Posts
Dear friends,
It seems that the only time that I have to write a letter is when I am flying from one place to another. I just missed my flight so I have plenty of time for this one.
So where to start? At the Wooden Boat Show in Beaufort, there were 39 to boats. Two Trumpy yachts, a Garwood, a Hackercraft and a Hershoff, plus many more. There was a boat building challenge during the show and two carpenters from Moores Marine Yacht Center (MMYC), Skip and Danny, entered the contest. They beat the world record by 44 seconds. So now the truth can be known, MMYC has the fastest dinghy builders anywhere. It’s too bad we aren’t in the dinghy business or are we? Hanging in the Myron building is the prized golden caulking gun award. It was really fun.
Jacqueline, Contract 399, built in 1961 for William Pugh is now in our small project shop. The 47-foot little Aurora is a “Back from the Dead” project. It’s our boat and you know what they say about shoemakers and their children. Nathan Smith, Alex Willis and the crew are replacing her main bulkhead and cabin sides, frames and planks and the list goes one. As I’ve said before, she’s big enough and small enough. So back to the dinghy.
Back in 2000, I worked with a naval architect on a pet project I have been dreaming of, the Trumpet, little powered launches. Little boats with appointments inspired by the masters. But this story started on a trip in 1978 to Nova Scotia. I had gone to buy a motor from Arcadia Foundry, a make and brake engine they built there back then. Make and brake was old school technology from the early 1900s. With money in hand, we drove to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, with a boat trailer in tow.
We arrived on Saturday and much to my surprise the foundry was closed. We would have to wait until Monday. If you have never been to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, it’s an amazing place. We ditched the trailer and drove every nook there, stopping and talking along the way. An elderly man we spoke to pointed to the third peninsula and told us we shouldn’t miss it. I asked how we got there and he stuck out his finger “that way” and off we went.
Canada paves their roads to the width that the road is used. The roads were wide enough for one car so we drove down slowly. As we rounded a corner, there sat the most beautiful 26-feet black hull. The closer we came, the more our eyes opened. Then we saw the “For Sale” sign. We had to stop. Sitting blocked up was a Baby Bluenose. She was truly amazing even without sails. Motor in the middle, she was set up as scallop dragger with four-feet drags and lathes on each side. Walking around and around her, the little details were amazing such as the hooked bow, the bulwarks, the taff rail around the tucked transom.
No one was home, so we went down to some wooden sheds in a cove with yacht schooners. It was just magical. My old friends Steve Ryer and Bram Williamson and I met a man in one of the sheds. Steve started talking with his thickest Lubec accent and the man had an equally thick Novie accent. You would have thought we were in another country. Within minutes, we were helping him carry the masts and boom outside to him rig the boat.
When we asked about the little boat, the man looked at us and said, “That’s a Vernon Langille original.” She was a Tancook scalloper. The short, rather than long, on this story was that when career fishing captains and crew came to shore for the last time, no longer able to work the big schooners, they wanted boats they could use to fish along the coast. Since the 166-foot Bluenose, launched in 1921, was the most famous, for both racing and fishing, many of them would get Mr. Langille to build a baby version, from 25 to 35 feet long. These were great sea boats. However, in-shore fishing changed and faster and faster, and wider boats became the fashion.
“Those little boats are a part of our history,” the man said. We headed out the road, still no one was home.
We drove out the road, a little further. It had narrowed down to a mere path. There was a neat, little house with a small boat shop in the backyard. The doors were open and Steve hopped out. Bent over in the corner was an older man stooped over a grinder. When Steve touched the man’s shoulder, he jumped. This wasn’t a good way to start a conversation. He shouted us to get out and point the way out. I stepped forward and apologized.
I told him we were interested in the little baby Bluenose up the road. With a stern look, he asked us, “Do you know who built her?” I told him Vernon Langille. He looked a little shocked but then his tone softened. He was Mr. Langille’s son. The ice was broken and for the next three hours, he told us the history of the Tancook Islands, Big and Little, the families, the sea, whaling, and the area’s decline. I told him that we lived right near Canada, in Lubec, Maine. We had come to buy a motor to put in a dory I was building. He said he didn’t like the man who had the baby Bluenose his father built. He talked me into buying her, myself.
He reached under his work bench and pulled out a half model and handed it to me. “Don’t build dories, build one of them,” he said. That was it. I had to take her home with me.
When we headed back to the boat, this time, someone was home. With my heart pounding, we drove up in the door yard and we were met by the owner. This is a small town. He already knew that we had come up from Maine to buy a motor. The bad thing was he knew how much a make and brake cost. It was amazing because he was selling it at about cost. Steve Ryer stepped in with his best broke Maine accent, started talking. I brought him along because he’s a good haggler as well as good company. It turned out that Steve’s dad had bailed the man out when he needed some parts when a machine broke down at his sardine factory. So he dropped his price down to $500. “Sold,” I said. We loaded her up and as we were ready to drive out of town, a big man in a pickup truck honked at us until we stopped. He got out like he was a policeman. He walked around our truck and asked us a lot of questions. Then he said, “Do you want to see the real thing?” We didn’t know what he was talking about. There was a pause. “The Bluenose, the big one,” he said. It turned out he was the curator of the Lunenberg Atlantic Fisheries Museum. In the museum, there was a Langille scalloper under restoration. She was really old compared to mine.
Over the years, I gave the half model to an aspiring young boat builder in Campobello, Canada. As for the baby Bluenose, one hard Maine winter I was forced to sell her and never saw her again. That was a long time ago.
In March, up in North Carolina, when we were getting ready to launch the Innisfail. Alex Willis and I walked around her, admiring her lines. He has built 100 plus boats, from 25 to 85 feet, from sportsfish to U.S. Coast Guard approved head boats. But when I asked him whether he thought we could build a launch that beautiful but only 21 to 25 feet, he thought I was kidding. He said he never has, “but that don’t mean nothing.” He took another long look at Innisfail’s knuckle and her complex wine glass transom and said he might have to think about it for a while.
When I got back to Florida, I laminated some cedar and carved a half model. It has been quite a while since I’ve done that and I was a little rusty, but it’s like riding a bicycle. With the ideas roughed out, I handed it off to Bruce Marek, a naval architect/marine engineer, to design. Now, I am like a kid waiting for Christmas morning, waiting for the plans to arrive.
After the first one is built, there will be three versions, electric, 26 HP and 113 hp, four to five knots, four to eight knots and four to 25 knots. A putter, a sipper and a flyer. The hulls will be constructed of eastern Atlantic cedar and composites, light and strong.
These launches will be built in the spirit of Vernon Langille, to capture the essence of the great yachts of yesteryear but on a smaller scale. I want them to be so beautiful that you might just want to put them in your living room. I have three sold and the plans aren’t finished. I haven’t worked out the costs so I am not taking orders yet, but maybe at the end of the summer.
So why am I on a plane. Stephanie, Nathaniel and I were invited to the re-commissioning ceremony for Innisfail in Charleston. She is now ready for charters and I have included a copy of the local paper’s story on the event.
I love Charleston. Besides, it was like visiting old friends. Blue Moon, the 67’ cockpit Trumpy, Contract 409 built in 1963 is like an old friend. We did a major on her in 1998 and 1999. Then there is Wishing Star, with Capt. Bret and Roberta Todd. They have done great things with her. She had fallen into disrepair in previous ownership and it takes a lot to play catch up but they have. Then, there is the Innisfail. The crew has been busy with paint and varnish and changing the little things. Innisfail’s owners, Frank and Linda Lynch, have impeccable taste. The yacht’s furnishings fit the era. We are planning to update her photos on our website so look under Innisfail under the projects’ pages. There is also a link to the yacht’s website, www.yachtinnisfail.com.
