Long Island Maritime Museum--anyone been? [Archive]

James McMullen

02-21-2010, 10:56 AM

The Long Island Maritime Museum (http://www.limaritime.org/) is apparently the place to go for fans of Gil Smith and his Great South Bay Catboats. Anyone here been to visit it? Andy and I are taking our wives to NYC this spring break, and we plans to ditch 'em for a day and head out there to drool over half-models, plans, and actual preserved boats to see which one we want to build for ourselves

This is one the museum volunteers have been building. Isn't she sweet?

http://www.limaritime.org/images/SouthbayCat/14SBCatFrame640.jpg

I'd love to hear any local knowledge of how to get there easily from the Big City, specially if there's a way to ride the train or something and keep from having to rent a car for a single day. Also, any particular exhibits or things I should be sure to make a point of seeing? We'll probably only get one day there, but we'll make it a full day. . . . .

James McMullen

02-21-2010, 10:59 AM

Oh, dear lord, that's sexy!

http://www.limaritime.org/images/SouthbayCat/1SBCatFromTheBowBattansInPlace640.jpg

Breakaway

02-21-2010, 02:43 PM

Hi James

You can take the Long Island Rail Road from Penn Station in Manhattan to the Ronkonkoma Station( One -hour to 1 hour 45 mins depending upon train) then catch a 15 minute cab ride to West Sayville, where the museum is, about a 15-minute ride. The train is about 20-bucks round trip and the cab will prolly be about 20 bucks one way. You could also take a train to Sayville, and then have a shorter cab ride, but you might have to be changing trains to do that, and there will likely be less trains in a given day. Here's the LIRR website (http://www.mta.info/lirr/) with schedules, fares etc.

Jim Ledger

02-21-2010, 04:44 PM

It's a nice little museum, with an active corps of volunteers doing some interesting things. For Gil Smith fans, this is Mecca, with a shed full of original boats and a sailing replica, built by the volunteers, shown here...

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71201

I'd be happy to give you a ride from the station as I'm not far away.

johngsandusky

02-22-2010, 08:17 AM

A great small museum. The best of it is a building full of old boats.

James McMullen

02-22-2010, 08:50 AM

Much thanks to those who have responded and have PM'd me. It looks like I'll be shooting to be there on Friday, April 2. Jim Ledger, I much appreciate your offer of a lift from the station, and I'd love to take you up on it.

Anyone else in the area want to come on a field trip to Catboat Mecca on April 2?

johngsandusky

02-23-2010, 08:28 AM

I'll check my schedule.

Ian McColgin

02-23-2010, 08:40 AM

If I ever make a cruise through the Skinnycock and into the South Bay, I'll be swinging through. Looks neat.

johngsandusky

02-23-2010, 02:47 PM

Can't make it, working 4/2. I'll be free next year.

LongIslandBoy

02-24-2010, 07:55 PM

Sounds like an opportunity for a Long Island EBS!

James McMullen

02-24-2010, 08:21 PM

I'd love it! Say, don't you guys make some kind of special "iced tea", too? I'd have one of those, maybe.

Richard Jones

02-24-2010, 08:27 PM

Bill Huson

02-24-2010, 09:51 PM

Sad to say, the Long Island Maritime Museum did not exist when I lived on L.I. My burg was Oakdale, but my grandparents house was across the street from the new home of the Museum. Some kind of a multi-acre estate back then with a big nasty fence around it.

Circa 1950's. Before child endangerment rules, so at age 11 I began prowling the Great South Bay in my outboard boat. West Sayville was Dutch town and I think I was related to a majority of the residents back then. Most of the men relatives were clamdiggers and oystermen. My Grandpappy was a boat captain. Good times . . .

Soundbounder

02-25-2010, 05:12 AM

It is one of those things I have been meaning to do, but I have yet to go there.

LongIslandBoy

02-28-2010, 03:08 PM

James, just got off the phone with the lead volunteer/ instructor @ LIMM, and a class should be going on when you and Andy get there. All Forumites will be welcomed with open arms. Along with Jim Ledger, I'd be happy to pick you guys up at the train station. Looking forward to seeing you both on 4/2!

holzbt

02-28-2010, 06:01 PM

I wish I were not going away that week. Maybe next time.

Breakaway

02-28-2010, 08:21 PM

I'd like to be there... gotta find a sitter for my kids. Mark me a maybe.

Kevin

Richard Jones

02-28-2010, 08:45 PM

Any meeting place? Main gate at opening time? Looking forward it

Duncan Gibbs

02-28-2010, 10:17 PM

Pictures! Lotsa pictures please!

