Summer has finally arrived on the Chesapeake Bay. Big rockfish, steamed crabs, fireworks, and steamy days mark everyone’s favorite boating season. Local shops have mostly caught up from the reluctant-spring-delayed commissioning rush. The economy also seems to be recovering, albeit reluctantly, as well. Boat shops are reporting an upsurge of what can best be called deferred maintenance, where owners are finally having work done that was put off during the recent financial unpleasantness.
Marty Lostrom of Scandia Marine Center at Whitehall Marina in the St. Margaret’s section of Annapolis, MD brings us up to date on their new location and some surprising developments. “We are a full service operation. We do everything. We have been here a year and are still trying to staff up to handle the work load. We didn’t anticipate that the demand would grow so fast, so heavy, so soon. We increased our storage by 27 percent over the winter, and people are definitely spending money now on stuff that they held off doing. Our re-powers went up by 150 percent from the year before because owners are tired of tinkering with a worn-out power plant.
Other projects include several deck core replacements and boats with some major structural changes. People who were on the hard for several years are putting the boat back in and they are finding that you can’t store a boat and not have stuff deteriorate on it. We are seeing lots of folks who have had their boats in dry storage for a couple of years going back in the water. I think that’s a good sign for the industry.”
David Evans of Evans Boats in Crisfield, MD, echoes the backlog of work now being done. “The summer season has welcomed itself full force here! We have just recently completed a major refurbish project that concluded with USCG Certification for a large charter fishing vessel just about a week ago. We have had several phone calls from boat owners who might not have been so eager to spend money on their boat preparation for use last year, but are ready to splash this year, which has us very busy trying to meet expectation dates! Aside from this, we are still working on our 53-foot Custom Evans Catamaran for the Boston Harbor in Massachusetts. We hope to have some pictures of this vessel to send you for next month’s edition.”
Scott and Mike Glyphis from Eastern Shore Boatworks in Ocean City, MD, sent us this update. “We are currently installing rub rails, cleats, fuel tank, lights, and running wire on our latest 25-foot center console.”
Dave Hannam of Classic Watercraft Restoration in Annapolis reports that he is furiously back to building the Garwood 16-foot Speedster replica of the original 1935
Miss Behave. In just a few weeks, the boat has gone through a complete 180-degree turn in regard to production. Final coatings and varnish have been applied to the mahogany inlay deck and hull, along with a new carburetor added to the V6 Chevy 210-hp engine. Next step in the works includes the mechanical steering system installation. At this pace, Hannam hopes to have the little classic ready to be fired up and running out on the Bay!
Butch Garren of the Patuxent Small Craft Guild in Solomons, MD, brings us two projects this month. “A seven-foot dinghy needing some loving care was donated to the Patuxent Small Craft Guild (PSCG) by George Roome, a friend of Kent Mountford, a loyal Calvert Marine Museum (CMM) supporter. A complete restoration took place, including replacement of the main thwart. Unnamed and not dated, this pre-1972 vessel can be man powered or use a small outboard motor. This tiny water craft was restored by the volunteers of PSCG and is looking for a new owner. If interested, contact President Jim Wilson.
The second project is the Sewell Draketail Workboat. Deck and other repairs are being made to the 36-foot Sewell Draketail Workboat at CMM. PSCG has replaced a number of deck planks, portions of the rub rail and cabin top, along with other necessary improvements. All work is being performed while this fine vessel is afloat. The Sewell Draketail Workboat is 36 feet long with a beam of seven feet six inches and a two-foot, eight-inch draft. A gift from Clarence R. Sewell, this powerboat is a local type usually described as a Hooper Island “draketail” or “ducktail.” It was known for its sleek lines and round, reverse-rake stern.
Built at Broomes Island in 1936 by Alpheus Sewell for his son Clarence, the boat was used on the Patuxent River for crabbing, oystering, eeling, and fishing until 1988. By the time of her donation in 1989, she was in need of major repairs. Over the course of the next 10 years, the boat was totally rebuilt by museum staff and volunteers of the PSCG. She was rededicated in September 2000 to the memory of Clarence Sewell. The draketail is currently powered by a 1964 Gray four-cylinder marine engine, developing 25 horsepower. See PSCG ongoing projects with volunteers in action on Tuesdays and Saturdays at CMM.
Britt Lilly of Lilly Sport Boats in Arnold, MD, reports that his race boat is upside down in the yard at the shop having some major bottom work done in preparation for the summer racing season. Among other recent projects was a complete marine imron paint job on a 23-foot Scout center console.
Patrick Mertaugh, of Choptank Boatworks in Denton, MD, reports that he has six restorations under way including this one: “One of our many ongoing projects is a 1940s Herreshoff 12.5 that is getting a mild restoration. We’re replacing many frames, some planking, updating bronze hardware, and fitting a removable electric outboard.”
George Hazzard of Wooden Boat Restoration in Millington, MD, reports on progress in his busy shop. “We are finishing up three coats of varnish on the decks of the 2003, 23-foot Hacker Craft for the upcoming summer. We also are putting back on the newly re-chromed hardware, thanks to Polished Treasures, on the 1935 Consolidated. She had all new 12-volt wiring, fresh paint, and varnish. The 23-foot 1957 Owens also is getting new paint and varnish.”
Meg Roney of Mathew Brothers in Denton, MD, reports a busy spring. “Other than a few boats still in storage, spring commissioning, varnish, launches, and deliveries, all went off without a hitch! Customers are very happy to arrive at their homes to see their boats ready and waiting for them. We’re now focusing on finishing a new build, an Eastport 32, two major refits, and working toward another storage building on site.”
St. Michaels, MD, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s (CBMM) Tracy Munson’s report: while we talk powerboats here, announcement of the completion of an historic log canoe (mentioned in June PropTalk)definitely warrants inclusion. “The first Chesapeake two-masted log hull sailing canoe to be built in more than 35 years was launched at CBMM on Wednesday, April 22 with a public celebration for the occasion. The log canoe, christened
Bufflehead, was launched immediately following the CBMM’s Blessing of the Fleet ceremony.
Bufflehead is the first log canoe to be built since 1979, when Tenaceous [sic] joined the fleet, and is expected to race in the XXXII Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival, which takes place at CBMM on October 3-4. Adapting the lines from an 1893 Robert D. Lambdin canoe in the museum’s collection, CBMM shipwrights, apprentices, and volunteers began working on the new sailing log canoe this past fall. The hull has been constructed from three 26-foot local loblolly pine logs, with the canoe and its spars constructed in full public view.
Log canoes were traditionally used as workboats, for tonging oysters in particular. The building technique is unique and indigenous to the Chesapeake Bay, dating back to the 1800s. The design produces a strong and durable hull. Shaped with ax and adz, the logs are drifted together and with the addition of one or two planks, form the hull up to the deck.”
See a time lapse video covering the six-month build at
proptalk.com/bufflehead.
by Capt. Rick Franke