By Rich Bockmann
Every Sunday, the placid waters of the pond at Bowne Park ripple gently as boats — some fishing boats, a ferry every once and a while, but mostly tugboats — chug along under the shady weeping willows, most often with no particular destination at all.
These are, of course, miniatures of the real things — hobby boats built, assembled and run by the members of the Empire State Model Mariners.
Commodore Lou Limongelli said the club’s 20-plus members, who come from as far as 50 miles away, gather in the Flushing park each week to slip their boats in the water, trade tips and enjoy the company of others who share their hobby.
“There used to be a lot more. We’re the only remote-control club in the state,” he said as he navigated one of the 14 boats he owns through the traffic of the dozen or so boats in the water. “There are other model boat clubs, but they’re static.”
Limongelli said it took him about two years to build his tugboat.
“I put a lot of parts in it that didn’t come from the kit. I even built my own winch,” he explained with pride.
By far, the largest boat in the water Sunday belonged to Paul Gastaldi, who, with the push of a button, sounded the horn on his 90-pound tugboat. A cabinet maker by trade, he said it took him a year and a half to construct it during his nights, building the hull from scratch and intricately laying each and every plank on its deck.
“It’s modeled after a picture I saw. Putting it together is the fun part,” he said.
The group has three or four meetings throughout the year at which members discuss boats or visit other clubs, but on Sundays they park their chairs under the park’s trees with the antennae of their radio-controllers extended, maybe taking a break to order a pizza or two or three.
“These are real friendly guys — that’s what I like,” Gastaldi said. “We’re trying to get young people to join, but it’s very hard. They just want to sit on their computers all day.”
Dan Slitten, a Beechhurst resident who has been a member of the club since it began in 1988, said he used to own a real boat, but living in the city makes a model boat much more practical.
“I’ve always had some hobby: model trains, boats,” he said. “It’s very fulfilling. You build it at home and take it to the pond and put it in the water and it works! You get a very good feeling about it.”
Despite the overwhelming majority of tugboats, members have brought all kinds of sea-faring vessels, ranging from speed boats to air-cushion landing craft.
“It’s not strictly for tugboats, but that’s what most guys are running, Slitten said, and before he could explain why Gastaldi interjected with a smile, “Because we like them.”
One vessel, however, stood out from the others. A coast guard patrol ship belonging to James Perrozza ripped across the water and sped past others with wild abandon. The 11-year-old, whose father drove him out from Huntington, L.I., said he found out about the club through a flier he saw at the Willis Hobbies shop in Mineola, L.I.
“I’m just kind of into running R/C boats. I’ve loved them since I was 2 years old — all my life,” he said with a speed that matched his boat’s. “This is my first day here. I was looking for someone to run with. I just love doing this stuff. I don’t like playing video games. I just like boats.”
The club will host an indoor show at the Colonial Church in Bayside, at 54-02 217th St., Oct. 8. For more information, contact Paul Gastaldi at 718-908-3225.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
