Restorations
Tern - Herreshoff
12 1/2 Hull Number 865 Built 1921
You can't imagine the excitement that went through the shop when Pierce Hance announced that he had convinced his friend Mark Hughes to donate Tern, a 1921 Herreshoff 12 1/2, to the East End Classic Boat Society. The boat had been stored in Anders Langendal's shop in Greenport for several years.
Our plan included carefully surveying the hull, drawing up a list of items that require attention, and beginning the process of restoration as it fits into our schedule of work. We are in phase three and restoration is well underway. All frames, stem and transom have been replaced and a new sheer strake has been fitted. Work on the keelson and garboard are the next step. This is a long-term project and is continuing as work is done on other boats.
Kayak
“We were recently donated a two person Folbot kayak. Folbot offered a catalogue of kayaks several years ago, some of which were kit boats. The hulls have an interior “skeleton” with the hull minimally connected to it. The hull is cedar strip laid with a fiberglass overlay.
The boat donated to us was in serious dis-repair. It had been stored outside with a cover than failed so it suffered extensive water damage. The first step in the process was removing the exterior fiberglass so that the hull could dry out; a surprisingly easy process due to the amount of water the hull had absorbed. The next step wis removing plank strips from the hull to a point where they were sound, then the reforming of the hull one strip at a time.
It is a challenging project for our volunteers that offers many opportunities to improvise to repair the damage, while working hard to preserve the original design.