Vineyard Open House Blog

Sparkman & Stephens Offers an Original Bunker & Ellis Picnic Boat for Sale

"Bellatrix," an original Bunker & Ellis Picnic Boat, is for sale.

42' Bunker & Ellis 1956- BELLATRIX Asking $425,000

"Bellatrix" is a wonderful opportunity to own one of the few original Bunker & Ellis "Picnic Boats." Like her better known sister "Jericho," she represents the legacy and tradition of the "Downeast" yacht. 

Interior.

She has been thoroughly restored while maintaining all of her original detailing and hardware and no expense has been spared in her service and upkeep.  Modern systems have been tastefully added and all plumbing and wiring has been updated.  For full listing, click here

Interior.

Contact Central Agent - Jeff Grey  Office: 401-847-5449 Cell: 774-454-7638 Email

ICW Cruise: Harbour Town Y.B. with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island, SC

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

Mile 559: Harbour Town Yacht Basin, Hilton Head Island Island, SC

The weather is beautiful for April, in the 60s and sunny, so we decide to head south to Hilton Head Island by going outside the ICW. What a change of scene when you 'go outside!' The tight corners, encroaching vegetation and shore debris all fall away as you break out into the open sea and a limitless horizon.

No more worrying about going aground, the depth gauge shows 20, 30, 40, 50 feet and more to the seabed far below. We listen to the chatter on the radio, but instead of cocking our ears for bridge closings, moving shoals and boats aground, we hear about submerged debris that has fallen off of freighters and the approach of supertankers that have a blind spot a quarter-mile long.

The water into Hilton Head Island is very shallow, hence long piers are needed to get to a comfortable boat depth.

Towards day's end we came into Hilton Head Island, arriving by going under the bridge to the island from the mainland. I had been coming to the island every October since 2001 for an industry conference and had always driven over that bridge. Very strange to be coming by boat and slipping by under it.

The bridge over to Hilton Head Island, my first time motoring under it.

We were greeted by kayakers enjoying the inlets and marsh.

We continued on past the bridge and Harbour Town Yacht Basin at Sea Pines Plantation came into view. The Horizon Classic had just ended the week before and vestigates of the tournament were everywhere, a kind of ghost tournament town all set up with no one to cheer.
 

Harbour Town's distinctive lighthouse tell us we are almost there.

Tournament ghost town: everything but the people.

The finishing hole offers not only great golf views, but also water views.

Easing up to the entrance to the basin.

Good-sized yachts save you the trouble of hotel reservations and check-out is whenever you want.

We had made good time into the basin, arriving around 5 o'clock. I had spent most of the day calling area clients to see if they could come over to our boat for cocktails. It was the middle of the week, but fortunately a few could make it. What a pleasure meeting for drinks in the harbor. A great way to spend the evening.

On display: the new GolfCourseHome Magazine and WaterView burgee.

Captain Steve with Tobin Spirer of Spirer Communications.

Guests include Pat Judd, sponsor of Dataw Island, and her husband, and Beverly Serral, sponsor of Sea Pines Plantation.
 

The day ended with an excellent seafood dinner at the dinner located at the base of the Harbour Town lighthouse. On the way the back to the boat, I took the show below, a glimmering reminder of a memorable day.

Time-lapse photography, not quite successful, but evocative of the magical atmosphere of Harbour Town.

Next Installment: A Visit to Windmill Harbour, SC
 

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

Day 8: Going 'Outside' to Fernandina & The Peaceful Marshes at Oyster Bay Harbour'

 

Antique Boat Show at The Reserve at Lake Keowee, SC, Showcases Cris-Craft Family

Classics on parade at the The Reserve at Lake Keowee boat show.

Chris Smith – the grandson of Christopher Columbus Smith, the founder of Chris-Craft boats – along with Alan Smith, the elder Smith’s great-grandson, shared stories at The Reserve at Lake Keowee’s Marina and Village on Friday, May 21, during a luncheon and boat cruise held in conjunction with Lake Keowee’s 2ndAnnual Antique Boat Show.

The Antique Boat Show, hosted by the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society drew scores of passionate boaters with their vintage watercraft from different parts of the country to Lake Keowee on May 20-22. Each day featured boat cruises, followed by intimate get-togethers. The event is one of many signature celebrations planned throughout 2010 honoring The Reserve community’s 10th Anniversary.

