It's looking real nice inside the cabin. They better finish soon in there, the soft goods will be here in 3 weeks.
I received the card and ornament your company sent to my office today. That was a nice surprise. Thanks!
I'm hoping you make it out to Veatch with us.
You have me thinking about it already.
You've just hit on one of the great pleasures of fishing the canyons. the stars, the occasional northern light show, the cool nights after trolling in strong sunshine and 80 degree weather, the clean air the crystal clear sky, the sweet sun set on the ocean, tuna under the boat and good folks on board having fun..... man, that’s the best.
Oh and I almost forgot to mention.... setting up to troll for Big Eye at grey dawn while drinking a double shot of espresso....Whew!!!!!!!!!!
I'm going to be itching to launch all winter.
Dave wants to launch early and take her up the bay to J&J to mount the tower.
I'm praying for a nice pleasant winter. Looks like she's going to sea trial out of the Newport Shipyard after all.
Your comparison to art work is right on the mark. I've heard that comment made by a lot of people over a long period of time.
Along with what I call the beginning of the prayer: "Oh my god!" has been so often uttered when someone sees her for the first time, that I now just watch their faces as then enter the shed from the wood shop.
A business associate met me there last Saturday, he uttered the same comment.
The other comment that's been made quite often is when people come over and climb on her, they look at me and say that "This boat has a soul."
It must be true because I've heard it enough that I'm convinced. I can't wait to hear this wooden boat creak a little on the drift.
I don't know what drives that comment, but I've thought the same thought many a time or two as I've been alone in the shed with her. I thought that thought even before people started saying it. Perhaps it goes way back to boat building tradition. Maybe it's because when you're standing on her she feels so solid under foot, or perhaps because when you see her ribs you just get a sense that she's not like any fiberglass boat that you've ever been on.
I'm going to have to find a museum to house her in.
Kidding aside she's 16' on the beam, if measured to the permanent pulpit she's 50'. She has a lot more volume in the cabin than most of the carolina rigs even though she has a lot of flair, the way she was shaped the flair didn't take away from the hull to hull dimension. She's has about 6'10" of clearance in the cabin so she seems like she's a bigger boat.
Thruster? oh yes she has one of those. I had the thruster put in so when I'm out with the wife and young ones, I can dock in new places stress free. I hate pulling into an unfamiliar marina, not knowing the currents and with all of the tight dock space it's nice to know I can spin her in a tight circle.
If I avoid one ding as a result of installing a thruster, it's money well spent.
I went with the Imtra Side power unit. Imtra is a local company. They did right by us. I have a lot of their stuff on this rig.
Once again the crew did excellent work. She's nut just cut in they make blocks to divert water around the tube as she's running. It's a real nice shape.
It's tough to see in the photo but there is a leading edge flair built in front of the thruster.
Last edited by Fortunate One; 12-17-2009 at 08:16 AM.
The boat is coming along just beautifully ..very nice work . Good luck with her ... your comment about Brownell is right on point .. I went up the Cape a few years ago with a friend that was looking at a 52 Brownell (was Mr. Brownell's personal boat) .. we sea trialed her in some nasty stuff and she rode great and was extremely dry.. I was very impressed .. we rode home back to NY and by the time we got back he was convinced he was going to buy it .. long story short , he called later in the day to put in an offer and the boat was sold an hour after we left .. if your boat rides anything remotely like that 52, you will be very happy
Mark
Capt. Mark DeBlasio
Canyon Runner Sportfishing
Ritchie Howell Custom Yachts
Mr. Brownell’s boat was named “Miss Jillian”. She is a beautiful specie. She was bult over a ten year period on and off as the yard was between projects. A fill in project.
She had 5 Monel fuel tanks under her cockpit.
I looked her over at the Brownell boat yard in a heated shed when she was listed for sale. I spent 6 hours on her admiring her from stem to stern. I looked her over better that a surveyor would have.
She's an exceptional vessel.
I fully understand why your friend was ready to purchase her after just one look. Frankly I'm surprised that he didn't call the broker while he was there.
There is no production vessel that could compare to her.
She was a bargain the price she was being offered at.
Beside an exquisite hull and what was the state of the art construction for her time she had exceptional joinery.
Truly Exceptional!
It was like the finest furniture that was ever described on the Antiques Road Show.
Her down galley was so exquisite that any chef would have been in awe of the craftsmanship let alone the quality of the appliances.
After being on the ocean for as many years as she had, I was astounded by the fact that the salon cabinetry showed no separation in her joinery. I couldn't even find a spider crack in her epoxy. Not a single one.
The selection and fit of the finest wood was second to none that I’d ever seen. The match booking of lumber was unreal.
The shape of her hull is a work of art. Period.
Her reverse chine was so outstanding that we copied it.
Hats off to the Brownell fleet!
