Students of the WoodenBoat School over the past few decades will recognize BABSON as the launch that delivered them to and from the school’s fleet of svelte daysailers and swift rowing boats on Great Cove in Brooklin, Maine. Harold Bertrand of West Bath, Maine, built BABSON from cedar planking on oak frames in 1981. She came to the WoodenBoat School in 1987, and after 28 years of dependable service, the school is retiring her.
The school’s waterfront director, Greg Bauer, and shop director, Mike Moros, looked at several different designs as they sought a boat with carrying capacity and stability of BABSON. In the end, the pair took the lines from BABSON and created a plywood-and-epoxy version of the original. BABSON II has a bit more onboard storage and a few other tweaks, but she serves the school with the same reliability and safety as her forebear. Greg and Mike were ably assisted by plenty of willing helpers---staff and students of the WoodenBoat School: Mike Barkyoumb, Bob Boniface, Hanna Busher, Jim Carter, Don Dewes, Keenan Hilsinger, Adonna Kokx, Doug McMain, Tim O'Conner, Doug Robertson, Lee Rush, Gene Shaw, Dave Simmons, Bob Spalding, Milo Stanley, and Mark Turpin. The School would also like to thank John Hartmann for playing the pipes during BABSON II's launch.
Go to www.woodenboat.com for information on WoodenBoat magazine, classes at the WoodenBoat School, the WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport in June, and The WoodenBoat Store.
