"Cosmic Muffin" 1 - Howard Hughes Boeing 307 - Part 1 - Possible Acquisition

[@gcrauwels941]

The 307 was damaged in Hurricane Cleo, was almost scrapped, but a guy named Ken London turned it into a motoryacht and named it 'Londonaire'. In 1981 it changed hands again. The new owner further restored it. Later he renamed it 'Cosmic Muffin' because it was written into the novel 'Where is Joe Merchant?' by Jimmy Buffett as one of the characters' boat. I used to see this old girl plying the waters of Ft Lauderdale all the time. I knew she was on static display, and am really glad you're trying to preserve her Kermit.

[@KevinFields777]

I hope she gets her original name and luster back.

[@tenlittleindians]

I haven't read the book but I like the story. I'd keep the Cosmic Muffin name in honor of all the muffins this boat has seen throughout it's history on the water and in the air.

[@Thomas-DK]

Kermit, we need to have a talk about your hording problem... 😄

[@chris_hisss]

When you have the budget and space of Kermit Weeks, this isn't hoarding, this is just collecting. lol Usually hoarding is something the poor do that isn't managed. This guy has a whole staff for upkeep and restoration. Kermit is a treasure for preserving these things for current generations to enjoy but also future generations to be able to see! Most of us wish these things we could save but wouldn't have the means. If we had barely enough, well that would be hoarding. lol And yeah I know it was a joke but....

[@carljmacdonald]

Poor people are hoarders. Wealthy people are eccentric collectors.

[@ohwell2790]

Do not know satire Chris?@@chris_hisss

[@lowandslow3939]

I was Chief Engineer on very large private yachts for twenty years and an avid Jimmy Buffett fan. He wrote a song about Desdemoana and her rocket ship, referring to the Cosmic Muffin. I saw this thing floating in Ft. Lauderdale many times. Never knew it’s incredible history. RIP Jimmy Buffett

[@MachoMateoMuchacho]

Imagine being a guest of Howard, stepping foot onto the Cosmic Muffin and seeing Rita at the bar. Mind Blowing!

[@gregsbiplays9899]

It was never a house boat while Howard owned it. Was converted long after he last stepped foot in it

[@ellischernoff8603]

Love it; you must buy and restore her. I saw her in the water, back in the mid '70s near Ft. Lauderdale. Fantastic that the original bar stools are stored in the belly.

[@Pauls-World]

Mr Weeks, you’re completely awesome. I just wanted to remind you in case you forgot. Thanks for the video. Be safe and take care!

[@ricksmith4736]

Those bar stools in the bottom looked like the originals that were in one of the older pictures....

[@wormhole331]

Yep noticed that too. Pretty cool

[@cyberdami]

What a cool thing..... Howard smiling.

[@jgdiesel742003]

Hey Kermit, that is a neat project. Anything Howard Hughes owned would be worth saving. I am bringing the family down in March for vacation. I hope we get to meet you. We all love your videos and we all enjoy aviation. You were a big inspiration for me to start my flight training. I can't wait to see how this project turns out.

[@dancrooks3740]

YES! love the Muffin - hope to see her preserved!

[@TheJimbodean67]

More likely a stray cat that got in there exploring. Even if it’s deemed to expensive to make sea worthy, wouldn’t take too much to restore the interior into an interactive time capsule of early airliners and how Mr Hughes made it his own. You can put in a mannequin of Rita Hayworth waiting for a (naked in Jamaica) rum n coke at the bar. It’s great that you were able to find the space for this neat little piece of history Mr Weeks.

[@jaydewitte2958]

I have driven by Fantasy of Flight since you opened in the 90s, traveling to Disney. Always wanted to stop by with my children and never did. Now, I definitely will be coming with my children and grandchildren. I love that you are keeping our history alive and functional. I hope you get as big as Disney. Also, please get as many seaplanes as you can their numbers are dwindling 😢

[@daviddennis-leigh1686]

Cruising down the IC, southbound in my new, 3rd, small boat, I saw the Cosmic Muffin coming at me...... uner it's own power! We were stunned, fascinated and curious as we ogled the beautiful people enjoying the day, from the rooftop patio....of that strangest of all hulls, cocktails in one hand, cigarettes in the other. My initial flight instructor, John "Jack" Ruby, former F4 driver in the Marines for the '43-'44 period of WW2 in the Pacific, where he deprived the IJN of 6 warplanes, took time to tell me what he knew about Mr. Hughes's former ownership of the hull we saw and admired as it was motoring down the IC on that beautiful, sunny day in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, in a time that will never exist again.

