"Martin’s Folly"
“Michael, row the boat ashore.” We can’t afford it anymore. This might have been our motto in 1982. Owning an old wooden cabin cruiser became impractical in as much as slip fees were expensive, regulation changes caused extra expense, wooden boats deteriorate, and time to enjoy it was limited. Did I mention, she had to be pulled out of the water every few years to get her bottom scraped free of barnacles and repainted with a special copper based paint? She was actually a registered yacht but I don’t know who she was registered with. She had a sleeping capacity of six, a working galley (kitchen) and a head (bathroom). We named her “Sunlite” after the first unleaded gas that Sunoco offered as that was our business at the time she was purchased, running a full service gas station.
Owning a cabin cruiser became more difficult due to expensive slip fees in the Chesapeake Bay area, which were necessary as the boat’s dimensions made alternatives impractical, such as trailering and dry-docking. Trailering was not feasible due to the boat’s width and height. The width of the boat was eleven feet; therefore it could not be transported on the highway without special permits and equipment. A special oversize permit would have to be purchased. Special equipment is needed to move large boats, such as tractor— trailers with modified exhausts and a modified trailer. The height, from the keel board to the dash of the flying bridge, was twelve feet, therefore once trailered more obstacles would be evident, such as overhead utility lines and hanging tree limbs. Dry-docking required use of unique equipment such as travel lifts and shipping cradles. A travel lift is a large machine used to lift the boat. Shipping cradles are blocks designed to fit the particular shape of the boat. Paying the expensive slip fees for the old wooden cruiser which we owned became difficult.
Owning a boat became inexpedient due to the regulation changes such as environmental and safety rules. Environmental rules were to reduce pollution, such as requiring toilets with holding tanks and biodegradable products. Toilets with holding tanks raised other problems, such as cost and inconvenience. Cost of the fixtures ranged from $50.00 for a portable, to $700.00 for a complete system. We opted for a port-a-potti. When we went ashore, we dumped it in the nearest toilet. The inconvenience was the scarcity of dumping stations. Biodegradable products had to be used, such as soaps and paper. Safety factors were constantly resulting in newly required products, such as air horns and flare guns. Regulation changes usually resulted in a required expenditure.
Owning an old wooden boat became unfeasible as wooden boats deteriorate from several sources, such as fresh water, salt water, or lack of water. Fresh water, if it penetrates the wood and doesn’t dry, causes rot in areas such as structural and nonstructural. Structural areas have to be immediately repaired, such as the transom or the keel board. The transom is the vertical surface across’ the rear. of the boat. The keel board is the main curved beam of the boat. Nonstructural areas that rot might be the areas around the windows which could cause leaks into the interior. Salt water can cause damage through electrolysis and corrosion. Electrolysis is caused by electricity being conducted to the brass or steel screws, nuts bolts and brackets. Corrosion by salt water causes pitting of chrome and aluminum fittings. Lack of water causes wood to dry out completely, thus causing shrinkage and brittleness. Shrinkage of the wood might open the seams. Brittleness, mean while, might cause small boards to crack, not bend. Deterioration of a wood boat can come from several sources which the owner needs awareness of.
Time to enjoy the boat became inopportune due to work and school. The work chosen, truck driving, involved total commitment such as time and energies. Time was valuable in the work. Energies were exhausted by the job. School used a lot of time as it was located out of state and conducted five days per week. Located out of state in Portsmouth Virginia, the school was too far to allow, for instance, both travel time and recreation. Travel time, one way, was over four hours. Recreation had to be postponed. Five days a week for school only allowed thirty—six free hours a week. Enjoyment of the boat was limited due to time required for work and school.
Another problem. Boats sink. Yes, she did. We always left the forward port holes open for ventilation to keep everything from mildewing. Water tends to be damp. How bout that. She got caught in the ice one winter and water came in the windows until she sank. If it had not been so cold it probably would have been fun, rescuing her. Hubby attempted to walk through the cold water to close those forward port holes, but because of the cold water, did not make it. We rented a truck, took two commercial size space heaters, two wet suits, and a brave friend and fought to save the “Sunlite”. We did. It was funny seeing two grown men who looked like penguins with their wet suits and flippers, walking on the ice to break it up. Someone had to go aboard also and close the forward port holes before could call the local fire department to pump her out. This took just about all night. After she was raised the mechanical equipment had to be serviced. The two Chrysler flat head six cylinder engines had to have the oil changed. The fuel tanks had to also be checked for water. We got very little sleep that night and it was very cold. How cold was it? It got below 10 degrees that night. The coldest night of the year, of course. The Chesapeake Bay is salt water and it was frozen.
In, conclusion, owning an old wooden cabin cruiser in the Chesapeake Bay area is expensive. The owner should be in secure financial position to be able to maintain and repair the boat. Constant attention to the condition of the wood is necessary. Most important, though, is enough leisure time to enjoy it. Yes, we dug out the rot and patched her many times.
