This was the 48th Interclub made, so it is hull #48. These boats are often referred to by their hull number. So you'll often just see me refer to it as 48. It was named Charabon by its original owner. I'm guessing it was built in 1946 or, at the latest, 1947.
The boat was given to me by Peter Bauer, an active frostbiter at Larchmont Yacht Club, who had been keeping it in his garage to prevent it from being destroyed or further harmed. He salvaged the boat from Derecktor Shipyards in Mamaroneck, N.Y., a place famous for building America's Cup racing boats and other large vessels that are the polar opposite of a frostbiting dinghy. The last owner who raced 48 was Gavin Higgins, who worked at Derecktor's. In 1986, the yard built Stars and Stripes, which Dennis Connor sailed to recapture the America's Cup he had lost to Australia. In 1970, it produced Valiant, the last 12 meter racing yacht constructed of wood.
Although the hull is still intact, 48 is missing all of its hardware as well as a couple of crucial components: the mast step (which you can't see in this photo) and the partners (which cross the boat about a quarter of the way back from the bow and support the mast). I am also going to make it a new centerboard, rudder, and boom. The mast will be an aluminum section that will have to be cut, customized, and rigged to work with this boat.
The photo above was taken when the boat was still in Peter's driveway. If it were placed in the water at the time of the picture, it would have quickly sank to the bottom.
The photo above was taken when the boat was still in Peter's driveway. If it were placed in the water at the time of the picture, it would have quickly sank to the bottom.
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