“What an honor to have Chris and Alan join us for this year’s event,” remarked Chuck Pigg, vice president of Greenwood Communities and Resorts and community manager of The Reserve at Lake Keowee. “Having all of those handmade wooden boats in our marina was certainly a sight to see, and we look forward to the opportunity to host the Society members again.”

Chris Smith touched on his time at The Reserve by accentuating the beauty of the place and the warmth of the people:

“I had such a wonderful time. What I saw of The Reserve I was very impressed with… the beautiful Village Center, the marina was excellent, and the grounds and buildings were absolutely gorgeous. In my younger days, I used to put my golf clubs in my boat on Lake Michigan and drive right up to the golf course. This place reminds me of that. How much better could it get? Golfing and boating… I plan to try to come back.”

Chris Smith and company. 

Based in Sarasota, Fla., Chris-Craft has a fleet of 19 models ranging from 20 to 40 feet and a tradition of excellence dating back to 1874.

About The Reserve at Lake Keowee
With a membership of more than 600 families from 30 different states, The Reserve at Lake Keowee is a lake, mountain and golf community stretching across 3,900 acres including 30 miles of shoreline on Lake Keowee and 1,400 acres of green space. 

Created by Greenwood Communities and Resorts, The Reserve offers more than $100 million in completed, family-friendly amenities, including a 200-slip Marina, Village Center complete with Guest House and a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and more than 1,400 acres of parks, preserves, trails and green space.  Home sites at The Reserve begin in the low $100,000s. To learn more, visit The Reserve at Lake Keowee's bio page on WaterViewHome.

Rebuilt Schooner Heron Sails Again

Going sailing on rebuilt schooner Heron this weekend. Here's her story of rebirth

Are You 'Sirius'? Yes, Classic NY32 Class Yacht for Sale via Sparkman & Stephens

SIRIUS, a New York 32 #19, is for sale.

For lovers of classic design, here's the boat for you. Featuring a Sparkman & Stephens design and Nevins quality construction, SIRIUS, a 45' New York 32 #19, is lying in Viareggio, Italy, and looking for a new owner.

The owner is asking €440,000, which translates to $553,696 at today's rate of $1.25 to €1. 

Classic lines and elegance.

"A racer/cruiser designed and built with good all-around form, guided by the lines of DORADE, STORMY WEATHER, and EDLU [that emphasizes] seaworthiness rather than around-the-mark agility," said Olin Stephens about Sirius.

Sirius, a (S&S Design No. 0125), is "poised for many more years of racing and cruising, and is being offered by a very caring owner in Concours d'Elegance condition. The NY32 Class continues to prove as much interest and motivation today as it did in early 1936," says the broker.

For more information, contact - A. J. Evans,  Office: 401-847-5449, Cell: 732-673-9112; or email.

Looking good to windward.

ICW Cruise: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

Charleston: Mile 469: A Visit to Daniel Island.

Daniel Island Marketing Director Julie D. & daughter Sophie

The day started off with a delightful introduction. I was picked up at the marina by Daniel Island Marketing Director Julie Dombrowski, with whom I had been working for five years via phone and email, and who was accompanied by her daughter Sophie.

It was the first time we had met--yet  another face to place with the voice after many years of marketing co-operation. Meeting Sophie was a bonus. She was on her way to school at Daniel Island which was where this photo was taken.

Julie's husband owns Ted's Butcher Block, a local shop offering gourmet meats, cheeses and freshly prepared meals. While I was in Charleston, the crew from one of the mega yachts stopped in and ordered $2,000 worth of meat with one order.

My arrival at Daniel island had just missed the conclusion of the Family Circle Cup which features the top women tennis pros in the first outing of the spring clay court season. The Family Circle Cup goes back to the 1970s when I covered the event and it began its tradition of introducing to the international stage soon-to-be famous players such as Pam Shriver and Jennifer Capriati. Request more information.

Part of the pagentry that accompanies the tournament is the fly-over by the Blue Angels, the aerial goodwill ambassadors for the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps. It is a spectacular week to be on-island.

