Preview: Harry Bryan’s Marine Railway: Fall Haul-Out

67 Responses So Far to “Harry Bryan’s Marine Railway: Fall Haul-Out”

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  Kyle Mankes says:

  I’m enamored with this guy. He’s amazing! I’m going back to look at some of his other videos. Super-cool guy, who is obviously a very talented builder.

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  Peter Strock says:

  L. Francis would applaud right down to the door ‘unlatcher’ at the end. Says so much about how our world view has changed.
  No virus would dare interfere with Harry’s work, and some white-shoed owner would want a cell phone app to unlatch the door.

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  Jon Baldock says:

  These old trimers sure can and do teach us a lot. Thank You , Jon

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  Daniel Palmer says:

  Ingenious system gorgeous little boat. Love the generational involvement

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  Bill Kenneke says:

  Wonderful film, family, joyous, understated genius … and always the Harry twist!

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  Stephen Syrotiak says:

  Simply wonderful!

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  Richard Whiting says:

  As west coast sailor who grew up on the east coast with traditionally built wood boats, I am in total awe of this video. As a young man, I remember hauling our sailing vessel each year to prepare for the winter. Un-steping the rig; winterizing the engine and all water systems.
  Now, as a senior citizen in California and a marine surveyor, I see vessels that never get out of the water. They languish in their slips, content with mild winters with no interest in annual maintenance. It is sad, but makes for great revenue as a surveyor! Thank you for another great video.

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  Frank Wescovich says:

  I watched this video originally in 2015. I just watched it again and still enjoyed every bit of it. Harry is a true inspiration.

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  John Simlett says:

  I thought I was clever at 80 turning my new-build over, in its own length and width, single-handed without power. But this family are in a totally higher plane

  Loved watching this

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  Brendan Darcy says:

  Fantastic!!!

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  Donald Jones says:

  In the story, Mole and Rat are rowing up the canal in Rat’s boat. They are discussing nautical things and life in general when Rat is heard to utter, Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.

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  Edward Hollister says:

  looking for the more on brother’s

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  Captain Nemo says:

  There is little I can add to the many complementary comments abut this simply wonderful video. Someone here said – “Why does a video about hauling a boat make me want to cry?” I feel the same way – there is indeed something magical about this effort, AND about Katie. I wish I could afford to own a boat such as she, and live in a place like this. Too few of today’s generation would appreciate this kind of thing, but we of an earlier generation are just simply enthralled. Wonderful work, Harry – may God bless you and yours.
  Greg Mactye

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  George Weinbrenner says:

  Good ‘ol Yankee engineering ! A wonderful family with kids so lucky to share in Grandpa’s love and knowledge.

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  James Daw says:

  It’s great to see free range kids learning how to do useful things, and having fun doing them into the bargain. They remind me of my grandchildren living in the Tetons. You have created quite a life for yourself, Mr. Bryan.

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    Alan Mudd says:

    I agree. Little Louise already seems like she’s tough as nails.

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  David Hubbard says:

  Good ‘ole yankee ingenuity! Beautifully shot too!

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  Neil Moomey says:

  Impressive. Harry is a clever man.

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  Peter Roach says:

  Loved the video, seeing a video such as this gives you the appreciation for what such projects involve. Far better to see something like this than try a similar project from scratch with no idea and nothing to relate too.

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  Frank Wescovich says:

  Great video. Thank you Harry. It reminded me so much of my little Coast Guard boathouse at Whitehead Island Light Station, ME. We had an electric winch, but there was a manual one very similar to his in the old abandoned CG boathouse just across the cove from ours. All so simple and so convenient. This way of life is just about gone now, but this video was a refreshing reminder of a better way of life. Enjoyed the involvement of the Grandchildren too. Great job Harry. Wish I could come visit you.

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  Robert Sosnowski says:

  Harry is the MAN

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  Michael Reardon says:

  Finest Kind, best video I’ve see on your terrific site so far. Great time tested ideas, simple beauty and inspiration from start to finish. Thank you for creating this.

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    carl prestipino says:

    My favorite too! Yankee ingenuity and self-sufficiency without boastfulness with lessons for us all.

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  Keith Pullin says:

  What great little video, lovely to see the involvement with the children, many thanks, Keith.

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  Howard Sharp says:

  Wonderful, thankyou.

