1981 Custom Jame A. Bock Captains Gig13ft

Edgar Kaiser, Jr.  commissioned James A. Bock of Stockton California in 1981 to build a 13’ reproduction of a 20th Century Captain’s gig of cold-molded mahogany with teak planked decks (see gold plaque in the cockpit).  She in hull #5 of an exclusive run of 5. She is powered by a BMW single cylinder four stroke 7 horsepower diesel engine.  The name of the vessel is “Calliope Carousel.”

 Edgar Kaiser was Chairman of Kaiser Resources LTD, a company originally founded by his grandfather industrialist Henry J. Kaiser (ships, cars, etc.).  Edgar had a fleet of boats the most significant was “Calliope” a Jack Hargrave designed aluminum 148’ yacht which was featured in an article in MotorBoating and Sailing issue of January, 1987 (see link below).  Interestingly, a picture with the article shows another wooden captain’s gig that is larger that Calliope Carousel.  The article mentions that Edgar’s boat fleet includes a 75’ yacht named “Little Calliope” that he uses for cruising in the Pacific Northwest.

 Edgar used Calliope Carousel as a tender between his house and yacht.  Calliope Carrousel shows its hailing port to be Orcas Island.  Perhaps this is where Little Calliope was harbored.

 Edgar advertised Calliope Carousel for sale in the Wooden Boat magazine.  My friend, Jim, saw the ad and called Edgar for more information.  Edgar told Jim that he wanted to keep the boat in the family but nobody would give it the care that Edgar had and he was looking for someone who would.  After several calls, Jim and Edgar agreed on a price but Edgar stipulated that he wanted a right of first refusal if Jim ever wanted to sell the boat.  Jim sent a $10,000 deposit and travelled to Washington to take delivery.  He trailered back to Michigan where he kept it at his cottage on Green Lake near Grand Rapids.  Most evenings Jim would put on his captain’s hat and cruise around Green Lake smoking his pipe and blowing the manual brass oom pah bulb horn stopping to talk to as many people as possible.

 Unfortunately, Jim passed away in 2014.  Because of the love that Jim had for Calliope, the family kept Calliope in storage for several years.  Now they are hoping to find a new owner to care for this unique boat.

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.