Mudlark's Ghosts: And the Restoration of a Herreshoff Meadow LarkMudlark, build in 1953, is a modified version of the iconic Meadow Lark, a shallow-draft leeboard sharpie ketch designed by L Francis Herreshoff. But she is about to sink. Ian Scott decides to save her, and to do the work himself. This is the story of why and how he devoted many years to the restoration of Mudlark, and of what he learned in the process about wooden boats, the timbers they are made of, the designers and craftsmen who make and repair them, the tools they use and, not least, about himself. It is also the story of his imaginary conversation with Mudlark's ghosts: the designer, the naval architect who modified the sail plan, the commissioning owner and the builder. All are long dead, but their work lives on in Mudlark. |
Contents
Foreword | 7 |
A passion for wood | 25 |
A proper boat | 40 |
Mudlarks Ghosts | 55 |
Why Mr Smith did what Mr Smith did | 68 |
Common terms and phrases
ALAN VILLIERS antifouling asked boatbuilding Boatyard Bob Bauernfeind bolts bottom planks build builders built bulkhead butt blocks cabin catboat centreboard Chesapeake Bay chine log chineboards clean coaming cruising decided deck Easton Point engine compartment England epoxy fastenings feet fibreglass finish frames Francis Herreshoff Glynis Gougeon Brothers Herreshoff Horvath hull Ian Scott keel knew lee helm leeboards less LFH's look main and mizzen Marina Maryland masts Meadow Lark meant mizzenmast Moonfleet Mudlark never Norfolk numbers original owner Oxford paint partly perhaps Pete Dunbar realised removed repair restoration rigging Robin Knox-Johnston sail plan sailors sander screws seams seemed sharpie side Smith steering cockpit things thought took topsides Town Creek transom Tred Avon Tred Avon River varnish walnut weekend Wells-next-the-Sea Williams wood wooden boats workmanship yacht yard