Wooden Boat
Restoration Projects

Morning Star

I first saw Morning Star, a 36ft Sea Witch Ketch an Angleman/Hughs design (Calirfornia) in Florida when she first arrived from Essex. She was one of 12, built and launched by American Marine in 1962 planked with Teak and framed with Yacal, bronze screwed and all bronze hardware. Spruce masts and s/s rigging, with traditional Gaff rigged main and Bermudian mizzen.

Excaliber

A Shannon 50ft Ketch

My first introduction to The Shannon Boat Company was when a beautiful 38ft Ketch "Sandpiper" pulled into the berth beside me as I was in the process of restoring "The Morning Star". I turned my head at the sight and quickly grabbed the owners mooring lines.
He had taken delivery and sailed the Marion to Bermuda 1979 650 mile offshore ocean race with Dave Walters that year and was showing the boat at The Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show. David Walters was a New England lad with water between his toes and was the Vice President for sales and marketing for The Shannon Boat Co.
Walter Schulz, president of The Shannon Boat Co., Rhode Island US has some strong opinions: one is that in a boat designed to go to sea, only the very best of everything will do. Another is that cost effectiveness is a meaningless, even dangerous term in building a seagoing vessel. His words were akin to mine, so given the opportunity to refit Excaliber a 50 ft Shannon Ketch 10 years after launch and then sea trail her to the Virgin Islands before sailing back to the States to sell her, gave me a deep sense of commitment for well constructed seaworthy boats.

In 1982 David Walters went on to design and build on of the prettiest semi production yachts I have ever seen; The Cambria range, which are still in production today. As a yacht broker associated with Luke Brown & Associates Ft Lauderdale, he is a charismatic and knowledgeable person whom I have had excellent dealings with. He has always given moral support to me and brought a knowledgeable buyer to purchase my projects.

Antares

I was in the Virgin Islands with my family when a friend Gage Powell from Irwin Yachts called to say he had a yacht called "Chardonnay" for me to look at. I took a quick flight to South Carolina where she lay in the water and the offer was presented. So began the refit of a 1972 66ft Italian built wooden classic.
The Italian world sailor Renso Favaro from Venice pulled in beside me on his yacht "Falconare" during one of his circumnavigations and commented on the fact that he knew the yard where "Chardonnay" was built. After a little investigation we discovered her original christened name: "Antares".
Over a period of 2 years we rebuilt all the mechanical systems, stripped down and rebuilt the rigging and as it was the beginning of hurricane season we decided to sail her south to do some hull work where we could source some good seasoned timbers. The voyage has so far taken me half way around the world.