launched 9 MJM 40z powerboats, with 3 more under construction as the year turned. This latest addition to the line of shallow-draft, downeast-style boats designed by Doug Zurn features step-aboard side-opening doors, joystick docking, and a 30-knot cruising speed at less than 80 decibels. According to the company’s Bob Johnstone, the 12-foot beam and a height under 13.5 feet means that an owner can ship the boat overland from New England to Florida for less than the cost of winter storage, then enjoy year-round boating. The Boston-based company also built one 34z. www.mjmyachts.com; 617-723-3629.

Morris Yachts M52 and M29 MORRIS YACHTS was kept happily hopping at their base in Bass Harbor this year. Two Chuck Paine-designed Ocean-Series yachts, a Morris 38 and a Morris 42, were sold. In the M-Series department, hulls no.1 and no. 2 of the M29 daysailer were completed after a successful debut last February in Miami. In the 36-foot category, word is that Jimmy Buffet (yes, that Jimmy Buffet) purchased an M36, one of 5 built this year. One M38 was launched, and one owner of a new M42 (one of 2 completed in 2009) is now on his third Morris Yacht. The

company also finished hull no. 1 of the M52, the largest in the Sparkman & Stephensdesigned M-Series lineup. See page 78 for more about the M52, which was completed for a family of 5 that moved up from an M42. In keeping with the company’s efforts to reach overseas, of the three more M36s that have been sold for delivery in 2010, one is going to Sydney, Australia. Finally, Morris has been chosen by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy to build 4 of the academy’s brand-new Leadership 44 training craft in the coming year. The boats were designed by David Pedrick and are to replace the USCG’s aging Luders fleet. www.morrisyachts.com; 207-244-5509.

NorseBoat NORSEBOAT of Belfast, Prince Edward Island, built 20 NorseBoat 17.5 sailing and rowing cruisers, and 4 NorseBoat 12.5 lightweight dinghies with raked mast and 2 rowing stations. Both models are available as finished boats or as a kit. As part of a fundraising effort,

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BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 two Royal Marines from the UK used one of the 17.5s to voyage through the Northwest Passage. The pair began on July 24 in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada, and finished on September 5 at Gjoa Haven, also in the NWT, having sailed, rowed, and dragged the boat 1,400 miles, when not delayed among the ice floes. NorseBoat also built 6 traditional whaleboats for use in the filming of a Moby-Dick mini-series. The boats were planked with spruce strips and epoxy, with one layer of glass cloth on the outside of the hull, and ash frames and a partial second layer of spruce planking on the inside of the hull. If you find yourself watching a German-produced version of Moby-Dick, filmed in Nova Scotia and Malta, with William Hurt as Ahab, look for the NorseBoats! The NorseBoat 21.5 Cruiser with interior accommodations is currently in design at Fitzgerald Marine Architecture of Camden, Maine. www.norseboat.com; 902-659-2790. NORTHEAST BOAT performs routine maintenance on wooden boats, including repairs and painting, plus inside and outside storage. The Northport shop rebuilt an International 14 and a Herreshoff 12 ½. The rebuild of a Buzzard’s Bay 14, which started out as a “filler project,” was finished in the nick of time for the MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS SHOW in August, and was sold by the end of the show weekend.

The crew put in 1,200 hours on the cosmetic overhaul of a 32' ketch, and refitted the 32-foot Bill Tripp-designed Fiery Jubilee, which is now painted white. The first new storage building was completed and construction of the second began in the fall. www.northeastboat.com; 207-322-7014. PADEBCO CUSTOM BOATS built 3 downeaststyle boats to owner Bruce Cunningham’s design: a 25' Roadster runabout, a 29' center console with fo’c’s’le, and a 23½ center console. The Round Pond shop designed and built a 16' boat modeled after a scaled-down Jonesport lobsterboat and intended for use with a 20-hp outboard motor. Repairs were made to a 32' Newman, a 28' Sabre, a J/22, and a 21.6 Padebco. New construction projects underway over the winter were a 23.6 Padebco center console, and a 27' walkaround with a unique diesel power arrangement. www.padebco.com; 207-529-5106.

Pemaquid Marine Shellback Dinghy

PEMAQUID MARINE was purchased by Transom Boat Works, which will relocate from Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, to New Harbor, Maine. Production of Pemaquid’s Banks Cove 22 will continue, in lobster-style, center-console, and day-boat models. Services offered by the yard include: building and repair of wooden and fiberglass boats, engine and mechanical systems work, painting and varnishing, and indoor and outdoor storage for boats up to 50'. Construction of a wooden 26' Bolger-designed sharpie schooner is underway and will be ready for delivery in the spring. The upcoming movie I Darwin, filmed last summer in Nova Scotia, includes a cameo appearance by one of the shop’s 11'2" wood/epoxy Shellback dinghies. www.pemaquidmarine.com; 207-677-2024.

Pendleton Yacht Yard While a diverse mix of boats are restored at PENDLETON YACHT YARD, original Herreshoff 12½-footers always rank high with the

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MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

Pleasant Bay Boat & Spar Co. PLEASANT BAY BOAT & SPAR COMPANY, for-

merly Marine Restoration and Salvage, saw its busiest year yet. The Orleans, Massachusetts, shop restored the motor lifeboat CG36500 from the rails up—including the cockpits and bulkheads, and some structural work—after stripping it down to the frames. The CG36500 was involved in the historic rescue of 32 seamen from a sinking ship off the coast of Chatham in 1952. Construction of a coldmolded Baybird was begun, with the expectation that 2 of these sloop hulls will be completed by spring. The year’s favorite spar job was for Sanford Boat Company’s new Magic 30 yawl. The shop took over the completion of an Arch Davis 26' lobster-style hull in the hopes of locating a buyer once it is done. A unique project was the building of 8 mahogany columns for a private residence in Miami. The shop has applied for solar panel grants, with the intention of installing enough to accommodate all the business’s electrical needs. www.pleasantbayboatandspar.com; 508-240-0058.

Onne van der Wal(3), courtesy Morris Yachts

crew. As per usual, 2009 saw the restoration of one 121⁄2. Hull no. 1432, Ocean Rose, was built in 1937 for Marshall Field—of department store fame—and has sailed the waters of Dark Harbor for its entire life. The boat is one of the island’s active racing fleet. January marked the beginning of the next 12 ½ project, Nutmeg, hull no. 815 dating from 1916. www.pendletonyachtyard.com; 207-734-6728.

