Charlesgate Yacht Club – Cambridge MA

Tony would not tell me how much it cost to become a member; however, he did tell me it cost $10k year to Division of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) for rental of their property. He also mentions the club doesn’t hold anything against sail boaters; they are just too tall to come through the locks.

   Neatly tucked away between Museum of Science and Longfellow Bridge, 71 powerboats nestle against the docks like the charts on your chart table. If you’re looking for a place to stay in Boston, then this is the best kept secret on the river with reciprocity. It’s also a safe place during hurricanes.

Club historian and owner of Tony’s Toy, Anthony “Tony” Seminara shares Boston’s history on such things as: the Battle Hymn Republic song written about George’s Island, how Quincy Bay’s Hangman Island didn’t really have any hangings, and submarine nets stretched from Nahant to Graves Light; back in the day.

Joan Millian, boat owner of Her Decision, says the senior citizen luncheons, the rides on the Charles River Boat twice a year, and the springtime cleanup on the Charles River is what makes this club unique. Charlesgate Yacht Club (CYC) is the only yacht club on the Charles River. Between 6:15 – 9:10am and 3:15 – 6:30pm, the Craig and Railroad bridge locks open to this exclusive community service oriented club founded in 1946.

Fishing for carp, eel, stripers, to name a few, is permitted off the docks. “Just don’t clean them there,” says Tony.

And, 55 steps away between your favorite cocktail and sleep are the Royal Sonesta Hotel plus their restaurant (Art D) where you can invite friends and family to gather.

The best way to contact CYC is to call 617-354-8215 and ask for the marina chairman. No hailing. Their address is 20 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge, MA. They can also be found on your GPS at: N 42.35982 and W -71.08422

Other important information:

Plenty of water, 30 amp shore power, showers, use of kitchen, toilets, and ice. No tide to worry about, tie up on a float, accommodates 45’ vessels and under, bridge height 13’ max. Donations welcome in lieu of payment.

Doug Amidon – Woodcarver at Wooden Boat Show

Doug Amidon, a woodcarver from Sandwich, Massachusetts, uses a mallet and a variety of chisels to create wonderful and useful objects from mahogany and pine. His work adorns boats, homes, and businesses far and wide, a testament to his 47 years carving wood. Doug’s tools are a combination of old and new but he prefers the old tools saying “old tools are more elegant”. Doug carved the “figurehead” shown in the photos 12 years ago. It is carved from a solid piece of pine and carved hollow in the back to allow for expansion and contraction lessening the chance of the wood cracking.

by Nate Carey

The Higgins Family – Wooden Boat Show

The Higgins family, Wes, Betsy, Zack, Tessa, and Finnegan, welcomed me aboard their     schooner “Defiance”. Defiance, a Murray Peterson design, was built by Paul Luke (East Boothbay, Maine) in 1960; Captain Pete Culler was the owner’s representative during the project.

Defiance is a 46’ centerboard coasting schooner built of mahogany over oak. She carries a gaff topsail, draws 7’ 4” with the board down, has a 100 hp diesel auxiliary engine, and sleeps 8 in 3 cabins.

Wes Higgins and his family have owned Defiance since 2005. During that time they have done a beautiful job of restoring much of the topside woodwork amidships aft and will do the same amidships forward in years to come.   The tender, which Wes built himself, is the Iain Oughtred dinghy design “Guillemot”.

During my time onboard, Wes said to me “a few years back I realized that a two hour commute twice a day and a workday full of big city headaches is not what I wanted out of life”. He quit his job as a bond trader, went into the woodworking business, and has been messing about in boats ever since.

by Nate Carey

Richie Honan – Wooden Boat Show

Richard Honan from Winthrop, Massachusetts builds a wooden boat every year or so. He has to his credit two Joel White designed “Nutshell” prams, a Greenland style kayak, a Walter Simmons designed Duck Trap Wherry, a Reuel Parker designed “Sharpie”, and several others.

Richard brought his latest creation to the 23^rd annual Wooden Boat Show, a 16’ “Melonseed” sailing skiff from the drawing board of Marc Barto. Richard named his Melonseed “Proud Mary 2” after his wife Mary. The original “Proud Mary”, again named for Richard’s wife, was the military truck he drove during his service in Viet Nam.

Richard’s Melonseed is strip built, meaning that narrow strips of wood are glued together along the length of the boat over a building form. After the wooden hull is faired (worked to final shape with power and hand tools) it is cover with fiberglass cloth and resin.

Proud Mary 2 was one of the premiere boats in the “I Built It Myself” area of the show and the “Concours d’ Elegance” judges presented her with their highest honor. Richard’s wife Mary, daughter Christine, and grandchildren Anna and Benjamin were on hand when Proud Mary 2 took the “Best In Show” award.

by Nate Carey

Wojciech Rum – Wooden Boat Show

Wojciech Rum (center in group photo) along with his friends Ivan Pancura (left) and Peter Manko (right) spend the better part of two years rebuilding the beautiful little 8 foot dinghy they displayed in the “I Built It Myself” area of the 23^rd WoodenBoat Show.

Wojciech, originally from Poland, now living in Stamford, Vermont found the little boat while visiting San Pedro, California. It had been neglected for many years and was covered with fiberglass on the outside and several layers of paint inside and out. Wojciech and his friends Ivan and Peter (both originally from Slovakia now also living in Stamford) removed the fiberglass, stripped the paint, refastened mahogany planking using copper clinch nails, replaced most of the ash ribs, and replaced the badly damaged transom.

If that wasn’t enough, Wojciech dismantled the 2 horse power British seagull outboard motor that came with the dinghy and rebuild it so well that it starts on the first pull every time.

The three friends’ hard work paid off; the little dinghy won the first place trophy within its class at the WoodenBoat Show. Wojciech proudly displays his trophy and explains to fellow boat builder Richard Honan the challenges of the British Seagull outboard motor.

by Nate Carey