Daniel Island home under construction.

Since the time available for my visit was short, we drove straight to where the action now is at Daniel Island. We drove by this home under construction to the edge of the community that borders on the Wando River en route to the site of the future Mitchell Wharf neighborhood. Boaters will be interested in the new release of homesites here which come with a permit to install a deepwater dock. Homesite and home packages start in the $600,000s and go up to $1.2 million. Request more information.

Mitchell Wharf will look out on the Wando River.

In addition to the beach shown above, Mitchell Wharf will also have other common areas such as parks, playgrounds and pools.

To the left of Mitchell Wharf are peaceful marsh views.

Quintessential Daniel Island neighborhood--Charleston architecture, tidy streets.

As we rode on through Daniel Island I was impressed how mature the community is--buyers don't have to wait for infrastructure and amenities to be built. Everything is in, no waiting.

Kid's paradise--a tree house with a water view.

Kids are a welcome part of life here, witness the elementary school we dropped Sophie off at, and this tree house, above, will keep any child's imagination filled with visions of pirates and days at sea. The swimming club, below, is also a popular spot. Request more information about Daniel Island.

An easy place to spend the day--the swim club.

Homes look out on the delicate marsh eco-system.

Everywhere you look you are reminded of the delicate ecosystem that surrounds Daniel Island. The homes above look out over march, through which you can see a simple boardwalk which will give you a memorable nature tour.

Boardwalks skirt the marsh.

This home caught my eye with its impressive entrance and gas light.

Close up of the front door.

Gas lamp on front stairway.

We stopped by the 11th green and 12th tee on the Tom Fazio-designed Beresford Creek Course which is neatly tucked into neighborhoods of stately homes. Request more information about Daniel Island

Golf course home overlooking the 11th green, Beresford Creek Course.

Home overlooking the 12th tee, Beresford Creek.

I returned to the marina and we immediately we cast off and headed towards our next destination--Hilton Head Island. As we moved out of the harbor we passed the Coast Guard station. Th passage had special meaning for me. My father, as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, was Captain of the Port of Charleston during World War II, receiving a special commendation from the governor at the war's end. 

Coast Guard on duty at harbor entrance.

As we departed, this sailboat headed downwind along with us.

Next Stop. Hilton Head Island, Harbour Town Yacht Basin and more.

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

Day 8: Going 'Outside' to Fernandina & The Peaceful Marshes at Oyster Bay Harbour'

Scotch Hall Preserve, NC, Ideal for Boaters & Golfers, Joins WaterViewHome Network

Scotch Hall Preserve, NC: 900 acres on Albemarle Sound.

Scotch Hall Preserve is a master-planned, upscale enclave for second-home and pre-retirement buyers. Occupying a 900-acre cape bounded by the Albemarle Sound, the community is equally attractive to golfers and boating enthusiasts.

The community’s private golf course was named by Golf Digest as America’s Ninth Best New Private Course in 2009. This 7,254-yard layout is an Arnold Palmer Signature design, with several holes paralleling the sound and scenic Salmon Creek.

The planned Family Club Retreat will offer a swimming pool, sports lawn, pavilion grill, and a bathhouse. And the proposed full-service clubhouse will be the perfect setting for family and social events from wine tastings to wedding receptions.

State-of-the-Art Recreation: The proposed Kids Adventure Camp will feature playgrounds and outdoor recreation for children of all ages, as well as picnic areas and other features.

The planned Boat Basin and Marina with its 107 slips and fueling dock promise convenience and access to the waters of the Sound, the Chowan River and Salmon Creek—for residents with watercraft from kayaks and sailboats to inboard cruisers.

Real Estate:  Scotch Hall Preserve, NC

• Variety of 450 custom homesites
  • Views of the golf course, coastal wetlands, Salmon Creek, Albemarle Sound
  • Sized from a quarter-acre to one acre-plus
  • Priced from $125,000
• Family Club Retreat Cottages
  • 10 cottage-style homes
  • Maintenance-free living
  • Adjacent to Family Club Retreat
  • Average area of 2,600 square feet
  • Fully furnished
  • Priced from $540,000
  • Click here for more information about Scotch Hall Preserve!