HOPE MORRIS YACHTS M52 by John Snyder

ESPITE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES and the untimely passing of founder Tom Morris, Morris Yachts of Bass Harbor appears to be thriving. The yard’s ongoing collaboration with legendary naval architects Sparkman & Stephens has given rise to the company’s successful M series, which includes the M29, M36, M42, and now the M52. While the M29 and M36 are clearly daysailers, and the M42 a weekender, the M52 is a true coastal cruiser. Hailing from Bristol, Rhode Island, and aptly named Hope (Rhode Island’s motto and some positive thinking for better economic times), the new 52-footer, the first of its type, is stunning in looks and performance. Like its smaller sisters, the M36 and M42, Hope is easily handled by two, thanks to in-boom furling, a self-tacking jib, and clean line handling. On deck, the layout is reminiscent of the M42, but the additional 10 feet of length make it a much different boat. The side- and foredecks are massive, and with the absence of lifelines seem even broader. While the lack of lifelines accentuates the boat’s graceful sheer, a set of removable lifelines, or a jackline, would be a good idea for offshore passages. Far forward, a unique anchor stowage and deployment system keeps the ground tackle out of sight but ready for

Portland Pudgy PORTLAND PUDGY moved to a new shop in

Portland, where its multi-function service and survival dinghy is sold. The unsinkable proactive lifeboat is 7'8" long, is USCG approved for 4 people, and can be used with oars, sail, or outboard motor. Company founder David Hulbert outlined recent modifications: “We redesigned the sailing rig. We made the sail larger, added a window, loose foot, and designed a telescoping boom. Performance leeboards were designed, and we added a slightly stiffer rudder. The whole rig is still collapsible without disassembly and

Accommodations below are everything we have come to expect and more from Morris Yachts. MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

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BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 use in a hurry. The chain locker is also plumbed for a wash-down hose. Aft, the cockpit is spacious and comfortable, suited to casual entertaining, memorable harbor tours, and comfortable cruising. Forward of the helm and control pods are port and starboard seating that’s suitable for six adults or for afternoon naps and a permanently mounted teak centerline drop-leaf table and integrated cooler that are finished to a high gloss. The teak-trimmed coaming is the perfect height and makes for great seating and security under way. For simplicity of sail handling the M52’s fractional rig has a carbon fiber mast fitted with a Leisurefurl in-boom furling system. Navtec hydraulics control the vang and backstay, and Lewmars serve as primary and secondary winches. The headsail furling system is from Bamar. As with all of the M-series yachts, sheets and control lines are led below decks, then back to Lewmar rope clutches and winches. The only lines above deck are for controlling the asymmetrical spinnaker. The sails are from North Sails. Adding a Code-0 to the sail inventory would be worth considering. Accommodations are nothing short of elegant. The interior is very spacious and has full standing headroom throughout. Forward, the owner’s stateroom is well lit, has a queen size centerline berth, and wide, contoured seats to port and starboard. There are a full-length hanging locker and a dresser with drawers; the lower portion of the dresser has a drop front, with a storage locker above. The owner’s stateroom adjoins a separate head and fully enclosed stall shower with built-in teak slat seat and wet locker. The countertop is bright-finished cherry and has a polished stainless-steel sink and Vacuflush toilet. The main saloon, to port, has a Ushaped dinette and a mahogany table with integrated storage for liquor and silverware. The table swivels for ease of seating. Immediately to starboard is a settee that also provides seating, a sea berth, and a seat for the aft-facing nav station. Navigation electronics include everything you would imagine; an Ethernet cable in the nav station interfaces all electronics and entertainment systems. The yacht’s interior is finished in www.maineboats.com

SPECIFICATIONS / M52 LOA: 52'10" LWL: 37' 0" Beam: 13' 6" Draft: 6' 8" Displ.: @ half load: 27,520 lbs. Sail Area: 1,541 sq. ft. Bridge Clearance: 70' Water: 100 gal. Fuel: 60 gal. Power: 75-hp Yanmar 4JH4-TCE

diesel, Saildrive SD-50 Designer: Sparkman & Stephens, 529 Fifth Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017. 212-661-1240; www.sparkmanstephens.com Builder: Morris Yachts, 53

Granville Road, Bass Harbor, ME 04653. 207-244-5509; www.morrisyachts.com classic Herreshoff style, with beautiful antique-white raised-panel bulkheads, high-gloss cherry joinery, satin-finished teak cabin sole, and traditional wood sheathing overhead to match the bulkheads. A sizeable butterfly hatch over the centerline provides great ventilation and light below. There are climate controls

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

for an air-conditioning system and a diesel heater with five vents. Hatches and Dorade vents provide additional ventilation below. Outboard of the dinette and the settee there are ample storage for books and a place to conceal electronics, such as a stereo system and television. The aft cabin has a double quarterberth to port, full hanging locker, and dresser with drawers. The cabin is adjoined by an aft head with polished stainless-steel sink, wall-mounted shower, and high-gloss cherry countertops. The aft head can be accessed from the galley or the aft cabin. Hope’s galley is located to starboard of the companionway ladder, beneath which is access to the engine compartment. The galley has three separate countertop lockers for dry storage, dishes, and glasses. The refrigerator with a single toploading hatch is aft of the three-burner gimbaled propane stove. The galley counters are Corian. A microwave oven is mounted outboard and forward behind the galley sliders. The M52’s hull is a vacuum-infused composite with vinylester resin and balsa core. Structural bulkheads are plywood. The superstructure is Core-Cell construction. Decks are teak, with quarter-sawn teak decking for the cockpit sole. Below the waterline the M52 features a high-performance bulb keel and a modern high-aspect-ratio carbon/epoxy spade rudder, designed for speed, stability, and precise control. For mechanical propulsion the M52 is powered by a 4-cylinder Yanmar directinjected, freshwater-cooled, turbocharged marine diesel; it is mated to a SD-50 Saildrive unit turning a 20" Flex-O-Fold three-blade propeller. There is also a tunnel-style bow thruster for ease of maneuvering in tight quarters. Hope’s owners are not new to Morris Yachts or to S&S designs. They previously owned an M42. Though they were looking for a larger boat to suit their yearly passage from Florida to New England, they didn’t want to sacrifice the performance, style, and build of the M series. Clean, lean, and classic in every way, the M52 sets a new standard for coastal cruising yachts and is destined to become a legend. N 79

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR can be stored within the double hull of the boat.” Last spring two Dutch reporters put the Pudgy to the test and launched it with all its safety equipment from a chase boat 20 miles offshore in the North Sea. They sailed through the night to return to dry land. Their report on the adventure can be read at the company’s site. www.portlandpudgy.com; 207-712-4027.

YOUR VISION… built right

PORTLAND YACHT SERVICES continues to offer a full-service boatyard and marina on the waterfront in Portland: outfitting, maintenance and restoration of sail and power boats; storage facilities; and, of course, the annual Maine Boatbuilders Show—scheduled for March 19-21, 2010. See you there! www.portlandyacht.com; 207-774-1067.

