Shipyard Log

New, Wider Large 700-ton Railway

2011-07-07T01:26:00.000-04:00

The shipwrights at BBHS are busily working on widening and repairing the large 700-ton railway. BBHS received a MARAD federal Small Shipyard grant in 2010 to improve the railway. After the Liberator was launched in late June, the railway was open for major repairs.

The rebuilt/wider railway is expected to be finished by the end of August. Here is a preview of the upcoming improved railway.

LIBERATOR Launching and Sea Trials

2011-06-27T10:21:00.001-04:00

After a new stem, bow planking, deck structure, re-coppering of bow, sheathing the bow in 1/4" stainless steel, renewing port and starboard hips and new engine heads, Boothbay Harbor Shipyard completed the repairs on LIBERATOR.

She headed to Mystic Seaport for the Wooden Boat Show on June 25 and 26th. LIBERATOR was launched and the sea trials took place on the same beautiful Maine day here at the Shipyard. Here is an overview of the repair process on the LIBERATOR.

Seasonal Maintainence for Harbor Boats

2011-06-03T15:45:00.000-04:00

Spring is in full bloom here at Boothbay Harbor. The harbor boats are arriving for their spring maintenance as summer approaches. Pink Lady II from Cap'n Fish's Whale Watch was pulled on the small railway this month for maintenance. Soon Pink Lady II will be off with guests to hunt for the many species of whales with a computer guidance system.

Balmy Days, a harbor boat, which specializes in taking visitors to the amazing island of Monhegan, was on the rails for spring maintenance to prepare it for the busy tourist season in Boothbay Harbor.

The latest visitor to the shipyard for maintenance is Sherman Zwicker. Sherman Zwicker is the last remaining auxiliary fishing schooner and has all of its main original features still intact and operational. Originally a Grand Banks fishing boat, the Sherman Zwicker can often be seen at the Tall Ship Parades.

Visit from the Governor

2011-05-23T09:41:00.001-04:00

Governor LePage visited Boothbay Harbor Shipyard on Friday afternoon. The shipyard employees discussed topics that are important and challenging to Maine shipyards and small businesses in Maine. They toured the LIBERATOR to see the recent reconstruction on her bow and took a quick tour of the remaining buildings at the shipyard. It is always a good thing when the representatives of our government, whom are employed by the people of Maine, visit the businesses and people they are governing.

Shutter Plank and New Stem on LIBERATOR

2011-05-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

The Shutter Plank (final plank) was secured to the Liberator hull, on a beautiful, cool, crystal clear afternoon here at BBHS. The new stem and the hull planking are a magnificent sight. The new bow hull has two layers of planking, the inside and outside. After filling the fastening holes with bungs, the ship will be primed and then painted. It always seems sad to see that gorgeous wood covered up with paint in order to protect it from the environment.

Sometime pictures are worth more than words. Therefore, enjoy a bit of the process of reconstructing the stem and planking of the Liberator bow.

Visit from EASTWIND

2011-04-12T22:59:00.003-04:00

The beautiful schooner Eastwind is on the small rail for her seasonal maintenance. The Smith family has been busy scraping and sanding the bottom to prepare for the upcoming summer season in Boothbay Harbor. A two-hour voyage aboard, Schooner Eastwind, gives you time to relax and see the Maine coastline.

The owners are Tom and Jennifer Smith. Tom is the eldest son of Herb and Doris Smith. Tom and Jennifer wanted to keep their last schooner in the family so they bought the business. Herb and Doris captain and crew five days a week in the summer and Doris helps with maintenance in the Spring but otherwise they are enjoying having some time off.

Herb and Doris Smith have sailed around the world twice with their three children on the schooners they built by hand. After the Smith's built five Appledore schooners, they built Eastwind, a sister ship of the Appledores. Appledore IV and Appledore V are currently both ASTA ships.

Along with these voyages they wrote two books that are available on Amazon, Sailing Three Oceans and Dreams of Natural Places. A current version of Sailing Three Oceans that includes a section on the building and sailing of Eastwind can be purchased through the Smith's. When you come to Boothbay Harbor this summer make sure you save a couple of hours to explore the harbor on Eastwind and see lighthouses, fabulous Maine islands, and local lobster fishermen.

Sprint 3 in Velux Race

2011-02-17T13:28:00.004-05:00

Brad Van Liew, the American in the Velux 5 Oceans solo yacht race around the world is still in the lead. His 60' yacht, Le Pingouin has finished 2nd, 3rd and 5th in other challenging races and is looking toward finishing 1st in 2011. The yachts left Wellington, NZ eleven days ago and are headed toward Punta Del Este, which is an upscale resort town on the southern tip of Uruguay. The skippers represent the countries of Poland, Canada, Belgium, the UK and the US. Follow the third sprint here.

Amazing Use of Space

2011-02-04T08:14:00.007-05:00

As one works around a shipyard with yachts, the fascinating use of space is always engaging to see. The beautifully polished wood, on the built-in and cleverly designed storage is one of my favorite parts of the yacht. I wonder what it would be like if a shipbuilder built a ship with the essence of this amazing 330 sq foot apartment in Hong Kong that can be 24 different rooms. This ingenious use of space designed by Gary Chang is definitely food for thought.

Islandia

2011-01-21T09:50:00.000-05:00

I am having a bit of wanderlust for the warm breezes on my face and thinking about the islands and turquoise waters, which leads me to wonder where the 136' super yacht Islandia that came this fall for maintenance to Boothbay Harbor Shipyard is sailing.
Islandia built in Holland and designed by Tony Castro and Peter Sijm, was made using steel for the quickwork - her design prescribes the presence of a bulbous keel with a composite sailing boat that has made it possible to reduce the draft to only 11.5'- and aluminum for the upper works. All the interiors are in mahogany wood, matched
with beige color upholstery and furnishings. The large living room, at the center of the boat, extremely bright thanks to the numerous glass surfaces, includes a spacious area with TV and dining table able to accommodate 10 persons.
Astern of this room are the three guest staterooms, each with its own bathroom, and the boat owner's stateroom. This latter stateroom is a true suite, with two large twin beds and a smaller bed, a lounge with an L-shaped sofa, a desk and a wardrobe, and is provided with a bathroom and a separate shower compartment.

At the bow of the living room there is a large on-board galley, almost professionally equipped, the crew dining area and their cabins, each with separate shower and bathroom. From this area the crew gains direct access to the deck, to the engine room and to the technical area where all the systems for the correct operation and maintenance of the boat are situated. This allows for a maximum level of privacy.
A beautiful yacht it is and we are looking forward to Islandia and other super yachts visiting us again here at Boothbay Harbor this spring for maintenance before they adventure coastal Maine, which is one of the most beautiful coasts in the world in the summer and early fall.

Repairing the Stem

2011-01-15T12:41:00.000-05:00

When working on large wooden ships, shipwrights appreciate the weight and strength of the amazing medium of wood. Recently when the BBHS shipwrights cut the stem from Liberator, which was damaged, this massive piece of stem weighed over 1200 lbs.

Removing the Stem

Laminated Layers in Stem

Stem of Liberator Before Removal

For those of you that are not shipbuilders or avid sailors, a stem is the most forward part of a boat or ship's bow and is an extension of the keel itself.

Liberator from Kings Point

2010-12-15T20:16:00.015-05:00

The Liberator is at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard for the winter to investigate and possibly repair the stem, systems work and paint work.

