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.

16 march 09 Corsair

BOAT: Corsair
OWNER: The International Yacht Restoration School [IYRS], Newport, R.I. http://www.iyrs.edu/
DESIGNER: Nathanial Herreshoff, Bristol, R.I. http://www.herreshoff.org/
BUILDER: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, R.I. http://www.herreshoff.org/
YEAR: 1939
LENGTH: 35 feet [10.6 meters]
HULL: Teak over cedar
HISTORY:
Corsair has quite a history. She was originally built as a launch for J.P. Morgan’s 343 foot yacht – Corsair IV, but never served the purpose. Corsair IV was sent to join the British Navy during WWII before Corsair was finished. Corsair IV never came home.
Corsair was built to hang from the side of Corsair IV and still has the original hanging eyes in evidence today. IYRS students have gone completely through Corsair replacing all rotted and damaged wood. IYRS students are building their own futures by learning the skills required to rebuild the past. While rescuing historical objects- some of which are in distress- is the core mission of the IYRS student body, general wood working and lofting are taught as well.
Corsair is as much a part of our national history as are the mansions or Trinity Church. The fact that IYRS is centrally located on Thames Street, not just doing, but teaching the skills required to preserve our national artifacts is a blessing to our community that we should not overlook. The public is invited to the IYRS campus to view the restorations in progress. Just go down to the campus and walk in during regular business hours.