By Rich Berkowitz, Retired Maritime Professional & Sea Scouts Volunteer
For many folks working in the maritime sector, it has gotten ever more difficult to find a new hire who knows how to tie a knot, turn a screwdriver, or show up for work in a timely manner. Youth who engage in Sea Scouts tend to meet these basic tasks and excel in so many skills necessary to meet the challenges of the waterfront and/or a seagoing profession. In my own career, some of the most talented people I worked with developed their maritime roots through the Sea Scouts.
So, when the opportunity arose to help raise some funds and support the local Seattle Sea Scouts in their effort to replace their creosote-timbered dock as required by the state, I was most willing to lend a hand. This endeavor was different from many of the fundraising projects I previously encountered. It was exclusively volunteer-led and -managed. A large measure of which was accomplished by the scouts, their parents, former scout members, and locals affiliated with the Seattle waterfront. Critical funding and in-kind donations were raised from marine businesses like Western Towboat, Fisheries Supply, Saltchuk, local unions, the Seattle Propeller Club, and numerous sea scout alumni. Notably, Representative Julia Reed, a former Seattle Sea Scout who now serves in the state legislature and chairs its maritime caucus, convinced her colleagues to approve of a critical capital budget request to help pay for a portion of the costs. The project was accomplished well under budget given all the gratis assistance and components.
With this undertaking accomplished so successfully, Seattle Sea Scouts have now taken on required USCG passenger/crew egress and exiting upgrades and are planning several mechanical and vessel renewal projects to the training vessel PROPELLER. True to its experiential education mission, some of the needed vessel components have been fabricated at Mount Si High’s welding program in cooperation with Core Plus Maritime. Everett Ship Repair has pledged to donate a used/surplus engine to repower the 1950s-era Sea Scout training boat. Crowley has sponsored the new fire-resistant mattresses, necessary hot work is accomplished at Western Towboat, paint donated from Sherwin-Williams, among other contributions.
Nonetheless, funds to accomplish much of the rest of the work are needed –as well as volunteers who could lend their hands and skills to this community effort to train and prepare committed youth for maritime careers and leadership. Direct donations, appreciated stock donations, equipment, and other tax-deductible contributions are all welcome and appreciated. Donation arrangements can be made by contacting Capt. Al Bruce at Barnardbruce@Comcast.Net, 253-709-1148. More information on how to contribute can also be found online.
If you know a young person, age 14 – 20, who is interested in participating, see https://www.sss-propeller.org/, or contact Capt. Jeremy Makin at 206-579-3955.
The YTB Propeller will also be hosting an open house on Sunday, May 31st from 4-7 p.m. Meet some of our scouts and dedicated volunteers, learn more about the ongoing work, and hear what about the plans for the coming year. Contact Lee Swanson at lee.swanson@p2sinc.com for more information.
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