 

Photo Op: USS Constellation Turn-Around at Berth, Baltimore Inner Harbor May 27

The USS Constellation at war.

If your boating plans will bring you to the Baltimore Inner Harbor on May 27th, you will be treated to a unique experience. Each year the sloop-of war,  USS Constellation, is turned around from its berth at the Inner Harbor. This is a great photo op but also be advised that there are restriction in place for navigation in the area. This is from the Local Notice To Mariners from Chuck Baier, General Manager, Dozier's Waterway Guides.
   
Constellation Turn-Around
Mariners are advised that the annual turn-around of the historic sloop-of-war U.S.S. Constellation is scheduled to occur in Baltimore Harbor at Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday, May 27, 2010, between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. The event consists of towing the historic sloop-of-war from its Inner Harbor berth at Pier 1 to the Fort McHenry Angle in Baltimore Harbor, then turning the vessel around, and towing it back to its Inner Harbor berth.

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) Baltimore has established a temporary moving safety zone during the towing evolution. The moving safety zone includes all waters within 200 yards ahead of or 100 yards outboard or aft of the historic sloop of war U.S.S. Constellation while operating in the Patapsco River, Northwest Harbor and Inner Harbor. The zone will be enforced from 2 p.m. through 7 p.m. on May 27, 2010.

Except for U.S.S. Constellation Turn-around Participants, no person or vessel may enter into or remain within this area. Persons or vessels requiring entry, must first request permission by the COTP Baltimore, at (410) 576-2693, or Coast Guard patrol vessels enforcing the zone on marine band radio channel 16 VHF-FM. If authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander to enter or pass through the zone, persons or vessels must proceed at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course while within the zone.

The Coast Guard may be assisted in the patrol and enforcement of the zone by Federal, State and local agencies. If you have any questions please contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore Waterways Management Division at (410) 576-2674, (410) 576-2693 or email [email protected]. (Fifth District LNM 19)

ICW Cruise: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

Charleston: Mile 469. After passing Fort Sumter we eased up to the MegaYacht marina at Charleston. Wow, what an experience! Big boat after big boat enchanted our vision.

The sign at Charleston Marina signals you're in for a visual treat.

The first beauty was the Belle Aventure out of London that was there for major brightwork work. A crew from Quality Boat Work in Newport arrived the next morning to wash down the decks and continue for what was to be months of pain-staking work. (Belle Aventure is an 84′6″ x 17′9″ ketch designed by William Fife III and built by William Fife & Sons, Fairlie, Scotland in 1929.)

Belle being primped for a ball--notice blue tape in prep for varnish.

As we tied up at the dock I heard the sounds of a harmonica and a blues band get closer and closer. I turned toward the water, lo and behold the sounds of a 'blues cruise' got louder and louder. The music sounded great as it eased on by.

Blues cruise: the harp being blown on the stern reminded me of my days with Hat City Blues.

Stern of the Islandia, a 136-foot Jongert 40 T--the largest sailboat in the Holland-based Jongert line-up.

Under a menacing sky we walked on to dinner down the long wharf and passed a number of big boats beginning with, the Islandia, a 136-foot (40 meters) Jongert 40 T. According to Nautica.com, "Islandia" was designed by Tony Castro and Peter Sijm and features a steel hull, aluminum upper works and bulbous 11 ft. keel. With a beam of nearly 26 feet, she packs in a lot of comfort.

All the interiors are in mahogany wood, matched with beige colour upholstery and furnishings. The large living room, at the centre of the boat, extremely bright thanks to the numerous glass surfaces, offers a spacious area with TV and dining table able to accommodate 10 persons. 

In-mast and in-boom furling make getting under way a snap.

Astern of this room are the three guest staterooms, each with its own bathroom, and the boat owner's stateroom. This latter stateroom is a true suite, with two large twin beds and a smaller bed, a lounge with an L-shaped sofa, a desk and a wardrobe. Its bathroom has a separate shower compartment.

Islandia is impressive from every angle.

At the bow there is a large on-board galley, almost professionally equipped, the crew dining area and their cabins, each with separate shower and bathroom. Next along the line was a smart looking Grand Banks trawler, usually the recipient of many admiring looks, but here she is outshone by debutantes of international stature.

