Schooner "Mavourneen Mary" ex Landfall 2

[lannig]

It's time to give you an update on what's happened to "Mavourneen Mary"!
I bought her in 2004 and start restoring her (more a rebuilt actually) over 2004 and 2005.
Unfortunately, finances go bad and I filed for bankrupcy in may 2007 !!
In fact going bankrupt was the best thing I done :D
Except that the boat has been claimed as asset by the official receiver (UK) and I have been helping them to try to sold the boat.
There has been a few enquiries, the most interesting was from a portugese guy who has made an offer,accepted but since then no news and he has gone dead !!
The interesting part for me was that he want me to finish her for him and sail her back to Europe .
So unless he wake up it's back to square one !!
The reason for this posting is apart to give some news, that there is a nice historical schooner available very cheap which is 80% finish !!
She is in need of a new owner to go back to her former glory !
She is in Napa Valley Marina in the water and exactly as I leave her 2 years ago, even my tools and personal stuff still on board !!
I estimated 3 months work (3 persons) and she is ready for Mexico !!
She is too big to be transported and will have to be finished on site.
For those of you who will be interested, i will help you the maximum I can and if you are not in california or can not spare the time we can finish her for you (me and 2 friends) at a much cheaper rate than any yard !!
I can even sail her to anywhere in the world the farthest the best :D
Have a look ! she will go for less than the value of her lead keel (15 tons!!)
I really want to see her finished even if not by me !!
All infos on my website : www.mavourneen-mary.com (http://www.mavourneen-mary.com)
Do not hesitate to contact me for more infos by private message,email or phone ,even Skype (Lannigdu).
Best regards to you all

Lannig

[Jay Greer]

Hi Lanning,
As you know, I raced and crewed on "Landfall" for many years when she was owned by Dr. Dwight Culver. She was a fast and able sailer indeed. I hope that she will be purchased and finished by a new owner that possess the same interest in perpetuating this fine schooner as you have. Again I thank you for the donation of the bronze hatch for the restoration of the Seawanahaka schooner "Charmian".
Jay Greer

[Northernguy59]

How come there is no interest in this schooner ??

[Thorne]

Well, speaking for myself, I'm enjoying being solvent and married.

(grin)

Seriously, this is a wonderful project and a lovely boat, sure hope to see her on the water sometime soon.

[S/V Laura Ellen]

My mistress (Laura Ellen) would be some upset if I cheated on her.

[Northernguy59]

Im single and solvent............ maybe

[Jay Greer]

Well Guys,
This is a great boat! I had many a good time on her and she is damn near ready to go again! Anyone interested in one of the finest of the fine should follow up on the information already provided.
Jay

[lannig]

Thanks Jay !
Any update on Charmian restoration ??
I sincerly hope somebody go for it with Mavourneen Mary , so near and so far !!
As I said before I am free at the moment to go and finish her .
Regards

Lannig

[banjoman]

She is docked 200 yards from Starduster. If anyone is seriously interested in this boat, I would be happy to take current photos of her when I visit Starduster and pass them along. I walked by today just to see but forgot my camera.

[Northernguy59]

how's she look?

[banjoman]

how's she look?

Like she had a lot of work done and then sat for 3 years. I didn't go on board (figured I should get permission before doing that) so I have no idea what the interior looks like. The hull seemed solid but would need paint. The deck looked good. The chainplates were new. The masts/rigging were not around. The marina has a separate mast storage area and I assume they are over there.

My quick and uneducated glance lead me to believe that she is still very much a project but what has been done is solid.
I am curious what they are hoping to get for her.

[lannig]

Like she had a lot of work done and then sat for 3 years. I didn't go on board (figured I should get permission before doing that) so I have no idea what the interior looks like. The hull seemed solid but would need paint. The deck looked good. The chainplates were new. The masts/rigging were not around. The marina has a separate mast storage area and I assume they are over there.

My quick and uneducated glance lead me to believe that she is still very much a project but what has been done is solid.
I am curious what they are hoping to get for her.

Hi Banjoman,

Nice to see somebody from Napa on this forum !
I stopped working on her in november 2005, expecting to come back in april 2006 but.....
Anyway, my friend Kenny Smith,who is redoing a J24 in the Marina,lived on board until a few months ago, so talk to him or Kirby if you want to visit her. The masts are lying down in the mast storage area all wrapup !
The dodger ,booms and bowsprit are on the pathway next to the boat.
I asked Girard Dewitt who helped me on this restoration project to survey her a few weeks ago, and she is as I leaved her all this time ago ;)
The main work left is the 2nd layer on deck (DG as teak is too expensive !),inside as not been touched much and I used to lived on board while rebuilding her ! New cooker,shower and old woodstove !!
It will be nice to see some photos !!
I have been bugging Kenny to do some but he never complied !
So hope you can do it :D
Thanks

Lannig
www.mavourneen-mary.com (http://www.mavourneen-mary.com)

[MarkC]

A boat with pedigree! commissioned by Mia Farrow's parents (mother was "Tazan's Jane"...