Garage, Bar Harbor

Leila Murphy

traditionally crafted homes since 1919

R.S. Pulsifer Boat Builder R.S. PULSIFER BOAT BUILDER completed 2 An authorized Independent Representative for Timberpeg®

www.abjrhodgkins.com

207 288.3422 Bar Harbor, Maine

Pulsifer Hamptons. Hull no. 104 will serve as transportation for the owner from his home in Southport to work in Boothbay Harbor. Hull no. 105 was built on spec and awaits a buyer. The boats are constructed of native white pine, oak, and cedar in the 2-person Brunswick shop using traditional strip-planking methods. The design is based on the Casco Bay Hampton, a lobsterboat built by Charlie Gomes between 1902 and the 1950s. Annual service work ran the gamut, from checking systems and changing filters and fluids to refinishing bottoms, decks, and topsides. The resident shop corgies and chickens are doing well. We wonder if there is a “Boatyard Chicken” in our future? www.pulsiferhampton.com; 207-725-5457. As per usual, REDFERN BOAT built 2 new boats this year and completed 3 metric tons of repair work over the course of the winter. The crew’s favorite at the Lamoine shop was the rebuild of a Hinckley 41 competition sailboat, which received electronics upgrades, carpentry work, and a lot of plumbing. A Bunker & Ellis launch was repowered, and 2 new Redfern launches left the shop. Redfern launches are available in 22-, 24-, and 26-foot lengths. For the second year running, owner Carlton Johnson’s entry in the Great Pen Bay Zucchini Boat Regatta at the MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS SHOW was a winner. www.redfernboat.com; 207-266-0270. RIBCRAFT offers rigid-bottom inflatable boats in lengths from 15' to 30' for recreational and professional use. The Ribcraft 6.8 has been popular among recreational customers with a hankering to go fishing, diving, or waterskiing. The center-console boat has

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

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BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 a forward bench seat, a choice between a leaning post or a pair of pod seats, and an aft bench seat with cooler. Another choice comes in the form of either a stainless steel T-top or the “adventure top” with storage area for folding ladders, safety equipment, water skis, and the like. www.ribcraftusa.com; 781-639-9065. At the Brooklin shop of BRION RIEFF BOATBUILDER , the first 3 hulls of the re-introduced Herreshoff Alerion 26 were under construction for Herreshoff Designs of Bristol, Rhode Island. The latest model of the classic daysailer is cold-molded, with modern diesel and electric power options. www.brionrieffboatbuilder.com; 207-359-4455.

Parker 2520 XL Extend your season in a proven common-sense design. The pilothouse makes this an all-weather island commuter.

No Experience Necessary.

21, 23, 25 and 28-ft models, powered by

Robinhood Marine Cape Dory 28 ROBINHOOD MARINE CENTER completed more than 50 repair projects at its Georgetown Facility, including the total restoration of a Cape Dory 28 powerboat. To understand what the other 49 jobs involved, consider this partial list: refit a Cape Dory 30, an Endeavor 37, and an Ellis 36; replace 3 engines, fully refurbish 2 masts, refit a 1963 Glastron as a custom towboat, and the like. www.robinhoodmarinecenter.com; 207-371-2525.

Leave the familiar behind and seek a world of adventure.Outside, challenge yourself to climb mountains, run whitewater rapids or sail the open ocean. Inside, go far beyond what you thought you knew about yourself, your capabilities, your dreams. Set sail on one of 500 wilderness adventures—and be amazed at what you’ll discover within.

This is Outward Bound. This challenge belongs to you.

We specialize in Yamaha Outboard Technology. Check us out to restore and repower your existing boat!

Jeff’s Marine, Inc. On the River, Thomaston, ME 207-354-8777 boatking@midcoast.com

www.outwardbound.org 1-888-88BOUND

SOUTH PORT MARINE

Alison Langley

Portland Harbor’s most protected marina... a true full-service boatyard. Rockport Marine: Trade Wind ROCKPORT MARINE’s many projects included the ongoing complete restoration of Bolero, a 73' Sparkman & Stephens yawl: new frames, planking, deck, interior, and systems. A June 2010 launch is planned for this boat, which was originally launched in 1949, campaigned in many ocean races, and was the flagship of the New York Yacht Club for many years. In the restoration of Trade Wind, a 1939 60' John Alden-designed motorsailer, the original teak planking has been retained, but a new deck, rig, and interior will be built. Custom accents for the interior include detailed joinery work, a fireplace, and a claw-foot tub. Several tenders are being restored and built for the yacht, slated to be launched in July. www.rockportmarine.com; 207-236-9651.

150-slip marina New boat sales • Brokerage Parts department Systems repair & installation Hauling to 36 tons Certified technicians Engine re-powers • Storage Dealers for: Mercury • Yanmar Scout Boats Southport Boat Works Yamaha • Seldon Rigging Echo Rowing

ROLLINS BOAT SHOP saw the usual repair

207-799-8191

and maintenance jobs, plus the building of “quite a string of spars,” according to Paul Rollins. The year’s highlight was the con-

WWW.SOUTHPORTMARINE.COM

www.maineboats.com

14 Ocean Street South Portland, Maine 04106

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

The boatbuilding crew at RUMERY’S BOAT YARD of Biddeford took advantage of a lull in boat work and turned its attention to improving the shop’s layout. They knocked a large hole in the side of the main building— an old brick coal-fired power plant—and constructed 2 new 60' x 20' work bays with radiant heat, and a mezzanine level for additional office and parts inventory space. A centerboard Alerion was built and launched in time for the MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS SHOW (sporting a wasabi-green hull), the yard’s General Marine 26 workboat was repowered, and routine repairs were made to 20 storage boats. The shop’s new line of oven-cured carbon fiber Saco River Rowing Shells is extra light, with a 55-foot, 8-person shell weighing in at about 210 lbs. “We’re hoping the hulls will require some ballast to hit the legal weight” said Rumery’s Sean Tarpey. www.rumerys.com; 207-282-0408.

Jacques Marron

Sabre Yachts 40 Express Last May, SABRE YACHTS launched the new Sabre 40 sedan, the first Sabre with a fully resin-infused hull and deck, featuring the Zeus pod propulsion system. See page 86 for more on the Sabre 40. The Raymond company builds sailing yachts—the 36' Sabre Spirit, the Sabre 386, and the Sabre 426 sailing yachts, and motoryachts in sedan and express models—the Sabre 34, Sabre 38, Sabre 40, Sabre 42, and Sabre 52. Flybridge versions of the Sabre 40 sedan and the Sabre 52 are next in the development queue. www.sabreyachts.com; 207-655-3831.

BIRCHBARK CANOE PENOBSCOT MARINE MUSEUM by Ben Fuller

F JOHN CABOT had either beaten Columbus to America, or had not been lost on his second voyage, we might be calling the small boats we paddle “aquiden” (an Abenaki word for canoe that was recorded by Waymouth in 1605) instead of canoes. When Cabot arrived in the New World, ca.1497, he landed on the eastern edge of a birchbark canoe-building belt that stretched from the Atlantic coast beyond the Great Lakes, wherever birch trees grew. This was the region that provided the craft that, ironically, was to be the principal tool used by Europeans to penetrate the American continent. For a couple of weeks last summer, a chief attraction at the Penobscot Marine Museum was the building of such a birchbark canoe. Noted bark-canoe builder Steve Cayard led a group of Native Americans—Passamaquoddies, Penobscots, and Maliseets—as they turned out a splendid 16-footer. David Moses Bridges served as assistant instructor. Eric “Otter” Bacon, an accomplished Passamaquoddy basket maker, came to Searsport to learn a different style of bark work. Penobscots Joe Hugga Dana, Gwenuhet Dana, and Nicholas Dow were part of the crew, as were Maliseets G. Wayne Brooks and his son Cody. Their boat is a simple, functional example of the practical craft of canoe building. This was actually the third birchbark canoe to be built at the museum since 2005. That year, as part of an exhibition and program that contrasted the Native and European visions of Maine in 1605, David Moses Bridges of the Passamaquoddy Nation built a birchbark canoe. It was funded by a National Endowment for the Humanities

1 Seal Cove Boatyard: Stormy A restoration done at SEAL COVE BOATYARD

Bob Holtzman(6), courtesy Penobscot Marine Museum

struction of a 30' McIntosh sloop, “A beautifully simple yacht based on the type that Bud perfected over his career. A plumb stern, outboard rudder, and a long cast-iron keel are what you want for a cruising boat so that you can hit those pesky ledges,” said Rollins. The boat is pine planked, which filled the York shop with sweet aromas instead of the “usual toxics.” Once the rudder was hung and the mast shaped, the boat was off to be completed at home by its new owners. www.rollinsboatbuilder.com; 207-351-7609.

