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 2002:
A BANNER YEAR
We have had
another busy year and are heading into the spring with an 83' power boat,
42' aluminum commuter and two jet boats. That coupled with the launching
of the 63' Hood sloop, a 36' Northern Bay and one of our jet boats will
make for a busy time.
ABBRA Award
for
Excellence
We are very
excited to have been named the recipient of the ABBRA annual award
for Excellence in Boat Building and Service for 2001. We are humbled by
this award, but know that the men and women who have worked hard here
over the years are well deserving of this honor. We thank those at the
American Boat Building and Repair Association for this award.
Remembering Kenny
When Heidi and I first arrived in Maine with three little boys, all
our belongings, and virtually no contacts in Knox County, Kenny showed
up in our driveway to help us start a new life. Within a few weeks the
two of us started to build our house and an association that lasted over
twenty years. We accomplished a lot together – it wasn’t always
pretty, but we sure got it done in record time. I look back on the
buildings we put up and the boats we built and wonder where we got all
that energy in those days. However, we all had to run to keep up with
Kenny – No one worked harder or with better heart than he did. When
Heidi and I would disagree on something at home or at the boatyard he
would sneak away and build it – Heidi’s way, every time. If a boat
builder tried to put a window in a building or needed a workbench he
would shake his head at us and assume the responsibility in getting it
done.
Kenny answered to no one. His favorite saying was often "I can
go down the road anytime". He did not pay lip service to the
meaning of independence –he lived it. Ken waged the fight against
cancer in his typical way - at home instead of the hospital - his
dignity and independence intact.
MAGPIE
 We were represented by Magpie in the Ft Lauderdale show this year.
What a showpiece! She has made a lot of commotion along the east coast
with her exquisite attention to details. The magazines have covered her
well with excellent articles and pictures in Yachts International Vol. 5
No. 4 September 2001, Boats USA International # 26 February, 2002,
Yachting January, 2002, and Maine Boats and Harbors, # 67 winter 2002.
Click on MAGPIE for more
spec details, pictures of her underway and elaborate interior plus
feature article links.
COYOTE
When we re-designed the 30’ RUMBLE, for Peppy and John Maynard we
did not anticipate the effects it would have. We have now launched two
more sister ships and have another two on the shop floor under
construction.  Although we still consider larger custom boats as our main
business, these 30 footers have fit in surprisingly well. Each owner has
altered the styling and layout to suit themselves with very elegant
details. In other words we are treating these boats like any boat we
build – fully customized. We showed off HALCYONE at the Maine
Boat Builders Show in Portland on March 22-24 to hundreds of
enthusiastic visitors. The jet drive sounds complicated to many people,
but in fact it is simply a propeller in a tube pushing water out the
back with more force than it takes it in. It is a simple system with
remarkable handling qualities. The jet is also very simple to run – no
joysticks, no raising or lowering fins are needed – just a straight
forward easily handled system for the experienced seaman. Click on COYOTE
for more details and specs.
IMPULSE
In my shop at home we are just starting a new 30’ that will have an
open transom and a center console –This is a " lean and
mean" version, meant for island transportation and hauling
supplies. I needed a boat to replace the old IMPULSE that can get Heidi
and I out to the island in all weather and at any time of the year. No
frills, just good performance.
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NEW OFFICE
With our growth we needed more office space - the
original office was meant for two desks and we now have three
full time women with occasionally a forth. Carpeted floors, a
computer on each desk, an air pressurizer to keep the air clean,
more windows, more file cabinets, and mostly more room. The
women seem more professional and definitely happier.
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NEW GLASS SHOP
 Radiant heating, good lighting, high overheads, large doors that open
by pushing a button, fans for better air control all contribute to the
new fiberglass shop. As the typical fiberglass worker becomes more of a
technician using vacuum infusion methods the shop had to change with
him. Half of the new building on the "back 40" has been
dedicated to Jimmy Johnson’s crew of fiberglass workers. The quality
and efficiency of the product improves and the ability to build more
varied projects improves, but the environmental quality for the crew is
vastly improved. I assume this translates into efficiency, but in any
case we have stepped up our emphasis on an important process.
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WORMS IN PILINGS - COMPUTERS
- WHY OVERHEAD GOES UP
Our overhead is a constant worry as it goes up each year due to
health insurance, added regulations, and simple maintenance, but this
year we are looking at a major expense. Because the St George River has
been cleaned up so much, the Toredo worms are back and our pilings are
disappearing. . It doesn’t help us much that the entire New England
coast is experiencing the same problems with an onslaught of wood eating
worms. We all had forgotten that the old piers used creosote to combat
rot and indirectly worms, but for the last 25 years we have not worried
about worms and used untreated pilings that withstood rot. We did not
calculate on the return of the worms. We do not even have an answer to
the problem except to encase the pilings in fiberglass or other types of
covering. Another example of overhead increasing is the fact that all
the computers are full. We have been using an old DOS version of Great
Plains accounting software and we have outgrown it. Of course, to
upgrade to a new accounting program means we have to buy newer and more
modern computers. Is there no end to the circle?
