Barry and Sue Blaisdell, Gloucester, MA

“Gabriel”, originally “Scaup” was designed and built for Fred Johnson, curator of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.  Fred was a stickler for details and, in addition to over seeing each step of the building process, had the boat moved to his home in Andover, Mass, where he completed the interior.  She was design number 327 from the office of Sam Crocker, a very well respected designer of fine yachts.  She was built in Manchester, MA by Sturgis Crocker, son of Sam, and launched in 1961.  She spent many years sailing out of Manchester and cruising the coast of New England. 

Years passed, owners passed, and unfortunately her care suffered.  We found her in a shed in South Freeport, Maine in 1993 and according to Sam Crocker (Grandson of Sam the designer) she wasn’t quite ready for the chain saw.  My wife, Sue, and I started her road to recovery keeping one solid golden rule: each spring we would make her ready enough to sail and put off major work for the winter months.  Over the next 9 years, we re-powered, re-fastened, re- wired, replaced the decking, replaced the cabin top, re-built the cockpit, replaced all hatches and added the butterfly hatch. 

“Gabriel” gave us 26 years of cruising from Canada to the Bahamas.  Last month she found a new caregiver and our hope is she will continue to give the  joy and pride of ownership to the new owner.

– Barry Blaisdell, October 2020