Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 23-07-2015, 20:39   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Boise Idaho
Posts: 5
Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

I know that sounds dramatic and crazy, I've tried everything I know to try and find out what happened to my fathers ship after he died. His name was Arnold L. Gray (Arnie) the boat was built on the east coast of Florida either in the late 70's or early 80's. He owned Gray Enterprise in Tampa and they made injection molded port holes and hatches for boats of all size. The ship was a 125' schooner named "THE FREE ENTERPRISE" It was steel hulled and I spent many a summer playing on the boat and sailing with him around the gulf. I wasn't around him much after my mom divorced him and we moved up north. I lost touch with him and found out later that he had died and the ship sold, ive heard from some in the Tarpon Springs area that it was in or around Fiji. I wish I had a picture of it but I only have on pic of myself on its deck holding a big sheepshead I'd caught. It was docked in Tarpon Springs, FL. for its whole life when not sailing. I'm just wondering if there is anybody out there that knows where this ship is or remembers it or its captain. I know he spent the better part of his adult life sailing and he was a great guy, maybe someone remembers him.
Thanks for your time.
Brian Gray
buzz-kill72 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-07-2015, 20:54   #2
Registered User
 
Dsanduril's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Petersburg, AK
Boat: Outremer 50S
Posts: 4,229
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Is this her?

The Sutton Boat Works 37.2m Sailing Yacht DISCOVERY I - CharterWorld Luxury Yachts
Dsanduril is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-07-2015, 21:05   #3
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Boise Idaho
Posts: 5
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Wow that was fast!!! I believe that's her! I'm so stoked right now, you have no idea!! Thank you sooooooooo much !! Your my hero!! Now im looking for pics now that I know her new name.
You Rock!
buzz-kill72 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-07-2015, 21:11   #4
Registered User
 
MBWhite's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Illinois
Boat: Rinker 24
Posts: 398
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Wow I have to say that that's pretty impressive to come up with 16 mintes after the original post!

MBWhite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-07-2015, 21:30   #5
Registered User
 
Dsanduril's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Petersburg, AK
Boat: Outremer 50S
Posts: 4,229
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Pictures are proving more difficult. She shows up in a number of charter registries, but all without pictures.

An old article from just after her launch:

Quote:
Because of the high price of fuel, observers say sail-assisted vessels have become more practical for a variety of uses. The 122-foot schooner Free Enterprise, for instance, will be operating by early summer out of Tarpon Springs, Fla., largely as a research and training vessel. Its owner, Arnold Gray , says the boat will be leased to firms for such things as seismographic research.
Mixing canvas and diesel power -- modern skippers rediscover the wind - CSMonitor.com

She also gets a brief mention here, but still no pictures:

https://news.google.com/newspapers?n...4,171432&hl=en
Dsanduril is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-07-2015, 09:43   #6
Registered User
 
bailsout's Avatar

Join Date: May 2013
Location: Morro Bay, CA
Boat: Herreshoff 28 modified ketch- wood
Posts: 379
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Can't wait to see pics!
bailsout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-07-2015, 10:00   #7
Senior Cruiser

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Cruising Indian Ocean / Red Sea - home is Zimbabwe
Boat: V45
Posts: 1,352
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by buzz-kill72 View Post
Wow that was fast!!! I believe that's her! I'm so stoked right now, you have no idea!! Thank you sooooooooo much !! Your my hero!! Now im looking for pics now that I know her new name.
You Rock!
The power of the internet.......
Bulawayo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-07-2015, 10:10   #8
Registered User
 
dpddj's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Maine, USA
Boat: Monk 36
Posts: 267
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulawayo View Post
The power of the internet.......
Thank you Al Gore ..........
dpddj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-07-2015, 11:30   #9
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: BVI
Boat: Leopard 40 (new model)
Posts: 1,385
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by buzz-kill72 View Post
Wow that was fast!!! I believe that's her! I'm so stoked right now, you have no idea!! Thank you sooooooooo much !! Your my hero!! Now im looking for pics now that I know her new name.
You Rock!
The Baltra home port tells you that this boat is or was used for "naturalist" guided (guide is very well l trained in all the natural stuff around there; it is not about being naked ) tours in the Galápagos islands. I bet that any of the large tour companies in the Galapagos will be able to trace the boat, photos, etc.
svlamorocha is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-07-2015, 11:37   #10
Registered User

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami Florida
Boat: Ellis Flybridge 28
Posts: 4,057
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Pardon the thread drift. Did Bomar buy Gray Enterprises?
__________________
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supplies
HopCar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-07-2015, 13:13   #11
Registered User

Join Date: May 2013
Location: CLEARWATER BEACH, FLORIDA
Boat: ALBERG 30
Posts: 43
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by buzz-kill72 View Post
I know that sounds dramatic and crazy, I've tried everything I know to try and find out what happened to my fathers ship after he died. His name was Arnold L. Gray (Arnie) the boat was built on the east coast of Florida either in the late 70's or early 80's. He owned Gray Enterprise in Tampa and they made injection molded port holes and hatches for boats of all size. The ship was a 125' schooner named "THE FREE ENTERPRISE" It was steel hulled and I spent many a summer playing on the boat and sailing with him around the gulf. I wasn't around him much after my mom divorced him and we moved up north. I lost touch with him and found out later that he had died and the ship sold, ive heard from some in the Tarpon Springs area that it was in or around Fiji. I wish I had a picture of it but I only have on pic of myself on its deck holding a big sheepshead I'd caught. It was docked in Tarpon Springs, FL. for its whole life when not sailing. I'm just wondering if there is anybody out there that knows where this ship is or remembers it or its captain. I know he spent the better part of his adult life sailing and he was a great guy, maybe someone remembers him.
Thanks for your time.
Brian Gray
Just a bit of trivia, I worked at SUTTON BOAT WORKS when i got out of military in 1965, still live near TARPON
JUNKFLYBOY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-07-2015, 20:10   #12
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New Franklin, Ohio
Boat: Homebuilt schooner 64 ft. Sold.
Posts: 1,486
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

This is cool for me, I bought a set of plans from Mr. Sutton and built a 64' steel sailboat. He seemed to be a really nice guy, took me on a tour of his yard and boats in construction. He told me he was moving to New England because Florida was too hot to get much work done in the summer. I would imagine he has passed away by now as this was in the 70's. He was regarded as one of the finest steel boat-builders in the country.
captlloyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-07-2015, 23:42   #13
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Is this her?

Scroll down the page .......

How to Choose the Right Ship for the Galapagos Islands
Sir Richard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2015, 04:39   #14
Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 40
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by captlloyd View Post
This is cool for me, I bought a set of plans from Mr. Sutton and built a 64' steel sailboat. He seemed to be a really nice guy, took me on a tour of his yard and boats in construction. He told me he was moving to New England because Florida was too hot to get much work done in the summer. I would imagine he has passed away by now as this was in the 70's. He was regarded as one of the finest steel boat-builders in the country.




Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum
Seaman gagging is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2015, 05:23   #15
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1
Re: Looking for a lost 125' steel hull schooner!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Richard View Post
Is this her?

Scroll down the page .......
No, that's the Mary Anne.

https://discovergalapagos.com/MaryAnne/index.htm
cornwalker is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
hull, lost, steel, steel hull

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
For Sale: Marinco 303SSEL-B 30 Amp 125 Volt Stainless Steel Power Inlet mepsnbarry Classifieds Archive 0 24-02-2014 10:44
Lost At Sea - Schooner Nina Friend of Nina Our Community 3 03-09-2013 15:18

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:01.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.