Jeff Scher

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

2 1. Construction begins with a building bed. 2. A frame with temporary uprights defines the bottom and sides of the hull. MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

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BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 grant that was designed to encourage native artisans. The canoe was purchased by the late Andrew Wyeth, and it now lives on Allen Island. The purchase of that first canoe allowed the museum to use NEH funds to build a second one, the thought being to use it as a teaching opportunity. In 2006, Abenaki canoe builder Aaron York came to the museum to build a 20-foot-long Penobscot/Passamaquoddy ocean-style canoe. He was assisted by two Penobscots, Joe Hugga Dana and Gwenuhet Dana, and volunteer Ken Weeks. That second canoe is now part of the museum’s educational collection. It has traveled to several festivals, and groups have borrowed it to use for demonstrations. A 20foot birchbark boat is remarkably light—two people can carry it quite easily—and the boat is very fast, especially with four paddlers. It’s easy to see how these canoes outdistanced the heavy rowing boats used by seventeenth-century Europeans. Grant funds were raised by the museum to build a third canoe. Originally conceived as a demonstration project, the construction provided an opportunity to go beyond that and, more importantly, preserve and teach canoe building skills.

brought to mind the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in The Little Prince: “What is essential is invisible to the eye.” Despite a perfect exterior and gleaming bright hull, a survey of the 32' 1965 Sparkman & Stephens sailboat Stormy revealed that the frames in the bilge area were delaminating. The owner challenged the Harborside shop to “disassemble what you must, repair or replace all frames necessary, and retreat so artfully that no one knows that you have been there.” The process involved removal of the V-berth, new joinery and bulkheads in the head, cabin joinery, and repair of frames that had delaminated from the keel to the bilge. Lead carpenter Vaughan Peters and crew then employed a method of “staggering the butt joints of each of the 8 lifts in the ribs so that they ended just below the waterline on thoroughly sound sections, and put brand new frames into the bilges.” The artful reassembly and retreat followed, “as if nothing had ever happened.” www.sealcoveboatyard.com; 207-326-4422.

Shaw & Tenney Whitehall SHAW & TENNEY, known for its handcrafted

6 3. Shaped stems define the ends of the canoe. 4. Spruce roots are used to sew the seams. 5. Split cedar is used for frames; they are inserted after the hull has been shaped. 6. Sewn seams are waterproofed with hot spruce gum.

Building a birchbark canoe is much more than just construction. Natural materials need to be gathered. Birch trees big enough to harvest bark from must be found, and that is not an easy matter. White cedar ribs and planking have to be split, not sawn, and yards and yards of spruce roots are needed to sew the canoe together. Hot spruce gum, used for waterproofing, isn’t exactly available at the local chandlery. By encouraging the preservation of these skills, the museum provided opportunities for tribe members to learn from experienced builders and then teach their acquired skills to others. Visitors to the museum had an opportunity to learn about these remarkable craft, which are as light and well-shaped as anything built today. Last summer’s canoe is the best style for recreational use, as it can be paddled and carried easily by one or two people. As of press time, it was for sale; the proceeds will allow this fine program to continue. N

oars and paddles, introduced a new Whitehall pulling boat in June, available in “plain” or “fancy” models. The 17'9" boat is lofted and built at the Orono shop, and combines the lines and attributes of the traditional Whitehall design with modern construction. (See page 88 for more about the new Whitehall.) www.shawtenney.com; 207-240-4867. SIX RIVER MARINE of North Yarmouth performed annual maintenance work for its regular customers. Hull no. 1 of the West Pointer was in for upgrades, including a new teak deck, an all-bronze hardware package, new electronics, and a custom aluminum fuel tank with increased capacity. Its owners, who live in Florida, were granted use of hull no. 2 for their daughter’s wedding while the boat was in this shop. This required a well-orchestrated boat ballet. The boats met in North Carolina in April after traveling from Maine and Florida for the swap. May brought the wedding, and summer the return trip to North Carolina for one last exchange. The West Pointer’s lines reflect those of Maine skiffs, and the hull is constructed by laminating cedar veneers with epoxy; customizable options include the cockpit layout and finish. www.sixrivermarine.com; 207-846-6675.

Penobscot Marine Museum, P.O. Box 498, Route One, Searsport, ME 04974. 207-548-2529; www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org

www.maineboats.com

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR fiberglass Rhodes 19, and fiberglass powerboats. southportislandmarine.com; 207-633-6009.

South Shore Boatworks: Sandpiper III SOUTH SHORE BOATWORKS completed Sandpiper III, the first Gurnet Point 25' lobsterboat to be launched. The inboard diesel boat went to Rhode Island, as did Shore Bird, an Iain Oughtred-designed tender that the shop built. Construction of another Gurnet Point was underway in the Halifax, Massachusetts, shop at year’s end, and the interior of a 35' Duffy sportfisherman was in the process of completion. The three-person crew also rebuilt a 15' canoe, and installed a new trunk cabin and wheelhouse on a 1999 22' wooden lobsterboat, reportedly the last Repco built in Gouldsboro, Maine, as documented by the Gouldsboro Historical Society. Shop owner Bob Fuller said, “We are fortunate to have a busy shop and are continuing to grow our business, despite the economic situation that surrounds us.”www.southshoreboatworks.com; 781-293-2293.

Southport Island Marine SOUTHPORT ISLAND MARINE delivered

hulls no. 5 and 6 of the new Hurricane Island 30 expedition vessels, which incorporated several design refinements, and built 1 fiberglass Handy Billy 21 launch. The Southport shop crafted 2 fiberglass kayaks—the 9.5' Little Dubber and the 11' Bigger Little Dubber—based on plans the company bought in 2004. The new fiberglass construction provides a more cost-effective option than the earlier wooden versions of these stable and lightweight boats. Two standout projects were the repair of a 30' Hurricane Island Pulling Boat, decommissioned when Outward Bound converted to its newer vessels, and restoration of a 26' General Marine commercial lobsterboat that sank last November, which encompassed work to the engine and electrical systems, and the hull and keel. Other boats in for repair included a 14' wooden catboat, 2 wooden Turnabouts, a

