MF 105 Margaret Martin/ Liveaboard Sailors Interviews

Northeast Archives of Folklore and Oral History: MF 105 Margaret Martin/ Liveaboard Sailors Interviews

Number of accessions: 9
Dates when interviews were conducted: 1985- 1986
Time period covered: 20th century
Principal interviewers: Margaret Martin
Finding aides: transcripts
Access restrictions: NA1943
Description: This collection consists of nine interviews with people who live aboard sailboats, mostly along the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida, although one interview was done in Maine. The live-aboard sailors discuss their life histories; experiences on the sea; design and maintenance of their vessels; recipes; sea lore; and sea stories (yarns).

Related: If you find this collection interesting, you may want to check out another related Maine resource: The Penobscot Marine Museum.

NA1938 Chic Lawrence and Shirley Lawrence, interviewed by Margaret Martin, January 24 and March 6, 1986, Key Largo, Florida. The Lawrences discuss life aboard their boat, the Luana; the freedom that comes with living on a boat; choosing a boat’s name; various kinds of boats and their features; sailboats versus power boats; limited space and its potential to hurt relationships; challenges of living on a boat; casual nature of lifestyle; decorating the boat; complications when considering purchasing waterfront property to live on the water; why a marina is preferable to anchoring out; drug smuggling and how smugglers can still be pleasant people; making a living on a boat; and independence from children. Text: 58 pp. transcript. Recording: C 0429 – C 0430 2 hours.

NA1939 Hans Vanderschoot and Joke Vanderschoot, interviewed by Margaret Martin, July 24, 1986, Steuben, Maine. The Vanderschoots talk about their lives aboard their sailboat, the Ariel V; sacrifices that living on a boat entails; adventures in bad weather; description of Ariel V; heaving-to; perceptions of powerboat owners; why more men than women are interested in being liveaboard sailors; and attempts to catch their own fish. Text: 25 pp. transcript. Recording: C0431 40 mins.

NA1943 R.E. Gafferty, interviewed by Margaret Martin, November 5, 1985, Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Gafferty discusses the history of his ship, British schooner Rosa Lind, built 1903; dipping luggers being obsolete by 1911; how WWII halted fishing in England; repairing his boat and early adventures on it in the 1960s; and why living on boats is bad for young children. RESTRICTED. Text: 22 pp. transcript. Recording: C 0440 ½ hour.

NA1953 W.E.S. Gamblin, interviewed by Margaret Martin, December 6, 1985, Port Orange, Florida. Gamblin talks of moving onto his boat, the Restless, and sailing from Canada; assisting fellow boaters after a heart attack at sea; description of his Swedish racing boat’s design; and his ancestors’ sea experiences. Text: 16 pp. transcript. Recording: C 0451 15 minutes. Photos: P06859 – P06861.

NA1954 Robert Wade and Reggie Wade, interviewed by Margaret Martin, November 14, 1985, Beaufort, South Carolina. The Wades talk about his ancestor and the (Philadelphia) Quaker City Yacht Club circa 1880; description of their boat, the Magee; Reggie’s idea of writing a boating cookbook; and Martin tells them about the Seven Seas Cruising Association. Text: 17 pp. transcript. Recording: C 0452 15 mins. Photograph: P06432.

NA1961 Francoise Raievsky and Pierre Raievsky, interviewed by Margaret Martin, MLS, fall 1985, Elizabeth City, North Carolina. 8 pp. Tape: 1/2 hr. w/ brief cat. The Raievsky talk about being “liveaboard” sailors making their way from Iceland to Brazil aboard their vessel, “Othosuaq.” Text: brief catalog (in control folder). Recording: C 0454. Photos: P06433 – P06434.

NA1968 Gene Henkel, interviewed by Margaret Martin, November 24 – December 8, 1985, Daytona Beach, Florida. Henkel talks about his ketch, the Sea Fever, and its design features; safety features; why fiberglass boats are preferable to wooden boats; sailing in inclement weather; an acquaintance who builds oyster boats; spending time ashore; getting his brother into the Army Air Force during WWII; putting out boat fires; sailing along the New England coast; characteristics of liveaboard boaters as a community; difference between yachtsmen and liveaboards; child liveaboards; his sense of liveaboards as most often sophisticated and skilled; willingness to volunteer; and centrality of involvement with the boat. Text: 75 pp. transcript. Recording: C 0462 – C 0463 2 hours.

NA1969 Milton Taylor, interviewed by Margaret Martin, November 24 – 26, 1985, Daytona Beach, Florida. Taylor discusses life as a liveaboard sailor; problems associated with his boat, the Liberation, being made of wood; choosing a name due to his involvement in the Anti-Apartheid movement; and a conversation with Martin and her husband about their boat, the Miracle. Text: 16 pp. transcript. Recording: C 0464 15 mins.

NA1970 Louise Goepel, interviewed by Margaret Martin, November 28, 1985, Daytona Beach, Florida. Goepel discusses her liveaboard family; her husband’s early life; books and book exchanges with other boaters; and sewing for the Encore, her boat. Text: 20 pp. transcript. Recording: C 0465 ½ hour.