SUFFOLK
MARINE MUSEUM

P.O. Box 184 Montauk Highway

West Sayville, Long Island, New York 11796

(631) 567-1733

 

This place has been on my list for the last couple of visits, but somehow had escaped me (I never get to do and see all I try to on any given trip) . Funny thing is it was airplanes that insured me getting there this time. I had read in a Long Island Early Fliers Club newsletter that they had a hanger from the Aero Squadron Unit 2 in Bayshore on display there. HAD was the word as when Kenny V and me arrived the only thing hangin' was a photo of it.

 

They say this is where the Third Aero Squad on Knapp's Estate wound up. Looks like they had enough room

Nonethe less it was a great visit on Halloween eve with plenty of treats and a few neat tricks too!!! And it brought out some great memories of when I once made my living like so many others on the Great South Bay.

 

THE LORELEI

One of the main drawing cards for me to visit this place was the fact that I heard from a VERY RELIABLE source that one of W. S. Dana's boats was located here. I had also learned over the years that Dodi Knapp's 'Storm King Too' his 50 Foot Matthews cruiser was located here for a time. I found the Storm King Too afloat in Freeport a year ago ,but anyway it was stuff like this that put it on my list.

I couldn't find Dana's boat right off but when I asked a tour guide took us over to the Lawrence - Everitt Small Craft Building and there she was in some very good company.

 

The Redins who were estate caretakers for Henry Mark in Center Moriches were the first ones to own LoreLei outside of the Dana Family

 

Gil Smith started building boats in Patchogue in 1876. His Cat Boats are as nice as they come.

 

You have to wonder who sailed with Shep Dana. When he wasn't racing her.

 

Great South Bay Yacht Races

August 8, 1916 NY Times

 

It definitely felt like home in here. The spar varnish just adds to the essence.

 

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