In 1953 a young Australian lad,Dach Hall,joined them in one of their circumnavigations , and 40 years later wrote a book about this adventure:"To Think We're Doing This For Fun ".


Good Lord! I bought this book. :o - it should be called jottings of a voyage.:rolleyes: Sort of a taped-conversation of my journey typed-up into a book. Very similar to the book written by the Australian female nurse who sailed around the world on a ply folkboat.

[banjoman]

It will be at least Saturday before I make it to the marina but will bring my camera along and see what I can come up with!

[Northernguy59]

Banjoman.............any pics of "Mavourneen Mary" to be had ??

Dale

[banjoman]

I took some last weekend but have been too lazy (and busy working on Starduster's deck) to post. Here are a few:

As I said earlier, she looks a little rough but what has been done appears to be solid and well done. The masts are in a different area and my dumb camera (my fault) ran out of batteries when I made it over there. The masts looked and felt solid. The solid wood dodger is also nearby and I clean forgot to get of picture of it.
As she sits:
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z98/brewmastermsu/Mary/IMG_0724.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z98/brewmastermsu/Mary/IMG_0726.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z98/brewmastermsu/Mary/IMG_0733.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z98/brewmastermsu/Mary/IMG_0737.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z98/brewmastermsu/Mary/IMG_0738.jpg

All of the pictures I took can be seen at:
http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z98/brewmastermsu/Mary/

If anyone would like pictures of specific things let me know. I will be going to finish off Starduster's deck on Sunday and it is an easy walk over to where Mavourneen Mary is.

[Northernguy59]

Thanks very much Banjoman.......

Dale

[Northernguy59]

I wonder if Laning made provision's for her Bulwarks?

she sure needs some work doesnt she. shelooks forlorned. Have you ever heard or seen of "HIGHLAND LIGHT" around?

Dale

[banjoman]

She does indeed look forlorned. There was a little bit of a somber feeling going on board. I knew how much work Laning had put into her but also how much work is left.
Laning's estimate of 3 guys for 3 months seems about right to get her servicable again....not to mention the $$$$.
I hope a buyer comes along so this boat doesn't follow the many other wooden boats that have been left for dead at the Napa Valley Marina.

[Northernguy59]

amen........... thanks again

Dale

[ModH-28]

Lannig---bilge needs pumping. We will be happy to take care of that---with your permission. Is there a manual pump on board? Electric pump works fine but there is no shore power currently.

[lannig]

Lannig---bilge needs pumping. We will be happy to take care of that---with your permission. Is there a manual pump on board? Electric pump works fine but there is no shore power currently.
Thanks !
Normally she should be connected to shore power via a long extension which was recharging my battery (2 bilges pumps on it) and also operating an automatic 110v bilgepump.
The question is what happens to the shore connection ??
Did somebody nicked my extension ?? or has it tripped ?? specially if it was raining heavily !
There is a bit of dripping through the engineshaft and also rainwater via the cockpit if raining heavily !
So yes by all means if you can do someting about it, I will appreciate .
Thanks again

Lannig

PS: officially she is not mine anymore she belong to the official receiver but.... you know !! And I am helping them as much as I can with her !
So no problems !

[lannig]

I wonder if Laning made provision's for her Bulwarks?

she sure needs some work doesnt she. shelooks forlorned. Have you ever heard or seen of "HIGHLAND LIGHT" around?

Dale
Hi Dale,

Bulwarks were originally 1" plank on the frames coming through the deck , cause of much of her problems !!
I was thinking to use woodknees (?) or better bronze ones but seeing RodB thread on building Susan it seems his way of doing it easier and more interesting .
The teak caprails should be with the boat ! They are massive :D
Regards

Lannig

[Larks]

All the best with this Chris, I hope you can find someone compatible to take her on with you. Fortunately I'm too far away but I look forward to hearing a positive outcome.
cheers
Greg

[Toomey]

Okay... Okay, Like I said, she needs a close look, sheesh!

The spars are in storage so don't assume those have to be fabricated as well (can't assume they've been stored properly sooo). There are threads scattered around the forum regarding the boat so there is a bit more info than presented here both good and bad. What concerned me as I sorted through all the info is some of it hinting at atypical Boeing boat construction methods. Notes about the absence of buttblocks (supposedly remedied by lannig during the replacement of a number of planks). Though I know, as was mentioned in one of the threads, that some boats have been done plank on frame, still... I also don't like the idea that she has been sitting neglected in fresh or even brackish water for this long.

There is a lot to look at here and I'll be happy to walk away and go overdo it "tasting" some wine if the poor girl is too far gone for my wallet, skills and temperment. No harm in checkin' her out I say.

I like the Dr. Suess quote Greg...

