That’s My Baby, That’s My Baby! I Think?

From Film, found 4 years ago at Irwin Marine

First, I hate Facebook, but from time to time some sort of jewel shows up. I suppose like a pearl amidst a sea of crap! Anyway, I follow Irwin Marine, WECATCHEM’s Delivery room, and home for her entire life. And the photo below and in today’s header was on the page celebrating 100 years in Business. Anyway, I thought it looked familiar.

Photo found on Facebook

You may recall the pure luck find from the Irwin Files film we got. Here it is.

Film screen grab from Irwin files

Okay, in Part 1, WECATCHEM shows up in one area around 3:45 minutes. A drive by of the dock as in the photo

I added the Red Arrow

So is this photo. What few brain cells I have left, must have been running on all cylinders. Cause if you do a back and forth. Its clear that its the same day, same set up. They must have filmed film and taken photos.

WOW! And there she is. My baby. We love this boat as family, in fact most 25 Sportsman owners feel the same way. Around 3:50 min

Like yesterdays story of old photos, its always fun to look back and see how little has changed in a world of constant change. Some things, the true things in life are TIMELESS! And for that, I am grateful.
WECATCHEM in this series of film clips. We think it’s the day she was delivered. At about 3:50 into it. But still great footage

Left is from the film, 1948 – right is the day it was delivered to me. 

WECATCHEM in her Family Home on Lake Winnapausakee. Winapasoki? Winna paw socky? New Hampshire..

From Film, Irwin Files II – July 1948???

 

23 replies
  1. m-fine
    m-fine says:

    I am glad you put in the caption to tell us that you added the red arrow. I would have been fooled into thinking that it was a real vintage red arrow.

    Maybe in January, when things get slow again, you can do a red arrow story. New vs vintage and of course original vs preserved vs restored vs replica.

  2. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    Not all the big cruisers are dead…but the guy that sold me mine 25 years ago died yesterday! I was a good steward for her during my time and moved her on still afloat and fun.
    These movies are priceless…love them.
    sorry we did not get to see that big cruiser splash.
    John in Va.

  3. Ronald Ford
    Ronald Ford says:

    I love those movies, They cut that 22 Sportsman loose and it went flying down to the water lol then must have started right up and off the went.

  4. Wilson
    Wilson says:

    I spent my boyhood summers on Lake Winnipesaukee…I met ole man Irwin when I was 8 or 9 years old…Quite a promoter…Then had a close asociation with Jim Jr. when he was Pres. of the Chrs Craft Antique boat club..A erally great family.

    The family I stayed with on the Lale owned one of those cruisers…if not one in the pricture, one just like them,

    Bet Mark Mason could tell us all kinds of stories about Irwin Marine.

  5. floyd r turbo
    floyd r turbo says:

    Looks like the operator started the U22 before the water pickup splashed in because I didn’t see a drop of water come out of the exhaust the whole time it was running. That’s some cruiser love right there too. Never seen a happier bunch of people. Love to be “transpported” back to that time and place, the varnish smell must have been overwhelming.

  6. Duster
    Duster says:

    Man that is insanely good footage! How incredible to see Wecatchem when she was new. Like finding a needle in a haystack. Great footage.

  7. Danny B
    Danny B says:

    Matt, that’s so great that you’ve gotten these pics and videos of your boat when it was new! Such a treasure, and it really brings to life just how long these boats have managed to hang around.

    Here’s a favorite photo of mine (pardon the poor copy). My grandfather had just bought what’s now my boat new in 1961, and here he is at the wheel, that same age as me now, on the Potomac River.

  8. Denis D
    Denis D says:

    I’M looking out at Winnipesaukee right now from our lake house on a beautiful sunny day.
    I know Troy’s American Beauty came from here, probably delivered by Irwin.

  9. RiverRat
    RiverRat says:

    Is there not an Irwin boat building company that was on Lake Ontario on the New York side that built boats that looked like Lymans? Saw one once at Antique Boat America. Sodus Bay?

  10. Mark in da U P
    Mark in da U P says:

    Great footage Matt. That has got to be a rush to see your old boat when it was new. I was on lake Winnepsaukee a couple of years ago. I went to Irwin marine. Very cool place. I had to buy a t shirt. Wore it proudly at the Hessell boat show last year.

  11. Scott D. Robinson
    Scott D. Robinson says:

    It is 4th of July, and us locals don’t go out, cause all the crazies are out there !! To the question of are there any cruisers left ? the answer is Yes ! the mailboat, Tonimar, which is a 1926, now the Great Escape lives in a boathouse next to Irwins. Our boat, Comfy was delivered to Chase Phelps, of Governors Island on June 6th 1950, it has never been off the Lake. There are several others, but they are getting very rare indeed, Happy fourth, Scott

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