This is a new
column for our ACBS Cutwater and our Website, with the objective
of keeping our members informed of the projects at our local
wooden boat shops. The concept is similar to the “Around the
Yards” column in Wooden Boat magazine.
For this issue
of our Cutwater, we trekked down the visit Bo and Kathy Muller
at Muller Boatworks in Sunapee, NH to checkout their latest
project, a Gentleman’s Racer.
A
Boat Builder's Boat
Have you ever wondered about an architect's home? Or about a
professional book seller's reading list? Do accountants balance
their personal finances each month? Even if these questions have
not been puzzlers for you, you probably have been interested in
the kind of pleasure watercraft that a boat builder would build
for himself. This will answer the last question. The others will
remain wonderment.
On a cold, below zero, January day, I had
the pleasure of visiting Muller
Boatworks
in Sunapee, NH. This boat shop is run by New England Chapter
Members, Bo and Kathy Muller. On the day we were there, they
were being assisted by their son, Joe, home from college for
winter break. Our visit was purportedly to create a feature for
the Around the Shops Department of the Cutwater. But, in
reality, I just wanted to get a look at the Gentleman's Racer
that Bo and Kathy were building for themselves.
When Bo first built his shop at his
current location, he intended to work on boats 26 feet and
under. One of the reasons for that, is there is no place on Lake
Sunapee with adequate docking for boats longer than 26 feet.
But, a few years ago, when the Mullers got the opportunity to
work a 33
foot Baby Gar, they knew they would have to increase their
facility. Their first addition was a 36 foot bay with a taller
ceiling than the original one bay shop. Now, they could really
do business!
That wasn't enough. Kathy, who is
responsible for the paint and varnish work, needed a space that
was separate from the boat building. So, the Mullers added a two
bay 36 x 26 foot varnish room. Explicably, there are chain
hoists in every space. In addition, to the working shop, the
Mullers have a storage building on site that currently holds
twelve boats, plus a couple of rowing skiffs. Bo mused that he
would be willing to part with one
of his rowing shells that he has
owned for over 20 years, and won a
first place in an American competition.
The real draw for the day was the 22 foot Hacker design
Gentleman's Raceboat, as yet unnamed. The design is based on a
Hacker model called Priscilla in a 1924 issue of Motor Boating
Magazine. At the time, Hacker was producing a "Build Your Own
Boat" series that regularly appeared in the magazine. Not
content with the design as is, Bo modified it to his own
specifications. Now he says, "I am not dissatisfied with it."
Very droll words from a man of understatement.
The boat was conventionally built, with the only epoxy used on
the bottom. Bo expects the sides to age naturally and acquire
their own "patina". The whole boat is rounded, there is nothing
square to it. The beamy, crowned deck is something that Bo says,
"I fussed and fussed with it." He says he would probably change
it some more but the time came to just finish it.
The boat comes with two cockpits, fore and aft. The driver and
riding mechanic will sit on a bench seat in the rear cockpit, as
with most speedsters. The rounded tumblehome sits 5 feet across
at the water line. Butterfly hatches for the motor compartment
are accented with several air vents. Additional air vents are
still in the process of being cast. Many of the fittings have
come from Bo's stockpile of so-called "junk". Nothing looked
like junk to me.
An example of the precision with which this boat has been built
can be seen in the deck screws. All the flat head screws are
aligned with the heads to go the same direction. You can also
see that much thought has been given to the placement of each
and every component part. For example, the gas tank, which is
placed behind the aft cockpit, has sufficient room for someone
to work on either side of it.
After much consideration, Bo finally decided on a traditional
drive train setup with a Chevrolet 454 cubic inch, reverse
rotation marine motor and a Borg Warner marine transmission with
a reduction gear. At first Bo considered an exotic V-Drive setup
with changeable gear ratios, but finally decided on a tradition
setup. "I wanted to keep it simple, simple, simple."
Kathy did the staining and varnishing. The
deck and covering boards are all Honduras Mahogany. Kathy told
me that, "Over the years, I have been given a lot of different
stains to use, but chose a traditional
Dolfinite
stain for this project. It goes on like butter." For varnish, "I
still prefer Epifanes ," Kathy said. The varnish work is
exquisite, including all seat backs and interior surfaces except
the bilge.
When a driver sits down to take the boat on a pleasure cruise or
on a race course, everything he or she sees or feels must be
perfect. In this boat, Bo acquired an antique steering wheel.
The rim came from a Model T Ford and the spokes from a parts
dealer specializing in antique car and boat parts. The dash
layout and gauges are still under consideration, as is flooring
for the boat. Bo is not partial to tradition floor board on this
vintage race boat, but Kathy wants flooring to cover some of the
running gear. Even though I don't want to get into the middle of
that discussion, I do prefer the finished look of stained and
varnished floorboards. The extra work is well worth the effort,
and this special Gentleman’s Racer deserves the best!
While all the design, construction, rigging and finish work is
enjoyable and rewarding, this project is a Gentleman’s Racer and
the real fun is the water testing and dialing in process – Sea
Trials. And because the setup will spin a one inch drive shaft
and right hand propeller, I offered my help and supply of test
propellers to find the best prop setup for this speedster. My
offer was accepted, and I agreed to return this spring for an
afternoon of Sea Trials and prop testing. I can't wait.
Look for another project update and lots of action photos of our
Sea Trials in the summer issue of our Cutwater. For more
information on this special Gentleman’s Racer, contact:
Muller Boatworks
603-863-8146
And if you are working on an interesting project in your shop
and want to share all the fun with an article in our “Around the
Shops” column, please contact:
Bill John
Vintage Race Boat Shop
603-569-5824 (Shop phone)
http://www.vintageraceboatshop.com
