WINTER ISSUE OUT NOW!

Welcome Shipmates. . .to our Third Year of the Captain’s Potomac Quarterly News. The Winter Boat Show Edition always ushers in the New Year, and having said that, we would like to wish all of you a very prosperous, healthy, and happy one! Whats more, the timeline as of New Years Eve would indicate that our 2006 Boating Season is a mere 74 days away!. . .unless of course, you have picked up your copy of the Quarterly at The 2006 Washington Boat Show,. . .then capitaines and mateys, it is a mere 17 days away, give or take a ground hog or two.

The cover photo selection of this edition depicts a 1925 pictorial of our beloved 14th street Railroad (swing) bridge (pre-lightning strike) in the background of a “State-of -the-Art” speedboat of the day! The occupants of this fine woody are only identified as D.C.socialites, out for a “Speedy Ride” (my thanks and appreciation go out to the Library of Congress Photo Archives Catalogs.) While selecting the cover shot for this edition, a lively banter broke out amidst several conversations, regarding just “what it is” that brings many a boater to discover their “all things nautical” passion for this activity. While the conversation is a somewhat etherial and conceptual one, it is not the first time it has crossed my frontal lobe!

About a year ago, I was having similar fleeting thoughts of approaching an article that might seem a lot like “The Ambiance of Boating.” or as I have stated, What exactly or ethereally is “that Siren song” that calls to us boaters, and, what are those sensibilities that satisfy our soul and desire to simply go down to the shore and mess around with boats?

For my money, as ultra slick, rolled and pleated, performance oriented, and well designed as these fine vessels in fiberglass and core products have become, I have always had a warm and fuzzy spot in my heart for traditional work boats, a plumb bow stem, a fantail stern, a well preserved lapstrake runabout, and a hearty dose of New England in my scuppers! This is not to say, that this is what I own, operate, and/ or even live aboard. My own boat is all aluminum with very traditional lines, appointed in the technology of the 80’s / 90’s. The styling somewhat limited by the medium, which is seldom a consideration in fiberglass production. This information is a bit incidental and irrelevant to my point, however!

It is more like setting the stage for my premise, that it is a sensibility, steeped in maritime traditions and heritage, that brings most mariners to the helm station of their personal passion for boating! I may be wrong about this, but, I have to pose the question. . . When the niece, nephew, son or daughter, go out to select a gift for Uncle Charles (the family boater,) it is more than likely going to be a Ship in a Bottle, a colorful cocktail burgee (flag), a knotboard shadow box, or. . last, but not least, and more often than not, the traditional brass barometer, clock, and temperature gauge board!

Likewise, every mariner enjoys a good sea story, almost as much as telling one of their own. Every mariner enjoys a fair dose of nautical jargon, terminology, and maritime tradition in their memory stores, knowledge banks, as well as the nautical decor in any well appointed sea food restaurant! In short, I am of the belief that every mariner is initially seduced into a love affair by “The Ambiance of Boating,” which in itself, is steeped in maritime heritage and tradition!

My liveaboard neighbor is a perfect example of what I am hoping to describe here. He currently owns and lives aboard a 57’ traditional boxy designed houseboat. But one look at the screen-saver on his Mac laptop tells the whole story. . .A plumb bow, fantailed, single screw, bow-thrusted “Pilgram Trawler” that is 17 feet the lesser in LOA, and 3 times the price point ! What is it that brings him to this desire to step down and up all at the same time to fullfill his paradigm you may ask???. . .again. . “The Ambiance!” The teak parquet interior, covered side decks, all things previously mentioned, and a profound sensibility that is grounded in traditional appointments!