THE RESTORATION OF THE SEA TABBY 1999 - 2003
A 1938 MATHIS/TRUMPY
The current owners of SEA TABBY had purchased her in 1982. In 1999 they had decided that some upgrade of the structure of the vessel needed to be undertaken. As the second longest running owners since Charles Karagheusian ownership, from 1943 until his death in 1977, they had been blessed with a vessel that had always been in good condition and had had the best of care. But, it had become obvious that certain work needed to be done. The extent of that work was not known when the project started. This brief description following and the pictures are intended to explain and show the extent of the work accomplished.
The owners are friends with Captain Tony McKissick and it was through their friendship and observation of the restoration to the hull of Tony's Trumpy LITCHFIELD LADY that they became acquainted with Louis Suzedde and his work. Louis is recognized as one of the outstanding master shipwrights in New Englnad. His most recent project has been the complete rebuilding of FREEDOM, the 107-foot Mathis/Trumpy, to Coast Guard Certification standards, for Earl McMillian.
Louis' life time of experience in traditional wooden boat construction combined with his innovative and problem solving skills were employed to good use in the rebuilding project. It was the owner's intention not to do a historic restoration; in this sense: not to replace one material or method with the same exact material or method as was used in the building of SEA TABBY in 1938, if a better method existed today. However, the overriding consideration was the preservation of the qualities and features of a largely unchanged pre-war classic yacht while bringing to it the amenities of a modern cruising boat wherever possible.
For example, it would be a short sighted restoration to use the same iron nails to fasten the planks to the oak ribs as was used in 1938 in the original hull. Today silicone bronze screws are the gold standard for fastenings and of course they were used in this restoration.
When it was decided that the ribs and planking below the waterline needed replacement, Louis proposed a little known method of rib replacement: the use of solid high-density polyethylene for the ribs. He was familiar with the use of this material successfully on fishing vessels in the area. The advantages of this material are many. It will not rot, will not crack, has far more holding power than wood with screws, is uniform and defect free in manufacture, unlike wood. Also it offers significant savings in labor over steam bent or laminated ribs. The gentle rounded bilge profile of the SEA TABBY made this application ideal.
Instead of conventional caulked seams it was decided to use the epoxy edge gluing system for the hull below the waterline. Caulked seams were eliminated, with the swelling, leaking and maintenance issues. The inch and a half African mahogany was edge glued with West System epoxy and the back coated as well. Most importantly this method results in a rigid strong hull without the working associated with conventional caulking. Critical to the success of this method is that the planking must fit together with precision. Louis' work in this regard was outstanding.
Paul Coble, the esteemed wooden boat surveyor observed the project and issued the insurance survey in July of 2003. "In almost every sense SEA TABBY is not a repaired vessel but a careful restoration of the original yacht using materials often more long-lasting than the original."
The proof of the wisdom of the construction methods used is evident when one sees the bottom when the boat is hauled. After five years and over 17,000 nautical miles, from Maine to Florida, the bottom is as true and fair as the day she was launched in 2003. Casual olbservers assume the bottom is fiberglass, not wood.
Other significant mechanical improvements installed during the rebuild are:
- NIAD STABILIZERS
- MARINE AIR, central redundant chillers, reverse cool/heat systems with air handlers in all areas.
- VACU-FLUSH head system
- FURUNO RADAR, CHART PLOTTER
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