Steve Sanford
Well-known member
This Scooter was built in the 1920s or 30s and has been in our family since about the time I was born - 1953. It was a big part of my early gunning experience and I used it right up until I moved away from Long Island in 1995. It is still sound but needs some careful attention by Pencil Brook Boatworks (aka me....). I just rolled it into the shop and plan to have it ready-to-go by the end of September (yes, September 2013). Of course, it probably will not see any actual use - back on Great South Bay - until January 2014.
Here's how she has sat for the past year - I hauled her up from my brother's on Long Island. Cockpit cover was tight and, of course, she was off the ground and leveled left to right. My dairy farmer friends call this area my "marina"....
The boat-restorer's friend - any old wood finds "tenants" .
Yes, they are just Paper Wasps, but - it'll mean a "dutchman" fitted into the starboard coaming.
And, those Paper Wasps had to get to the coaming somehow - so, the sewing machine, too, will see duty.
Most of the 'glass is sound - but, it is hard to keep it on the ends. This is the fantail stern - which hides the boat beautifully from the ducks-eye-view as they approach the rig. Most of the 'glass dates from 1954 when my Dad first 'glassed her.
The bow, too, needs some attention. Originally, these scooters had a hole bored right through their stems, left-to-right, to take a painter. My Dad installed the screw eye but it has worked loose over many seasons. I will probably take a different approach when I replace it.
This is me "piking" the Scooter across the ice off East Islip circa 1982. For you Long Islanders, that is the Captree Bridge in the background.
This shows the principal difference between a Great South Bay Scooter and a Barnegat Bay Sneakbox. The hull sections of a Scooter are U-shaped - being flat between the ice runners - whereas the Sneakbox sections are round (an arc of a circle). I have one of each and love them both.
Stay tuned for progress reports....
All the best,
SJS
Here's how she has sat for the past year - I hauled her up from my brother's on Long Island. Cockpit cover was tight and, of course, she was off the ground and leveled left to right. My dairy farmer friends call this area my "marina"....
The boat-restorer's friend - any old wood finds "tenants" .
Yes, they are just Paper Wasps, but - it'll mean a "dutchman" fitted into the starboard coaming.
And, those Paper Wasps had to get to the coaming somehow - so, the sewing machine, too, will see duty.
Most of the 'glass is sound - but, it is hard to keep it on the ends. This is the fantail stern - which hides the boat beautifully from the ducks-eye-view as they approach the rig. Most of the 'glass dates from 1954 when my Dad first 'glassed her.
The bow, too, needs some attention. Originally, these scooters had a hole bored right through their stems, left-to-right, to take a painter. My Dad installed the screw eye but it has worked loose over many seasons. I will probably take a different approach when I replace it.
This is me "piking" the Scooter across the ice off East Islip circa 1982. For you Long Islanders, that is the Captree Bridge in the background.
This shows the principal difference between a Great South Bay Scooter and a Barnegat Bay Sneakbox. The hull sections of a Scooter are U-shaped - being flat between the ice runners - whereas the Sneakbox sections are round (an arc of a circle). I have one of each and love them both.
Stay tuned for progress reports....
All the best,
SJS