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  Charles Thompson says:

  :) Put a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing.

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  Paul Atkins says:

  A treat to watch. Thank you all.

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  Gordon Burvill says:

  Yet another great video from OCH. Thanks to all, especially Harry and his family

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  Peter Richardson says:

  This video reminds me of the best work of Robert Frost – yes, the poet. It’s a keenly observed ‘small moment’ that’s about so much more. I particularly liked the moment when Harry’s granddaughter is given a task in setting up to take out the mast. She’s put in charge, but unsure and wants him to check – Harry just encourages her to trust her own judgement. A wonderful moment that will speak to anyone raising children.

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    steve johnson says:

    Yep,exactly right Peter,that moment I had overlapping flashbacks of my youth,at those critical moments when suddenly I was carrying the torch.Adjusting brakes,setting distributor points,lighting a gas furnace,tandem car towing with the pulled car being the brakes for both,even steadying a ladder for my dad… those 1st times with it seems the whole family depends on you.Big little steps ! Selfishly I was wishing this film would of concluded with a wondering up to the main house,to gather around a crackling stove,to rehash the job and to discuss how it went in each others minds. If i was a boat,put away for the winter,this is the barn I’d want to be tucked away in. The wind,rain on the roof and perhaps a mouse..

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    Doug Day says:

    Half-farmer, half-teacher, half-poet: that’s three halves. This is my idea of a perfect sized boat and the way to enjoy the maintenance rather than dread it! “Found it rusting on the beach, cleaned it up, added the third block…” Perfect!
    !

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  George Palacios says:

  Simply put,…. Inspiring!!, Katie’s absolutely beautiful, thank you, Mr. Bryan, and OCH.

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  Mark Ritter says:

  Another great video, thanks. Also 28′ of tidal change? And I thought the 8′ at our dock in SC was a lot!

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  Eigil Rothe says:

  This film captures the reason I became a lifelong member of OCH. I wish my grandparents were still around because they would have loved every aspect of the film: the simplicity, the elegance, and the sprezzatura (doing the difficult with ease). I think boatbuilding brings out the best of the human spirit.

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  Jim Parmentier says:

  If you want to learn more from Harry you could take his week-long course on Hand Tools next summer at the WoodenBoat School….or get a copy of Making Hand Tools from Amazon.com …Making Hand Tools.

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    Harry Bryan says:

    Thanks for the book promotion Jim. The first edition of this monograph contained enough typos to warrant the effort of locating a new copy. I don’t know which one Amazon is selling, but the updated version is available from The Wooden Boat Store.

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  Eric Winter says:

  Fine video of a fine enterprise.

  I’m wondering:

  How much effort goes into setting up the stone foundations so that the line of the rails runs true and stable?

  Does the weight rest on the flanges of the wheel on the deck, or does the groove in the wheel bear on the wood rail? Does the wood bearing surface wear out after a few years?

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    Harry Bryan says:

    Regarding Mr. Winters questions, the supports for the rails sit directly on the sand/shale mix of the beach. Occasionally we level a bit when assembling the ways, but due to the width between rails this is not critical.
    The wheel flanges do not touch the decking. All weight is taken on the ash rail. These rails are bedded in roofing tar. Only the 15 feet or so just below the boathouse is exposed to the elements year round. As the railway is used only two times each season, the wear is minimal.

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  Phillip Diller says:

  Thank you, Off Center Harbor, and thank you Mr. Bryan, for this beautiful film.

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  Tom Haydon. says:

  Just sitting here on a fall evening and a cup coffee with a smile on my face after that one….Heart warming.

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  Kurt Uetz says:

  Ingenious, simple, elegant. Very inspiring.

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  Andy Stairs says:

  The best video on here. He reminds me of the time with my grandfather. I could spend hours watching him work on things. I learned wood turning from him on a lathe he made and using chisels he ground from old files. Good times

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  Jim Kramer says:

  Stating how enjoyable this video is just doesn’t seem adequate.
  Thanks Bryan and crew and thanks OCH, ya’ nailed it again.

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  Robert K Johns says:

  I agree with all the positive comments here, but the one thing that struck me as most significant was those two wonderful kids. In today’s society where the average kid would be somewhere off to the side texting or playing with a smartphone, these kids were joining in almost as mature adults…and I suspect, enjoying every minute of it. They will have so many wonderful memories from these experiences when they get older that other kids their age are missing out on. Congratulations on raising them right.

