That was surprisingly interesting and well-made. There’s something about 80’s documentaries, narrators, cheesy music, and older folks that don’t really exist anymore.

A real treat to see these classic Herreshoff designs restored, maintained and sailing. Listening to the most trusted man in America was worth the price of admission. An avid sailor himself, Walter Cronkite was plainly delighted to introduce this documentary. Wouldn't it be something if his voice could once again, reassure us in these troubled times. Fortunately for us, there has been a renaissance in wooden boat building these last few decades with traditional and new designs ranging from dinghies to square riggers being built. I had the pleasure of sailing aboard the HMB Endeavour replica in '98 ... nothing as magical as being at the wheel of such a magnificent sailing vessel while she drove through a North Atlantic swell under a full press of sail! Hold Fast !

Thank you for this post. Bill Wolf taught me to sail on his beloved "Ibis" out of City Island. Usually he had a short cigar and as rough as he could appear, he was very kind. My first Herreshoff experience.

that was bloody marvelous - for the boats, the craftsmanship, the cigars and the style of film making. Well found.

“Look at those bungs. How would anybody do that now?” Wow, what a dark time it must have been in boatbuilding when this was filmed ;)

Glad I took the time to watch. Thanks to all involved in the restoration.

I grew up in Aransas Pass Tx, my mom was single & we wete very poor, I loved motorcycles, when I was a teenager, but when I came into my early twenties, my love for sailboats & old planes, I was a A&P mechanic. As a teenager I had did some gulf shrimping in a steel hull mostly & once in a wooden hull. It was like, day & night. The wood boat was made in Flordida, the steel hull was like riding in a Vette, the wood hull was like a Cadillac smooth a silk. My stepfather's Dr. took me sailg in Corpus bay it was alright, but I once sailed on a BB 10 Norwegian racing sloop. It was 10 meters/33 ft long all wood except for the maśt was aluminum. Just aomwthing about wood, I often think about Merle Haggard's song "Are the good really over for good", Lord I hope not, but it sure is looking that way.

I wonder when this film was made. I'm guessing the 80's. I have looked at the film records for both Walter Cronkite and Burgess Meredith and they don't list any documentary subject even close to this one. I also noticed that even though the film talks about the IBIS restoration, the boat itself is currently listed for sale and restoration at Artisan Boatworks. They are looking for someone to restore the boat. Makes sense as its been 30+ years since the last one. Wonder if anyone will take up the task. Would be a shame to see it scraped.

"It was agreed that they would not compete with other builders but would excel, so that they were there in a class by themselves". I often wonder what Nathaniel Herreshoff would have made from nowadays vacuum bagged carbon prepreg bakes, pvc foam, spectra and mylar ... Abominations like "Maltese Falcon" wouldn't have been of his liking, presumably.

At 17:30 that dude states in a nutshell why America is going down the pipes. "We" care more about our g-d "time and a half" than the beautiful things like this boat or classic automobiles. He probably didn't get off his lazy butt until 4:00! Ibis, Long may you sail!