Last, Last Gasp, Newport Style
Bob and Professor Bjorn
A Huge thanks to Bob Kays for saving the week with some variety. A last gasp with his Boatress Denise and a visit with Bjorn, and on a fancy boat. BTW it’s going to be 85 here this weekend in Virginia, so you know what that means! Take it away Sir Bob A-Lot
Bob and Denise, and I do not think that’s Tang that Bobs got in hand there.
Since Lake Hopatcong is in a 5 ft drawdown, no woody boating for me in October. So off to Narragansett and Newport, the area Denise grew up and some of her favorite beaches. With a beautiful AirBnB on the Narragansett waterfront we walked beaches and headed to Newport for two day trips. Both days on Rum Runner II. Nothing like a 1929 Elco in Newport Harbor!
Let’s go! Elco’
WOW
Thats amazing
What a special place. What are those big white things on top of that boat?
mmmm there may be a hint into what sorta Tang Bob was drinking
Thats just so bad ass cool. And no large white cloth things above it.
Our second day trip to Newport and another trip on Rum Runner II, this time with Mimosas. After lunch, a visit with fellow Woody Boater Bjorn Bakken at the International Yacht Restoration School. Bjorn gave us the tour and you could feel his enthusiasm for the school and it’s programs. Seeing all of it gives me hope for the future of wood boats! Check out the school’s website and social media for more. HERE
The sCOOL!
Okay, so very sCOOL
The boats in the overhead are Beatle cats. Bjorn will be getting them into runabouts too.
This is paradise and of course as a bonus surprise we got to drool all over Bjorn’s amazing Riva. Sorry Bjorn.
Bjorns Riva. I wonder if he also gets to commute to work by boat?
I bow To Bjorn! This is living the dream.
Wow, what a great trip. Rumrunner ll is a fantastic watercraft. Was she originally built as a commuter or for some other purpose? It just seems like a boat like that should have hydrocarbon emitting engine(s), but what do I know.
Thanks Bob and Matt for a great start to a Thursday morning!
She was used as a rum runner in 1929, with 3 Liberty engines! Currently has two 350 hp, I think, diesel engines
Bob, thanks for the follow up. I thought as an Elco she would have electric propulsion. I feel better now!
Great stuff!!
Newport is a special place, especially if you come in by sea!
I love it…..Old School IS Bitchin!!
You folks have some cool boats on the coast! How long is the Rumrunner II? It is hard for me to gauge it’s length. With the length and the three liberty motors it kinda rivals one of Elco’s PT boats, minus armaments!
The school is pretty cool as well. I love the view out of the upper windows. I never had a classroom that in anyway resembled that! I wish I had that kind of space to work in! It is truly a special place! Thanks for sharing!
Rumrunner II is 58 ft
Not quite as long, but getting close! I think that the PT’s ran with three Packard motors.
It must have been laundry day up there since that one boat was drying the bedsheets.
History is dying, man.
We can look back now and admire beautiful boats that were used to ferry contraband booze. We have the James Dean wreck. And we have Bonny and Clyde’s shot up car.
For all that is Holy, please do not tell me that in fifty years or more from now, we will only have the Ferrari of a stupid YouTube influencer to look at.
Enjoy a breathtaking classic motor yacht tour of Newport Harbor and relive the speed and thrill of the chase of the smuggler boats from the days of Prohibition. Rum Runner II was built in 1929 during the height of Prohibition. Originally she was built for two New Jersey mobsters to elude the Coast Guard while smuggling cases of rum and other contraband alcohol. Today she now offers the luxury of a classic motor yacht and intrigue you would imagine of a high-speed bandit with a history all her own.
Bob
I think you could write the brochure up for Rumrunner II.
Someone did a great write up about the boat, just not me! A copy and paste from their website.
Great story, A very beautiful boat with quite a colorful past. As always Bobs pictures and video are superb. Looks like a fun time.
splendid!
Did anyone notice. Bob and Bjorn seem to look like they could be twins. Hell Even Bob and his wife look quite a bit like each other nice boat. Kinda of a crazy design. That boat moves out pretty good. When I played the video there was no sound. Did anyone get sound.