Liberator is a training ship for the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, on the north side of Long Island, New York. Kings Point Waterfront is a community of Midshipman Sailors, Rowers, Faculty and Staff dedicated to enriching Maritime Training at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States service academies. It is charged with training officers for the USMM, branches of the military, or the transportation industry.

Midshipmen (as students at the Academy are called) are trained in marine engineering, navigation, ship's administration, maritime law, personnel management, maritime law, international law and customs to the secod and many other subjects important to the task of running a large ship.

2010 ASTA Conference

2010-11-15T07:00:00.002-05:00

Todd Kosakowski, of BBHS and Harold Burnham are presenting a New Program Showcase: Restoration of Schooner Ernestina at the 2010 ASTA Conference in Long Beach, CA on board the Queen Mary being held November 15 and 16. Ernestina was at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard in 2008-2009 for midship, bow and decking repairs. Ernestina previously known as Effie M. Morrissey has an amazing history involving Capt. Bartlett and later the Cape Verdians.

The Safety Under Sail Forum and the Education Under Sail Forum will follow the conference on Wednesday, Nov. 17.


Ernestina at BBHS

ASTA’s Annual Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships gathers ships' masters and crewmembers, port representatives and festival managers, public officials, marine suppliers, naval architects, preservationists, environmentalists, program administrators and educators for an inspirational and informational 3-day conference. Topics concerning vessel operations, regulatory issues, management, educational programming, and safety at sea are addressed each year, as are sessions on media relations, marketing, funding, communications, and port event organization. Held annually during November, the ASTA Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships is both fun and informative and offers oceans of networking opportunities.

Solo Sailors Sailing the Seas

2010-11-14T11:58:00.003-05:00

The Ultimate Solo Challenge began on October 13, which is divided into five sprints that together will circumvent the world. There are five yachts and solo sailors in this years race. Brad Van Liew is the leader in the first sprint, which started in France then around Spain, south, almost off the coast of South America and then back to the southern tip of Africa. The first sprint ends in November at Capetown, South Africa.

Solo Captains and their Yachts

Not only is this an amazing race but the internet media coverage is fantastic. On their website is a google map of the day to day movement of each of the sailboats. There are interviews and updates from the captains of each boat taken from stationary video cameras mounted in their cabins. Don't you love it when technology makes those adrenaline sports even more exciting!

Leader American Brad Van Liew

HMS Bounty

2010-10-12T15:05:00.021-04:00

Arriving from Canada, HMS Bounty will be at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard for yard work from October 18-31. Stop by the shipyard parking lot and you can see HMS Bounty on the large railway in her glorious splendor.
The last time HMS Bounty was in Boothbay was August 2007 when it was launched from the large rail here at the shipyard after extensive work on the fastenings, keel, planking, deck, and framing. Since then, HMS Bounty has traveled to locations such as: Tahiti, Scotland, England etc.

HMS Bounty's Figurehead

From the earliest times the stems of vessels have been decorated with some form of figurehead.

HMS Bounty was originally a merchant ship called the Bethia.
The female figurehead on HMS Bounty is called Bethia, after the name of the original sailing ship. Normally of a buxom shape, with few clothes, the figurehead of a ship was believed to bring luck. It was important for illiterate sailors to recognize their ship and each figurehead was unique.

Bethia is much more covered than most, with a full, modest dress, and even a hat. This is an authentic replica of the original Bounty figurehead, which Captain Bligh described in his journal as, “a handsome woman in a riding habit, well carved.” The figurehead, Bethia is said to be dressed in her riding habit so that her dress would not get wet when she sails over the seas.
Compare Bethia to the figureheads below.

MF Shallop Project

2010-10-06T01:00:00.002-04:00

Yes, I said Shallop, not Scallop. What is a shallop? In the 1600’s, the word “shallop” referred to an open wooden workboat such as a barge, dory or rowboat. Shallops were small enough to row but also had one or two sails. The shallop is a European-style boat of approximately 18 feet in length that can be outfitted to row or sail.

The Shallop Project has been a fabulous way to combine new technology and old.
Maine's First Ship began a project connecting community volunteers, fourteen high school students, a science teacher, a shipwright and a media specialist in a two- month project to build a shallop tender that could serve Virginia, the first ship built in Maine by English colonists in 1607, when it is reconstructed.

The students are not only building a boat, but they are learning about filmmaking, blogging, journaling, marketing and public speaking.

The student boat builders are translating the design from paper to wood, figuring angles, cutting and fitting the various pieces to make the boat's framework. Eight oars are also being hand crafted to go with the boat.

Virginia was the first ship built in Maine and believed to be the first ship built by Europeans in the New World. The "Shallop Project" is an initial step towards the goal of reconstructing the Virginia itself,

Students have learned boat building vocabulary and construction skills. In addition, they have developed important skills of teamwork, productive work habits and media skills such as videography, photography and video editing on laptop computers from the MLTI (Maine Learning Technology Initiative). This project was written up in Edutopia, the George Lucas Foundation magazine, one of the most prominent, innovative educational non-profits in the country.

Help support future shipbuilders in Maine. You are invited to the launching in Bath, Maine on Saturday, October 9, at 2:00 at the grey freight shed on Commercial St.

Boothbay Sailmaker Receives Award

2010-09-30T01:00:00.005-04:00

Nathaniel S. Wilson, Boothbay Harbor Sail maker will receive the NMHS 2010 Distinguished Service Award from the National Maritime Historical Society. Nat will be honored for his thirty-five-year career as a sail maker and rigger, recognized as the pre-eminent sail maker of traditional sails in the country, if not the world. Some of the ships and yachts that Nat has made sails for have been built or refit here at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard such as: Alera, Valora, Harvey Gamage, Belle Aventure and Discovery.

The Society salutes his extensive record of helping to keep many of the historic and replica ships sailing, such as USS Constitution, USCG Eagle, Sultana, Clearwater, Spirit of Massachusetts, Pride of Baltimore II, American Eagle, Lettie G Howard, Mayflower II, Godspeed and Discovery. Nathaniel Wilson sails are sought after for vessels large and small, from performance and classic yachts to hearty working craft. The vessels that hoist his sails span the history of water navigation, from replicas of Viking ships to modern vessels, and are true-to-form in look, materials, construction, and performance. The Society also salutes Wilson’s support of sail training and maritime heritage educational programs. His reputation of generosity in sharing his craft and its history precedes him: be it for visiting ships, school groups, or middle and high school history teachers, or the impromptu demonstration for the interested visitor who comes by his loft. Click arrow on right side of the following booklet to turn pages.

Open publication - Free publishing - More sails

Professionally Restored 1st Place Winner of Concours d'Elegance

2010-09-23T11:00:00.004-04:00

Belle Aventure was the winner of the Professionally Restored 1st Place at the 19th Annual WoodenBoat Show. She was refastened and refit here at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard.

Belle Aventure, a 1929 Fife, designed and built by William Fife and Sons in Scotland, is owned by Mike McCue. Capt. George Moffett, who represented the owner, the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard shipwrights and staff are responsible for the high quality refastening and refit of this yacht.

At the 19th Annual WoodenBoat Show, the boats were divided into three categories: sail, power, and oar/paddle and judged for their quality of construction and restoration, quality and correctness of all on-board systems, and caliber of finish and appearance.

All boats exhibiting at the WoodenBoat Show; on land or in-water, were invited to participate in the Concours d’Elegance to compete for awards in a number of categories. The quality of this year’s entrants was among the best they had ever seen, which made the judges’ choices very difficult. All the winners can be viewed here and in the upcoming September/October 2010 Woodenboat Magazine.

