I love a good story about saving a neglected boat.
It warms my heart that someone, somewhere, is taking the time and effort to bring a decaying, delapidated, water logged, long forgotten vessel back from the land of the lost. Somebody, at some point, had grand visions of dashing adventure upon the open seas on their new, or at least new to them, floating paradise in the sun.
As things go in life, often these dreams are dashed due to financial or familial hardships, and every now and then people just lose interest in those sailing dreams. Some are able to keep their vessels kept up to date, clean, and ready for action, but there are always those boats in the back of the yard, or the slips out of the way, where nobody ever looks, that have been left to the elements to rot slowly away into a pale shade of what they used to be.
But there are some people out there, with the dreams and determination, time and money, and unlimited supplies of patience and ambition that will tear a boat down to it's bare frame, spend endless days and nights in all sorts of uncomfortable weather and positions, work though blood, sweat, and tears, and make it like new. It may take years, it may never actually get finished, but every now and again, sails will flutter, steering will creak, and the fresh breezes of something new and exciting will encompass what was once just a sad story.
Two such projects are underway at this time over at Hances Point Yacht Club (HPYC) on the North East River, at the top of the Chesapeake Bay. One is a couple that are redoing an old Grampian, from scratch. When I say this boat was stripped bare, I mean the only thing they have to work with is a hull and mast, with insides completely gutted. That is a story for another day, for now we will be hearing the story of Reese and Anita Jones, their young daughter, and their currently un-named 1983 Island Trader.
This 38 foot Ketch is a classic looking boat indeed, with an antique feel about the wood trimmings, wooden masts/booms/blocks and large bowsprit fit enough for a pirate. As they put it, they found the boat three years ago, "Sinking from the top down." Many cracks and ill fitting windows allowed rainwater to leak in and rot much of the wood in the interior, as well as damage electrical systems and the 30hp Yanmar Diesel engine. Sheer neglect on the part of the former owners, who admittedly were dealing with health issues in the family, had taken it's toll on the exterior as well, with rotting sections of decking, and structural elements. The former owners had tried for a couple of years to keep up with things, but finally parted with her in the intense hopes that someone would take the time and effort needed to bring this fine ship back from the abyss.
Jones, who has been helping fellow members of HPYC and patrons of Bay Boat Works (He keeps the Island Trader at HPYC in the summer and BBW in the winter), with projects for years, and is comtemplating making boat restoration a full fledged business/career, travels around in his old chevy pickup, hauling a small trailer that holds a full workshop fit for a true craftsman. He's been known to spend hours bending teak toe rails, replacing entire sections of decking, tearing apart, and then putting back together his diesel engine, doing fine wood work on many boat interiors, even taking sails from the sunken Catalina 25 Solidaire and refitting them to fit his new ship. A Jack of all trades for sure.
The project is about 2/3 complete, with many of the exterior issues resolved, the engine up and running good, and a watertight shell around the interior, which is much of what remains to be finished. Much of the larger pieces of marine plywood needs removed and replaced, the kitchen area is to be comepletely gutted and done over, even featuring some bargains found at IKEA of all places. Fit for your home is fit enough for your vessel. A Stainless Steel sink is still Stainless Steel, even if doesn't say "boat" or "marine" on it and West Marine can't charge four times more for it.
The boat is functional today, having just gone in the water on Wednesday, with much of the electronics and the engine in good working order. A full set of rags is in the offing, and soon she may be out sailing with the rest of us, just waiting for next season when she is scheduled to be finished, and possibly taking extended cruises on the bay and maybe beyond.
Jones says he's looking to the next chapter where he may start his business and would love to cruise the islands someday. He needs to get some more experience doing large scale fiberglass/gelcoat projects, he exclaims, "I didn't have to do much of that on this boat, and I don't want to learn by doing it on some strangers boat, so I'm not sure when I'll get to figure that one out!"
I'm sure he's just being modest, maybe he doesn't know the intricate details about large fiberglass projects, but in my mind, he's got more skill, knowledge, and experience than most of your average boat yard stiffs out there and I would trust him with Pegasus anyday of the week and twice on Tuesday.
Lets hope that the restoration stays on track, the dreams of sailing and operating a boat repair business are realized, and the 1983 Island Trader that was almost lost of the depths of the forgotton part of the Sassafras River sails on into the Chesapeake Bay Sunset.
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