FAIR HAVEN - Dozens of old wooden boats that were once forgotten relics of the past were finally afloat and on display again at Fair Haven's Pleasant Beach Hotel Sunday.
Hotel owner Bonnie Scoville said several of the boats had previously been stored and forgotten. Many of the wooden hulled vessels were brought out of the water decades ago to be replaced with newer, lighter and easier to maintain fiberglass boats.
While some of the vessels were as small as a one-man canoe or rowboat, others were as large as a 33-foot sailboat and they all had a story to tell.
“The older people get excited about these older boats,” Scoville said. “It's because they bring back memories and stories about growing up in this area. Telling someone the fun stories on this bay, that's what this is all about. Everyone has a good story.”
For one man, his boat did not represent the past, but was instead a dream of what he would like to accomplish in the future. Ramsey Ludington, the owner of a 33-foot sailboat named Ramsey's Dream, said he wanted to take his boat to Tahiti.
“My spouse is sick, so my plans are on hold,” Ludington said. “I'm not a young man anymore, but mentally and physically I feel I am good enough to go. But for now I need to stay here and take care of my wife.”
Ludington has spent the past 15 years building his boat, which was a replica of a 1920's era Tahiti Ketch. The vessel was known for its ability to survive massive storms in the Pacific Ocean, making it a popular choice to circumnavigate the world.
But building his own sailboat was not a cheap hobby, Ludington said.
“If someone is thinking about doing something like this, they should know its not going to be cheap,” he said. “If people knew how much I spent they would think I was crazy. The cost for mine was easily six numbers.”
For Merrill and Laurna Hoffman, the event was a chance to finally see Ludington's finished project.
“I followed Ramsey as he built it, and I wanted to see his boat,” Merrill said. “I have never been on it so I decided to come out here today and see it. Where he built it, he had to knock down a wall to get it out of the building and he had to get it down this narrow driveway. Somehow he did it.”
Despite being slower, heavier and more expensive than their modern counterparts, Merrill said the older boats had one thing that made them stand out.
“For these boats, its all in the beauty of the wood work,” he said. “I use to have a wooden sailboat too. They are really nice but it takes a lot of work, and the upkeep is expensive.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
While some of the vessels were as small as a one-man canoe or rowboat, others were as large as a 33-foot sailboat and they all had a story to tell.
“The older people get excited about these older boats,” Scoville said. “It's because they bring back memories and stories about growing up in this area. Telling someone the fun stories on this bay, that's what this is all about. Everyone has a good story.”
For one man, his boat did not represent the past, but was instead a dream of what he would like to accomplish in the future. Ramsey Ludington, the owner of a 33-foot sailboat named Ramsey's Dream, said he wanted to take his boat to Tahiti.
“My spouse is sick, so my plans are on hold,” Ludington said. “I'm not a young man anymore, but mentally and physically I feel I am good enough to go. But for now I need to stay here and take care of my wife.”
Ludington has spent the past 15 years building his boat, which was a replica of a 1920's era Tahiti Ketch. The vessel was known for its ability to survive massive storms in the Pacific Ocean, making it a popular choice to circumnavigate the world.
But building his own sailboat was not a cheap hobby, Ludington said.
“If someone is thinking about doing something like this, they should know its not going to be cheap,” he said. “If people knew how much I spent they would think I was crazy. The cost for mine was easily six numbers.”
For Merrill and Laurna Hoffman, the event was a chance to finally see Ludington's finished project.
“I followed Ramsey as he built it, and I wanted to see his boat,” Merrill said. “I have never been on it so I decided to come out here today and see it. Where he built it, he had to knock down a wall to get it out of the building and he had to get it down this narrow driveway. Somehow he did it.”
Despite being slower, heavier and more expensive than their modern counterparts, Merrill said the older boats had one thing that made them stand out.
“For these boats, its all in the beauty of the wood work,” he said. “I use to have a wooden sailboat too. They are really nice but it takes a lot of work, and the upkeep is expensive.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
