BLACKBIRD

The Walter Cordes family purchased the 1967 wooden Lyman from Cleveland, Ohio, in 2012 and restored her in the summer of 2013. Walt Cordes of Wyoming, Ohio, took the lead and coordinated all of the restoration and performed a majority of the work. New mahogany decking was installed and much of her finish work restored to like new condition using the appropriate period materials and finishes. Most materials (and free technical advice) for the restoration were acquired from the Antique Boat Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

BLACKBIRD was re-commissioned in August of 2013 (she was named MISCHIEF MAKER; the grandchildren renamed her BLACKBIRD) and entered her into the Les Cheneaux Antique Boat Show; they did not win, but turned quite a few heads.

BLACKBIRD’s home is the Cordes family vacation lake house in the Les Cheneaux Islands where BLACKBIRD enjoys a four-season berth in a restored crib boathouse. Thank you Walt Cordes for taking the initiative in restoring this wonderful craft!