Return of the Ebb Tide
Donation protected
Ebb Tide ~ Lost and found.About 7 years ago my Brother Troy found what we thought was the old wooden Monk design boat that shaped our youth. Here's a picture of the Ebb Tide, Circa 1979. (see the attached video of when she was launched)
We spent many summers aboard with our Grandparents, Parents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. It planted a seed for my Brother and I that has grown into an insatiable passion for boating and spending time on the water with our families.
It was on blocks in a guys yard about 10 minutes from where I lived, 30 + miles away from where is spent many years on Seattle's ship canal in the Ballard neighborhood. Well a couple phone calls and a brief visit in the cold and snow of December 2006 we indeed found the lost Ark.
In disbelief we didn't know what to do. We knew it sold in 1986 to a new owner after our Grandfather wasn't able to perform the upkeep and Troy and I were not old enough (I was 18 then) to take on a responsibility.
We talked to the owner at that time that had it for sale for nearly $10,000. We told him our story and he was inspired to see us get the boat back in the family. We were both in no position to do much with it, even if he gave it to us. The Ebb Tide was sold to a fellow in Portland, OR that began a restoration project. We requested that he stay in touch and please allow us first refusal if he ended up selling her and we were in a better spot. He did and over a couple years he even gave us restoration updates via email with videos and pictures. We really wanted to get this boat back into the fold of our families. Another year went by and a storm hit down in Portland which yielded some damage, although it wasn't major, left the new owner discouraged, and embarrassed to call us. It sold without us knowing about it. Troy and I emailed him requesting an update, and we asked how things were going. He finally, after nearly 4-6 months returned an email saying he was very sorry, but he sold it back in 2010. He was embarrassed about the damage and didn't want us to see it. (small hole from the marina collapse in the port galley side~ it really wasn't that bad, but needed repair). Anyway he gave us the names of the new owners. We introduced ourselves and they were excited to hear from us. We sent them pictures and the video (posted here) of the maiden launching and voyage. We again asked to stay in touch and the promised to do so. We'll 9 months ago the new owners planned to sell and I had just started a new job, time and money were tight. The new owners really wanted us to have her back in the Family. We did too, but neither Troy or I again were in a position to acquire the Ebb Tide back and give her the just and proper care. Fast foward to today. We were alerted that there would be an Ad posted with her for sale. Troy and I came up with the idea of this funding site. We know we can take care of her and get her back into our family if we can just procure her, ship her back up to Puget Sound and get moorage for a year, and do some minimal repairs to get her at least safely usable. The $20,000 we're seeking will do those four things. After that we have a plan to sustain the maintenance and continue to be good stewards of this slice of our family history.
Below is a picture of her as she sits today.
If you are interested in gifting us a donation and help us with our opportunity to get her back, we'd really appreciate it. The boating community is a beautiful, unique one and we can't wait to get the Ebb Tide back where she belongs.
Thank you
Todd Olason
We spent many summers aboard with our Grandparents, Parents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. It planted a seed for my Brother and I that has grown into an insatiable passion for boating and spending time on the water with our families.
It was on blocks in a guys yard about 10 minutes from where I lived, 30 + miles away from where is spent many years on Seattle's ship canal in the Ballard neighborhood. Well a couple phone calls and a brief visit in the cold and snow of December 2006 we indeed found the lost Ark.
In disbelief we didn't know what to do. We knew it sold in 1986 to a new owner after our Grandfather wasn't able to perform the upkeep and Troy and I were not old enough (I was 18 then) to take on a responsibility.
We talked to the owner at that time that had it for sale for nearly $10,000. We told him our story and he was inspired to see us get the boat back in the family. We were both in no position to do much with it, even if he gave it to us. The Ebb Tide was sold to a fellow in Portland, OR that began a restoration project. We requested that he stay in touch and please allow us first refusal if he ended up selling her and we were in a better spot. He did and over a couple years he even gave us restoration updates via email with videos and pictures. We really wanted to get this boat back into the fold of our families. Another year went by and a storm hit down in Portland which yielded some damage, although it wasn't major, left the new owner discouraged, and embarrassed to call us. It sold without us knowing about it. Troy and I emailed him requesting an update, and we asked how things were going. He finally, after nearly 4-6 months returned an email saying he was very sorry, but he sold it back in 2010. He was embarrassed about the damage and didn't want us to see it. (small hole from the marina collapse in the port galley side~ it really wasn't that bad, but needed repair). Anyway he gave us the names of the new owners. We introduced ourselves and they were excited to hear from us. We sent them pictures and the video (posted here) of the maiden launching and voyage. We again asked to stay in touch and the promised to do so. We'll 9 months ago the new owners planned to sell and I had just started a new job, time and money were tight. The new owners really wanted us to have her back in the Family. We did too, but neither Troy or I again were in a position to acquire the Ebb Tide back and give her the just and proper care. Fast foward to today. We were alerted that there would be an Ad posted with her for sale. Troy and I came up with the idea of this funding site. We know we can take care of her and get her back into our family if we can just procure her, ship her back up to Puget Sound and get moorage for a year, and do some minimal repairs to get her at least safely usable. The $20,000 we're seeking will do those four things. After that we have a plan to sustain the maintenance and continue to be good stewards of this slice of our family history.
Below is a picture of her as she sits today.
If you are interested in gifting us a donation and help us with our opportunity to get her back, we'd really appreciate it. The boating community is a beautiful, unique one and we can't wait to get the Ebb Tide back where she belongs.
Thank you
Todd Olason
Organizer
Todd Olason
Organizer
Marysville, WA