They aren’t built like that anymore with the exception of the “Stradivarius”. She's being built in the tradition methods of that those that came before her. And with regard to what the Brownell folks would have produced if they were still building boats today. At least that's what I like to think.
For most people with means they really don’t appreciate the dedication and thought required to produce such a vessel. Most want a boat that’s plug and play. They can have them.
If their hull delaminates then hey what the hell file litigation against the dealer. If they're still around.
I went down to the shed today with the expectation of seeing something nice.
Got Wood? I sure do!
As a result of the Holidays there hasn't been a lot to show but then again there's nothing wrong with the crew getting some rest and enjoying the holidays. I took a couple off weeks off myself.
I just arrived back in town and here's what I found:
A Happy and Healthy New Year to all!
Got Varnish?
Here's a couple of pictures of the solid native New Hampshire Cherrywood steps with mahogany inserts and solid nosing leading to the master cabin bunks.
They'll come in handy for the kids.
I'm sure I'll just be diving in once I open the door to the master.
The finish on her hull looks like nothing that I’ve ever seen on a wooden boat.
Any white marks you may notice are dust particles attached to the surface of the wood.
Here's a picture of the solid mahogany floor trim being fit.
This ain't no veneer folks.
As a mater of fact there isn't any veneer being applied to this boat with the exception of the corners of the master bunk.
Pictures of the solid mahogany door frames.
Day berth cabinets getting varnish.
I can' wait until that temporary ladder is removed and the masterpiece handcrafted ladder is installed.
Here are our custom stainless steel exhaust surge tube supports. Just like production boats have....... NOT!
It reminds me of the two recent posts about Viking boats having rudders snap off because some hoople head decided to use dissimilar metals.
I can't begin to imagine about what is happening to the lower quality boats that were just put together with parts and pieces that were just lying around on the shelves.
Reflecting back on the work that our systems guy did on the "plug and play genset" just makes me think about how many production boats go out with no regard to fuel lines and electrical connections chafing.
Photo of the medicine cabinet door before I insert a mirror into it.
Here's a classic helm wheel set at the helm pod. It’s a solid stainless steel Release Marine Wheel.
It has a knurled backing for fingers.
Man it's sweet.
Once again it's from Captain Paul Hannum from Universal Marine.
As well as the no-bolt rod holders that will match my Release fighting chair.
I love the no-bolt stuff because it won't hold crap and stain.
Paul has been a supporter and provider for this vessel and I highly recommend that we support the folks that support this site.
Rod holders in her covering boards, How I've been waiting for the day!
I love the refinishing of the wind screen. The paint makes for a nicer finish.
Blending it in much better that an anodized finish.
There's a lot of detailing still going on.
The next two months will show the final progress. She's scheduled to be pulled out for sea trial in March.
She'll be brought up the bay to J&J Marine for a custom made tower similar to the one that they produced for this production boat. Check out the built in rod storage and the recessed LED nav lights.
Jeff and I have been talking and the The Stradivarius will have just a few more bells and whistles.
Last edited by Fortunate One; 01-01-2010 at 10:11 AM.
It is a beautiful 32 sedan, immaculate, I though long and hard about picking this one up...All my research led me to believe the Brownell Boats works built some fine boats. This one seems to have stayed together well after 40 years
Mike, Amazing project, thanks for sharing it in such detail, it really makes me appreciate and learn from the craftsmanship of the build......
On the joking side of things...i have come to the conclusion that you have spent more money on Blue painters tape for your build that i have on my boat LOL. Good luck with the boat, I don't think that pulpit will crack off at the christening like Judge Smail's Sloop
Captnemo, I fished on 2 Brownell boats. Both were owned by a gentleman in Stuart Florida. He had a charter business, his name was Walter Ungerman. He had a 40 some odd foot Brownell Express boat that was painted baby blue and it was a very sweet looking and riding vessel. He also had a classic Brownell Bass boat that I went fishing for King Fish on. Another great boat.
That's a nice boat that you've posted a link for. I just love the classic boats.
nabeelah, a couple of months ago she was weighed in a 31,000 lbs. Since then we haven't added a whole lot of weight. My guess now is she's in the 32,500 range. We're estimating that with the tower, dry she's going to end up some where close to 38 to 39,000 lbs dry.
The original calculations were based on a weight of 44,500 lbs wet. At that weight she was conservatively expected to top out at 39 kts with a cruise of 32knts. But as a result of using more composites we're coming in much lighter than that so I'm expecting a top speed of 40knts.
BlueH20Boss, That pulpit could punch a hole in a steel ship. I'm personally keeping the painters tape people in business these days. Them and the rag people.
It's been a pleasure to share the build. There's a lot of people that enjoy following the build and it's been fun to post the pictures and descriptions.
Like many I enjoy reading about boats, repair and building.
The following push should be interesting. There are a ton of parts and pieces already built and finished waiting in the wings to be installed.
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I'm personally keeping the painters tape people in business these days. Them and the rag people. 
