The spring shows are behind us, and the launching frenzy is calming down, so the season is definitely off to a good start. This fourth season after the pandemic still shows no signs of a serious slowdown in interest in boating, so most people seem to be expecting a good season. One thing of note is the number of marinas converting to, or adding, floating docks. Sea level rise has become an inconvenient fact on our waters and most shops and marinas seem to be coping well.
Andy Dize from Roudebush Yacht and Engine Works in Dundalk, MD, brings us up to date from a part of the Bay which has been much in the news lately. “Since the collapse of the Key Bridge, we have seen an increase in requests for work and slips this spring. Our marina access is unrestricted from the Patapsco River into Bear Creek as it is located outside of the bridge exclusion zone. Projects we are working on include a Bayliner 22 for hull and topside fiberglass repair, a Larson 32 topside gelcoat repair, a 30-foot Sharpie refurbishment of hull and rigging, and a Robalo 21 for hull polishing, bottom paint, deck lighting, and bilge pump replacement. We have started Phase I of our fixed dock repair and installation of floating piers to provide 45 slips for boats from 30 to 110 feet.”
Joe Reid of Mast and Mallet in Edgewater, MD, sends us his latest news. “I spent a portion of late winter building a teak swim platform for a 46-foot P.L. Jones deadrise. It measured 13 feet by 24 inches, and I will install it this spring. I finished woodwork repairs and painting on a 2009 Mast and Mallet 25-foot crab yacht. It launched for a spring delivery. Currently, I am re-bedding hatches and varnishing on a Thomas Point 44. Next in the shop is a Thomas Point 30-footer for a new teak and holly sole and varnish and upgraded electronics.”
George Hazzard of Wooden Boat restoration in Millington, MD, sends us this report and request by way of his Facebook site. “Our latest project, a 1958 26-foot Chris-Craft Sea Skiff, has been hibernating for almost 40 years in a garage in Cambridge, MD. (It’s) surprisingly solid. Lots of paint and varnish to strip. It was re-powered by a 455 Pontiac motor but is missing the exhaust manifolds… so if anyone knows of anyone with a pair of marine manifolds, please contact us. Thank you!”
The latest report from Powers Mobile Marine Service in Easton, MD, is as follows. “Today our beautiful 1980’s Privateer went back home to Delaware Bay. This boat received a full restoration, complete with a new stringer system, full transom, full gunwale rear cap, floor, fuel tank, and to top it off, with a crisp Awlgrip paint job in Aquamist, Cloud White, and Kingston Gray. The entire boat is fully composite made with Coosa. This boat will last many generations. Give us a call if you have a boat you want to bring back to life. If you think it’s too far gone, we will show you how it can be brought back to life better than new.”
Brittany Parish from Higgins Yacht Yard in St. Michaels, MD, sends us this timely update. “It’s spring commissioning time here at the boatyard, and we’re off to a great start. Our crew is diligently prepping, painting, and servicing vessels in preparation for another fantastic boating season. If you plan to handle your own commissioning this year, check out BoatUS’s Spring Commissioning Checklist to have the best and safest time out on the water this season. Online booking for our marina is here, and better than ever! Book your slip directly online today. Holiday and events weekends are filling up quickly, so be sure to reserve in advance.”
One of the more interesting exhibits at the Bay Bridge Boat Show, at least for this ancient mariner, was a demonstration of the computer-controlled Optimus steering system. Hydraulic steering systems have been around for a long time, but this is not the old manual one we’re used to. The fully operational system was set up and presented by Richard Hawse of Maryland Marine Electronics. A dummy console included a steering wheel, and when the wheel was turned, the hydraulic rams responded immediately. As Richard explained, “Think of it as a steer by wire system.” He held up a softball-sized wheel hub. “This hub is actually a sensor and can be mounted anywhere in the boat you can get wires to it, making installation easy,” he explained. “When the wheel is turned, this sensor sends a signal to the control box which then sends the signal to the appropriate pump which then sends hydraulic fluid to the double acting hydraulic rams attached to the rudder tillers which then steer the boat. Essentially, you have no mechanical connection between the wheel and the rudder.” The demonstration system was set up for twin engines, but could obviously be, and is, used for multi engine outboard and inboard applications.
Rob Hardy from Composite Yacht in Trappe, MD, checks in with us. “We’ve got a couple of refits going on, one of them, interestingly enough, is Burt Reynolds’s boat. It’s a one-off Carolina style boat, about 30-some feet. It’s a cold-molded boat that’s been sitting for a long time, so we’re going to do a massive rehab on it. We’ve got another older outboard-powered boat that we did a lot of work on. The paint shed, as always, stays busy. We’ve got a Post in there now and that operation remains booked out through May. On the new construction side, we’ve got two Carolina style 26s under construction and we have a 42-foot Chesapeake style boat with three outboards on a shortened Markley 46 hull. We also have a brand-new model 39-footer that’s designed for outboards and a 50-footer that is moving right along as well. We are expecting delivery of all of them this year. For the future we’ve got a couple of irons in the fire. We’re still moving along, expecting some interesting new contracts that are probably too soon to discuss and we are cautiously optimistic.”
On the manpower front Rob is also optimistic. “We’re fine at the moment. We are always looking for skilled workers, but we’d rather push hard with overtime and things like that than hire new people and then have to lay them off. In the last economic downturn we never had to do any layoffs.” On the supply issue Rob had some interesting comments. “Supply can still be an issue. We don’t hold off on ordering things now. If we know we are going to need them, we order them now. We are no longer waiting till we think we might need them. Supply can still be a consideration.”
So, the Chesapeake boating season is definitely here. Enjoy the Bay and be safe on the water. We will see you next month.
By Capt. Rick Franke