STORY PAGE
The Richardson
I cannot remember how I became aware of the Richardson for sale, but if it had been in a newspaper
ad by an honest seller it would have read “1940 - 28’ Richardson needing new owner willing to restore with a desire greater than life and sparing no
expense.“ Regardless, my girlfriend and I saw it, tried it, liked it, and I bought it. It was the heaviest boat
I ever purchased. It was an antique. We saw her sister ship at the Antique Boat Show in Clayton and immediately we had a plan. Restore it. All we lacked was
the money, the knowledge, the energy, and the time.
The Richardson was located at Kee-Way-Din State Park near Alexandria Bay in the
Thousand Islands. My dad drove my girl, my self, and my six-year-old daughter to Key-Way-Din Park to take ownership. Fuel was added, provisions brought
aboard, a course charted, and we got under way. It was a beautiful day, sunny, warm, and calm water ahead. I took us to the mouth of the St. Lawrence and
then I set a course to go outside the Galloo Islands and then alter course to head almost directly to the channel at Sandy Pond. I had already shown my
girlfriend (Dara) how to use the compass. A small lesson by pointing out the wake behind (which looked like ribbon candy) was all that was necessary to allow
her to keep her course and change our wake to a straight line. She was a little apprehensive when she lost sight
of the shore. I indicated the shoreline and our likely location using the chart. I explained line-of-site and dead reckoning. I also saw the look of relief
on her face once the shoreline re-appeared. Seeing the shore and seeing the channel were two different things. I knew we had to be straight out from the
channel to see it. I had charted my course to be North of the Channel when we came close to shore. This way I would recognize familiar landmarks before I saw
the channel and correct accordingly.
The best laid plans…… Somewhere
between sighting shore and recognizing landmarks, the engine died. The gas gage showed ample fuel. There was spark at the plugs but it just would not start.
The six-cylinder “Chrysler Fire Ball Six” was a marine engine with and excellent reputation. I decided not to mess with gas in the bilge, or
sparks, or using up my battery. Once I had checked for a plugged gas filter I decided to ask for help. I assumed we were out of gas and the gage was
defective.
The wind was picking up, but it was pushing us toward shore. I hoisted an
orange flag and brought out a trusted CB set. We had no Ship to Shore Radio yet, nor had we installed the CB. If
we had not been so worried it would have been quite funny. My girlfriend was holding the CB. My daughter was explaining to my girlfriend how to rock with the
boat so you didn’t loose your balance. My girlfriend was telling my daughter to get her life jacket on, and I was trying to attach a pair of automotive
jumper cables to the teeny-weeny wires from the CB set.
Rocking back and forth we managed to contact the local REACT volunteers at
Sandy Pond. They assured us they would be on their way shortly with ample fuel. I explained where I thought we were. It was getting dark and I hoped to have
time to refuel and be through the channel before dark. Oh well.
They finally found us, and I refueled, but lack of fuel was not our problem. We
had to be towed. A large, heavy, wooden cabin cruiser is not an easy tow. A second boat with twin Inboard/Outboards arrived shortly after the first. Lines
were passed and we were on our way. It was slow going. It was also now dark. It was awhile before the lighted buoys in front of the channel were in sight.
Once within the channel buoys, there were two large cruisers with very large sealed beams to help light our way through. This helped greatly and the two twin
I/O’s increased power. Then the Richardson hit bottom. It took only a second but the two I/O’s come together so quick that I heard the noise of their
gunnels hitting. Luckily there was no damage and we were soon in the Pond. They towed me closer to camp. My rescuers waited while I dropped anchor. And then
took the three of us ashore.
It had been along day. My daughter fell asleep when we saw the channel and did
not wake up until the following morning. My girlfriend soon followed suit.
I could not thank my rescuers enough. They
refused payment. They would not even except money for the gas they gave or used. Then a young man of approximately my age said. “If you really would like
to do something, when the opportunity arises, go out of your way to help a fellow boater.” Then he departed. I
took the small boat and towed the Richardson close to the dock. I secured it for the night and went to bed myself.
Important notes:
The problem was a vapor lock. Some simple modifications in the gas piping solved it.
We kept the Richardson at Jones Marina on Route 15 and did some decent cruising that summer. During that time, the automatic bilge pump drained
the battery system numerous times. I would get a call telling me she
was listing again and arrive just in time. The Richardson needed some serious caulking the following year. In the fall we hauled it from the water near
Fulton where I then worked.
The next spring someone had broken into the boat and
the antique wheel and oil lanterns were taken. They had also tried to remove the engine, but failed. Then the company for whom we were working went into
receivership.
The following spring I acquired a job in Massena. The
new company would not move the Richardson, I could not afford to ship her by land and she could not make the trip herself. I signed her over to the owner of
the marina as payment for storage. A few years later I stopped back to see if she had been restored. Now her engine was missing. Her stern was beginning to
dry rot and she was a mess. I have never returned.
I do not believe the (Sandy Pond) R E A C T still exists. I do know that they were as efficient and quick as any rescue team I have seen before or after
Since that day we were rescued, I have often been
asked, “How can I repay you?” My response for over thirty years has always been, “If you really would
like to do something, when the opportunity arises, go out of your way to help a fellow boater.”
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