[@fredericrike5974]

Mr. Weeks, I have always admired your tenacity, and Uncle Howie's Cosmic Cloud will take a big bunch of it. Please do some homework on "for hire" and "paying passenger" boats in Florida, the insurance, marine requirements like haul out schedules and such. The trailer you need is also one that will let you haul this craft out for inspections and work- it will cost like an old airliner to operate. ON the Outboards- two 100 horse engines would be small to moderate- maybe for this six or seven ton craft? Btw, it's over 108" wide and way tall without a trailer; the company the originally moved it has the snuff to suss out the route and get the permits; think about it as hiring a General Contractor, and get insurance. Do you have a bob tail truck that could be rigged for a big gooseneck? Something like that will need to be on hand for the haul out, and tbh, it will make your maintainance costs a deal lower, as well as getting it too shelter in future storms.

[@SearTrip]

Hey, Kermit, good for you! Really seems like the kind of thing that floats your boat, so to speak. And this one really brought out all the highly entitled commenters who feel free to tell you how to collect and how to spend your money. Thanks for sharing your collecting with us!

[@bernardc2553]

You never cease to make things happen Kermit, saving Aviation HIstory & those passed that too wanted to preserve ❤

[@emmettbaker5024]

Well, at least from the recent articles,we know there is a happy ending to this story. I look forward to watching parts 2 and 3!

[@deansiracusa3966]

That's so cool! I've been a fan of that plane since I first heard about it from Jimmy Buffett!

[@NesconProductions]

Kermit's always got so many projects cooking but a "Cosmic Muffin" with a Howard Hughes flavor seems up his alley 😁! RIP kitty (me thinks..). Best wishes regardless Kermit..

[@machpodfan]

Brilliant! Such a one-off that intersectionally (🤣🤣) combines so many reasons to preserve it.

[@diversherwood9631]

I've seen the Muffin at the Sun N Fun museum and didn't even know what I was looking at! Awesome! Someday when it is floating and the Naked In Jamaica is on the bar, I hope to visit it!

[@kh40yr]

mobile home frame with 3 axles. Those disposable frames for homes. you might need a sailing yacht trailer, with the legs that swing in like a engine stand type of deal, and the adjustable jackstands to support the profile of the hull. that would be a commercial move with permits and pilot cars.

[@SteveNicoson-u1i]

Thanks for another great video Kermit. I saw this on your facebook channel. My comments are there. Good luck with this project. Retired Air Force veteran.

[@pat36a]

Just shake my head in amazement how some folks operate their business. Good luck with the muffin....

[@lloydtrueblood8030]

As a Parrot head, I would love to see the cosmic muffin restored and have a nod to Jimmy Buffett some where in there, not just Howard Hughes. There is a lot of Buffett nostalgia associated with that boat.

[@johnmcdonald587]

All the times I've driven past the thing and I never realized what it was. I'm happy it's been saved.

[@goatflieg]

Another "cliff-hangar". That's cool; I can wait. Still so much better than anything on TV... except Nova and selected astronomy series.

[@c1ph3rpunk]

I can hear “damn it Kermit, I’m an aircraft mechanic, not a sailor” (in your best Star Trek Bones voice).

[@rostamr4096]

Man, this is way beyond salvage, if you asked me....but then it depends on how much money you have and are willing to burn ...The aerospace engineering in me is with you all the way Mr. Week

[@ronprice3450]

Read above that in a Jimmy Buffet book

[@GARDENER42]

Some interesting photo's online of the boat/plane's history. The seats down in the dead dog hold appear to be the originals.