Our own Capt. Dave is now on Belle Aventure and continues to varnish and keep the boat at its best.

One of Best 7 Articles Ever Written in English

2010-08-02T13:52:00.003-04:00

Maine's very own Maine's Lobster Festival was the focus of one of the "Seven Best" all time magazine articles, which was written in 2004 in Gourmet Magazine called Consider the Lobster.

Okay, one could obviously quarrel with the choices, but the links alone make this post worthy of a look. A former editor of Wired magazine went looking for the best that journalism has to offer, and cataloged the results according to decade, as well as the number of times a correspondent suggested it.

Trunnels and Topsails

2010-07-29T11:38:00.004-04:00

Enjoy a booklet of some of the fabulous ships and yachts that have undergone restoration here at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard in recent years.

A Look at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard

2009-03-05T15:32:00.001-05:00

The old saying of "a picture is worth a thousand words" can be multiplied when there is a video available. You may not have the chance to come to the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard in person, so we will save you gas and give you a personal tour before you ask us to build you a new ship/yacht/boat or bring yours here for a re-fit.

Our shipyard has been building ships since 1869. With over twenty experienced and dedicated shipwrights, two large shipsaws, one with state-of-the-art temperature and humidity control, two marine railways (a 700-ton and a 150-ton) and well-equipped wood and metal shops, Boothbay Harbor Shipyard has the ideal setup for new building, restoration and repair. Our versatile crew has a depth of experience that ranges from building large sawn-frame working craft to restoring varnished mahogany yachts. Our services include all aspects of traditional wood construction and repair, welding, machine work, engine and mechanical work, painting, varnishing and storage. We also, work on metal framed boats and ships.

Check the VIDEO below for your personal tour.

Update on the Ernestina Re-fit

2009-02-14T00:26:00.001-05:00

The historical Ernestina is heading toward completion of her major re-fit here at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard. With two months left before the launching of the Ernestina in April, the crew is working very hard to meet the deadline.

The planking covering the bow and midship is complete with the exception of one plank on the starboard side. With the completion of the planking, the chalking has begun on the hull. After the chalking is the sealing.

The building of the deck frame is nearly finished and the laying of the deck will begin shortly.

A template of the covering boards above the planking has been developed and the completion of the covering boards will be the next step toward wrapping up the Ernestina re-fit. Watch the VIDEO below showing the latest progress on the Ernestina

Progress of Belle Aventure

2009-02-09T22:03:00.015-05:00

The two-year refit and refastening of Belle Aventure is less than three months from completion. The enormous task of refastening is 95% finished. The keel rabbet and stern post are left to be fastened.

The hull topside is being faired and the final coats of primer are being added.

The interior joinery (woodwork and cabinetry) in the cabins is near completion except for the paint and varnish.

A new engine bed for the new engine was built along with the cabin soles in all three heads and the shower drains, which have been rebuilt. Both the mechanical and electrical systems are in their final stages.

Nat Wilson is in the process of finishing the sails. The three new jibs and mizzen are completed with only the mainsail still to be sewn.

For the launching, we will wait for a very high tide in April.

Nautical Idioms

2009-01-24T12:35:00.007-05:00

During the winter months there seems to be more time for reading and reflection. Thinking about where the words “Shipyard Log” came from, I started digging into expressions or idioms that came from nautical roots.

In the early days of sailing ships, the ship's records were written on shingles cut from logs. These shingles were hinged and opened like a book. The record was called the log book. Later on, when paper was readily available and bound into books, the record maintained it’s name.

Today to show your true colors is to reveal your true character or intentions. Pirate ships would approach their intended victim showing a false flag to lure them into a false sense of security. When it was too late for the victim to escape they would then show their true colors or flag.

Food and drinks are always a topic of interest. One common expression is: Down the Hatch. This is a drinking expression, but has its origins in loading cargo onto boats as you might expect. As the cargo is put into the hold, it travels down the hatch, and appears to be consumed by the ship.

In today’s economy we are ever mindful of our finances. We may have money set aside to use for fun and entertainment expenses, which we call our slush fund. So where does this phrase slush fund come from? This nautical expression has been around since 1939. It refers to the waste fat or grease left over from meat boiled down on board the boat. Sailors boiled down and stored the fat remains of their salted beef rations; this was then sold to soap and candle makers. The money received from the sale of the slush' was used for the crew's comfort and entertainment.

So, use some of your slush fund to celebrate the new year and keep warm with a drink down the hatch.

Women Sailors

2009-01-07T11:46:00.005-05:00

Two avid women sailors have continually amazed the shipyard over the last 20-30 years. Susan Sproul has been coming to Boothbay Harbor from the Chicago area, every year for at least 20 years. We at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard have been caring for Ku’uipo, (a Hawaiian word meaning sweetheart), her 12 1/2 ft. Herreshoff, (actually 16-17 ft) for 20 years. Her focus for 2-3 weeks each summer is sailing Ku'uipo. She and her husband book a room at Linekin Bay Resort in Boothbay Harbor and we deliver her boat to greet her on her arrival. For the following weeks, she usually sails three times a day: morning, afternoon and evening. She takes time off for her meals in between. She will go out with friends or by herself, but she almost always goes out.

Barbara Lockwood, another avid sailor has given Boothbay Harbor Shipyard the care of her Herreshoff 28, Ariel for the last 30 years. Being a teacher in a suburb of Boston, Barbara has time in the summer to enjoy a great deal of sailing. She moors Ariel on one of the 24 moorings in the harbor belonging to Boothbay Harbor Shipyard. Often she will come up to Maine and take Ariel out for a couple to 10 days followed by Ariel resting for week or so on the mooring. Along with friends and family, Barbara takes her beautiful wooden dingy, Louise, which was a gift to her from her father. She repeats this sail plan often from Memorial Day to November.

We would like to toast these two extraordinary women sailors for their continued love of sailing.

Shutter or Whiskey Plank

2008-12-29T17:04:00.000-05:00

What is it with alcoholic beverages and ships? We all know the tradition of breaking a bottle of champagne on the hull of a ship for its christening before it is launched. However, pouring whiskey on a plank of the hull of a ship is a bit more unknown.

In December, the shutter plank, or whiskey plank was installed on the CHEROKEE, the Sparkman and Stevens six-meter yacht being build by Boothbay Harbor Shipyard as an exhibit, at the Museum of Yachting.

Why a celebration for this plank? A whiskey or shutter plank is the last plank, which needs to be put in place to finish a ship's hull. The Shutter Plank Party is an old tradition. Sometimes a glass of the last captain’s favorite drink is poured on the plank. However, the drink of the last captain of the original CHEROKEE is unknown so they used whiskey.

After a whiskey plank is put on, the hull can be treated, sealed, and painted, and work begins on the inner fixtures of the ship. Because this marks a turning point in the construction, it is traditional to take a brief moment to celebrate the mounting of this special plank. Often, this tradition involves shots of whiskey for all.

Although the CHEROKEE is still far from finished, once the shutter or whiskey plank is installed, a major milestone in the construction has been reached.

It has been a while since we have checked in on the progress of the CHEROKEE, from the lofting to the completed hull. A larger view of these images can be view here.

If you would like to see more great pictures and read more details of this project click into the CHEROKEE Blog by Tom Daniels.

