The Basic story starts with this:

By: Petty Officer First Class (DSW/EXW) Brian (Lucky) Levens

I bought FREEDOM back in 2002.  I found her in Mystic CT a derelict in the back of a boat yard.  As a kid growing up fishing the Jersey coast I have always been partial to Egg Harbor.  My heart was broken seeing her shape.  There was an old faded for sale sign on the hull.   Next day she was mine.  I paid about $8,000.  Later the Yard Manager said that’s what was owed in back storage fees. 

As you can guess she had all the same problems associated with 33’ 1972 Eggs.  Windows, engines, floors, bulkheads, wiring, basically there wasn’t a thing that didn’t require some kind of attention. 

This picture was taken in 2005.  Friends had her in the water waiting for my return from Iraq.  Up to this point in 4 years I have only used her 1 season.  The rest of the time I had been deployed.  Later that week an engine blew.  It almost sealed the deal between her and myself.  I was now station in Norfolk VA and the boat was stuck in Central NJ. Freedom (renamed Unknown Legend) sat on blocks for the next year as I left for a Mediterranean/African deployment. I returned fall 2006. 

Spring of 2007 a bill arrived for summer storage.  I said screw it and had Unknown Legend placed on a tractor-trailer.  Storage was found on Little Creek Amphibian base.  45 dollars a month.  Just had to bring a crane into to remove her from the trailer.   At 45 dollars a month I new time was not a problem.  My patients was.  Six years of owning her and never getting any use was getting to me.  I gave my self 3 months.  3 months she would be ready to go back into the water.  Ha what was I thinking?  The more I started fixing the more I should have stopped.  Before long I was back at the beginning.  She was in horrible shape.  The deck was rotted out in the forward section.  All the repairs I had made 5 years earlier were shot and needed urgent attention.  I started thinking to my self.  I could either put a band-aid on the situation or for 45 dollars a month I could do it right.  So pride and ego takes over and the pictures will prove what those 2 things can lead to.

   The entire front section of deck was so rotted that a screwdriver could puncture with ease.  You can see the rot all around the deck edges.  Its this condition 360 degrees around the boat

Where the house and deck meet.  This is the area where the deck meets the teak of the back cockpit

Here you can see all new support rails were screwed and West Systemed in place.  On one port visit to Ghana Africa 2000 dollars worth of Mahogany happened to find its way on board our ship.  (Paid 240 dollars for it all)

  New rails

  New Bulkhead

Probably not the right way but it worked getting the bend in the forward most Plywood.  WOW I was hurting the next day.

2 months. Half way done with the deck. My time deadline has all ready been forgotten about

It looks amazing.  With today’s modern epoxies and materials.  I would guess that 50 lbs has been lost with still keeping the same construction.

Installing new Chrysler 360

   You get to a point when its easer to just rebuild and replace then fix and scarf in new pieces.  4 months into

  My buddy Jeremy giving me a hand. 

The weather is starting to get cold and rainy.  Yep that means winter is on its way.  You can see how the deck come out.  I even surprised my self.  Its perfect.  ¾ of is all ready fiber glassed and sanded smooth.

Once again I am called away for my country.  Back to the Middle East!!!  Unknown Legend is put to sleep for another 6 months.  Hopefully work will commence June 08. 

<EHOA REPLY>

On behalf of the Egg Harbor Owners' Association, we would like to thank you Brian Levens for not only submitting a great addition to the web site, but more importantly, for your service to the United States of America, THANK YOU!