New home for USA244!

[bamamick]

Some of you remember that I was looking for a home for an older Dragon, USA244, the boat that won the bronze medal for the US in the 1972 Olympic Games. Tonight I got the word that Don Cohan, the gentleman who helmed the boat in those Games, has taken ownership of the boat and will have it shipped east from Seattle for restoration! If I understand it there's a good chance the boat will wind up in Maine when all is said and done.

Very happy to report something like this. So many of our older boats get taken by the breaker's yard. It is great to hear of someone who wants to give an old warrior like this new life.

Mickey Lake

[S/V Laura Ellen]

That's great news.
Now if we can convince someone to report back on the restoration progress....

[BETTY-B]

That's great! Andrea had told me she heard from the fellow. I think she had had no luck getting a hold of him for a long time before that. Glad that seems to be working out for everyone. Cant wait to see the restoration pics!

By the way, she is one and the same as Capt. " Tugboat" Andie, from this threads fame. (http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2378609)

DAN

[The Bigfella]

Great news Mickey.

I'm planning to do some work on my Dragon this week.

[CGrant]

Way to go, Mickey!

[BETTY-B]

How about posting some photos, Mickey?

DAN

[Hwyl]

Good news all round. The boat is going to the person who should own it, some money will be spent in Maine and I hope it means that Andy can keep her tugboat now.

[bamamick]

Andrea was quite possibly the first contact that I ever made in the Dragon world outside of the guy I bought my boat from. From that day came me taking over the class administration, our new website (www.usdragons.org), and a whole world of new friends who I talk to on a regular basis. I owe her a debt of gratitude. When I went out to Seattle a couple of years ago it was at least in part to meet and talk to her face to face (which I was able to do). I hate that she was never able to get USA244 going, but I do appreciate so much that she watched over it for as long as she did, as well as USA35, which is in the water and sailing as far as I know (owned by a local guy named Kevin Kinchloe, who also owns an 8mR and something called a Lake Union Dreamboat).

Obviously this is not the 'ending' of the story for USA244 'Caprice', but I think that you'd have to say this particular twist of her long tale has been a happy one.

Mickey Lake

[BETTY-B]

Andrea is very happy about this turn of events for Caprice(US244). Don Cohan has apperently gotten a hold of all of the original Olympic team members and they are all excited about it. There should be some very cool things to add to this story in the future. I love this stuff!

DAN

[caffel]

I am the former # 2 boat boy (1972) from the Olympic team and now Project Manager for the restoration.
I am looking to contact other Savell Dragon owners for help with specs and to duplicate the missing deck hardware (including, the maker's plate).
I was in Seattle and with Master Boatwright Mark Lehrdahl's help have had her shipped to Philadelphia.
Our plan is to race her again, but we do not have an unlimited budget and there's a lot to fix, as Andrea said.
Charlie Affel, caffel@aol.com.
P.S. Mark has a Dragon (somewhat better shape, for sale... 206-931-3630)

[Vince Brennan]

Charlie, how long will she be in Philthydellfia? (Welcome to the Forum, BTW... you'll find quite a few "Dragoneers" here.)

[bamamick]

Charlie, it is great to see you posting here. We have never spoken but I have spoken with Don many times on the phone.

It is likely that the deck on USA244 now is not the one she had on her when you guys sailed her. Deck layouts and things like builder's plates are hit and miss as far as information or actual physical pieces. I was incredibly lucky this year when a member restoring a boat in Wisconsin found that he had two Borresen bow pieces from my generation of boat (1963) and he kindly gave me one as a gift (and actually brought it down, since he and his family were on vacation a few miles from my home).

Sometimes you can find the under-deck type winches on e-bay (our friend Dave/rbgarr usually posts them here). The runner connectors I have on my boat I have never even seen on another kind of boat! In other words, it's tough to match what you once had with the original equipment.

By the way, I answered your post about a boat cover on the forum at www.usdragons.org. It is very nice to have you involved in the class again.

Mickey Lake
AIDA National Secretary