Boothbay Harbor Lights Boat Parade

2008-12-16T14:28:00.007-05:00

On a cold winter Saturday night during the holiday season, one might ask what happens in a small coastal town in Maine. One special activity in Boothbay is the Boothbay Harbor Lights Boat Parade. On Friday night Joe Reardon, Micheal Connors, Jeff Dick, Michael and Pam Bauregard and Michelle Farnham gathered to decorate the Glenn-Geary for the parade. The red lights went up on the port side and the green lights went up on the starboard side with white and mixed colors in between. The lights were powered with a generator donated by Kevin Roux.

At 5:00, the parade began to circle the harbor from the town float around the east side to the shipyard on the west side and back to the town float. The judges made up of merchants from town, looked at the 13 participating boats and chose our own Glenn-Geary, piloted by Capt. Dave Thompson wearing his white beard and red Santa hat, as FIRST place. The shipyard won bragging rites for the year, along with $100 and a silver engraved cup. Congratulations to all who participated in this celebration. Pictures of the event are available here.

Red and Green

2008-12-09T17:07:00.005-05:00

As we enter into the holiday season, the colors red and green come to our mind as colors of seasonal decorations. Where as, in the summer, those colors mean something very different for those that maneuver sailing ships and powerboats along the coast of Maine. Red represents the port (or left) and green represents the starboard (or right) side of a ship or boat.

Historically, before ships had rudders on their centerlines, they were steered by a specialized oar. Located in the stern (back) of the ship, this oar was held by an oarsman. However, like most of the rest of society, there were many more right-handed sailors than left-handed sailors. Therefore, the oar was usually on the right side of the ship. The Old English word steorbord evolved into starboard, which meant, the side on which the ship is steered.

Originally, the port or left side of the ship was known as larboard. Larboard is derived from the practice of sailors mooring on the left side (the larboard or loading side) as to prevent the steering boards from being crushed. The term larboard, when shouted in the wind and weather, was presumably too easy to confuse with starboard. Later in the 1850’s, the word port came to replace it, referring to the side of the ship where cargo is loaded from the port.

So, if you have difficulty remembering left-port and right-starboard, here are a couple of suggestions:
1. "Port", "left", and "red" are all short words while the other side are long words “starboard", "right", and "green".
2. Or if you are a wine lover this one might be the easier to remember. “Is there any Red Port Left in the bottle?

International WorkBoat Show

2008-11-29T23:45:00.003-05:00

Boothbay Harbor Shipyard representatives Capt. Dave Thompson and Dave Ernst, head for the International WorkBoat Show this week in New Orleans.

The International WorkBoat Show is the largest commercial marine tradeshow in North America serving people and businesses working on the coastal, inland and offshore waters. One thousand companies will display products and services for commercial vessels and the companies that build, service and operate them.

In the future, BBHS will be teaming with Cummins to install propulsion and auxiliary engines from 50 to 2000 horsepower (37 to 1492 kW). Boothbay Harbor Shipyard can install engines into such boats as: gill netters, ferries, yachts, tugboats, fishing boats, fire boats, seiners, and crew boats.

Installations such as the Cummins engines in the tugboat Lucinda Smith are an example of the teaming effort. See a video on the tugboat Lucinda Smith installation here.

International Sail Training Association Conference

2008-11-18T14:32:00.002-05:00

On November 14 and 15, 2008, Boothbay Harbor Shipyard was proud to help sponsor the first joint Sail Training International/American Sail Training Association annual conference, which was held at Halifax. It was the first Sail Training International conference to be held outside Europe.

More than half of the 400 delegates from 28 countries were sail training tall ship operators from around the world. Other attendees represented ports that host the Tall Ship events. Click here for a new video on Sail Training International.

“Bringing our conference to Halifax is one of a series of initiatives we have embarked on to extend our global reach and influence, working with our member national organizations.” For more details on the conference click here.

“The American Sail Training Association is a founder member of Sail Training International. The joint venture on this year's conference will strengthen our links with the international sail training community as a precursor to the Tall Ships® Atlantic Challenge 2009,” said Mike Rauworth, Chairman of the American Sail Training Association.

Italian TV Film Crew

2008-10-27T10:25:00.009-04:00

Feeling that it was just the right time to visit Maine with the gorgeous foliage and lack of tourists, Cristina Borgogna Di Capriasco gently requested to have multiple shipwrights pose in front of the 275 gallon oil sign with tools of their trade. They kindly posed one at a time with a variety of tools such as a chain saw, trunnel hammer, welding gear, laptop computer and about nine others.

Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor Shipyard had a team of six Italian TV crew here last week filming for the European show "Classic Boat". In addition to the still images of the shipwrights, they conducted interviews on two large projects in process here at the shipyard: Ernestina and Belle Aventure.

Each show is broadcasted in 4 languages: Italian, French, English and German. It is a 12 months program, with 24 episodes of 24 minutes each, which began in 2004.

Classic Boat's goal is to pass on the passion and the complicity of sailors, owners, and artisans who dedicated their whole life and their energy to the restoration of boats and ships. The show tours shipyards, showing the ancestral knowledge laying at the base of a restoration project.

Hosted by Michel Dejoie and produced by M & N Yacht, Classic Boat is a television program totally dedicated to classic and vintage boats, as well as to sailors, skippers, owners… but also to artisans and sea carpenters.

New Service Provided: Cathodic Protection

2008-10-23T18:37:00.000-04:00

Cathodic protection is one of the most effective ways of reducing or eliminating the corrosion damage that invariably affects metals that are in contact with sea water.

Metal hulls, rudders, propellers, stabiliser fins, ballast tanks, water tanks are all areas that need protection. Paint provides only minimal protection from the corrosion of metal.

On the right is the famous ship the Cutty Sark. Below the ship is one example of corrosion damage, rust flaking off a stringer plate behind the figureheads on the Cutty Sark.

Boothbay Harbor Shipyard has expanded the scope of services to our customers to include the ability to perform an electrical signature analysis of metal hulls. This tool helps identify the risks of structural and mechanical corrosion.

This pier side activity begins with all onboard systems shut down and the placement of a submerged device adjacent to the hull. Starting with quality issues related to shore power, a multi-input data logging system documents the results of activating the entire range of onboard systems.

The analysis and interpretation of these results allows for a cathodic protection plan to be customized for each vessel. Correcting these risks not only protects the longevity of the hull but can extend the life of mechanical and electrical components.

It is recommended that a new analysis be performed at the conclusion of any major change in electrical related components. New equipment has the potential to create additional cathodic risks.

When the yacht is going to be harbored for an extended period of time, additional data logging can provide indication of risks based on the electrical signature found in that particular location.

An inventory and specifications of onboard systems and equipment is required to be able to provide a price quotation for this service.

Shipworm Not a Worm

2008-10-14T06:30:00.000-04:00

Not only do shipwrights need to be concerned with gribbles but they also worry about the shipworm. The shipworm, which is not a worm at all, is actually related to the clam and mussel, therefore it is a mollusk.

These "termites of the sea" are able to digest the wood due to a symbiotic relationship with a bacteria that is stored in a special organ in their body. This relationship is much like the termite, which also needs a bacteria to allow it to digest the cellulose in the wood and turn it into glucose for energy.
The larva of the shipworm uses its small sharp shell to drill into wood. As they grow, the tunnels get larger and larger. Often, wood may have a tiny hole on the outside but the inside will be a maze of larger tunnels. The shipworm (teredo navalis) or sometimes known as the teredo worm, uses the shells near its head or siphon to burrow. Their ridged and rough surfaces rub the wood away as the mollusk turns its head one way and then another. It leaves behind a circular tube that is a bit larger than the shell. The shipworm eats the wood and the soft body's mantle leaves behind a white calcareous substance like chalk to line the burrow for protection and strength.