[@Ronaldl2350]

I was wondering what happened to that plane/boat. I remember seeing it when I was a kid on the intercostal waterway in Fort Lauderdale.

[@Mercmad]

I would get a boat transporter to move it. they are used to moving awkward shaped boats (top heavy etc ).

[@davidmangold1838]

This used to be docked in Ft. Lauderdale for years! I saw it go out once. Last I saw, it’s at Lakeland Linder airport.

[@carljmacdonald]

Does Kermit have enough B-17 parts lying around to put together a complete 307? Is the lower half of the 307's fuselage in the boat hull still complete or has it been cut up? Either way it could "probably" be made whole again with enough time & money.

[@dyer2cycle]

Amen!

[@SPak-rt2gb]

Guy with the trailer is taking Kermit for a ride. Hope he gets his money back. Hope his dream comes true but with all those projects going on it will be hard to see it all coming together in his lifetime.

[@Albert-o4b4d]

Kermit, you remind me of the actor known as the most interesting man in the world in the beer commercials, well you my friend are the most interesting man on you tube. Keep doing what you are doing.

[@dannymullen2978]

Kernit - one might say you've done one-too-many loops or spins in your flying history!! But if I had the means, I'd grab it!

[@CraftedChannel]

Needs a traditional aluminum houseboat hull with a big rear party deck.

[@vmoney9106]

We must protect Kermit at all costs!

[@Thumb_Coast_Aerial_fpv]

The jimmy buffet named boat ! I Remember seeing this on an old tv show!

[@jerrylukens9314]

Kermit that is so kool, what a find.

[@DblIre]

It's normal to put blocks under the kiel and rest the boat weight on them with supports under the outer sections of the hull for support and to keep the boat from tipping.

[@davidmix4545]

It was featured in a Jimmy Buffet novel called "Where is Joe Merchant", thats where the name Cosmic Muffin came from. Great book BTW

[@andriandrason1318]

lol no that came out in 1992, this boat was done in 1974.

[@davidmix4545]

@@andriandrason1318 I know the book was later than the boat, I just wasn't aware the boat was named Cosmic Muffin until the book made more people aware of of it.

[@andriandrason1318]

@@davidmix4545 Found this article on aviationhumor. “Cosmic Muffin” came to the attention of Jimmy Buffett and was written into his first novel, “Where is Joe Merchant?” and also the song, Desdemona’s Building A Rocketship”.

[@andriandrason1318]

@@davidmix4545 Yeah seems likely the other way around, found this on a site called aviationhumor. “Cosmic Muffin” came to the attention of Jimmy Buffett and was written into his first novel, “Where is Joe Merchant?” and also the song, Desdemona’s Building A Rocketship”.

[@Biochemechanic]

A boat moving company to move the boat. Right up their alley. Find an aluminum houseboat, used if lucky or have one of the manufacturers build you a hull to replace the old wood one. You could even buy a boat travel lift. 😊

[@vrosi1963]

I think i would put some money into getting the dc3 at the front gate back to being flyable again or finish the PBY back to flight ,

[@karaayers2867]

Would be cheaper to buy a flying dc3 than fix the gate guard dc3 up

[@icebluecuda1]

Lol. No.

[@tomedgar4375]

Just a strange piece, I’d rather see the museum put money into a classic radial engine airplane

[@vrosi1963]

@@tomedgar4375 I think Piece describes it pretty well

[@tomedgar4375]

@@vrosi1963 👍

[@nightfall22]

I’m excited for this project….. I wish the trailer guy was more on the ball. Kinda ridiculous but hopefully it works out

[@haroldmclean3755]

That' is Truly a Very Cool Project, God She would be absolutely Beautiful taken back to Polished Aluminium, A Really Pretty Party Boat 👍

[@bondisteve3617]

Oh Shite Kermit!..not again!...Mr. Howie is...everywhere!

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

Gonna need to find B-17 wings and tail. Then a whole new tailcone will have to be manufactured. I remember when that 307 crashed into lake Union a ways back.

[@johnlacey155]

Even as a 'quickly' stitched together static exhibit this would be so much more preferable compared to it being used as a boat!

