The Concordian
Issue #21, Spring 1996
Note to all Concordia owners: The Concordia 60th anniversary is fast approaching. Please read and respond to the survey request near the end of the newsletter. Thank you.
International Yacht Restoration School Given Second Concordia.
John Lund of Worcester, Massachusetts proudly owned and cared for his Concordia 41 RENAISSANCE for twenty years. He loved her so much that when it came time to sell her, he could not. IYRS recently accepted the donation of John's meticulously maintained yacht. She will be used to teach both sailing and wooden vessel preservation skills.
RENAISSANCE was built in 1961 and has always wintered inside at Concordia in Padanaram. She is unique in that she is the only Concordia rigged as a ketch. Her bright topsides still gleam, despite being damaged by Hurricane Gloria in 1985. John recalled, "At least four holes were smashed through the perfectly matched mahogany planking, plus frames were broken and the breastbone was badly damaged. There was almost universal headshaking amongst the staff at Concordia, with the most optimistic prognosis being a sound - but painted - hull, certainly not the traffic-stopper that had existed before. But the masters at Concordia persevered and found skills none of us knew still existed so that she was full restored and retained her varnished hull."
Meanwhile, JAVA, Concordia #1, has been moved from Maine to the IYRS facility in Newport. Wishing to see his beloved Concordia preserved as the national treasure she is, owner Weld Henshaw donated her to IYRS last year. He first saw JAVA in 1955 when she was still with her original owner, Llewellyn Howland. From that day he dreamed of owning a Concordia yawl. Finally, in 1987 his dream came true after he sold a valuable painting he had previously thought was worthless.
"We are not intending to start work on JAVA until fall," said Elizabeth Meyer, IYRS Chairman. "We are awaiting further donations. So far we have received $10,510 in all and will continue to solicit funds from the Concordia class and many other sources. If you are feeling altruistic, generous or flush, please help us fund the restoration of JAVA." For information on becoming part of the IYRS program, call 401 849-3060.
NEWS FROM THE FLEET
CANDIDE #39
Morgan Steeves, Anacortes, WA
The winter has been pretty quiet after a major haulout in October. Working with Dave Hartford and Alan Dyers, we peeled off two planks at the forefoot on the port side, and three planks starboard. What we encountered was actually a big relief. We had assumed that the frames in the area would be in poor condition due to lack of threads left on the fastenings in the area. It looks like the boat had hit something quite hard in that area, the force being strong enough to delaminate the planks for a foot or two. Apparently the repairs made at the time included replacing a few of the backbone bolts with galvanized iron instead of bronze. This created enough of an electrical potential to burn up the fasteners in the area. By coring into a few frames we found them to be very sound. All the galvanized fasteners were promptly junked, replaced with silicon bronze, and the cast iron ballast-bolt was fashioned of monel. All the work was accomplished at A. Jensen & Sons in Friday Harbor whose staff was very helpful in both machine work and odds & ends that always pop up. They are truly the best, most down to earth people I have yet to encounter when doing this kind of work. I also had the mast removed, wooded and re-varnished at that time.
The learning process continued this spring with another haulout to track down a leak at the stern post to tailfeather scarph. All that was required was a 1/2" stopwater and about 6" of new plank. CANDIDE is now back in the water with a new red bottom, gloss black boot and fresh white enamel, courtesy of myself and a good young lad, Ray, age 15. All that is left for spring is the usual clean up and touch up, which will be ongoing, and (hopefully) lots of Sailing! Blue skies and fair winds to all.
PARAMOUR #72
Anne & Skip Bergmann Waupun, WI
We decided to tackle some major work this winter, particularly to address the concerns of working and movement in the area of the mast step. Although some of the later 41s had longer steps, PARAMOUR's original step was only 40" long and spanned but five floors. In summary, the following was done at the Palmer Johnson yard: new 78" laminated white oak mast step spanning nine floors; new full length (nine feet) white oak cheek pieces on each side of the stem; 78" section of white oak scarfed to aft end of stem to replace bad wood; six new oak floors from main bulkhead forward; and stem bolts replaced. With the forward area rebuilt and keelbolts re-torqued, I think we should be pretty solid. Everything was put together with WEST epoxy and per direction of Greg Tuxworth and Peter Costa at Triad Boatworks.