Shipworms have long been a global scourge of maritime activities. In 1502, during Columbus' 4th voyage to the Caribbean Sea, his ships survived a water spout, a hurricane, high seas, lightning and rocky reefs. However, luck ran out when two of his four ships had to be abandoned in the Hispanolas and Jamaica because of shipworm rot. He later used copper on the hull to protect it from shipworms.

Pier owners in San Francisco Bay saw an estimated $1.3 billion (today’s dollars) in shipworm damage in the early 1920s. In the last decade, the city of New York has spent well over $100 million to protect and replace worm-damaged structures.

One good way to decrease shipworms attaching and living on marine wood is to inhibit the symbiotic bacteria it needs to live. Some wood that inhibits the growth of the symbiotic bacteria is Douglas-fir, ebony, jarrah, koa, lignum vitae, narra, Osage orange, paduccah, purple heart, red alder, red oak, teak, verawood, and western red cedar. That is why Boothbay Harbor Shipyard spends much time and care choosing the right wood for each section of a ship for a new build or rebuild.

Attack of the Gribbles

2008-10-07T18:34:00.002-04:00

Sounds like a science fiction title doesn't it? But the attack of the gribbles could be in most any shipyard, dock or under any wooden boat. These are one of the two animals that cause the most damage in wooden boats.

Gribbles are related to the lobster and crab. They are mostly a pale, white, small crustacean from one of the 56 species of marine isopods from the Limnoriidae family.

For a long time the gribble diet was a mystery; gribbles lack the nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their bellies that symbiotically allow termites and shipworms to survive on the carbon riches of wood. In other words, they were endlessly gnawing through wood that provided little nutrition or energy to them.

The secret is the wood in seawater, like our harbor estuary, has a slimy surface. That slimy surface, scientists have discovered, is the true diet of a gribble. And by tunneling through wood, and having succeeding generations of gribbles widen those protected tunnels, gribbles dramatically increase the surface area on which the nitrogen-rich microbial slimes can grow.

Gribbles and shipworms, another wood borer, were absent from many harbors for generations because pollution levels were too high, and oxygen levels too low, for them to survive. Strangely enough, the very polluted harbors were often known as "clean harbors" because they had local waters that were so toxic that the unwanted organisms would die off of ships. Luckily, many of these harbors are healthier and the gribbles are back.

At the shipyard, we have classic wooden ships and yachts. Careful maintenance of making sure the bottoms are painted and all the seams are sealed, prevents gribbles from damaging these ships and yachts.

Twenty Five Years Lead to Boothbay Harbor in August

2008-09-24T17:03:00.008-04:00

What do you suppose Key West, Florida, Charleston, North Carolina, Ketchikan, Alaska and Twin Bridges, Montana have in common with Boothbay Harbor, Maine?

They were all Charles Kuralt’s choices of places to be for a month in his book “Charles Kuralt’s America”. He suggests Key West for January and Ketchikan, Alaska for June. However, his vote for August was Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

Tired of the competitive, deadline driven news world, Charles Kuralt persuaded CBS to let him try out traveling and interviewing regular people from a motor home. He was given three months and it turned into a quarter-century project. "On the Road" became a regular feature on The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite in 1967. Famously enough, Kuralt hit the road in a motor home (he wore out six before he was through) with a small crew and avoided the interstates in favor of the nation's back roads in search of America's people and their doings.

Much like John Steinbeck’s “Travels with Charley” Kuralt looked for and found interesting people and places.

Here is a short selection from the August section about Boothbay Harbor, Maine from “Charles Kuralt’s America”.

I didn't get over my boat dream the whole time I was in Maine. I'm not over it yet. I am drawn to shipyards and anchorages wherever I go. If there's a bit of a breeze, the sound of a halyard slapping a mast arouses a great yearning in me.

In the perfect harbor …one late afternoon, no less than eleven of the passenger-carrying windjammers of Maine sailed in for a rendezvous. There was the last of the three-masted schooners, Victory Chimes, a survivor of the days when Maine bought its groceries in the West Indies and sent to China for afternoon tea. Anchored nearby was the pilot schooner Timberwind, which was launched in Portland in 1931 and has never left Maine waters; if you are born in heaven, her caption once said, why go anywhere else? There was the J. & E. Riggin, an eighty-nine-foot oyster-dredging schooner dating to 1927; and American Eagle, a gorgeous ninety-two-foot fishing schooner from the 1930s; and the oldest documented American sailing vessel in continuous use, the Stephen Taber, launched in 1871; and there were all the others, a maginificent show. These boats are captained by happy men and women who cannot imagine what else they'd rather do with their lives. I understand them. The passengers, most of them, return year after year for the sweet passages through the coves and islands, the quiet nights at anchor, the sea chantey concerts on deck, the lobster bakes ahsore. I understand them, too.

I went out to Nathaniel Bowditch, an eighty-two-foot topsail schooner which left the fleet in her wake in the Bermuda Race of 1923. Her captain, Gib Philbrick, is a wonderful man whose enthusiasm for what he does is written all over his face. Gib was once a fishing guide in te Rangeley Lakes. He was the basketball coach at the University of Maine. All the time, he wanted to be a schooner captain. He and his wife, Terry, took a deep breath and bought Nathaniel Bowditch twenty years ago.

"If a schooner ownes you," he said, "it owns you all year around. In the late fall, we go over every line and block, we have new sails made if we can afford it, we care for every tiny thing. We keep her in the water where she belongs, and throw salt water on her deck every day to keep the seams tight. In the winter when I'm feeling edgy, I come down and sit aboard.

"And then -- oh, man -- then comes the spring!"

Knees from Trees

2008-09-10T14:37:00.007-04:00

One might ask, what do knees and the Larix laricina have to do with ships and shipbuilding? It turns out they have a prominent place in the history of shipbuilding as well as modern wooden ships.

The Larix laricina or the tamarak tree has shallow roots that grow almost perpendicular to the tree trunk. Therefore, they make tremendously strong knees. Knees are the right-angle root of the Eastern larch, or tamarack tree--also known as a hackmatack. Which are one of only three deciduous trees that lose their needles. The tamarack is a bog tree, fast-growing with shallow roots, which became prized because of its strength and durability to create braces in wooden shipbuilding. The tree often grows in peat moss and when it does, the roots do not freeze. It also is decay resistant, which is a big plus on ships.

For centuries, knees have been used in wooden ships and boats to strengthen and support deck beams and keels. When used vertically, they are called "hanging" or "standing" knees. Lateral knees are referred to as "lodging" or "bosom" knees.

Often, each mast has 4 lodging knees to help hold the shape against the stress of the movement of the vessel and the mast. In addition to the lodging knees the space where the mast fits also has several hanging knees.

The knees are seasoned from one month to four years depending on the thickness of the wood.

Until recently, Maine had one of the few “knee farmers” in the country. Newman Gee of Newman’s Knees from St. Albans, Maine would dig up the roots by hand just as they did 100 years ago. He used a Wood-Mizer mill equipped with a special sled, which allowed him to saw the knees lengthwise, pivoting them as the saw blade advanced.

Historically, the tamarak not only provided knees from the roots but young stems were used for dog sled runners, boat ribs and fishtraps. Even the fine roots were used to sew birch bark and the wood was used for arrow shafts. The bark was used for medicine and the soft needles were used to stuff pillows and mattresses. These people really knew how to live “green”.

