Every now and then there's a wooden boat that stands out from the rest. They are by no means financial investments, but unexplainably emotional ones that run deeper than our pockets. Over the years they age, weathering storm after storm; rot spreads through the planks and framing likes cancer in the body of a loved one. Year after year we haul them out of the water for treatment, hoping to slow the effects of time for just a few more nice days on the water.
M/V TAUTIRA is one of those vessels where you loose track of time, and wonder why you spend so much time on land. She gives back more than she takes, and previous owners can attest to how being onboard feels like you're coming home. The reality is, restoring an old wooden boat is a collaborative effort, and launching a nonprofit is no easy feat. At nearly 95 years old, M/V TAUTIRA still floats proudly today - a testament to her resiliency and stout design. However, she is now at her tipping point.
Founder & Executive Director, Lauren de Remer, has invested $175,000+ into the boat over the last 6+ years, addressing arrested decay and major structural needs to buy time for a full rebuild, including a 9-month haul out in 2021 at Richardson Bay Boatworks & Ways. However, in order to launch Tautira Foundation and safely cater to cancer patients onboard, M/V TAUTIRA must first undergo a complete restoration. Once 15% of our estimated goal is met, she will be transported to the Pacific Northwest where she was originally built for 2+ rebuild. Upon arrival, the boat will be examined stem-to-stern by a team consisting of a lead shipwright, accredited marine surveyor (SAMS), naval architect and UCSG Seattle inspection department; she will be dissembled down to her framing to ensure safe & sound material throughout.
During this time, our Executive Director plans to build out the future programming for Tautira Foundation, and act a a project manager alongside a lead shipwright and boat building team. The boat will be put into the nonprofit and owned exclusively by Tautira Foundation, timing that will occur at the discretion of Tautira Foundation board members.
In effort to be proactive on our liability and safety precautions, Tautira Foundation is considering a US Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection (COI) upon completion (which is predicted to equate to an additional 10-20% of cost to the overall restoration). Our goal is to make Tautira Foundation financially sustainable once the boat is rebuilt, but in order to get there we need your help. Please share this with anyone you know has been impacted by cancer and might resonate with the belief that any time outside a hospital is a step in the right direction.
For more information, please visit: www.tautira.org