Cal 20 at Nelson's in Alameda

Volunteers Continue to Free Boats from Nelson's May 8, 2013 – Ferry Point, Alameda (Click on the photo to enlarge it.) As seen in this file photo, Nelson's used to be a thriving maritime center. Sadly, it is currently the scene of a scramble to free boats from the tentacles of bureaucracy. Photo Latitude / Archives © 2013 Latitude 38 Publishing, LLC As reported earlier, a trio of unpaid volunteers has been splashing boats at Nelson's Marine in Alameda as fast as they can because the long-established business is being evicted by the city. According to one of the Good Samaritans, former Nelson's customer Scott Rhoades, once the gates are locked this Friday, boat owners will have to deal with city to retrieve their property. Despite the fact that Rhoades and two former Nelson's employees have been launching up to eight boats a day, he estimates that "There are still at least 200 boats here." They range in size, he says, from big keelboats in the 50-ft range to a Cal 20.