Martha’s Vineyard’s Most Legendary Boat Is 95 Years Old—And Still Giving Rides

The catboat Vanity

In 1928, a wooden catboat named Vanity slid into Martha’s Vineyard waters and began a remarkable 67-year journey.

Built by "Old Sculpin" Roberts for Thomas Pease and his teenage son Oscar, the 20-foot vessel cost $1,000 – no small sum back then.

After WWII, Oscar took over the boat, using it to harvest scallops in winter and take tourists sailing in summer. He kept Vanity in perfect shape through decades of hard use.

By the 1980s, Oscar had become the last commercial fisherman in New England still working from a catboat.

The Martha’s Vineyard Museum now keeps Vanity afloat as its only "floating exhibit," where visitors can see this living piece of island heritage in action.

Old Sculpin Built A Wooden Marvel In 1929

Manuel Swartz Roberts, known as "Old Sculpin" around Edgartown, built the 20-foot wooden catboat Vanity during winter 1928-29. Thomas Pease paid $1,000 for this boat to share with his teenage son Oscar.

This was big money back then for a working boat. Roberts, one of the island’s top boatbuilders, ran his shop near Edgartown harbor.

He made Vanity strong enough for both fishing work and fun sailing, creating a boat that would stay in the Pease family for generations.

Catboats Ruled Vineyard Waters For Good Reason

Vanity showed off the classic catboat look that once filled New England waters.

Its wide body, shallow bottom, and front-placed mast made it perfect for getting around Martha’s Vineyard’s tricky waters. The boat used a single large sail that gave it power while still letting one person handle it.

Local fishermen loved these boats because they stayed steady, held lots of cargo, and turned easily. The design grew from what islanders needed: fishing, getting around, and sometimes just sailing for fun.

Young Oscar Stepped Up After Family Tragedy

Oscar Pease took over Vanity when his father Thomas died in 1941. Just 28 years old and soon heading to World War II, Oscar stored the boat until he came home.

After the war, he returned with Nellie, his English wife he met while serving overseas.

The couple settled on Martha’s Vineyard, and Oscar picked up his father’s work, making his living from the sea with Vanity as his main tool. What started as a father-son project became Oscar’s life work.

Winter Months Meant Scalloping In Cape Pogue

Oscar caught bay scallops in the cold waters of Cape Pogue during winter, keeping up a key Vineyard tradition. He pulled wooden dredges behind Vanity to scrape the seafloor for these tasty shellfish.

His catboat’s shallow bottom let him work in spots bigger boats couldn’t reach. Oscar often worked in freezing weather to make his living.

This seasonal scalloping kept Oscar and many island families fed through the quiet winter months when tourists left the island.

Summer Brought Tourists Looking For Authentic Experiences

Oscar turned Vanity into a tour boat during summer tourist season, offering visitors something special: trips on a real working catboat with a lifelong fisherman at the wheel.

He took guests fishing, sailing, and sightseeing around Edgartown Harbor. His deep knowledge of local waters made these trips stand out.

Tourists got more than a boat ride; they saw a piece of fading New England sea life. These tours brought in extra money that helped Oscar keep Vanity going year after year.

Taking Care Of Vanity Became A Year-Round Job

Oscar followed a careful care plan for Vanity that kept her sailing for decades.

Every spring before tour season, he fully refinished the wooden hull, fixing planks and seams as needed. He mixed his own paints using old-time recipes.

The boat came out of water every fall for checks and repairs. Oscar created his own ways to care for the wooden vessel, often making tools for specific jobs.

This careful attention explains why Vanity lasted while similar wooden boats disappeared.

The Last Of Her Kind Still Working The Waters

Vanity gained fame in the 1980s as the last working fishing catboat in New England.

While other fishermen switched to plastic boats with motors, Oscar stuck with his traditional sailing vessel and fishing methods. He kept catching scallops under sail, using a small motor only when truly needed.

Boat historians and photographers sought out Oscar and Vanity as living examples of a nearly gone way of life. The boat became a symbol of Martha’s Vineyard’s effort to keep its sea history alive.

Catboat Lovers Found Their Champion In Oscar

John Leavens started the Catboat Association in 1962 to save these special boats, and Oscar Pease joined right away.

He later became the group’s Technical Advisor, sharing his deep knowledge of catboat design, building, and handling. Oscar knew these boats better than anyone.

He wrote articles for the group’s newsletter and helped record old building methods. Other catboat fans traveled from all over New England to ask his advice about fixing up boats and sailing tips.

His Mechanical Genius Kept Vanity Sailing

Oscar became known for his amazing fix-it skills that kept Vanity working long after similar boats retired. He made custom parts when old ones broke and couldn’t be bought.

His workshop held tools he made himself for fixing boat problems. Oscar figured out how to update old rigging as materials changed over the years.

He knew every inch of his boat and could spot problems just by the sound of the hull in water or the feel of the steering in his hand.

The Museum Got A Floating Treasure In 1995

After Oscar died in 1995 at age 82, his family gave Vanity to the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, making sure the boat would stay part of island history.

The museum sent the vessel to Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway in Vineyard Haven for a complete fix-up. Skilled boatbuilders kept as much original wood as possible while making Vanity seaworthy again.

The work took several years and lots of fundraising. Museum staff knew that saving Vanity meant keeping her sailing, not just sitting on display.

Today You Can Still See Vanity Under Sail

Vanity serves as the Martha’s Vineyard Museum’s only "floating exhibit," still sailing regularly in Edgartown Harbor during summer months.

Museum staff and trained volunteers take visitors out on scheduled trips that demonstrate traditional catboat handling. The boat looks much as it did when Oscar sailed it, with authentic rigging and equipment.

Vanity participates in local maritime festivals and catboat gatherings.

When not sailing, visitors can often find the boat docked at the museum’s Cooke House & Garden in Edgartown, where guides share stories of Oscar Pease and his remarkable six-decade career working from this humble wooden vessel.

Visiting Martha’s Vineyard Museum, Massachusetts

The Martha’s Vineyard Museum at 151 Lagoon Pond Road in Vineyard Haven showcases the catboat Vanity and Oscar Pease’s maritime legacy. You can visit Tuesday-Sunday for $18 (adults), with guided tours included.

The special exhibit "Vanity: The Last Working Catboat" runs March 2025 to March 2026, telling how this vessel preserved traditional fishing from 1929-1995.

During summer, Vanity becomes the museum’s floating exhibit you can see on the water.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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