In addition, while the interior was apart, a lightning ground was run from the upper shroud chain plate to keel bolt and the tie rod, mast step support system designed by Greg was installed, to include aluminum knees on each side of trunk cabin opposite the mast. Greg provided detailed drawings and step-by-step instructions.
I re-bedded safety glass. There were 178 screws and only two were a problem. The port rings came home for a shine up and the screw holes re-countersunk for a #10 screw, as opposed to whatever size the metric ones were. Since the boat was inside, I also brought the companionway hatch home to strip and refinish. It's not canvas covered, and with 10 coats of varnish no longer looks like an area we should stand on to furl sails. Cabin sole, table, wood box and other odds and ends are ready to pack up for reinstallation after winter refinishing.
Staying in a heated shop for 3 1/2 months caused some drying out problems, despite humidifiers and water being regularly splashed on the floor. However, yard work is slow now and the boat has been able to hang in the slings and re-enter her element gradually. Topsides have looked great the last couple of years, but this year we'll forego painting until the wood is back to normal. Other that that she looks good and we're anxious to go sailing.
HORIZON #54
Valerie & Bob Grindrod, Barrington, IL
We are the new owners of HORIZON which we purchased from Stillman Brown in December. She wintered at Concordia and we expect her arrival to Lake Michigan in May. We plan to keep her in Waukegan, Illinois where she will keep company with MISTY. Perhaps we will be able to get all three Lake Michigan boats together this year.
As a youngster I grew up in Fairhaven, MA close to Concordia and visited the yard often. Perhaps my earliest recollection of Concordias is of SAFARI, moored in Cataumet near my grandparent's summer home in Pocasset. As children we sailed Herreshoff Twelves, Beetles and Arrowheads in and around the area. I always saw SAFARI and said that one day I'd have a Concordia as well. As I moved into the teen years, my sailing base shifted to Mattapoisett, where JAVELIN and SKYLARK were based. We later settled near Chicago and purchased an Irwin 33. In our home port of Waukegan I found, much to my surprise, Tom McIntosh's MISTY. From then on it was just a matter of time.
In checking the market, I found no less than seventeen boats for sale: HORIZON, WHITE LIGHT, MAGIC, BANDA, RENAISSANCE, ARAPAHO, CRESCENT, POLARIS, BELLES, PRAXILLA,, TAMBOURINE, TABAKEA, MEMORY, WILD SWAN, ABSINTHE, FLEETWOOD and WILD FLOWER. Considering my height (6' 3") and Lake Michigan's light airs, I thought a 41 would work out best for our needs. I also felt that it would be too difficult to manage a restoration project 1100 miles distant, and thus leaned toward a boat in good structural condition. Eventually we settled on HORIZON and are now looking forward to many years of pleasant sailing.
HORIZON is a yawl rig with double spreaders and the original tall mast. She has teak decks, a lead keel and an unusual upper and lower berth arrangement on the port side of the main cabin in place of the normal Concordia berth. Over the past few years she has had her floors replaced with oak, most of the bottom replanked, new keel bolts a new transom, decks reworked, new teak toe rails and covering boards, a new Yanmar diesel and new electronics. The major item to be done is the refinishing of her brightwork, as thirty years in the California sun have bleached the mahogany cabin sides and coamings to about the color of oak. I am more concerned, however, that any structural weaknesses be repaired first. I look forward to a friendly relationship with fellow Concordians and solicit any advice they have to offer.
ABACO #102
Jonathan Goldweitz, Stamford, CT
I'm looking forward to my 28th season sailing ABACO. Owning a classic looking sailing vessel that is a joy to sail, with new "high-tech" integrated electronics with an energy monitor system to make sure they all have enough power, is more than I could ever imagined that day in May 1969 when my brother Mark, ABACO's original owner, and I first motored out of Padanaram Harbor and raised sail for the reach across Buzzards Bay to her first home port in Cotuit on Cape Cod.
