Reedville Fishermen's Museum - Reedville, Virginia

FOGGY RIVER
On a crisp April morning, Dudley and Fred
Biddlecomb, accompanied by Wayne Clark and
Charley Gillmer, picked up the Foggy River at
the Museum to take her to the Reedville Marine
Railway, stopping enroute to remove the fuel
tank at the Biddlecomb’s waterfront. She was
then delivered to the railway and was hauled
out a few days later, on April 18, 2008. George
Butler began immediately to remove the stem,
and everyone was relieved that George found
no significant rot behind it. A new stem was
cut, shaped, and put on. Several rotten planks
on the port side were replaced by George, and
wide seams were reamed out and caulked with
oakum and seam compound. The bilge was
cleaned out and the keel cooler removed and
kept for possible future use.
throughout the summer. Thanks to everyone
for their able contributions so far, including:
George Butler, Dudley and Fred Biddlecomb,
Dick Doyle, Wayne Clark, Walt Jachimski, Tom
Miller, Bob Healy, Bill Otley, Gary Madsen, Jay
Roman, Glenn (Herkie) Warner, Jim Adams,
Chase Melton, Harry Towne, Spud Parker,
Gordon Burgess and Peale Rogers. If you want
to get involved in this worthy project, please let
us know!
Charley Gillmer
Oops, there was a hole in the hull! It was
filled and sealed. The hull was sanded and 2
coats of paint applied. The bottom was powerwashed,
scraped and painted. By the end
of April, the Foggy River was put back in the
water and delivered to the museum, sporting
bright coats of paint on the bottom and hull!
Dunnage work was to begin. The first order of
business was to lay down dunnage (floorboards
of the cockpit) to protect the inside of the bilge
from the sun. The dunnage was cut, fitted,
treated and painted, and completed on June
3rd. The first coat of paint has been put on the
cabin/pilot house to protect the bare wood.
On June 9, 2008, steering committee members
Charley Gillmer, George Butler, Dudley
Biddlecomb, Spud Parker, and Peale Rogers met
to discuss the Foggy River’s progress and next
steps for renovation. Priorities include:
• replace waterway planks on the deck and
hull plank on the port stern area
• scrape and paint the deck of the boat
• pay up (fill) plug holes
• remove all electronics, steering system,
and loose debris from the cabin
• paint decks and all bare wood
• paint the name “ Foggy River” in block
letters on the bow and stern (if anyone
out there has this talent and will
volunteers, please let us know!)
I anticipate that this work will keep us busy
Photos by Maureen Gillmer
18 Starry Banner Summer 2008