Page 20. MAINE BOATBUILDERS SHOW
Profile - Giffy Full
By Maine Coastal News as soon as it was in the water. Wasn’t much
BROOKLIN – There are certainly a lot of of a thing to row, but it was afloat. Later on
people along the coast of Maine whom have when my father got back to work, probably
had a very interesting life, however, none about 1936, he got enough money together
more than the noted marine surveyor Giffy to buy a 14-foot lapstrake skiff built by the
Full. Anyone who has been around the boat Toppins Boat Company up in Medford,
yards, especially those dealing with wooden Mass.”
boats, all along the Eastern Seaboard at least Full was fortunate to live right down on
knows the name. However, there is more to the water, very close to the well-known
Full’s life than just surveying. Grave’s Yacht Yard. This was a thriving place
Full grew up in Marblehead, Massachu- even during the Depression. Full added,
setts. He added, “My youngest memories “They were building yachts there all the time
are of the waterfront about 1933, which was and when a yacht was going to be launched,
the height of the Depression. The only thing there would be a launching party. That was
the family had for a boat was a double-ended always kind of a big affair. As a kid I know I
punt my father had built. I was in that punt was probably a pain in the neck, but used to
New England Fiberglass Company
Captain Giffy Full, noted yacht captain and marine surveyor.
Yacht Repair/Restorations
hang around the boat yard all the time watch- South Shore to compete.
POWDER COATING
ing the men work, seeing what they were There were freedoms then that most
doing, and how they were putting the boat children today will never experience. Full ex-
58 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101
together. I have seen boats come in there so plained, “My mother never worried about us
(207) 773-3537 Phone (207) 874-7926 Fax
badly damaged you’d say well put the rest kids when we were playing in a skiff or some-
of her in the stove. They didn’t. I remember thing. When we were a little older, half the
www.nefiberglass.com email: newenglandfibe@conversent.net
seeing one boat come in; there was only half time we lived on Brown’s Island in the sum-
the boat. She was split lengthwise. They set mertime. We had a tent over there and come
her up and built the rest of her back.” home to get groceries. If you got into trouble
PAUL E. LUKE, INC.
Growing in Marblehead at this time was you got a boot in the fanny and that took
at the height of the golden age of yachting. care of it.”
There were lots of big boats with professional Several lobster fishermen were working
Storage, Repair, Restoration, Moorings
skippers and crew. Some of these crews got out of the cove where Full grew up. “When I
to know Full and he was able to get aboard got to be 12 or 13 I used to do a little work for
-Full Service Yard-
and at times got to help out. There were also them and that is how I really learned to work.”
the racing fleets, from Brutal Beast up to 8 Said Full. “I did a lot of work for the lobster
15 Luke’s Gulch, East Boothbay, ME 04544
Metres and Q Boats. Full said that racing fishermen. They didn’t want to sand the bot-
TEL. (207) 633-4971 A. Franklin Luke FAX: (207) 633-3388
was a big affair in those days and boats toms of their boats so I sanded them. I also
Frank@peluke.com http://www.peluke.com
would come from all over Cape Ann and the worked on trap gear and stuff like that. It
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