She hardly looks her 75 years, but as I walked across a marina in Baltimore earlier this fall, I had to turn my head and
look a little closer. Other than that she’s Chas. D. Gaither, I can’t say much else.
But I can tell you something about her namesake and one of those responsible for saving her. Click here for the Gaither story and here for a restorer’s story.
It appears that Gaither‘s builders, Spedden Shipbuilding, also built Driftmaster (1949) and Wilhelm Baum (1923), which sank at the dock nearly two years ago. Does anyone know what has become of Baum? All photos here by Will Van Dorp. I took the Baum photo back in 2008.
Click here and scroll to see the oldest retired NYPD launch I know of, Patrolman Walburger aka Launch No. 5.
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December 28, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Walt Mathers
Thanks for posting text and images about the CHARLES D. GAITHER. This former police and fire boat, rated by the USCG for coast-wise towing and designated an historic vessel by the US Maritime Administration, was acquired in June of 2011, as a gift of the family of the late Captain Vernon “Pete” Johnson, by the Baltimore & Chesapeake Steamboat Company, Inc. (B&CSC), a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit entity that preserves, interprets, and supports industrial maritime heritage efforts within the Port of Baltimore & the Chesapeake Bay Region.
The B&CSC intends to use the GAITHER to train groups such as the Sea Cadets, Explorer Scouts to become salvage and rescue divers. It is hoped that the GAITHER will also be used as a seagoing ambassador for the Port of Baltimore and serve in a unique capacity to identify historic wrecks.
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