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PROJECTS
IN THE YARD
ACADIA
This new 85’ footer by Ward Setzer is now sitting on the railway in
the lower yard getting ready for the bulkheads. The mold for the hull
was cut by a computerized router in Seattle by Janicki and shipped to us
in parts ready to bolt together. When I mention router one thinks of a
normal shop router under a table. This router is in a huge building with
an overhead crane and can cut plugs and molds for Boeing, the defense
department and small boat builders like ourselves. The best part is the
accuracy of the parts and the fairness of the finished product. ACADIA is sparing no expense with all the wood
carefully hand-picked, back-ups for all systems, a very spacious and comfortable
interior (three staterooms), a speed of 32 Knots, and an experienced
owner who makes life interesting. This boat is going to have it all! For details, specs, and under construction photos, click
here.
COMET
 This 42' design by Dieter Empacher for Jeff Pierce is a replica of
designs in the 1920s. However, that is as far as it goes as the boat
is built of aluminum and has twin Yanmar 350hp engines coupled to
Hamilton #292 jets. This is an unusual project for us because the bare
hull was shipped to us partly finished. This is going to be a fast cruiser
with very aesthetic lines. Once again we are enjoying working with
Dieter Empacher. For design details and construction pictures, click
here.
AMELIA³
 Amelia³, a 63' Hood design, is undoubtedly going to be the finest built sailboat of its
type in the world. Exquisite detailing in all respects, woodworking,
mechanical, electrical, and painting. Jeff and Karen Hughes have been a
joy to work with, as they have been closely involved in the entire
project. For more on AMELIA, her design, specs and construction
details, click here.
Fontaine Yacht Design –
We have had a long and productive relationship with the Ted Hood
Design Group starting with a 55’ sailboat in 1984, three 49 footers in
the late 80s, WINDWALKER in 1998, Dana Robes’ SARA JANE in 2001,
and AMELIA to be launched in April 2002. The Hinckley group has decided
to retire the names of LITTLE HARBOR and the Hood design group and Ted
Fontaine is going to open his own business under the name Fontaine
Design Group with Matt Smith. They will remain in Portsmouth RI but in a
new building Ted Hood is building. I expect we will be working with them
a lot in the future.
SARAH JANE
Dana Robes continues to make progress on his new 65’ Hood designed
boat. We finished the hull and deck, installed the engine (a 210 hp
Cummins 210), a few
bulkheads, and launched her here in Thomaston in September. Dana then
motored her down the river to Round Pond where he hauled her into his
newly constructed boat shed next to his house. We continue to be
involved in the project to varying degrees, but Dana has built a nice
shop and hired his own crew to finish the boat. Perhaps this is not the
most practical way to finish a boat of such a high sophistication level,
but Dana is fulfilling a lifelong dream to build his own boat.
PAUMONAK
 David and Lucille Paulsen asked us to finish off their 35' 11" boat
PAUMONAK
after it was started in another shop. We have done this a few times
before and once we get by the sadness of a project gone astray the boat
swings into the usual pattern of enthusiasm and energy. This is a
Northern Bay lobster boat hull with sophisticated equipment rivaling a
much larger boat. The conversion to yachts of the local fishing boat
designs continues to be popular. Click here for specs
and pictures of construction details.
 EDEN
This has been a major re-fit restoring this wonderful old Concordia
for Gerry and Lark Millett. We built a new deck, refastened some planks,
replaced the frames under the cockpit, new cockpit joiner work, etc. We
have taken great pride in our versatility here at Lyman Morse building
all types and sizes with many different designers, last winter we re-fit
this wonderful classic alongside the modern state of the art powerboat
MAGPIE - what a contrast, but both the best in their own category.
IMPULSE, the original Lyman Morse jet boat has been sold after
several years of faithful service. The new owner, Mike Perlis, is having
us do all the things I wanted to do, but could never find the time. She
is going to look superb with her new windshield and varnished decks.
AURORA, a Shannon 43, owned by Ken Gray is undergoing some major
upgrades with a new bowthruster, new electronics, and refrigeration
system.
