Phoenix at the Newport Shipyard -  January 2010

25 January 2010 Phoenix

BOAT: Phoenix
OWNER: Downeast Marine Resources, Castine, ME http://www.dmrinc.us/
DESIGNER/BUILDER: Davie Yard Inc., Levis, Quebec http://www.davie.ca/
YEAR: 1972
HULL: Steel
LENGTH: 130 feet [39.6 meters]
HISTORY:
 Located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River opposite the United Nations UNESCO World Heritage City of Quebec, the Davie Shipyard has been in continuous operation for over 185 years!
Originally builders of ocean going square rigged sailing vessels, Davie Yard also built boats for up river and Great Lakes exploration. Following the myriad changes of history, the yard has morphed into a modern builder of fishing, military, and industrial ships.
 Built in the early 1970s for offshore fishing, Phoenix- after a hard career spanning more than three decades- was the beneficiary of a multimillion dollar refit into a private yacht in 2008.  It seems that no expense was spared. The vessel was fitted with every mechanical system and creature comfort imaginable.
Purchased recently by Downeast Marine Resources, Phoenix made a brief stop at the Newport Shipyard. The boat is now a luxurious private platform for scientific research.
With side scanning SONAR, bottom mapping capabilities, a full on board laboratory, and submersible vehicle launching gear, Phoenix will come in handy when offshore wind companies commence initial operations in Rhode Island waters.

Can Do II- Oldport Launch- Newport, R.I.

9 March 09 Can Do II

BOAT: Can Do II
OWNER: Oldport Marine Services, Newport http://www.oldportmarine.com/
DESIGNER: unknown (possibly Bill Tripp) http://www.trippdesign.net/#/
BUILDER: Marscott Plastics, New Bedford, MA
YEAR: mid 1950s
LENGTH: 22 feet [6.7 meters]
HULL: early fiberglass
HISTORY:
Marscott Plastics of New Bedford, MA was one of the pioneers of fiberglass boat construction. Unsure of the new material’s properties, the first builders sometimes used wooden reinforcements, and often “overbuilt” the hulls. Can Do II is a prime example of this.
Lying derelict behind a shed in the late 1980s Can Do II caught the eye of Mike Muessel of Oldport Marine Services. Mike’s offer to buy the hull for $200 was rejected by the owner who countered with one of $150! The sale took place and work began.
The “boat’s” rotting frames were stripped away until all that remained was a fiberglass skin. New frames were molded in. Decks and consoles were installed and engine beds fashioned. Hydraulic, mechanical, steering, and electrical systems were designed and installed bay the experts at Oldport Marine Services.
Nowadays, Can Do II is something of a Newport harbor icon. She fully commissioned and floating year ‘round ready to perform any number of tasks.

Bystander- 18 May 09

BOAT: Bystander
OWNER: J -Class Management, Newport http://www.jclass.com/
DESIGNER & BUILDER: Greenport Basin and Construction Company, Greenport, N.Y. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenport_Basin_and_Construction_Company
LENGTH: 42 feet [12.8 meters]
YEAR: 1929
HULL: Cedar on white oak frames
HISTORY:
If historic significance is any benchmark, then Bystander gets a gold star. The list of her relationships reads like an A list star party in Hollywood. Built for Mike Vanderbilt, in what turned out to be the year of the great stock market crash, Bystander has played host to the boats & crew of no less than six America’s Cup Races. Starting in 1930 with the J –Class Enterprise, and continuing uninterrupted until 1967 with the 12 meter challenger, Dame Patti, Bystander, towed, tended, and otherwise stood by some of the best known yachts in racing history.
The ravages of time took their toll on Bystander, and she became in need of a total restoration- enter Narragansett Shipwrights and its all star cast of Newport based professionals. The list of businesses and individuals that took part in Bystander’s renovation is on a par with her rich history. Fine craftsmanship, joinery, and mechanics were on display this past Thursday as Bystander was re launched after a multi year restoration near the I.Y.R.S. campus.
The boat will be on view in Newport Harbor this summer- just in time for the 12 Meter World Championships coming up this fall.