My working Vacation....

[kfraser]

I've been waiting to put the new stringers and flooring in my boat for about three weeks now. I wanted to go back with all fiberglass stringers and I didn't really have the equipment to build them here, so I had my brother in Maine make them. He owns his own boat building company there, and has everything needed to make a boat. He's been trying to get away from the shop to deliver them and help me get them installed but he's been swamped with work. So he called me last week and said if I come up there on my vacation and work for a week, he can come down and help me get my boat finished. This guy works like a mule on Methamphetamine! I was able to get a few pictures when he would give me a break or two and I thought I'd share a few. I definitely learned alot in a week!! <br /><br /><br />

<br />We hand laid this 38' Clavin Beal hull in 4 days.<br /><br />

<br />Here's a shot of a 34' waiting to pulled from the mold.<br /><br />

<br />Glassing in the girders and bulk head<br /><br />

<br />Pulling the cabin top from the mold<br /><br /><br />Here are some other pics from the finishing shop.<br /><br /><br />

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<br /><br />I scanned these two below of his boat. This boat tied the speed record for "Worlds Fastest Lobster Boat" @ 52.5mph @ the Searsport Lobster boat Races. <br /><br />

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[Wimperdink]

Re: My working Vacation....

wow you bit off more than I could chew by a long shot.... looks good.

 

[Friz]

Re: My working Vacation....

That is too cool.<br />I used to go to the lobster boat races on Bailey's Island when I lived in Brunswick, Me.

 

[kfraser]

Re: My working Vacation....

Thanks for the replies Wimperdink & Friz. I'm still trying to recuperate from that week. On the last day there I had a six hundred LB shaft drop on my foot and shattered the front toe on my right foot. Doc says it ain't good...need at least one pin and a couple of surgeries to fix. I asked how much to remove....<br /><br />Brother Brian says he is now open for boat building classes...$10K will get you a week of intense one on one instruction of all aspects of boat building. It's not a bad deal if your serious...and you wear steel toe shoes...

 

[Mark42]

Re: My working Vacation....

Don't have your toe removed. I have a few toes on my right foot that no longer can curl because the joints all fused from being crushed. BUT at least they work well enough to help keep my balance and walking gait. Missing your big toe will have an impact on your walk. <br /><br /><br />Back to the boats.... That must have been a great learning experience. I notice no one is wearing respirators or dust masks. Aren't they needed?

 

[Bondo]

Re: My working Vacation....

Man,.........I've Always Loved the lines of a Lobster Boat............<br /><br />Sucks about the Toe,.... Good Luck with it.......<br /><br />I'm from just up the Mighty Penobie from Your homestead,........<br />Born,+ Raised in Old Town,..... Still got the Family Lodge on Chemo Pond, out on the Airline Rd............

 

[trackersocha]

Re: My working Vacation....

that lobster boat is hella cool<br />what powers it

 

[kfraser]

Re: My working Vacation....

Hey Mark,<br />Thanks for the info on the toe. Doc wants to take a wait and see approach...me too. Everyone in the shop has respirators and are required to wear them when spraying or grinding is going on. In the photo where we are putting in the griders (stringers) Brian just grabbed the gun and started spraying. All of the other pics were during the very few breaks we had.<br /><br />Bondo, I'd say that qualifies as same neck of the woods! I grew up in Stockton Springs about 200 yards from the bay. My dad was a Sea Captain and Gfather was a Master Mariner. Still have seven brothers living there. Most have gone through Maine Maritime Academy in Castine. I went with the computer gig and now do design work for a large software company.<br /><br />Tracker,<br />Thanks for the reply. "Venom" is a 28' Wayne Beal hull running a Isotta Fraschini 680hp diesel. If you ever get a chance to visit Maine during the Lobster Boat Races dont miss them. These guys are die hard racers and spend about twice of what their catch is in powering their boats. Not uncommon to drop $70 - $80k for an engine. Wierd...I was just looking at a long block to replace my 888 302 Ford for $999.00<br /><br />Here is a link to an article that mentions Venom:<br />Look under the "Around the Yards" section<br /><br /> National Fisherman News