Sunset at Moosehead Lake, Greenville Maine

[Mike Franzen]

Great pics Edgar. Do you have some pics of the boat you could share?

[edgarspencer]

Mike and Charlie, It's the 16' launch I built 4 or 5 years ago, as a half-scale model of the steam launch I sold. This one has a 2 cylinder diesel.

[Bob Hardison]

Edgar: A very nice boat. I've been boating all my life and never seen anything like it. It looks to be an enjoyable ride for you and Finn. My dog thinks the boat cannot leave the dock without him. Thanks for sharing.
Is that a fiberglass hull?

[charlie cleveland]

just beautiful...one fine classy looking boat...charlie

[Dean Romig]

I know that's bacon on the plate but what is that other concoction? Looks like something a bear left after dining on Maine blueberries.
I'm inMaine right now and had blueberry pancakes for breakfast cooked in bacon fat but mine looked like pancakes.... really, what is that?

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

really, what is that?

I like blueberry pancakes very thin, so the berry is visible on both sides. If I wanted cake, I would have ordered cake. Nonetheless, I'll pass you compliments on to my wife.

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Bob Hardison

Edgar: A very nice boat. I've been boating all my life and never seen anything like it. It looks to be an enjoyable ride for you and Finn. My dog thinks the boat cannot leave the dock without him. Thanks for sharing.
Is that a fiberglass hull?

Bob, when I restored the steam launch, it took 5 solid years. It was built in 1892 and was one of a pair built for Bath Iron Works as davit tenders for a 310' yacht. It had 66 1"x1" steam bent white oak ribs and white cedar planking. Bill Ruger bought the boat from me, but before selling it, we lofted the lines, and made a scaled down plug, then mold. It was necessary to change the faintail somewhat, as the beam of the new hull couldn't be half-scale, or only 3'3".
Yes, the present launch is fiberglass. I'm too old to build plank-on-frame. I pick my projects so they're finished before bedtime, and I only buy bananas 2 at a time.

[Bob Hardison]

Edger: Interesting. No wonder I've never seen anything like it. It has a classic look and the fiberglass hull reduces maintenance to make the best of both worlds. I'll bet just the wood on the steam launch was a bear to maintain. Bob

[edgarspencer]

The steam launch would get one light sanding of the hull, followed by one thin coat of topside white, every year. The decks were cypress, so they got a coat of teak oil every 3-4 weeks. All the trim, rails, seats and combing were varnished oak, or mahogany, and they got 5-6 coats of varnish each spring.
The new launch has lots of teak and varnished oak also. The decks are oiled teak, but the shear plank, all the deck trim, and combing get the same 5-6 coats of varnish. Even though the hull is fiberglass, both exterior and interior are painted.
Any way you slice it, boats are a lot of work, unless you get one of the new things that looks like it was designed by a shoe maker.

[Bob Hardison]

Edger: I never thought about it but my deck boat kinda resembles a loafer. Nothing about it indicates beauty or classic. It is however almost maintenance free. If I had the time or money, I would replace it with a flat bottomed Correct or Cris Craft or even better yet a Riva wood boat. I don't think I have enough time or money to fix and maintain them. Bob