Newport Online

After the big stem to stern refit of his 49-passenger motor vessel, a three-year ordeal that took place in shipyards in Newport, then Stonington, Maine, then back in Newport, Captain Jeff O’Brien has the tour boat Gansett in high gear for summer tours of Narragansett Bay. (www.gansettcruises.com)

The new 3306 Caterpillar engine purrs smoothly and the crew hums into action six times a day to welcome their paying passengers. The crew, an assortment of guides and deckhands, both younger and older, salty and not-so-salty, are eager to be part of the start-up of this new harbor tour venture out of one of Rhode Island’s most historic harbors.

“Luckily,” says O’Brien, a Newporter who previously captained for private luxury yacht owners such as O.L. Pitts of Forth Worth, Texas, “there were no glitches in the sea trials for the boat or in getting the U.S. Coast Guard Certification. It all went according to plan.” In fact, traditional seaworthiness was built into this vintage wooden vessel from the start. Built in 1969, its design was the concept of Giffy Full (a Mainer who, among other things invented a knot that was subsequently named for him). It was constructed by Beal and Bunker, also of Maine to be used in the state as a recreational boat, ferrying people between the coast and the islands. Later owners used it as a lobster boat, home ported in Newport. Back it went to Maine again after that, which is where O’Brien found it and bought it in 2004.

Gansett Cruises, operating off Bowen’s Ferry Landing in Newport, claims to have “harbor tours with a different view.” It’s a point well made – it so happens that each of the guest speakers on board gives his or her own perspective of life and times in Newport. Many crewmembers grew up on these waters. Some are fascinated by its history, others by its natural wonders. “Each host on board has a unique story to tell, and I encourage that. It’s nothing like a ‘canned’ tour,” he says, “which is what I didn’t want.” Many of the boat’s private charter clients who have been booking the boat for events such as weddings and parties, invite the guides along, too, just so they can hear their entertaining stories and personal experiences.

O’Brien, who is accustomed the many luxuries of the private yacht charter trade, treats all his guests to delicious R.I. eatables from the boat’s clean, compact galley. “For example, in the evenings, we set out trays of ‘Stuffies,’ Rhode Island stuffed quahogs hot out of the oven, and passengers can just help themselves to one. It’s included in the price, so they don’t pay extra for that.”

Yacht Club brand soda, cold juice and spring water, as well as brewed Autocrat coffee in the morning, are also compliments of the captain. Other R.I. specialties, such as fresh-churned Warwick ice cream and Del’s Frozen Lemonade are on the daily menu. “Most tour boats charge their guests for food and refreshments, but I just like to ask the crew to set the table on the aft deck, so that people feel at home when they’re with us,” says O’Brien. (Beer and wine are available at the boat’s cash bar). With so much food on the table, with drinks iced down in the on-deck coolers, with its colorful striped deck cushions, its crisp sun canopy overhead and its brightly varnished woodwork all about, the Gansett is not only seaworthy, it’s see-worthy, too. www.gansettcruises.com