THOUGHTS FROM

We have launched the new MUGSY! This Hunt designed 54' for Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas has been quite a project with some interesting new ideas that will significantly help performance while allowing this moderate sized boat to pack a very large interior.

The forward area of the boat has two very nice guest cabins with a head that also contains the washer dryer - all very standard. However, the galley and main salon are combined to give a large room that feels like a sixty footer. With a lot of ideas from interior decorators this is a very well laid out area with tile inlays in the wooden galley countertops, a hidden cabinet that houses an electric piano, state of the art Catvision (electronic readout of all the engine functions you could ever need to see) as the centerpiece of the array of electronics, and most importantly, a stereo/cd system that we would all kill to have in our homes. But if you think the type of woodwork we are famous for got trampled by the Chicago decorators, think again. The woodwork is a stained mahogany that is incredibly rich and warm with details that are similar to a properly built boat in New England. The overall feel of the interior is warm and elegant. Bill and his carpenters have done some very special work.

The aft cabin is quite a change from our normal Hunt designs. We have pushed the cabin house out to full width instead of having a side deck giving the master cabin aft the look and feel of a huge room. We built a centerline queen sized bed with turned bed posts and a shower/tub separate from the head. An 11' Novurania is carried on top of the aft cabin with a mast and boom to launch and haul it.

However, it is the stern where we have really departed from the norm. To handle the extra weight we lengthened the stern two feet and made the swim platform part of the hull instead of just a teak platform. In other words, we are using the platform to extend the boat for a longer running surface and more planing area. We have also redesigned the tunnels to a more state of the art design which should help put the boat on a quicker plane. In addition to the tunnels and longer running surface we collaborated with Hunt to extend the chines outward with a very traditional looking chine extension. The end result is a traditional looking boat that is "tweaked" to optimize performance and to better handle the weight these boats are required to carry. But the centerpiece of the stern and an important criteria for the Donahues is the varnished transom and rounded corners.

The initial trials saw 28 knots of top speed and at 1600 RPM’s the speed was 20 knots with a fuel consumption of 16 gallons per engine. We are extremely pleased.

A FEW CHANGES

There have been a few changes this last year in personnel - some good and some bad. The "bad" was Don Black and his decision to move to Oregon. We have been together for 17 years and he is sorely missed.

The most exciting change is JB Turner. He has come to us via long stints as operations manager at Dodsons and Wayfarer and is going to assume the duties of overseeing the boatbuilding activities. He will be paying close attention to and coordinating all the different aspects of new boat construction. With Stuart heading up the service and storage yard, and JB leading the boatbuilders I am very lucky to have assembled a great team. In a couple of years the twins will be out of college and, perhaps, my sailing will increase dramatically.

Debbie is back! After a leave of absence for the better part of a year she has returned to help Stephanie and Laurie. What an awesome team that is!

After years of putting up with the eyesore and unsafe conditions next door to us we finally purchased what was the Wallace Marine property. Wallace Marine was a venerable builder of fishing boats headed by two men, Newbert and Wallace. However, it was essentially abandoned for the last twenty years and allowed to fall apart beyond repair.

We have torn the old building down and have built a new building in its place this summer. The building is sided with cedar shingles to match the mast shed and the lower yard. The old sewer plant is now defunct and is being torn down to create a park so Thomaston has really changed its image. Quiet, clean, pretty, good access to shopping and airports, and a short walk to some our country’s nicest collection of Federalist houses. Did you know that Thomaston has built more wooden vessels than any other port in the United States?

We launched two new jet boats last summer-- 30' RAINMAKER and 25' YE HEUNG. While we first designed these boats to be no nonsense practical alternatives to family and island transportation, our customers continue to make them into very nice small yachts. Each boat is individually designed and RAINMAKER is no exception opting not to use our fiberglass deck house and instead build a wooden cabin house with full head room of at least 6’6". She cruises easily at 25 knots with a top speed of 30 and continues to be a very sweet riding hull in all weather. We have even been surprised that both boats opted for jet drives which proves they indeed have come of age. The jet drive has a few drawbacks, but the real advantage of a jet drive in Maine is the ability to ignore the lobster buoys.

RAINMAKER and YE HEUNG have very similar layouts except YE HEUNG at 25' put its small galley aft of the seat in the cockpit. A V berth forward and a head to starboard is the standard layout with the 25' having its head under the V berth. As we build each boat with a custom approach we enjoy the change of pace and simplicity of choices when working with the customers. However, the most fun building these smaller vessels is the ride - these boats are incredible performers!

HOBNOB is stored here in Thomaston after a tough trip back to Maine directly from the Azores sailed by three hardy Brits. There is nothing like a tough uphill sail of 2000 miles to further prove how great these boats are.

