A STEADFAST LIFE
From Her Point of View
Part I of III…No voiceover this week; it’s not my voice…
Almost four years ago, after a Maine winter in cold ocean water, two strangers boarded me for a private tour. My sails weren’t even bent on, so I felt a bit naked, frankly, and when Front Street Boatyard in Belfast, Maine, USA, hauled me out of the water for the inspection, there were long, embarrassing strings of mussels hanging off my sealife-encrusted, suddenly exposed, keel. Not the best first impression, I don’t think, but the man really wanted to be my caretaker; he had surveyed me years ago and never forgotten! I was flattered.
After they surprised me by moving aboard(!!), the wild-haired woman, J, walked around me after her sunrise walks, hands running over my bottom, absorbing my aura. I was built at Wheeler Shipyard in Brooklyn, New York; so the three of us were meant to be together. That may sound corny to you, and I get that, but…well, unless you’ve been in someone’s shoes, it’s best not to judge. If you’ve never experienced a wooden boat, it’s a shoe that you should try on at some point in your life, let’s just say that. Most folks will never get to experience it now that there are so few of us left.
We’ve had great adventures sailing the US East Coast and through much of the Bahamas, but I’ve tested their grit, knowledge and financial resources, I know that much. That first summer docked on Tilghman Island we had to replace the main mast step, an essential base for my 65-foot rig. Not an easy task! In June of 2023 the top of that same mast splintered under the stress of a tough Cape Hatteras passage due to the water ingress around a single, tiny screw. You can read about how well I did regardless in WoodenBoat Magazine #298.
In June of 2024 I was looking great and we were planning to exhibit in the WoodenBoat show in Mystic, Connecticut when a little dark spot on my port bow got investigated and was found to be potentially deadly. Even I didn’t realize the extent of the deterioration; a month prior I had gotten us through days of hellacious seas off South Carolina. I was built to SPAR WITH MOTHER NATURE, after all. J tells that tale in epic detail. It’s a good one.
And so, here we are, ten months later with a few to go, repairing everything that needs to be repaired, redesigned, modified or refreshed; new stem, knee, bow planking, caulking, anchor roller system, there’s more; all huge projects. I’m sure J has more gray hair now than when I first met her and the man has less hair altogether, although of course I would never say anything. I hope I’m not wholly responsible for that, but I may be. We’re here at the boatyard seven days a week, meticulously replacing parts that need to be replaced or refreshed, inside and out. My purpleheart bow is a stunner and all the sanding and fresh paint feels great. It’s not the first time I’ve found myself ‘on the hard’ and I’m not crazy about it, but I know it’s necessary. Can’t wait to be in the water again!
My designer, William Hand, Jr (1875-1946) drew hundreds of diverse vessels for water lovers, at first with racing motor boats, then sail propulsion. As I understand it, Hand enjoyed the sport of swordfishing and admired the sturdy vessels that traversed the North Atlantic in search of those huge fish. He was one of the first naval architects to combine the efficient and versatile sail design of a ketch (shorter mizzen mast behind the main mast) with strong engines and plenty of range (fuel). The Massachusetts Institute of Technology collected all the works that survived both fire and floods in his New Bedford office.
I’m a rather attractive and memorable vessel, if I do say so myself!
It’s complicated to make a vessel my size safe, seaworthy and self-sufficient. I weigh 80,000 pounds and we all know that much weight doesn’t want to float, for goodness sake; there’s a whole lot of science and physics to it! Since I’m a Motor Sailer (Motorsailer) both methods of propulsion need to be taken into consideration when the design is finalized and then built. Boats are constantly SPARRING WITH MOTHER NATURE; consider all the creatures that grow on our bottoms and the elements that deteriorate our topsides (salt, sun and moisture), not to mention those damn birds landing on my spreaders and doing their thing. Fall on Tilghman Island with purple berries was just the worst; there are many days I wish I could wiggle and if those damn Ospreys drop one more dead fish on me…well….ugh. Of course I can’t actually DO anything…but you can imagine how I feel.
I am proud that I’m worth saving, even at great expense and by the sweat of their brows. I’ll show them how grateful I am when I’m strong again. They took care of me and I’ll take care of them as long as I’m able.
Over the years I’ve worn some extraordinary colors and have seen exquisite, peaceful anchorages as well as intimidating storms. There’s nothing better than swinging on anchor in clear water. I think it’s what I was meant for, actually. I was very pleased to learn that my new crazy couple were taking me south. I spent decades in the Caribbean and loved it! Oh, sorry. I skipped a few chapters there! You’ll be able to read the rest of my illustrated story, all ninety years of it, on May 25th, if I can fit it all in one post, otherwise, I’ll spew into June, as hard as it is to believe that summer solstice is only a month away. ~STEADFAST (& J, the wild-haired woman)
This point of view, for me, was a creative change of pace! What do you think STEADFAST would say, if she could? Any ideas?
Thank you for following along on my journey as a sailor and a writer. I can hardly express how much I appreciate it; SPARRING had 5,000 views last month! That’s big for little ‘ol me. THANKS. THANKS. THANKS! ~J
The easiest way to support what I do is simply to ‘like’ and ‘restack’ this work, available at the top and bottom of this page. Your comments are even more important, so if you’re so inclined, I cannot wait! ~J
Bob W—Pride of Baltimore II is at the Cambridge City Dock.
Thanks Fearless, very much appreciated!! It goes along with...."if these walls could talk..." STEADFAST has a super interesting history, and like all of life, the more I dig the more I learn. J
Janice: There is nothing nicer to read on Memorial Day than the narrative of an opinionated ship. I'm always much more interested in reading about the restoration of the amazing constructions of long-gone architects, whether they built homes, castles or ships, than the products of a robotic assembly line. Methinks your wooden boat fully appreciates those special people who undertook to save her...