While the fitting out season is winding down, there has been no lack of activity on the part of Chesapeake area boat shops. New construction, new model introductions, and old boat restorations have continued to keep local shops humming. At press time (late April), the winter that wouldn’t quit finally seemed to be ending, and Jim Cavle at Annapolis Harbor Boat Yard in the Eastport section of Annapolis expressed it very well for all of us. “We are moving along nicely after a rather harsh winter. Finally the temperatures are up enough for us to do the bottom painting and polishing of the boats. We are trying to get everyone in the water as quickly as possible and looking forward to a nice spring and summer.” Tim Floyd of F&S Boatworks in Bear, DE, reports that his shop is more than halfway finished building a 75-foot convertible sportfisherman. Hull number 24 as she is known today is of cold molded construction and already has her two 2600-hp MTU diesels installed. Tim also reports that this is the first boat in which he has installed a Seakeeper gyroscopic anti-roll stabilizing system. Number 24 is scheduled for completion in December after an 18-month construction schedule. Weaver Boatworks in Tracys Landing, MD, has five new sportfishermen in the pipeline. Two Weaver 75s are nearing completion. One is due out of the shop in the fall of 2014, and the second is due for completion in early 2015. A Weaver 80 is also due in the spring of 2015. A weaver 80 and a Weaver 52 are in line for completion in the fall of 2015. [gallery type="rectangular" link="file" ids="5744,5745,5746,5747,5748,5749" orderby="rand"] Patrick Callahan of Worton Creek Marina in Chestertown, MD, reports that Huntress, their latest Bertram 31 remanufacture, is back in the water and ready to cruise the Bay. The remanufacturing process involves stripping the old boat back down to bare fiberglass and rebuilding her from the glass up. The result, as Huntress demonstrates, is a virtually new boat, diesel powered and finished to the highest yacht standards, a far cry from the original rather Spartan sportfisherman built by Bertram. Patrick also reports that work on their Hatteras 70 project is proceeding more or less on schedule, despite the spring rush. Ongoing work on the Hatteras includes a new domestic water system, heated head floors, engine room repainting, rebuilt stabilizers, and new cork flooring. Mike Bickford of Campbell’s Bachelor Point Yacht Co., LLC sent us this update. “We are wrapping up several winter projects as well as diving head first into the usual spring commissioning season. Over this past winter, we completed an extensive project on a Cherubini schooner including an immense amount of interior varnish and paint, a new Espar heater, a replacement set of fresh and black water tanks, a new 12-volt, Katadyn water-maker system, and a complete Interlux bottom-paint system, including barrier coat and a topcoat of Micron CSC anti-foulant paint. “The installation of a pair of Cummins QSB 6.7 diesel engines on a 37 SeaRay was completed. This boat also received a new Onan 7.5kw generator. Fresh gel-coat in the engine space was applied, and a complete sound-deadening system was installed, including custom mufflers and Soundown insulation. This boat has a new top-end speed 12 knots higher than with her gasoline engines! “The launching and commissioning of our storage fleet is ongoing. We are busy preparing these boats for the summer. Our air conditioning and refrigeration expertise is without equal. We have certified outboard mechanics, Cummins factory-certified engine and pod-drive technicians, as well as a full complement of paint, varnish, and carpentry craftsmen. Put Campbell’s Bachelor Point marina on your summer cruising itinerary.” [gallery type="rectangular" link="file" ids="5750,5751,5752,5753,5754,5755,5756" orderby="rand"] Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) Rosie Parks Project Manager Mark Donohue (St. Michaels) reports that work is wrapping up on the restoration of the 1955 Rosie Parks. The skipjack’s push boat has received a new keel, frames, and floor timbers, with new topside and bottom planks hung. The push boat restoration will be completed once a four-cylinder mechanical diesel engine has been identified for the vessel. Shipwrights, apprentices, and volunteers have completed the construction of a new 5’ x 13’ white oak centerboard, which will be installed during a haul out of the Rosie Parks. CBMM’s boatyard crew will adjust the position of the mast, bend on the new sails, and complete all the rigging work. The restoration completes with the construction of Rosie’s doghouse interior, installation of the dredge winders, and all systems up and running. Brit Lilly of Lilly Sport Boats in Arnold, MD, reports a busy spring re-commissioning season and lots going on at the shop. “My race boat, LSB, an Extreme 29, is coming back together very nicely. The shock seats are ready to install, and the bottom work on the step and the paint is done. We have several engine rebuilds and replacements in progress but our big job right now is the race boat named Tug It. She’s a Phantom 30 owned by the owner of Smith Ship Yard in Curtis Bay. He wanted the boat to appear as tough as possible since she represents his ship yard. The boat has been completely repainted. Tug It has a finish paint job unlike anything anyone has ever seen. The deck graphic appears to be made of welded and bolted aluminum. It is an illusion created by fades and extreme air brushing over a smooth base coat. It is one of the most difficult and detailed jobs I have done. The cockpit is also painted, the seats are in, and the fuel tank is glassed back in place. She will be completed shortly.” Both of these boats are Super Vee Light class racing boats and should be complete and ready to race when season starts in Early May. Judge Yachts in Denton, MD, has announced two new models for the 2014 boating season. The new Judge 35 Express features a newly designed windshield configuration offering improved visibility and protection. The 35 Express is offered with either single or twin engine options. The newest design in the Judge fleet is the Judge 265 center console. Based on the popular Judge 27 hull, the 265 features a redesigned deck layout to maximize fishing space. This completely open design comes standard with a 300 hp Suzuki four-stroke outboard. Ken Spring of Small Open Boats in Port Republic, MD, has recently completed the restoration of Irish Miss, a 1962 Lyman lapstrake runabout with inboard/outboard power. Ken invites our readers to stop by his shop and check out the consignment shop as part of their spring refit. He has many bargains and hard to find items which might come in handy. George Hazzard of Wooden Boat Restoration in Millington, MD, has a shop full of restoration projects. One that caught my eye is a 1954 15.5-foot Chris Craft Cavalier utility styled runabout named Corsair V. She was bought by her current owner in 1973. He is currently in the process of fixing Corsair up for his daughter, including a complete re-varnishing as well as rewiring and upgrading the electrical system from the original six-volt system to a modern 12-volt system. The electrical upgrade includes a new starter and associated parts for the boat’s original Chris Craft Model A flat head four-cylinder engine, complete with updraft carburetor. Other recent projects at George’s shop in Millington include a 1947 21-foot Ventnor and a 1956 22-foot Owens cruiser, both of which were on display at this spring’s Bay Bridge Boat Show. Also worth mention is the re-varnishing of a 31-foot Hacker Craft.