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Tag Archives: epoxy
Yes! Boats Are Being Built in the US…and Go Bruins!
We’ve been busy visiting manufacturers around the country! I spent last week in Knoxville. First up, a visit to the Sea Ray plants with Hagemeyer distributors . Impressive! Great boat building. Lots of Fiberglass and all first class. They flush all their polyester guns with acetone alternatives.
But the one they use has water in it and it flash rusts the tools and will not allow the resin to cure out. This means they have to deal with haz material disposal. Bio-Solv has no water so the excess resin cures and causes no rusting. Hey we learned that the finish guys love it too because Bio-Solv removes pen from vinyl seats!
Speaking of first class boat building, I also visited the Skiers Choice facility. They build the Supra and Moomba ski boats. This has to be the cleanest factory I’ve ever been in. Coupled with the really nice people and awesome fit and finish, I’m dreaming of a new ski boat to bum around in this summer…
Oh yea, while I was hanging out in the Knoxville Hilton Gardens, I got to see the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup! No one at the Bar understood why I was so excited. I had to explain that the game they were playing was Ice Hockey. Apparently, they like to float in their water, not skate on it in Tennessee.
We are really excited about the growth and acceptance we are creating with Bio-Solv In the last few months. Bio-Solv is now available through Sherwin-Williams Industrial Sales Staff, Orgill and Composites One, along with our existing suppliers Port Supply/West Marine, Jamestown Distributors and Hagemeyer.
After cruising around Tennessee, it was off to Portland Oregon for the launching of “Haven” a Tom Wylie design 48 foot performance cruising sailboat. Built by Schooner Creak Boat Works, she is a beauty! And, Yes, they used MAS!
1920’s Race Boat Reborn at New England Boat and Motor
Mark has built some of the most amazing racing runabouts anywhere in the world. Boats designed by George Crouch, Gar Wood, Hacker to name a few. But these aren’t your run of the mill race boats. These boats sport Rolls Royce engines Hispano Swissa better known as a “Hisso” built buy the most talented mechanics in the world and rocking with power…each cylinder is 1020cc’s. They’re massive!.
Mark is just finishing up a boat called “Scotty Too”. Hull and frames were built by Steve White and Brooklin Boat Yard in Brooklin, Maine. Check out the pics I got! This is a new boat can you believe it! Simply stunning, thanks for sharing Mark and for building with MAS Epoxy.
JB Currell 609 332 3866 Jb@masepoxies.com MAS Epoxies: Great for beginners…Loved by ProfessionalsTulips in NJ…Amsterdam in the Fall
While New Hampshire is just shedding it’s snow layer, near the office in NJ the tulips are up already. It got me thinking of my great trip to METS (Marine Accessory Trade Show) last fall. It was my 5th time to this show and I was still impressed.
I was more pleased to be able to go with two great travel partners, Sam Devlin of Devlin Designing Boat Builders and Jim Miller of WoodenBoat magazine.
At METS, I loved the hardware and accessories from Europe that you don’t see everyday in the US. Sam and I are awed by the sexy Italian metalwork, and the cleats aren’t bad either! There was everything from adjustable props for mega yachts to a new thruster system for new and retrofit boats that uses a central pump and hoses to the bow and stern. Quiet and cost effective. Very cool!
I have to say though the highlight of the trip was the tour of the replica Dutch trader from the 1800′s Batavia. This is a traditionally built replica of a ship that sank off of New Guinea on it’s maiden voyage. Lots of fun to get a tour of such a huge vessel.
After the Batavia, we continued being “good” tourists, taking tours of the canals and the Dutchmasters museum. Very cool ship models and paintings of sea battles. And of course we had to also take the tour of the Sailors Bar reportedly the oldest bar in Amsterdam. Yes it’s in the red light district and very entertaining!!!!!
We happened upon a bookstore which carried Sam’s famous book on boatbuilding. Who’d have thought! The owner of the store got Sam to sign a copy for his own collection. Sam and I picked up some ink and pen drawings as souvenirs from the early 1900′s.
Amsterdam is not known for it’s food but Sam, Jim and I share an affinity for good cigars and I would have to say Amsterdam has one of the best cigar shops in the world…served with a fine Port in a private room with marble walls, fine Oak trim and floors. It was like something out of an old movie. This is what Old guys consider fun!
Well enough of Amsterdam for now, although I hope to go back in a few months.
JB MAS Products Keep up with our latest news at MAS Products on Facebook.Sea Island Boat Works
Mark Bayne, owner of Sea Island Boat Works, and I recently walked through his yard and talked about the projects he has.
