A Wood Trawler For Christmas Dear… Dear.. Honey.. Sweety Pie… Dear.. Hello.. Wait, Come Back..
Pray for me!
In what has to be the boldest WoodyBoater move of all time, I just gave the Boatress a wood 40 ft boat for Christmas / Anniversary. Yes, I did. I did that, uh huh, yup. I went there and went all in. Jewelry? HA, that’s for rookies. We even have gone beyond the new car/phone/puppy stage. Or even that year when I got her a sewing machine. HEY, she asked for one.. Or the year of “don’t get me anything and I wont get you anything”.. Won’t make those mistakes again. So this year. A 1968 Trawler. The gift that keeps on taking! Isn’t 31 years the Wood Years? No? Diesel year?
1968 Rice 40 ft Trawler Tug Design
Think of all the time we can spend on it dear.. Going one mile. She clocks in at 8 knots..
She actually is in great shape but needs her annual paint
She has been pulled up and professionally painted every year. And is being sanded now
I love this discontinued color, but we will be changing colors.
Chesapeake green
Has AC! See its been modernized-ish. She has been Dark Green, Light Green, Yellow, Blue.. Let’s just say she has “A colorful history”!
Here is the cool part. She was built right here in Reedville.. Wait it gets better.
She has two heads and very roomy.
A rebuilt Perkins Diesel Engine with 700 hrs on it.
Clean and well maintained by a passionate owner
She is part of the history here in Reedville, and part of our family history. The Boatress’s family, Great Uncles and Grandfather built the boat at Rice Marine Railway in Reedville when they built boats there. Yes, her family.
Oreo approves.
She has been maintained right here in Reedville for years by a fantastic group of boat builders and a group of great guys at the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum. We are keeping her home where she belongs. There are a bunch of wood work boats here. This is a VERY rare pleasure boat built here.
History is a wonderful thing. We all are part of the circle of life.
We have an extra dock at our house with power and water. “Kelsey’s Dock” She will also be a guest house for folks that visit.
Sunsets from “Kelsey’s Dock”
The boathouse as seen from “Kelseys Dock”, for WECATCHEM and boat lift for Stinky. We have two more slips on Kelseys Dock as well. Nature deplores a vacuum.. Just say’n
The forward cabin.. has its own head.. Note to self. I may be living in this room if I keep buying boats.
With Oreo!
She was designed by a very well respected Navel Architect Charles Wittholz “cruiser/tug” was built by Rice Marine in Reedville, Virginia in 1968. She has had a number of owners since launching including the late Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska. She weighs 25,000 lbs and has alot of modern upgrades. Wood is all solid and tight as a tick! I have already started color studies and will update as we go. The fleet grows.
So glad she now in greater hands! I love the lines….I have a brother who needs something like this! Gary, ate you reading? This will give you something to dream about on your drive back to SC! Congrats boatress, and you too Matt!
Congratulations Matt. What a beautiful boat. Wonderful classic lines and a stunning interior. Fortunately, you won’t have a huge restoration job in front of you. The diesel engine is a huge plus, as well.
I hope that “she” gives you and the boatress much pleasure in the years ahead.
Nice Matt, like that hull design, the color not bad either.
The color is a love hate thing, but i think it adds to her funky history. I am playing with colors today and where they go. Lots of painted teak that may want to be stripped. The boat was very well taken car of and shows it under this paint. They used to travel alot in it around the bay. She can take a rough pounding for sure.
Good for yall! At your age, you need to slow down and stay close to a head…no more loud, bouncy squirt boats.
Wow, it’s not April 1 so you may be serious. This is quite a step up from Stinky. I thought you might pull the trigger on a CC cruiser some day, but this is in a whole different league. These traulers really make a statement. I knew a guy that kept one at the DYC and used it as his law office. Congrats to you and Suzy on entering the “big boat” world!
What a cool boat with family connections! That should help put off retirement a few years!
Like the children, we love them all the same. Stinky is for fun zipping around, WECATCHEM for feeling the mahogany magic.
Hats off to you for the bold move…and congrats to the Boatress. Family is important – as is family history! BTW….what did she get you?????
I got duck tape.. Plaid duck tape.. and her patience!
I think we have a new biggest balls winner. You.
Have you lost yor mind LOL, I had 6 woodboats at one time and now down to 2, looks like fun.
That is AWSOME! Beautiful boat with great family connections. It doesn’t get any better than that. Looks to be in great shape and very well made. Can’t wait to hear more about her and how she’s constructed. Kirby Paints in New Bedford, Mass. has the best selection of old wooden boat colors. Congratulations and happy cruising to you and you family!
LOVE IT!
Glad you pulled the trigger on this one! Great memories to be made for sure.
I am thinking to fill that vacuum on Kelsey’s should be, let’s see, maybe a Sea Skiff and a Cavalier. Maybe you should leave one spot open for company? Nah, company can raft off or anchor out and dinghy in.
Your turn now Troy. That’s a beautiful boat. Gonna be hard to top.
Cant wait to see her at Tavares !!
Ya, not sure if she would make it through the canal.
Matt:
They had a classic cruiser at the Mission Inn for a while. I think her name was Lorena. Nobody there now seems to know anything about her but I’d guess she was 30+ feet long. I remember once they had to do some restoration work on her at a marina near Jacksonville. I’d think if they could get that boat through the creeks and canals to the St. Johns, you could get yours to Tavares.