Ralph W. Stanley, Inc. RALPH W. STANLEY, INC. has had a change-

filled year. Ralph has “retired,” and passed the business on to his son, Richard, and Richard’s wife, Lorraine. The business has relocated to 298 Seawall Road in Southwest Harbor, and is very much looking forward to helping customers both former and new with wooden boatbuilding projects of all sizes. In the “What’s New” department, the company now has a presence on Facebook. (See page 48 for a profile of Ralph.) www.ralphstanleyboats.com; 207-244-3795. The 3 craftsmen at ROBERT STEVENS BOATBUILDERS of Phippsburg spent the year in Florida rebuilding the stern of the schooner Western Union, a boat built in 1939 to maintain the underwater cables among Florida, Cuba, and other Caribbean islands. The frames were originally cut in the Cayman Islands and then

Welcome • Expert Repair & Restoration • Jonesport Peapod • Showers-Laundry • Moorings • Storage

Jonesport Peapod

www.jonesportshipyard.com 207-497-2701 PO Box 214, 285 Main St. Jonesport, ME 04649 info@jonesportshipyard.com t ou e: om eckebsit rks.c h C w wo r t ou boa w s . w ww

BOATBUILDING / REPAIR BOATS FOR SALE

SW Boatworks

Fine finisher of Wesmac Boats • Lamoine, ME 04605 • 207-667-7427

VISIT OUR PRE-OWNED BOATS FOR SALE Contact Capt. Stewart Workman at sworkman@swboatworks.com.

New 8" Ship’s Bell w/slip bracket, meets USCG requirements. MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

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BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 shipped to Key West for construction by builders from both Florida and the islands. Here’s what Stevens found fascinating about the project: “The framing is of the older method called loose futtock, rather than the doublesawn frame method. The frames are of natural crooks, and placed where the shape fits rather than on a standardized spacing. By the fastenings, one can see how each futtock was pinned to the next to allow some flexibility while the shape was worked out. The stern is built down with just one deadwood timber and a knee on top of that. The fastenings are wrought iron and in remarkable shape for being 70 years old. Planks wider than 6 inches have 2 spikes and one treenail. The stern quarter framing is carved out of big blocks of wood rather than derived from lofting.” A mid-December 2009 re-launch was planned. 207-389-1794.

that you’re not familiar with the type? Read on. The 13' hard-chine planing dinghy with full-battened lug rig was David Stimson’s answer to Pine Island Camp’s request for a sailing craft along the lines of a Sunfish but with more traditional lines, to match the aesthetics of their existing fleet. Construction is 6-mm okoume plywood over 4-mm plywood bulkhead frames. The boats are completely decked, with self-bailing cockpits, and are self-righting to about 90 degrees of heel. Spars are hollow Sitka spruce; sails are by Wilson Sailmakers. You might spy these boats on the Belgrade Lakes and off Whitehead Island, Penobscot Bay. As for the nomenclature, Monte Ball was the former director of Pine Island Camp and Bazoomarang is one of the camp’s sacred spirits. www.by-the-sea.com/stimsonmarine; 207-380-2842.

Stimson Marine Bazoomarangs STIMSON MARINE of Boothbay designed and

built 2 Monte Ball Bazoomarangs. You say

Stuart Marine STUART MARINE of Rockland built 12 new

boats: Rhodes 19 daysailers, Mariner overnighters, JC 9 sailing dinghies, Stuart 9 rowing dinghies, and Stuart 19 center consoles. The 6-person crew serviced many Rhodes 19 and Mariner sailboats built from 1959 to 1980. The shop made boat deliveries all over the country, and saw an increase in boats sent to Maine for repair, even from as far away as Texas and Minnesota. www.stuartmarine.com; 207-594-5515. TRANSOM BOAT WORKS closed its shop in Nova Scotia and relocated to Maine. See the Pemaquid Marine listing (page 77) for details and contact information. UNION RIVER BOAT COMPANY, known for its mold fabrication work for New England boatbuilding companies, built and launched its first boat. Designed by Rodger Martin, the Presto 30 represents an evolution of the new Outward Bound Hurricane Island 30 from expedition boat to daysailer. Adjustments to the Spartan design include adding 6 inches of freeboard, widening the waterline, flattening the bottom, and adding an enclosed head and sleeping platforms. The designer drew inspiration from Commodore Ralph Munroe’s Presto design and received permission from Munroe’s grandson to use the name of Presto for the new line. www.unionriverboat.com; 207-469-9099.

RUMERY’S ALERION 26 Classic Herreshoff centerboard daysailer Legendary performance in light or heavy air.

RUMERY’S BOAT YARD Biddeford, Maine • 04005 Custom construction, renovations, storage, service 207-282-0408 • www.rumerys.com

THE BOAT SCHOOL Eastport, Maine

America’s oldest & Maine’s most comprehensive and affordable Boatbuilding & Marine Technology School

For information contact John Miller, The Boat School, 16 Deep Cove Road, Eastport, ME 04631 207-853-2518 • jmiller@boatschoolhusson.net www.boatschoolhusson.net Admissions 207-973-1069 www.maineboats.com

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

Beetle Cat® Boat Shop Celebrating Our 89th Year

The Beetle Cat sailboat is still the boat of choice for families who appreciate traditional sailing values. We offer a full range of services including new and used boats, parts, repairs, storage, and delivery. 3 Thatcher Lane, Wareham, MA 02571 • 508-295-8585

www.beetlecat.com 85

Washburn & Doughty Z-drive tug At WASHBURN & DOUGHTY ASSOCIATES, steel and aluminum vessels were in various stages of construction. In-progress were 2 Intercon Tugs measuring 121' in length, a 92' Z-Drive tug, and 2 98' Z-Drives—all for Moran Towing Corporation of New Canaan, Connecticut. (See page 90 for more about a recent W&D tug project.) Two 98' Z-Tech 7500 Class Terminal/Escort Tugs will go to Texas upon completion. The main construction building of the East Boothbay yard, destroyed by fire in July of 2008, was rebuilt and two of the above boats christened the new shipyard space. www.washburndoughty.com; 207-633-6517.

Billy Black(3)

Gregory Walsh

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

SABRE 40 SEDAN SABRE YACHTS by Peter Bass

S Wayfarer Marine: Volpaia WAYFARER MARINE of Camden welcomed

the Swan 68 Volpaia back to the yard for a major refit. Work ranged from mechanical— with major engine and generator servicing and new refrigeration—to structural and cosmetic—with a new layer of fiberglass added to the bottom, and painting of the hull, superstructure, mast and boom. Teak Decking Systems provided the new teak deck, the 10,000th deck made by the Sarasota, Florida, company, which has a local representative in Appleton, Maine. A plethora of other projects were completed—rigging, electronics, canvas, rudders, a carbon-fiber hydraulic swim platform, and anything else you can imagine—on power boats and sailboats, with names like Amore, Moonshadow, Tenacious, Pilgrim, and, dig it, Riva the Beaver. The company is expanding its international marketing efforts by attending events in Antigua and Palma de Mallorca, with the intention of making new friends around the world who have business to bring to the coast of Maine. A new refit and repair building is also in the works, with an anticipated completion date sometime in 2010-2011. www.wayfarermarine.com; 207236-4378.

