Schooner Elenora

26 January 09 Eleonora

BOAT: Eleonora
OWNER: Anonymous
DESIGNER: Nathanial Greene Herreshoff, Bristol R.I.
BUILDER: Van der Graff Shipyard, Holland  http://graafship.com/main/
YEAR: 2000
HULL: Steel
LENGTH: 162 feet [49 meters]
HISTORY:
Eleonora is an exact replica of the schooner Westward, which was hull number 692 launched at the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., Bristol, RI. in 1910. Nat Herreshoff a.k.a. “the wizard of Bristol” designed all six of the successful America’s Cup defenders from 1893 to 1923. He is widely considered as one of history’s most impressive yacht designers. Westward was the fastest schooner in the world for many years, and nearly 100 years later, her twin Eleonora is in Newport Harbor finishing an extensive refit at the Newport Shipyard.
Despite freezing temperatures and short days, the folks at Newport Shipyard together with workers from several local businesses have put in long hours to prepare Eleonora for her departure to the Caribbean next week. Conditions offshore are cold and violent, but Eleonora is more of a ship than a boat, and she will eat up the miles between here and the warmth of Bermuda in a matter of days.
Anyone wishing to see this remarkable vessel before she departs can do so by going to the Newport Shipyard. The web site yachteleonora.com has lots of information and pictures of her exquisite interior.

Zodiac Pro 20-LRSE- Poertsmouth, R.I.

23 Feb o9 Zodiac Pro 20

BOAT: Pro 20
OWNER: Life Raft and Survival Equipment, Portsmouth http://lrse.com/
BUILDER: Zodiac Boats, France
http://www.zodiacmarineusa.com/
LENGTH: 28 feet [8.53 meters]
HULL: Fiberglass with PVC “Shark” fabric
HISTORY:
Founded in 1896 by Maurice Mallet, the Zodiac Company got its start as an aeronautical firm making dirigibles. They went into aircraft manufacture after WWI and invented the inflatable boat during the 1930s. Today they are a publicly traded company with interests in technology, airline equipment and of course boats.
From its very first days, the inflatable boat was a commercial success. Made famous by the television series Undersea World by Jacques Cousteau the name Zodiac became synonymous with inflatable boats. Soon rigid fiberglass hulls were used to stiffen hull tubes making possible ever larger boats.
Pro 20 is a twenty man center console boat suitable for recreational or commercial use. Worldwide, such boats are used by harbor masters, yacht clubs, and larger boats as tenders. One advantage of these boats is low weight and high capacity. It keeps fuel consumption down yet allows for high speeds and a dry ride.
First opened in 1983, Life Raft and Survival Equipment is the regional dealer and authorized repair facility for Zodiac boats. With 14 full time employees, they are a welcome part of Newport County’s marine related economy.

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.