Finally, let me tell you about the Summerwind project. She is coming along well. We have put a “Big Top” building over the project and what a difference that has made. It’s still hot, but we are out of the Florida sun and summer rain and that’s been great. I have enclosed photos. In our little paint shed, is a 40-foot, triple cockpit Garwood with twin 550 gas engines. We are refinishing her decks, stripping caulking, match staining and varnishing. Bernard is doing a great job as always.
Until next time,
Jim Moores
P.S. My plane is finally here.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Saturday, April 5, 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
January 2008
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! December has come and gone so fast!
Getting to Ocean Reef for Vintage Weekend was frantic. The varnish was drying on the John Trumpy Award as I loaded it in the truck for the drive. Stephen is a true artist and I had to almost pry it from his hands. Bernard our painter, sprayed each part and Don T. did the fastening together. My job was simply to deliver and present it. Ocean Reef presented the first John Trumpy Award in 2005. Since this is the Southeast's premier antique and classic show it is only fitting that the award match the event. It was graciously accepted and will mark this occasion hopefully for many years to come. Enclosed is a photo.
December is a frantic month at Moores Marine. Everyone who works for me knows that Jim is a mad man, especially during the holidays. Pick up your pace or move out of the way. That is no joke! It went like this: Kip finished the stem welding, Jon and George installed the sheer clamps at the stem and installed the ribs above the top sides. Kip and Dave built the aft tank supports and lock downs. Hopal and Rich finished the last bottom ribs. The engine room was stripped and we started installing high-tech sound dampening, and then the planking with Jimmy, Mike, Hopal and Rich. At the shop, we had to prepare for our annual Christmas party and take inventory before we could shut down. Then, it was getting in the car and off we went to North Carolina for Christmas, some 880 miles.
It took me three days to slow down once I got to North Carolina but it was very much worth it. Our neighbors L.J. and Mary Hardy have adopted our family. I hope their real family isn't jealous. They had us over for Christmas dinner and two days later made a feast of shrimp and oysters. Stephanie swears that the shrimp out of the Pamlico Sound are the best that she has ever had, even compared to shrimp from Key West and Biloxi, Mississippi. As for me, well I think I need to taste a lot more!
Across the street from our cottage is the ark, an 80-90 foot boat that was started 20 years or so ago and has grown into the trees. She is listing to starboard and leaning into the woods. The boat among the trees is how we found South River, L.J. and Miss Mary and the house we own on the river. It is a little sad that the ark is slowly going away. She caught my eye and made me stop long enough to see the beauty of South River. While I am still talking about North Carolina, I have to mention how proud I am of Nathan Smith, my brother-in-law. He has made M.M.Y.C. come to life. With the Innisfail project in full swing, we made a postcard of what and who M.M.Y.C. has been up to since opening in April. I think that when you see it you will agree it's impressive.
To me the holidays are to remember good friends here and those who are now gone. I want to share a story that makes me smile every time I tell it, about my great, late, friend Burt Willcox, so here goes! It was 1978 or 79 in Maine. The penny jar was empty, my mom Jacqueline Moores came to town (Lubec, Me). I had built an apartment in the old wood loft of my boat shop. The R.S. Colson Boat Works. She showed up with presents from Boulder, Colorado. She knew it was cold and she went to Eddie Bauer and bought German duck down comforters for my family and for me a beautiful goose down jacket. This jacket was too nice to work in so it hung by the door most of the time. One day in the spring Burt, my neighbor and friend, came pounding on the door. I got up, it was 5:30 a.m. maybe 6:00 a.m. "Burt" I said "What's wrong?" With a mischievous look in his eyes he said, "Jesus, Jimmy, we are going egging. Let's go"! It was too early for me to question him so I got dressed and put on my new jacket, hopped in Burt's truck and headed out on the road towards South Lubec.
As we went up over the hill on South Lubec Road, Burt's three-speed jammed and I had to lay on the ground to get the linkage unjammed. As I crawled out from under the truck my new jacket was no longer that new. We passed the dump and turned on to the Pike's land. We drove to where the road ended. There was Quobe Cove in front of us. Burt got out and handed me two peck, clam-carrier baskets. I looked at Burt "egging???" I was barely awake. Burt pointed to a path and instructed me to go up on the granite cliffs and pick up seagull eggs. They were fresh, he said. I looked at Burt but he was so matter of fact that off I went while he waited. Burt was a little old to climb granite. Climbing up the path and the cliff was easy since I was in my twenties, then. There were hundreds of nests. Now Maine has the biggest seagulls I have ever seen. They are twice, maybe even three times as large as southern gulls. So when I came up on the cliff tops all the birds took off. This was going to be easy. So I thought until I put my hands on the first egg then it was more like Hitchcock's "The Birds". They came down and bit me so I pulled my coat over my head. Now I was running from nest to nest with the gulls pecking my back. The more nests I touched, the madder the birds became. I filled the two peck baskets and ran down the narrow path. I was hot and scared from the run and kept looking back. When I got to the truck it was running. I set the eggs in the back and we drove away. It was finally quiet. Burt asked, "Were there lots of eggs? I looked at him and said, "Jesus, Burt those birds almost ate me alive"! Burt looked at me and said, "Son, those eggs are worth the effort".
We got back to the shop and I got out and walked into the shop. Burt came after me, "Don't you want your eggs?" The sun was rising, so I thought I would make breakfast for everybody still asleep. Getting the frying pan warm, I scrambled up the eggs and poured them into the pan. I thought I would make omelets. As the eggs cooked, they had a gamey smell to them. The coffee was on and when they were ready I put some of Burt's smoked herring in to cook. I took a big bite. As the omelet touched my tongue, there was a horrible taste in my mouth. I could not swallow, it was that bad. I called Burt, madder than a hornet. "Burt, those eggs are horrible and this was a bad joke"! Burt said, "Well how did you cook them?" So I told him, then there was a long pause. Then he said "Did you separate the yokes and just keep the eggs whites? Jim you know that they make the best meringue pie"! I never went egging again. If I had asked Burt what egging was about I may have never went. I sewed up the holes in the back of my jacket and I started walking every cold day to work until it was warm out. Burt's wife Dotty heard the story, so she baked me one of the best meringue pies I ever had. I have told this story many times, old Burt taught me many things and I still miss him. I think of all the great people I have met through the years and adventures I've had during this time of year. Almost every time I sit down to have eggs for breakfast I just smile and shake my head thinking of old Burt. So if I ever say have I told you my egging story, you can say "Burt Willcox right??
Until next time,
Jim Moores
Happy New Year! December has come and gone so fast!
Getting to Ocean Reef for Vintage Weekend was frantic. The varnish was drying on the John Trumpy Award as I loaded it in the truck for the drive. Stephen is a true artist and I had to almost pry it from his hands. Bernard our painter, sprayed each part and Don T. did the fastening together. My job was simply to deliver and present it. Ocean Reef presented the first John Trumpy Award in 2005. Since this is the Southeast's premier antique and classic show it is only fitting that the award match the event. It was graciously accepted and will mark this occasion hopefully for many years to come. Enclosed is a photo.
