Recently I was invited to have a look at a boat that had been discovered in the back corner of an old barn in Sargentville. The barn was about to be torn down and the boat very nearly went with it. She was a hard case: Hogged, modified, poorly repaired, neglected but clearly of some pedigree. I have since identified the boat as a Dark harbor 12 ½, designed by B.B Crowninshield. A photo of the poor old thing (with a ominous Caterpillar excavator looming in the background) garnered an enormous response when I posted it on social media.
What is it about an old boat on the verge of oblivion that tugs so hard at the ol'heart strings? I think that even someone with the most elementary understanding of boat design and construction can't help but be struck by the feats of engineering and craftsmanship that these old boats represent. They might be rotten heaps but nevertheless they are icons of some of our most important national ideals: The wealth and success of their owners, the artistry and ingenuity of their designers, the skill and hard work of their builders. It's no wonder that the prospect of their destruction is very moving.
But the site of a neglected old boat with identifiable pedigree doesn't usually inspire sadness at what could be lost. Quite the opposite. We find it exciting because of the potential it holds. We can't help but picture that sad boat in all it's original glory. Unfortunately the notions that it is "beyond help", or cheaper/ easier to "just build a new one" usually seem to win out over that first thrilling notion of resurrection.
Well I think a case can be made that it often IS worth it, and indulging that first instinct to bring her back and chasing that to it's conclusion might be the best decision you ever make. Here's why:
1.The experience of restoring a classic boat can be deeply rewarding for everyone involved. It provides an opportunity to immerse oneself in the rich history that surrounds these boats, the genius of their designers, the techniques of their builders and the stories of their owners. Many classic boat owners arrive at a wonderful perspective in which they recognize themselves as stewards of a significant piece of history. They are a chapter in a story that began long before them and, due to their efforts, will long survive them. I firmly believe that those with the means and wisdom to commission restorations of classic yachts are providing a service to the greater community by preserving these icons of American artistry, ingenuity and craftsmanship. OK it's not exactly philanthropy but, a culture that cherishes it's history is (usually) better for it. Some European countries are way ahead of us on this front. In fact, the popularity of restoring and actively racing classic yachts in Europe has resulted in the emigration of some of our most significant classic yachts to the Med and elsewhere. Which leads me to my next point.
2.There are not a lot of unrestored classic yachts still available. Most of the surviving N.G. Herreshoff boats have been re-discovered and restored. But there are still opportunities to find and restore great designs from the teens, twenties and thirties. From the same drawing boards as the J's, P's, Q's, R's,meter boats and custom masterpieces, the smaller knockabout one designs represent some of the most beautiful, best sailing and practical craft for the purposes of today's sailors. Some of these classes were built by the dozen, and while many are no more, others are "missing" according the the class associations. That could mean gone OR under cover in the back of an old barn... waiting.
3.I am not such a romantic to believe that every old boat is worthy of a restoration. But even a very sad looking old boat can represent value when compared with a new replica. Perhaps it's rotten through and through, but has more or less kept her shape: you've got yourself a mold with which you can steam bend new frames and fit new bulkheads. Maybe she's been left out to weather, but it turns out the spars were squired away in a barn 25 years ago and are OK: you've just saved thousands. Maybe the spars are gone, she's been heavily modified, rotten, hogged: well, that lead ballast keel is worth thousands compared with a new custom casting, and that deck hardware is priceless.
In old barns and half covered in fields, on the east coast, the great lakes and the northwest there are remarkably beautiful old boats waiting for someone to see their potential. So lets embrace the excitement, scold the skeptics and go forth and find them. Let's pool our resources, and commit our efforts to restoring them to former glory. When their relaunched we'll sail them and know a richness and depth of experience on board that can only come from knowing every piece of wood, every line and every story.
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