I think it's time to wade in. I'm the builder of Teleport, once Marco Polo III. I would like to fill in some background. I built her between 1976 and 1988. The hull and coach roof are 6 layers and 5 layers, respectively, of Western Red Cedar using epoxy, sheathed with 10 oz cloth. The hull is 7/8" thick and very stiff. At the time I understood that, cold molding, pound for pound, was the strongest form of boat hull construction. The specs called for mahogany. I substituted cedar because of price and workability. I increased the thickness, with approval from Meade Gougeon by 1/8", to compensate for the difference in strength characteristics. As it was, I had to steam many pieces to get them to bend to the tight curves. The hull was further strengthened by numerous laminated ash frames in the forepeak. Cedar, however, has poor impact resistance. I consciously decided never to take her near ice.
In an earlier writeup in his blog, in a piece of journalistic hyperbole, intended no doubt to achieve dramatic effect, Chris wrote, "....we innocently bought a rotten old yacht in Canada in 2009." I called him on that; he apologised and revised his description, to read, "tired old yacht", which is still misleading. Let's try, "a neglected yacht."
The boat was put up for sale in 2006 and sold in October 2007 to Don McIntyre. It was his intention to sail or ship it to the UK to take part in the 2009 Jester Challenge. I was delighted that a veteran single-hander would enter Marco Polo in this race. She is after all, the "son of Jester" and I think Blondie would have been delighted too. Unfortunately, family responsibility intervened and he cancelled that plan. He then embarked on an expedition called the "Talisker Bounty Boat Voyage 2010" http://www.bountyboat.com/ Chris Bray was scheduled to participate at the beginning, to take part but stepped off. He then acquired Marco Polo from Don which he renamed Teleport.
The boat was purchased sight unseen, un-surveyed but for a 2006 survey where there was indication of delamination in a portion of the after-deck. Chris acquired her in 2007, also sight unseen and un-surveyed. The boat sat in the yard, covered in shrink wrap, from 2006 until 2010, cooking in the sun. No provision was made for survey or repair. I volunteered to ensure the cover remained intact. By the time he got to her in the Spring of 2010, the rot had spread throughout the after-deck and in other deck areas. However, the boat, apart from the affected deck areas and adjacent bits is essentially very sound. Hull, coach roof, keel, deadwood and spars are in excellent condition. (The mast, however, above what one could reach on deck, has never been surveyed nor has it been out of the boat for probably 6 years.) A properly built and maintained wood/epoxy boat can last many decades. Chris and Jess have done a marvelous job of restoration and upgrading for two handed cruising. I like what he has done to improve accommodation in the saloon. They accomplished in three months what would have taken me three years.
When I learned that Chris planned to do the North West Passage, however, my heart sank. I have tried three times to start a discussion of the vulnerability of the cedar hull material in ice, starting long before he got here and each time there is no comment, no discussion, no argument, no excuses, just.... silence. I suggested sheathing in Kevlar. (I met a fellow who did that to his 40ft fibreglass boat which to took through the NWP, West to East.) No response.
I have committed my share of youthful follies that cost me time, money and heartache. But nobody else got hurt. From the very outset, I have felt they are playing Russian roulette with this boat. Of course, we all wish them the best. I sincerely hope they slip through without major incident, and write a book about it: "Ripping Tales from the North".
I have kept arms length from this project from the beginning, apart from answering questions and helping a little bit here and there. You have to let go. If we found problems, I would have felt guilty, whether it was my fault or not. If advice was given that was not heeded but proved prescient, I would have felt guilty for not being persuasive enough. And last but not least, I think it's the wrong boat for the voyage. Well, its their boat now. Nevertheless, I will be following them like an anxious parent.
Jim Creighton