Sailing Schooner School in Session

2008-09-02T13:34:00.012-04:00

As students locally return to school, we see the Harvey Gamage getting its final preparations before it picks up the new students in mid-September for Ocean Classroom's fall Semester at Sea.

The Harvey Gamage was recently launched after a summer of repair for a major plank and frame replacement renewal project. The focus for this year was the mid-ship. As part of a five-year cycle, the shipyard replaced around 64 futtocks (ribs of ship) and 22 planks in the midship area.

This fall term, Proctor Academy students from Proctor, New Hampshire board the traditional schooners, Harvey Gamage and Spirit of Massachusetts and embark on an open-ocean adventure: sailing down the east coast...through the Bahamas...south to Hispanola...and finally into San Juan Harbor. Along the way they gain full academic credit for their studies in maritime history, maritime literature and writing, navigational mathematics, marine science and seamanship skills in collaboration with Ocean Classroom Foundation.

In a year, the Ocean Classroom ships will visit between 12 and 16 countries. They cover between 4,500 and 6,000 miles under sail while the students serve as ship's crew and are regularly attending classes. The Ocean Classroom Foundation has programs for students from middle school up through college.

Watch the VIDEO on the Harvey Gamage at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard.

Six-Metre Sailboats

2008-08-24T14:28:00.000-04:00

What is a Six-Metre sailboat and why is it often actually 12 meters long?

Six-Metre sailboats are a construction class. This means that the boats are not identical but are all designed to meet a specific measurement formula, called the International Rule, which came about in 1907. The International Rule was created for the measuring and rating of yachts to allow different designs of yachts to race together under a handicap system. It is important to note the term metre does not refer to the length of the yacht; it is the product of a formula and denotes the class. A Six Metre yacht can be from 10 metres to 12 metres in length.

The Six-Metre class became very popular, and was chosen as an Olympic class in 1908 Summer Olympics.

The 1920-1930s was the “golden age' of the Six-Metre Class, attracting top sailors and designers. However, Sixes were later criticized as too expensive and towards the end of 1930s they became more so, making the class too exclusive.

Already in 1929, 5.5 Metre class was established as a cheaper and
smaller alternative for Sixes, and the last year the Sixes was an event in the Olympics was in 1952.

The U.S. competed in the first Olympic Yachting events held in 1900, but not again until 1928. Their first medal was won in 1932.

The sailing events in the very first modern Olympics in 1886 were cancelled due to weather. The only other year there were no sailing events (other than war time) was in 1904 in St. Louis.

Boothbay Harbor Shipyard is sponsoring the building of the Cherokee, a Six-Metre sailboat at the Museum of Yachting, in Newport this summer. The boat will be completed in time for it to compete in the World Championships for Six-Metre sailing yachts in October 2009 hosted by The Museum of Yachting at Newport, Rhode Island. This will be the first time the United States has hosted the international event since 1987.

We also, have an Olin Stephens designed Six-Metre here at the shipyard ready to be restored. Ciocca II is a 1948 Sparkman & Stevens International Six M. NO 794. There is time to restore this Six-Metre and compete in the 2009 World Championships in Newport.

Boothbay Harbor's Own Olympian

2008-08-17T20:13:00.011-04:00

The Olympic sailors use the wind to move their boats, but Boothbay Harbor's own Elle Logan uses her muscle. United States (Erin Cafaro, Lindsay Shoop, Anna Goodale, Elle Logan, Anne Cummins, Susan Francia, Caroline Lind, Caryn Davies, Mary Whipple) claimed gold with a time of 6:05.34 in Women's Eight at Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park in Beijing on Sunday, August 17.
The U.S. Olympic women's eight sliced through the 2,000-meter course with precision, winning its preliminary heat in 6 minutes, 6.53 seconds. This allowed them to qualify for the finals along with Romania, winner of the second heat.

Elle, a first time Olympian and 6'2" Stanford undergraduate has won many national and international awards. Representing Maine and the USA along with Elle is Anna Goodale from Portland.

In a rowing shell, the first seat down the river is number one. Elle and Anna are seated in seats between three and six which are called "the engine room" so as you can imagine, Anna and Elle are very strong.

Watch the US Team in action.

Olympic Sailing Begins

2008-08-09T18:34:00.018-04:00

Feeling the wind in your hair and breeze on your face on a massive smooth sailing schooner is one of the most magnificent feelings of the summer in Maine. Of course, there are those that would agree with the wind and breeze, but differ by saying, they like the sleek lines that allow for that need for speed, especially with the 2008 Summer Olympics starting today in Beijing.

A total of 400 athletes with 272 boats from 62 countries and regions compete in 11 events of nine classes of the sailing regatta. The events last from August 9 to 23.

Representatives from all teams marched on the stage and displayed their flags at the Olympic Sailing Center Themed Park, where the launching ceremony of the Olympic sailing regatta was held on Friday, August 8. You can follow the races here with the International Sailing Federation or the Olympic site with more dates and results.

Fifteen boats from Yngling class and 26 boats from Finn class finished two races on the opening day of the sailing regatta on Saturday afternoon. Watch a VIDEO of the Yngling in action.

The first race of the 2008 Summer Olympics started with the Ynling Fleet. Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson from Great Britain, lived up to their billing as favorites with a second and third place finish in Saturday's two opening races putting them in the overall lead.

On Sunday, the 49er fleet begins its races. It will be a tough one, with a great depth of ability so the winners could come from amongst many of the teams. In the right conditions, the races are short and quick and can be very physical for the crews.

Sitting comfortably in our state-of-the-art newly renovated 6,000-sf climate controlled service bay is a member of the famous Fife family, Belle Aventure with her sleek lines. Fife yachts have competed in races worldwide including the America’s Cup Races (started in 1851), which predates the Modern Olympics (1896) by 45 years.

Arctic Explorer on the Ways

2008-08-05T06:00:00.001-04:00

While researching for a video on the Ernestina, I discovered that the ship getting its bow replaced, sitting on our Boothbay Harbor Shipyard marine railway has a rich history and amazing stories to tell.

The Ernestina is one of only two sailing Arctic exploration vessels left afloat in the United States, the other being the schooner Bowdoin, also a National Historic Landmark. After a long and distinguished fishing and cargo-carrying career, Effie M. Morrissey (Ernestina) was purchased in 1926 by Capt. Robert A. Bartlett, Canadian-born Arctic explorer and captain for Robert E. Peary.

Seventeen years earlier, Bartlett navigated Peary and Matthew Henson to the North Pole in 1909, on the Roosevelt and was considered the greatest ice captain of the 20th century. After 1924, under Capt. Bob Bartlett, Ernestina or known at that time as "the little Morrissey" made 20 regular voyages north. On one voyage they reached within 600 miles of the Pole. They documented the frozen north and its flora and fauna. Its patrons included the National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Institution, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Museum of the American Indian, and others.

Star of Pathe newsreels and David Putnam's adventures for boys, David Goes to Greenland and David Goes to Baffin Land, spread the name and fame of this revered captain and his schooner. Cap'n Bob and Morrissey, were as famous to the generation of the 1920s and 30s as Jacques Cousteau and Calypso were to the generation of the 1960s and 70s. They were heroes of adventure along with their ships.

If you look at some of the "Newsreels" on the British Pathe website, you can see actual footage of Capt. Bob on the Morrissey around 1934. Included is footage of him battling storms and icebergs among many other adventures.