RABBIT the 82’ Maxi by S&S is safely put away this winter after
a full paint job last year. With her 14’ draft the staging alone is a
major construction project. As always, working with the owner Richard
Heffering and his skipper/project manager, Paul Fagan, is always a
delight. It is our fantastic group of customers that makes this business
worthwhile.
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We are presently working with Sparkman & Stephens and Doug Zurn
on of two new project launches. The S&S project is patterned after the original Seguin concept
- limited molds and ultimate flexibility. We feel that the times are
similar to the early 80’s where a high quality semi-custom sailboat
will appeal to many of our customers. Doug Zurn is well known for his very fast (and able) and very pretty
powerboats. He has an exceptional eye for pleasant lines and we are
working with several customers on developing his new 46’. New designs, young designers, and young boat builders - the future is
going to be fun especially from the South Pacific. Click here for more
details on these two exciting collaborations and bookmark our website for
more information to come!
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This year we have had more of our own boats return than ever before.
To have our own boats we have built keep returning over the years is
enormously satisfying with the vote of confidence the owners are giving
us.
MUGSY and NIGHTHAWK both stored with us for the winter this year
instead of the usual trek south. We have a chance to catch up with all
the little items instead of their usual quick pit stop in the summer.
Both boats are in excellent shape.
WINDWALKER I returned to us for storage after Alan and Nicole shipped
her home from New Zealand. With their new baby on the way she is for
sale, but their trip was so successful and they were so good at it we
are not worried about having a long-term relationship with the Wordens.
WINDWALKER II had a good trip to the Virgin Islands this year with my
oldest son Zach joining his best friend, Justin (the Captain) and the
rest of the crew for the second leg.
AXEL D (Hunt 60’), BADGER (25’) , BOHEME (Seguin 44’),
NARNIA
(Seguin 49’), FINBACK (Seguin 49), GALLIVANT (Seguin 44),
GRAY WOLF
(Rodger Martin designed 40’), HALCYONE (30’), RADIO WAVES (Hunt 38’),
MAINESTAY (Hunt 42’), RUMBLE (30’), YE HEUNG (25’), are all
stored here for the winter.
 TARKA has returned this winter instead of Florida.
WHIZZBANG had a good trip across to Sweden and Norway and is laid up
in Sweden for the winter.
We miss MAGIC this year as she is in the Bahamas for the winter.
MAINE LADY (ex. JANMAR) is at the Walsted boatyard in Denmark, for
the winter and will be traveling to Gibraltar this summer with the new
owners Tim & Linda Robins.
CHEWINK is laid up in Fiji after taking 11 months from Panama to Fiji
through the Galapagos, French Polynesia, Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji. For complete log and pictures of our
trip, click Cabot's Log.
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LM boats for sale
HOBNOB - the first Seguin in great shape is back on the market
LARK – the last Seguin 44 built – she has all the
"goodies"
WINDWALKER I – Recently completed a trip to NZ - a lot of upgrades
LYRA- 49' designed by Craig Walters – shoal draft
AXEL D – 60’ Hunt design yard maintained excellent condition.
You may see some familiar names here as they have been on the market
for more than a year. This is unusual, but a few of the owners represent
a pattern that seems to be emerging. They all like their boats so much
they don’t seem a bit worried that they don’t sell. Several of them
actually hope they can get another season before the market place
realizes what a good buy they are. The 44’s are still one of the best cruising and offshore boats ever
to be built and designed. They do it all well. Click here
for more particulars on these and other great boats for sale.
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ACROSS THE ATLANTIC IN
WHIZZBANG
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 I asked John and Nancy McKelvey to submit an account of their trip
across the Atlantic on WHIZZBANG.
June 16, 2001 10:07 Whizzbang slipped her lines from the dock at Burr
Brothers Boats in Marion Mass with six on board. In addition to our 1200
sq ft of sail, we carried 430 gal. In the diesel tanks and 17 barrels of
fuel as deck cargo. We were "loaded for bear."
This is my seventh and Nancy’s fifth transatlantic. WHIZZBANG was
built for such a passage by Lyman Morse and launched in 2000. She has a
pilothouse (comfy), watermaker (cleanly) and a satellite telephone and
wireless Email(chatty). We experience one gale and various stages of
weather and arrived in Oban, Scotland on July 4.
Scotland remains rural and delightful. Except for the consolidation
of the small food stores into supermarkets, the Oban of today is very
similar to the Oban we cruised twenty three years ago. There has also
been a proliferation of kilt makers who will gladly sell the full
highland kit though your name may be Steinmetz. On a land visit to
Edinburgh we also saw the royal yacht BRITTANIA now moored in Leith as a
museum. She looks as though she could be readied for sea on short
notice.