December is a frantic month at Moores Marine. Everyone who works for me knows that Jim is a mad man, especially during the holidays. Pick up your pace or move out of the way. That is no joke! It went like this: Kip finished the stem welding, Jon and George installed the sheer clamps at the stem and installed the ribs above the top sides. Kip and Dave built the aft tank supports and lock downs. Hopal and Rich finished the last bottom ribs. The engine room was stripped and we started installing high-tech sound dampening, and then the planking with Jimmy, Mike, Hopal and Rich. At the shop, we had to prepare for our annual Christmas party and take inventory before we could shut down. Then, it was getting in the car and off we went to North Carolina for Christmas, some 880 miles.
It took me three days to slow down once I got to North Carolina but it was very much worth it. Our neighbors L.J. and Mary Hardy have adopted our family. I hope their real family isn't jealous. They had us over for Christmas dinner and two days later made a feast of shrimp and oysters. Stephanie swears that the shrimp out of the Pamlico Sound are the best that she has ever had, even compared to shrimp from Key West and Biloxi, Mississippi. As for me, well I think I need to taste a lot more!
Across the street from our cottage is the ark, an 80-90 foot boat that was started 20 years or so ago and has grown into the trees. She is listing to starboard and leaning into the woods. The boat among the trees is how we found South River, L.J. and Miss Mary and the house we own on the river. It is a little sad that the ark is slowly going away. She caught my eye and made me stop long enough to see the beauty of South River. While I am still talking about North Carolina, I have to mention how proud I am of Nathan Smith, my brother-in-law. He has made M.M.Y.C. come to life. With the Innisfail project in full swing, we made a postcard of what and who M.M.Y.C. has been up to since opening in April. I think that when you see it you will agree it's impressive.
To me the holidays are to remember good friends here and those who are now gone. I want to share a story that makes me smile every time I tell it, about my great, late, friend Burt Willcox, so here goes! It was 1978 or 79 in Maine. The penny jar was empty, my mom Jacqueline Moores came to town (Lubec, Me). I had built an apartment in the old wood loft of my boat shop. The R.S. Colson Boat Works. She showed up with presents from Boulder, Colorado. She knew it was cold and she went to Eddie Bauer and bought German duck down comforters for my family and for me a beautiful goose down jacket. This jacket was too nice to work in so it hung by the door most of the time. One day in the spring Burt, my neighbor and friend, came pounding on the door. I got up, it was 5:30 a.m. maybe 6:00 a.m. "Burt" I said "What's wrong?" With a mischievous look in his eyes he said, "Jesus, Jimmy, we are going egging. Let's go"! It was too early for me to question him so I got dressed and put on my new jacket, hopped in Burt's truck and headed out on the road towards South Lubec.
As we went up over the hill on South Lubec Road, Burt's three-speed jammed and I had to lay on the ground to get the linkage unjammed. As I crawled out from under the truck my new jacket was no longer that new. We passed the dump and turned on to the Pike's land. We drove to where the road ended. There was Quobe Cove in front of us. Burt got out and handed me two peck, clam-carrier baskets. I looked at Burt "egging???" I was barely awake. Burt pointed to a path and instructed me to go up on the granite cliffs and pick up seagull eggs. They were fresh, he said. I looked at Burt but he was so matter of fact that off I went while he waited. Burt was a little old to climb granite. Climbing up the path and the cliff was easy since I was in my twenties, then. There were hundreds of nests. Now Maine has the biggest seagulls I have ever seen. They are twice, maybe even three times as large as southern gulls. So when I came up on the cliff tops all the birds took off. This was going to be easy. So I thought until I put my hands on the first egg then it was more like Hitchcock's "The Birds". They came down and bit me so I pulled my coat over my head. Now I was running from nest to nest with the gulls pecking my back. The more nests I touched, the madder the birds became. I filled the two peck baskets and ran down the narrow path. I was hot and scared from the run and kept looking back. When I got to the truck it was running. I set the eggs in the back and we drove away. It was finally quiet. Burt asked, "Were there lots of eggs? I looked at him and said, "Jesus, Burt those birds almost ate me alive"! Burt looked at me and said, "Son, those eggs are worth the effort".
We got back to the shop and I got out and walked into the shop. Burt came after me, "Don't you want your eggs?" The sun was rising, so I thought I would make breakfast for everybody still asleep. Getting the frying pan warm, I scrambled up the eggs and poured them into the pan. I thought I would make omelets. As the eggs cooked, they had a gamey smell to them. The coffee was on and when they were ready I put some of Burt's smoked herring in to cook. I took a big bite. As the omelet touched my tongue, there was a horrible taste in my mouth. I could not swallow, it was that bad. I called Burt, madder than a hornet. "Burt, those eggs are horrible and this was a bad joke"! Burt said, "Well how did you cook them?" So I told him, then there was a long pause. Then he said "Did you separate the yokes and just keep the eggs whites? Jim you know that they make the best meringue pie"! I never went egging again. If I had asked Burt what egging was about I may have never went. I sewed up the holes in the back of my jacket and I started walking every cold day to work until it was warm out. Burt's wife Dotty heard the story, so she baked me one of the best meringue pies I ever had. I have told this story many times, old Burt taught me many things and I still miss him. I think of all the great people I have met through the years and adventures I've had during this time of year. Almost every time I sit down to have eggs for breakfast I just smile and shake my head thinking of old Burt. So if I ever say have I told you my egging story, you can say "Burt Willcox right??
Until next time,
Jim Moores
Saturday, December 15, 2007
November 2007
Dear friends,
I’m trying to take advantage of the little time I have, so I'm writing this letter while I sit in airports in New Bern, NC., Atlanta, and home in West Palm Beach.
I just had a great week up in Beaufort, N.C. Moores Marine Yacht Center is doing great. Nathan Smith, my partner, brother-in-law and my friend, is doing a great job. The Justice project is wrapping up. She is a 1929 Consolidated.
I talked Richard Ramsay into opening a satellite office near our North Carolina yard and he has played an important role in this project. They have built a breakdown cradle and a stainless cutwater. A cutwater is a metal shield installed over a knife blade stem. They are form and function. This is no easy piece to make the angle changes as the curve of the stem drops down below the water. It’s about 10 feet long. Chip Parsans and Jim Thomason, with Ramsay Marine and Nathan, worked together to build and install it. The finished work is incredible. All the welds are filled and sanded and polished out. Bernard Smith, our head painter, flew up to North Carolina for three weeks to varnish and paint Justice. She is just about ready to go just one last thing is to fit her to her break down cradle.
I think cradles will be the wave of the future for antique and classic yachts. I know that is a big statement. Let me explain.
Through the years, I have received photos from Trumpy yachts in slings, proudly taken by owners and captains from Michigan to Maine, even from Italy. A lot them gave me heartburn.
Many of these photos show the same problem. The Travelifts are too small or don’t have enough strapped areas for the boats. It’s pretty simple. If you pick up a boat and a third of boat is in the strapped area and two-thirds of the boat are hanging out, something has to give such as broken frames, floors and chine logs. This is a long way to get to the point but what Justice’s cradle does is pretty much everything. It will not only fit into a Travelift for hauling and storage but most importantly, the owner can take his yacht anywhere he wants.
The next time she is hauled out, she will be lifted on all five of her structural bulkheads and over 60 feet of her 75 feet length will be supported. The cradle breaks down and fits on a trailer so it can be moved to wherever the yacht will be. It’s an investment that will insure longevity and safety of Justice. It’s a new way of thinking and I like it a lot.
