The John H. Chafee docking at Fort Wetherill [near Bull Point] in Jamestown February 2010

1 February 2010 John Chafee

BOAT: John H. Chafee
OWNER: State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
DESIGNER and BUILDER: Wesmac Marine, Surry, ME http://www.wesmac.com/
YEAR: 2004
 HULL: Kevlar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevlar
LENGTH: 50 feet [15.24 meters]
HISTORY:
The boat named after the late Rhode Island Senator John Chafee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chafee is emblematic of his legacy. Elected in 1976, Senator Chafee was a strong voice for clean air and water in Washington D.C., as well as a lifelong advocate for the best interests of Narragansett Bay. He was instrumental in securing funding for the boat that bears his name.
 With Narragansett Bay and the nearby ocean waters intrinsic to the past, present and future of our state, it only makes sense to monitor and report on what is arguably our most precious asset- that is the mission of the John H. Chafee.
 Built out of Kevlar- one of the most durable substances known to man- the Chafee is a sturdy platform for research both inside and outside of the bay. On any given day, the Chafee leaves her birth at Fort Wetherill in Jamestown- usually with a team of biologists or marine scientists to perform any number of tasks. The research is key to our understanding of the rapidly changing marine environment. The boat is a fitting legacy for an extraordinary senator.

13 April 2009- Firecracker

BOAT: Firecracker
OWNER: Ted Mercier, Jamestown
DESIGNER: Robert Perry, Tulalip, WA http://www.perryboat.com/
BUILDER: Saga Marine, St. Catherine’s, Ontario http://www.sagayachts.com/main.html
LENGTH: 43 feet [13 meters]
YEAR 1997
HULL: Baltek cored Kevlar with Vinylester resin
HISTORY:
The Saga 43 represents a different school of thought in sailing yacht design. Instead of greater beam (width) with a large rig – required to drive the boat through the water- designer Robert Perry took a different tack. Drawing upon lessons learned from long distance offshore racing, Perry made the Saga 43 longer, narrower, and easier to handle than many of the designs that are manufactured today. This unconventional approach exchanges roomy aft cabin space and high labor requirements above for a smooth sailing sled that slips through the water with a minimum of effort.
The sturdy low aspect ratio rig combined with a hull of vacuum bagged Kevlar makes for one very solid boat. Long, lean, and narrow makes for good speed.
Good design and build makes for longevity. Now lets see if Ted can get away from his responsibilities at Dutch Harbor Boat Yard in Jamestown for long enough to enjoy this beautiful boat!