DAME OF SARK #86
Joe Callaghan, Cheshire, CT
Last year we recovered the decks and Sue and I are very pleased with the results. After removing toe rails, coamings, hatches, winch islands, cleat pads, deck hardware, etc., and stripping off the old canvas, we found the original mahogany deck planks to be in great shape, so we dispensed with the idea of putting down a plywood overlay. the existing deck seams were routed out and filled in with epoxy to stiffen things up, then a layer of 18 oz. biaxial fiberglass was applied, followed by one of Dynel, with some light stuff called "veil" in between to prevent printthrough, all embedded in epoxy.
On the cabin top, which also looked like new when the canvas was removed, we put the Dynel over 10 oz. fiberglass boatcloth, laid diagonally. The objective was to combine the structural strength of fiberglass with the abrasion resistance and texture of Dynel. Smooth channels were placed down the centerline and waterways to eliminate any sign of a seam. Everything was then primed and Awlgripped. The results are great. We didn't use any non-skid compound but relied on the texture of the Dynel. In the spring when the paint was still fresh and shiny it was a little on the slick side, but after a season it feels fine. All the work was done by Dodson Boatyard in Stonington, CT.
WINNIE OF BOURNE #11
Peter Gallant, Stratham, NH
WINNIE is finally finished. After a mere 6,000 hours or so, she looks pretty good. Actually, she sparkles like a brand new yacht. Within the past six years I've replaced the spars, rigging, sails, engine, interior, cockpit, toe rails, hatches, just about everything. I've even replaced the beautiful bulkheads with replicas. She's been structurally rebuilt with new floors, frames, planking and fastenings. I installed 13 floor-long mast step and three ring frames, which cured the greatest weakness in the boats. The largest task was the interior. I did some redesigning in the galley, head and fo'c's'le, with greater storage and access in mind. I added eight drawers, and now there are a total of 24 cabinet doors, all copies of the original.
Well, I could go on and on, but you begin to get the idea. Why am I telling you all this? Because, after 10 years of pouring heart and soul into WINNIE I've decided to sell her! She became too valuable to keep. Small lifestyle changes like children and divorce factor in too. We took her to Cape Breton and back last summer, had a wonderful time, but I no longer wish to travel by boat. Maybe someday I'll feel different, but for now she's an awfully expensive day sailor. Someone will get a hell of a deal. I'm insisting that the name go with the boat, as she has been WINNIE since 1952.
But this is not necessarily good bye to my old Concordia pals and competitors. Hopefully I've won enough races to make myself desirable as crew. The regattas are an absolute blast and I've enjoyed them and the camaraderie immensely. So please call if you need crew for a race (603778-8777). I'm planning to show WINNIE at the WoodenBoat show at Mystic Seaport at the end of June. Come by and chew the fat, drink a beer or a dark & stormy. In case I don't write again, I must say thanks to everyone Concordian. This is a remarkable group, people devoted to the genteel pursuit of beauty. Thanks for the fun and memories.
MEMORY #35
Dyke Williams, Deephaven, MN
Our third summer of chartering classic yachts - our first offering a Concordia - went exceptionally well. As fine wooden boats get rarer, interest in chartering and possible buying an historic legend in great shape is soaring. The point is, there are plenty of wooden boats, but only a few still in fine condition. We were most pleased to offer MEMORY, our 1955 39' yawl as our flagship. MEMORY was truly at home on Buzzards Bay, the very waters for which she was designed. With her home port at Cataumet, sailors could take her to Marion, Padanaram, Sekonnet, Newport, Cuttyhunk, the Elizabeths, Nantucket and the Vineyard. And many did, and they signed up for this summer, too!
