|
BARBARA LEE, a 1959 31' Jonesport Lobster boat, was scheduled for
demolition during the summer of 2000. She had been sitting
dry-docked at Gloucester Marina for the previous 4-5 years awaiting the
inevitable.
Around the summer of 1999, BARBARA LEE's owner, a local lobsterman, gave
her to the yard manager because he knew she was finished and the yard
manager could salvage the engine for himself. The aging lobsterman
had developed health problems four years prior and was no longer able to
either fish nor maintain her. So BARBARA LEE began her hopeless wait
for the care she needed to return to sea.
Over the 15 years he owned BARBARA LEE, this Gloucester lobsterman had
made some unusual alterations. These alterations were intended to
improve his ability to stay aboard her while working the trap lift.
Local lore said he had trouble staying in the boat when she pitched at
sea.
|
|
BARBARA LEE
1959 Jonesport
Lobster Boat 31'
|
 |
|
BARBARA
LEE turned out to be a 'diamond in the rough'. She was planked
with spectacular cedar on oak frames and fastened with copper
rivets, making her a premium building material for Nauticals of
Marblehead.
|
 |
|
The Jonesport is a famous type of Maine lobster boat. This is
a photo of a 38' Jonesport recently for sale.
|
 |
|
So many boats in this condition end up as firewood.
Fortunately BARBARA LEE's future is secured.
|
|
|
The Jonesport is a famous type of Maine Lobster boat. Her
distinctive shape is narrow and long- making her effective at plowing
through the sea, but a bit 'tippy' when broadside - thus explaining the
old lobsterman's difficulty.
During the summer of 2000, the yard manager decided it was time to salvage
BARBARA LEE's engine and clear the spot for a paying boat. David
Montgomery, building partner for Nauticals of Marblehead and owner of
Montgomery's Boat Yard, discovered this boat was moments away from
demolition and thought she'd make good raw material for Nauticals' work.
As it turns out, David was right about BARBARA LEE. This unwanted
wreck was planked with spectacular cedar on oak frames, fastened with
copper rivets - all signs of a well-made boat - no surprise for a
Jonesport.
For any boatyard, it's cheaper and easier to get rid of unwanted boats whole
rather than destroy them there and deal with disposal. The
yard manager offered to deliver BARBARA LEE whole to Montgomery's for no
charge. And so he did.
|