ABRE YACHTS HAS STAYED OFF THE WATERJET BANDWAGON and focused instead on continually refining their conventional shaft-and-rudder configuration, which offers better efficiency than jets at a range of speeds and the dependability and simplicity of seasoned engineering. Given this long history of staying with the tried and true, it took a compelling new propulsion system to convince Sabre to design a new boat and make that system standard equipment in it. Welcome to the pod-drive era. The small motor-yacht world is abuzz these days about the adaptation of azimuthing thrusters—propellers that can be rotated horizontally—from big commercial vessels to planing hull yachts. The result—twin pod drives—allows each drive to be pointed independently, and their power and thrust direction controlled separately. This enables a vessel to go forward, backward, and sideways without bow thrusters, stern thrusters, or rudders. Think of the drives as inboard/outboard drives that stick out of the aft portion of the bottom of the boat. Sabre has put the Cummins Zeus System, which was developed in collaboration with ZF Gears, into the new 40 Sedan. In addition to being designed for pod drives, this boat is Sabre’s first to be entirely infusion molded. This not only saves weight at higher strength, but also provides a safer and more pleasant working environment in the shop. (Infusion molding allows more precise usage of resin, resulting in less waste and fewer noxious fumes.) Sabre has a lot of experience with pod drives in general, having built about 25 yachts fitted with them to date, ranging from 38 to 52 feet and utilizing both the Cummins and Volvo systems. SPECIFICATIONS / SABRE 40 SEDAN LOA: 40'10" Beam: 14'0" Draft: 3'4" Fuel: 380 gal. Water: 140 gal. Holding Tank: 60 gal. Displ.: 26,000 lb.

Power: 2 380-hp Cummins diesels

paired with Zeus pod drives Builder: Sabre Yachts, Box 134,

South Casco, ME 04077. 207-655-3831; www.sabreyachts.com

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BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 The combination of pod drives and infusion molding enables the 26,000-pound 40 Sedan to cruise at 25 knots while burning approximately 25 gallons per hour. The efficiency gains are most impressive at high cruising speeds and are comparable with shaft-drive hulls at lower speeds. Pods really shine in the maneuverability and sound-isolation areas. The engine and pod package is located well aft in an isolated compartment; engine exhaust is ducted out through the propeller hubs. Trim tabs are also built into the Zeus package, which has everything, it seems, except a quiver of thunderbolts to hurl at nonbelievers. While Sabre has long been at the forefront of the quiet movement, pods and the opportunity to design a new model around them took them to a new level. Sound measurements at speed are remarkably low in the 40 Sedan thanks to both the inherent smoothness of the propulsion system and the devotion of Sabre to sound suppression. The whole package is much easier to understand after watching the animations at the Cummins site: www.cmdmarine.com/prop/zeus.html. Sabre’s website is unusually comprehensive, too; a little intuitive poking around there brings up all kinds of performance and fuel-consumption data, in addition to a complete list of specifications and an array of mouth-watering photos. As usual, Sabre’s fit, finish, and systems installations are top notch. The layout is great for a couple or family, although for two couples the second stateroom looks a tad snug with its

The deckhouse layout is simple and understated.

double berth. The sedan configuration means the weather door is at the aft end of the helm deck, so that area can also be fully utilized as living space. A flybridge option is available. All in all, the Sabre 40 Sedan is a very appealing package from one of Maine’s (and America’s) top production builders. N

Everything about the Sabre 40 is top-notch, which is to say, excellent in all respects. www.maineboats.com

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

Webhannet River Boat Yard WEBHANNET RIVER BOAT YARD in Wells continued a long-time rebuilding project, which is due to be launched in the spring once repowering is complete. During a lean work year, owner Scott Worthing had the time to return to his roots and passion— wooden boatbuilding—which is often set aside to work in fiberglass. Worthing bought a 20-year-old partial plan for an 18' x 7' wooden skiff from Hadlock Boatworks in Seattle, Washington, completed the design, and then built it for himself. Worthing’s wife commented, “This is my favorite project of the year, because Scott remembered why he got into this business in the first place: because he loves to create wooden boats. Since he wasn’t pressured by anyone to finish it, or change it, or do it for less money, he was able to make it exactly as he imagined… perfect.” Jason Rochello, a 2009 graduate of Kennebunkport’s Landing School, joined the crew. www.webhannetriver.com; 207-646-9649.

Wesmac Custom Boats The big project at WESMAC CUSTOM BOATS was a 42' Wesmac solid fiberglass hull with a 5-window cored/molded top. It was completely custom finished by the Surry crew, which grew by a dozen over the course of the project—including subcontractors from other boatyards and cabinetry companies—from the original six builders. Features include massive amounts of teak, a full galley, an enclosed head with separate enclosed shower, 2 staterooms, custom leather seats, a canvas canopy over the cockpit, a custom transom hydraulic dinghy roller system, a trap hauler, hydraulic bow and stern thrusters, a swim platform, and extensive bronze hardware, some of which was provided by Nautilus Marine. The boat is powered by a Cummins 660-hp QSM-11 and has a 5-blade bronze Nibral prop. Billing’s Diesel and Marine assisted with the delivery to Massachusetts. www.wesmac.com; 207-667-4822.

courtesy Shaw & Tenney(2)

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

WHITEHALL SHAW & TENNEY by Laurie Schreiber

HAW & TENNEY, WORLD-CLASS MANUFACTURER of traditionally handcrafted wooden oars and paddles, and the third-oldest manufacturer of marine products in the United States, is once again harking back to a design of distinguished pedigree with the production of a rowboat based on the vintage Whitehall. “People ask me, ‘Why?’” Steve Holt said of his decision to produce a Whitehall-style boat. “The reason we chose to do it is we wanted a classic design embodying the beauty, functionality, and performance that Shaw & Tenney products are known for.” Individuality and invention are hallmarks of a firm that has a worldwide clientele and an outsized reputation but is located in a clapboard shop and storefront on a narrow, winding residential road in Orono. Inside, one of the lathes, originally water powered, dates back to the company’s origin in 1858. There are racks of clamps and heavy machinery of all sorts—slab saw, cornering saw, bandsaw, router, and several giant sanding drums, from coarse grit to fine. In various stages of production are traditional standard oars, sculling and specialty oars, Adirondack guideboat oars, and single- and double-bladed paddles—including the increasingly popular standup surf paddle. During a recent visit, a craftsman was fine-tuning a paddle blade at the drum sanders. He stopped and examined the blade after every two or three passes. “There’s quite a skill to it,” said Holt. “I can tell in about 15 minutes if someone can make an oar or not.” Holt, of course, has quite an eye himself, and he was exercising it one day just a year ago during the summer of 2008 at the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic, Connecticut. He was talking with Ben Fuller, who was for 15 years the curator of the Mystic Seaport Museum and is now curator of the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, SPECIFICATIONS / S&T WHITEHALL LOA: 17'9" Beam: 3'8" Draft: 17.5" Weight: 140-160 lbs. Positions: single and tandem fixed-

seat rowing positions Available options/extras: sliding seat,

sailing rig, custom-designed Trailex aluminum trailer

Basic Rowing Model: $14,000 “Fancy” Rowing Version: $19,000 Builder: Shaw & Tenney, Inc.,

P.O. Box 213 (20 Water Street), Orono, ME 04473. 207-866-4867; www.shawandtenney.com

