Shipping the Goods to Fire Island

By Rhoda Amon | Staff Writer

For more than a half century, the Fire Island Maid was a lifeline for hardy souls who lived or worked year- round on Fire Island.

Starting in the winter of 1930-31, the freight ship, known as the Maid, would plow through icy waters to deliver supplies to the isolated communities. Its single, six-cylinder engine was "the little engine that could" -- until Great South Bay froze over and it couldn't anymore.

The 52-foot Maid was joined in 1979 by the Vagabond, which was larger (75 feet), stronger (two six-cylinder engines) and heavily plated to go through ice, says George Hafele, president of Fire Island Ferries, the Bay Shore-based company that runs the boats. The Maid was retired in 1985.

Today, the Vagabond makes the freight run (carrying freight and, occasionally, passengers; the Maid took freight only) five days a week, stocking seven communities -- and two restaurants and one grocery store on Ocean Beach, the only commercial establishments of their kind that stay open year-round. (Another vessel, the Fire Island Trader, joins it during the summer.)

Like a large container ship, the streamlined Vagabond is fitted with a crane for heavy lifting; the ship needs a crew of only two or three, compared with the four to six required by its predecessor.

The only thing that never changes is the welcome Capt. Tom Lenehan receives from the people waiting with their red wagons when he brings the Vagabond to Fire Island docks.