A. Mason plans

[longfellow]

Has anyone had any luck contacting the estate of Mr. Mason, using the information on his web site? After about six months of letters and e-mails, I am thinking it is time to move on to other designs. I was seriously considering one of his great looking sloops but enough is enough. Is there other contact information other than the e-mail and address on his web site, that I might use?
Thanks,

[reddog]

His daughter,Anita I believe,used to post on this forum but I haven't seen her about for some time.I'm sure one of our fellow forum members will be able to provide some information.

Earl

[StevenBauer]

I've tried contacting her by e-mail through the site with no luck. I haven't tried calling her.

Forumite "D Gobby" bought plans from her to build Bart, a boat Al designed for Anita in 1960. There are lots of threads here about the build. I know he had some contact with Anita. Maybe he knows how to reach her. If we only knew how to reach him. I don't think he's posted in a couple of years. :(

If you do make contact I'd love to buy a set of plans for my boat. I have the little study set from "The Rudder" but I'd love a full size set.


Steven

[Mike Vogdes]

Hopefully this will be of some help, there is some contact info at the bottom of the page.

http://www.a-mason-na.com/yd06000.html

[mmd]

When I get home this weekend I will try the personal e-mail address I have for Anita to see if she is "taking calls".

[StevenBauer]

When I get home this weekend I will try the personal e-mail address I have for Anita to see if she is "taking calls".


Put in a word for me Michael, please. :)


Steven

[ChaseKenyon]

A. Mason one if not the favorite designers of all time.

He designed the famous 3 mast schooner "California" before he was 20 years old, before he attended Webb and graduated as a marine architect.

During WWII while at Sparkman and Stevens he supervised and taught as many as 40 or more draftsman. In his second stint ther he was the one, primary designer of the famous "Finisterre".

Absolute fascinating man. He donated his collection of other folks designs and drawings to the Mystic Museum. I would not be surprised if he donated his work to the museum in his will as well.


Wonderfull to find out others hold him in high regard as I do.

Chase

[Canoeyawl]

He was a great guy with a sly sense of humor. I was able to spend time with him in his home studio while he helped me with the Wenda design. That visit is a cherished memory now. He noted similarities to his double-ended version of Ostkust, dug out the plans and we poured over them for an hour or more.
(The boat was probably Sorkust, not really an Ostkust - If I had known of these plans earlier I may have gone down that path).
He liked double-ended boats and was disappointed that the hull form was not more popular in the US.
Willing to answer all the questions, a most generous man probably to a fault, he would take no money from me and claimed it was “just fun” and he could not charge for that. His wife showed visible disappointment.

What a library he had. I do have a few of his books with notations.

[longfellow]

MMD,
Were you able to get in touch with Anita last weekend?
Ed

[mmd]

Longfellow, you are a bit anxious: I posted my offer yesterday (Tuesday). Patience, grasshopper; patience...

[watson1990]

I am presently looking [albeit slowly] for a boat for retirement. I saw a Mason 44 in jost van dyke a few years back and i had to stop and talk with the owner while on a mooring.

that boat had magnificent lines and she looked like she could handle most any weather thrown at her .
I also like the cheoy lee passage,a 41' but I think that ,while she is solid as granite ,she may be a bit cramped for 2 and an extended period on board on the order of 5-6 months a year.
I am looking for a C.C. aft cabin smiley boat and I am thinking in the area of 47 -51 feet. Vagabond ? force 50? [sails like a rock ]
I know what you are thinking but please remember that once I have this boat I will be 63 -65 years of age and I don't want to have to set the alarm each day just to get up and do maintenance on her so yes, i am looking at some plastic .. health issues are making me accept the fact that i won't be able to maintain a completly wooden boat for that many more years . I know it may sound repulsive but I have to be realistic.You'll just have to trust me about the health issues .My days are limited. [actually ,my years ]
I am also just beginning to consider a motor yacht or a boat such as Lew has . While I don't like the idea of buying all that diesal in the B.V.I.s or Tahiti, some times ya' gotta look to the future with open eyes. This boat will spend the rest of my life either in the Virgin islands/tahiti or perhaps a trip or two to Turkey/Greece/Azores or Italy..But for the most part ,the islands.I need to be wary of the "WORMS !"
Mr Mason's designs are beautiful to be sure and i won't forget that boat I saw 8 + years ago on Jost Van Dyke
Thanks for understanding and any insight you might offer .
Watson

[paladin]

Longfellow.....To date I have had no return call from Anita.......things are very, very quiet and I'm wondering if something may be wrong in the family.

[longfellow]

No problem buddy.
Thanks for trying.

[StevenBauer]

Anita posted here in June when her mom passed away. No word since.

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81358



Steven

[rbgarr]

Longfellow,

Have you ever seen the booklet 'Thirty-two Designs by Al Mason'? A series of booklets were published by Seven Seas Press in the 70s (also ones about Warner, Colvin, Hanna) that were fun to pore over.

[longfellow]

No I did not know about these books. Thanks for the tip. I will try to get them through inter-library loan.
Ed

[johngsandusky]

They are really pamphlets. They come up on ebay from time to time.
There is a recent strip and glass cutter near here. Her owner spent twenty years building her in a greenhouse. She's about 34' long and very impressive.