Page 4. MAINE COASTAL NEWS May 2009
Saco River Rowing Buys Dirigo Racing Shells
maybe 35 or 40 years ago. Schoenbrod was around where the oarlock attaches to the
the hottest boat in racing. Then Charlie came boat. It was moving almost half an inch and
along and he was building the boats out of the boat was twisting and that creates wasted
composites. First fiberglass and then he in- energy.
troduced a little bit of Kevlar followed by Tarpey added, “The next part of the
carbon and Kevlar with some honeycomb. At project is that they are going to come and
one point, Dibble was building close to a 100 digitize a four and eight man mould so that we
boats a year, eights and fours, going to all of can have drawings. Then we can start to look
the elite rowing programs. They were not at it from an engineering stand point. We’ve
only fast, but they were sturdy. A lot of those got some ideas, one is putting a flange at the
boats are still in use now. It is not uncommon sheer, which is something Charlie had started
to see a 25 year old Dirigo still in use, not as doing, but only in a few boats. It will be carbon
a racer, but as a trainer. and that will provide a lot of stiffness. We’ve
Tarpey added, “The older coaches seem got some other ideas for how to stiffen the
to really like the hull shape and in conversa- boat longitudinally and change the way the
tions with me indicated that we shouldn’t rigger’s are made. That might be another seed
change this. We can refurbish the moulds grant to figure out how to engineer that, and
and then update the way the boat is built so that is going to be a challenge.”
An 8 man rowing shell built by Dirigo USA Row Shells of Biddeford.
it is stiffer and consequently faster. So, we They are also looking at how the boats
ended up buying the business from Charlie are constructed. Tarpey explained, “We’ve
BIDDEFORD – Sometimes opportunity they needed a clean break. So when he pur- when his real estate got sold and was really been working with some of the vendors on
comes a knocking, and even though you chased Dirigo Racing Shells he named that seriously going stop.” composite materials. There is an outfit right
might fight it off for a time, you finallly give in company Saco River Rowing. Last August the deal was made and here in Biddeford that makes carbon fibre and
and meet the new challenges head on. This is Tarpey said, “This first came to my atten- Tarpey and his crew had three weeks to clear they have been very helpful sending their
exactly want happened to Sean Tarpey, tion through a local state representative, who out the building. They hired a rigger, an engineers down to talk with us about how we
owner of Rumery’s Boat Yard, when he was is also is a realtor. He came in here one day and electrician and a truck and began moving out can partner together and come up with a good
offered Dirigo Racing Shells, but he now said you know there’s this business down lots and lots of stuff. Each size boat has three product. We also talked to people that sell
faces a number of challenges before they the road, was a good viable business, has or four hull moulds for feather weight, light Corecell and carbon and one of their techs
beginning laying up their first boat. some potential, but the guy wants to get out. weight, mid weight and heavy weight. Once came here and had some ideas about how
Now the real name of Rumery’s Boat At the time, I thought it was too much trouble, everything was moved Tarpey applied for a they might be able to help us. There are some
Yard is Saco Bay Marine doing business as a diversion, and there was a lot going on here. seed grant from MTI (Maine Technology challenges ahead.”
Rumery’s Boat Yard. This is because when This guy was persistent and kept coming in Institute) to do some research with the Uni- They also have a builder on staff that
Tarpey purchased Rumery’s Boat Yard there to see me. There had been some interest from versity of Maine in Orono at Advanced understand how to get a boat through the
was already a corporation of that name and people out of state and Charlie [Dibble, owner Wood Engineering and Composites. They water with the least amount of resistance.
Specializing in Marine Electrical Systems
of the company] didn’t came up with a plan to take a sample of Tarpey said. “He looks at this boat from the
· New installations · Rewiring · Upgrades
like the way they did different boats, put them on a test bench, perspective of a sailor. He says the rudder is
· Custom Electrical Panels · Electronics
business. So I met sev- simulate a rower pulling on an oar, and mea- all wrong, so we’ve got to change the rudder
eral times with Charlie.” suring where the energy vents. Tarpey said, shape. At this point we’re proceeding slowly.
Dibble ran the busi- “We need to know where the boat is flexing, We’re hoping that we are going to start laying
Full Service Boat Yard ness as Dirigo USA Rac-
where the boat is moving when it shouldn’t up a section of a hull in the next 30 days, test
offering complete boat repairs ing Shells. He bought be moving, so we can try to correct that. They that to see how it holds up and then build a
· Engines · Mechanical · Storage · Carpentry · Painting
the business from
finished that just last week.” four man boat and do some constructive
www.oceanpursuits.com
Helmot Schoenbrod,
A preliminary report found that when
Continued on Page 14.
who started the busi-
you pulled on the oar the stress was right
75 Front St. Rockland 207-596-7357 Fax 207-596-9944
ness in Biddeford
WINTERPORT
MARINE & BOATYARD
49 Water St., Water Street, Winterport, ME 04496
Service Is Our Business, Boats Are Our Pleasure!
Mechanical Repairs Inside Storage
Electrical Repairs Outside Storage
Painting & Brightwork Dockage & Moorings
We are a clean, respectable boatyard that appreciates
your business. Contact us today at: (207) 223-8885 or
www.winterportmarine.com
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