There are two key points in the project. Skippers are chosen very carefully. No turkeys who just want to try our a bigger boat. Charterers need to understand and revere what they are sailing, and have the skills to get the job done well. And, proper charter boats do not defer maintenance. You and I can live with quirks and weaknesses, but charterers need (and deserve) everything to work right the first time. Because of this, MEMORY is actually in much better shape than if being sailed by a slightly deferring owner. Better yet, our charterers have done no damage whatsoever. They have really honored the boat.
For 1996 Modern Classics Charter Fleet will have MEMORY and Antelope, a Hood-designed Little Harbor 36, available out of Cataumet. I should note that my brother Barry has purchased WHITE LIGHT #92 for his own use. It may be that next summer a few incredibly well qualified skippers could charter her from him. We'll see if he'll let her get away. For more information, contact Tom Wolstenholme (MCCF charter captain) at 508 759-0330 or Dyke Williams (MCCF president) at 612 473-1856.
#104
Mark Webby, Whangerei, New Zealand
Please forgive me for not writing more often. I find letter writing hard work. The construction of Concordia #104 is progressing at a steady pace. The decks have been completed. The planks bent in with ease and were all pre-painted. I found the toe rail was very time consuming because of the stem fitting and the genoa track. I had to steam it in place. The stem fitting was another operation. I wanted to have two rollers, one for warp and one for chain. This was custom made by a foundry and had them sweating. The cabin top is ready to canvas. The cabin top planks are 3 1/2" wide and shiplapped. The sampson post is a cast bronze ring around it with a chain claw on one side. The lower end has a small casting, fastened to the stem, to house the heel. The chain plates are all bolted on as is the genoa track. All the hardware, except for some mast fittings, have been cast as I need them. I then clean them up and bolt them on. The patterns took over a year of my spare time to build. This job stalled visible progress for a while. I have a metal lathe and a milling machine help with the metal work. The photos I've enclosed will show the progress better than my writing.
SNOWBIRD #59
Rusty Aertsen IV, Boston, MA
We have owned Kestrel since 1986 and just acquired SNOWBIRD this past summer. Both are at Concordia Company and are moored in Padanaram harbor in the summer.
SOVEREIGN #15
Dennis Gross, Olympia, WA
SOVEREIGN has been in my backyard shop since October, 1989. I was planning around 18 months for an extensive overhaul but somehow things got away. She's real close to being finished, however, and I'm now aiming for a launch this fall or next spring. Very little work has been done over the last year since other projects have vied for my time. Here's a list of what's been done so far. Decks have been recovered with marine plywood and two layers of Dynel and epoxy. Cabin top has been re-canvassed. All hatches and skylights have been rebuilt. Numerous frames in the stern of the boat have been replaced. The entire cockpit has been removed and rebuilt with new wood. A propane system for the cook stove has been installed. All the wiring was replaced and a new breaker panel installed. I've also become an expert in keel bolt removal. By far, that has been the most unpleasant and time consuming job. All but one of the bolts came out in tact, but that last one was a real chore. I replaced them with 316 stainless. A local machine shop made them up for me at about $40 a piece. They welded on a nut for the lower end and then made a nice bevel to fit back into the iron keel. I then made 4 x 6" stainless backing plates out of 1/4" stainless plate to fit over the inside nuts. The rudder was also removed. I found that you need five feet of clearance under the boat for this operation so the rudder post can clear the tube. I had to jack hammer away some concrete for that job.
I sold the old Volvo diesel and have on hand a new Yanmar 3 cylinder to take it's place. A year ago the package, complete with transmission and single-lever shifter cost $6,100. It's still in the shipping crate. Currently the hull is wooded as we prepare for topside and bottom painting. It seemed that everything took ten times longer than anticipated, but I've approached each item with the idea that the job would have to last another 40 years. It's been a lot of work, but then these boats are special and deserve the best.
STAR DUST - Concordia 31
Jackson Sumner, So. Dartmouth, MA
For the past 22 years I have owned the original Concordia 31 STAR DUST. She was built by Bud McIntosh at Dover Point, NH in 1939. Total cost $3,350 including engine and sails, but no sissy stuff (according to Bud) like lifelines, roller furling or dodgers which have all been added since! I have had the good fortune to be able to keep Star Dust at the Concordia Company which has done a very good job of maintaining her over the years. Also I have had the pleasure of living just down the street from Waldo Howland. Under his watchful eye I have tried to keep her as she was meant to be.
