A group of Scouts is back on the “high seas,” thanks a generous donation from a corporation from Texas.
It all started back in February, said Joan Halstead, “skipper” of “cruise director” of what’s known as the Boy Scouts’ Sea Scout Ship 5555.
It was about five months ago, Halstead said, that she discovered that a thief cut the lock and took the motor off the Sea Scouts’ Huffy 18-foot sailboat they’ve had since 2006.
“I spent the next couple of months ‘begging’ for someone to donate a used one, but to no avail,” Halstead said, adding, “I really was depressed, because it’s hard to have a Sea Scout program without a boat in the water!”
Finally, the local Boy Scout office found a 1992 Nissan motor, but they didn’t know if it worked.
Halstead emailed Nissan customer service to inquire about the gas-oil mix that would be needed to run the old motor. She also asked them to consider selling the Scouts a “refurbished” motor at a “steep discount.”
To her utter surprise, just three days later, on May 2, she had a return email from a Jim Morganthaler, general manager of Nissan in Texas. He told Halstead that Nissan would donate a brand new, 2012 motor to the Sea Scouts, and that it would be delivered to a dealer in the area, Bayside Boat and Tackle on Empire Boulevard.
A sailboat still needs a motor, explained Ken Strimple of Bayside, “when there is no wind or you’re trying to maneuver the boat without the sails up.” He valued the new, six-horsepower motor from Nissan’s outboard division at $1,600.
The Sea Scouts “broke in” the new motor June 28, with friends and supporters on hand for the big debut.
She seldom goes out on the sailboat or the Century motor boat recently donated by Tom McGrain of Irondequoit, Halstead said, to give more opportunities to the Scouts. Each boat goes out with two adults and four Scouts.
She does have five adults, like Keith and Marlene Baker of West Henrietta, who “captain” the boats and provide instruction to the Scouts, Halstead said.
“Having five adults helping this year is a total luxury,” she said.
Keith Baker was a sailing instructor with the Red Cross for 13 years, he said, and just enjoys sailing and working with kids.
The Sea Scouts also do “a ton” of things besides sailing or boating, Halstead, but all are water-related.
A group of Scouts is back on the “high seas,” thanks a generous donation from a corporation from Texas.
It all started back in February, said Joan Halstead, “skipper” of “cruise director” of what’s known as the Boy Scouts’ Sea Scout Ship 5555.
It was about five months ago, Halstead said, that she discovered that a thief cut the lock and took the motor off the Sea Scouts’ Huffy 18-foot sailboat they’ve had since 2006.
“I spent the next couple of months ‘begging’ for someone to donate a used one, but to no avail,” Halstead said, adding, “I really was depressed, because it’s hard to have a Sea Scout program without a boat in the water!”
Finally, the local Boy Scout office found a 1992 Nissan motor, but they didn’t know if it worked.
Halstead emailed Nissan customer service to inquire about the gas-oil mix that would be needed to run the old motor. She also asked them to consider selling the Scouts a “refurbished” motor at a “steep discount.”
To her utter surprise, just three days later, on May 2, she had a return email from a Jim Morganthaler, general manager of Nissan in Texas. He told Halstead that Nissan would donate a brand new, 2012 motor to the Sea Scouts, and that it would be delivered to a dealer in the area, Bayside Boat and Tackle on Empire Boulevard.
A sailboat still needs a motor, explained Ken Strimple of Bayside, “when there is no wind or you’re trying to maneuver the boat without the sails up.” He valued the new, six-horsepower motor from Nissan’s outboard division at $1,600.
The Sea Scouts “broke in” the new motor June 28, with friends and supporters on hand for the big debut.
She seldom goes out on the sailboat or the Century motor boat recently donated by Tom McGrain of Irondequoit, Halstead said, to give more opportunities to the Scouts. Each boat goes out with two adults and four Scouts.
She does have five adults, like Keith and Marlene Baker of West Henrietta, who “captain” the boats and provide instruction to the Scouts, Halstead said.
“Having five adults helping this year is a total luxury,” she said.
Keith Baker was a sailing instructor with the Red Cross for 13 years, he said, and just enjoys sailing and working with kids.
The Sea Scouts also do “a ton” of things besides sailing or boating, Halstead, but all are water-related.
Past activities have includes scuba diving, camping, skiing (water and snow), tubing, spelunking, fencing (because pirates on the high seas used swords!), curling (on ice), and more.
Former members who are now in college even come back to participate in activities and help out in the summer, Halstead said.
Rebecca Waterhouse, Sarah Bush and Bethany Kasperek of Fairport said they heard about and joined Sea Scouts after filling out an interest survey at school.
They had all done sailing at the YMCA’s Camp Corey on Keuka Lake, Rebecca said, and wanted to continue.
Sea Scouts not only go boating, but also learn sailing and safety skills.
The “ship” currently has about 12 members, Halstead, but more are always welcome.