Going to Beaufort is great. I came up to meet El Presidente. She has traveled close to 2,000 miles from Chicago to Beaufort, N.C. The other reason was the Boat Shop Bash. It happens every year at the North Carolina Maritime Museum’s beautiful boat shop, just over the water in downtown Beaufort. It had everything: Zydeco music, Cajun food, and great new friends.
The next day, I got a call from Capt. John on El Presidente. Nate and his crew met the boat at the dock to take in the lines. As I walked down to meet them, Dan Nyes, one of our carpenters was walking up the dock. As he walked past, he said, “God, she is beautiful.” I smiled and nodded. Shortly after she docked, a reporter from the Carteret County News-Times came down to mark the day.
Frank Lynch, El Presidente’s new owner, said the words I have always wanted to hear. “I want to take her back in time.” We are removing the flybridge/cabin top wrap and the modern stack and that is just the beginning. No building plans for the stack, no problem. I called Kevin Walters, who owns Lunetta, a 95-foot Trumpy in Marshalburg, N.C., to borrow his stack as a template. Ramsay borrowed it to make an exact Trumpy smoke stack. Later in the week, I had Nate, Capt. John and Bruce Marek, a naval architect, visit Lunetta, to study the pilothouse front. Mr. John Trumpy is still the designer 68 years later.
In 1939, El Presidente was built for Joseph Cadahy and her original name was Innisfail. But she was not the first Innisfail. Contract 228, the 85 foot 1935 Trumpy yacht now called Enticer was the original Innisfail. I would love to get those two Trumpy yachts together for a photo. It would make a great cover shot for a book. Hint, hint. I am sure that it will happen someday.
Sea Hammock, the 83’ Trumpy is sleeping while a master plan is worked out. We are putting together a great team for this project. When I woke up this morning, I didn’t want to leave North Carolina. When I hit the airport, I was already getting a little home sick but I had to remind myself I live in Florida. I told Stephanie this and she said she gets the same feeling every time she leaves Beaufort.
Heading back to Florida is like going into a bee hive. Moores Marine South is buzzing, no pun intended. Jon Meek is leading the charge on the Summerwind team and they have worked through the long hot summer and now they are working even harder since the temperature dropped. Niels Hellsbherg, the naval architect, has rejoined the Summerwind team. He brings an infinite amount of wisdom with more than 35 years as a naval architect with John Alden. I love working with great people because I can learn so much from them.
Don Thibealt has his finally got the cast off his hand and is heading up Coconut Southern project, a 28-foot Rybovich built in 1954 owned by Mark Spillane, who also owns Coconuts, the 1965 Trumpy formerly named Exact and Patience II, Contract 420 building as Jimiana for James L. Knight.
As I write this, Coconuts just arrived in Beaufort for a quick stop and then she’s off to Ocean Reef for Vintage Weekend. While I am on the subject, Craig and Hanna of Stuart, FL just stopped by the North Carolina yard this week. They plan to take Atlas, Contract 393, built for Ralph Atlas in 1960. Bill Iler, owner of Windrush, gave me a call as I was leaving North Carolina. He’s is on his way to Ocean Reef. I don’t it’s too late if you still want to bring your boat. Go to www.oceanreef.com for more information.
I have one last story to share. A few years back at Ocean Reef, at the final awards brunch, I received the first John Trumpy award. It was an absolutely unexpected honor and I proudly display it my office. This summer, artist Stephen Kneipp, and I started sketching and designing a plaque. We went through many different designs. Stephen even went into clay modeling. We finally agreed on a final design. I pulled a thick, beautiful plank of old growth African mahogany from my stacks and Stephen laid out the patterns. We had just enough wood. Carving and shaping and sanding seemed to take forever but Stephen is getting close. It will be unveiled at Ocean Reef this Vintage Weekend. It is our way of saying thank you to Ocean Reef for the good friends, great times and magic that happens the first weekend in December in Key Largo every year.
Until next time,
Jim Moores
I’m trying to take advantage of the little time I have, so I'm writing this letter while I sit in airports in New Bern, NC., Atlanta, and home in West Palm Beach.
I just had a great week up in Beaufort, N.C. Moores Marine Yacht Center is doing great. Nathan Smith, my partner, brother-in-law and my friend, is doing a great job. The Justice project is wrapping up. She is a 1929 Consolidated.
I talked Richard Ramsay into opening a satellite office near our North Carolina yard and he has played an important role in this project. They have built a breakdown cradle and a stainless cutwater. A cutwater is a metal shield installed over a knife blade stem. They are form and function. This is no easy piece to make the angle changes as the curve of the stem drops down below the water. It’s about 10 feet long. Chip Parsans and Jim Thomason, with Ramsay Marine and Nathan, worked together to build and install it. The finished work is incredible. All the welds are filled and sanded and polished out. Bernard Smith, our head painter, flew up to North Carolina for three weeks to varnish and paint Justice. She is just about ready to go just one last thing is to fit her to her break down cradle.
I think cradles will be the wave of the future for antique and classic yachts. I know that is a big statement. Let me explain.
Through the years, I have received photos from Trumpy yachts in slings, proudly taken by owners and captains from Michigan to Maine, even from Italy. A lot them gave me heartburn.
Many of these photos show the same problem. The Travelifts are too small or don’t have enough strapped areas for the boats. It’s pretty simple. If you pick up a boat and a third of boat is in the strapped area and two-thirds of the boat are hanging out, something has to give such as broken frames, floors and chine logs. This is a long way to get to the point but what Justice’s cradle does is pretty much everything. It will not only fit into a Travelift for hauling and storage but most importantly, the owner can take his yacht anywhere he wants.
The next time she is hauled out, she will be lifted on all five of her structural bulkheads and over 60 feet of her 75 feet length will be supported. The cradle breaks down and fits on a trailer so it can be moved to wherever the yacht will be. It’s an investment that will insure longevity and safety of Justice. It’s a new way of thinking and I like it a lot.
Going to Beaufort is great. I came up to meet El Presidente. She has traveled close to 2,000 miles from Chicago to Beaufort, N.C. The other reason was the Boat Shop Bash. It happens every year at the North Carolina Maritime Museum’s beautiful boat shop, just over the water in downtown Beaufort. It had everything: Zydeco music, Cajun food, and great new friends.
The next day, I got a call from Capt. John on El Presidente. Nate and his crew met the boat at the dock to take in the lines. As I walked down to meet them, Dan Nyes, one of our carpenters was walking up the dock. As he walked past, he said, “God, she is beautiful.” I smiled and nodded. Shortly after she docked, a reporter from the Carteret County News-Times came down to mark the day.
Frank Lynch, El Presidente’s new owner, said the words I have always wanted to hear. “I want to take her back in time.” We are removing the flybridge/cabin top wrap and the modern stack and that is just the beginning. No building plans for the stack, no problem. I called Kevin Walters, who owns Lunetta, a 95-foot Trumpy in Marshalburg, N.C., to borrow his stack as a template. Ramsay borrowed it to make an exact Trumpy smoke stack. Later in the week, I had Nate, Capt. John and Bruce Marek, a naval architect, visit Lunetta, to study the pilothouse front. Mr. John Trumpy is still the designer 68 years later.
In 1939, El Presidente was built for Joseph Cadahy and her original name was Innisfail. But she was not the first Innisfail. Contract 228, the 85 foot 1935 Trumpy yacht now called Enticer was the original Innisfail. I would love to get those two Trumpy yachts together for a photo. It would make a great cover shot for a book. Hint, hint. I am sure that it will happen someday.