Interestingly, the first two 31's were slightly different than those built later by Concordia. The earlier boats had a 3/4 rig, lower house sides, shorter bowsprit and more rake to the transom - a slightly more attractive model in my opinion. The boat has stood up quite well over the years. She was very simply built with oak frames, pine planking and pine interior. I have had to replace the deck canvas, rebuild the cockpit and installed a new Yanmar diesel in 1993. With the exception of new garboards, keel bolts and refastening the original backbone and deadwood, planking and decking are all in tact. The hull is fair and I probably pump less than a pail-full of water each week during the season. Obviously the focus of the Concordian is on the yawls, but I am curious how many 31 owners you are in contact with. (Editor: So far only Ruth Ann Goetz, owner of TINA has responded. I have the following on my list, however: HOPEFUL, MARY F. OAKS, and SALT WIND.)
GOLDENEYE #80
Gregory Nulk, Manchester, MA
(Greg works at Manchester Marine, and has some comments on the deck recovering they did on CROCODILE.) Regarding CROCODILE's non-skid texture, it was obtained through the dynel/epoxy process. We have found that it is this step in the decking job which demands the most attention to detail. Screening the epoxy (WEST 105/205 or MAS brand resins) on the fabric so that there are neither flooded or dry spots, will allow the fabric to float and a stipple is formed. Recoating her paint has not yet become necessary. We initially chose a Sterling brand linear-polyurethane paint to coat with due to its durability. We have noticed that the high spots of the heavy trafficked area show wear. I anticipate that we will repaint in the next year or two. When we do, my process would be to chemically clean the decks. We would then spot prime or touch up using color, followed by a full coat. Our efforts are to keep the pain this so we do not fill the texture of the dynel fabric. It that becomes a problem, out next alternative would be to use a non-skid additive such as Awlgrip's products.
On a more personal note, I was preparing an article regarding my restoration project on GOLDENEYE. Perhaps I'll have it ready for the next edition.
IRENE #103
Doug Cole, Bellingham, WA
I recovered IRENE's decks 11 years ago with the dynel and epoxy method. Unfortunately, not much thought had been given during the process as to the non-skid finish. There was, in fact, a slight texture which was result of the stipple of the cloth, but it didn't really have much of a bite. The finish had been quite durable but the lack of real non-skid had continually bugged me. Last fall IRENE went into a covered boat house where the existing deck finished was faired. Basically, I leveled out all the highs and filled in the lows until the surface was smooth. The margins were masked and then System Three non-skid compound was laid down in epoxy. After three coats of paint, it feels about like 100 grit sandpaper. And the "bite" is great, although I'm sure I'll loose a little skin now and then. All the brightwork was wooded and redone as well as the usual spring haulout and topside painting projects.
The payoff was a great weekend sail around local waters recently with IRENE looking like new for her 30th birthday. I guess you could say this would qualify as my normal late-winter cruise since it was three-sweater-weather and the diesel stove was on the entire time. We're off to the wooden boat regatta in Port Townsend in a few weeks and are hoping that some other Concordias will participate so we can put the Northwest Concordia Trophy back in play.
