Premlata Rebuild
Rebuild of 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 3⁄4” plywood bulkheads,
Premlata weighs 11 tons with a 10 1⁄2’ beam and 5 1⁄2’ 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 2⁄3 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!