In his article beginning on page 34 of this issue, contributing editor Greg Rössel offers a variety of approaches to repairing wooden boats that have been out of service for extended periods of time. Greg’s advice is meant not so much as an exhaustive treatment as it is an inspiration to try resourceful and unconventional processes, within the bounds of good practice.
Around the time Greg was completing his article, Todd Schwede wrote to us from San Diego, California, with an idea for an article. He had been central to the rehabilitation of the John Alden–designed schooner BAGHEERA there in the early 1980s and had written a piece that was part reminiscence, part paean to the schooner, and part instructional article. The 72' BAGHEERA (see page 50) was built by Rice Brothers Shipyard in East Boothbay, Maine, in 1924; she was severely run down when Todd and his associates first encountered her more than 40 years ago. Her condition, as described, recalled an admonition in Greg’s article: “Anything can be fixed. The question is, do you really want to fix it? How much time do you have? How much money? When do you want to get it in the water?” Those central questions, in BAGHEERA’s case, had clear answers: The owner had a funding source, a deep motivation, and a completion deadline. And the yacht had a purpose—chartering—envisioned for after the restoration.