AR True sailing skiff

[johnja]

Does anybody have any info on a 13'-14' sailing skiff built by AR True in Amesbury, MA? Any info. is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
John

[JMAC]

I've got a 1957 AR True Rocket, a 23' centerboard sloop named Ponder. I was able to find a bit of info at the Woodenboat library on the True boats. When I got the boat in 2000, I was able to get hold of a True family member who said her uncle that worked there was in the hospital on his last legs.

[JMAC]

you got pictures?

[johnja]

I've got some pics. and will post them on Thursday.
My boat is just a little day sailer, sloop rigged.
lapstrake construction, iron fastners & flat bottom (of course)

[johnja]

do you have any history on the company?
Thanks

[JMAC]

I don't know too much about the company. If you want I can e-mail you an image of an old spec sheet from them. Someone told me that you used to be able to see their yard from Rt 95 around where 495 meets up with it.

[johnja]

thanks
A spec sheet would be great!
pictures will arrive this week and I will post

[wtarzia]

There were at least a couple of boat building shops in that area on the Merrimack River near that rte 95 bridge. Lowells Boat Shop still exists -- they focus on dories and built mine -- but they have changed hands a couple of times since the mid 1980s and seem to be in perpetual trouble now. Down the road from Lowells, on a side street that stays close to the river, was another branch of the Lowell family, evidently, who built boats. The hardly readable sign (darkened with age) can still be read on a barn structure that looks ready to fall over (and has looked that way for as long as I can remember it, which is about 30 years! I have a photo somewhere.). I believe a "Hiram Lowell" does still do some nautical stuff -- small parts, I saw his stand at the Wooden Boat Show this year.

I never heard of the True shop but am glad to add that to my patchy local knowledge. There was once a boatyard at the top of a low rise near the 95 bridge, that my boat-dreaming took to once when I was a boy, but that has been ploughed aside for condos. I visit that area a few times per year (near my home grounds), driving around, rowing/kayaking the river , etc. --Wade

[geokal]

do you have one?
I think I do.

[Daniel Noyes]

There were at least a couple of boat building shops in that area on the Merrimack River near that rte 95 bridge. Lowells Boat Shop still exists -- they focus on dories and built mine -- but they have changed hands a couple of times since the mid 1980s and seem to be in perpetual trouble now. Down the road from Lowells, on a side street that stays close to the river, was another branch of the Lowell family, evidently, who built boats. The hardly readable sign (darkened with age) can still be read on a barn structure that looks ready to fall over (and has looked that way for as long as I can remember it, which is about 30 years! I have a photo somewhere.). I believe a "Hiram Lowell" does still do some nautical stuff -- small parts, I saw his stand at the Wooden Boat Show this year.

I never heard of the True shop but am glad to add that to my patchy local knowledge. There was once a boatyard at the top of a low rise near the 95 bridge, that my boat-dreaming took to once when I was a boy, but that has been ploughed aside for condos. I visit that area a few times per year (near my home grounds), driving around, rowing/kayaking the river , etc. --Wade

Ok Hiram Lowell of Amesbury is Pert Lowell Co of Newbury who I was employed with for 6 yrs before doing a yr. at Lowells in Amesbury
Pert Lowell co. does more than just nautical stuff, since 1930's+- they have built the Town Class racing dory, along with the Indian these are the only dories actively class raced today, fleetes along the North shore including Marble head fleets, an lake Sebago Maine.
AR True's son or grand son keeps a boat at Pert Lowell co to this day, nice guy

[geokal]

I've got some pics. and will post them on Thursday.
My boat is just a little day sailer, sloop rigged.
lapstrake construction, iron fastners & flat bottom (of course)

Do you still have pics?