Ben Bow and the Wooden Boat Rescue Foundation

[OEX]

The web site for The Wooden Boat Rescue Foundation now seems stable( WBRF (http://www.woodenboatrescue.org) ). Please take a look. We currently have 14 boats--most on the site and with pix---this is a current list:
20 cat boat
44 Peterson schooner
38 aft cab Chris craft
40 Chris Craft--1953
40 wheeler
32 Noank Lobster boat
28 friendship/New England sloop boot---Gloucester type or mid Maine coast
26 gaff cutter Ben Bow
38 Maine cruiser/lobster boat
30 Trojan cruiser
50 William Hand motor sail
30 Ralph Winslow sloop
24 Atkin’s Shore Liner

Also I have communicated with Pat Atkin about Ben Bow---this is her as far as I can tell. She does not know when the rig was changed, but does remember the boat being in Westport in the 1960s. Her suggestion is that John and William would tell us to make a replica and save as much of the original as possible---with this in mind I feel that the following can be saved and used on a new construction:
keel and ballast
rigging
cabin
cockpit
all hardware
rudder
nameplates
engine controls
hatches
binnacle stand
sternpost and some deadwood

I am willing to give a very good low hour engine for this project---a yanmar 3 cyl 22 hp with less than 50 hours--new in 2001. I will do this only with a guarantee of the completion to Atkins' plans and with as much original as possible. I have suggest this project (since someone asked me to) to Ross Gannon--I think he may have some numbers to think about by the end of the week.

Cheers, Bruce

[Jack Heinlen]

Bruce,

It's stellar what you are about, trying to save these forlorn boats. And I feel a little better about my comments re Ben Bow, given what Pat said about William and John and a replica rather than a restoration. Pat is John's daughter, wife?

Anyhoo, from the pics, I think Ben Bow's cabin and deck structures are probably also shot. As to using the old deadwood and keel in new construction...I don't think I'd do it. But the hardware, perhaps the rudder, the rig and some small things could be incorporated in order to keep the soul of the boat intact.

I look forward to the Shorliner pics. You may have picked up on my interest in BR and MBR.

Good luck.

[OEX]

Pat is John's widow.

The cabin--I hope and think may still be good. I am going down the Ben Bow with a shipwright this week to really look at her---I was in a rush last time. As you know, the second look always turns ugly things worse, but finds good things you missed.

cheers