In East Boothbay on July 28, to music by bagpipes and bands, was held the annual Boatbuilders’ Festival. Here was gathered a diverse assembly of small boats, several large boats afloat, and many instructive exhibits. The display of so much design talent and craftsmanship was overwhelming.
For example, there was a 14-foot skiff, shining in new paint and in varnish which revealed the precision of its construction. Beside it stood Jim McQuaide, its builder, to tell about it. Luke’s boatyard had a restoration-in-progress of a power launch started in 1916 by Rice Brothers, finished by someone else, and now re-timbered, re-planked, refastened and re-caulked. She had no deck or floorboards, so her simple construction could be easily seen. Frank Luke agreed that there was no splinter, nail or bolt that Rice had ever put in her.
Pulsifer-Hampton had a 22-foot “lobster yacht” built in the old Casco Bay tradition with open cockpit and spray hood. She seemed sturdily built with a full keel and appeared to be slimmer than a modern lobster boat. Of course she was elegantly finished.
Unusual was a rowing shell about 30 feet long and a foot wide, weighing only 45 pounds. She was lap-streak planked with 1/8″ Spanish cedar. She might not be faster than a modern fiberglass shell, but with a strong man at the oars, she would be competitive.
Afloat was Frog Princess, a 20-foot, raised deck sloop designed by Bruce King in his time between megayachts. Beautifully finished, she had a comfortable cockpit, sitting headroom below, and a neat little stove with a stainless steel stack through the deck. Ahead of her lay Lion’s Whelp, a really elegant gentleman’s motor yacht built by Goudy & Stevens here in East Boothbay in 1966.She was named by her owner after the English vessel that brought his family to America in the early 17th century. Also afloat lay the brigantine Oliver C. Wyant designed by Murray Peterson in the tradition of the cargo vessels of the Maine coast in the 19th century. She was built by her owner outdoors, across the street from the East Boothbay Post Office. Her rigging is authentic, mostly hemp with wire standing rigging. Her square-rigged foremast with yards across and foretopsail bent catches the visitor’s eye from afar.
The Maine Seacoast Missionary Society’s Sunbeam was open for inspection. She is a big, chunky, steel vessel dedicated to the spiritual and physical welfare of island people and others in remote coastal communities. She carries a minister, who preaches often at island churches and does personal parish work. Sunbeam is also equipped to help sick and injured people. The medical room, occupied by a doctor or nurse, has the necessary instruments and first aid equipment and two-way radio communication with doctors ashore. For severe cases, there is a television arrangement whereby a doctor on Sunbeam can send a picture of a sick or injured person to a doctor in a hospital ashore. That doctor can then make recommendations and send back to Sunbeam a picture illustrating the proper procedure. There is also a psychologist aboard, for life on a remote island can bring its difficulties.
Above and forward of the nurse’s room is the pilothouse, well equipped with navigational instruments. Besides finding her way among the ledges and rocky islands of the Maine coast, she must visit small and difficult harbors. She draws 8 feet but has a flat bottom so she can ground out at low water. In any but the most severe conditions, she can set a patient ashore to meet an ambulance The Maine Seacoast Missionary Society is heavily dependent on the generosity of its friends.
Washburn & Doughty has recently launched a tug seldom seen on the Maine coast. Its pilothouse is set on stilts about three stories high. Its short snub nose is built to fit into a slot in the stern of a barge it pushes ahead of it, and the pilot can see over a cargo of containers.
Ashore again, we found in the Hodgdon shop several authors selling their own books and autographing copies. Colin Woodard had quite a lineup. In the same shop, Hodgdon Yachts had an elaborate exhibit showing how one of their 100-plus foot modern yachts is built. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary had a table and the Island Institute had another, illustrating aspects of island life, In a booth nearby The Boothbay Region Land Trust told of its work in protecting the region’s natural beauty. They were responsible for the whole Festival.
There was plenty to eat and drink – no beer – and the bands played on, continually and melodiously and very loudly.
Our last visit was to Nat Wilson’s sail loft. Laid out on the floor was a new mainsail for the 102-year-old New York 30 Alera, her number “1” prominently displayed in the middle. The sail that Nat had made for her at her launching was demolished in a race when an opponent miscalculated and couldn’t make it ahead of her. I was admiring the neat, strong hand-work on the clew and foot of the sail. Nat said he is doing more hand-work now to distinguish himself from sailmakers who merely punch in grommets. Owners of restoration or character boats like the look of handwork; it is stronger and lasts longer than mechanical fittings. And tarred marline has a salty smell. He is now developing a sail cloth of Egyptian cotton, first choice of racing skippers before nylon was invented. It stretches a bit more than nylon or Dacron, but for character boats it is “authentic.” A racer using it will be given credit in her rating.
Besides the numerous pictures of vessels under Wilson’s sails, was a woodcarving exhibit by Greg Rollins. He had carved elliptical wooden boxes about 6 inches long and on the lid of each was a knot: a square knot, a sheet bend a clove hitch, apparently tied in 3/8 white cotton line. But the knot was actually carved out of wood and painted white, a unique combination of art and superb craftsmanship.
There was much more that we didn’t see: lectures by Robert Stevens, Colin Woodard and David Stimson; seafood lunches; Kids Korner; more exhibits; more small boats, and two working lobster boats. And the bands played on with undiminished vigor. The whole Festival was planned and carried out by the Boothbay Region Land Trust and a great number of very helpful volunteers. q
Roger F. Duncan is co-author of A Cruising Guide to the New England Coast, A Maritime History of Maine and other books.