My favorite boatyard

Stuck at the Mantoloking Bridge.  Looking westward here,

829 was and is to the right, about a mile and a quarter away.

From the sleeping porch there at my Nana's house, you 

could see when the Cantalopin' bridge (called that by my

cousin Adam) was up. Then it was an old, rickety bridge,

where the gates would take a lifetime to open after the big boat

passed under. Now, it's a state of the art computerized bridge

where you still have to wait forever after you see the mast

cruise through.  Now that's progress. 

On the other side of the bridge:  Hallowed ground.

The Big Shed at Beaton's.  I couldn't begin to tell you how

many classic boats have been in and out of there, but if

these walls could talk........

Already thinking of fall, they were in the process of splitting

this prime seasoned firewood.  There's nothing like walking

through Beaton's when there's a chill in the air and smelling

the smoke coming from the woodstove in the shed.

Steam Boiler and Wood Stove in the shed.

If you have 4 grand to spend on a sweet little rowboat,

this is your place to do so.  And may I say, it's worth

every goddamn penny.

Table saws and milling machines abound.  This place reeks

of history and tradition.  I was brought here by you-know-who

on no less than a few weekend afternoons, and made to stand-

by while conversations of boring boat-related topics were

discussed.  I just wanted something to eat. 

Paul Smith works on the bottom of a Barnegat Bay Sneakbox

 Over one hundred years ago, this timeclock kept track

of the boatyard workers' hours.  The International Time

Recording Company eventually changed their name to IBM.  

Sjogin, a Swedish workboat, actually built in NJ in the 60's,

is in the well, ready to be hauled for her annual re-fit.

 Suzanne, in the background, is the Beaton family's boat.

They work awfully hard; I hope they get enough time to go

out and enjoy her.

This shot is a post-post image.  After reading and

re-reading this as well as every other entry I have ever 

posted, I realized the one picture of Sjogin really didn't

give the reader a true idea of her sweeping lines.

I believe this photo does just that. 

Sjogin's wooden mast.  What a sweet boat!  This mast

will be taken down to bare wood soon, before several coats

 of varnish  will be applied.  I thought it looked fine, but her

owner and skipper, Russ, assured me that it was time.

My friend Russ, from Hove To Off Swan Point,

looking over plans for a slightly modified Sjogin

reproduction. Evidently there are some out there

 who don't want Russ to be the only one with this 

honey of a sailboat.