Crofton’s historic dive vessel, The Cromo, was hauled for its annual maintenance this spring. For the first time in decades the hull was entirely exposed. The juniper planks were found to be in excellent condition, as seen in the image below. The boat had very minor repairs performed below the waterline and was launched overboard within one week. The Cromo was constructed in 1935 and eventually ended up in Annapolis, Maryland serving as a training vessel for the midshipmen at the Naval Academy. In 1949, Juan Crofton and his friend Duke Morris founded Crofton & Morris Diving and in 1951, purchased a 50-foot wooden workboat, the Cromo, so named because Juan won the toss of a coin. While the Cromo is no longer used for diving services, it lives on and is a constant reminder of our history.