Cant wait to see the pics. of jimmy sanding and painting while you hold the camera. whens he gona get started on it.
You’re going to need a bigger rig to trailer her. Does this mean Texx can stop sleeping on pontoon boats? Congratulations and if it’s Suzy’s present I think she gets to pick the color? Wish I knew how to Photoshop the boat with pink. LOL.
Up here in Minnesota/Wisconsin land we call that a pontoon boat.
you have stepped up to the pump to play with the big boys and girls
nice move, very nice trawler
Very cool boat & history. Happy anniversary you rwo!
BTW Matt, does she have a name?
Nice lines great interior. Debbie & I sure miss having Storm Duty, it was our floating condo that we used on Lake Huron. You guys will love it
Welcome to the Woody Tug Club! Katie was built in 1915 in Crittenden VA. Was a Bum boat/tug. Served in WWI as a sector patrol boat, SP660. She was in the fire at Richmond Yacht Basin on 12/9/17. I got her out, but now have a bigger restoration project than I started with.
WOW, That getting “wood” in the biggest way!!!!!
Very Cool! and with family “history” how could you not acquire it! Im glad you got it and will ensure its preservation. First dibbs if you decide to sell! I have an empty spot at my dock down in Southern Maryland…
Ive found the secret to boat acceptance, name the nicest boat after the GF, SO, wife… “Christina” it then becomes “her” boat and all the praise for it goes her.. and takes the focus off the other (redacted) number of boats.. …(almost slipped up there…)
(PS… dont put it in her name tho,….or it might morp into an very nice piece of jewelry ..lol )
Matt, when are you going to get a Chesapeake Bay Deadrise? One belongs at the dock as well!
love the tug.The name better knot be “Chug-a-Lug”.And I won’t change wheels either.
That lovely big trawler is pure Looper. When you pass thru the Trent System we will take you out for dinner and a boat ride.
Terrific!
Now I have another reason to visit Reedville again!
Have you planned your rout to Port Huron: Eire canal? Stinky in tow
That boat would be HELLA FUN to take up the Hudson, across the Erie Canal and on to Port Huron!!!!
Stop at the Port of Pittsford and I will take you out to dinner and to Wegmans/Costco for resupply.
One thing though, don’t forget to take the mast down first! You want to be under about 15 feet above the waterline for bridge clearances.
well….
WELL… I have known the boat for years.
ahhhh? I asked George about that boat this past fall and the first words out of his mouth were….”do you want to buy her?”
She was at the Mathews (va) yacht club years ago when I had my CC there….passed on buying her then too. Those are really great trawlers with a great local story/heritage. Glad you stepped up…..and the Boatress can now step out in style.
Get to scraping and painting…..let Jimmy off for this one.
John in Va.
further: Mr. Patterson’s boat Katie (pictured above) is, I am pretty sure, the oldest registered boat in Virginia. She made it from the upper James to the Reedville cruiser show some years ago…survived an horrific marina fire and, when last I saw her from the water, needs some TLC. A big responsibility and a true classic…..
John in Va
How did she survey? You did get a survey didn’t you? You have a boat now, congratulations! BTW you know that Boat stands for “ Bring Over Another Thousand “? Except now days it is “bring over another 10,000!”
After I sold “ITCHIN” I immediately stepped up to the trawler world, 8 kn is nice, one gallon and a half per hour, plus I can make a sandwich next to the helm station!
She was survayed a year ago, and did well.
Welcome to the club! A bunch of us are need to plan a “Great Loop Adventure” – with all the friends and opportunities we have along the route – it’s one of the things on the bucket list after I retire. 🙂 Great boat Matt and Suzy!
Dick: Would you bring your boat, or buy one just to do the loop.
Anyone who is serious about it should join the AGLCA (America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association). The information is well worth the price of admission.
Welcome to the 8 knot club!
Congrats! Great boat, killer looks!!
Is it a steel hull?
Denis D
All wood, built here in Reedville. Bottom was refastened 5 years ago.
That’s my kind of guest house! Your guests may never leave!
They will when the toilets are full!
Name; TugLer or TugHer. 🙂
Beautiful!
Congratulations Matt! Great food great history.
Matt:
Congratulations…Sounds like the perfect Christmas gift. See reply note above about creeks and canals….We look forward to seeing her at Tavares one year.
Very seaworthy looking and great local build history. Other than that what was she originally used for? What’s the hull planking and rib material?
She is one of the rare pleasure boats built in the area. Rice Marine Railway was a well known boat builder in the area and built these for Charles Whithotz.
Hull is 2 inch Atlantic White Cedar, Chesapeake style cross
planked to chine. Keel is either long leaf pine or Douglas Fir, not
sure.
…and I was excited about getting some chickens…
Too cool!
You are a braver man than I, Gunga Din
Congratulations, Matt. It’s a totally different story at 8 knots; so much more to plan for and enjoy.
We’re still waiting for her name?
Think about the great Woody Boater stories filed from the boat as you do the Great Loop.
Congrats! Family connected boats are special.
Great Boat!! You all know I have a love for the “big ones”. Two questions 1 will it fit in Jimmys barn? 2 are Sons of Paint shirts available? Enjoy it.
Congrat’s to the both of you. What a great holiday gift ! This one is a keeper!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got a boat for my wife….best trade I ever made/
Matt – you truly are an inspiration. Happy New Year to you, the Boatress and Jimmy!