GREMLIN

On a fine morning in early November 2024, Kathy and Ray Anderson arrived at the harbor in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. They were there to enjoy a cherished custom, a day outing aboard GREMLIN, a converted U.S. Navy motor whaleboat that has been owned in their family for many decades. GREMLIN is a unique and quite distinctive small vessel, and getting her underway involves certain time-honored rituals.

This particular day marked the end of the boating season, bringing the final ride of the year and the start of GREMLIN’s annual decommissioning. After rowing out to their mooring, the Andersons invariably follow a familiar routine. Take down the weather curtains and roll them up to store below. Transfer the day’s provisions from the dinghy and set the ensign in its socket atop the rudder. Check the bilges, batteries, and free travel in the cable steering. Briefly switch on the pre-lube pump to establish engine oil pressure before starting, and lift the hinged engine cover to check for a slight puff of preheat smoke. Then start the engine and scan the gauges to verify that all is well.

When everything was ready, Kathy went forward to drop the mooring pennant, and GREMLIN headed out of the harbor to make one last day excursion before returning to the dock for the start of decommissioning—a process that is largely handled by the owners themselves.

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