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.