Boat TETRIS

06 Sep 19:

We are changing homeports, moving the Gulf Squadron North to become the Atlantic Squadron, heading to the Tidewater region. So Boat TETRIS begins! The initial plan was to load a 26 foot UHaul with as many Sunfish, Sailfish and Catfish as possible, maybe the Penobscot too, but Skipper came up with better plan of renting a Pods container and let someone else transport them. So scrap this plan for a 26 foot UHaul and adapt it to a 16 foot Pods container.

The Catfish trailer is at Eddie's getting the tongue shortened, total trailer length 15' so it will fit in the Pod. We will build a rack over the top of it for other boats.

We have 3 other trailers to move, For the Lugger, Day Sailer and Runabout. Edge will tow one, a Uhaul will tow another and the third tow vehicle is TBD, either UShip or Uhaul.

Fun!

Leathers 21 River Skiff BARBASHELA 08 Jul 19 Air Conditioned

08 Jul 19:

The folks at Beauvoir posted some nice pictures of BARBASHELA in her new air climate controlled home. Built in 1880, she was the pride and joy of Miss Winnie Davis and has since been a centerpiece of the Museum's collection. She is one of only a few personal belongings of the Davis family that survived post war ravages, and then Hurricane Katrina. She is also one of the oldest surviving small boats in America, predated by only a few craft. Once again she is available to entertain the visitors to the Museum, take a visit and ring the bell.

We'd like to thank everyone again who helped with technical advice and lended a hand for lifting, and to those who kindly donated funds to the cause. We are honored to have been entrusted with her care and restoration, and are excited as she turns the page to her newest chapter.

Independence Seaport Museum

20 Aug 19:

Spen the morning in Philadelphia checking out the action along the Delaware River. Nice Museum there that has small boat rentals.

Summer Slowdown - Time for Research!

23 Aug 19:

The Florida Summer has been wicked hot, so Skipper and I have been hiding indoors, but still managed to pick up summer colds. Miserable for several weeks, but getting better. As a result, small boating and working on shop projects have been almost non existent while we wait for cooler temps. We did get out to the shop to take some pictures for an upcoming article in Small Boats Magazine on our new toy, the Dust Deputy. It is a centrifugal particle separator that hooks in line to our Shop Vac, works great. More info on that in the September issue! Lots of other good articles to read in the meantime. As a result of the photo shoot, I may have accidentally finished sanding WAVE's bottom, and now we are ready to start fiberglass repairs.

August has been a good time for research though, we are researching the current day status of the 1820s race boat AMERICAN STAR, a specially designed 27 foot 4 oared gig that raced the Manhattan area of New York. Crew of five. She is currently preserved outside of Paris at the estate of General Lafayette, she was given to him in 1825 as he finished his tour of the United States, all 24 of them. She popped up recently in an article in Chasse-Maree Issue 302, and their staff has been very helpful in sharing information with us. Blog post soon on the boat.

"En 1824, le marquis de La Fayette revient aux États-Unis, invité par son cinquième président, James Monroe. Après un séjour où se succèdent fêtes et hommages, en souvenir de l’aide qu’il a jadis apportée aux Insurgents américains, il se voit offrir une célèbre yole, American Star. L’auteur a retrouvé ce bateau dont il nous conte l’histoire et nous explique les performances."
American Star. LA YOLE DE LA FAYETTE. Par Francois Casalis.

For More Information: Chasse-Maree no. 302

We also are continuing to gather information on the Navy Curtiss Flying Boat NC-4, rounding up some old photos. We purchased this one, it was interesting to note the wedges ahead of the front wheels on the railway dolly, they helped clear sand away from the railway as the dolly went down the ramp. Before they came up with the wedge idea, Sailors would be out in the water with shovels trying to keep the rails clear. The smaller dolly on top of the railway dolly had wheels that castered 360 degrees, useful for moving the aircraft inside of their new hangars at Rockaway, well, 2 of the NCs anyway...somehow the measurements were off and only 2 of the 4 aircraft could be hangared. And take a look at the planking lines on the hull up by the bow, there is indication of the reverse curve design that Herreshoff was able to build, the other NCs did not have it but rather had a flat hull up forward. We think that curve helped with takeoff performance and reduced pounding during both takeoff and landing.

Clark will be traveling to Bristol, Rhode Island and giving a presentation at the Herreshoff Maritime Museum September 18th, reception starts at 6 p.m..
FMI: Events

Another rabbit trail led us off in search of information on a beautiful picture taken by Benjamin Mendlowitz for the cover of WoodenBoat Issue 209.

Turns out she is the Gil Smith design MADIGAN, lines taken from SENAD. She is owned by Donn Costanzo, owner/operator of Wooden Boatworks in Greenport, NY. Copies of the beautiful photo can be ordered by scrolling through covers on Benjamin's website: https://www.woodenboatscalendar.com/woodenboatcovers.html

Cheers!
Clark and Skipper

Leathers 21 River Skiff BARBASHELA 23 Jul 19 Airborne

06 Aug 19:

We restored the 1880s Mississippi River Skiff BARBASHELA back in 2016 for the Beauvoir Museum, she was moved inside to her new berth during the last part of July. She is the only surviving example of a skiff from that era, commonly used as tenders for steamboats. She was designed by Captain Thomas P. Leathers of the steamboat(s) Natchez, built on the deck of the Natchez and gifted to Ms. Winnie Davis of Biloxi. One of the things added for Winnie's comfort was floorboards, most skiff of that time were working skiffs and the bottom would have been open to scoop oysters, etc. She rows great, carries well and it is a treat to run her up on a beach and step right out onto the sand. Solid cypress, originally fasted with square nails. 21 feet long, 526 pounds. We used cypress from a local mill, silicone bronze, muslin, thickened epoxy and caulking cotton to get her back ship shape over a 10 month period.

We were happy to see that she is good shape and they are still using the cradle that we designed for her, it provides great support to her rockered hull and can easily roll around on furniture dollies. She also still has her bell, we hope all the kids get to ring it.

(Images Credit BEAUVOIR).

Log of BARBASHELA.

Fred's Penobscot 14 DEJA VU TOO For Sale $3500

When we started building our Penobscot 14 I was lucky enough to find a local gent who had built 2. I went to visit and got to see his beautiful craft Deja Vu Too. Seems his first P14 is missing in action after Hurricane Ivan swept it from underneath his house. Maybe we'll find it someday but that is another story.

So Fred built the second P14 and it went out to Madisonville, LA and won the Best Sailboat Award there. His boats are used almost daily, he loves to row and has put over 1200 miles on them around his backyard bay. Deja Vu Too got a new interior finish on the planks and stringers after a mildew attack, and she still looks stunning. Fred used oak,mahogany and spanish cedar for the seats and rail cap. He made the oars out of cherry and built a nice rowing station as well.

(image credit: Fred)

(image credit Fred)

Fred also built a nice motor launch as well, which won the Best Of Show Award at Madisonville.

And he dabbles in Weekend Skiff variants.

Here are a few detail shots to help out fellow P14 builders. Enjoy!

She has a nice gunter rig with sails by Schurr Sails Pensacola.

Fred is asking $3500 USD for DEJA VU TOO. She is in Milton, Florida. If interested, post a comment or send us an email to our profile account.