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Episode #1
(Music by
Them Eastport Oyster Boys)
This video series documents the refit of a 1975 Alberg 30 sloop. It's the "This Old House" of sailboat restoration with Chesapeake Bay tunes sung by Them Eastport Oyster Boys, and featuring a refit team of seasoned sailors who belong to the Chesapeake Bay Alberg 30 One-Design Association. All currently own or have owned Alberg 30s in the past. The A-30 refit crew has many years of experience and has repaired and restored several other vessels. TSC will follow the refit through completion and sea trials scheduled for the summer of 2007. We anticipate approximately 12 episodes.
VIEW
SLIDESHOW OF
On Saturday, January 21, 2005, TSC videotaped the A-30 team in the beginning stage of the refit at Mike and Trish Lehman's home where the boat is stored. The setting could not be better. Mike and Trish’s beautiful home sits on the bank of Mill Creek off the Magothy River which flows into the Chesapeake Bay just above the Bay Bridge.
The Lehman's keep their own Alberg 30, beautifully maintained, at their dock. Their home is on a slight
rise above the creek with a splendid view. The front walkway leads past a
large garage and workshop to a paved parking area next to the street where
the A-30 rests in its steel cradle. We consider this an optimum setting for
videotaping the refit story. |
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During our first day of filming, we were able to capture two major tasks: removal of an
oversized fuel tank from beneath the cockpit (firmly bedded with several
tubes of 5200) and the restoration of the original molded-in water tank
beneath the V-berth. Team members described the process for both
tasks and we also captured a good deal of banter back and forth as they
worked. (We wired up each with a radio mic and shot three digital cameras
for exceptional coverage.)
In between tasks we interviewed the team members: Rolph “Towney” Townshend,
Ralph Bluntschli, and Mike Lehman. The three were eager
to tell their story. We learned about their personal sailing history, the
history of the A-30 on the Chesapeake, the history of the refit boat, and
their goal of restoring the vessel and selling it to someone who will keep
it on the Bay and sail it actively in Association races and cruises.
