Page 22. MAINE BOATBUILDERS SHOW
Schooner HERITAGE Celebrates 25 Years
Continued from Page 21.
Linda said, “Every time we came to the to see just what her tonnage was. She especially when the first arrived. Ten years
end of a project it was fearful, because you needed to be under 100 tons, and the first later more offered to help them. One was
the northwest corner of the harbor. Three knew you were going to have to learn how design was too big and the second too small. Roger Morse of Morse Shipbuilding in
people, David Bicknell, Don Wilson and to do the next thing, whether it was caulking, The third hit the mark, which was after Doug Thomaston, who help Doug understand how
Frank O’Hara Sr., offered a lot of advice and or making the masts, or whatever it was.” used the admeasurement rules and applied to horn a frame. He explained, “Ed Coffin
help and helped them find a safe berth for They also hauled up the J. & E. RIGGIN them to the design. came by with a whole packet of photographs
the winter. in 1974, which was also in need of a rebuild. It is all about the passengers and that when they were building a 90-foot dragger
It was also about this time that they At this time they also became involved means some creature comforts are necessary. at Morses in Thomaston. Coffin spent the
added a partner to their operation, Captain with the schooner ALICE S. WENTWORTH, HERITAGE was originally designed with 43 winter there taking pictures. He told me to
John Foss. Linda said, “He was in the Coast which was owned by the National Maritime berths, but this was later changed to 40 by see Roger Morse, which we met by accident
Guard in Boston, but wanted to get a Historic Trust. She was lying at a pier in eliminating the cabins with three berths. at a Christmas party. Roger said, ‘I heard
schooner. He found the LEWIS R. FRENCH, Boston and was in desperate need of a total These are now the most asked for because you were going to build a vessel come and
down at Lubec and in the fall of ’73 five of rebuild. The Lees purchased a lot of material they have their own head. see me.’ I said ‘I will be there tomorrow,’ he
us took the trip Downeast and brought the for the planned haul out at their yard, but it When they started the design had been said ‘good.’ He said, ‘Well what have you
FRENCH to Rockland. never materialized. They then wanted the approved by the Coast Guard. Linda got.’ I sat there at the bench for about an
At this time, the Lees and Foss Lees to rebuild her in Boston, but they explained, “We had a time table set up for hour with the photographs and a pencil and
purchased a piece of property on the refused. Unfortunately the WENTWORTH the funding and what work we expected to asked questions. About an hour and a half
waterfront, which is now known as Northend was cut up and put in a landfill in New do along with our commitment to the ISAAS later I said, ‘thank you,’ because I now knew
Shipyard. Doug added, “It had originally Hampshire. H. EVANS and the shipyard. Our plan was what to do. I am for ever in debt to Roger.”
been the North Wharf & Marine Railway In the late 1970s the Lees began thinking to have the HERITAGE ready for sailing with Horning the frames means how they are
Company incorporated in 1849, but they of building their own new vessel. Doug passengers for the 1984 season. We had five assembled with floor timbers, futtucks and
never really did anything here until 1861 explained, “We tried to buy an old vessel and a half months to work on the new vessel. top timbers. HERITAGE has about 40 frames
when they built a marine railway. The railway named the FLORA KERWIN, which had We start spring outfitting typically in April and then a number of half frames.
was defunct for a number of years, but we been built for the pineapple trade in 1891. and we would finish sailing in early October Some of the wood was supplied by a
built our new railway right on the same spot When the bottom fell out of the pineapple and be busy until mid to late October getting friend from his lot on the side of Mount
they had theirs. We realized what we wanted business she became a Chesapeake Bay the ISAAC EVANS ready for winter and also Battie. Because they took their time and
the Northend Shipyard to do. We needed a oyster buyer for a number of years.” doing miscellaneous stuff around the applied some time tested methods the deck
home-base to tie our vessel up in the winter Linda stated, “She wasn’t available. So shipyard before we could start in on the has never needed to be recaulked. The only
and a place to sail from in the summer.” we had done our tour around looking for a HERITAGE. problems they have had are where different
Linda added, “The Shipyard became a larger vessel, so we could carry more people, They had everything: they had a woods meet. They also treated the frames
place, especially for schooners, where they may be faster than the ISAA EVANS. We shipyard, machinery and hand tools. They and planks with different solutions, which
could haul out, the owners hire their own had had the ISAAC EVANS for five seasons, also had rebuilt a number of old schooners. have preserved the wood so it still looks
workers, and make all the repairs needed.” and had done well. So in the spring of 1978, However they were forgetting one thing, almost new today.
The FRENCH was hauled up the beach we said may be we should think about new construction is different than old. During the summer of 1983 HERITAGE
and moved off the side. She would not be building a new vessel.” The first hurdle was learning to loft the was completed and began her career
relaunched until 1977 after a total rebuild. Soon they began putting ideas on vessel. They laid down 40 sheets of plywood carrying passengers around the coast, under
Doug said, “We had a Coast Guard paper. Doug explained, “We wanted a two and began the process. When the patterns the command of Captains Linda and Doug
inspector who said he wanted some of the masted coasting schooner, with a clipper were complete the floor was taken up and Lee. It is their love for all aspects of this
inside planking taking off the ceiling so we bow, trail boards, quarter deck and a big placed on the wall so that they could consult business that has allowed them to be so
could see what’s there. We didn’t want to powerful sheer. We wanted a shallow draft it if a problem arose. successful. As you read this with the snow
do that and he went off angry. My father with a centreboard so we can get into those Doug added, “People would come up falling and the temperature buried below the
said to me, ‘Look, you can’t fight city hall, shallow places.” and say you got a lot of courage, which really freezing mark think of cruising along
take it off.’ The ceiling was beautiful, the One person who frequently stopped by meant you were really crazy.” Penobscot Bay onboard this schooner and
best part. She was white oak framed; I figured and offered advice on the plans was Havilah There were some people who helped experiencing a well-spent vacation. It is no
what could be wrong. When we tore off that Hawkins, who Doug said was very helpful. them along the way learn the trade. However wonder why so many of their passengers
first piece of ceiling the frames came right Once the lines were done, the Lees took a lot of workers would not help because they returned year after year!
out of her. They were nothing but mush.” them to Woodin & Mearn, naval architects feared that they would take their job,
Film Showing at the Grand in Ellsworth 8 April!
Gary Jobson, ESPN commentator, former America's Cup tactician on board COU-
RAGEOUS with Ted Turner in 1977, lecturer and writer has stepped behind the camera to
make a documentary about Maine boatbuilding. "MAINE BUILT BOATS: ART & SOUL ex-
amines and celebrates Maine's 400 year old boatbuilding industry, visiting builders all
over Maine. The builders talk about what makes Maine boats so special: the way they
have fused new technology into their age old craft, the incredibly high skill level, work
ethic and the personal pride of each and every builder. A reception to follow. For more
information please contact Jane Wellehan at (207) 899-7570.
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