R/V Heraclitus' Construction (1974-75)

Bill Dempster's original drawings for the R/V Heraclitus.

The original vision of the R/V Heraclitus, as set out in 1973, met with a ready response from a small but creative group at the Institute of Ecotechnics, according to whose principles of design the vision was ultimately given form. First to respond were Bill Dempster, who translated the initial sketches into detailed engineering plans; Marie Harding who managed the building project at the same time filming enough sequences to record the intense activity of those days, and serve as the ship's first Captain; Margaret Augustine, who directed the actual construction work; Kathelin Gray, whose logistic skills secured most of the construction materials and equipment needed, at very low-cost; and Robert Hahn, who having participated in the project went on to gain a Sea Captain's license. Along with Mark Nelson, Chairman of the Institute of Ecotechnics, which owns the R/V Heraclitus, this group, with nine others, set out, in August 1974, from Santa Fe for the Californian coast, carrying tools, bedding, clothes, books, design plans and just enough cash to be able to build their dream.

The keel first laid out close to the waters of the Oakland Marina.