Sea Hammock, the 83’ Trumpy is sleeping while a master plan is worked out. We are putting together a great team for this project. When I woke up this morning, I didn’t want to leave North Carolina. When I hit the airport, I was already getting a little home sick but I had to remind myself I live in Florida. I told Stephanie this and she said she gets the same feeling every time she leaves Beaufort.
Heading back to Florida is like going into a bee hive. Moores Marine South is buzzing, no pun intended. Jon Meek is leading the charge on the Summerwind team and they have worked through the long hot summer and now they are working even harder since the temperature dropped. Niels Hellsbherg, the naval architect, has rejoined the Summerwind team. He brings an infinite amount of wisdom with more than 35 years as a naval architect with John Alden. I love working with great people because I can learn so much from them.
Don Thibealt has his finally got the cast off his hand and is heading up Coconut Southern project, a 28-foot Rybovich built in 1954 owned by Mark Spillane, who also owns Coconuts, the 1965 Trumpy formerly named Exact and Patience II, Contract 420 building as Jimiana for James L. Knight.
As I write this, Coconuts just arrived in Beaufort for a quick stop and then she’s off to Ocean Reef for Vintage Weekend. While I am on the subject, Craig and Hanna of Stuart, FL just stopped by the North Carolina yard this week. They plan to take Atlas, Contract 393, built for Ralph Atlas in 1960. Bill Iler, owner of Windrush, gave me a call as I was leaving North Carolina. He’s is on his way to Ocean Reef. I don’t it’s too late if you still want to bring your boat. Go to www.oceanreef.com for more information.
I have one last story to share. A few years back at Ocean Reef, at the final awards brunch, I received the first John Trumpy award. It was an absolutely unexpected honor and I proudly display it my office. This summer, artist Stephen Kneipp, and I started sketching and designing a plaque. We went through many different designs. Stephen even went into clay modeling. We finally agreed on a final design. I pulled a thick, beautiful plank of old growth African mahogany from my stacks and Stephen laid out the patterns. We had just enough wood. Carving and shaping and sanding seemed to take forever but Stephen is getting close. It will be unveiled at Ocean Reef this Vintage Weekend. It is our way of saying thank you to Ocean Reef for the good friends, great times and magic that happens the first weekend in December in Key Largo every year.
Until next time,
Jim Moores
Saturday, October 6, 2007
October 2007
Dear friends,
We have had a very exciting month, to say the least. This month’s Professional Boatbuilder has Nathan and Mike on the cover and an in-depth article on our company. Aaron Porter, an editor and writer at the magazine came down and spent a couple days with us in South Florida. He was everywhere and spent time interviewing everyone. When I read the first proof, I found it humbling. It only took me 52 years to become an overnight success. I have sent copies to some of you but I ran out so I have enclosed copies.
In other news, I went on a great adventure on the northeast. That story will be on the web site under letters. It was going to be my next newsletter but there has been so much more going on that I changed mind.
On Summerwind, our schooner project, Jon Meek and crew have installed the stern post. We had to cut off the back part of the keel and the deadwood so the rudder, keel area is new.
Carpenter Don Thibeault, who many of you will remember from his many years at Rybovich Spencer, and Spencer before that, is made of some pretty tough stuff. He broke his wrist removing the shaft log on Stargazer and he was mad at himself because he couldn’t finish it because he had to miss a few days of work. After surgery, with his wrist in a cast, he’s back at work in restoration of a little Rybovich at our yard.
In North Carolina, I got a call from Capt. Jeff on the Sea Hammock, 83’ Trumpy yacht formerly called Eskimo. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just a friendly chat. She was just south of Beaufort, N.C. and there was serious duress in his voice. Cruising along just south of Swansboro, around Cherry Point bombing range, Sea Hammock struck something underwater while running in the middle of the channel. The stabilizer and the hull surrounding it broke free. Capt. Jeff did what was best for his ship, running it into a sandbank just ahead that jutted out in the channel. He placed her aground where the aft filled with water. She settled down right in the middle of the channel. Towboat and Capt. Rod and his crew covered the hole and pumped her out. I was in Florida but I told Capt. Jeff that Stephanie, Nathan and Jimmy Berkeley and crew were up there and could help and they did.
As Towboat pumped and patched, we were planning what to do with Sea Hammock’s engines. She has big Caterpillar engines with ZF transmissions. Our neighbor at the marine park include Gregory Poole Caterpillar dealer and ZF marine. Hoses, dehumidifiers and other stuff were already being prepared so I could call Jeff Fulcher, Jarrett Bay’s yard manager. I told him what I knew. It was a Saturday. I said Sea Hammock might be towed in around 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning. Jeff said, “Okay.” He didn’t even flinch. At 1 a.m., the slings were dropped in the water and slid under Sea Hammock and lifted her up just enough to hold her for the rest of the night. The next day, Nate would laser target Sea Hammock before hard lifting her. Nathan, like a rock, got everybody working on cleaning and preserving as many things as possible. When I flew in, they had everything under control. Looking at the Sea Hammock, my heart sank deep in my chest.
She is a grand houseboat, Contract 400, built for John Kimberly and launched as “Eskimo.” In the next few days, I was receiving calls like there had been a telegraph sent out in the Trumpy community. I repeated the same answers: “No, she is not cracked in two. No, she did not sink! She flooded aft.” The fact is most of the damage I could see was water damage. So if you hear a lot of nonsense, set things straight.
I know I’ve written about my concerns about stabilizers before. Trianon, for one, has moved her forward ones. I think it’s especially dangerous because it seems there’s less money spent on keeping waterways clear these days. I talked to Mark Spillane, the new owner of “Exact,” renamed “Coconuts” and we talked about stabilizers. Mark said, “ I don’t want them. Let’s get them out of there. They don’t work anyway, right?’ I said, “Not really. I should introduce everyone to Mark. He loves Trumpy yachts, Rybovich and big game hunting. He’s a self-made man who is tremendous fun to be around. I think he’s the type of young owner who will bring new life, with zest, to our community.
Someone else I want to introduce is Frank Lynch, who is famous in the world of Rock & Roll and is soon to be the proud owner of El Presidente. He plans to take her from Chicago to Charleston. So what makes Frank famous? You’ll just have to meet him. The guy speaks in a soft Irish/Scottish brogue that makes my wife swoon every time she talks to him, not that I’m jealous.
As for Joe Bartram, he loves Trumpy yachts, and I don’t see him too far from the water. His firm is celebrating its 40th anniversary soon and Joe’s been around these boats much longer than that.
Matt Howard won’t have El Presidente but he still has a schooner, the Allegro, his 1929 John Alden. If it wasn’t for Matt’s vision to structurally rebuild El President, she might not be here today. Thank you Matt, for your caring stewardship.
In closing, there’s going to be something very special that will be unveiled at Ocean Reef’s Vintage Weekend and only Vicki, Allen and I know. So it’s time to make plans to meet in Key Largo the first weekend in December.
Until next time,
Jim Moores
We have had a very exciting month, to say the least. This month’s Professional Boatbuilder has Nathan and Mike on the cover and an in-depth article on our company. Aaron Porter, an editor and writer at the magazine came down and spent a couple days with us in South Florida. He was everywhere and spent time interviewing everyone. When I read the first proof, I found it humbling. It only took me 52 years to become an overnight success. I have sent copies to some of you but I ran out so I have enclosed copies.
In other news, I went on a great adventure on the northeast. That story will be on the web site under letters. It was going to be my next newsletter but there has been so much more going on that I changed mind.