RAINBOW has been sold to a new owner. She underwent a large refit last winter and is in great shape. We are going to miss the Linds and the tales of their circumnavigation.

YONDER- 44', MAGIC- 44', FINBACK-49' AXEL D-Hunt 61', RADIO WAVES-Hunt 42', YE HEUNG - 25', BADGER -25', RAINMAKER - 30', CHEWINK 49', BOHEME - 44' are all staying in Thomaston for the winter. It is a pleasure to see in what fine shape all our customers keep their boats.

WINDWALKER has arrived from the Caribbean as we build a new boat for the Cullens and LARK is spending the winter with us having also arrived from the Caribbean.

BOUNDER spent the last winter in Florida and will be back here this winter.

FIRST LIGHT has returned from Europe and has retro fitted a new Leisure Furl boom as HOOLIMAR has done. This furling system could be a real boon to short handed sailing.

NARNIA will spend the winter in Florida, but we expect to see her back next summer and for the following winter.

AUK VI and PASTIME continue to make their annual trips south and stay in Palm Beach. As usual these boats are kept in very good shape.

NO SLIP III stayed in Charleston this summer and did not make their annual trip North. We have missed seeing the Stewarts this year.

TUMBLEHOME is back in Thomaston for the summer and fall after a winter in St. Martin.

On June 22nd we launched MAINESTAY, a Hunt designed 42' powerboat, for Allen and Joyce Boucher. This is our sixth boat from this mold and MAINESTAY reflects the adage, ‘’practice makes perfect". She is elegantly laid out with a red birch interior, and teak and holly soles. The galley is down with a V-berth forward cabin. There are two helm stations with a simple flybridge that has a bench seat meant for four people.

I consider this boat similar to an elegant and great handling sportscar like a BMW or Mercedes. She is quiet, easy to handle, and has a top speed of 30 knots with twin Caterpillar 3126’s @ 420 hp.

When Heidi and I visited Colorado last winter and were skiing in the backcountry we were struck by the number of snowmobiles able to roam anywhere they wanted. In addition there is a large controversy between ranchers and the environmentalists over the use of public lands and the issue of overgrazing. This all struck close to home as they are almost identical issues facing us on the water. The ocean has been drastically overfished and the PWCs (personal water craft) are able to spoil anyone’s day when they appear on the horizon. I consider the PWCs to be the number one enemy of those who enjoy boating - talk about road rage! Here are some excerpts from an article in POINTS EAST that make the point we must treat PWCs differently than boats.

"REAL BOATS" AND THE PWC by Irwin Jacobs

"How could a wildly popular watercraft threaten the entire boating industry?"

PWCs are designed for one or two riders who do not venture far from the point of embarkation unless the surface water conditions are such that a more thrill-seeking adventure can be found elsewhere. When in use, they do not, by design or practice, follow the rules of navigation. They are capable of making rapid speed surges and sharp high speed turns. They also become airborne when crossing wakes, which increases their noise. Since sound travels more readily over water than land, this characteristic is particularly annoying to others using our water resources.

In fact, it is these characteristics that are almost solely responsible for the disruption of enjoyment of other water users. Essentially, PWCs belong in their own special recreational product category’ like snowmobiles and all terrain vehicles ((ATVs). Furthermore, PWCs are advertised extensively as thrill seeking, high speed vehicles, which further promotes their misuse.

Moreover, I believe the unregulated proliferation of these devices is, in large, part of the cause of the industry downturn in sales....

However, promoting safe operation of boats is different in kind and intensity than the type of regulation needed for PWCs....

I am sure there is a place for these kinds of water toys, but I think it must be under controlled conditions and away from other boaters. They must also be kept away from people on shore who can be disturbed by their high pitched sound....

I am not familiar with the waterways at all of our national parks, but I think in general the activity of riding a PWC, or observing them being driven, does not seem consistent with the experience most visitors would seek at a national park. Again, it clearly illustrates the need for PWCs to be considered separately when it comes to regulations for use.

Richard Benner, 79 years old, has scaled back his hours to a couple of days a week as a result of his recent hip replacement. Jay Stein and others collaborated on this letter to Dick while he was in the hospital.

Dear Richard:

Since you have been gone, we at the shop have been planning an event that surpasses all other events ever at a boat shop. We call it the Boat Builders Olympics. This event can only take place after you have returned to work for we need you, not only as a participant, but as a judge. Below is a list of the events planned. Please feel free to add or delete items as you see fit.

