This is the third in a three-part series on the yacht ZINA.Click here to read Part II.

Water Rat’s advice in “The Wind in the Willows”: “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

Some see “a boat beginning to sink the day it’s launched – a hole in the water into which money is poured.” Some boats die beneath a blanket of blackberry vines, an old cedar tree or shed.

Fine yachts like ZINA – carefully drawn and skillfully built of the finest materials – require dedicated stewards. This story has been dedicated to them.

ZINA was over 40 years old when Bill Meacham found her taking on water – about the time that he was called back to active Navy duty. A family pow-wow led to a search for a new steward. The Meachams found the right person in Robert Wilton.

Wilton loved the boat and took it to Seattle where Puget Sound waters, weather and wood attracted some of the world’s finest boat designers and builders.

Lake Union had more skilled boat yards than Port Madison had barnacles, herons and prams. Wilton did much to restore her and four years later sold her to Dale Dow.

Dow praised: “That ZINA exists is the result of a long and passionate love affair with her carried out by Wilton. She passed survey with flying colors when I bought her and served me well until I was obliged to dispose of her. When I returned to Seattle, I discovered Wilton had repurchased ZINA from the people to whom I had sold her and was living aboard.”

ZINA, Wilton’s home, was a show piece at the head of the pier at Gove’s Cove yacht brokerage, where Wilton worked was a salesman. Wilton would not let the vessel get away a second time. She wore a “NOT FOR SALE” sign when Hall Brothers’ historian, Gary White, saw Jimmy Hall’s craftsmanship. “She was gorgeous!”

On July 4, 1967, ZINA, the only pleasure boat that could be located that had gone through the inaugural opening of the Ballard Locks, joined the 50th anniversary parade. Wilton was honored to be at the helm.

ZINA was his home for the rest of his life. Ed Gove, inherited ZINA after Wilton’s death.

ZINA was sold in 1977 to Bob Morris, of Eagledale, and Don Slater, owners of Marine Industries Northwest in Tacoma. Morris recalls, “We had marine surveyor, Capt. Harold Huycke, examine her from stem to stern on the drydock at Vic Franck’s boat yard.”

Huycke found ZINA to be “sound and well-maintained.” He described her in a seven-page survey down to the last detail including “misc. equipment: … a decorative half-model and an antique flower vase.”

In following years, Morris oversaw a complete overhaul and restoration, including installation of a Gray Marine diesel engine.

Except for the change in power, ZINA “has never been modified – (she has the) exact same configuration,” Morris said.

After Slater purchased a larger boat, marine engineer Mark Donahue of West Blakely, shared ownership with Morris. Donahue and his wife, Jenny Andersen, have the fondest of memories of their family’s time with ZINA.

“I used to work on her on weekends in Eagle Harbor,” Mark delights. “Our young family took many a cruising vacation. …We remember well a 1988 trip celebrating ZINA’s 80th birthday with sparklers and nature’s celebration of a thunder-and-lightning storm with torrential rain. Our kids grew up with ZINA – summer trips and fall mornings salmon fishing off Yeomalt Point. I eventually sold my partnership back to Morris. Recently, a friend called to say he saw ZINA going east on I-90.”

For Morris, 73, ZINA is now a retirement project at his place near Okanogan.

“I tried to find somewhere to work on her on Bainbridg e,” he said. “It was her 100th birthday, but I couldn’t find any place and ZINA couldn’t wait.”

A bulging “ZINA” file can be found at the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum. There is hope that a new photo of this classic Bainbridge yacht will be added to the collection on July 4, 2017.

It was a sunny day when Morris and ZINA rolled into the valley of Chilliwist Creek.

Dusty neighbors hollered, “Think the creek’s gonna rise, Bob? Expectin’ a flood? Is that The Ark?”

Bob laughed and thought, “No Ark, that’s The ZINA. We’re getting her ready for The Centennial flooding – of the Ballard Locks!”