On Summerwind, our schooner project, Jon Meek and crew have installed the stern post. We had to cut off the back part of the keel and the deadwood so the rudder, keel area is new.
Carpenter Don Thibeault, who many of you will remember from his many years at Rybovich Spencer, and Spencer before that, is made of some pretty tough stuff. He broke his wrist removing the shaft log on Stargazer and he was mad at himself because he couldn’t finish it because he had to miss a few days of work. After surgery, with his wrist in a cast, he’s back at work in restoration of a little Rybovich at our yard.
In North Carolina, I got a call from Capt. Jeff on the Sea Hammock, 83’ Trumpy yacht formerly called Eskimo. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just a friendly chat. She was just south of Beaufort, N.C. and there was serious duress in his voice. Cruising along just south of Swansboro, around Cherry Point bombing range, Sea Hammock struck something underwater while running in the middle of the channel. The stabilizer and the hull surrounding it broke free. Capt. Jeff did what was best for his ship, running it into a sandbank just ahead that jutted out in the channel. He placed her aground where the aft filled with water. She settled down right in the middle of the channel. Towboat and Capt. Rod and his crew covered the hole and pumped her out. I was in Florida but I told Capt. Jeff that Stephanie, Nathan and Jimmy Berkeley and crew were up there and could help and they did.
As Towboat pumped and patched, we were planning what to do with Sea Hammock’s engines. She has big Caterpillar engines with ZF transmissions. Our neighbor at the marine park include Gregory Poole Caterpillar dealer and ZF marine. Hoses, dehumidifiers and other stuff were already being prepared so I could call Jeff Fulcher, Jarrett Bay’s yard manager. I told him what I knew. It was a Saturday. I said Sea Hammock might be towed in around 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning. Jeff said, “Okay.” He didn’t even flinch. At 1 a.m., the slings were dropped in the water and slid under Sea Hammock and lifted her up just enough to hold her for the rest of the night. The next day, Nate would laser target Sea Hammock before hard lifting her. Nathan, like a rock, got everybody working on cleaning and preserving as many things as possible. When I flew in, they had everything under control. Looking at the Sea Hammock, my heart sank deep in my chest.
She is a grand houseboat, Contract 400, built for John Kimberly and launched as “Eskimo.” In the next few days, I was receiving calls like there had been a telegraph sent out in the Trumpy community. I repeated the same answers: “No, she is not cracked in two. No, she did not sink! She flooded aft.” The fact is most of the damage I could see was water damage. So if you hear a lot of nonsense, set things straight.
I know I’ve written about my concerns about stabilizers before. Trianon, for one, has moved her forward ones. I think it’s especially dangerous because it seems there’s less money spent on keeping waterways clear these days. I talked to Mark Spillane, the new owner of “Exact,” renamed “Coconuts” and we talked about stabilizers. Mark said, “ I don’t want them. Let’s get them out of there. They don’t work anyway, right?’ I said, “Not really. I should introduce everyone to Mark. He loves Trumpy yachts, Rybovich and big game hunting. He’s a self-made man who is tremendous fun to be around. I think he’s the type of young owner who will bring new life, with zest, to our community.
Someone else I want to introduce is Frank Lynch, who is famous in the world of Rock & Roll and is soon to be the proud owner of El Presidente. He plans to take her from Chicago to Charleston. So what makes Frank famous? You’ll just have to meet him. The guy speaks in a soft Irish/Scottish brogue that makes my wife swoon every time she talks to him, not that I’m jealous.
As for Joe Bartram, he loves Trumpy yachts, and I don’t see him too far from the water. His firm is celebrating its 40th anniversary soon and Joe’s been around these boats much longer than that.
Matt Howard won’t have El Presidente but he still has a schooner, the Allegro, his 1929 John Alden. If it wasn’t for Matt’s vision to structurally rebuild El President, she might not be here today. Thank you Matt, for your caring stewardship.
In closing, there’s going to be something very special that will be unveiled at Ocean Reef’s Vintage Weekend and only Vicki, Allen and I know. So it’s time to make plans to meet in Key Largo the first weekend in December.
Until next time,
Jim Moores
September 2007
Dear Friends,
I was cleaning out my office and going through some papers when I found a little story I wrote a long time ago. A while back, someone asked me how I got interested in boats and I thought about it and later on, I wrote it down.
I can pinpoint the event that started what would draw me to the sea, before I ever sailed on one. As a child, we had a creek behind our house, “Cool Creek.” It was a swimming hole and we built dams and as kids, it was OUR place. It was winter in late 1960s and we were living in the Causey House back in Indiana. From the back porch down the hill lived a crazy farmer and I mean crazy. He used to chase us around with his tractor and throw pitch forks at us if he caught us on his land. He was the only thing between us kids and the creek.
I was around 11 years old at the time. It was winter and a very cold one. John, my little brother, and I sat one Saturday watching an all-day buccaneer movie marathon. I think it was every one ever made. By early afternoon, we were stir crazy. We grabbed out coats and makeshift swords and out the door we went, headed down to the creek. It was frozen over. Skating in our shoes and swinging our wooden swords, we had a good time. As we played, John saw something in the ice so we slid that way. What we found was our “ship” frozen in the ice and dirt. It was ours for the taking and she was six feet or so long and made of galvanized steel. It was really a watering trough for cattle that belonged to the farmer. John and I made a pact to dig her free of ice, no matter what it took. After school every day, we would dig a little and then little more. We swore an oath to tell no one of our ship. We did not want the other kids to find her and steal her.
One day, she broke free and we dragged our prize into the woods. It was still too cold to take her out. Besides, we needed a plan and even more desperately, paddles. Spring thaw came and the water rose and some boards from the farmer’s barn, and we had a plan and paddles. My brother was much younger than me, meaning smaller, and we needed someone with power and size to crew. There was a new subdivision up the road and we picked a kid, and swore him in to our secret oath. The plan was to make it to the White River. The water was rising in the creek and one Saturday morning, we decided to launch her. The water was swift and she bounced around on her flat bottom, but she was pretty stable. Our first leg of the trip, we had some mishaps and a couple of sinkings but we were men of the water. We pulled her up into the woods and our hands were numb and our lips were blue. We wet buccaneers had a long walk home. The next weekend, we went again.
We were now more organized and we could manuever our ship better. There was a large tree laying across the creek and as we went under it, we got wedged and she sunk to the bottom. We tried to get the trough unstuck and back up but the water was so cold, we finally gave up. The following weekend, we came back. The water had dropped and upon our return, she was gone. Sadly, we never made it to the White River in our trough and our first adventure was over.
I didn’t realize it at the time but it wasn’t the destination, but the journey forward that makes the adventure. Not knowing what was next or just around the corner, that’s what makes life interesting. Shortly after this, we would move to the ocean.
I learned to sail and found that real boats were a lot easier than a cattle trough and my adventures would be a lot grander. But it was that farmer’s cattle trough frozen in the ice of Cool Creek in Indiana that started it all for me.
Now that I’ve shared my story, I’d like to hear from you. What’s your story. How did you get started with boats?
Jim
I was cleaning out my office and going through some papers when I found a little story I wrote a long time ago. A while back, someone asked me how I got interested in boats and I thought about it and later on, I wrote it down.
