About the TERN

What is S/V Paviti Tern Preservation Trust Inc?

Our Non Profit Mission

S/V PAVITI TERN is a place where veterans can gather, learn, work, sail, and rebuild purpose together. Her history, restoration, and future on the water are all part of the mission.

"OUR MOTTO"

Don't Tread on Me Navy Jack Flag

"DONT TREAD ON ME"

Learn the Meaning of the First Navy Jack

S/V PAVITI TERN

PATIENTLY WAITING FOR VOLUNTEER VETERANS AT BRISTOL MARINE IN SOMERSET, MA.

HER HISTORY

Her history began the year of the great Northeast Hurricane of 1938. The storm killed many as well as destroyed the Fairhaven and New Bedford  waterfront. A little known fact about that storm is its rate of forward movement. The Great Storm traveled over the water in excess of seventy miles per hour which means it could form over Cape Hatteras, NC at 10pm and be pounding Cape Cod, Ma by 6am the next morning. On that day many fishermen left the dock never to be seen again due to the limited weather advisory mechinisms at that time.
S/V PAVITI TERN began her life at the Casey Boatworks in Fairhaven, MA in 1938. Casey Boatworks suffered two devastating fires that destroyed the company's buildings, drawings and records. The drawings, blueprints and sales brochures appearing on our site were provided by Ken Ziegler of Manatee Pocket, Florida.
Thanks to R. Scott Morris & Capt'n Dave Butcher, co-authors of "Boatbuilders of Fairhaven", we  have a fairly good record of Major Casey's innovation and work ethics in their book. Their account shows a very talented immigrant from Nova Scotia coming to the town of Fairhaven, MA and building hundreds of very seaworthy fishing boats as well as many unique, fast and beautiful sailing yachts. Major Casey did not pay attention to copyright laws. When he saw a hull design he liked, he set about to incorporate his innovation into the design. Hence the triple headed cutter rig by Major Casey. In this unique rig In place of the mizzen sail, Casey installed a bronze steering gear made at the Lunenburg Foundry in Canada. This unique steering provided for no rudder feedback. This  allowed the four sails to maintain a set course. Though the gear was difficult in close quarters, it made open ocean sailing "easy peasy lemon squeasy". In his sales brochure, he describes the triple headsail cutter rig as the most versatile for sea- going passages. Using the deck mounted, self tending stay sail allowed for single handed in close quarters and safe handling at sea from within the cockpit. The long cast iron keel, long boom and two headsails on a bowsprit hamper her maneuverability in close quarters. Like the bird, she is home at sea free from the constraints of the land as well as able to to fly fast with her three headsails.

S/V PAVITI TERN is the sole surviving Casey-built, plank on frame sailing vessel of this very unique design. Her one-of-a-kind feature is a 16 foot cast iron keel with the slot for the centerboard cast in the iron keel and pinned in the cast iron keel. This allowed for no centerboard trunk in the main salon. This unusual design was not seen in any other sailing vessels of her time by any boat designer. In later year with the advent of Clorox bottles, centerboard boats of her design were commonplace.

Her innovative design can be traced back to famous boat designer, John Alden. in the early 1930's John Alden commissioned Casey to build two yawl and two ketch rigged boats with this hull design. The mizzen sail on the yawl & ketch as well as the length and weight of the cast iron keel helps her hold her course on long ocean passages. The centerboard being hinged in the slot in the cast iron keel, means there was no longer a need for a centerboard trunk inside the cabin making interior design versatile.

Robert Sanborn Restoration and Federal Documentation

Robert Sanborn resident of Oak Bluffs, MA, purchased S/V PAVITI TERN from owners unknown sometime in the late fifties or early sixties. Sanborn  changed her name to PATIENCE. After a four year restoration project he had S/V PATIENCE federally documented #515906 by Benjamin & Gannon boatbuilders of Marthas' Vineyard. When I purchased her, I changed her name back to S/V PAVITI TERN based on the record of Bob's attempt to sell her through CANNELL PAYNE&PAGE Yacht Brokers, where her previous name was listed as PAVITI TERN.

 

The history of Robert Sanborn's four year restoration and forty some years of ownership was recorded in text only. No pictures but Bob did give me a large box of  paper receipt's of the thousands of dollars he spent on restoring S/V PATIENCE. Carpenter Nat Benjamin of GANNON & BENJAMIN boat building in Vineyard Haven MA worked on her at Bob's home in 1979 at a labor rate of $9 an hour. He kept a daily log for his accomplishments. I provide our readers with his personal letter placing the boat for sale in 1998 with CANNELL, PAYNE & PAGE, Yacht Brokers in Camden ME, asking price was eighteen thousand dollars. He laments in the letter how he was being forced to sell his beloved boat due to his old age. That coupled with no interest from his family members. On page three of the Broker agreement you can read the very extensive rebuild, without which I would not have been able to complete my restoration. Now she has come full circle with old age and no family interest forcing me to find a new home for her. Her new home will be as a Dedicated Veterans Service Vessel or she will be decommissioned with dignity if support is not found. I will not let her rot away lonely and uncared for!

ROBERT SANBORN PERSONAL LETTER

Nat Benjamin Labor Rate 1979

 

 

Before “Don’t Tread on Me” became a slogan, it was a warning. The First Navy Jack speaks to veterans because it honors strength without domination and service without propaganda.

Read the Original Meaning