Chappelle/Zirlott schooner 'Fontaine' for sale (possibly at a low price!)

[bamamick]

Many of you on or near the Gulf Coast remember the beautiful little schooner 'Fontaine', that was a perrenial winner at all of the wooden boat shows along the coast and the prettiest lady around for many years. Well, like many a wooden boat along the Gulf Coast since Katrina she has fallen on a bit of hard times and needs a new owner. I just saw her at the Biloxi Wooden Boat show, and she looks fine except for some cleaning up and cosmetics. She is owned by the Biloxi Seafood Museum, and though their website doesn't list her, she had a flyer on her at the show saying that she was for sale.

This boat was built in Bayou La Batre, Alabama by Nathaniel Zirlott, probably one of the last boats built by that fine craftsman before he passed away. She needs paint and varnish and I don't know what else, but the rig looked perfect and I did not see anything out of sorts. She is in Biloxi, of course. She would make one heck of a coastal cruiser and when she was in her prime turned heads from Madisonville to Josephine and everywhere in-between. This is the boat that inspired me to buy the schooner I had, and I would love to see her find an appreciative home with someone. You can get the contacts from the Seafood museum at www.maritimemuseum.org.

Someone really needs to save the 'Fontaine'.

Mickey Lake

[bamamick]

I found a photo of her from the 2005 Perdido Wood Boat Association Show at Josephine, but you guys know that I don't know how to attach things like that. Look here:

www.perdidowoodboat.org, and then look at the 2005 photos labelled 'sail under 40 feet'.

That photo was from when she was in her prime, but I swear, from what I saw today, a couple of weeks varnishing and painting and cleaning and she would look like that again.

Mickey Lake

[holzbt]

Anybody got some spare cash they can loan me?

[johngsandusky]

Well, how much cash Roger? Buy her and we'll sail her home!

[bamamick]

I have dealt with the people at the museum before, both in buying a boat and in making a donation of one, and they are easy to talk to. I can't imagine what they are asking for 'Fontaine', but if history is any lesson then it's probably pretty reasonable.

Mickey Lake

[holzbt]

Hi Mickey,

Your PM box is full. I'd like to know more about this boat.

Thanks,
Roger

[J. Jumonville]

Hi everyone,


I am with the museum and can answer questions about the boat. Anyone interested cam PM me for more info.

Here are two photos I took of the boat at the show Saturday. I have other photos I can post tomorrow.

Buddy Jumonville

[Larks]

What a drop dead gorgeous boat!!! Buddy please keep us informed of the outcome, I hope she finds a very good home!!

[bamamick]

I told you .

Thank you for stepping in, Mr. Jumonville.

Mickey Lake

[Zane Lewis]

Just too far away for me or I'm be heading down for a look. Fancy selling freight free to New Zealand??

Good luck finding a new home for her. Any sailing setup and interia pic's?
NB A question for comments, In that first shot the mast heads look very heavy for a light boat.

Zane

[J. Jumonville]

Mickey,

This boat is in the condition you described. There are some small holes (rot) in the deck planking so a close inspection under the deck will be necessary.

The 2 cylinder Yanmar diesel engine has been removed for repairs and should be installed in about a week.

Anyone like to come by and sail her this weekend?

Buddy Jumonville

[Larks]

Stop teasing Buddy, some of us are just a little too far away.

[johngsandusky]

No, go ahead and tease us. I love these boats.

[Zane Lewis]

Thanks for the pics.

By the way, what sort of money are you looking for??

More wellcome thanks.
inside looking aft.
Zane

[Larks]

Bump.....any news on this little gem find a new custodian??

[catndahats]

I'm not too far away, and have the time to sail her back to Galveston Bay, have an empty boat building shed just begging for a new resident.................wonder what the price is?

[johngsandusky]

Call them.

[catndahats]

...<smile>

Call them.

[bamamick]

Sure. They are nice people. Give them a call. I don't know if the engine works, but I didn't see anything that would keep her from making it to Texas on her own bottom.

Mickey Lake

[bamamick]

Did she ever sell? I saw on their website that they wanted $8K for it. Man, such a gorgeous boat.

Mickey Lake