The Saco River looks so different from everywhere else in Maine that we have been that it felt like we had already left the state. Granite rocks, pine trees and kelp had been replaced with grassy, rolling hillsides and big deciduous trees that has a constructed feel like the English countryside.
Most of the way up the river, we stopped for the night at the free Saco town provided moorings to enjoy a lazy afternoon/evening
At the head of the navigable river has a skinny channel that takes you through the moorings of a busy (private) yacht club and on to Rumery's boat-yard where we would spend our time.
At the head of the river (at least as far as us boaters can go) are the towns of Saco (on one side) and Biddeford (on the other). Biddeford is the new home of the Portland Pudgy, and so the one place in Maine that we had to go since we needed to replace our lifeboat exposure canopy, which has just spent too much time in the years since we first got it living in a corrosive salt water environment. I am confident Maryanne is skilled enough with a sewing machine to replace all of the necessary components, but she correctly points out that our inflatable lifeboat exposure canopy is too important to us to be something on which she wants to risk getting anywhere near a machine designed to punch holes into. Fair enough.
Dave Hulbert, who designed and built both of our Portland Pudgy(s), has recently retired and sold the company to Mike Metcalfe and family, Mike is an engineer/entrepreneur who loves to tinker with things. When we told Mike we wanted to stop by, he gave us recommendations on where to bring Begonia, and then told us to call and he would come pick us up.
It was a kind offer, but Maryanne and I were looking for an excuse to do a few miles of walking (exercise) and our sixteen-year, round-the-world path to Portland Pudgy could hardly be called a pilgrimage if we didn't at least show up on foot.
The new factory was quite interesting and much bigger than we had expected, knowing that the whole operation had basically started in Dave Hulbert's garage. The loft they had for making covers and exposure canopies (etc.) is way better equipped than our sewing machine/dining table. The rest of the building, where they do the finish work was equally well appointed. We picked up our new exposure canopy and after the tour, Mike offered to let us rummage around in one of their back rooms, which is reserved for discontinued spare parts and other experiments, to see if there is anything that could be of use to us.
Visiting the Portland Pudgy showroom and workshop in Biddeford, Maine
One thing that surprised me, because it just never occurred to me, was how they move and store the boats. For some reason, I was picturing a mass version of what Maryanne and I do on the beach when we need to lug the thing around. What they actually do is bolt them upright by their transoms to little wheelie platforms that roll around easily on the smooth floor. No lifting required. One person can move three or four of them at one time with one arm. The whole place is filled with good ideas like that.
One other thing I had never given much thought to is the Rotomolding process used to make the Pudgy. I guess I pictured the process looking like laying up fiberglass, except with no fiberglass mat and polyethylene instead of resin. They do that off-site, but for some reason, I have never bothered to look it up. Mike showed us a video of the setup. Basically, the mold sits on a big forklift-looking gantry in a steep attitude that you would never want to see on the actual boat because that would mean the wave that just hit you is about to flip you over. Then the thing goes into a big oven and starts a tumbling mode that causes the liquefied plastic to flow into the final hull shape. After the oven cools, still while tumbling, you're left with consistent thickness all around (there is even a video of the process in action.
Since he hadn't picked us up at Begonia, Mike offered us the consolation prize of lending us a car for a day. That way, not only could we get our haul home, we could make our whole list of errands even easier. I sense a giant watermelon in my future...
We were welcomed by Mike in his own boat as we entered the River Saco, and at his factory. Then he waved us off as we returned to Begoina
[Maryanne]We love our yellow Portland Pudgy, it gets noticed and starts conversations most places we go, and it has done a great job for us all around the world. Aside from the practical uses of getting ashore, we've also had a LOT of fun with the pudgy, sailing it in remote locations, using it for our snorkelling base and more. It was really nice to visit with the new owners, and see their enthusism for the boat, and their lovely premises. I'm so glad we've never needed it as a life raft, but having it there, and know it will work has been a huge peace of mind for us. Mike and his daughter were also extemely generous to us during our visit, giving us use of a car (which made laundry, and a giant grocery trip possible).
It wasn't all chores in Biddeford though, we did get some general exporing and relaxing time
The marina we used was a little on the pricy side (for us cheapskates) so we picked up a free town mooring ball in the river either side of our town visit (a little out of town, but perfect to then allow us the best use of our marina time).
Saco Town Moorings location >> On google maps
Rumery's Boat Yard Moorings location >> On google maps
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