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    George Conbeer says:

    Ditto.

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    Bill Kenneke says:

    Amen. Young people are so capable and competent, it’s wonderful to see what they can do when they are treated as such.

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  Rutger Mohr says:

  Brillant! What a joy of organisation, mastery of all the detais, fun for family and tranquility of routine. It is just Zen! Inspiring. Thx for sharing.

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  Tom Beaman says:

  There was only one thing about this video that I didn’t like: My dad was not alive to see it. As a boat lover, sailor, born and raised in New Bedford and a mechanical engineer who loved to invent things to make projects such as this doable, my dad would have played this video over and over, whooping and hollering and thoroughly absorbing it. Then he would have loaded up the station wagon and have set out to visit Harry. Why should a movie about hauling a boat out leave me in tears? Thanks so much for this!

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  Steven Feinstein says:

  Wonderful in every way. Boat gets put away. Kids share and grow from the experience. Thanks for including me in the event through the video.

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  David Tew says:

  Years ago (maybe decades?) I visited Harry, Martha and their children aboard Patience B in Savannah, Georgia on their return from a long voyage. The children were wonderfully self-assured, happy and engaging. The deep respect and loving concern for the individuality of each member of the family was clearly in evidence. It shows in this video as well. What an accomplishment.

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  Keith Clark says:

  This is just totally inspiring. The boat owner’s life I would love to live.
  My own boat is being tucked up against the rigors of a Scottish winter, not as cozy as Harry’s boat shed but I will watch again and learn some more about how to do it properly!

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  Joe Doyle says:

  I could watch hours of Harry doing what Harry does. This video is fantastic. What a place to have a boat.

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    Peter Brackenbury says:

    Agreed! Looks like the ideal Pirate Hidey Hole!

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  Roger West says:

  Great video…..Harry Bryan at his best. We are so privileged to be able to see another example of Harry’s ingenuity and craftsmanship. Looking forward to more.

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  james reid says:

  Hard to believe that Americans like these still exist. No cell phones ringing, no yelling and screaming at children not taught to listen, learn and respect. I wished the film had gone on for hours. What a great testimony that the true American spirit is still alive and doing just fine.

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  Robert Hazard says:

  How lucky those kids are to have a Grandpa who makes something as simple as hauling the boat into a family adventure!

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  Scott Sampson says:

  Another great video capturing a glimpse of time enjoying life’s simple pleasures.

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  Matt Howard says:

  just wonderful. the perfect video to watch with the first cup of joe in the AM.

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  Frank Crumbaugh says:

  ’tis himself…a splendid vignette of Harry at his best, just being Harry…lovely privileged look at the boat and boathouse, and an elegantly conceived, thoroughly planned and gently executed process…Harry gets her put to bed for the Winter just as he wants, and he does so with the help of a few souls and some simple tools arrayed just for the purpose…that last is his true genius- living life confident that he can make/modify tools as required for a job…thanks for this

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  Tom McCann says:

  A lot of work. But the yankees win once again.

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  Peter Lamb says:

  A Family affair for sure. So wonderful to see multiple generations working and learning together on the waterfront. Gives me great hope for the future of our fragile world! Such a lovely film – so full of metaphor and with Katie at the center of it all, being gently coaxed into her snug berth for the winter. one of OCH’s finest!

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  Terry Reed says:

  Really enjoyed this one. The pace, the children, the seasonal change, the multi-generational effort and the well-honed details of a singular annual tradition all combine to make something very special.

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  Daniel Culpepper says:

  Did you notice the little stick he used to free up the catch on the door at the end? The little details of a wonderful craftsman. Pure magic. Thanks for sharing.

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    Ed Altonji says:

    I was just typing the same thing, missed it the first time I watched this!

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  Peter Brackenbury says:

  Am I the only one who could have watched this forever? Everything I see Harry Bryan do is sophisticated, ingenious and unbelievably simple. He’s got it all figured out. Thanks for getting us into his boathouse. I could have lingered for hours. I look forward to more videos this winter…there are more coming aren’t there?

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  alex lemon says:

  great video! all under human power it seems.

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  peter strietmann says:

  This is one of the coolest videos I have ever seen. Simplicity, function and elegance are three things that come to my mind when viewing the process of hauling out Katie.