I can pinpoint the event that started what would draw me to the sea, before I ever sailed on one. As a child, we had a creek behind our house, “Cool Creek.” It was a swimming hole and we built dams and as kids, it was OUR place. It was winter in late 1960s and we were living in the Causey House back in Indiana. From the back porch down the hill lived a crazy farmer and I mean crazy. He used to chase us around with his tractor and throw pitch forks at us if he caught us on his land. He was the only thing between us kids and the creek.
I was around 11 years old at the time. It was winter and a very cold one. John, my little brother, and I sat one Saturday watching an all-day buccaneer movie marathon. I think it was every one ever made. By early afternoon, we were stir crazy. We grabbed out coats and makeshift swords and out the door we went, headed down to the creek. It was frozen over. Skating in our shoes and swinging our wooden swords, we had a good time. As we played, John saw something in the ice so we slid that way. What we found was our “ship” frozen in the ice and dirt. It was ours for the taking and she was six feet or so long and made of galvanized steel. It was really a watering trough for cattle that belonged to the farmer. John and I made a pact to dig her free of ice, no matter what it took. After school every day, we would dig a little and then little more. We swore an oath to tell no one of our ship. We did not want the other kids to find her and steal her.
One day, she broke free and we dragged our prize into the woods. It was still too cold to take her out. Besides, we needed a plan and even more desperately, paddles. Spring thaw came and the water rose and some boards from the farmer’s barn, and we had a plan and paddles. My brother was much younger than me, meaning smaller, and we needed someone with power and size to crew. There was a new subdivision up the road and we picked a kid, and swore him in to our secret oath. The plan was to make it to the White River. The water was rising in the creek and one Saturday morning, we decided to launch her. The water was swift and she bounced around on her flat bottom, but she was pretty stable. Our first leg of the trip, we had some mishaps and a couple of sinkings but we were men of the water. We pulled her up into the woods and our hands were numb and our lips were blue. We wet buccaneers had a long walk home. The next weekend, we went again.
We were now more organized and we could manuever our ship better. There was a large tree laying across the creek and as we went under it, we got wedged and she sunk to the bottom. We tried to get the trough unstuck and back up but the water was so cold, we finally gave up. The following weekend, we came back. The water had dropped and upon our return, she was gone. Sadly, we never made it to the White River in our trough and our first adventure was over.
I didn’t realize it at the time but it wasn’t the destination, but the journey forward that makes the adventure. Not knowing what was next or just around the corner, that’s what makes life interesting. Shortly after this, we would move to the ocean.
I learned to sail and found that real boats were a lot easier than a cattle trough and my adventures would be a lot grander. But it was that farmer’s cattle trough frozen in the ice of Cool Creek in Indiana that started it all for me.
Now that I’ve shared my story, I’d like to hear from you. What’s your story. How did you get started with boats?
Jim
Saturday, August 25, 2007
August 2007
Dear friends,
I opened up a copy of this month’s “Yachting” magazine, its 100th year edition, and the magazine commissioned a T-shirt with a Trumpy yacht on the back. It’s a photo of an Annapolis Trumpy. Of all the yachts from 1907 to 2007 featured in the magazine, they chose one of my favorite Trumpys. So which one is it? I guess you’ll have to pick up a copy or go online at yachting.com because I don’t want to spoil it for you. Suffice it to say, I have the T-shirt.
And, these Trumpy yachts do get around. I got a call from France, from a Trumpy captain asking for help. It seemed that one of the shaft couplings broke and he could not find one so instead, he found me. I gave him a name, Kurt, of Anchor Miami Propellers, who has done of a number of these for me. But first, I had a couple of questions: “Did you re-power?” “Did you change the shifters?” The answer was “yes” to both. It turned out that during the engine refit, they installed electronic shifters. Mr. Trumpy chose Panish controls for a reason. They have a built-in delay. When you are turning a shaft 30 to 40 feet long, the shafts are long and narrow. With the force and energy of a modern engine and new controls, well something had to give.
Panish controls is still very much in business in Bridgeport, Conn. Their website is www.panishcontrols.com. Their addresss is 191 Bennett Street, Bridgeport, Conn., 06605. Tel. 203-333-7371.
My next story involves a recent trip I took to Chicago to spend some time aboard El Presidente, with Matt and Tracy Howard. Along with the 1939 96-foot Mathis-Trumpy, the Howards also have a 1929 John Alden Schooner, named Allegro. We had lots to talk about. So after taking care of business, I was invited to take a sail. The wind was fresh but by the time we weighed the mooring, it was flat calm. That didn’t stop us so we motored around outside the harbor. With the skyline and the clouds touching them, it was quite a picture. We drank red wine and our conversation danced from one thing to another.
Matt told me about his adventures of going to Florida and back on El Presidente and his favorite part was at Ocean Reef. On his way down from Chicago, he called me to ask about something while he was in town. He was in the Tom Digby Canal about 400 miles away from Key Largo headed south. I asked him, “Do you want to go to Ocean Reef’s Vintage Weekend? His reply was, “Sure, why not. Where is it and when?” Well, they did and El Prez won the top prize, the Spectator’s Choice Award.
As we motored about, Matt kept eyeing my hat, a Trumpy hat. “So where do you get one of those?” I told him it was a gift from Bill Waskey and it was the first time I had worn it. Well, Matt is a Trumpy enthusiast to the end and deserved that hat, as much as I hated parting with it. And, I had my old one back at the shop. It looked good on Matt’s head. They invited me to dinner at Columbia Yacht Club. It is a true sailors club, the clubhouse is a 300-foot ice breaker that is permanently moored in the middle of the harbor. We dined on the foredeck with the city lights at sunset as our back drop, while the fog moved in and out. Our conversation flowed until we closed the restaurant down and headed to the lounge at the stern to meet Matt’s friends. Chicago by night has its own magic. The next morning, I spent it aboard El Prez. Matt gave me an Allegro hat with his schooner on it. More than a fair trade. I had only been to Chicago once before, in winter, when the city was asleep and I didn’t realize then the beauty of this city.
Matt’s schooner was inspiring. Our schooner project is moving forward rapidly. We are over four weeks ahead of schedule. Our schooner, and I do mean ours, because everyone here feels she’s a part of us, is being fitted to carry more sail. She was built to cruise but is being refitted to race and cruise with square top foresail and three head sails. And, with her new ring frames, the rig can be turned tighter than ever before. She will carry 1,400 to 1,800 more square feet of sail. John Alden would be proud.
When we unplanked the aft part of the bottom, we found that the stern post needed attention. There has been many steel plates added aft so the decision was made to replace it but where do we get the wood?
I showed Jon Meek, the lead carpenter on the project, where I had hidden away lumber from 500 plus year old trees, Angelique from Brazil. They were 20 feet long, 48 inches across and we would slab laminate. This stern post would weigh 1,000 to 1,500 pounds once it is laminated so we had to think smart. We would laminate and rough out the stern post at the shop using a forklift. It would be loaded in a truck and then unloaded by forklift at the boat yard but we will still need to get it in place..
We have constructed a steel frame to support the aft area, making it hard to get a forklift in the sternpost area. We decided to go low-tech, use Egyptian technology, meaning many men with many ropes and braces. It will be put in place by brute manpower just like we did on the keel forefoot. Summerwind has come so far. We have a lot more still to do but this is such an emotionally rewarding project that everyone’s passions and energies are high.
Now to North Carolina. First, Nathan and Rene became the proud parents of a baby girl, Nicoletta Smith a few days before Nathan’s birthday in July. The Iva W has been launched after Nate and his crew replanked, refastened, caulked and painted her. Our Florida store provided supply support, sending up materials and the wood, old growth cypress, came from our North Carolina supplier, Churchill.
