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View Full Version : 21rst Wooden Boat Show at Mystic



jl1962
07-01-2012, 08:50 AM
Yesterday a buddy and I went to Mystic Seaport for the Wooden Boat Show. The show is organized by WoodenBoat Magazine - a terrific publication. There is always a mix of industry participants, builders, foundations and private owners. And of course the Seaport itself is an amazing place. Here are some of my highlights.

I'll start w/ the Charles Morgan, over 170 years old and in the middle of a 5 year restoration. The Morgan, the last American whaling ship, hopes to be relaunched and sailing by 2014. The ship will be about 15% original by completion - which is quite high for this type of project. The Seaport has been stockpiling wood for years. Anytime old growth trees are felled by weather events, the Seaport is there to help clean up if they can keep the wood. They harvested a lot of wood from Katrina for instance. The restoration is a mix of hi-tech and old school. They are using X-rays, Lasers and digital imaging to document every single piece of the ship - yet all of the work is being done using traditional methods. I was amazed by how closely spaced the ship's frames are - the boat is practically solid wood!

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jl1962
07-01-2012, 09:02 AM
A few more of the Morgan and some of the Seaport's lumber supply. BTW - a pile of wood is called a flitch - who knew? Sucker that I am, I purchased two trunnels (variation of treenails) that will be used in the restoration.

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jl1962
07-01-2012, 09:15 AM
Several 100 year old Herreschoff vessels. Many of these boats are owned by foundations. They are too valuable and require too much care to be privately owned. But it is great to see them still sailing. Pictured are a Fisher's Island 31 and a Newport 29. The lenghth referred to is the waterline length. Also pictured is the yawl Aida formerly owned by Maynard Bray.

Also pictured is a lovely Concordia yawl designed by a young Ray Hunt. Google Ray Hunt if you don't know about his contributions to yacht design.......(Hint: the deep V hull, Bertram, Boston Whaler etc...)

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jl1962
07-01-2012, 09:24 AM
A beautiful Rybovich and a Fairform Flyer. The owner of the Rybo gave my friend and me a guided tour. If you were ANYBODY in the '50s or '60s and cared about deep sea fishing - you owned a Rybovich. Hemingway, for instance, owned one. Rybovich innovations included the tuna tower, fighting chair, transom door to name but a few. Talk about a marque of distinction, the owner told us about Rybovich owner's reunions and showed us a remarkable coffee table sized book detailing each of the boats constructed, their owners, history etc..... Very passionate - just like Donzi owners :wink:.


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Offset
07-01-2012, 09:31 AM
Thank you for sharing the pictures. There is just something romantic if you will about these vessels. Wooden Boat Magazine is indeed a great one.

Sounds like a great place to visit.:thumbsup:

jl1962
07-01-2012, 09:32 AM
A nice Lyman and a PennYan.

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jl1962
07-01-2012, 09:40 AM
A Firefly dinghy, once an Olympic class, designed by Uffa Fox (a nutty Englishman who invented the planing sailboat and taught a young Prince Charles how to sail among other accomplishments) and a lovely new rowing dory - dig the musical inlays!

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jl1962
07-01-2012, 09:45 AM
Cocktail Class racers. These things looked like a ton of fun. I think they had a demonstration at some point, but not when we were there.

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jl1962
07-01-2012, 09:55 AM
Beautiful 1930 17' Chris Craft runabout (check the license plate) and a 1959 Century Coronado.

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jl1962
07-01-2012, 10:02 AM
Captain Nat Herreschoff's personal Alerion, 100 years old. A lovely daysailor that is still in production today. It must kill the good folks at the Herreschoff Musuem in Bristol that this hugely historic treasure ended up at Mystic!


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jl1962
07-01-2012, 10:04 AM
Another Pumpkin! Perhaps the one we are more familiar with (or its owner :wink:) will end up in a musuem one day.

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jl1962
07-01-2012, 10:07 AM
My cat and my Laser. Neither of which will end up in a museum!

Enjoy.

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Jraysray
07-01-2012, 02:29 PM
Been to Mystic 4 times. All during winter! :mad:

Inferno
07-01-2012, 04:34 PM
If your still there go to Stonington Village where I grew up and go to Skippers Dock restaurant. The best seafood and the town is one of the oldest fishing towns in the US. Cobbled streets and homes with widow walks on them. Go down to the point and you can see 3 states ..NY ,Conn and RI. If you need more places to go call me 404-4064700. Stan

CHACHI
07-02-2012, 06:09 AM
Jay, thanks for the photo of the Penn Yann Swift. Dad used to pull me behind one when I was a kid.

Ours was the same color scheme.

That wasn't for sale, was it?

Ken

jl1962
07-02-2012, 06:32 AM
Ken -

Not that I noticed.

But I Googled the name on the life buoy. Ross Brothers looks like a restoration shop in Florence, Mass. Telephone is 413 586-3875 http://www.rossbros.com/frames.htm. Give 'em a shout - I've always thought that EVERY boat is for sale at the right price!

And it sure was cool. :cool!:

-Jay

jl1962
07-02-2012, 06:36 AM
Ken -

Your PM box is full, but I emailed the pictures.

-Jay

mattyboy
07-19-2012, 12:11 PM
must have a been alot of stuff to see and take in with the show there. we just got back from mystic, we were afforded a look at the "backroom" and then we spent the day walking the grounds taking in all the exhibits. really is a neat place with some awesome exhibits and historical artifacts. the walk thru the morgan was pretty cool.

jl1962
07-19-2012, 12:42 PM
The "back room" is very cool. What is actually on display outside represents only about 1/3 of what they have. The rest is in a huge wharehouse across the street. Lots of old engines (inboard, outboard, steam, naptha etc...), lots of old yacht club launches (Nevins, Hinckley etc...), lots of old one-designs (Lightning #1, Laser #1, etc...). The plan, pre-recession was to fundraise and bulid an arena sized indoor exhibition space so they could show a lot of the smaller stuff year round. Unfortunately, their timing was off and I don't believe they got very far.

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Did you see the Ski Sporter model? Someone told me it is not on display.