NEW OWNERS
| # | Name | Owner | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | FLEETWOOD | Kersten & Angela Prophet | Fiefbergern (Kiel), Germany |
| 31 | WHITE FLOWER | Wellesley, MA | |
| 54 | HORIZON | Bob & Valerie Grindrod | Barrington, IL |
| 88 | RENAISSANCE | IYRS | Newport, RI |
| 92 | WHITE LIGHT | Barry Williams |
CONCORDIAS FOR SALE - Partial List
| # | Name | Year | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | TEMPO | 1947 | Call 410 745-3457 (Maryland) |
| 7 | PAPAJECCO | 1951 | |
| 11 | WINNIE of BOURNE | 1952 | Call 603 778-8777 |
| 19 | OTTER | 1954 | |
| 52 | BANDA | 1957 | |
| 85 | ARAPAHO | 1961 | |
| 98 | MADRIGAL | 1964 | |
| 99 | PORPOISE | 1965 |
OTHER NEWS
From Concordia Company and Brodie MacGregor: HORIZON #54 is shipping today (May 3) for Lake Michigan. Already in very good shape, owner Bob Grindrod has us try to anticipate anything that may need attention in the future. She is sure to turn heads in Waukegan. FLEETWOOD #20 was sold this spring to Kersten and Angela Prophet of Kiel, Germany. Kersten is an experienced restorer of wooden sailboats and will be shipping FLEETWOOD back to Germany after some initial repairs and a short cruise in Maine. A recently retired associate of Kersten who worked at the same shipyard in Kiel served his apprenticeship at Abeking & Rasmussen and was involved in building FLEETWOOD.
On the local scene, BANDA and ARAPAHO are for sale. Both are beautiful, high-end boats which will be in commission pending sale. RENAISSANCE left Padanaram last Sunday in a 30-40 mph blast from the west. IYRS Managing Director Eric Leslie (and Shamrock V skipper) reported a fine (if wet) passage under jib and mizzen with a little assist from the diesel. Projects this past winter included refastening and recaulking the teak decks and refinishing all brightwork on SNOWBIRD, multiple upgrades including planks, floors, mast step, etc. on ARIADNE, and recaulking and resurfacing the teak deck on BEAUTY.
HERO #23 is getting quite a facelift at Dutch Wharf in Jamestown, RI. Many planks, deadwood rebuilt, iron keel removed, sandblasted and refaired and varnish stripped.
John Bullard, owner of HAVEN #100 writes: We have an almost new club jib with hanks which was replaced when we went to a roller furling system. I believe he would like to sell it. 508 994-2895.
Jerry Smith writes: After almost twenty years my association with Concordia has ended. Since my departure I have received numerous calls from former customers which I truly value and appreciate. I am presently in the process of setting up a consulting/owners agent business of my own. Please keep in touch. 508 992-6501.
The Boston Antique & Classic Boat Festival will be held in the Shipyard Quarters Marina, Pier 8, Charleston Navy Yard, on July 13-14. Contact the sponsor, Lowell's Boat Shop, at 617 666-8530 or 617 489-1137 for more information.
"Museum Quality Concordia Half Models" are available, custom made. The hull length is approximately 30" with Honduras mahogany, teak, birch, paduak or purpleheart. The builder, Toshi Ohashi, has twenty years of boatbuilding experience and was involved in the 1992 and 1995 America's Cup Japan Challenge. Price $385. Contact 360 714-1280 or write: 965 Sudden Valley, Bellingham, WA 98226.
I stopped by the Seattle Yacht Club recently to see how CORIOLIS #82 was doing. Referring to how life was with two young daughters aboard, owner Douglas Adkins was quoted in the "50th book" saying: "We know CORIOLIS suffers some abuse, but that's why a Concordia suits so well. In a few years when the girls settle down we'll spruce the boat up and it'll be glorious again." Well glorious she certainly is. Nigh on perfect from my perspective. Some boats look good from fifty feet. Some even from five feet. I'd venture to say that CORIOLIS looks great even with a magnifying glass. Her bright topsides shine like a mirror as does all her flawless brightwork. One new doohickie I noticed this year was a custom built bronze flag staff. This bolts to the main upright on the bow pulpit, a proper receptacle for his Union Jack.
Stewart McDougall and Denny Doyle, owners and liveaboards on KODAMA #46 paid a visit to Lemwerder and A&R last summer and got the grand tour. They reported no signs of wooden boat construction but plenty in the military and mega-yacht category. And thanks again to John and Martha Foley of VINTAGE #51 for hosting the annual Mid-Winter Fireside Concordia Rendezvous in Seattle. Also thanks to Lisa Thompson for artwork and layout improvements in this edition. Now of Bellingham, Lisa and husband Stephen are transplants from Westport, MA, just down the road from Padanaram, and now find themselves as occasional crew aboard IRENE. They were quite surprised to find a Concordia way out here in the provinces.
