Joest Boats, LLC

This project was envisioned by the customer, years before the boat arrived at Joest Boats.  As a six year old boy, on his first ride aboard a vessel just like her, he imagined that someday he would have one just like it. 

In 2013, the man found a 1959 31’ Chris Craft Constellation for sale, had her surveyed, and then went looking for the right Boat Builder to restore her.  Finding Joest Boats’ websites he explored them to see the quality of work done here; then he contacted Skip to discuss his vision for this classic he had found. 

The boat arrived at the shop in July of 2013, the owner came, and an agreement was made to restore, rebuild, repower, and modernize this vessel while maintaining her classic style.  Over the next year and a half, a total of 3400 hours was put into the boat, along with lots of mahogany, cedar, sanding, electronics, and other upgrades hidden behind traditional look.  The entire boat was stripped to bare wood, restored, and refinished.  A new transom was built along with a new swim platform and ladder.  A new teak cockpit deck was installed and all new handrails were made, aft.  All the chrome was sent off and re-chromed and windows were replaced with safety glass. Light weight custom granite countertops were made for the galley and head. A hardtop was designed and built using carbon fiber and cedar.  The lightweight and attractive hardtop allowed room to house Clarion speakers and red and white courtesy lights while providing great cover.  Our A. B. Y. C. Certified Marine Electrician installed all new electrical systems.  Additionally, she was equipped with two, new 180hp. turbo charged, Yanmar diesel engines, an ice maker, fridge, a long list of electronics for navigational purposes, and a generator to run the air conditioning. 

When launch day came, MTN hit the water at 26.6kts. or 30 miles per hour, getting on top in just 6 seconds.  She remained in Joest Boats care changing out props and making sure all systems were in fine working order, for another two weeks. 

In March, on Friday the 13^th, Skip and crew headed out just after day break to make the seven hour journey to deliver the boat to an owner full of anticipation.  The trip and turning the boat over went smoothly.  That night, after champagne, christening and toasts; the owner discussed with Skip how happy he was with every aspect of this little yacht he had just received and how a future project was already being imagined. 

September - October 2014            

1928 37' Ex U. S. C. G. Buoy Motor Boat/ Converted in the 60's for cruising.

September 21, 2014

For our anniversary, we bought a 1928 Ex U. S. C. G. Buoy Motor Boat/ Converted back in the 60’s into a cruising kind of tug by two brothers and their wives.  Their story begins with a father who worked in the shipyards.  He brought the brothers to see TUSITALA when they were very small. TUS was a three, masted sailing ships and this would be her last trip to the shipyards.  The boys were so taken with the grand sailing ship they vowed one day they would have a boat and name her, TUSITALA. 
In the mid-60’s, the men found SAILFISH had been donated to the Boy Scouts of Greater New York after 40 years of service to the Coast Guard.  They felt she would make a fine vessel and could now fulfill their childhood dream.  Because she was an open boat with steerage mid-ship, they elected to build her a house for living quarters below and a wheel house for comfort while underway.  They built several bunks, a saloon, galley with fridge and stove, head with separate shower, and a private cabin forward that converts into all kinds of great space.  She was also equipped with a huge engine room that housed a generator and a great tool area.  When the boat was completed she was christened TUSITALA and began her voyage from New York to Florida.  They enjoyed many fine trips aboard her in the Keys and along the St. Johns River. 

Time passes and the day comes for one of the brothers to find her a good home.  We went to see her and were so impressed we bought her on the spot with no haggle at all.  We are going to enjoy giving the old girl some refresh and Joest Boats styling.

October 13, 2014

After a few weeks, TUSITALA, the 1928 Ex USCG Buoy Motor Boat/Converted back in the 60’s, and now in our care, has seen the following progress:

• She sits 3 to 4" higher on the waterline now with nearly all her gear removed. I believe at this point all the boat has been cleaned with de-greaser and she looks good. There was foam above and between the beautiful mahogany frames. The foam will be replaced with tongue and groove, cedar leaving an air gap to help keep her dry.  She is being remarkably well behaved for an old girl, but I believe this is because she lies next to MISTRESS and figures; Skip will love her as much as her last owner.

• All of her engine has been cleaned, and is scheduled for all new hoses and belts, within the week. More cleaning of the engine room, still to come. Her entire exhaust system will be changed out with newer upgrades to keep the heat out of the engine room and the fumes away from the Admiral.

• All of her cushions have been removed, the covers washed well, and the cushions put in a de-ionizer room to freshen them up. They are hand-made with heavy brown material. Durable was the name of the game when these were made. They will hold us well for a while and we will have new covers made, in the future.        Update 11/2014 - The cushions and covers will not lose the smell of diesel, so I do not think they will go back.

• Skip and I are really amazed because so far, everywhere we look we find her hull in excellent condition. She was built and maintained U. S. C. G. strong and then cared for by two talented men. What a rare find in such an old girl. The layout is so functional and Skip and I laugh when we realize how similar it is to MISTRESS's layout. The forward cabin transformations are cool. It is a bunk, a several or just one person seat, a desk with plenty of leg room, a sewing room, a drop down ironing board, storage, storage, storage. She is 37.5’; MISTRESS is 50’, same room below. 

Now that she has been emptied and cleaned up some, we have been able to spend time aboard looking at all the fine features the previous owner and his brother put into the boat. It is easy to see the love. It is easy to see the quality in craftsmanship in both wood and metal these men gave to this vessel. How lucky are we to have found TUSITALA.

There will be changes to the Wheel House, and some of the entryways. She will need some upgrades on wiring and that is such a shame, because it is laid out and labeled so nice. Damn shame it is 50 years old.

January 2014 at Joest Boats       Catamaran, Chris Craft Constellation, 1910 Oliver, and building the new office

No northern wood boat builder wants to hear a southern boat builder complain about the cold, but this is what you will hear from this boat builder about the month of January.  Many of our cold weather boat builder friends were so cold and snowed in; our 32 degree temps do not seem all that severe.  But we made our home in Florida to hide from the cold and so we could enjoy, year round sailing.  With that said, there were days it was just too cold to work and the bullet heaters just didn’t make it worth the effort, therefore a few extra days off were taken.

The MF-40’s 1/2 deck template form was made and the crew was able to complete most of that half, before the end of the month.  Our shipwright, Greg is very capable and keeps things moving along when the boss is busy.  There have been times I am jealous of my own guys.  They build boats while I at times can get bogged down with the admin end of things, or building offices and such.  It is good to have crew you can depend on.

The Chris Craft, being outside in the shed, did not receive quite as much attention; however that is going to change in the next few months, because the plan is to finish her out within the next three to four months. 

We also had a visit from the 1910 Steam Boat Launch, “OLIVER”; in for a few repairs to make her ready for the Steam Boat Meet in Tavares, FL from March 5^th – 13^th.  See pictures of her in Wood Boat Repair. 

Quite a bit of work was done to the new office.  We look forward to this office being completed, so we can once again organize it, and have a proper office to work from.  We expect it to be finished mid-February.  There were thousands of board feet of lumber in the way of building this office and more space was needed inside the shop for a showroom area, so with the extension of the building out back, the apprentice once again, got to move all the lumber.  This is something he has had to do several times his first year with us, and I have yet to hear him make even the smallest of complaints.  With a great attitude, he claims, “It’s better than paying for a club membership to a gym”.