Sea Scout Ship Fund-raising to Finance Fuel for the Trip

Kids raring to go as the official Communications Vessel

The Sea Scout Ship 669 Steeves, a 65-foot diesel trawler, will serve as the communications vessel for the 2004 West Marine Pacific Cup race from San Francisco to Kaneohe Bay on Oahu, Hawaii.
The Steeves will accompany over 65 race boats to Hawaii, track their positions, and coordinate any needed assistance. Each boat in the race will be required to check in with and provide their current position to the Steeves every morning by single sideband radio. The positions of all boats in the race will be forwarded from the Steeves to land-based stations and posted daily on the West Marine Pacific Cup Web page (www.pacificcup.org).

The sponsoring organization of the Steeves and its associated Sea Scout activities is Sea Exploring Youth Activities, Inc. Its chartering organization is the Santa Cruz Host Lions Club. The Steeves will use approximately 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel for the round trip. This is a major expense for the Sea Scouts, and they are working hard to raise funds for the fuel. To date, $7,000 has been raised; another $5,000 is needed. Anyone wishing to lend a hand can make a tax-deductible donation to Sea Exploring Youth Activities, Inc. at 200 Linden Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95062.

The skipper of the Steeves is Jim Bosso. His crew for the trip to and from Hawaii will consist of 8 adult officers and 13 sea scouts. The ages of the sea scouts range from 14 to 17. The sea scouts participate in all aspects of ship operations, including cooking, maintenance, communications, watch keeping, and navigation.

Adult officers:
Andrew Towne, executive officer, mechanical officer
David Kelly, cook and medical officer
Jack McGuire, navigation and communications advisor
Jeriann Bosso, steward
Jim Bosso, skipper
John Reqent, supply officer
Sam Cherry, electrical engineering officer
Mary Bevernick, steward

Sea Scout crew members:
Alan, 16, office is store keeping
Amanda, 15, office is navigation
Antheny,14, office is engineer
Brandon, 15, office is storekeeper
Emma, 15, office is starboard crew/navigation
Georgia, 14, office is port crew
Jacqui, 15, office is purser/navigation
Kyle, 15, office is boatswain
Michael, 17, office is engineering
Patrick, 16, office is boatswain
Sammie, 15, office is navigation
Tim, 14, office is yeoman
William, 14, office is supply keeping

The Steeves was built in 1962 in New South Wales, Australia. The Federal Government took possession of the boat in 1977 in a DEA forfeiture. The U.S. Navy had possession of the ship from 1977 to 1985 when it was given to the Piedmont California Council of the Sea Scouts. In 1998, the ship was transferred to the current group in Santa Cruz, California. It entered the Santa Cruz harbor for the first time on May 24, 1998. The ship has been completely reconditioned by the Sea Scouts, their leaders, and volunteers. The Steeves is a living testimonial to the success of the Sea Scout program and demonstrates what can be done with the cooperation and hard work of the volunteers, scouts, and sponsors like the Santa Cruz Host Lions Club.

Sea Scouting is adventure on sea and land. It is a coeducational program offered to young adults between the ages of 14 and 21. Sea Scouting is organized to promote better citizenship and to improve members’ boating skills and knowledge through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills, outdoor, social, and service experiences, and knowledge of our maritime heritage.
The Steeves is a 65-foot welded steel hull diesel yacht-motor trawler with a v-hull, raked bow, hard chine, and round stern. The hull is made of 1/4" steel below the water line and 3/16" above the waterline. There are five water-tight compartments below the main deck. The boat is powered by two 685-cubic inch, 150-horsepower diesel engines. It can achieve a top speed of 11 knots (11 knots x1.15=12.65 land mph) at 1350 RPM. She consumes 8 gallons of diesel fuel per hour when cruising at 9.5 knots at 1200 RPM. Fuel capacity is 3100 gallons in eight tanks. The trip is between 2100-2200 miles. How much fuel will they have left when they get there?

The wheelhouse has a 48-mile radar system, single sideband radio, two VHF radios, an Iridium handheld satellite telephone, a depth sounder, forward sonar, three compasses, and three global positioning systems (GPS). Crew quarters and amenities include three heads. The starboard head has a standup shower, and there is an outside shower to port by the stack. Among the after quarters, forward quarters, and four staterooms, there are sleeping facilities for 18. The salon is paneled with polished Queensland Maple paneling and includes a built-in TV-VCR, a ship’s clock, and a salon table that seats 12. The galley has a built-in refrigerator, electric oven, microwave oven, and a buffet bar over an 18-cubic foot freezer. Water capacity is 1,200 gallons in two water tanks; in addition, two water makers are installed.