[@dyer2cycle]

My thinking exactly...this is one ugly cobbled up boat...but a very beautiful airplane when it was still intact!....

[@shoominati23]

Congratulations, you've found the 'Glomar Exploder'

[@mongolike513]

Ohh Kermit, that ‘fuselage ‘ is a guaranteed corrosion bucket. The original aircraft itself was stand out beautiful and if you want to recreate it then do so from a plastic kit.

[@dyer2cycle]

Would absolutely cost a fortune, but with only one intact example...well...forget the boat configuration..find some B-17G wings, tail components, lots of fabrication and re-engineering...I can just see her in gleaming polished aluminum....anything is possible!

[@davelewandoski4292]

Kermit loved the pic of you in the pilots seat... But you forgot the Fedora! 😂

[@jodywhitmire9843]

Very cool Kermit.

[@missilpeludo8813]

It’s this the same one outside the SUNNFUN museum at Kissimmee

[@brettbull5238]

A big pair of floats on a couple of spars through the old hull

[@davidblurton7158]

such a great project and a little diffrent,,, should fit jet drives and have a proper jet boat!

[@exptodd]

Nice find

[@mikelayzell1158]

Disregard the haters. Great pick up. Love it.

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Damn i wonder why the guy keeps cancelling ????.....Thanks Kermit for showing us the Cosmic Muffin an best of luck coming with this deal.....Old Shoe🇺🇸

[@olsonspeed]

Howard had the best toy money could buy.

[@hughmarloweverest1684]

Most interesting.

[@carlkenyon4599]

The cosmic muffin . I saw it in fort Lauderdale , as the boat. I grew up there . get it.

[@Bill23799]

I am going to assume Howard named the plane " Cosmic Muffin " after a pet name he had for a certain body part of Rita Hayworth. In the film " Citizen Kane " the last word Kane utters on his deathbed was " Rose Bud ". We are led to believe Rose Bud was the name of Kane's childhood sled. It was found later that Orson Welles, who had a great dislike for William Randolph Hearst , had found out that Hearst's pet name for his mistress's " Fun Zone " was Rose Bud. So to annoy Hearst he named the sled in the film Rose Bud.

[@rztricky]

Ah Kermit, My heart and hand goes out to you for having to endure that ghostly find in the hull. The ladder tells a horrible truth and I’m on that vibe. Dig your energy, thanks for sharing

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

The ladder?

[@snotfjs]

I can see the idea... But would like to see you build your Lancaster instead...😉

[@robstewart5995]

Mr Weeks call Stepps Towing in Tampa, They are the best outfit in the United States and they'll send out a drop deck trailer and 2 rigs to lift it onto the trailer. This is the easy button and it'll be taken care of fast. Stepps Is an amazing company and has a massive array of equipment and experience. Has there company motto is no job to big no job too small.

[@rocketyler6698]

Are there enough B-17 parts to make one 307?

[@55hemidodge]

There's enough of the unique structure left that with a pile of B-17 parts this could be built back in to a 307 stratoliner.

[@leonardsnow8118]

I would build a trailer with air bags to raise and lower trailer so hull is on solid ground

[@kiwijonowilson]

Wow the 307 had a nice looking fuse. If Hitler hadn't invaded Poland, this fuselage might have been famous for an around the world record with Howard Hughes. Apparently the air frame only has 500 hours on it.

[@donaldpodzikowski8028]

I wonder how hard it would be to remove the hull and convert it over to pontoons?

[@patchmack4469]

well i thought the answer was pretty simple - go to a boat yard and ask them to move it with a proper trailer for boats, that way the hull is supported correctly, the integrity looks good enough and would be supported properly, the trailer simply drives in underneath, either side of the keel, which travels just inches above the ground, keeping centre of gravity low enough - i think lifting with straps and hoisting off the ground might be a mistake, but i don't know just how much abuse the outer side frame would put up with that strain

[@courtman007]

Plenty of room for a couple small outboards Inboards would be such a pain in comparison

[@stevepringle2295]

Kermit what happed to Hughes A-20 executive aircraft? The last it saw was in 1993 at the Lancaster Airport in California.

