The Boat that Home Depot Built

Restoration of a 1958 Stephens Brothers Yard Patrol Boat

She started her life as a Navy Yard Patrol boat, but when Charlie Dolbey, member of the ACBS Chesapkeake Bay Chapter, found her, she was in rough shape. That was 15 years ago, and Charlie is never one to shy away from a project. Today, Sea Wolf, as she is known, has all the power and might of her early days, but inside, she’s a beautiful example of a boat lovingly restored by Charlie and his father, Boyd. 

Sea Wolf was already gutted when Charlie received the call from a friend to come see her. But, she still had her commercial engine room with four engines, and her two screws could push the 80-foot vessel to 10 knots. She was built to protect the mouth of the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays in wartime, and she could even pull a small mine sweeper. All wood except for an aluminum house, which was state-of-the art when she was built, says Charlie, “She’s was as anti-magnetic as was possible.”

Charlie and his father were no strangers to hard work. His dad had hand-built sailboats, and together Charlie estimates that they have owned well over 100 boats. But Sea Wolf was something different. Built in 1958 by Stephens Brothers, she served the Navy until 1988. Then, she became a classroom boat for a Pennsylvania non-profit where she was heavily modified, and in the early 2000s, she was brought to Maryland. 

With the inside of Sea Wolf already gutted, Charlie and his dad saw an opportunity. They would keep the outside originally correct, right down to the color. “You can’t see her from a distance,” Charlie says of the dark gray paint scheme. 

But inside, they would make her comfortable and livable – as economically as possible. Charlie smiles describing Sea Wolf as the boat the Home Depot built. 

They installed LVP flooring, stock kitchen cabinets, counters and appliances. They tiled the shower and added the same heads found in homes as opposed to those generally found on boats. But, they also still wanted Sea Wolf to feel like a military boat, so they reinstalled varnished lauan plywood on the walls and ceilings, and kept the original ladders between decks. The main living space is complete and now work on bunk rooms is beginning. More sleeping space means more opportunity for friends and family to enjoy.

One exterior modification to make Sea Wolf more comfortable in the heat of summer was the installation of a covered area over the back deck. There, the Dolbeys added comfortable wicker furniture, perfect for enjoying a morning coffee or an evening cocktail. And those French doors leading between the deck and the living space? Purchased at Habitat for Humanity.

 

Sea Wolf remembers her proud military heritage as she looks ahead to the future. Tough with a softer side. A little bit country and a little bit rock and roll, this boat that Home Depot built provided countless hours of enjoyment for Charlie and his father, who passed in 2023 at age 90, as they worked side by side.

And, as she plies that waters of the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding rivers, she continues to bring joy to all who see her. Back at home where she belongs, Sea Wolf is a shining example of military ingenuity, creative thinking and a whole lot of fun.