The Consulting Engineer

Richard Weaver (left) at Beals with his son, Richard, Jr. adjusts former client, Galen Alley's big block engine after a hot run on FOOLISH PLEASURE. Brenda Tredwell Photo

As John Lennon said, “Those of you in the cheap seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry.” With the economy, and things as they are within the commercial fishing industry, some plan to watch MLBRA’s 2010 events with coolers full of Jell-O shots, or to ride shotgun with someone else. Another way to enjoy the game is to drop out of it. Can it. Knock over the stack of tiddly-winks.

Crickets chirp, the windows of Richard Weaver’s shop refract sunlight – two yellow diamonds burning from a corridor of black trees. There’s no way he’ll ever do lobster boat engines again. “Not ever,” says Weaver. Pacing, strutting, blowing sighs of relief, he adds, “As far as lobster boat engines go, I was always anxious, always over-zealous to prove I could do the job. Now, my new thing is “NO. - N.- O. I must maintain my own integrity – and if I don’t…” He doesn’t finish the sentence. Reconsidering, he said, “Wait - I’d do it again for Benny Beal.”

Weaver points at the words on his T- shirt – THE DAY WHEN PIGS FLY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED. Like the witch from Oz, he seems to be Me-e -elt- ing….into another incarnation – “Consulting engineer.”

There’s some alchemy going on here. Black magic, like when Red Sox outfielder, Bernie Carbo had Laurie Cabot, the official witch of Salem “Zap” the Red Sox’s Louisville Sluggers in 1976. Since Weaver’s Young Brothers affiliation, his reputation guarantees intensity, his benchmark is on notorious engines. “Out of the MLBRA circuit” or not, Weaver’s influence remains rooted at it’s epicenter.

Other metal, other engines now consume him. Built for car racing, like the 572 cubic inch big block Chevy destined for Richard Olsen’s 62' Biscayne. “Olsen has no name on the car, that’s the best part,” howls Weaver. Boats have names. Like Stella Ann, Camel II, Megan Ann…Lorna R….

In this game, who hasn’t Harper Valley PTA’d someone else’s engine job? After Young Brothers closed, boat builder Stewart Workman bought the Ernest Libby, Jr. designed molds. Weaver announced that Ellery Alley (Underdog) got the Camel II motor from Ernest Libby, Jr. (“For FREE!”) which Weaver said was never installed, or raced after it was re-worked. Herbie Lowell of Prospect Harbor delivered Weaver’s work to Yo Bro’s…$650.00 price tag…. Team Underdog took Camel’s engine apart, changed the heads – updated it.

Ellery Alley maintains that Galen Alley cut him off during that 2009 race which landed Ellery in the E.R. As a result of that unresolved falling out, the 2010 MLBRA season started out like a bad hangover for some.

Bruce and Bruce Engert drove from Boothbay to Weaver’s – to consult. Thunderbolt is powered with Voop’s former 572 Chevy engine, acquired through Lewis Stewart. Bob Bailey is re-doing the engine, and reportedly called engine consultant Weaver for his opinion regarding pistons. Weaver figures, “If they ever get that engine right for Bruce and Bruce – they’d have something. They never had an engine that was worth a @#$@. BUT, lf Bruce and Bruce get that thing going, and they get it right…working at it on a steady basis, they can have that boat ready by July 1st..” The goal is - Moosabec, on the 4th….

Sources further east suggested Calvin Beal, Jr. might also have something ready on the 4th… “That SEA SHELL boat. He put it together a year ago.”

Ellery Alley with Ernest Libby, Jr. aboard Underdog, trailered in front of Main Street Auto, Jonesport, July 3rd, 2008. Brenda Tredwell Photo

According to Weaver, “Bruce and Bruce” were in the shop when Ellery Alley called – One in a chair, one sitting on an upside down bucket,” – able to hear only half a telephone conversation – Weaver’s responses to Ellery’s inquiry regarding his newly acquired engine, which Weaver said was built in 1982.

For the sake of termination – closure – Weaver gathered work records on the engine, the paperwork, and extra parts (Weaver bought 10 pistons at a time for consistency) “All the paperwork to that engine was 1982,” said Weaver, who offered Ellery the original paperwork on the pedigree engine, with custom pistons - for $200. No deal. As Weaver once said to Benny Beal, “I’m gonna make you an offer you CAN refuse.”

Speculation had it that Galen Alley ran sea trials with a 496 HP engine – Underdog’s former engine – saving his new, fast, alcohol engine for racing. Galen altered Foolish Pleasure’s keel (hard chine) to correct design issues. A visit to Kennedy’s Marine Engineering and Fabrication, in Milbridge confirmed Galen “had the alcohol engine in her.” Dwight Carver said, “(Galen) was Ripping her right down the bay. 2,000 horse – that’s the rumor around town. He’s shooting for 70 mph.” Alley did 68.1 at Rockland in the 30’ gas engine Foolish Pleasure in ‘09. Alfred Osgood of Vinalhaven took Starlight Express (Diesel) over the line at 54.7.

Roger Kennedy said, “A lot of our engines are going down to Boothbay.” Grinning, Kennedy mentioned a turbo (IVECO) was ordered, hinting that it’s headed up near Jonesport. “Most of the boys who play with that stuff are all on Beal’s Island. It’s all top secret. In Jonesport, they’re serious down there. And Winter Harbor. Others make a pass down the course, and be a race boat for the day.”

A hyper-turbo drag engine mounted inside twin chrome exhausts with a big block that eats airplane fuel – just sucks it – for breakfast – isn’t why most race. Three moorings sat empty at Winter Harbor - the void in the water filled by mackerel churning through. At the Lobster Co-op, Phillip Torrey (Master Simon) confirmed Pat and Billy Bob Faulkingham had set off in Gramp’s Bird and “51” for Boothbay, with David Myrick (Janice Elaine). They were ‘all psyched up’ to race, said Billy Bob, then they convinced him to go. Faulkingham’s 5-year-old went along. “Here I am with veins popping out yelling at my engine to gimme a nother tenth of a knot… and there she is calmly coloring with her crayons.”