Happie
by Merf
C
lassic wooden yachts with names Happie followed, and recently he preferred. The major objection to wood is such as Elco and Trumpy are of a acquired a 1956 42-foot Matthews just its high maintenance cost. Wilson maintime and yet, are timeless. A boat to keep his hand in. Like most classic tains that wood has gotten a bum rap! like Happie, Dan Wilson’s 39-foot 1932 boat restorations, Happie is a continuous But is this position totally valid? Wilson Warner raised-deck cruiser, catches our work in progress. Helping Wilson on the questions the difference between paying a eye, kindles our dreams, and captures our Matthews are Steve Smith of Chesapeake crew to detail that plastic prize with having souls. These craft do indeed have a soul, as Yacht Service and Dominic Fiaschetti, your bright work maintained? Detailing they represent the efforts of naval architects, President, Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the is seasonal compared to say a complete builders, and a parade of varnish job every third Those of us who have taken on “project boats” may season. Comparative cost of craftsmen who have husbanded them through their have faced like tasks involving refilling an ever exthat once-a-decade Awlgrip life’s voyage. Wilson fits the panding hole in the water with more “boat units.” job for topsides, decks, latter category. and cabins of the modern Wilson started small with fiberglass boat versus a a 15-foot 1955 Penn Yan before progressing Antique & Classic Boat Society. more frequent paint out for a woody raises Wooden boat restoration parallels efthrough David, a 1933 33-foot Captain’s further questions. forts in antiques, historic buildings, and Gig; Destiny, a 1950 Chris 36-foot Sedan For my part, I have long wondered fine art. Those of us who have taken on Cruiser; Sakonnet, a 75-foot John Wells about the comparative cost of bottom work project boats may have faced like tasks motor yacht laid down in 1929 at Chance on a wooden boat versus a glass version. involving refilling an ever expanding hole Marine in Annapolis; and Victoria, a 1937 Bottom paint is a wash. Classic woody 54-foot Murray Peterson from Nyack, NY. in the water with more “boat units, but true restoration and ongoing maintenance Sakonnet is of particular interest, serving restoration belongs to those whose focus is often involve wood replacement. Sistering as his home afloat for some years, a base for antique and classic wooden yachts. or replacing ribs and strakes, once comConsider the challenge of finding his career as a syndicated radio broadcaster, monplace, is now intimidating. Well, how parts for an ancient flathead-six engine, and his time operating gourmet cruises. In much does it cost to strip a bottom done in or recasting bronze hardware emulating the early 1980s, she served as Clive Cusby blisters and replace the now potentially the original, or searching for parts to that sler’s search vessel in his quest to locate weakened builder’s hull lay-up schedule old cast iron Shipmate coal stove! Purists the Confederate ironclad ship Virginia with several layers of barrier coat? In the may be a hard-over bunch for such stuff, (ex-Merrimac) and the HMS Florida sunk final analysis, it is the absence of skilled but the real stigma to classic restoration is in the Newport News shipping channel. shipwrights that scares many away from Also, while with Sakonne,t Wilson served as wood. Wood has all but disappeared from wood. captain of the 104-foot 1925 Trumpy-built construction, except for furniture veneers Wilson sees several more serious chaland trim. Even topside bright work trim Presidential Yacht Sequoia (1980-81 and lenges to ongoing efforts in wood restorais under assault, with stainless and plastic again in 1997). tion. He sees the old guard fading away.
56 September 2009 PropTalk
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