News:       (Scroll Down for Most Recent News)

November 3rd 2008

Responses to the Acania web site has started. Mr. Gill Fisher who was Acainia’s captain during her day when known as Americana has provided some great stories of her past. Thank you Captain Fisher! We have also heard from PJ Bernard a mate on Acainia when she was known as Liberty. Mr. Bernard has filled in some information concerning her life on the west coast as well as New York. Mr. Bernard is making contact with other crew members that served with him. Thank you to all who have contributed so far. We will be traveling to Holland this month to visit the METS trade show, where we will be joined by marine engineering consultants from Bay Ship and Yacht. Here we will search for information on new systems that need to be replaced during the Acania restoration. Acania will be hauled out in December for below water line plate replacement; also the existing Cleveland engines will be removed allowing us to sandblast and recoat the engine room / pump room / and water tanks.

September 25th 2008

Acania as rumored over the years was once owned by Al Capone. People wishing to charter her will be able to arrive in Al Capone’s 1934 Packard.. Photos coming soon

November 2008

Mystic Seaport Museum has been able to supply us with a photo of the house flag for "Arthur C Wheeler" which can be seen being flown from the top of the mast. The flag still exists and is in the hands of a private collector.

December 31st 2008

Thanks again to PJ we have had contact or now know off several more past crew members Stuart Bonderow Mike Keys Kevin Jago Brad Shelly David Barry If any of the above crew would like to write a small note on their time with Acania we would love to hear. E-mail address would be great as we get closer to her completion date we would like to invite any past crew to "Acanai reunion party" Many thanks to Ross MacTaggart for his information on Acania I and Acania II. Ross has research and compiled a great book "The Golden Century" This is a worth well book if you are interested in classical motor yachts. Available on Amazon.com Each month I have been checking Captain Gill Fishers web site www.1contemporary.com and each month Gill places a few more stories and photos about his time on Acania. Makes for some good sea stories. WEBSITE. Look for the weekly photo update coming soon along with a slide show. By going back through the New York Times for 1930 we where able to find a small article announcing the commissioning of Acania II. some more great magazine ads coming next month

Jan 2009

This month the owner has found an Full page ad from "Yachting" November 1937 advertising "Exide Ironclad" batteriesh

March 2009

See our video on Acania

May 2009

At long last after many months of working out the details of our haul out work scope we have made it to Bay Ship & Yacht for the underbody work needed to facilitate a safe and water tight hull. At the same time the main engines will be removed along with the old gensets; the engine room will be then completely emptied of all remaining tanks and pipes. The engine room will then be steamed cleaned, sand blasted and coated with new paint. Both Bay ship & Yacht and the owner where surprised at the reasonable condition of the steel below the water line. The owner also passed a comment that befits a classic lady of her age " that her underbody shape is as nature intended it to be.

July 2009

Well it has been one year this month since we started the enormous task of restoring “Acania II ”. If you have been following the website photos for each of the months since the start you will have seen the progress made against the huge numbers of areas that we have had to correct. With this extra work it has become obvious that we have had to extend our completion date and change some areas of priority.

Today Acania is still in the yard at Bay Ship and Yacht, receiving well needed hull plate repairs, new frames, significant keelson and floor replacement. The water tank is now complete and tied back into the side shell plate as she was when built. The new bow thruster has been installed which is going to provide much needed move ability. Her new Caterpillar C18 and Cat generators have been ordered and will go into the newly sandblasted and painted engine room.

To date Bay Ship and Yacht in collaboration with Olson Steel have developed a great team and in the spirit of good craftsmanship have produced superb steel work and engineering.

We have not heard from any past crew or captains for the last three months, hoping this will change. However we have been contacted several times concerning the smaller (126ft) “Acania I” lying in Seattle. She could be sold and restored as well….Now that would be something to see; both back on the oceans.

Always looking for new information concerning Acania II past; so please e-mail us with old photos or stories.

Thank you.

