Re: Bolger # 630

As a fellow who had seriously considered building an Illinois, I very quickly recognized the description and then design number above. I believed the boat could be constructed for less than $100,000, following Bolger's thought to build with "semi-skilled" assistance, and careful management of the construction site, and storage of raw materials. The construction of Windermere provides some inspiration. I also considered a conversion to steel/wood something like "Lions Paw", using a tank manufacturer to build the basic hull.

Bruce Hallman's rendering of the boat in Freeship adds additional insight. Bolger's paint scheme makes the boxy Illinois look much like a 1920s/30s Elco. Very sleek and graceful. I thought to build a cardboard model to confirm the paint scheme's effectiveness. I also laid out the center section interior on my driveway using masking tape and then wood, and drywall panels to get a better feel for the actual living space.

If such a solitary life had become my reality, Illinois may well have become my home.

Don

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Hallman <hallman@...> wrote:
>
>http://www.flickr.com/photos/hallman/tags/illinois/
>
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Hallman <hallman@...> wrote:
>
> That it pretty interesting! Has this boat ever been subject to one of
> the PB&F magazine articles? It goes without saying that we would love
> a chance to see some details.
>

Bolger's design number 630 is, of course, Illinois. Illinois was featured in the Vol 14 Number 16 issue of Messing About in Boats, published Dec 1, 1998.

I have an fbm file for Illinois here downloaded from the prolific and talented Mr Hallman - he may decide to put up a web page with that file and some views of the vessel.

The MAIB article mentions that:

> Plans for #630 Illinois on six sheets are $400,
> available from Phil Bolger & Friends

and I'm sure Suzanne will correct that if it has somehow changed since 1998.

-Derek
Ed

Any chance that you could make any of the plans available to Bruce
Hallman so he could do one of his 3d projections on freeship??

HJ

shortdottedline wrote:
> Re Bolger creation 630,
> I have since the 80s been fascinated by the mind of Phil Bolger, I had all his books and articles, including his cooperation with Dynamite Payson. In 1994 I contacted Bolger and Friends about an Idea I had been pondering, about a possible long thin European canal boat.
> They responded enthusiastically, and we continued exchanges for a couple of years. During that time I had many notes both from Phil and Suzanne, both in freehand and typewritten. They are (were) fascinating folks, and crammed with ideas.
> The idea morphed into a 63 ft, (any longer required an advanced seamans license) 10 ft beam live-a-board, in the style of a 1920s cruiser. The cartoon was a real natty looking creation.
> I commissioned this and it became Bolger #630. Over a period of months we hammered out the details and the drawing began to arrive. A total of 5 sheets I believe, filled with details and innovative ideas.
> It would be powered by a 4 stroke, (or diesel) 45 to 90 HP large prop, slow turning OB. A bow thruster of a 9.9 hp ob (or perhaps a powerful trolling motor, Phil was not sure this was needed of not). A 4 in X 4 ft "shoe ran the entire length of the craft. Rather like a modified keel. (This kept the weight down low, and made #630 virtually self righting.) As the boat was made of about 300 sheets of ½ in ply, it was unsinkable by design, even if holed. A sizable retractable leeboard was amidships (stbd). large everything room aft, state room, (queen) smaller double bunk room fwd, head , permanent bridge with couch and controls, aft deck covered deck (patio!)
> Alas it never got built, but the 2 yrs I spent dreaming about it were well worth the $s I spent for the commission!
> Sinse this is # 630, it would be well into his body of work which was, what some 850? I hope to post pics of some of the drawings, soon.
> ed
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Bolger rules!!!
> - NO "GO AWAY SPAMMER!" posts!!! Please!
> - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, respamming, or flogging dead horses
> - stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no 'Ed, thanks, Fred' posts
> - Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts, and snip away
> - Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax: (978) 282-1349
> - Unsubscribe:bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> - Open discussion:bolger_coffee_lounge-subscribe@yahoogroups.comYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
That it pretty interesting! Has this boat ever been subject to one of
the PB&F magazine articles? It goes without saying that we would love
a chance to see some details.

On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 5:46 AM, shortdottedline
<shortdottedline@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Re Bolger creation 630,
> I have since the 80s been fascinated by the mind of Phil Bolger, I had all his books and articles, including his cooperation with Dynamite Payson. In 1994 I contacted Bolger and Friends about an Idea I had been pondering, about a possible long thin European canal boat.
> They responded enthusiastically, and we continued exchanges for a couple of years. During that time I had many notes both from Phil and Suzanne, both in freehand and typewritten. They are (were) fascinating folks, and crammed with ideas.
> The idea morphed into a 63 ft, (any longer required an advanced seamans license) 10 ft beam live-a-board, in the style of a 1920s cruiser. The cartoon was a real natty looking creation.
> I commissioned this and it became Bolger #630. Over a period of months we hammered out the details and the drawing began to arrive. A total of 5 sheets I believe, filled with details and innovative ideas.
> It would be powered by a 4 stroke, (or diesel) 45 to 90 HP large prop, slow turning OB. A bow thruster of a 9.9 hp ob (or perhaps a powerful trolling motor, Phil was not sure this was needed of not). A 4 in X 4 ft "shoe ran the entire length of the craft. Rather like a modified keel. (This kept the weight down low, and made #630 virtually self righting.) As the boat was made of about 300 sheets of ½ in ply, it was unsinkable by design, even if holed. A sizable retractable leeboard was amidships (stbd). large everything room aft, state room, (queen) smaller double bunk room fwd, head , permanent bridge with couch and controls, aft deck covered deck (patio!)
> Alas it never got built, but the 2 yrs I spent dreaming about it were well worth the $s I spent for the commission!
> Sinse this is # 630, it would be well into his body of work which was, what some 850? I hope to post pics of some of the drawings, soon.
> ed
>
>
Re Bolger creation 630,
I have since the 80s been fascinated by the mind of Phil Bolger, I had all his books and articles, including his cooperation with Dynamite Payson. In 1994 I contacted Bolger and Friends about an Idea I had been pondering, about a possible long thin European canal boat.
They responded enthusiastically, and we continued exchanges for a couple of years. During that time I had many notes both from Phil and Suzanne, both in freehand and typewritten. They are (were) fascinating folks, and crammed with ideas.
The idea morphed into a 63 ft, (any longer required an advanced seamans license) 10 ft beam live-a-board, in the style of a 1920s cruiser. The cartoon was a real natty looking creation.
I commissioned this and it became Bolger #630. Over a period of months we hammered out the details and the drawing began to arrive. A total of 5 sheets I believe, filled with details and innovative ideas.
It would be powered by a 4 stroke, (or diesel) 45 to 90 HP large prop, slow turning OB. A bow thruster of a 9.9 hp ob (or perhaps a powerful trolling motor, Phil was not sure this was needed of not). A 4 in X 4 ft "shoe ran the entire length of the craft. Rather like a modified keel. (This kept the weight down low, and made #630 virtually self righting.) As the boat was made of about 300 sheets of ½ in ply, it was unsinkable by design, even if holed. A sizable retractable leeboard was amidships (stbd). large everything room aft, state room, (queen) smaller double bunk room fwd, head , permanent bridge with couch and controls, aft deck covered deck (patio!)
Alas it never got built, but the 2 yrs I spent dreaming about it were well worth the $s I spent for the commission!
Sinse this is # 630, it would be well into his body of work which was, what some 850? I hope to post pics of some of the drawings, soon.
ed