1. The Tape Ball Toss. This event will test the skills of even the most seasoned tape ball thrower. The player will have to prove his/her accuracy in the art of tape ball throwing by accurately hitting cardboard silhouettes of their co-workers (bonus points for getting the Foreman between the eyes). For an added measure of difficulty some of the targets will be placed behind mockups of cabin sides with port lights being the only way to the target. The size and weight of the tape balls, and type of tape to be used will be determined at a later date.

2. Piggyback Wharf Wrestling. This event will take place on the dock at the service yard. For an added incentive to go for the gold, the event will be performed at the same time the treatment plant discharges its pool.

3. 55 Gal. Drum Toss. Players will be judged on distance of throw as well as accuracy and style (note the drums will of course be empty for everyone but Mike Mayo and Don Black, just to make it competitive).

4. 8x8 Blocking Toss for the 180+LB Class.

5. 6x6 Blocking Toss for the 100 to 180 LB Class.

6. The Tool Search. This event will be every bit as frustrating as it is when you need to do it at work.

7. Shmoo Smear Competition. Teams of two players will be given one case of black polysulfide each, a caulking gun, a squeegee, one pair of gloves for each participant, and a skirt (just to keep it traditional). The team that empties all its tubes first and spreads out the mess completely, wins.

8. Respirator Donning. The players will have their respirators in front of them on a table of equal height. The respirators will be disassembled. At the whistle, players will assemble their respirators and properly don them. To test for a proper seal, a pair of Larry’s socks will be placed under the test hood.Those who lose consciousness will be disqualified.

9. The Barrel Roll. A serpentine course will be created at the upper yard front parking lot and will end at the service yard launching ramp. There will be two identical courses set up utilizing as many twists and turns as possible. Drums will be partially filled with water to make maneuvering more of a challenge. The team with the fastest time to the ocean (tide could be a factor) wins.

10. Glove Snap. Players will be judged on distance as well as accuracy. A special event will be held in the glass shop to see how many seconds you can get a glove to flap in the fan. The winner of this event will get one of Vinney’s special magazines.

11. Saw Horse Hurtles. We will probably need you to make up a few more horses for this event ‘cause we can’t seem to find any. Where do they all go?

12. Bilge Crawling. This is an event where being small can be a big advantage. To help keep costs down at the shop we will be covering the participants of this event with tack rags so they can in effect clean the bilge at the same time they are racing.

13. No event listed here, I know how superstitious you are.

14. Screaming and Hollering. Kenny Hyler (Holler) has requested this one. He wants to be the guy outside the boat this time.

15. Tool Drop. Jay Stein ought to do well in this competition, don’t you think? Hard hats required in this event, a first aid kit is also highly recommended.

16. The Fashion Show. Bonus points for the oldest Lyman-Morse t-shirt. This event will be judged on a point system, 10 points being the highest, 1 being the lowest. Pants will be judged on their ability to stand up by themselves (with nobody wearing them), the number of holes (unpatched), number of holes patched with duct tape and the length of the crack in the back. Shoes will be judged on the thickness of the shmoo stuck to the bottom. The thickest wins a new pair of shoes.

17. Many have requested this next event...the infamous Foreman Toss, unfortunately for those eager to participate in this event it was overruled by the boss.

We all hope you have a speedy recovery. Some of us will be training every night after work and weekends. Mac, the competitor he is, has agreed to coach us. Come back soon before he kills us. PLEASE!!!

Wish you were here,

THE CREW

TUMBLEHOME was launched on August 9th, 1997 with great fanfare. She then had a tough winter in the Caribbean being tested with a lot of miles in the boisterous trades. We couldn’t be more pleased with her performance and the shape she was in. Gunnar brought her back for a well needed rest and modifications for the new owner.

     I have just finished Alvah Simon’s new book "NORTH TO THE NIGHT A Year in the Arctic Ice" published by International Marine. This is an extraordinary book by an extraordinary person/couple. Alvah and Diana spent 13 years circumnavigating in a small plywood boat before buying the ROGER HENRY a steel 34' sloop and sailing her to the Arctic.
     Alvah’s account of the winter in the Arctic is highly personal and after many a night with some bottles of wine together I thought the book would be anticlimactic. I couldn’t put it down.
     The central theme of self reliance is appropriate with all the other popular books we have been reading lately ("Perfect Storm", "Into Thin Air", "Into the Wild", "The Climb", and "Rescue In the Pacific"). A lot of people have been rescued from boats that survived giving real evidence that we have to think twice before risking other lives as well as our own in a rescue attempt. I cannot think how many times I would have been willing to drive the boat up on a beach and walk as far away from the ocean as possible. Like a lot of other things, it is the mental part that is the toughest -- something Alvah explores a lot in this book.