The Artisan Journal
Newsletter of Artisan Boatworks and Artisan Yacht Sales
July 2014
Volume 7 / Issue 1
R E C E N T LY L AU N C H E D
In mid-June and a week before the Wooden Boat Show, VIM,
the 36' lobster yacht we rebuilt last winter, made the run from
Maine to Mystic, CT, on her own bottom. The response to her
at the show was tremendous—particularly with regard to the
layout and installation of her extensive array of systems. VIM
sports a Muir self-launching electric anchor windlass with
helm control, a bow thruster, Vaccuflush head, microwave
oven, refrigeration, auto pilot, and a surround-sound stereo,
just to name a few.
There are many fine candidates for this type of restoration,
including the Down East 42, PEGASUS on our SAVE A
CLASSIC page. Also, by working with various yacht designers,
we can develop plans and build new versions of VIM. So contact
us with your goals for a new downeast lobsteryacht. From 18foot outboard skiffs up to 50-foot cruisers, we can either locate
and restore, or build new, the powerboat of your dreams. Many
production fiberglass boats try to emulate these classic wooden
lobsteryachts, but why not have the real thing?
She is also super sound-insulated. Her working deck and
engine box are built from sound-deadening plywood made by
the Soundown crew of Salem, MA. Below that are two inches
of Soundown foam insulation, an AquaDrive thrust bearing,
custom wet exhaust muffler, and fully-gasketed deck hatches.
The result is that while cruising at 16 knots, her helmsperson
can carry on a normal conversation without raising his or her
voice. In fact, during sea trials, the stern wave made more noise
than the 240hp turbo-diesel humming along at 3300 rpm!
The other boat we had on display at this year’s WoodenBoat
Show (and delivered immediately afterwards) was GULL, a
Fisher’s Island 24 built by the famous Henry B. Nevins yard
in 1922.
Outside this high-tech infrastructure is a wonderfully pure
classic lobsteryacht from the 1960s. All surfaces are painted
(no varnish!) with a blend of matte and gloss sheens that were
custom mixed by our friends at Epifanes in nearby Thomaston.
All metalwork and hardware is bronze, much of it custom
fabricated by Joel Cox at Rockport Marine. Some of the more
extreme measures include electroplating the stainless steel
shore power plug with bronze, fitting a short length of copper
pipe over the base of the VHF antenna, and installing slate
veneer from Sheldon Slate over the tops of the galley counter
and engine box.
We replaced all of GULL’s frames and floor timbers, her
keel and deadwood, deck, and coamings. “Why,” might you
ask, “would anyone choose to replace that much of a boat
instead of simply starting from scratch?” Several reasons:
First, it’s less expensive; and second, by preserving all of the
planking, longitudinal stringers, and spars, we were able to
maintain GULL’s patina—and thus her connection with the
VIM really needs to be seen for one to fully appreciate her
level of detail, and if you’re in Newport this summer, you can
see her moored just off the Ida Lewis Yacht Club. Or you can
check out VIM’s photo gallery under PAST PROJECTS at
ArtisanBoatworks.com.
416 Main Street • Rockport, Maine 04856 • ArtisanBoatworks.com • 207.236.4231