I found myself in Ft. Meyers, FL recently so decided to give Concordia founder Waldo Howland a call. He spends the winter months in Florida and the summer in Padanaram. We didn't talk too long, as he was entertaining neighbors for dinner, but I did learn that he was still actively at work on the third installment of "A Life in Boats." He continues to be amazed at the interest in the Concordia fleet.
Concordia Owners Please Note:
The 60th Anniversary of the Concordia yawl is fast approaching in 1998. What shall we do to celebrate? I'm still soliciting ideas. If we're to publish a book of some sort, perhaps one similar to the 40th (black and white photos, perhaps one page per boat, soft bound), we'll need active participation by all Concordia owners. To have only a few would be less than satisfying and not warrant the effort. Before the Fall Concordian comes out in October, could I please hear from everyone that plans to contribute a brief story and photograph for the 60th Book? I will report on the response. Then we'll know whether to proceed with the project. If there is a cruise or gathering to be planned, I'll let that fall on East Coast Concordians.
Concordia Burgees are still available. $35 includes shipping. As usual, if you participate in some racing, excellent cruising or maintenance projects or tips that you can't wait to share, please send it along to The Concordian so that all may enjoy. The Concordian is almost a break-even operation. Your annual contribution of $5.00 just about covers printing and postage. You too can be one who never steps on the brightwork, keeps their weight low in the dinghy and sits on the high side going to weather. Keep your five bucks coming!
Alden Trull - Concordia Employee for 47 Years
Brodie MacGregor mentioned that Alden Trull died recently. "Concordia and the yawls were very important to Alden and in turn, Alden was very special to all of us who knew him and worked with him." With permission, I've included a brief outline of Alden that was in the Concordia 50th book: "I started in the yard in the days of Waldo, Louie and Martin Jackson. I was a carpenter at first, and that meant doing a little of everything. Then I worked into the Beetle Cat project while they were still being built over at Palmer Scotts's yard in Fairhaven.
"After the '54 Hurricane they moved me upstairs and I did billing and served as Waldo's right-hand man. Waldo was the 'so-called' salesmen. He didn't do much pushing, that's for sure. When an order came in I would do the details of the order and arrange to ship things to Germany.
"In November of 1950, Martin Jackson and I went to Southport to pick up SUVA, the first A&R boat. Drayton Cochran had brought her up there from New York and then decided he wanted to sell her through Concordia. SUVA had no power and no heat. Martin was a tough old Swede and we didn't make much provision for food for the trip. I went shopping and bought a couple boxes of marshmallows and that was my staple for the trip. It was a very cold trip, but good weather, and we got into Padanaram on Thanksgiving eve at suppertime.
"Martin went to Florida every winter and at that time I really ran the yard. At one point Waldo was in and out of the hospital with a stomach ailment for almost two years. The whole project was mine. I enjoyed that too.
"I get the most pleasure from the owners of the boats; they are really the cream of the crop. Where else could you get to know Jack Parkinson, Hugh Bullock, Drayton Cochran, and all. The company is my life - it hasn't been all work."
Alden took care of me when I first visited Concordia Company. He enjoyed meeting each new Concordia owner as they eventually made their pilgrimage to Padanaram and loved sharing with them the files he had on their individual boat. While the written files were of great interest, it was the mental files he kept and shared on each yawl and her owners that everyone found fascinating. He was always a great help to me finding tidbits of information and keeping me advised of changes of ownership and address changes. Alden retired several years ago and lived in nearby Fairhaven. He'll always be remembered as part of the "Concordia legend."
Fair sailing and happy varnishing.
Doug Cole
4344 King Avenue - Bellingham, WA 98226-8727
FAX: 360 647-7747
E-mail: 70263.1137@compuserve.com