LongIslandBoy

02-28-2010, 11:42 PM

Duncan, I'll bring my camera with me, for sure, and between now and then I might even figure out how to post them!:D:o

Duncan Gibbs

03-01-2010, 03:14 AM

Ol' Jim should help you peg that particular skill!

johngsandusky

03-01-2010, 08:01 AM

Will there be drinking late into the night? I can be there by eight pm.

James McMullen

03-01-2010, 08:35 AM

Ha! This is sounding better and better all the time! I look forward to meeting all of you very soon!

Soundbounder

03-02-2010, 05:21 AM

I found this online:

http://www.loving-long-island.com/long-island-maritime-museum.html

LongIslandBoy

03-06-2010, 11:10 AM

I'd love it! Say, don't you guys make some kind of special "iced tea", too? I'd have one of those, maybe.
James, Long Island is also home to a couple of pretty well-regarded brewers, and lets not forget the vineyards of the North Fork!:)

James McMullen

03-25-2010, 12:23 AM

Okay, I'm starting to pack my bags for my flight out arriving this Saturday. :D

Anyone else who is thinking of coming along and would like to get in touch to coordinate times and places, please PM me and I'll give you my cell phone number.

Friday after next . . .the soon to be infamous April 2nd W.B.F. Great South Bay Catboat Appreciation Day and E.B.S.! Hooray!

Duncan Gibbs

03-25-2010, 01:34 AM

Looking forward to the pictures James!

J. Dillon

03-25-2010, 04:21 PM

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4546/islipgaffer.jpg

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/5176/islaptugs.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4830/islipboatss.jpg

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/1696/limuseuminsidecatboat.jpg

The above boats were there a few years ago. Itis a nice museum to go to.:D

JD

Jim Ledger

03-25-2010, 04:41 PM

See you on the 2nd.

LongIslandBoy

03-31-2010, 08:36 PM

Guys, see The Bilge thread entitled "Long Island Maritime Museum 4/2/10".

Duncan Gibbs

04-01-2010, 06:42 AM

Interesting spiling technique in that last shot JD. Kinda reminds me of my model making techniques.

Jim Ledger

04-01-2010, 06:50 AM

Who's going, then? C'mon, it's going to be a really nice day weatherwise. Old boats and cold beer.
.

A good day to play hooky.

LongIslandBoy

04-02-2010, 04:08 AM

Good mornin', everybody! Here's the plan so far: James is taking the LIRR to Baldwin station, scheduled to arrive @ about 9:17. I'll pick him up, and then we'll drive to the LIMM. Should be there by 10. Martin Sievers and the volunteers will be at the boat buiding shed working on some projects, so maybe we can all meet there? Looking forward to a beautiful day, FINALLY!:D

Jim Ledger

04-02-2010, 07:44 AM

It's down to the shop for a few hours to work up a light coating of sawdust, then over to the museum to see what's going on.:).

Richard Jones

04-03-2010, 07:53 AM

ARGH!! I couldn't make it yesterday! My wife decided to extend a short vacation one more day that kept me off Long Island until yesterday around 4:30 pm. Just the closing time for LIMM. Coincidence? One wonders...
Anyway, I'd love to hear how it went.

abe

04-03-2010, 08:11 AM

LIB

Martin Sievers and the volunteers will be at the boat buiding shed working on some projects, so maybe we can all meet there? Looking forward to a beautiful day, FINALLY!:D

No finer words have been spoken - seems I hear the exact words from some old friends at a place Downeast around the end of May every year. Do you know Marty and Mac??

abe(Andy from NH)

Jim Ledger

04-03-2010, 08:29 AM

.
Anyway, I'd love to hear how it went.

Wes (Long Island Boy), James McMullen and myself, wandering around an empty museum full of Gil Smith catboats and various local craft. There are few better ways to play hooky, Richard, without any actual sailing, and if your wife wouldn't let you go, I'd maybe not speak to her for at least a couple of days. All this, followed, of course, by the obligatory consumption of prodigious quantities of local seafood, washed down with similar quantities of Gil Smith Ale with plans laid to do it all over again at the earliest opportunity, with sailing next time.

Wes, James, It was a pleasure to meet you both. Richard, there will be other opportunities.

