1977 U-1 Atlas Van Lines

On Thursday, January 7th, the 1977 Atlas Van Lines unlimited hydroplane began a long journey back to glory in the restoration shop of the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent, Washington. The first small step was to remove half of the decking that had been tacked in place after she was wrecked in Acapulco in 1981. A careful survey of her hull interior will follow. After three decades of waiting for resurrection, the magnitude of the restoration project will be determined, in large measure, by the condition of the hull underneath the old cosmetic repairs. Eric Mann, President of the Museum Board of Directors, knows from past experiences that a hull survey will bring focus to this important and historic restoration project. One sure way to create excitement for the project among our restoration contributors and work crews, is to actually launch the restoration project with the hull survey. With the survey complete, we should be able to formulate an accurate budget and begin the all important fund raising effort with a fairly clear picture of what we are up against.

As the work crew, led by restoration veteran Don Mock, carefully cut away the decking, Executive Director David Williams supervised with considerable anticipation. Removing the decking is a bit like like opening a surprise package. The question is, will it reveal badly decomposing frames and stringers, or a reasonably sound hull? The difference, in terms of restoration cost and time investment is quite substantial. By the end of the evening, with the work completed for the day, the initial news was very good. The Blue Blaster seems to be in remarkably sound considering five seasons of hard racing ending in a bad blow over- and thirty years of waiting for this evening to arrive.