WoodenBoat Show News
Issue #4 — early June 2008
It’s finally June, and we are in high gear getting ready to bring you the best Show ever! Do you have your tickets yet? There’s so much to enjoy it will take you all three days to experience it all.
Tall Ship Joins the Boat Show
Lettie G. Howard
Fresh from a refit, we are so excited to have the schooner Lettie G. Howard from South Street Seaport join us in Mystic Seaport. Here’s what South Street Seaport has to say about this wonderful tall ship:
“Built in 1893 at Essex, MA, the Lettie G. Howard is a type of fishing schooner once widely used along the Atlantic seaboard from Maine to Texas. The Lettie, which operated out of Gloucester, Mass. for her first eight years, was similar to the schooners that carried their Long Island and New Jersey catches to New York City’s Fulton Fish Market. After an active life in the fisheries of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, the Lettie was sold to the South Street Seaport Museum in 1968 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1988. Between 1991 and 1993, the Museum completely restored the Lettie to her original 1893 appearance, and outfitted her to accommodate trainees on educational cruises. In 1994, she was certified as a Sailing School Vessel by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Museum now offers educational programs and sail training courses aboard the restored schooner.”
You won’t want to miss this opportunity to explore this remarkable schooner!
Showtime Makes her Debut
Be Among the First to Board!
The recently restored Trumpy Showtime, is making its debut at the WoodenBoat show after an extensive refit at J&J Marine in Somerset, MA This spectacular vessel is attending eight select boat shows around the country to showcase its restoration to its 1969 glory, beginning with the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic! Showtime was owned by one family from the day she was launched in 1969 to her eventual donation in 2003 to the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY where she spent the last four years as part of the museum’s classic fleet. Showtime is considered the most original Trumpy in service today. From her 671 Detroit diesels to her bulkheads, her original deck furniture to her original Trumpy desk, she is now in as-new condition. In a departure from most restored Trumpys, Showtime’s pilothouse is beautiful varnished mahogany.
Come and enjoy this spectacular restoration!
Boatbuilding on the Green
Introducing the Babson 14, WoodenBoat’s Newest Kit
WoodenBoat Publications’ new kit boat, The Babson Island 14, designed by Tom Hill and Jon Wilson, is being built on the Village Green. This is a beautiful, versatile, and stable skiff that can be purchased as a sheet-sided kit, or built glued lapstrake, from plans from WoodenBoat Publications. In addition to the rowing models, plans include a sailing skiff and a slightly modified version that accommodates a small electric or gas outboard. Designed as entry level projects for first-time wooden boatbuilders, or easy builds for seasoned professionals, these skiffs can also be constructed using traditional methods with cedar planking and oak frames.
Tom Hill will be assisting a family in building his new design on the Village Green during the Show. Come and be inspired by their progress and perhaps consider such a project for your own family!
Concours d'Elegance
Choose your Favorite Boat!
Heritage Marine Insurance will sponsor the 2nd annual Concours d'Elegance at the Show. Boat owners, builders, and restorers will compete for awards in a number of categories, including: People’s Choice, Judge’s Choice, and Innovation. An awards ceremony will be held at the Show on Saturday evening. The results will be published in the September/October issue of WoodenBoat magazine. But the best part is you get to pick your favorite! Just pick up a ballot from any Mystic Seaport volunteer as you enter the Show, fill it out, and drop off at the WoodenBoat magazine Circulation booths near Tent A or Tent C, or in the designated boxes at the Show exits. Several lucky voters will be chosen from ballots cast to win a WoodenBoat magazine subscription and a much coveted WoodenBoat cap.
Mystic Seaport has so many family-friendly activities. Take a look some of the special events happening during the Show!
Olin Stephens Centennial
To mark the 100th birthday of this eponymous designer, Mystic will host an exhibit in the G.W. Blunt White Building which celebrates his life and work. “Olin embodies everything that Mystic Seaport represents — America’s relationship with the sea and the spirit of exploration, adventure, aesthetics, competition and freedom that inspires us all,” says Museum President and Director Douglas Teeson.
Frozen In: Captain Comer and the Hudson Bay Inuit
This exhibit explores the life and legacy of Captain George Comer of East Haddam, CT, as well as the challenges they faced living in one of the harshest environments on earth. Explore a full-scale reconstruction of Comer’s winter deck house from his 1903 expedition aboard the vessel Era, as well as a reconstructed Inuit igloo, traditional clothing, tools, journals, photographs and actual voice recordings made by Comer and his companions more than 100 years ago. For Arctic history buffs, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Hands-On History
This brand-new program at Mystic Seaport allows visitors to try their hand at a wide variety of 19th century crafts, including small boat building, making canvas ditty bags, fancy knot work, printing, wood carvings, Victorian-style flower-pressing, candle-dipping and blacksmithing. Children’s toy boat building is available daily; two other activities will take place each day on a rotating basis. There is a small fee to participate. Pretend you are living in a 19th century seafaring village!
Limited Exhibit Space Available
All wooden boats, products, and services for the wooden boat and boatbuilding market are invited to participate!
To learn more about exhibiting, please contact
Kate Holden at:
E:
T: 207-359-4651
or
Ray Clark at:
E:
T: 401-247-4922
Multihull Pioneer Dinner Update
There are still a few tickets left for the special Saturday evening dinner to honor multihull pioneers. For more information on the speakers (Jim Brown, Barry Choy, Meade Gougeon, Walter Green, John Marples, Dick Newick and James Wharram), and the dinner go here.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at WoodenBoat