Most of all we discussed MAS O KIsS , my 1962 42′ Chriscraft Sport Fish, which Mark is restoring for me. He has done an amazing job rebuilding the cockpit sole and reglassing the decks using 10 oz cloth and MAS low viscosity resin for good wet out of the wood and fiberglass
Mark has to be one of the best shipwrights in the world. Check out the Spirit of South Carolina just one example of his talent.Thanks to Mark and his lovely bride Sherri for a wonderful time.
JB
PS – Make sure to keep up with all the news on our Facebook page at MAS Products.
Boats, Hardware and Epoxy…Bringing it all together in Charleston
Hey if your still following my blog or have just decided to look at what’s up at MAS.
This is the latest!
I’m in a series of road trips after a few much needed days at home in NH. I had a great time in the Charleston Area celebrating St. Patty’s Day, checking out boats at Sea Island Boatworks and visiting hardware stores like Hughes Lumber and Royall Ace hardware. I love a good hardware store. It’s like a jewelry store for women. Nothing like a good paint department.
I was visiting these stores as part of MAS’s expanding distribution channels. It is a learning process for me and the MAS team. One of the things we need is stories from MAS users about the different ways you use our epoxy and Bio-Solv. I’m looking for photos and offering Miss MAS t-shirts as always! Please upload your stories and photos to MAS Products on Facebook, or send them to us. We appreciate your thoughts as always!
JB Currell 609 332 3866 Jb@masepoxies.com MAS Epoxies: Great for beginners…Loved by ProfessionalsThe Coast of Maine…A Great Place to Visit, Even in February
The Coast of Maine…A Great Place to Visit, even in February
I’ve loved sailing the coast of Maine for decades now, but don’t get a chance to visit in the offseason as often as I’d like. A few weeks ago, we piled into the car and took off to see old friends and the great work going on inside as snow covers the outdoors.
After a long drive, we were thrilled to re-fuel with an incredible meal prepared by Jim Miller and his lovely wife Molly. You may know Jim as the President of Wooden Boat Magazine but who knew Jim had a culinary bug. We dined on Jim’s soon to be famous paella loaded with fresh seafood, chicken and sausage to die for. Of course we enjoyed too much wine, great desert and conversation longing for when the boats can go back in the water. Jim has a favorite design of mine by Ruel Parker. A shallow draft outboard rum runner called Black Bird. Jim and Molly use it for picnics and traveling to the islands around the Maine coast.
Next up was a stop to see Todd and Erin French. Todd owns a custom boat company in Belfast Maine called French and Webb. Wow, what boats! Todd gave me a tour of his facilities right in Belfast harbor. With new boat builds like Erika, Zogo and exceptional rebuilds from the ground up like the New York 30′s, French and Webb have secured a place in Marine history. Check out their current projects at www.frenchandwebb.com.
Okay cool boats! But! Not we came for even more……Erin, Todd’s beautiful wife is also a gourmet chef. She holds Secret Suppers. If you’re lucky enough to get on the list you can attend a private dinner for 20 people. With the finest 6 course gourmet meal you will ever have. These dinners are held in obscure locations and it’s like a gourmet speakeasy. Your name has to be on the list and they lock the door when everyone is in. Erin then explains the menu and for the next 3 hours your taste buds get treated like royalty. The very cool thing about this particular dinner was not only the food but eating with one of greatest marine photographers in the world! The oh so lovely Alison Langley was our table mate. What a Treat! Allison is working on a new form of marine video description. When we went home I looked up her website www.Langleyphoto.com and was stunned at the artistry she has created with her camera.
What an unbelievable weekend! We ate wonderful food, drank well and most importantly, had the pleasure of hanging out with some of the finest artists in their fields whom we are lucky enough to call our friends. Blessed and now 10 lbs heavier.
JB
PS: I’m new to this blogging idea. I am lucky enough to spend my time traveling the country meeting professionals and hobbyists who make neat stuff out of epoxy. Please let me know how we can use this blog to create a conversation and spread the word about the industry.
MAS hits the blogosphere…
Every week we get emails from our MAS family showcasing the cool projects they are working on. We’ve decided to launch a blog to more effectively share this information with others. Continuing to build our on-line presence, we’re diving into the blogosphere to see if we can’t stay in touch and share information more easily.
As always, MAS is dedicated to celebrating and helping everyone who loves to mess about with epoxy create beautiful projects more easily. Please feel free to send your questions via this blog or call us at 888-627-3769. And, send us your project photos! We’ll be highlighting them on the blog and will send a free Miss MAS t-shirt to anyone who submits project information.
I look forward to talking with you soon, 



