The Bunk and Coffee Boat

note: This is all from my unreliable memory which was even less reliable back in 1986-'87 when I was a guest and later the manager of the "Bunk and Coffee" (as opposed to "bed and breakfast") boat "TOR HELGE"

TOR HELGE began life as a 72 ft. flush deck lumber schooner in Norway in 1925. In 1937, a Wickman 2 cylinder, 2 stroke, 120 hp. diesel engine was added and the house was built. She was then used as a cargo and passenger ferry.

 

 Sometime in the '60s, some college students bought her, lined her forward decks with fuel drums, and sailed her to the Caribbean.

 
 

 

When I was aboard in the late 80s, passing sailors would tell us stories of earlier owners, such as "the girl who made leather bikinis" and stories of the illegal cargo she had transported.

Anthony P. owned her when I was aboard in 1986ish. He bought her from an old Canadian fellow who had dreams of chartering.

The story is that Anthony went aboard TOR one day and found the Canadian in the engine room, knee deep in water, pumping a manual bilge pump. Anthony gave him enough money for the airfare home in exchange for TOR HELGE! 'Some guy, that Anthony.' Anyway, Anthony sprang into action renting out bunks at $20/ night. TOR HELGE was the cheapest and safest place for travelers to stay in St. Thomas, U.S.Virgin Islands. This made for a very wide and varied combination of guests.

This is a shot of TOR in Elephant Bay, St. Thomas.
We were there for the annual Toga Party with
Schooner "GRACE", Oct. 1987.

 

In early 1988, TOR HELGE was sold to a guy who had just received a large insurance settlement.

 

 

 

The new owner was not aware of the responsibility of taking care of an old wooden boat. TOR HELGE met her fate by sinking due to neglect. To add insult to injury, the cruise ship ROTTERDAM backed over her as she lay on the bottom in Rupert Bay, Hassel Is. St. Thomas.

The Captain of the ROTTERDAM thought he had hit a reef, but when red and white lumber bobbed to the surface along with a sofa, they realized what had happened. TOR was a strongly built little ship. The ROTTERDAM had to go to dry-dock to repair her wheels and lost a week of charter.

Divers have told me that TOR HELGE is now flush decked again, ending her career as she began it.

 

TOR HELGE anchored off Hassle Is. U.S.V.I.

 

 

 

 If you were ver a guest on TOR HELGE, please drop me a line. 'Got any photos 

Guests lounging on the top aft deck.

 

 

 

Me and an Australian girl. We met again 7 years later and got married. (Editor note: It was a pleasant 10 year marriage).

 

Partying at the Pina Colada Regatta. It's early in the day, everybody still has their clothes on. We're rafted up with RANGA.

 
Mack Horton

mackhorton -at- optusnet.com.au

Melbourne Australia

 

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