Grand Banks trawler sitting with the big boys.

We continued on our way down this walk of fame and encountered Themis. At 156 ft. she was 10 feet longer than Islandia and sitting pretty with an aluminum hull and superstructure, she is clearly designed to go places and quickly.

She weighs in at 215 tons and can cruise at 1,500 miles going 20 knots. The distance jumps to 6,800 nautical miles when you drop the cruising speed in half to 10 knots. She has five staterooms, each with its own bath. And as a nice touch, the flybridge features a six-person hot tub, plus bar with sink, refrigerator and ice maker. Care to invite a few friends over?

Themis has plenty of room for lounging around.

I had seen this boat before, in my home port of Vineyard Haven.

Themis comes from the drafting boards at Trinity Yachts, Inc.

Here's another beauty, complete with a center cockpit.

Tamsen, from Perini Navi, now out of George Town.

The biggest girl on the dock, however, was Tamsen, a 171 ft luxury yacht that was completed by Perini Navi in 2007. The steel-hulled super yacht takes 12 guests on board along with a crew of five. With twin Catepillar engines, she cruises at 12 knots with a range of 3,400 miles.

You won't get lost on Tamsen.

Ready for boarding.

Double rings.

Tamsen's reflective glory.

Be prepared to walk softly on the Tamsen decks.

Marina restaurant.

We continued on to the marina restaurant which offered fresh caught seafood. Our waitress and her husband live on a boat, as does Captain Steve, Captain John who steered Avanti and me to Martha's Vineyard two years ago and many others whom I have met on this trip. It gets me thinking maybe I should give it a try.

The next morning I am to meet Julie Dombrowski who will take me to Daniel Island. As I prepare to leave our boat I see a familiar boat out in the harbor, the When and If, which makes its home in Vineyard Haven.

When and If: built for General George Patton for him to sail 'when and if' World War II ended. The war ended, but Patton never sailed her, dying just weeks after the conclusion of hostilities.

On my down the dock I also spy a crew working on Belle Aventure.

Swabbing the deck with Cascade.

I notice they are sprinkling Cascade, the dish washing soap, into a bucket and swabbing the deck with it. I asked why and was told it was perfect for making the wood swell and lifting out the dirt.

The men look at what will be months of work.

I am happy to be going to a golf community to look at new homes and the golf course and leaving the men and their work behind. My morning is definitely going to be more fun.

Next Entry: Daniel Island and a new neighborhood.

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

Day 8: Going 'Outside' to Fernandina & The Peaceful Marshes at Oyster Bay Harbour'

Morris Yachts to Offer Presentation on How to Treat Wet Cored Hulls and Decks

Infrared image of a hull's wet core. Notice the keel and jacks.

You are invited to attend a presentation and demonstration on how to repair wet (cored) hulls and decks at Morris Yacht Service next Wednesday, May 19th at 10am.

Over the past few years the Morris Service Team has had the opportunity to develop a system to replace the core of vessels suffering from wet (cored) hulls and decks. In the process the company has evolved into a regional expert.

This process and expertise has been born out of necessity, as several owners of yachts with wet hulls have come to Morris Yachts seeking a remedy to their issues.

As most of you know, boat builders have chosen to use cored materials in the construction of their hulls and decks in recent years, based on the fact that cores provide us with vessels that are lighter, stiffer, drier, and faster. However, as these vessels age and begin to show signs of wear and tear, it is extremely important to place the cored sections of the boat in the overall maintenance schedule.

Wet core is typically caused by: anything that has pierced either the inner or outer skin of the core, including deck hardware that has not been properly bedded (or in which the bedding has failed); stress cracks in gelcoat; canvas snaps for dodgers and biminis etc.

Proper identification and maintenance of any of the aforementioned is the key difference between a small repair or a large one. If caught early, most wet core issues can dealt with efficiently and quickly.

You're Invited
Thus, you are invited to attend a presentation and demonstration next Wednesday, May 19th at 10am on the repair of wet (cored) hulls and decks at Morris Service. For more information on signing up for this event - go to Morris Service Open House or call 207-244-5511 to sign up. Deadline is Monday, May 17th. To preview the process, read Bill Hodges' report here.