Endicott man seeks second career on high seas

For $86, Tim Thompson of Endicott has a chance to live out a dream.

“I’ve always wanted to do this. Before I started driving truck, I seriously thought about going to captain’s school,” Thompson told the Gazette.

While cruising the internet one day, Thompson came across a 24-foot 1973 Carver Yacht for sale by an owner in Seattle on eBay. Listed price for the boat was $86.

“They were practically giving them away. I couldn’t resist,” said Thompson.

He hopes to use the boat to begin a fishing and sightseeing business on the coast, but to do so, he is looking for help to make the boat again seaworthy.

Like one would expect from an $86 craft, the boat is in sorry shape.

Before he put it on a trailer to bring to Endicott, Thompson had to disconnect bilge pumps that were keeping the boat afloat in its Lake Union marina slip. The boat allows water to seep into the bilge.

His truck and trailer were late showing up after he stopped the pumps, and Thompson nearly had an $86 home for fish at the bottom of the lake.

“I thought certain it was going under,” said Thompson.

Thompson’s ability to return his boat to its former seaworthy status is hampered by a bad back and hip from an accident he sustained while driving truck.

Thompson drove a commercial truck for 15 years after serving two tours of duty with the Army.

One day he was unloading a 1,500-pound bin of potatoes from his trailer. While wrestling to get it on a pallet jack, Thompson slipped and threw out his back and hip.

Doctors forbid him from ever driving a truck again and said he should not lift more than 10 pounds. The injuries also prevent Thompson from sitting or walking around for extended periods of time.

The state Department of Labor and Industries provided Thompson with a scholarship he could use to become trained to enter medical billing data.

“I can’t sit for too long, and I don’t know anything about computers, so what am I going to do with that?” he asked.

After consulting with the department, Thompson was told he could use the scholarship to attend captain’s school.

“I can do that. It allows me to sit when I feel bad or walk around when I need to,” he said.

With training and a boat, Thompson hopes to start a fishing and sightseeing charter business.

However, he needs help restoring the boat.

Thompson is asking for volunteer help in sanding, painting, caulking and painting the boat. Last week he posted a sign on the door of the Endicott Food Center and has already had neighbors pledge time.

“Anything else I could get would be great,” he said.

In exchange for labor, Thompson promises to take volunteer helpers on western Washington fishing excursions once he is licensed and the boat is functional.

Thompson has sanders and plans to get epoxy for the wood and trim.

“I figure a good crew could put this thing together pretty quick,” he said.