Devon Discovery sets sail for city

ALBANY, N.Y. — The Devon Discovery is on the longest journey yet in its short life, traveling halfway across the country before it reaches the shore of the Oklahoma River.

The 41-passenger Oklahoma River Cruiser is one of three being built by Scarano Boats that will be used for daily commuter transit starting next spring. The boat went through three days of permit inspections before Tampa, Fla.-based Hays Marine Transport was allowed to depart with the boat from the Scarano Boats yard where it was constructed.

"It's 15 feet high and 108 feet long,” said Bob Scarano, who runs Scarano boats with his brother John. "The state kept going over the route with a fine tooth comb, and they kept finding little issues. Leaving Albany, they had to go up and down Interstate 87, and we ended up having to go up 10 miles and back the same way to avoid going under a bridge that was too low.”

The Devon Discovery is named after sponsor Devon Energy, which paid $2 million toward the boat's $3 million construction, and is expected to arrive in Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

Hays Marine Transport is being paid $20,000 for the trip, which requires a rear and front escort.

Scarano said he was somewhat anxious as he watched the boat travel along a highway bypass not far from the shipping yard.

"There is an entrance onto the bypass that has a concrete arch and it looked mighty close,” Scarano said.

That anxiety aside, the Devon Discovery is not the biggest ship the company has transported by highway. The company several years ago built a replica of the Santa Maria for the city of Columbus, Ohio — and that ship had to be sawed in half to make the journey.

"It got hung up on railroad tracks at one point and got on CNN,” Scarano said. "It was a sight to see the open side of the boat traveling down the highway. We had to glue it back together on site when it finally arrived.”

Some details of the eventual Oklahoma River Cruiser operation have yet to be settled. The Oklahoma City Council last week approved a contract with New Albany, Ind.-based Hornblower Marine Services to operate the boats. The company will be paid $40,000 for start-up costs and $15,000 to manage the boat operations (maintenance, equipment, supply and operation costs will be paid for separately).

The city has yet to determine a ticket price.

Former Mayor Ron Norick, chairman of the Oklahoma City Riverfront Authority, anticipates the first boat rides will be offered to dignitaries and the media starting Nov. 5.

He said private charter operations will start in late November, with daily commuter service starting when the third boat arrives next year. He said discussions are under way to determine how rides can be offered to the public before that daily service is launched.

"We do want to give Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Public a chance to see what this is all about,” Norick said.