During the summer of 2009, Jim Hitchman's recently restored 1958 Teak Lady, MaZu was hit by a fishing boat while on it's first voyage in many years.
Jim was heartsick - and when his insurance company's replacement offer came in insultingly low, he donated the boat to the Port of Toledo's nascent rowing and sailing club.
My good friend Rick Johnson, local shipwright extraordinaire, recently completed the repairs and called me to help step the mast (which had been split in half by the accident).
MaZu was built in Hong Kong in 1958 and is made entirely of teak. At a demure seventeen feet, she is a petite yacht. We have yet to complete the running rigging for the sails (which are a robust and weathered tanbark), but hopefully that will happen during the upcoming boat show in Toledo, Oregon this weekend.
MaZu waits at the dock for the show along side Lively, Doryman's Ed Monk knockabout.
Lively is a regular at the Toledo Wooden Boat Show and is sailed by members of the local yacht club, offering free sailboat rides.
The Toledo Wooden Boat Show promises to be better than ever, for it's sixth year running. I need to get back to work... there will be four boats from my fleet in the show and it's only two days away!
If you're in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by!
