Do you know this boat?

[W701]

Two years ago I purchased the boat shown below. It was thought to be a 1927 Town Class, but I have found no identifing marks of any kind on it. Its previous owner was from CT ,but the boat carries New Jersey boat numbers and registration, to wit: NJ4706FD, registration no. 72914 (1986). The boat is 15' in length. It carries the name FRY DAY (or FRYDAY) on its transom. It is a centerboard boat with wood spars; cedar over oak, I believe.
I wrote to Mr Ralph Johnson of Pert Lowell Co who kindly looked at some pictures and said it could be a smooth sided Townie although the deck layout and the center board box were not typical. He said the Town Class was designed by his father-in-law in 1932. He said during 1936 and 1937 both smooth sided and lapstrake Townies were built and that the smooth sided ones went to either Long Island or Cape May, NJ.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid166/p53cb885abca0efe93c38d15e39b91aa0/f44bf270.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid166/paad9e9203ece0a92038655abc6154a4f/f44be244.jpg

I would appreciate any comments on the identity of this boat and/or the history of this particular boat.

Thanks in advance

[rbgarr]

Townies typically don't have an aft deck like the one on your boat, and perhaps you were told that specifically. She looks like a nice boat though. Good luck with her.

[Jack Heinlen]

It's not a Town Class, they're planked lapstrake. If it were a bit longer I'd guess an Alden O boat, but they are 18 ft.

I dunno. There were a lot of the type built. A look through Alden's catalogue might turn up something in that range, 'cause it sure looks like an O boat.

Nice looking dinghy. Looks like it needs some putty and paint. smile.gif

P.S. I just reread your post. I wasn't aware of Townies built carvel, interesting. I'd be suprized if it's true, unless it was maybe one to satisfy some unknown urge. The whole reason to build dory style is lost if you take the shape and build it carvel.

And the shape doesn't look like a Townie to me, it's too full in the bilges. It really does look like a scaled down O boat.

[ 04-30-2005, 08:13 PM: Message edited by: Jack Heinlen ]

[shoal_draft_fantasies]

http://www.clyc.net/images/history/Tull%20WoodPussy.jpg

is that it?

url is
http://www.clyc.net/images/history/Tull%20WoodPussy.jpg

[W701]

I don't think this is the same boat. The mast and shrouds are too far forward and the cowling doesn't seem the same.

Thanks for the picture though.