Remembering "Aphrodite"- part 1

[beaky]

My visit to the south Street Seaport brought back some interesting memories of my months living aboard Aphrodite, a 40-foot wooden cabin cruiser, about 10 years ago... pretty sure I never posted the few Polaroids and Instamatic shots I took during that period, so here they are...

I was looking for an apt., and the owner of this boat had placed an ad in the paper. It was moored in Jersey City, near Liberty State Park, convenient for me at the time... I couldn't resist. I moved aboard the day after Christmas, and naturally that same week began one of the worst winters on record: something like 12 blizzards in a row; very cold and windy. I began to question my sanity...



The marina was locked in about a foot of ice for about two months; "Affie" was locked in and squeezed to the point where she developed some minor leaks. No prob, as long as the bilge pump was running... the very cold morning when the batteries died (backed up by shore power, but once they crapped out, that was it) was very memorable...I think i bailed about 100 gallons out of the bilge before heading off to Sears for replacement batteries, praying my house would still be afloat when I got back.  Keeping warm was a challenge, with nothing but a single (indoor rated) kerosene heater.


But it was well worth it for the joys of living aboard in the spring and summertime... just lovely. This must have been one of the first warm days- everything open, canvas stowed, and me giving her a good cleaning. I did a bit of work on the boat in exchange for rent: patched the water tank, installed a solar panel, filled some rot, etc. It was fun. No, really...
With the marina free of ice, the leaks were easier to deal with: just dump some sawdust overboard, and she sucked it into the cracks. Worked very well as a temporary measure.
The owner was looking to sell this classic, but eventually gave up- wooden boats are high-maintenance, and Aphrodite was a little behind in that department. The bank foreclosed on it...I moved off just before she was hauled out. I saw her sitting in the yard shortly after, but decided not to check again. If she's still sitting there, rotting away, it would be too depressing to see.




Next: a tour of Aphrodite

[Willit Run]

I spent two summers living on a 36' Chris Craft on the Chesapeake.  It was a marina call Piney Narrows and I was 17 and 18 those two summers.  What a life it was.
Work at the gas dock in the morning and waterski the rest of the day.

 Living on a boat is so cool!!

  Great shots of your memories!

[beaky]

 Living on a boat is so cool!!

Yes, and sometimes, it's... c-c-c-cold....
That winter, I'd go to bed with long johns, sweats, at least one sweater, socks and boot liners, mittens, a hat, two blankets, an electric blanket, and a big comforter over the whole thing. It was like camping in the winter... by the water. Nasty. Never left the kerosene heater on at night or when I was out; too risky, even though it was a safety-type that supposedly would go out if it tipped over. The more likely danger was the wick burning down too much, which would produce lots of carbon monoxide ("Local Idiot Found Dead on Boat; CO Poisoning Suspected; Was Wearing Three Pairs of Socks").Tried a little ceramic heater, but it barely made a dent. So damp, so cold.
But so quiet... I miss it. You were lucky to be able to take yours out- I was bummed when it turned out Aphrodite couldn't be repaired. That would've been amazing!!
But I had my fun: threw a coupla great parties, had a good seat for the fireworks on the 4th... and one of my favorite things to do was to answer the extension phone on the bridge when someone called:
"Bridge..."
!!

[Craig.]

Nice shots Rotty. I would like to spend a couple of days on a boat some day.

[Willit Run]

Well I went digging in the garage and found some of my pictures of the boat I stayed on.

[beaky]

Very cool...a classic "Chris".  Man, I haven't gone water-skiing since my first try, over twenty years ago. That must've been perfect, living aboard a boat that was actually operational.