March 2008

Dear Friends,

I am in North Carolina for the launching of Innisfail, formerly El Presidente, Contract No.242, the 1939 Trumpy built for Joseph M. Cudahy, owned by Frank Lynch of Charleston. There has been so much going on in Florida that I though being here was going to be laid back in comparison and boy was I wrong.

Nathan Smith and a crew of about 15 people are working everywhere. Electricians, plumbers, welders, painters, canvas, carpenters and the yacht’s crew are crawling all over the boat getting it ready for the count down.

I just stepped back and watched. Nathan Smith, my brother in law and partner has made the final transformation, from apprentice to carpenter to master to lead carpenter to project manager and now to managing a shipyard. He has made me very proud. This is our one-year anniversary coming up in North Carolina and every project, big and small, have been on time because Nathan and his crew made sure of it. Judy Currier, originally from Currier Hardwoods in Cape Cod, joined us at our North Carolina yacht center and is handling the business end. I am proud to have my family name on the door.

Nathan and his crew rebuilt areas of Innisfail, including her top deck and removed the main saloon interior and re-paneled with matching teak plywood from local Atlantic Veneer materials from Beaufort.

Mark Spillane, the owner of Coconuts, a 75-foot Trumpy yacht originally named Jimiana came up with the idea on how to do the Trumpy exposed beams on the ceiling of Innisfail and Mark’s idea worked, check the photos. The old modern smokestack was replaced with a new old-style steamer stack. Wilmington, N.C. naval architect Bruce Marek redesigned the front of the pilothouse, check plans, and our carpenter Skip executed it to perfection. She also has a new deck awning with buff canvas covers, newly caulked foredeck and bench seats changed to 1939 style as well as a new staircase and banister that takes her back to an earlier era. The list goes one.

This project was done in four months, including varnish and paint of all of the above, fighting all kinds of winter storms, cold snaps, you name it.

Innisfail’s owner, Frank Lynch, has a sense of humor second to none, he can have you in stitches, but is serious about what he wants. He told us, “I want the Innisfail to be returned to her original grandeur.” He has done just that with authentic art deco furnishings from the 1920s and 1930s. The light sconces alone cost more than all the furniture in my house combined. Even the lettering for the transom is to be true to the original style. You have got to love this man and his vision.

Stephanie and Judy have gotten the office finished and it’s really beautiful. In the middle of the shop is the deckhouse from the 1212 Trumpy Ibis, totally restored and saving the house is a story its own.

Five or so years ago, Don Thibeault and Jon Meek went down to save parts of the Ibis from demolition at a boatyard where she has been sitting for many years. It took a crane and a flatbed truck and we’ve been moving it from place to place at our Florida shop. Then finally, we shipped her to North Carolina and erected a metal building around her. It was too bad that we were not able to save the whole yacht, but the Ibis does live on here.

This season in Florida, the 75-foot Consolidated Justice had here teak foredeck replaced. Jeff Kramer flew to Montauk last summer to make the deck patterns. The deck was constructed before she arrived back in Florida. Last year was a big refit year for Justice. Replace the entire foredeck might sound major but it wasn’t. Don Thibeault and Jeff Kramer preformed the work in the water. It came out so beautifully that Captain Bryan Akers had all the metal re-chromed to keep up with the new teak deck. Every time I see Justice, it puts a smike on my face. I hope you get a chance to see here before she heads North starting April 1.

Another yacht heading north is the S.S. Sophie. She is on her way to MMYC for a quick haulout for a couple of minor projects and a bottom paint job and then she off to the Chesapeake and beyond for the summer. Next on deck is the Stately Lady and then there is mystery Trumpy, 45 feet, headed on her way up.

In Florida, it’s Emma, Bill Jenkins 58 foot 1960 Trumpy’s time for a new worm shoew and a few new thru hulls, paint and then back to the West Coast of Florida.

The 102 foot John Alden schooner Summerwind is coming along very well. We are removing the topside planking and installing all new ribs. Jon and the crew have 81 planks on the bottom, the galley cabinets, the tanks, the plumbing and electrical are all moving along great. We are very proud and very fortunate to have such a fine crew at both places.

Before I go, I have two stories to share. The first is very sad, about Mike Doyle, aka “Epoxy Mike.” A few weeks ago, late at night, Mike was heading back to his boat and he slipped on the dock, hit his head and slid in the water and passed away.

Mike was 51 years old. He was a part of Moores Marine since 1986, when we started. He loved Trumpy yachts and played a major part in 20 refits. Mike didn’t say much but he taught many of the carpenters who are still working with us today. He was a great friend and a great man and we all miss him very much. There are many photos of Mike on mooresmarine.com.

On a lighter note, we came up with our logo back in early 1980s and it had a sailing ship on the first one. The oval has stayed the same over the years but the boats and yachts in the center have changed. In the last few years, I see the oval everywhere. But when I saw it on plumbing and law maintenance trucks, I decided it was time for a change. I asked Stephen Kniepp, our artist, if he could come up with some new ideas. We had decided the yard would have the trumpet pennant. Stephen showed up with a prototype and said “What do you think.” My reaction was “Wow.” But Stephen wasn’t finished. “The round background is the life ring, it symbolizes all the old boats you have saved. The “M” pennant is for the south and the trumpet is for the north and they cross in the middle, and that symbolizes the connection,” I said. I was sold at “wow.” I will never look at a sign the same way. We had our signs made by Harbor Specialties in Beaufort. He did such a great job that he is also making the new ones for Florida.

Until next time,


Jim.