James McMullen, alongside the oyster sloop Modesty.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m193/searover1916/DSCF7957.jpg

Jim Ledger

04-03-2010, 08:43 AM

For you Gil Smith fans, here is a shot of an early, 1895, GS catboat. James can be seen talking with the former director of the museum, about the possibility of buying a set of plans from which to build one boat. It turns out that the legalities are so tricky in this area that almost no plans are made available to would-be builders. A shame, really, because there would be fleets of them if plans were readily available.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m193/searover1916/DSCF7928.jpg

johngsandusky

04-03-2010, 09:32 AM

I met with James and Wes (Long Island Boy) after the tour concluded in Oyster Bay. Nice guys!

holzbt

04-03-2010, 11:04 AM

Some pic's of MODESTY's relaunching in 1980.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Scan_Pic0001.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Scan_Pic0004.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Scan_Pic0003.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Scan_Pic0017.jpg

holzbt

04-03-2010, 11:09 AM

MODESTY under sail 1980

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Scan_Pic0020.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Scan_Pic0012.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Scan_Pic0013.jpg
MODESTY and BEAR, a Crosby cat that was on the bay for many years.

LongIslandBoy

04-03-2010, 12:15 PM

LIB

No finer words have been spoken - seems I hear the exact words from some old friends at a place Downeast around the end of May every year. Do you know Marty and Mac??

abe(Andy from NH)
Andy, I first met Marty @ WoodenBoat School in '87, my first time there, when I took a class with Brion Toss. I believe I met Mac a few years later. Both great guys! If I ever have a major project in the works, I'd seriously seek their advice.
Marty was the consummate host yesterday. He spent a lot of time with James and me, providing an insight to technical details for just about every boat in the museum's considerable collection.
James was soaking everything in, and trying to digest a LOT of info! I'm sure he'll do a magnificent job of creating a Gil Smith.
So good to meet Jim Ledger AND John Sandusky in the same day! Look forward to seeing them both again soon.
James is on his way home today, and I'm sure he'll be posting pictures soon, including some of "Christeen", an 1883 oyster sloop, rescued and rebuilt by volunteers of the WaterFront Center, located in Oyster Bay, New York. I'm fortunate to be a volunteer deckhand aboard "Christeen" for 5 seasons now.
BTW, Andy, I think you know me: think "Johnny Mathis".:D

Richard Jones

04-03-2010, 12:22 PM

I can't hold it against my wife. She really needed a few days away. She's a special-ed teacher and is having a very rough year. Budget restraints, more and more disabled children, crazy parents who expect her to fix their children(with no effort on their part) and heartless administrators have made her year very difficult. Thirty years of teaching, one of the finest and most caring teachers they have and they're treating her like a rented mule.

She was going to teach one more year, but she can't take the stress anymore and is retiring this June.

So, within a year, it'll be pack up and move to our place in Vermont. Anyone want to buy a nice house on Long Island?

And how do I clean out 30 years worth of junk?http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

johngsandusky

04-03-2010, 02:23 PM

Gee, I could take some of those old dusty boats off your hands!
As if Jane could stand another boat at our house.

Duncan Gibbs

04-03-2010, 06:23 PM

It turns out that the legalities are so tricky in this area that almost no plans are made available to would-be builders.

why for this so?

There's a nice one in Finland:

http://www.raidfinland.com/images/cohiba.jpg

holzbt

04-03-2010, 09:04 PM

Mystic Seaport has plans for several Gil Smith boats. LIMM might have lines for a few but I don't ever remember seeing any real plans for any when I worked there.

LongIslandBoy

04-04-2010, 11:10 AM

Are ya home yet, James?

James McMullen

04-04-2010, 11:55 AM

Whew! I'm home now, after a long journey. What a great trip, though!

I'll post a whole bunch more with a lot more detail once I get all my pictures uploaded and edited. :)

Gotta overcome my sugar-coma from having eaten too many Peeps and chok-lit bunny eggs this morning first too. . . .:eek:

LongIslandBoy

04-05-2010, 06:53 PM

holzbt, what kind of work did you do @ LIMM? When?

PT Commander

04-05-2010, 08:38 PM

Moved off Long Island in 1979. Being a fire captain for the Centereach fire dept. and a seasonal cop for the 5th pct I know the area well. Use to take the ferry out of Sayville to Fire Island where I patrolled. Oh the bikini's there were great and I was in my early 20's....lol. Afraid I will be on the beach for this trip to the museum in sight of the space shuttle launch pads enjoying the 85 plus heat here. sounds like there are lots of New yorkers on here. Got to get back one of theses days. Haven't been there in 31 years now.

Gulfcoastbreeze

04-08-2010, 10:23 AM

Looking forward to seeing the photos.

James McMullen

04-08-2010, 04:39 PM

Gulfcoastbreeze, I have posted a whole new thread about my trip, complete with lotsa photos right here. (http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112604)

Jefe

04-11-2010, 08:20 PM

Does anyone know more about Modesty?

My grandfather (born 1906) took me over there to see it back in the late 90s. He told me he was on her deck when she was first built (I think he said he was a teenager), out east in the bay.

I wasn't as interested in wooden boats then as I am now...