OFF TOPIC ---RidgeWay Marine

BlueChip · Post by **BlueChip** » Jul 10th, '07, 15:07

Any one ever had any experience with Ridgeway Marine. They made a 26 express sportfish in the 70's. Anyone ever been on one...?

Chris

Craig Mac · Post by **Craig Mac** » Jul 10th, '07, 15:25

I know the boat well--I remember boarding the New York Showboat, very expensive at the time---I think about 26K-teak decks.

I know one that has been running in Freeport, NY---I never spoke to the owner but I think it is docked near Charlie Johnson's Bertram.

Very big beamed.

Ridgeway made mostly wood boats and I have a pic of the prototype--I think it was 29 feet. The 26 was a glass boat and not sure but think Dusky Marine might have bought the mold and built a few as well. They were not finished as well.

Craig Mac · Post by **Craig Mac** » Jul 10th, '07, 15:32

The model was called 26 Bluefin

Charlie J · Post by **Charlie J** » Jul 10th, '07, 16:07

yes, now i know what your talking about bluefin, owner loves the boat, its stricky a day boat. i know that boat has been run down to fl many years ago by another previos owners shop steward, i rememer him saying it was a haul but he made it to and from.

BlueChip · Post by **BlueChip** » Jul 11th, '07, 07:30

Thanks for the info Guys..... I cant find anything about them on the internet.... Just one for sale on Yachtworld.....

Dug · Post by **Dug** » Jul 11th, '07, 08:58

Pretty little boat!

I bet it would rock with a 240 Yanmar or a 250 4 banger Cummins...

Dug

Craig Mac · Post by **Craig Mac** » Jul 11th, '07, 09:33

The one on yacht world has a single--i have seen 3-4 over the years-all with twins.

Also the one on yacht world has been customized with that raised coaming in the front---i have seen all with flush decks--some with windshields.

BlueChip · Post by **BlueChip** » Jul 11th, '07, 10:52

With some diesels in her she would be pretty sweet..

Obviosuly i would perfer a B31... but beggers cant be choosers.....

Still on my quest for the right boat..........

Chris W. · Post by **Chris W.** » Jul 11th, '07, 12:43

I owned a 26 Blue Fin in the mid eighties. Next to my 31, it's my favorite boat design. Super wide for a 26 footer. Big cockpit, and we had a tower with controls. Our boat was named "Sweet Pea", powder blue, with teak decks and covering boards and huge Rockaway Chair in the pit. We put new gas 318s in and it would cruise about 20 and top out around 26.
Big, heavy, and wet. But I loved it. Have not seen one since the 80's. We sold ours to a guy that was taking it to south carolina. Chris

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Jul 12th, '07, 09:55

Their is one in the marina my boat is at in Point Pleasant, NJ. The yard bill hadn't been paid in years and the marina took ownership and is trying to sell it for just about nothing. Cosmeticly it's rough but I know it has a good set of 454's in it. If you are interested let me know and I'll get info on it. If I remember right I think they had it on ebay for about $1,000.00

Craig Mac · Post by **Craig Mac** » Jul 12th, '07, 10:58

Please find the only picture reference I could find on this boat.

BlueChip · Post by **BlueChip** » Jul 12th, '07, 12:39

Great pictures...

Does anyone know why they stopped making them. To me it seems like a great boat.. Small but big enough to fish offshore. small V-berth , plenty of cockpit space , incredible for a 26 footer....

Chris

In Memory Walter K · Post by **In Memory Walter K** » Jul 12th, '07, 14:38

Probably for the same reason they stopped making Bertram31's. Short sighted managements not recognizing that they had long term products. Walter

algillen · Post by **algillen** » Jul 12th, '07, 16:17

The Ridgeway looks a lot like a Strike 29. Earlier Strike 29s were dual console.

BlueChip · Post by **BlueChip** » Jul 12th, '07, 21:39

i have been told that a the ridgeway Mold was bought and the new owner produced the strike's

But i havent confirmed any of this... its weird how little info there is on these....

Chris

Hal · Post by **Hal** » Jul 12th, '07, 22:05

walterk wrote:Probably for the same reason they stopped making Bertram31's. Short sighted managements not recognizing that they had long term products. Walter

Probably quit making that one because it was wood. But it sure does resemble the 29 Strike. Good boat for short fishing. Nice ride and efficient, but wet as a 31 and low gunnels.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Jul 13th, '07, 08:35

The one at my marina is all fiberglass except the decks.

Craig Mac · Post by **Craig Mac** » Jul 13th, '07, 09:23

the 26 was a fiberglass production boat----i believe the 29 wood boat was the prototype.

the 26 was a well finished boat and this was reflected in the price, they were more expensive than a 31 betram.

i don't think the strike is nearly as pretty, as the 26 has some nice rounded features. like a 31--the strike is your typical slab-sided production boat popped from a mold.

Dug · Post by **Dug** » Jul 13th, '07, 13:04

Walter was grumpy when he woke up this morning, can you tell?

weasel · Post by **weasel** » Oct 15th, '07, 19:18

i own a 39 foot ridgeway that has been changed into an express and totally restored. i would enclose pictures but i do not know how. the boat was built in 1969 in merritt shipyards by the ridgeway brothers. it is definitly one of a kind.

Ed Curry · Post by **Ed Curry** » Oct 16th, '07, 15:35

Is that the same "Weasel" that's been at Cedar Beach Marina this year.
That is one sweet boat.

weasel · Post by **weasel** » Oct 16th, '07, 18:59

THAT IT IS

Harv · Post by **Harv** » Oct 16th, '07, 19:19

A friend of mine had a 26 Bluefin that looks just like the pictures described. It had a pair of big blocks, was fast, stable at rest and very wet under way. Even with a tower and enclosures it was still wet. However, the amount of room for a 26 footer was absurd. 5 of us in the cockpit and you never felt like anyone was near you. A great little boat. The 26 Dusky had the same exact layout.

bertram31.com

OFF TOPIC ---RidgeWay Marine

OFF TOPIC ---RidgeWay Marine

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