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BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009

www.maineboats.com

niques to create the building jig. “We had the basic parameters,” said Holt. “We literally developed the sheer by eye.” “There was a lot of going on faith, really,” said Martinelli. Hull no. 1 is the more trimmed-out “fancy” version and is on display at Shaw & Tenney’s shop. It is fitted out with single and tandem fixed-seat rowing positions. Customers can choose a

West Bay 37 WEST BAY BOATS saw a trend among owners to refit their existing boats, such as a Connecticut customer whose Dyer 29' was at the Steuben shop for repowering and a refit with new wash rails, coamings, and composite windshield. A West Bay 34 commercial fishing boat was refit as a sportfisherman. Promise, the first West Bay 37 pleasure cruiser, was completed and debuted at the August MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS S HOW . Woodwork accents include a teak sole in the aft-cockpit, teak and holly soles in the saloon and cuddy cabins, and teak and birch cabinets throughout. The company was in negotiations with Eastgate Yachts to build the “original” Herreshoff Alerion 26 using the infusion process. To share their composites and infusion expertise, members of the crew helped instruct two of the teams of high-school students from around Maine that participated in the state’s 2009 Wind Blade Challenge (www.mainewindbladechallenge.com). Another area of growth may prove to be providing vessels for crew and equipment transport to offshore wind farms. www.westbayboats.com; 207-546-4300.

Leila Murphy

and they began to toss around the idea of designing a small wooden rowing boat. Not one to dally, Holt considered several vintage models and settled on the Whitehall as the basis to launch his own design. This was partly because he has always loved the Whitehall’s looks and rowing characteristics, and partly because, although plenty of Whitehall reproductions are built, most are in fiberglass. Given Shaw & Tenney’s position in a niche market, the production of a classic wooden boat seemed like a natural extension for the business. So Holt and his craftsmen began their research. “We looked at many, many, many Whitehalls and melded many, many designs together,” said Holt. “There was a function and an appearance we were looking for.” Overall, the craft had to be in keeping with the high aesthetic standard that Shaw & Tenney has maintained over its 150-year history. It also had to have exceptional rowing performance.The boats they studied date back a bit farther than Shaw & Tenney itself. According to information from the G. W. Blunt White Library at Mystic Seaport, the Whitehall was developed as in the 1820s near the foot of Whitehall Street, New York City. They were the workboats of commercial ports, fast and with a large carrying capacity. The boat’s looks—full body, sweeping sheer, wineglass stern—as well as its speed and stability attracted the attention of recreational boaters as well. The Shaw & Tenney Whitehall is narrower than the classic design and parts ways on construction technique. The typical Whitehall is carvel-planked, but Holt decided on glued plywood lapstrake construction to keep the weight down and to ensure a watertight hull. At 140 pounds for the basic version and 160 pounds for the “fancy” model, the boat is light enough to be loaded on a trailer and go. Holt credits Thomas J. Hill, author of Ultralight Boatbuilding and an expert in glued lapstrake construction, for his construction advice. S&T craftsman Tom Martinelli and Holt drew up the design together, the two men tinkering as they went. Then Martinelli used traditional lofting tech-

Narrower than the historical Whitehall, Shaw & Tenney’s is fast and light.

sliding seat option and a sailing option. The use of mahogany and sassafras, in a mix of bright and satin finishes, is both lovely and environmentally sound. True to the tradition of old-time craftsmen, Holt and Martinelli continue to tinker with details. Hull no. 2 is the simpler, basic model; Hull no. 3 will likely be the sailing version, but should it have a daggerboard or a centerboard? Shave the scantlings an eighth-inch? Modify the keel construction? Holt and Martinelli agree: the process is exciting, and they’re happy about the reception the boat has received so far. “This is as traditional as it gets,” said Martinelli. N

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

Wilbur 46 Pilothouse WILBUR YACHTS spent the majority of its

36th year in business on the construction of a 46' long-range raised pilothouse cruiser, scheduled for completion in the spring. The project represents a long-time dream, which began when the owner read an article about Annalokin, a 46' Newman that the Southwest Harbor yard finished off in 1978. The new incarnation includes a number of firsts for the yard, such as installation of four 135-watt solar panels and a hook-up for a methanol fuel cell to supplement the panels. The full arrangement of electronics and a night-vision camera enable monitoring of the engine room and cockpit from the helm. There will even be a sewing station so that the owner’s wife can enjoy her artistic passion while aboard. Among other smaller projects, the yard

2009 BOATS OF THE YEAR

John Williams: Maisie McGoo JOHN WILLIAMS BOAT COMPANY launched its seventh Stanley 38, Maisie McGoo, in June after an intensive 10-month build that often required many subcontractors working simultaneously in close quarters. Mechanics had to find space to install redundant waste and water systems, a generator, a water maker, and a retractable stern thruster. Named after the owners’ West Highland terriers, the boat features details such as Mt. Desert pink granite countertops in the galley and head, and bronze hardware, some of which was fabricated in the shop, including the anchor roller, bow pulpit, and davits. The boat is powered by a 540-hp Cummins engine; it cruises at 17-18 knots and tops out at 21-22. On the repair side, the hull of Izurde—a 43' Cheoy Lee schooner—was extensively repaired, the topsides Awlgripped, the galley rebuilt, and the navigation station modifed. After the grounding of the MJM 34z Blitzen, the crew rebuilt the main engine, replaced the generator, rudder, shaft, and propeller, and repaired the hull. www.jwboatco.com; 207-244-7854. During the WOODENBOAT SCHOOL’s 29th year of building boats, students at the Brooklin facility built the following boat designs (and some surprises—read carefully): a 20' Boothbay Harbor One-Design; 6 Nick Schade-designed Night Heron sea kayaks; a Karl Stambaugh Bay skiff 15; Nat Herreshoff’s Coquina; 14 Chesapeake Light Craft (CLC) 17LT sea kayaks; a 12' Westport skiff; a 10' Pete Culler wherry yawlboat; 3 E.M. White cedarand-canvas canoes; 7 bronze salute cannons; 12 CLC lapstrake dories; 8 Bill Thomasdesigned Willow sea kayaks; an 11' Asa Thomson skiff; 2 Ted Moores strip-planked canoes; 2 Sam Devlin Peeper dinghies; 3 Whitehall pulling boats; 23 RC-controlled pond yachts; 2 Chaisson dory tenders; 10 CLC Skerry daysailers; a 16' Walter Barron plywood outboard skiff; 4 Grain surfboards; 8 Bill Thomasdesigned Fox canoes; 7 traditional figureheads; a John Brooks-designed Somes Sound 121⁄2, 12' Ellen sailing dinghy, and 9' Compass Harbor pram; 2 Joel White 9'6" Nutshell prams; 10 Eric Schade-designed Wood Duck kayaks; 11 CLC Annapolis wherries. Work continued on a restoration of the 25' Henry Scheel sloop Cinderella. www.woodenboat.com; 207-359-4651.

Gregory Walsh(2)

Alison Langley

completed a Wilbur/Wesmac 44' flybridge cruiser which now resides in Long Island, New York. www.wilburyachts.com; 207244-5000.

