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Ackerman expects to work the ship with a small crew, two professional deck hands, a cook and one or two apprentices, plus himself as captain. She has no engine, but will carry a 15-ft. boat with a diesel that can serve to nose her up to a dock or through a narrow channel. Because of the Leavitt's shallow draft (6½ ft.), she has a big advantage in direct loading and unloading of cargo that originates near the water. Ackerman's first load will be 150 tons of lumber and building materials being shipped from Quincy, Mass., to Haiti by Builder William Duane. Because the Leavitt will eliminate the cost of several transshipments between the Quincy yards and a Boston container ship dock, Duane figures Ackerman will be successful, moving cargo "at half the cost charged by conventional carriers." Ackerman himself figures to undercut fuel-powered vessels by 15% to 20%.
Another shipbuilder, Richard Dennison, 59, of South Thomaston, who has been in the business for 29 years, is also optimistic. Said he: "I'd like to see more of the same kind of boats. Maybe then the Arabs would drown in their own oil." Not likely. But one thing is certain: when Ned Ackerman takes the Leavitt on her maiden voyage, whether they sail north or south, skipper and ship will be moving in the right direction.—Hays Gorey