mystery deepens

[DavidF]

A few weeks ago I asked for opinions on the designer of this boat but I did not have many details or good pics. Here's another shot. The son of the girlfriend of the guy who owned the boat said the family believes the boat was built in mid-coast Maine about 80 years ago. There is no builders plaque. No name. No nothing.

and the shapely behind

The boat is about 28 feet long. I have other pics if you think a construction feature would help ID the builder or designer. From what I've seen, the boat is professionally built of mahogany on oak. the lower end of the sternpost needs replacing but the rest appears serviceable (pending results of a survey.)

So, please give me your best guesses. And thank you.

[StevenBauer]

I can't help with info but I like her!
Any interior shots?

Steven

[BETTY-B]

I have other pics if you think a construction feature would help ID the builder or designer. So, please give me your best guesses. And thank you.

I think you should post every single pic you have of her. Just in case some little detail might ring a bell for someone.

Also, have you secured it yet? (hint:We should only be hearing a yes here... )

DAN

[DavidF]

I'm happy to put up more pictures.
The boat is set up for cruising for a single person, but it would be easy to find three good berths inside.

Outside you could have a slumber party. It's got the biggest cockpit I've seen on a 28-footer, self-bailing to boot.

The tiller has some carving, probably by an owner.

The hatch was enlarged and there is standing headroom throughout most of the cabin.


another interior.

The bilge is dry.


The worst problem: mice have nested above the stuffing box leading to rot in the bottom end of the stern post. And yes, steps have been taken to rescue this beaut. I just want to know more, if that is possible.

[Hwyl]

Shooting entirely from the hip and just looking at the design. I'd say she was built no earlier than the 50's.

[Tom Hunter]

I'll second Hywl's guess, she does not have the feel of a 1928 boat.

A couple more guesses. I think her cockpit is influenced by Freindship sloops or some other workboat type. Workboats had big cockpits so people could work in them, and you see this size of cockpit on Pinkys, Catboats and Freindships all of which have workboat heritage.

Her hull does not remind me of any of these types, which is why I used the word influenced. What part of Maine is she sitting in? There is a lot of variation in local types from one end of Maine to another.

The engine, the engine controls and the gages may have date information on them. True they may have been replaced, but you are looking for clues right now. Even the type of controller can give you a date around here, some of us have very old controls and can date things that way.

[deltabrent]

whats in that guitar case? Could be as exciting as the boat!

[DavidF]

The guitar is a Harmony arch-top f-hole that the mice have nested in. It has delaminated, unfortunately.

[deltabrent]

too bad. Still not a bad guitar. I collect Harmonies, Stellas etc. If its an earlier one it might be worth restoring. Places like old boats and attics are where great old guitars can be found!