Refitting Premlata

Originally built by cousin Gary Price and launched in 1975, Premlata is being rebuilt by club members Kirk and Susan Folk, a project that dates back to 2007 when Kirk and Susan moved to Rockland. She’s a 32’ Quoddy Pilot Sloop reminiscent of the old “Carry Away” boats used in the Downeast sardine fishing industry. Cedar strip-built around ¾” plywood bulkheads, Premlata weighs 11 tons with a 10 ½’ beam and 5 ½’ draft. She was covered inside and out with “Vectra” polypropylene cloth and epoxy. Just a couple of handfuls were made by Penobscot Boat Works out of Rockport, Premlata by Gary, and a plank-on-frame ketch rig iteration built at the ApprenticeShop. Since paint doesn’t last forever and epoxy doesn’t like the sun, rain water got in and, with perfect rot conditions, she eventually needed a breath of fresh whatever rotted. Some boats are worth saving. We find this family heirloom is one of them.

To get at all the damaged areas, all of the cloth was removed from the outside of the hull, and the whole saloon was gutted. The Quoddy Pilots are double-enders, and, in this case, both stem and sternpost were replaced. The planking has been replaced where necessary, and the outside is now sheathed with fiberglass. The house has been rebuilt, about ⅔ of the decking has been replaced, and, currently, some of the frames and internal ballast are getting rebuilt. The future calls for the rebuilding of the entire interior, engine room, and relaying of the teak decking overlay. There is no projected relaunch date, but Kirk and Susan are hoping to still be alive when it happens!