BBY gets a visit from Florida: Rumrunner
Rumrunner’s mirror-like finish after the varnish job. Wow!
Rumrunner's story begins with the legendary naval architect John Hacker's 1949 design for the Bray family, who were world hydroplane champions at the time. Originally conceived as a triple cockpit runabout, the design found new life decades later when boat builder Hugh Saint, an aeronautical engineer and Vietnam War reconnaissance pilot, acquired the original plans from Mrs. Bray herself.
Rumrunner herself boasts a hybrid heritage with a combination of Hacker's original 1949 triple cockpit runabout and a cabin pulled from another of his creations—the doghouse cabin from bandleader Guy Lombardo's boat. Working with a naval architect, the team essentially married two different Hacker designs into one vessel, even though Hacker had been deceased for decades.
The boat's construction represents the best of both worlds: classic aesthetics with modern reliability. There are twin 8.1-liter V8 engines that provide serious performance, pushing Rumrunner into the 50-mph range with impressive (and very quick) acceleration. Built using the West System construction method, the four-year build process concluded in 2005, creating a boat that's both museum-worthy and thoroughly seaworthy. (The owner’s absolute rule? Remove shoes before embarking!)
Recent maintenance work included what boat builders affectionately call a "mop and glow"—a refinishing process that leaves zero room for error on a runabout like Rumrunner. The result? A mirror-like finish made it difficult to get pictures up close!
Behind this remarkable boat is an equally interesting owner. A successful businessman who spent his career in Atlanta before relocating to Florida twenty-five years ago, he built and operated a large marina with nearly a thousand slips before selling to a Wall Street firm in 1998.
His entry into custom boat building came during a brief retirement, when a unique real estate opportunity in Cape Coral, Florida, led him to boat builder Hugh Saint's shop. Initially seeking to finance someone else's project, he found himself drawn into the world of classic boat construction, ultimately commissioning what would become his dream commuter yacht.
The boat has since traveled extensively across North America, from California to Gravenhurst, Canada, transported on a triple-axle fifth-wheel trailer. Currently, it's making its way to the International ACBS show in Clayton, with plans for a cruise to Pictou, Canada.
Rumrunner’s mirror-like finish after the varnish job. Wow!
Rumrunner was scheduled to come to our facility this summer for a complete custom spray varnish job. Upon arrival, the owner and BBY agreed to sea trial Rumrunner first to assess her performance, as well as diagnose any other issues, specifically systems. It’s a good thing we did! The worklist became much more than varnish.
After sea trials, the owner and the BBY team reviewed findings, recommendations, scope, and budget then agreed on a new worklist:
Bottom – Strip the bottom back to glass, Interprotect, and apply custom bottom paint.
Varnish – Topsides, decks, house, combings, cockpit, parts. Custom spray, will multiple coats with additives, final coat all clear. A tremendous amount of planning to get color, stain, depth, and maintain white deck stripes and gold names. Trade secrets!
Sole – Remove and strip sole boards. Refinish with satin varnish. All hardware removed, polished, and reinstalled.
Generator – Troubleshoot/diagnose. Remove the generator and all associated equipment. Weight study and replace with ballast.
A/C Power – Run/test. Troubleshoot and repair as needed.
Air Conditioning – Run/test. Troubleshoot and repair as needed.
Refrigeration – Run/test. Troubleshoot and repair as needed.
Head – Test and repair the electric head.
Engines – Full engine service. Oil, filters, fuel filters, belts, zincs, gear oil, coolant (adjust overflow tanks), etc.
Steering – Remove wheel, adjust mount, add and bleed steering fluid.
Rudders – Remove rudders and rudder boxes completely. Clean/straighten. Reinstall Packing boxes with new bedding and new packing. Install rudders and hook up all gear. Test steering.
Drive Trains – Remove shafts from the boat. Replace shaft seals with new PSS dripless shaft seals. Reinstall and align engines.
Raw Water Plumbing – Replace all raw water plumbing throughout the boat.
Exhaust – Replumb both exhaust systems from engine to transom.
Thru-Hulls & SeaCocks – Remove and replace all thru-hulls and aeacocks. Seal hull and install with new bedding compound.
Zincs – Replace all underwater zincs
Stem Iron – Replace stem iron sections to be interchangeable for “show mode” and “trailering mode.”
Stern Light – Custom wiring and finish to flag pole/stern light.
Joinery – Joinery work to facilitate the varnish. Joinery changes to the forward door to accommodate the slider and door stop to prevent future damage from hardware.
Engine Hatches – Replace sound insulation. Rebed all hardware. Fabricate and install custom boxes under the helm seats to direct water flow.
Assembly – Massive amount of hardware was all cataloged, removed, and reinstalled pre and post-finish work.
The goal? Complete all this additional work in the same time frame as the original schedule, relaunch Rumrunner, sea trial and test all new work, haul back out, set on trailer, and get ready for transport to the boat show.