[@SearTrip]

About 30 seconds of searching says Kermit has owned it since 2019. Maybe he will tell us if that’s true or not.

[@leeroyholloway4277]

Dang.... I feel bad for the poor dog. How was that an accident?

[@MrCarGuy]

How would it even get inside?

[@wendelldolittle5063]

All the weight sits on the keel the boat jacks and styrofoam keep it balance. Aluminum flat bed trailer would work great. Wide load permit from state of Florida

[@dougscott8161]

Well, Jeezs, Kermit, all ya gotta do is slap a couple wings on her, dig up some R-4360's and fly her home, then you have the choice of rebuilding her as a Boing 307 or keep her as The Cosmic muffin. God Bless and stay safe.

[@MARKLOCKWOOD2012]

They make yacht lift style trailers uses hydraulic system back under they use lift pads much safer than lifting due to hull stress. then you can launch n recover as needed just rent/hire yacht movers

[@richardross3815]

One thing for sure… lol…you never back off a problem or project.😂

[@ChannelNotFound]

Just don't go exploring the Titanic in that thing, Kermit!

[@1boortzfan]

I hope it all works out Kermit. I'm afraid your trailer guy is trying to take you for a ride.

[@robstewart5995]

In fact........Stepps Might do it for the publicity with you doing a nice video to all your subscribers.

[@okoboji2001]

Looks like there are good airplane bones and some dead ummmmmmmm bones LOL

[@1320fastback]

Sun and Fun, just not today. Well it's still fun so just no sun.

[@Atomikoira]

I think Kermit can build a Thunderbird 2 from that wreck.

[@1mmickk]

Help Kermit buy it BUY MORE OIL I think it has good potential as a bar for FOF. Who wouldnt want a photo at Howards Bar? 11:00 ole mate looks terrified you can see him thinking WTF is he up to now? What a crack up. Dont pay more than 10 grand it will soak up Cash

[@banic8576]

What happened to the F-14 that used to sit outside in the space next to the Cosmic Muffin?

[@barrysimmons5489]

I sure wish you'd put more volume in your recording, please! It's very difficult to hear on my hand held device. Thanks for sharing. 🇺🇸👍

[@dr.wilfriedhitzler1885]

Kermit, will it fly in the future? Can you hire some stewardesses with the historic dresses?

[@MichaelSmith-il3wm]

The dead dog was a hidden Easter egg I didn’t expect…hahahaha

[@MacGWA]

Makes ya wonder if they’re going to charge extra for the dog! 😂

[@onazram1]

It just melted in

[@pat36a]

Uncle Howard was looking for his dog some time ago....

[@PoochAndBoo]

"Ill bet that's not all that got raised up!"

[@billschlafer]

An airplane, turned into a boat, with a dead dog in the belly. Yeah, that's Florida.

[@angelicchandler8275]

I saw this when it was still in the water about 23 years ago when I was in Fl.

[@SoloPilot6]

I wonder if the name comes from "Deteriorata" (a spoof of "Desiderata"): "Be true to your god, whatever you conceive him to be . . .hairy thunderer, or cosmic muffin!"

[@davidleg]

How about making it a Howard Hughes exhibit museum

[@Bill23799]

Thanks Kermit for NOT calling that Water Heater a " Hot Water Heater ". Why would you need something to heat hot water?

[@davidmix4545]

to make it hotter lol

[@henrytupper6959]

That’s what I say.! When someone mentions hot water heater I say we don’t have one. We have a cold water heater..

[@Dezzy-e8b]

It's not resting on the foam, in was to stop it rocking in a storm

[@vibrolax]

This thing has suffered a bit too much "Florida Man" treatment. Maybe Elon could launch it into solar orbit as a ballast payload for Starship, like he did with the Tesla Roadster on the Falcon Heavy.

[@pcka12]

So what's the betting on flying that one back home?

[@Bill23799]

If I was working on this restoration I would always bring a new Doggie Treat or Chew Toy for the spirit of the poor pooch down below when I came to work on it.