'American'?

[jwaldin]

We saw a varnished teak hulled cutter rigged, about 38' boat anchored in James Bay N. Prevost Is. last summer. Very nice. The owner said it was an 'American'. I think he said it was built in Hong Kong. Anyone ever heard of that make?

[Hughman]

Sounds like a Cheoy Lee built before 1965 or so.

[jwaldin]

I took a pic of it. I will post it her when I find it.
Some kind soul, those email I don't have anymore-Just bought a new computer. The 'expert' who was to move everything from my old one to the new one lost my address book, offered to walk me slowly through how to post photos here.
If you are still out there would you please email me at jwaldin@saltspring.com
Or any other masocist how would be patient enough to teach me how to post pics.

[Frank E. Price]

Might he have been referring to American Marine, the yard that built the Grand Banks boats?

Frank

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

American Marine also built sailing boats, to avery high spec. I know a 41ft teak S&S yawl, built by American Marine, that is a real delight to the eye of anyone interested in the boatbuilder's art and craft.

[jwaldin]

I have a photo of the 'American'. The FAQ doesn't explain how to post the photo. How do I do that?

[TimothyB]

Andrew, can you give more detail about American Marine? I am curious as I know of an American Marine sailboat. I was also told, as an aside, that it was thought that the guy who started Au Bon Pain ws the guy who ran American Marine in Japan in the early sixties.

--T

[ 12-05-2003, 10:37 PM: Message edited by: TimothyB ]

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I don't know much about them. My hunch, and this is no more than a hunch, is that American Marine was an agency which contracted with Asian builders to build wood yachts and motor boats for the US market, under their supervision.

They seem to have been active in Japan, in Hong Kong and in Singapore. Associated with building Grand Banks motor yachts in Singapore.

I know of three builders of high spec. Western sailing yachts in Hong Kong:

1) A. King. Possibly the oldest established, in Causeway Bay. Building yachts before WW2. Think they built the noted pre-War ocean racer "Tai-Mo-Shan", for a syndicate of RN officers who sailed her to England in the 1930's, and I think they built a number of "Teak Ladies".

Jerry Sousa knows all about them.

2. Cheoy Lee. Well known. Probably much the largest. Many Laurent Giles designs, also Walter Rayner, Philip Rhodes, and others. Moved from wooden boatbuilding to GRP - "Clippers" and at least 100 Rhodes Offshore 40/41's - and large power boats, including pilot launches and similar high spec commercial craft. Recently sold their yard under an HK Govt compulsory purchase order as it is the site of the Hong Kong Disneyland currently under construction.

3. Wing On Shing. Very high quality; associated with Arthur Robb. When wooden boatbuilding stopped they went to steel harbour craft and were still building tugs and barges in the 1980's; don't know what they are doing now.

I'm sure that Jerry could add to this list.

[ 12-06-2003, 07:14 AM: Message edited by: Andrew Craig-Bennett ]

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I think A. King built "Tzu Hang", as well.

[jwaldin]

Is it true that 'Tzu Hang' sunk somewhere in the West Indies or is that a 'marine myth'?
Miles and Beryl swallowed the anchor and bought a farm in Alberta a few miles from our familys cabin. Their daughter still may be using the farm as an animal rescue/refuge center.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

The version of the "myth" that I have seen, on this very spot, I fancy, is even worse - she was used by drug smugglers, confiscated, allowed to go to pieces on a mooring, blew ashore in a hurricane and was finally run over with a road roller to get rid of her.

Since the boat seems to have vanished, one must, sadly, assume that it is true.

[jwaldin]

Watch for a photo of the 'American' on jws pics.
I said the hull was varnished but it wasn't. It's painted white.