By Peter Noble
Once upon a time, not so long ago – it was Tuesday June 25th to be precise – an aging naval architect and his good wife embarked upon a voyage across Puget Sound on their way to visit their latest grandson in Port Townsend WA.
The naval architect, as was his wont when traveling, was wearing his SNAME shirt with the bright yellow logo quite prominent against the dark blue shirt. The reason he did this was that he had the vague idea that the shirt made him look “semi-official” and that that might lead to less hassle by the TSA staff at airport security checks.
The couple had been delayed in getting to the ferry due to the massive waterfront construction going on in Seattle, where traffic tunnels are being built, and so had missed an earlier sailing and were far back in the line-up for the next sailing.
Washington State Ferries
The ferry they were loaded on to was one of the large, efficient, multi-deck, Washington State Ferries vessels which ply Puget Sound. This particular trip was very busy as it was the 5.30p.m. sailing to Bainbridge Island and so was packed with tourist travelers mixed in with a large population of trans-sound commuters of every ilk, - walk-ons, cyclists, bikers, car and truck drivers and even one gentleman in Tesla!
Being amongst the last to load and not being as spritely as in earlier years it took the naval architect and his wife sometime to climb the stairs to the passenger deck where the bought coffee. Coffee in hand they looked around for a place to sit, but most seats were taken. Eventually they found some space on a long bench next to one of the windows, when a kind gentleman moved some of his gear to make room……. whereupon then gentleman espied the logo on the naval architect’s shirt and exclaimed, “ Aha, so you are a naval architect – I am one too!”.
From that initial remark there flowed an interesting conversation. It turned out the other ferry rider was Doug Greason, who works at Delta Marine, builders of world class motor yachts, like the ones shown below:
Delta’s 151ft. “KATYA” Delta’s 240ft. “LAUREL”
Doug studied naval architecture at Swarthmore College (a unique distinction, he believes), and has been a member of SNAME since 1992. He is one of many naval architects who live on Bainbridge Island on the west side of Puget Sound and commute daily by ferry to Seattle.
As they chatted the naval architect mentioned that the PNW Section had an active Young Professionals, YP, group and explained how the YP group in Texas has been very successful at bridging the generation gap between members in their early career years and those members somewhat longer in the tooth. Doug seemed to like that idea, although he claimed that when he got a notice of PNW-YP activities he did not think of it as including more seasoned professionals such as himself. ( Author’s Note to Self – contact PNW YPs and see how they might have some events that are more multi-generational).
They continued to talk about people and boats and the naval architect mentioned that he was on his way to visit his latest grandson who was born in Port Townsend in early June. He told Doug that he figured it was never too early to start to indoctrinate youngsters into the ways of naval architecture. Doug agreed and told the naval architect that his son Nathaniel had spent last summer working with a boat-builder who had been hired by Ken Lane, another well-known SNAME PNW member, to work on repair and refurbishment of his boat.
Ken’s Thunderbird under Repair Ken’s Thunderbird under Sail
As the PA system announced that drivers should return to their vehicles on the car deck as the vessel was arriving at the terminal in Eagle Harbor , the young man who had been sitting at the window apparently listening to his iPod, turned to Doug and asked “So are you Nate Greason’s father?................” The start of another Ferry Tale ……………..?
And so, like any good Ferry Tale there is a moral to this story. It is that one should show one’s SNAME colors whenever possible since one never knows when this might lead to a chance encounter, which if nothing else, helps connect us in our professional lives. The naval architect has not yet ordered his Delta Super Yacht from Doug, but now that he has met him, who knows what the future will bring?