Sink or swim when cardboard ships hit the deep truth

WASILLA — Some built their crafts after vessels of yore — Viking ships or gondolas — some built boats with children in mind, outfitting the deck with stuffed animals.

But Tony Gleason fashioned his entry in this year’s Duct Tape Regatta on Wasilla Lake for seaworthiness.

And the big gray box of a vessel, christened the Scally Wag, proved its true worth after the race was complete. Seven members of the borough’s Dive Rescue team piled in and paddled halfway through the race course before capsizing. Gleason seemed impressed by the vessel’s carrying capacity.

“That was probably fifteen hundred pounds,” Gleason said afterward.

As his son Eric Badger and his teammate Ry Obeso put the finishing touches on their craft, Merl Badger sat back in a lawn chair.

Asked where his son got the inspiration for the cardboard and duct tape gondola emblazoned with the colors of the Italian flag, Badger said he had no clue.

“I think they were trying to monopolize, to make a little money as they were having fun,” he joked, referencing the sign on the vessel’s stern offering gondola rides for “$5 Dolla.”

Over at the spot where the Lil Toot was under construction, Rizz Arbelovsky, aunt of the two children who piloted the craft — Amber and Cody Arbelovsky — joked that the race would prove the engineering mettle of her husband and her brother-in-law.

“I’m trying to see their skills because they’re both fishermen,” she said.

Palmer Mayor John Combs, one of three judges, when asked to decide on awards for the vessels’ styles, gave a decidedly political answer when asked for predictions.

“They’re all looking pretty good. I’m very impressed with the inventiveness and the ingenuity of these yachtsmen,” he said.

When it was all said and done, Gleason’s craft took home first prize in both categories in which it was entered. Though, it must be noted, Gleason was the only entrant in the bracket for boaters 18 and older. His daughter Ellie Gleason and her first mate Haley Jenkins took first in the under 12 rankings. The Little Toot came in second.

In the 13-18 category the Redneck Viking ship, captained by Mallory Obeso edged out gondolier Eric Badger.

But it seemed the fun was more of a draw than the prizes. With the race concluded, Badger and teammate launched their gondola again, bringing along a passenger.

“It’s fun family stuff,” Arbelovsky said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.