The North Carolina crew just started Cherokee, a 1907 launch and also are working on putting the finishing touches on the store, including varnish on the pilothouse from Ibis, a 1912 Trumpy yacht. She still has some paint work to go and needs a skirt at the bottom but she will be the centerpiece of the store. I recently sent up two bundles of Bangkirai decking so that the store will have a wrap around deck.
Before we started constructing the buildings, I decided that I wanted to name each building after someone special. The first was the Myron, after the young engineer who helped create the boat yard, Myron Meadows. And the second, the store, is named after Mr. Hollis Baker. The first time I met Mr. Baker, he told me that he built a sailing bark with 30 plus sails. I said, “Sure,” with some doubt in my voice. The next day, he brought me a copy of magazine with his bark in full sail on the cover. The man has had my attention ever since and he has had many yachts since then. Mr. Baker is a true yachtsman and a fine gentleman and I’ve been honored to know him all these years. When I told him that I named a building after him, He smiled and seemed pleased. “Well, Jim, no one has ever named a building after me,” he said.
It’s time someone did.
Until next time,
Jim
P.S. It’s never too soon to start making plans for Vintage Weekend at Ocean Reef Club, which runs from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2. Contact Cindy Elverman at 305-367-5874 or by email: celverman@oceanreef.com.
I opened up a copy of this month’s “Yachting” magazine, its 100th year edition, and the magazine commissioned a T-shirt with a Trumpy yacht on the back. It’s a photo of an Annapolis Trumpy. Of all the yachts from 1907 to 2007 featured in the magazine, they chose one of my favorite Trumpys. So which one is it? I guess you’ll have to pick up a copy or go online at yachting.com because I don’t want to spoil it for you. Suffice it to say, I have the T-shirt.
And, these Trumpy yachts do get around. I got a call from France, from a Trumpy captain asking for help. It seemed that one of the shaft couplings broke and he could not find one so instead, he found me. I gave him a name, Kurt, of Anchor Miami Propellers, who has done of a number of these for me. But first, I had a couple of questions: “Did you re-power?” “Did you change the shifters?” The answer was “yes” to both. It turned out that during the engine refit, they installed electronic shifters. Mr. Trumpy chose Panish controls for a reason. They have a built-in delay. When you are turning a shaft 30 to 40 feet long, the shafts are long and narrow. With the force and energy of a modern engine and new controls, well something had to give.
Panish controls is still very much in business in Bridgeport, Conn. Their website is www.panishcontrols.com. Their addresss is 191 Bennett Street, Bridgeport, Conn., 06605. Tel. 203-333-7371.
My next story involves a recent trip I took to Chicago to spend some time aboard El Presidente, with Matt and Tracy Howard. Along with the 1939 96-foot Mathis-Trumpy, the Howards also have a 1929 John Alden Schooner, named Allegro. We had lots to talk about. So after taking care of business, I was invited to take a sail. The wind was fresh but by the time we weighed the mooring, it was flat calm. That didn’t stop us so we motored around outside the harbor. With the skyline and the clouds touching them, it was quite a picture. We drank red wine and our conversation danced from one thing to another.
Matt told me about his adventures of going to Florida and back on El Presidente and his favorite part was at Ocean Reef. On his way down from Chicago, he called me to ask about something while he was in town. He was in the Tom Digby Canal about 400 miles away from Key Largo headed south. I asked him, “Do you want to go to Ocean Reef’s Vintage Weekend? His reply was, “Sure, why not. Where is it and when?” Well, they did and El Prez won the top prize, the Spectator’s Choice Award.
As we motored about, Matt kept eyeing my hat, a Trumpy hat. “So where do you get one of those?” I told him it was a gift from Bill Waskey and it was the first time I had worn it. Well, Matt is a Trumpy enthusiast to the end and deserved that hat, as much as I hated parting with it. And, I had my old one back at the shop. It looked good on Matt’s head. They invited me to dinner at Columbia Yacht Club. It is a true sailors club, the clubhouse is a 300-foot ice breaker that is permanently moored in the middle of the harbor. We dined on the foredeck with the city lights at sunset as our back drop, while the fog moved in and out. Our conversation flowed until we closed the restaurant down and headed to the lounge at the stern to meet Matt’s friends. Chicago by night has its own magic. The next morning, I spent it aboard El Prez. Matt gave me an Allegro hat with his schooner on it. More than a fair trade. I had only been to Chicago once before, in winter, when the city was asleep and I didn’t realize then the beauty of this city.
Matt’s schooner was inspiring. Our schooner project is moving forward rapidly. We are over four weeks ahead of schedule. Our schooner, and I do mean ours, because everyone here feels she’s a part of us, is being fitted to carry more sail. She was built to cruise but is being refitted to race and cruise with square top foresail and three head sails. And, with her new ring frames, the rig can be turned tighter than ever before. She will carry 1,400 to 1,800 more square feet of sail. John Alden would be proud.
When we unplanked the aft part of the bottom, we found that the stern post needed attention. There has been many steel plates added aft so the decision was made to replace it but where do we get the wood?
I showed Jon Meek, the lead carpenter on the project, where I had hidden away lumber from 500 plus year old trees, Angelique from Brazil. They were 20 feet long, 48 inches across and we would slab laminate. This stern post would weigh 1,000 to 1,500 pounds once it is laminated so we had to think smart. We would laminate and rough out the stern post at the shop using a forklift. It would be loaded in a truck and then unloaded by forklift at the boat yard but we will still need to get it in place..
We have constructed a steel frame to support the aft area, making it hard to get a forklift in the sternpost area. We decided to go low-tech, use Egyptian technology, meaning many men with many ropes and braces. It will be put in place by brute manpower just like we did on the keel forefoot. Summerwind has come so far. We have a lot more still to do but this is such an emotionally rewarding project that everyone’s passions and energies are high.
Now to North Carolina. First, Nathan and Rene became the proud parents of a baby girl, Nicoletta Smith a few days before Nathan’s birthday in July. The Iva W has been launched after Nate and his crew replanked, refastened, caulked and painted her. Our Florida store provided supply support, sending up materials and the wood, old growth cypress, came from our North Carolina supplier, Churchill.
The North Carolina crew just started Cherokee, a 1907 launch and also are working on putting the finishing touches on the store, including varnish on the pilothouse from Ibis, a 1912 Trumpy yacht. She still has some paint work to go and needs a skirt at the bottom but she will be the centerpiece of the store. I recently sent up two bundles of Bangkirai decking so that the store will have a wrap around deck.
Before we started constructing the buildings, I decided that I wanted to name each building after someone special. The first was the Myron, after the young engineer who helped create the boat yard, Myron Meadows. And the second, the store, is named after Mr. Hollis Baker. The first time I met Mr. Baker, he told me that he built a sailing bark with 30 plus sails. I said, “Sure,” with some doubt in my voice. The next day, he brought me a copy of magazine with his bark in full sail on the cover. The man has had my attention ever since and he has had many yachts since then. Mr. Baker is a true yachtsman and a fine gentleman and I’ve been honored to know him all these years. When I told him that I named a building after him, He smiled and seemed pleased. “Well, Jim, no one has ever named a building after me,” he said.
It’s time someone did.
Until next time,
Jim
P.S. It’s never too soon to start making plans for Vintage Weekend at Ocean Reef Club, which runs from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2. Contact Cindy Elverman at 305-367-5874 or by email: celverman@oceanreef.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)