The rehabilitation of a classic Long Island gunning boat – and a family heirloom.

Here I am circa 1982 “piking” the Scooter across the ice of Great South Bay off East Islip – that’s the Captree Bridge in the background.  This Scooter was built by Benjamin Hallock (of Center Moriches), probably in the 1920s or 30s.  My Dad (Ted Sanford, Jr.) rescued it in 1954 or thereabouts.  He designed and built the stool rack at about that time – I helped him with the “cowling” at the head of the cockpit in the late-1960s.

The basic difference between Great South Bay Scooters and Barnegat Bay Sneakboxes is the shape of the hull sections.  The Scooters are U-shaped – flat-floored between the ice runners, whereas the Sneakboxes are round-floored – an arc of a circle.  The Scooter was built for ice work and gets its name from being able to “scoot” so handily over the ice.  I have a Scooter and a Sneakbox and enjoy them both.

As far as I know, the “cowling” and the stool rack are unique to this boat. My Dad designed and made them both.  The cowling hides the gunner and keeps the wind out of the cockpit.  The 6 pieces of the stool rack are all hinged together so that it folds into a single bundle that stows easily under the rear deck while gunning.  We typically carry 35 Herters Model 72 Broadbill decoys.

Gallery # 1 – Pre-op

1. Here she sits in the “Pencil Brook Marina” – sound but needing some careful attention.

2. A hint that the defenses have been breached and something is amiss.

3. Only Paper Wasps – but a “dutchman” will be needed for the port coaming.

4. The wooden boat owner’s friend.

5. The ‘glass is generally sound except for the ends.

6. The lovely fantail needs work, too.

7. Lots of paint needs to come off – and the stool rack chocks need replacing.

8. About to enter…Pencil Brook Boatworks.

The next phase was to strip the boat of most of its hardware and then do the major grinding – of ‘glass wherever it needs it and paint everywhere.  This was an “outside job” – and I am glad to have it behind me.  Fortunately, we got one of those priceless late-summer days with dry air, a light breeze and reasonable temps – what I think of a great working weather.

Gallery 2 – Getting her ready to come inside

2-1 Most of deck hardware gets removed.

2-2 Same for stern.

2-3 This turnbutton – which secures the cockpit cover and the foot of the gunning/lap canvas – will be replaced.

2-4 These chocks – which hold the stool rack in place – will be replaced, too.

2-5 The usual assortment of prying tools and a coffee can to keep all the good stuff.

2-6 As expected, the bow piece – not sure what you call it on as Scooter – had lots of rot and screw eye had worn loose.

2-7 I sharpened my scraper for all that hard, scaly paint, but….

2-8 My $10 Craftsman grinder with just one 24-grit disc removed all the paint and ‘glass from the whole boat!

2-9 In addition to repairs, I also want to learn all of the construction details.

2-10 Here is the bow piece from beneath. Oak keel ties into oak bow piece.

2-11 Here is the oak keel tieing into the fantail.

2-12 Edges of fantail are separate pieces added “outside” and are non-structural.

2-13 Back in the shop – ready for cleaner work.

2-14 First the basic measurements. I plan to do full measurements so I can produce plans and construction drawings ultimately.

2-15. I had misremembered her LOA – it’s 15 -foot-9-inches even.

2-16 Beam is 3-foot-6 and 5/8 inches.

2-17 I need to start a notebook….

Stay tuned.