We transited the Caledonia Canal in three days, arriving in Inverness
on July 19. Kirkwall in the Orkneys lies 140 miles NNE or 17-18 hours running
time from Inverness and is our next stop. We cleared Inverness at 1530
on July 23. The two hazards of this passage are the oil towers of the
Beatrice Oil field (more than adequately marked) and the terrific tide
in the Pentland Firth which is so powerful it can suck you right in. We
avoided the oil towers and the tide changed from West to East (the safe
direction) just as we approached the Pentland Firth.
Important to modern history was the use of the islands around Scapa
Flow as a naval base during both world wars. The base has long since
been abandoned, but there is an interesting and woefully underfunded
museum memorializing it on the island of Hoy. Here the German High Seas
Fleet scuttled itself in 1918 and here was the British naval base
containing 60,000 souls at the height of World War II. There are guns
from both wars as well as many artifacts of the times. The great pump
houses for fueling capital ships remain with their myriad pipes, wires,
etc., all part of the detritus of WWII which few people know about.
We spent late July and most of August cruising the Norwegian and
Swedish coasts ending up in the Martinson Yard in Svineviken, Sweden.
(40 miles north of Gothenberg). All ports in Norway and Sweden have
public docks, some free, but most charging between 100-280 kronor
($10-$28). Few American yachts get to Norway and Northwestern Sweden and
we were treated with great respect and courtesy.
Some of the highlights:
The Germans closed the Skagerrak in 1940 by constructing two
batteries (one at Hanstholm, Denmark, and the other at Movig, Norway)
.The one at Movig still exists and is the second largest cannon in the
world. The bore is about 20" and it has a range of 35 miles. The
bunkers, barracks, shells, and support machinery remain as well.
If you don’t wish to cruise the North Cape to a fjord, try the
Lysefjord just south of Stavengar. The water can be 700 feet deep within
touching distance of the cliffs. The walls of the fjord go up 1000’
and the whole area appears to be made of solid granite.
We passed many islands with iron rings tapped into the granite for
anchoring bow-to-the-land with a stern anchor out. We found a pretty
little open harbor called Gluppo (near a town called Kageroy ) and tied
bow and stern to a small granite island. It was a beautiful day, but
that night the wind came on to blow. Even though we were in the lee with
no tidal range, we were uncomfortable listening to the wind hum in the
rigging in the dark hours.
It was a splendid summer – fair winds and plum duff.
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Questions
with answers
- the answers are worth what you paid for them.
1 - Which anchor have you found to be the most versatile?
I am from the old school and still use a CQR. I also use a lighter
anchor than most people so I can handle it easily - 45lbs for a 49
footer. With the modern anchor the key is not weight, but instead plenty
of scope. The Danforth, Fortress, Bruce, etc. are all good anchors and
the one you are most comfortable with is the best. No anchor holds
perfectly in all conditions.
When the winds are blowing and the night is foul I often do not get much
sleep waiting for the anchor to drag. In all the years of sleepless
nights, I cannot think of one night staying awake did any good. So
generally, once set, anchors do an incredible job.
2 - Are "True Blue" cruisers moving away from Dacron sails
to lighter weight laminate ones.
I just ordered a new Dacron sail after consulting with several
sailmakers. They all agreed that sailing in the tropics limits the life
of the laminates. However, if CHEWINK was going to stay in the higher
latitudes where she belongs (New England) the laminate sail is superior
in all respects. The boat performs better.
3 - Is it possible to charter a boat in the south Pacific for a week
or so and still get the flavor of Pacific Cruising?
Only if you want to see specific areas like Tonga or a few islands in
French Polynesia. The Caribbean is an ideal chartering area because it
usually possible to sail north and south between the islands easily
whereas many of the Pacific island groups are windward or leeward which
limits you if you arrive during the enhanced trades. The islands also
have a basic similarity, which is not true in the pacific.
To see the Marquesas and Tuamotus there is a combination
freight/cruise ship called the ARANUI, which calls at many of the ports
in the Marquesas coming from Tahiti. It is positively the best way to
see the most beautiful islands in the world and get a sense of French
Polynesia. There is a moorings operation in Raiatea to see the three
leeward islands of the societies.
Tonga has a Moorings charter service in the Vavau group, which means
protected waters for the week.
Fiji has a few crewed charter boats but Fiji requires a local aboard
as pilot, which limits the bareboat business. Fiji alone has such a
difference amongst its islands that it would take many weeks of charter
to see them adequately. .
Questions submitted by Dr Ken Slater and Dr Brenda Richardson, owners
of GALLIVANT,a Seguin 44 - Do you have any we can post on our web
site? Click on Cabot'sLink
and he will email you a response, even from the South Pacific.
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