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Some Items From Pete's Sea Sled Collection

Photo taken : 1931 there is a restored model like this on my Sea Sled Pages

HOT DOGGING IT !

The special rewards I get for doing this site is stuff like this too.. An E mail from a Mr. Jack Bucklyn who sent me this fond remembrance :

"Sir : In about 1926 my father Harold Bucklyn and Clifford Dart were the engine mechanics that installed the engines in the Sea Sleds. In 1926 they needed another mechanic. My Dad found Lawrence Brantner working in New London at the Monte Cristo Garage and recommended him for the job. Larry boarded with my folks until late '31 or early '32 when things were starting to slow down.My father left about '33 and went to F.G. Post yard in Mystic ,stayed till about 42. Dad said that at the Groton plant they had a traveling overhead system to take the Sleds through a drying room. He and Cliff would work at what ever plant needed them. I remembered when you could buy a very small Sled, no motor , for about five bucks and the last of them were burned.The yard went through several owners and about twenty some years ago I went down there and went through the old machine shop. Up overhead were still all racked up the steering wheels and some of the steering gear. When Dad worked at Posts they bought a large Sled and hauled in up on dry ground between the two main slips and made it into a "Guest house" for those who came for a few days to have work done. It was all fixed up with toilet, lights.water and bunks and small galley. When it was done my dad and I went there and slept all night. Must have been around 1934/35. This Sled was was called"The Rest A'While". Well Post's is all gone and so are is Dad ,Cliff,and Larry and "the Sea Sled"

Jack Bucklyn

I naturally sent Jack an advance look at Pete's newly refurbished Baby Orlo and heard back from him the same day.

Ken: The "Sled" looks great That is about the size of the ones that were piled up one on top of the other at the old yard in about 1950/51. The last one I ever saw used in the river Clyde Barlow who had a large family and lived in a tenement right where the Seaport South entrance is, Went down and got one free he used it as a row boat to go clamming. He sure looked funny rowing that thing down river.

Once Cliff and Dad took a Big Sea Sled out on a Sunday for a trip up the Thames river as far as Norwich then to show the ladies some real speed opened her up full throttle on the trip down. The girls sat in the rear cockpit and held on for dear life. Mom said half way down they hit some heavy wake and she and Ever were tossed up in the air and came down so hard they wet them selves.Cliff and Dad thought that was pretty funny but the boys were treated rather coolly for a few days. Hope you enjoy a great boat whose design was never fully used right

Jack Bucklyn