Preview: Watercraft Collection of Mystic Seaport, Part 1- The Broom Closet
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November 28, 2012
Email this Video to a FriendMystic Seaport has one of the world’s largest collections of historic watercraft. There’s a special place that not many people know about where over 400 boats are kept. Maynard Bray played a key role in building this collection for over 35 years, and he and Eric Blake take us on an insider’s tour of these boats. Be sure to see the other videos in this series as they are released.
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14 Responses So Far to “Watercraft Collection of Mystic Seaport, Part 1- The Broom Closet”
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Leonard Seastone says:
Broom closet, certainly swept me away!
Poul Smith says:
What a collection! And how those guys talk about the boats, so enlightning and kind of emotionel. I’ll look forward to your next visit.
Jan Van Sickle says:
So, the broom closet door is back in place? Last summer it was on the wall in the new building display.
Dan Bouchard says:
Where else can you listen to guys like this talking about how the light plays off lines… I could watch days of video like this!
Wyatt Lawrence says:
A lovely place I feel lucky to have seen… But did they ever find the brooms? Guess I better stay tuned for Part 2… thanks OCH!
William Boulden says:
Just to wander around in there for hours! One might forget about food and drinks for far to long and find the preserved reminds of a boat smacked fool. ;D
Eric Blake says:
I must admit, this was on my mind as well wandering through this amazing collection!
Best, Eric
Richard W. Jacks says:
It’s videos like this that make me believe this is the best 29 bucks I’ve ever spent.Thanks guys.
Captain Nemo says:
I agree, Richard!
Todd Schumann says:
Thanks for the video! As a recent graduate of The International Yacht Restoration School we had a chance to walk through as well. I think everybody has the same reaction when that door is opened..a big grin and a gasp. Man what a sight.
Bruce Robbins says:
Very nice! I wouldn’t mind being banished to that closet for a couple of days.
Jerry Rose says:
Great video Maynard and Eric. I have a suggestion as to the question of the narrow plank on the Whitehall skiff. It may have been a “shutter’ plank between the two wide planks and possibly able to take the twist from bow to stern better than the wide planks. I ran into a similar problem building a Kingston Lobster boat that had some serious changes in the planks running to the wine glass transom with tumblehome.
David Tew says:
Thanks for that. There’s so much to see in The Broom Closet!!!
Maynard Bray is so modest, especially when he points out what he DOESN’T know (or what is more likely, recall). When he pointed out the oarlocks built into the sheer of the Thames River skiff he said he doesn’t remember what the name of the feature is.
In Peter Spectre’s book ‘Different Waterfronts’ he describes a week-long trip rowing a Thames skiff down the Thames with his wife. He wrote that he sheer planks with thole pins integral to them were called saxboards. Perhaps that’s the term Maynard was trying to recall.
Walter Allan says:
Great tour Eric and Maynard. I’d love to see their melonseed (they have plans available, so likely have a hull somewhere) if you come across her in your next visit to the broom closet.