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Images of the Dr. K taken upon arival in Homer, Alaska with Jake Jacobsen to perform a thorough inspection

Maybe there was hope 

Looking beyond the rust and grime late that night, I pictured her without the red paint and masculine name. The next day, Jake Jacobsen, a marine surveyor joined me for a more thorough inspection of the ships systems, construction, and most importantly the integrity of her steel. She was sound and well built, and not your typical Gulf Boat. In Jakes words, “Somebody built her for a purpose and it shows in her construction. This is not a cookie cutter boat.” Former Gulf (of Mexico) boats in the crab fleet often had a bad rap.

 
The vessel had a miniscule catch history, but it had history, and was fully qualified. If the fishery went to IFQs, I would be allocated enough to remain in the Bering Sea. If the IFQ program fell through I would have a boat to fish. My wife and I leveraged our home and purchased the Dr. K, which we renamed. F/V Sirene (pronounced sea-wren), the French word for mermaid. You would think after 17 years in the Bering Sea and dreaming one day of owning a boat that I would already have had a name in mind for a vessel. I probably didn’t because the Wizard was the only boat I had ever  envisioned owning. Her new name was a spur of the moment decision and it seemed to fit the vessel. Florence’s French heritage, a beautiful feminine name, and a mythical sea creature all rolled into one. The name seemed perfect.

The reclamation project 

I brought my engineer from the Wizard, and began the reclamation project Sirene in November of 2002. After getting the vessel powered up, we set about testing the ships systems. After 10 days of elbow grease it was apparent that most of the ships systems were operable, and that with some additional work the vessel might be ready to fish the upcoming snow crab season. Florence started scrambling to get all of the documentation, permits, and licenses in order to get her into the fishery, which was fast approaching. We poured the little amount of money we had left in savings after the down payment into the boat. It wasn’t much, but enough to get her up and running. 

The former F/V Dr. K, renamed and refurbished to become the new F/V Sirene

A Mythical sea creature that lures mariners to their doom 

By December I was beginning to have some doubts about getting the Sirene into the snow crab fishery, and also about her name. Being extremely superstitious, I began to dwell more and more on what a mermaid represented. Not only a beautiful woman with a fish tail, but “ a mythical sea creature that lures mariners to their doom”.

My wife Florence came to Homer to help with the clean up in December. Within minutes of getting onboard she pulled me aside, and stated: “You will not be fishing on this boat!”  The size and condition of the boat had her concerned. After years of watching the crab fleet depart, and nervously awaiting its return sometimes without some of the fleets boats, or crewmen, were justified. For years she had known the Wizards size, stability, maintenance, and crew. They were top notch. Here she was looking at something entirely different in terms of size and appearance, and though not questioning the purchase of the Sirene, Florence did not want to give up the comfort zone that she had built up with her husband on a larger vessel.

 
Naming the vessel Sirene was really beginning to haunt me

All along, the intent was to have another capt