[Geoffrey Ashton]

Was there a month ago. Entropy is at an exponetial rate. Rats have taken over. Weather coverage is all but gone on spars and spares. I would really like to see it in Save a Classic. Anyone want to contact Bray?

[Toomey]

Geoffrey, thanks for posting. I'm sorry to hear that she's getting so much worse. I'd be willing to help pay for an exterminator if others here want to chip in. I als0 woudn't mind helping out some volunteers up that way who might be intersted in at least protecting her for the moment and getting her through the rains.

I haven't gotten a single bite. I'm still interested and I'm sure they'd be happy to sell for a song... the $18,000 is riduculous, of course, and they've had it on their hands for what, 2 years + now. 5 partners who know how to work on boats and don't mind doing the work themselves and this boat could be brought back!!
5 would be a perfect sized Master Mariner crew anyway!!
I'm holding off an anxious buyer for my boat still just in case but he's getting impatient. I just e-mailed him the other day offering a break if he will hold out. Don't want to lose what I have then be unable to keep Mavourneen Mary going by myself.
I would pay for her purchase. An offer of $5,000 (again depending on her current state) "green money" would be a good starting place given the circumstances and I wouldn't be that surprised if they took it. Assuming the sail of my boat goes through I am good for as much as $8,000 which would be the most I'd offer assuming she is not yet a lost cause.
I will see ifr I can post something or otherwise contact somebody over at Spaulding.
Anyone who wants to see an inspiring restoration story please visit www.flyingbuzzard.com (http://www.flyingbuzzard.com). She's a steel boat but I think it makes Mavourneen Mary look like a day in the park!

Chris

[Toomey]

I have placed an ad seeking partners at the Spaulding website. Will call the marina and an exterminator on Monday and see if I can't also scare up a few people to get her squared away for rain. The more the merrier!
Again... taking donations for the ratting...

Thanks everyone. Would be a fine thing if we could be asking for advice here as she is brought back instead of just trying to scare up interest!
Chris
323 595 3010
Dreadnaughtsailor@yahoo.com

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8195&id=100000248302374&l=3cdf5bf867

[ModH-28]

Let me know when and my sons and I will show up!

[Bob Cleek]

Jay's right, a great boat. I remember her when Dwight Culver had her. Sigh... I wouldn't have recognized her from the exterior photos. Somebody should rescue her, as she was a damn fine boat, but it's no weekender's project at this point and will likely require large infusions of cash, a lot of which isn't around these days. There's no way it would be economically practical in this boat market. It'd have to be an (expensive) labor of love. I wasn't aware Boeing had built her. The did have their own construction techniques, including a penchant for butting planking on the frames, but the few they launched seem to have lasted rather well.

[Toomey]

Glad for the interest.
My girl and I will be up for a few days in the first two weeks of January... Will keep you posted here on exact dates. That makes at least 4 of us so far. I'm sure we could use more folks along with some tarps, tape and clamps in addition to what we will bring if anyone wants to add to the supply.
Thanks Bob... I have gotten one call on the Spaulding ad so far but haven't any idea what's at hand and what's realistic.
My buyer for Molly B has gone elsewhere but so it goes, I couldn't bring myself to gamble a good boat away like that.
Looking forward to seeing for myself the scale of the work and it would be great if anyone who is local and who knows wooden boats might be able to come by and just look her over with us for the "reality check". If it's just to have a look that's great, might be an interesting afternoon...
Maybe this will take off, maybe not . It certainly is a bad time money wise but at least we can slow Mavourneen Mary's entropy and generate some heat around the idea of saving her while we are up there.

Regards all!
Chris

[Larks]

Chris, thanks for the Flying Buzzard link - great job!!

[Toomey]

A lot of work on Flying Buzzard... I love the 10" prop shaft and the original 1951 lignum vitae shaft log that was still good!

The marina doesn't mind if we come by and get Mavourneen and her spars wraped up and protected and take a look at her. In their best interest after all, eh?...
Cynthia and I will be up for the 9th and 10th of January and company would be much appreciated... and supplies, a few clamps or a cheap tarp would be helpful.
Thanks for the offer to help G ft M. We can do either day or both if anyone else wants to come by and lend a hand or just give an assessment/opinion of her chances. It shouldn't take more than a day and a half or so to get her protected. Let me know what day is best for anyone else who wants to visit/help.

The rats are another issue... no quote on the job yet, will keep at it. Anybody got a ferret we can borrow? ;~>

If we can we will visit Spaulding beforehand and maybe get some advice about how we might be able to build support for a group effort to save her.

Chris
323 595 3010
Dreadnaughtsailor@yahoo.com

[Toomey]

Thank you Gerry!
You are right about that last bit. I will talk to the folks at the Marina about how far they might be willing to go (not very seems to be the likely answer) to help with trying to keep them off.

Happy Holidays All!

Chris