Repowered, revamped and revived
by Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding 2 Mar 2019 09:38 PST
Classic Yacht Scout © Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding
Originally christened as Cormar on April 4, 1930, Scout defined speed and luxury in American motor yachting at the dawn of The Great Depression. Drawn by Boston-based marine architects Eldredge-McInnis, this 73-foot commuter launch was hand-crafted out of mahogany over cedar planks fastened over oak frames by Defoe Shipbuilding Company of Bay City, Michigan.
Like many commuters of her age, she had enough to accommodate a good-sized family. But it was Scout's speed that made her shine: Twin, high-octane gasoline-powered airplane engines drove her slippery torpedo-boat style hull.
Scout could sustain speeds that were faster than many cars of her era.
But as fleet-of-foot as she was, Scout could not outpace time and tide. The loads of her massive engines, tanks, and generators began to work the structural elements at the middle of the vessel. And starting around 2017, then-skipper (and now Lyman-Morse project manager) Matt Jacobson began to sense ominous deformations and movement in the critical mid-sections of the boat.
"We started inspecting her using borescopes to get behind the finish work and mechanics," explained Jacobson. "It did not take long to realize we needed a full survey, where it eventually became clear that a full systems and structural upgrade was the only way to save the boat."
So, starting in the fall of 2017 and ending in the following spring, Jacobson led a crew of about 20 Lyman-Morse shipwrights, carpenters, mechanics, and finish workers to remove, re-strengthen, and upgrade Scout. She was fitted with new timbers, twin modern diesels, a rebuilt generator, improved stabilizing trim tabs, tankage, and additional ballast and electronics.
What's unique about Scout's refit, in a modern era of marine subcontractors and outsourced manufacturing, is all the work was done by Lyman-Morse's crew in Camden, Maine. Here are some of the biggest operations of this six-month project that brought this vessel back to life from teetering on the edge of oblivion.
Specifications
LOA: 73'
Beam: 14'
Draft: 6'
Fuel capacity: 575 gallons
Water capacity: 500 gallons
Type: Commuter Yacht
Designed by: Eldredge-McInnis
Builder: Defoe Shipbuilding Company
Year: 1930
Construction: Mahogany over cedar planks on oak frames
Hull material: Wood
Boat engine: Caterpillar C7.1 ACERT (2)
Horsepower: 507hp
Cruising speed: 15 knots
Top speed: 22 knots