As winter marches on, the paint department works through the list of storage boats, giving them their annual maintenance coats of paint and varnish to prepare them for the sailing season. We talk to each owner and discuss what work they would like to do over the winter, and then each boat is moved into one of our two paint bays in turn, which are solely used for finish work. These bays are equipped with large exhaust fans, to change the air often, and are cleaned regularly, to keep dust down. The bays have radiant floor heat as well as baseboard heat, so the temperature can be controlled easily, and brought up or down rapidly, as needed for the finish work.
Read more »

Image courtesy of Andrew Williams

If you have been following these blogs or checking in on our website or Facebook posts you’ve noticed that these last few years have been filled with a lot of restoration here at Rockport Marine. It occurred to me that there’s a part of that restoration process that is almost completely hidden from view.

Photo by Billy Black

Read more »

Not so very long ago we had an opportunity to prepare a presentation design for an individual interested in getting to his property on a nearby island and back again. The design requirements were speed and grace. A passing reference was made of the fact that it should probably look like it belongs in Maine. Also, it’s likely that it will be used for the occasional tour of the island. A beautiful boat, sunset, Maine Islands and a gin and tonic. Just add lime, the rest was up to us.

The design brief immediately called to mind a collaboration between Rod Stephens (brother and co-worker of the famous designer, Olin Stephens) and designer Al Mason. In 1940, Commodore William Justice Strawbridge commissioned a design for the expressed purpose of cruising the islands around Penobscot Bay. Stephens and Mason called the result ESCORT. When a client came into the design office and asked for speed, grace and a distinctive design that would still look at home in a rocky harbor in Maine, ESCORT struck me as a pretty good place to start.

Read more »

For anyone who has even the slightest affinity for boats, a visit to the New York Yacht Club on 44^th Street in Manhattan is a treat. The building was built in 1899 and designed by Warren & Wetmore in the Beaux Arts style; its limestone façade is fitted out in a whimsical, nautical style with windows that protrude like the transoms of galleons. The main dining room is fitted with large hanging knees, and the effect is so shippy, you half expect your peas to roll gently off your plate.

But the jewel of the club is the Model Room, space that displays a huge collection of full and half hull models of some of the most famous designs in the world. Brendan and I had the opportunity to visit this room for an International Yacht Restoration School reception at the club. On entering the party we could not help but be drawn to the wall of models, and to press our noses against the large glass display cases of fully rigged miniatures chronicling the history of the America’s Cup competitors.

Read more »