Restoration and Repair
16' Catboat Sea Duck
"Sea Duck" came to us from Arey's Pond
Boat Yard for a complete restoration. She was in decent shape
for her age, which we estimate to be 70 or more years. Sea
Duck was designed by Fred Goeller for Rudder Magazine in 1915 and is owned by Jaclyn and Eric Vorenkamp, who sail her on the Hudson River.
Starting to strip Sea
Duck |
Sea Duck on launching
day |
She was lovingly maintained and sailed in Nantucket Harbor since
the mid-seventies. We were aware of some of the issues from
her survey report. However, as often happens with a wooden boat
restoration, there were deeper problems. We replaced several
frames in the bow, and added new floor frames and beefed up
the mast step in the hopes of tightening the planks forward.
Her shape was restored and should be much drier up forward.
The deck was recovered with plywood and Dynel. All the trim
was replaced with mahogany parts.
Sea Duck companionway
- BEFORE |
Sea Duck companionway
- AFTER |
All the paint was stripped and the hull was refaired. We built a new hollow mast replacing the heavy solid pole to reduce the strain on the stem.
The interior is very clean Alaskan Yellow Cedar ceiling and bunks. The exterior trim is mahogany.
Sea Duck sailed her first season on the Hudson River, but unfortunately
not without some problems. She came back to our shop for a stem repair
and new garboards, which will hopefully result on a sound and tight
hull. It is the inherent risk of restoring a boat of her vintage that
you run into an unforeseen problem, which is what happened in her case.
We hope to have her back in good form for the coming sailing season.
Please view the gallery of photos documenting the extensive
restoration of Sea Duck.
|
