I decided I had to look [...]]]>

Recently while browsing through one of the new books in the store (a definite perk of working at Nautical Mind) I came across a model someone had built of the MV Kalakala. The ship was incredible looking, like nothing I had ever seen on the water.

I decided I had to look into her story. Kalakala was originally built in the 1920′s as the Peralta, but when Peralta burned in 1933 the hull was sold to new owners who decided to go all out with their construction. The new owners happened to be the Puget Sound Navigation Company, and the Kalakala served as a ferry in Puget Sound from 1935 to 1967. Nowawdays the hull is sitting in Tacoma awaiting her fate. The Coast Guard has declared it a hazard to navigation, but there is a dedicated team of volunteers trying to save the beautiful ship. You can read more about the ship and the efforts to save her at kalakala.org

While doing my research I also came across another incredible art deco ship, the SS Admiral. She was built as a Mississippi steamboat, and cruised the river for may years. Unfortunately she has recently been taken to the breakers yard, as it was going to be far too costly to bring the ship back to her former glory and up to Coast Guard safety standards.

I could not find any website specifically about the Admiral, but this page does have some great photos and personal recollections.

To read more about these amazing ships, and others like them, you can check out Ship Style: Modernism and Modernity at Sea

Yes, hello, and welcome to The Nautical Mind Bookstore’s new blog!  We’ll use this space to keep in touch with you: boaters, readers, and customers everywhere.  We’ll keep you up to date on interesting new books, inform you of our latest bargains, and talk about developments in the [...]]]>

Yes, hello, and welcome to The Nautical Mind Bookstore’s new blog!  We’ll use this space to keep in touch with you: boaters, readers, and customers everywhere.  We’ll keep you up to date on interesting new books, inform you of our latest bargains, and talk about developments in the boating community.  You’ll be able to ask questions, gam with other sailors, tell us what we’re doing right, and let us know where we can improve.

Pictured left is our store front.  We’re not just a great website that offers an unparalled selection of boat books,  cheap and fast shipping, and courteous service, we’ve also got an actual store, staffed by experienced sailors who’d be happy to swap stories the next time you’re in the neighbourhood.