In 2009, Capt. Bartlett will be celebrated from Newfoundland and Labrador to New England. When the repairs to Ernestina (previously "the little Morrissey") here at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard are completed, she will be ready to begin new stories and adventures with a new generation.

Watch the VIDEO on Bartlett and his " little Morrissey".

Watch a VIDEO news release from NECN.

Time to Go Sailing

2008-07-29T17:10:00.001-04:00

There are few more delicious places in the world than in Boothbay Harbor, Maine in July, August and September . The crisp evenings and warm days allow the locals and visitors to enjoy the activities and the coastal waters to their fullest. Since you can't all be here with us to enjoy this experience, we want to share some images and video with you.

One special event in June is Windjammer Days, which includes a great view of tall ships, mostly two-masted schooners as they sail into Boothbay Harbor in the parade of sail. This year some of the schooners included: Alabama, American Eagle, Eastwind, Fame, Heritage, Lazy Jack, Lewis R. French, Nathaniel Bowditch, Rachel B. Jackson, Spirit of Massachusetts, Friendship of Salem and Spirit of South Carolina.

Here at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, we get pleasure from seeing many of these ships up close while they receive yearly maintenance. We have had many of these Windjammers here at the shipyard such as: Gazela of Philadelphia, Sherman Zwicker, Victory Chimes, Harvey Gamage and J&E Riggin.

As we gaze out at the harbor from the end of the dock, we often see magnificent yachts sailing like the Alera , which was restored here at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard. The extensive six-month rehabilitation of the Alera began the day after the yard celebrated the yacht's 100th birthday on January 3, 2005.

The following clip was taken of the Alera by MPBN. You can watch the complete Emmy award winning video on a local sailmaker, Nat Wilson from the Maine Experience called Carpe Diem.

National Park Service Interns

2008-07-16T10:44:00.013-04:00

How are two architect students and one marine architect student spending their summer at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard in Maine?

Many hours have been spent measuring every part of the historic Ernestina. They began the measuring in New Bedord, MA before the ship left for Boothbay. This data combined with the data from a TOTAL, a laser tool, is being used to make line and 3D drawings of the Ernestina. Using this laser tool from the deck and land to get the topside and hull markings, a continuous surface is made to replicate the ship.
For more pictures and information see VIDEO.

Interns for the National Parks Service, Karolina Walichiewicz, from California, Caleb Reed from Kansas and Katie Whalen from New York have taken over a conference table and are busy on their computers replicating the Ernestina down to the tiniest detail.

These drawings will be used to get a full picture of what the ship is actually like right now in history. Todd Croteau, the Director of Historic American Engineering Record is supervising the interns, out of Washington DC.

This year the repairs of Ernestina will include the stem, foredeck, and planking above the waterline alongside the foredeck. There will also be temporary repairs to the main deck to halt the leaking.

When asked how it has been for them working at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, they were impressed with all the work goes on and what a busy place it is at the shipyard. Other comments were “It’s a great place to work” and "the people have been friendly and easy to work with.”

The work is expected to be completed this fall and will follow the standards set forth in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standard’s for Historic Vessel Preservation Projects and the U.S. Coast Guard. Harold Burnham, an 11th generation Essex Master Shipwright, is the state representative for the project.

Three Tugboats

2008-07-12T14:25:00.012-04:00

Three tugboats owned by Cindy and Jon Smith are tied to the pier at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard.

Two new more powerful and fuel-efficient engines are being installed in the Lucinda Smith.

The steel hull of the Lucinda Smith was cut away and lifted to the stern to make room for a large crane to lift out the old engines and be replaced with two 1350 HP engines and German ZF5.61 gears.

Used for dredging harbors and construction, the Lucinda Smith, Eddie R and Cameron’s Point work along the Atlantic coast. A detailed article about the tugboats is in the Boothbay Register.

Watch a VIDEO on the Lucinda Smith Tugboat.

Friendship of Salem Docked at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard

2008-06-24T22:01:00.012-04:00

The 171-foot full scale replica of a 1797 East India merchant tall ship, the Friendship of Salem arrived at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard on Monday, Jun 23 for Windjammer Days.
The Friendship of Salem, a three-masted schooner will be docked at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, and open for inspections on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This is your chance to get on board one of the eleven tall ships sailing into Boothbay Harbor this year for the Windjammer Days. Click here to see video.

If you would like to see it sail away, it will be leaving the Shipyard on Thursday.

Building a CHEROKEE at the Museum of Yachting in Newport

2008-06-22T20:00:00.001-04:00

David Stimson, yacht designer and general manager from BBHS, has been in Newport now for about a month. Check the CHEROKEE blog for a detailed update on the progress of the CHEROKEE.
From the design of a 6-meter racing yacht that was published in the January 1928 Yachting magazine, Olin Stephen's esteemed career as a great yacht designer was launched. Olin apprenticed under Philip Rhodes and Rod, his brother worked at Nevins Yard in City Island, New York. At the age of 21, Olin entered into a partnership with the successful Yacht broker Drake Sparkman and together they launched Sparkman & Stephens, Inc.

On Long Island Sound, in the 1930's, one very popular yacht was the 6-meter racing yacht. Sparkman and Stephens, Inc (S&S) designed 39 of these yachts. Two of these 39 stood out as exemplary: CHEROKEE and JILL.

The Museum of Yachting is pleased to announce the building of a new CHEROKEE. which is part of an exhibit on the history of S&S. The yacht is being built from plans provided by S&S and will be launched in time to compete in the 6-meter World Cup—also being held in Newport.

Construction management is being lead by Maine's David Stimson, a yacht designer and general manager of the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard in Maine. For over thirty-five years David has designed, built and restored wooden boats ranging from catboats to larger-scaled passenger vessels.

According to the International Yacht Restoration School, (IYRS) this new build will rigorously conform to historic design and construction standards necessary to compete in the 2009 Worlds. This design is sanctioned by the 6-meter Association of North America as a replica. Only one copy of any given design is allowed to be built. This copy can be built only after it can be prove that the original yacht is no longer in existence.

Glenn-Geary - A Maine Classic Joins the Shipyard

2008-06-19T17:12:00.004-04:00

Historically, sardine fishing played an important role in Maine maritime history. The shipyard recently acquired a piece of that legacy through the purchase of Glenn-Geary.
The Glenn-Geary towed J & E Riggin back to Rockland after its four month bow replacement.

Click here for a video on the Glenn-Geary and Captain Dave.

J & E Riggin - A National Historic Landmark is Repaired

2008-06-05T05:17:00.005-04:00

In December of 2007, J.&E. Riggin was vandalized at her berth when severed lines caused her to be carried into harms way. Considerable damage was caused to her entire bow section. We took her under tow from Rockland to Boothbay Harbor and commenced work to repair the damage. Using our recently renovated 75 ton marine railway, customized blocking was placed under her hull by the shipyard’s dive team. Shore-based repair crews worked steadily to ensure that she was completed in time for the charter season of 2008.

J. & E. Riggin was built on the Maurice River in Dorchester, New Jersey in 1927. Charles Riggin
had her built for his oyster dredging fleet and named her after his sons, Jacob and Edward. Shewas always known as a quick, light air vessel and her speed was proven in 1929 when she handily won the only official Oyster Dredging Race in the Delaware Bay. She was used for oyster dredging until the 1940's, when the fishing regulations changed.

