1. WHAT IS THE CHARLES VAN DAMME FERRY PROJECT?
(aka CVD)

This is a project set up in 2006 by members of the Richardson’s Bay and Sausalito waterfront community to preserve the heritage and artifacts of the Charles Van Damme Ferry. We meet on a volunteer basis once a month or as needed.

2. WHAT IS THE CHARLES VAN DAMME FERRY?

Built in 1916 as the first ferry between Marin and Point Richmond, the Charles Van Damme has an illustrious history having spent 40 years as a working ferry and 25 years as the social hub of the Waldo Point waterfront. She appeared in several feature films, and was a unique magnet for the rich and famous, the up & coming and the down & out. During her lifetime she had many incarnations, as 3 different restaurants, as an art & dance studio plus as an all night music venue and hang out for people like Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin and members of the Grateful Dead

3. DOES THE CHARLES VAN DAMME FERRY STILL EXIST - AND WHERE?

In 1983 the ferry was demolished. The paddlewheel, & steam stack, are all that  remain of the Charles Van Damme Ferry in Gates Co Operative area at Gate Six Rd, Sausalito, where the Waldo Point Park will be built.

4. WHY DO THE PADDLEWHEEL & STEAM STACK NEED TO BE MOVED?

The Waldo Point Park will be built in the area where the artifacts currently reside. They had to be moved to a local boatyard or they would have been demolished. As 100 year old artifacts – The Paddlewheel and Steam stack remind us of the bygone era. They are important, well loved icons of local history and deserve to be saved.

5. WHY CAN'T THE ARTIFACTS STAY WHERE THEY ARE?

 Part of the Waldo Point Harbor reconfiguration involves raising the ground above sea level to avoid flooding at high tide. The artifacts need to be moved during this process and there is no room to put them elsewhere on the construction site. Waldo Point Harbor have agreed for the restored artifacts to be be on permanent public display in the new park once construction has been completed.

6. WHAT IS THE PROJECT'S MISSION?

Our mission is to SAVE the CVD artifacts from destruction and oblivion. RESTORE them for posterity, EXHIBIT them in a public place where the story can shared.

We aim to ensure this important piece of local Maritime history has a place in Marin County and is not forgotten.

7. WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR?

Since 2006, With your help and support - the Charles Van Damme ferry project has been researching and archiving historical artifacts, photos, artwork, and the oral history of this 100+yr old ferryboat.

We have gathered images & historical evidence to support her stories. We created a documentary film, a traveling exhibit, numerous events and awareness raisers - inspired new songs to be written, won the best float twice at the 4th July parade and cultivated a sense of renewed pride to the Marin County waterfront.

We have secured and stored the wheel, stack and artifacts. We have an approved location, detailed architectural and structural plans plus acceptable bids from skilled builders and acquired all the required permits to begin this project. 

​The RBMA has pledges for 75% of the $400k needed to complete the project. We are currently fundraising for the last 25%.
We have $300 raised so far, we need the last $100k to close the gap.


Click here to see the exhibit, slide show and an excerpt of the documentary that has been created so far.

8. EXPLAIN THE CAMPAIGN, SAVE . RESTORE . EXHIBIT.

Our goal can be achieved in 3 phases:-

Phase 1: SAVE:
We have completed this phase. The artifacts were successfully moved to Bayside Boat Works boatyard.

We still need to build a custom built A Frame – which becomes the base of the exhibit and where the
Paddle wheel can be restored.

Phase 2: RESTORE.
The artifacts will remain in Mike Linder’s boatyard during the restoration process where he plans to collaborate with the local traditional boat building schools, Arques and Spauldings. (detailed estimate from Mike Linder on request.)

Phase 3: EXHIBIT.
We will exhibit the CVD timeline on info boards around the restored artifacts and continue to collect the oral histories from the community which we will donate as an archive to the Sausalito and Marin County Historical Societies. 

We will clear permissions and usage rights of all materials - so we can publish and screen the Charles Van Damme’s story in public domain.

9. WHERE WILL THE ARTIFACTS BE EXHIBITED?

The restored paddle wheel and steam stack will return to their original site as a center piece of the new Waldo Point Park. We have received all the required approvals from Waldo Point Harbor, Marin County, the State Lands Commission and BCDC to go ahead.

10. HOW CAN I HELP?

Donating money, equipment or skill sets will help save these historical artifacts from demolition & restore them for exhibit.

11. WHO IS THE RBMA AND HOW DOES THE CHARLES VAN DAMME FERRY PROJECT RELATE TO IT?

The RBMA (the Richardson’s Bay Maritime Association) is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and the umbrella for the Charles Van Damme Project.

Dedicated to protect and promote the heritage and history of Richardson’s Bay, they have been a fabulous and supportive partner. www.richardsonbaymaritimeassociation.org

All contributions go through the RBMA who hold our funds in a separate account.  All contributions are tax deductible

12. EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT WAYS I CAN DONATE.

Credit card via Pay Pal:-
use the Pay Pal donate button on either the CharlesVanDammeFerry.org
or RBMA.net website.

Your donations go directly into a RBMA account dedicated to the Charles Van Damme Ferry Project. Even though Richardson's Bay Maritime Association is the name on the account and your credit card will say "PAYPAL *RICHARDSONS"

The credit card receipt from this transaction is your record to use for tax deduction.

Check to the RBMA:-
Write a check payable to - RBMA/ CVD
Mail to:-
RBMA
PO BOX 1108
SAUSALITO,
CA 94966-1108
Contact the RBMA directly on: [email protected]- to receive a tax certificate.

13. ARE MY DONATIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE?

Yes.  Under the umbrella of The Richardson's Bay Maritime Association (RBMA) non profit we have 501(c)3 non profit status.

14. HOW MUCH MONEY NEEDS TO BE RAISED TO SUCCEED?

An initial $50,000 was needed  to save  the paddlewheel and steam stack by moving them from the construction site at Waldo Point Harbor with a crane and place it on an A- frame ready for restoration at a local Boatyard in Sausalito.

However, thanks to donations of expertise, materials and time in advance of payment from Mike Linder, of Bayside Boat Works, Parker diving and other people from the waterfront community, we were successful in saving the artifacts from the bulldozers.

We still need to build a custom built A Frame which becomes the base of the exhibit and where the Paddle wheel can be restored

They now reside at the boat builders yard needing support from grants, donations and the local boat building community to begin restoration.
 
With the kind donation of Michael Rex Associates time - we have approved plans & permits and insurance to return the restored artifacts back to Waldo Point Park.

15. HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN RAISED SO FAR FOR THE CHARLES VAN DAMME FERRY PROJECT?

​We have $300 raised so far, we need the last $100k to close the gap.

The RBMA has pledges for 75% of the $400k needed to complete the project. We are currently fundraising for the last 25%. 

We were only able to save the artifacts due to to donations of expertise, materials and time.

We are still raising the funds to restore the paddle wheel plus complete the exhibition.

Some expenses involving outside contractors cannot be avoided but most of the work accomplished on the project has been donated .A detailed break down is available on request.

16. WHO SUPPORTS THE PROJECT.

Click for  List of supporters.

17. HOW CAN WE REACH YOU?

Contact: Dona or Jude or the RBMA

18. I HAVE A QUESTION NOT ON THIS LIST.

Please fill out the contact form and we will get back to you as soon as we can.