Essential Part

[BillM2]

Think I've got the name of the boat right, but whatever happened to Tom who built that steel hull boat up in Hurley? I think he named her The Essential Part.

 

[rommer]

How long ago is this. Not ringing any bells for me.

 

[BillM2]

About 5 -6 years ago. A steel hull boat, yellow, he was heading "south". About a 60 footer.

 

[Unknown]

Yes I remember that boat... It sat on a mooring off the Rondout Yacht Basin for awhile, then was anchored out off the jetty as I recall. Not sure where it ended up...

 

[BillM2]

Yep, that was the boat. Tom built it nearly by himself taking ten years or more to complete. It was built on top a hill in Hurley, NY and transported by truck. He didn't have all the impossible to attain permits but he did anyway picking up citations as he went. He would only say he was heading south. A great, fun guy with a lot of spirit, my grand folks would say. Just kinda of curious how he made out. Had heard one story that he ran aground "south" and had to pull the boat but it was too large and heavy for the Travel Lifts in the area. He had to hire a couple of cranes to do the job - which wasn't major, aside from the expense.

 

[boatbum]

I believe it was 2007 when he was anchored outside the creek and we went and visited. He really did an amazing job on the boat. It's a trimaran and wow is it deep. Looking down through the grates over the engines makes you feel like you are on a ship. We spoke a bit about the Bahamas etc.. Last I heard from his son he made it to Vz.. If you want to know more perhaps take a walk over to Jeff's Yacht Haven and look up his son Dave at Constructive Hands. We chatted with Dave for a bit last Summer and he indicated he was ok and "out there".
Last time we saw him was when the little sail boat named Bika stopped in at RYB. They did a slide show about their trip around the world and he was there.

 

[BillM2]

Yep, I saw Tom at that same event. Interesting journey those two were on. I had seen Tom's boat under construction and it was built like a small ship. He really put everything into it. He had been having difficulties finding welding help and asked a couple times if I would. Wish I had, but I couldn't fit it into my schedule at the time. No doubt his boat is well afloat down south somewhere.