| The Hinckley
Boat Company built LULU III in 1948 in Southwest Harbor, Maine. She was
one of eighty Sou'westers built between 1946 and 1952.
LULU III's last owner purchased her in the mid 50's from her first
owner, who purchased her new from the Hinckley yard.
LULU III spent most of her years sailing Long Island Sound from points
on the New Jersey Shore.
When LULU III was first spotted at Great Bay Marine in Newington, New
Hampshire, she was already showing signs of prolonged neglect.
Since Nauticals of Marblehead only takes doomed boats and Nowland
wasn't convinced this one was ready, no phone call to the owner was made
that year.
About 2 1/2 years later, when canvassing for more derelict boats,
Nowland visited the New Hampshire yard again. Not surprisingly, LULU III
was still there. This time Nowland boarded LULU to
look around. The interior looked as though whoever was there last,
maybe ten years earlier, left in a hurry - intending to return to
better prepare her for winter storage. |
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LULU III
Hinckley
Sou'wester 34'
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According to the yard manager, Lulu III belonged to a man in his
eighties who still paid his yard bills every year, but the boat
hadn't moved in the five years he'd been there.
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LULU III was trucked to Gloucester whole.
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The interior of any boat must be removed prior to cutting the hull
into sections. During this process sometimes great discoveries are
made. One of the best surprises from LULU III was the rich mahogany
ceiling (paneling) shown here painted white.
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The yard manager
once again suggested calling the owner.
He thought it was inevitable the owner would stop paying the storage
bill and when that happened they would take LULU III out to the outskirts of
the yard - the '"bone yard" - where she would be cut up
and burned.
By then he was certain this boat had no future and was surprised the
owner had kept paying.
When Davita finally contacted the owner, he quietly agreed to let her
go.
Today - long after her useful life has passed, the grace and beauty of
LULU III's lines remain- only in another form.
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