“I can finally report that our lady looks REALLY good. Thank you so much Boothbay Harbor Shipyard for your crew and your love of these beautiful boats.” Captain Anne Mahle (co-owner)

The Riggin's sparred length is120 feet, 89 feet on deck, 23 feet at the beam and draws 7 feet with the centerboard up. She is a bald-headed schooner with low sides and an elegant
spoon bow, uses a yawl boat for auxiliary power. She can carry 24 passengers on 3, 4, and 6 day sailing trips.

Belle Aventure Spends a Winter with Us in Boothbay Harbor

2008-05-23T16:23:00.016-04:00

There are 100 Fifes still in existence and only about fifty are still sailing. At the end of last year, Belle Aventure became the first Fife to grace our completely redesigned and environmentally
controlled large yacht facility. Designed and built by William Fife and Sons in Scotland, this classic spent a Maine winter having her hull and support systems reviewed and upgraded.
The next phase of this project will include the complete refastening of her hull planking. Her actual fastenings are not screws but rivets which measure 7/16ths by 7" and the heads are
peened over on the inside of the vessel.

Our crews will exercise great care when removing the furniture and fixtures required to get to each of these 5,000 1929 naval brass rivets.
Details both great and small will allow this pedigree yacht to return to yet another series of global sea adventures.

Watch the VIDEO on the upgrade of
Belle Aventure at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard.

Kittywake II

2008-03-28T09:55:00.000-04:00

As spring fast approaches, Kittywake II (a 44’ Bunker & Ellis), nears completion of her annual maintenance.

In addition to new paint and varnish, her bottom has been completely refastened.

With minor systems work she’ll be beautiful and ready to go!

Craft of the Shipwright

2007-11-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

Boothbay Harbor Shipyard gladly said, “Yes!” when the Washington County Community College of Maine and the Mid Coast Community College of Auburn came to us with a curriculum in exchange for our sheltering and teaching an introductory course in boatbuilding. The opportunity dovetailed nicely into the state of Maine apprentice program that we have been running since our reincorporation. The course teaches lofting, shop and tool safety and jig building. The last semester completes the building of a Swampscott dory. Three classes have already enjoyed learning these skills.

Boothbay Harbor is a community with a maritime heritage and the shipyard is committed to ensuring wooden boatbuilding into the future with the on-going renovation of a building on a beautiful parcel of land on Linekin Bay. The goal is to move the school into this new facility. The local community has funded the expenses required and efforts are continuing to bring this wooden boatbuilding training facility to completion.

This fall we commenced our fourth semester and with any luck, they will have to be moved into this new building before the end of their time in class.

Ocean Classroom Schooners

2007-10-01T09:52:00.002-04:00

The Ocean Classroom Foundation moved to their new home port in Boothbay Harbor. O ur shipyard hosted the official welcome on October 1, 2007. With the move came the three schooners, The Spirit of Massachusetts, the Harvey Gamage and Westward.
Ocean Classroom Foundation moved because Boothbay Harbor is home to one of the finest plank-on-frame shipyards on the East Coast. These ships will travel with upwards of 24 youngsters on board during a school semester and they will range more than 4,000 miles away from their new home.
Students are taught ocean sciences, history (local, American and development of sea craft), literature, (poems by important authors of the sea; such as Conrad, London, Melville, Dana, etc.), manual skills such as rope work, rigging, sailing, celestial navigation.

Launching the Bounty

2007-08-31T04:06:00.003-04:00

Our shipwrights spent more than a year rebuilding this famous ship from the waterline up. During this period the working crew grew from 18 to 49. This 412 ton vessel would not be with us today had it not been for Marlon Brando's sit-down strike. When he learned it was to be burned in the final reel of Mutiny on the Bounty, he refused to act in another scene until MGM created a scaled down version of Bounty for the burn scene.
The Bounty’s current protector is Bob Hansen. When he first brought her to us in 2001, Bounty had been leaking upwards to 30,000 gallons of water an hour at her pier. Our job was to rework the hull from the waterline down. During this recent visit to the shipyard, the scope of work included: Fastenings; 7,000 trunnels (locus wood dowels)
Keel: 54,000 lbs lead
Planking; 35,000 board ft of oak and Douglas fir
Deck: 3,500 board ft Douglas fir
Framing; :30,000 board ft of oak
We wish the Bounty and her crew fair winds and following seas.
A highly pleased owner will now take her on a recreation of her original voyage, starting in England and ending up in Pitcairn Island.
Watch the launching of the Bounty video.
and
Follow the Bounty's adventures

Enhancements to Marine Railway Systems

2007-08-15T20:24:00.002-04:00

The Boothbay Harbor Shipyard had its' birth in 1869 as a marine railway. Since that time, we have launched a number of four masted schooners. During WW II we built 19 large wooden minesweepers and during the Korean Conflict another 18. Today the yard operates with two marine railways-one rated for 700 tons and the other 150.
During the last two and a half years the large rail has been quite busy with vessels like the 178' Barkentine Gazela of Philadelphia, the schooner Roseway, Grand Banks Schooner Sherman Zwicker and the tall ship Bounty. This yard is one of the last of the large marine railways left in the North East.

Welcoming Existing and New Friends to the Harbor

2007-08-04T10:48:00.000-04:00

Summer at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard has always been a time to see old friends and make new ones. This year we were kept busy by a steady flow of owners looking to have tasks large and small completed while cruising through the delights available along Maine’s coastline.

August 3rd was the day! We transformed the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard into something as close to Camelot as possible. Pot O' Gold a 1929 Consolidated commuter and Ibis our 1904 New York 30 (once owned by J P Morgan) were rolled out as our two prize vessels and backdrops for the festivities. Old boats served as cocktail and serving tables. Our antique walls rang with drollery.The New York Yacht Club, with 100 vessels and 500 members came to the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard for the start of their 2007 annual cruise. The skipper's meeting, the cocktail party and the lights twinkling on the harbor from some of the most well known yachts in the world made the whole occasion-. . . well, like Camelot.

What a Discovery! -A Launch Remembered

2006-12-11T11:15:00.000-05:00

December 11th was mild for that time of year in Maine and that made it the perfect day for the crowd of 500 + that came for the christening of the replica of the 17th-century, Discovery at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard. The afternoon light was just beginning to soften as the crowd gathered slowly around the center of attention and the waters of the harbor waited quietly to accept the sturdy little ship. The ship’s sponsor, Captain Sally McElwreath, USNR (Ret.), stepped to the platform, picked up the champagne bottle and announced: “I christen the Discovery. Godspeed to all who sail in her.” Thump went the first strike of the bottle as it bounced off the bow stem. Then the Captain drew back slightly farther and crack, the bottle exploded and champagne flew over the bow. The crowd cheered, the fife and drum corps struck up and a single cannon roared its salute out over the water. The harbor immediately echoed its muted return salute back to the ship. Ever so deliberately the 50-foot Discovery eased down the marine railway and into the water. It was her grand entrance and she made the most of it. Finally, there was the slightest motion signaling the Discovery was in her element, free of the land. If it had been four centuries ago when the original Discovery was launched, the cry along the shore would have been, “She swims!”

The original Discovery was one of three ships that sailed from London in December 1606. There were about 100 passengers and crew in the small squadron, all bound for a new world... They arrived at what would be called the Jamestown Settlement, Virginia in April 1607.

Maritime Program Manager for the Jamestown Settlement Foundation, Eric Speth, characterized the achievement of the original Discovery as “a voyage that changed the world.”

By Joseph Callo, sailor and author of John Paul Jones: America's First Sea Warrior