Restoring the Horal Scooter - a bit of Long Island gunning history
- Thread starter Steve Sanford
- Start date
Capt Rich Geminski
Well-known member
Ye Old Duck Hunter Show... Nice meeting you at the decoy show. Really nice work and pics. Keep up the great craftsmanship.
Add some broadbill and would be a great day...
Add some broadbill and would be a great day...
Very nice and thoughtful work on the boat and photography. It is quite evident that you carefully think out, plan, prepare and execute all of your work including the accessories and their use, the presentation and lighting of your photographs, and your various pieces of art. I reiterate my request to have you share some more about your shop because it is evident that you've carefully thought out and constructed your shop.
I second the shop info request. I checked Steve's website and thought he had some info/pictures there but couldn't find it.
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Brad & Eric~
Glad you appreciate the posts.
I have not forgotten the request for a post about my shop. It's still on my (infinitely long) To Do list - all these projects keep getting in the way! I'll be hauling another Scooter north in August and starting a pilothouse build for a 25-footer in September....and, tomorrow I'll be posting "Death of a Duckboat".....
All the best,
SJS
Glad you appreciate the posts.
I have not forgotten the request for a post about my shop. It's still on my (infinitely long) To Do list - all these projects keep getting in the way! I'll be hauling another Scooter north in August and starting a pilothouse build for a 25-footer in September....and, tomorrow I'll be posting "Death of a Duckboat".....
All the best,
SJS
John Fraser
Well-known member
Beautiful work Steve! I really enjoy seeing all the steps of your restorations. Thanks for sharing them.
Bill Ferrar
Well-known member
Interesting boat, It looks a lot like the old sea skiff but cut down and decked over. How safe were those boats.
Nice clean looking rebuild.
Nice clean looking rebuild.
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Bill~
I can remember seeing at least 4 of these scooters - all from near the Islip area. You are right - they are the traditional skiff design. And, it is very well-built. I have yet to find anyone who knows the builder - maybe someone will come to the LIDCA show next March who knows (this boat will be on display there).
I have never gunned from one but I have heard they tow and lay nicely. On the other hand, Schuyler Watts (out of West Islip) added a low spray dodger and a lap canvas (as I do n my open water boats) on his. Schuyler sold his a few years ago to someone up west - so keep your eyes open for it!
All the best,
SJS
I can remember seeing at least 4 of these scooters - all from near the Islip area. You are right - they are the traditional skiff design. And, it is very well-built. I have yet to find anyone who knows the builder - maybe someone will come to the LIDCA show next March who knows (this boat will be on display there).
I have never gunned from one but I have heard they tow and lay nicely. On the other hand, Schuyler Watts (out of West Islip) added a low spray dodger and a lap canvas (as I do n my open water boats) on his. Schuyler sold his a few years ago to someone up west - so keep your eyes open for it!
All the best,
SJS
MLBob Furia
Well-known member
Beautiful restoration, Steve. Always enjoy following your posts. It's on my list, but I still need to get busy and try putting a "Turk's Head" on my push-pole before next season!
Bill Ferrar
Well-known member
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Mike et al~
I finally got to put the Horal Scooter in the water. I hauled her back down to Long Island so she could taste the salt again - probably for the first time in 3 or 4 decades.
As always, the full story is on my site at: http://stevenjaysanford.com/horal-scooter-putting-her-back-in-shape/
When I put her on my duckboat trailer she did not need to sit all the way forward. And, I wanted to neither move the winch stand (sealed in place with Pettit Trailer Coat) nor chafe through those 3 coats of fresh white paint on her cutwater. So, I used my "keeper" to limit forward progress and the winch to snug her up. Two ratchet straps over her belly kept her from budging over the 250-mile voyage.
We switched tow vehicles for the final 200 feet of her return to the sea. This lawn tractor has a hitch ball mounted nice and high and brought the Horal Scooter to the shores of Flanders Bay. Some of you will recognize retired DU rep Craig Kessler in the tractor seat.
She floats!
She shows off her starboard profile:
You will notice the bottom here. Scooters are seldom used over such shoal water - we usually want at least 3 feet - more commonly 6 to 12 feet - of water under her for Broadbill and other divers on Great South Bay.
We are still looking for the builder. I appreciate the nice floorboards - 1/2" clear White Pine slats and a backrest chocked at a comfortable angle.
The "safety stick" wedges firmly into her notches - you need to very gently push the coamings outward to seat it in place. The stick keeps gun barrels up and out of Harms' Way.
Kessler always has his imaginary fowling piece handy - and is always imagining fowl nearby. Hard left! He folded a big bull Skunkhead at about 45 yards.
(Notice how the fresh white paint blends in with the ice floes drifting past.....)
All the best,
SJS
I finally got to put the Horal Scooter in the water. I hauled her back down to Long Island so she could taste the salt again - probably for the first time in 3 or 4 decades.
As always, the full story is on my site at: http://stevenjaysanford.com/horal-scooter-putting-her-back-in-shape/
When I put her on my duckboat trailer she did not need to sit all the way forward. And, I wanted to neither move the winch stand (sealed in place with Pettit Trailer Coat) nor chafe through those 3 coats of fresh white paint on her cutwater. So, I used my "keeper" to limit forward progress and the winch to snug her up. Two ratchet straps over her belly kept her from budging over the 250-mile voyage.
We switched tow vehicles for the final 200 feet of her return to the sea. This lawn tractor has a hitch ball mounted nice and high and brought the Horal Scooter to the shores of Flanders Bay. Some of you will recognize retired DU rep Craig Kessler in the tractor seat.
She floats!
She shows off her starboard profile:
You will notice the bottom here. Scooters are seldom used over such shoal water - we usually want at least 3 feet - more commonly 6 to 12 feet - of water under her for Broadbill and other divers on Great South Bay.
We are still looking for the builder. I appreciate the nice floorboards - 1/2" clear White Pine slats and a backrest chocked at a comfortable angle.
The "safety stick" wedges firmly into her notches - you need to very gently push the coamings outward to seat it in place. The stick keeps gun barrels up and out of Harms' Way.
Kessler always has his imaginary fowling piece handy - and is always imagining fowl nearby. Hard left! He folded a big bull Skunkhead at about 45 yards.
(Notice how the fresh white paint blends in with the ice floes drifting past.....)
All the best,
SJS
John Canavari
Member
Great boat