Highpeak
  • Home
  • Videos & Photos
  • About
  • News
  • Contact
  • Videos & Photos

News from the Pilothouse

Goodbye Portland Sea Base -a new chapter begins

5/26/2020

8 Comments

 
From the Skipper:

We say goodbye to an historic Portland landmark.  The Sea Scout Base located at 7005 NE Marine Drive has reverted  back to the Port of Portland affective May 1, 2020.   At that time all Sea Scouts were gone, along with any boats and boat houses, that are not owned by the Boy Scouts.   By the end of the year, all remaining docks, boathouses, pilings and structures on land (with the exception of the house) will be removed and the site will be returned to its original natural state.
   
The Sea Scout base was established in 1966 from a lease arrangement between the Cascade Pacific council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Port of Portland.  Prior to that arrangement, the site was the main operation of Fred Devine marine salvage.   

The arrangement between the Cascade Pacific Council of the Boy Scouts and the Port of Portland for the property started with only a $1.00 annual payment, but as years went on the lease agreement changed and cost were added.  For the current lease which expired April 1 of this year, lease payments were made by service hours on Government Island.  A minimum of 500 hours of labor was exchanged for the lease.  The other costs for operating the Sea Scout Base and program were all made with proceeds of the gift boat program and sweat equity of individual units.  Half the proceeds of the boat sale program went to support the Sea Scouts with the remaining income going to the local Scout Council.  An average of $65000 per year was generated split between the council and the Sea Scouts. 

Over the 53 Years at the location, the scouts made many major improvements to the base including new docks, officers’ quarters building, ramps and gangways.   During those years many Sea Scouts have passed through the base on their way to becoming adults.    This would include Governor Victor Atiyeh and Senator Mark Hatfield.   

What brought this all about was because the Cascade pacific Council of the Boy Scouts of America decided that the leasing the Sea Scout base along with owning the boats and associated equipment was too much of a liability for the Boy Scouts.  The Sea Scouts asked to look at the risk management report and numbers the Boy Scouts used in their determination, but the Cascade Pacific Council would not release that information.  

There was an offer from a Non-profit group to the Boy Scouts to take over the lease from the Port of Portland, the base and all the structures, but that offer was rejected by the CEO of the Cascade Pacific Council of the Boy Scouts, Matt Devore, and had the blessing of the Chairman of the board of Directors, Mark Ganz.     
 
With no place to go and the possibility of the Sea Scout program demising into oblivion, each sea scout unit  had no other choice but to put what little equipment they had in storage and to operate their program from their  homes.   Some of the vessels, which were owned by the Boy Scouts, were sold to individual Sea Scout.  What was not taken by individual volunteers’ was sold at fire sale prices to the public.   That also included engines, parts, and a whole storage area of marine equipment that the Sea Scouts had acquired over the years.  What couldn’t be sold by the Boy Scouts was sent to scrap.   All the proceeds were to offset the cost of dismantling and closing the base.   It has been estimated that the cost could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars although the exact figure may never be known.
 
But there is still hope for the Sea Scout program

 A group of Sea Scout volunteers started a Not For Profit originzation, Portland Sea Base Inc., specifically designed to offer training for youth in the maritime arena.  But it will not only be for Sea Scouts but for other youth direct groups.  This can be anything from rowing clubs to youth sailing. 
 

In addition to Portland Sea Base Inc., there were a few marina’s that made a very generous offer of allowing some of the ex-Sea Scout vessels to moor at their facility.   One marina took in 2 boat houses in addition to 6 vessels.   It seemed that when the word got out that the Sea Scouts were being kicked out of their home, the local yachting community helped as much as they could.    The Sea Scouts and Portland Sea Base Inc. are extremely grateful for all their help.  

Portland Sea Base Inc., with the input of the local Sea Scouts are now looking at acquiring a permanent moorage or marina.  They are also looking for donations from private donors along with boat donations to help fund their operation.   Portland Sea Base Inc. will be using the proceeds to invest back into their program.   There are no salaries or overhead, at the moment so it all can go into building a program for both youth and adults.   
To support the Portland Sea Base Inc. and local Sea Scout units please contact Roy Englund at 503-662-8862, ship643.beaver@gmail.com,  or Jim Larsen at 360-921-8894, dolphintoo@comcast.net
8 Comments
Joe Anderson
5/3/2021 14:50:45

I have a boat to donate to the program as well as a kayak or two.
Please call me at 503-360-4474

Reply
Craig Mendenhall
6/11/2021 08:25:53

Please contact me regarding making a donation of a 26wideX60 Ft Long float with a well of18 wide X 55 ft long.

Thank you
Craig Mendenhall
503 710-7684
A Nice Unit

Reply
Tom Goldsmith
7/11/2021 16:36:27

I have a fully operational 16 ft. Marlin Open-Bow Ski Boat to donate. Please contact me at (503) 636-3050, and leave a mesaage if I'm unable to answer. It's a great boat that has been well maintained over the years, but I and my wife needed a newer one... so it's yours if you waould like to have some fun with the youthful Explorers of our Portland/Vancouver region.

Thanks!

Reply
Kim Koloen
7/28/2021 09:08:40

We have an 18' Hobie Cat with new trampoline and new running rigging along with its trailer which has new tires including the spare which we would like to donate. Please contact me at
503-930-3335. Thanks, Kim Koloen

Reply
Charles B Bowman
2/28/2022 19:10:20

Hello. Former Sea Explorer, former Quartermaster. I just retired from the workforce. I was curious about volunteering for Sea Base Inc. Can you send any information on it?

Reply
clem rowlands link
6/10/2022 22:10:02

charles what ship were u on . thank

Reply
Leroy Jensen link
8/3/2022 14:16:10

The Cascade Pacific council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Port of Portland. Prior to that arrangement, the site was the main operation of Fred Devine marine salvage. I’m so thankful for your helpful post!

Reply
Jim Marshall
12/20/2022 16:05:04

I have a 32' Hunter sloop to donate. 1984.
We moved to the Idaho mountains and just have no water for her. Compass Rose 2 (II), is currently moored at Tomahawk Bay Slip A-57.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    2019

    Summer Sailing

    Archives

    May 2022
    March 2021
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    July 2019
    April 2019

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Videos & Photos
  • About
  • News
  • Contact
  • Videos & Photos