LOIS ANN L. MORAN WASHBURN & DOUGHTY by Gregory Walsh

O ONE WOULD MISTAKE THE Lois Ann L. Moran for a yacht, but its recent delivery was as noteworthy an event as the completion of the most eye-catching custom craft from one of Maine’s boatyards. This 121-foot tugboat, built for Moran Towing Corp., is a survivor of the devastating fire that destroyed the Washburn & Doughty shipyard in East Boothbay in July of 2008. Formerly known as hull no. 94, the tug is built entirely of steel, with hardly a sliver of visible wood, except in the interior spaces. The green hull and red superstructure are highlighted by prominent black funnel casings adorned with Moran Towing’s big white “M.” The Lois Ann did not always look so polished. Its hull, which had been newly plated, was salvaged from the yard after the fire. While many smaller items of equipment were destroyed, it fortunately was not distorted by heat and flame, though some exterior plating had to be replaced, and both of the engines had to be removed and sent back to the manufacturer for refurbishment. Shipyard workers were able to continue construction on the vessel, even while a new 50,000-square-foot building was being built around it. Rejuvenated and newly painted, the Lois Ann L. Moran, complete with lower

After the fire, the Lois Ann’s unfinished hull was one of the few things in the yard that remained intact. Some plating and both engines had to be renewed before finish work could begin. MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

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BOATS OF THE YEAR 2009 superstructure and with much of the interior and exterior equipment installed, was launched down a railway one year and 12 days after the fire, turned over to the new crew this past October, and put to work for Moran shortly after. The Lois Ann, like a half-dozen others in the Moran fleet, is designed to fit snugly into the deep notch in the stern of a 425-foot-long oil barge, and to stay there almost permanently. The tug is attached to the barge with mechanical gear that allows it to pitch independently while rolling in synch with the barge; thus, the combination is called an articulated tug-barge unit, or ATB. When fully loaded, the barge can hold some five million gallons of petroleum products (118,000 barrels), but the tug can still push it along at speeds of 8 to 12 knots, depending on weather conditions. “It amazes me what went on here in the last year or so,” said Bruce Doughty, one of two owners of the shipyard. “It’s beyond anything that I ever would have expected. It is a testament to what can be done if people put their heads together when everyone has the same motivation.” Doughty attributes the successful rebirth of his shipyard to the collaborative spirit and immediate support of hundreds of people and organizations, including Maine’s governor, John Baldacci; Moran Towing; dozens of vendors, customers, contractors, and local supporters; and the employees, many of whom had to endure a period of unemployment before the company could put them back to work. Today the flourishing yard, with twice the amount of space as before the fire, has four or five tugs in various stages of completion and more employees than it had before the fire. With funding from a federal shipyard grant, construction may soon begin on a new 12,000ton dry dock that could bring in more work, according to Doughty. The people at Moran Towing were key to Washburn & Doughty’s recovery from the fire, he said. Moran, with tugs working from Texas to New England, is the shipyard’s largest client. “Without the support of Moran it would have truly been an absolute disaster,” said Doughty. “The president of the company was here at the yard pledging support before the fire department had finished its work. This company is a great group of people. It’s like working with family. They’ve got values.” Anyone who has ever admired the muscular profile of a traditional tugboat should immediately sense that Lois Ann L. Moran comes from a different mold. While oldtime tugs, including many harbor tugs, have relatively low freeboard and are protected by tons of rubber fendering, this one is tall and almost ungainly looking on the water. The freeboard forward of amidships is dramatically raised but has less fendering than is usual on traditional tugs. Much of the tug’s unique look comes from the elevated pilothouse, situated 55 feet above water. The crew, which is almost always looking over the full length of a 425-foot barge, needs all that height to see ahead. Because of its size, the elevated tower, complete with pilothouse attached, was built at Hodgdon Yachts in East Boothbay. The tower was lifted onto the tug and welded in place a few days after launch. One thing the Lois Ann L. Moran does have in common with more traditionallooking tugs is plenty of horsepower. It is fitted with a pair of 2,600-hp Electro-Motive diesel engines that produce full power at 800 rpm. Each engine has twelve 710-cubicinch cylinders arranged in a V-configuration. All that torque is transferred by 10-inch diameter steel propeller shafts to a pair of five-bladed propellers, each of which is nine and a half feet in diameter. There is tankage for 142,000 gallons of diesel fuel; the tug can also carry 16,000 gallons of potable water, plus it has a reverse-osmosis watermaking system. The Lois Ann L. Moran is actually the third nearly identical ATB built by Washburn & Doughty in the past few years. A fourth is under construction now, with delivery expected some time next summer. That will be hull no. 98. Imagine the party they’ll be having for the launch of hull no. 100. N Washburn & Doughty Associates, 7 Enterprise St., East Boothbay, ME 04544. 207-633-6517; www.washburndoughty.com

www.maineboats.com

MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS

YACHTING SOLUTIONS acquired the yacht brokerage firm of Cannell, Payne & Page of Camden and began development of a marina in Rockland, named Trident Yacht Basin, for vessels up to 250'. The largest transformation in the repair shop was a 42' Duffy, in for a cosmetic overhaul in the guise of window replacements, a full Awlgrip job, a new head system, toe rails, a custom Sitka spruce mast, and custom cabinets. Among many other projects were the installation of an electric motor for a Herreshoff 121⁄2; the reconditioning of a Yanmar 4YL engine on a well-preserved 1959 Hodgdon launch; a new stem and forefoot for a 76' wooden motoryacht; and new motor mounts, shaft alignment, and a rebuilt gear box for a 36' Stanley. The Rockport yard was recognized as one of 1,200 nationwide companies in the Safety & Health Awards Recognition Program (SHARPS), for its level of voluntary safety compliance. www.yachtingsolutions.com; 207-236-8100.

As usual, the last word goes to Doug Zurn, of ZURN YACHT DESIGN in Marblehead, Massachusetts, who summed up the year past, and the one to come: “With the doom and gloom of these economic times lingering the vast majority of the year, I’m happy to say it looks as though ZYD has dodged another bullet. There’s a real advantage in running a tight ship, especially in the downturns. We were blessed with several new design challenges in 2009 and some ongoing work. The latter consisted of design work for ShannonElder Yachts of Port Townsend, Washington, which began tooling the Inland-Sound 48 in the fall of 2008, only to put it on hold for better economic times. The design work continued in both 3-D and 2-D to ensure that every detail of the boats intricacies will fit and function, and we look forward to picking up with the build-out on this cruiser. Nine new MJM 40zs were built in 2009, with more in the order books. We have two refits in the works, one being Black Knight—an ex. America’s Cup committee boat—and the other a Dickes-designed Pettegrow 44. New designs included a pair of 30' tenders, one center-console and one dive boat, for an expedition yacht. We’re looking forward to designing more sailboats, comparable to the Bruckmann 42 we did a few years back. Smooth sailing.” www.zurnyachts.com; 781-639-0678.

More Boats! You can keep current with fine new boats and notable rebuilds from Maine and beyond in two ways: Online at the “Just Launched” section of our website (www.maineboats.com); and in person at the annual August MAINE BOATS, HOMES & HARBORS SHOW, August 13-15, 2010.