	Click to Enlarge

 

August 2009

I have shown many photos of the exterior restoration over the last six months. So this month please find some of what has been going on in the cabinet and refinishing shop. The work has been very detailed with many selections of stains for the cabinets and draws to make it as was back in 1930. The bronze hardware has been beautifully restored, the difference between 1930s polished bronze and today's does not compare. It will be fantastic to see start to go back in place.
Next months web photos are going to be exciting due to the massive steel transformation taking place in the engine room - pump room - thruster/chainlocker and the newly repaired forepeak.
As always look forward to any past information on Acanias past 79 years.

 

September 2009

It is with great interest that some new information come to us via Earl McMillen of McMillen Yachts, Inc. concerning the possible link between Arthur Wheelers first Acania and his second Acania. Earl informed us that a certain type of boat known as a “Play Boat” was built by Consolidated; Hull # 2910 for Arthur Wheeler and that along side this boat was his tenders which we can presume to be for his first Acania. As Earl points out this could be the relationship link that allowed Arthur Wheeler to choose Consolidated to build his new Acania in 1930.

We would like to thank Earl for this valuable information; it always amazes me how something that is 80 years old and almost forgotten can rekindle stories – facts – and historic information.

For information concerning the beautiful motor yachts that Earl has for sale and the ones he has had hand in restoring please visit his web site.

www.woodenyachts.com

With weather permitting we should be back in the water mid November. This will represent the completion of phase one of the restoration project.

 

January 2010

Well its been along yard period but phase 2 of the restoration of Acania has been completed. She is now back in the water dockside at her refit pier here in Alameda. The shipyard ( Bay ship and Yacht) was fantastic and I would recommend to anyone there services. Nothing was too much trouble and they always stood by their work. For a shipyard that provides both commercial and large superyacht work their yard was the cleanest I have seen in a very long time. To all the Bay Ship and Yacht team a big thank you.
Now we are back at our home pier and work has started on the new installation of plumbing and electrical; concentrating on the aft staterooms, main salon and smoking lounge and aft deck. Our intention is to have these areas completed by the end of April. The power plants have been ordered from Caterpillar and will be here sometime in summer for installation.
As always each month we hear from past crew or people who have been associated with Acania over her 80 years. This month we have heard from Nancee Myer who use to organize charters for "Americana" when she was in New York (1980s) Nancee has very kindly agreed to send copies of a photo shoot that was done for "Ralph Lauren". Americana was staged for the shoot and looked very impressive. I will have the photos scanned and posted February or March.

As always we look forward to any past information on Acania.
Richard Maguire
Project manager
MV Acania Project
Ph: USA + 510 387 0041

 

Feb - Jun 2010

Its been a while since I last posted any new photos, the time seems to be moving faster these days since I have taken on a more hands on approach to the project.
The Acania project is still moving along a rapid pace with many different facets of the restoration taking place.
The aft staterooms are at the 75% complete stage with 90 % of all the new wiring and plumbing installed.
Main salon and Smoking lounge / bar have been stripped to bare wood again after some 80 years of build up.
The raw wood was simply stunning and in amazing condition; now re-stained sealed and some build up coats applied.
The smoking room and bar where in a poor state when we got Acania and it took some time to match woods and repair
the deck head, with the owner emphasis always on " please try to keep as much of the original as possible"
we have succeeded in both bar and smoking room.

The main deck passageway which joins the smoking room and the dining saloon has now been re-worked;
new walls with sound reducing panels placed in between replacing what was once horse hair.
Dining saloon is gong back together at this stage completion for the main deck interior to be ready by July end...

My apologies to all who have been waiting for new photos...
I hope the selection from February to June will be enough for the time being.

Richard Maguire
Project manager
MV Acania Project
www.acania.net
Ph: USA + 510 387 0041

 

August 2010





Richard Maguire
Project manager
MV Acania Project
www.acania.net
Ph: USA + 510 387 0041