About Judge Clarkson
Scott C. Clarkson has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Central District of California since January 20, 2011. His undergraduate degree is from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana and he received his J.D. degree from George Mason University School of Law, Arlington, Virginia.
From 1977 to 1982, Judge Clarkson was legislative assistant to United States Congressman Harold L. Volkmer in Washington, D.C., assigned to the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, where he was a direct observer of and participant in the creation of the 1978 Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prior to his appointment, Judge Clarkson practiced bankruptcy law and bankruptcy litigation for more than 20 years in Los Angeles, and served as chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section from 2008 to 2009.
Judge Clarkson is also an established documentary photographer. As a photojournalist, he has documented events throughout the United States, Southeast and Central Asia and South America for over 20 years. Some of his photography may be seen here - http://scottclarksonphotography.com/
His book of photographs, Windows to Vietnam - A Journey in Pictures & Verse, was published in 2007 and is now in its second edition. The book was designated as “Editors Choice” by the United States Military Academy (West Point) Association of Graduates Alumni Magazine in 2008.
Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Vietnam-Journey-Pictures-Verse/dp/0979431301
Judge Clarkson also travelled to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir in 2008 – 2009, Israel, West Bank and Gaza, Jordan and Syria, including refugee camps in 2014, Turkish camps for Syrian refugees in 2018, and an exploration of the Greek economic crisis in 2019, covering recent events in these regions of the world. He uses a Leica M7, Hasselblad 500 C/M, and a Nikon F100 for film, and a Leica M8 and M9 for digital images.
Judge Clarkson also holds a valid United States Coast Guard Ship Captain’s license (OUPV) and skippers his 1994 42' Grand Banks Classic, the "Starry Decisis."
The Secret Stash - not important, not trivial
The Starry Decisis (the 42' Grand Banks Classic - 1994)
The Starry Decisis (the 42' Grand Banks Classic - 1994)
The Starry Decisis (the 42' Grand Banks Classic - 1994)
Built in Singapore in 1993, arrived in Seattle, 1994, moved to San Diego, and restored 2013-2016 by yours truly.
This 42’ Grand Banks trawler motor vessel was built by American Marine PTE, LTD at Singapore of fiberglass in 1993 with a 1994 model year.
The Layout
- There is a chain locker located in the forepeak followed aft by guest stateroom with V berth bunk along with an ensuite head.
- The wet head is fitted with vanity sink, toilet and shower faucet. Next aft up steps is the lower helm starboard along with weather deck doors and dinette.
- The helm is fitted with an array of electronics. Simrad VHF radio, radar, charts/plotter, AIS, echo depth finder/sonar, hailer (loud speaker and foghorns), music center. Opposite port is the galley, another weather deck door, settee and entertainment center, which is the gentle way of saying "the Bar".
- Next down steps aft is the master stateroom with island double wide bunk (european queen for those buying sheets - just TRY finding these), aft deck companionway and ensuite head. The master head is fitted with toilet, vanity sink and stall shower.
- Exiting the teak wood interior port through the weather deck door is a teak weather deck leading fore and aft. Forward is the foredeck where the ground tackle along with a locker are located. Aft is the aft deck with access to the lazarette bilge.
- Atop the master stateroom cabin top is an area for a skiff with a boom above and mast forward.
- Up steps from the raised aft deck is the flybridge with L shaped dinette starboard, two fore and aft facing bench seats along with helm forward. The helm and seating are protected by a bimini top with three sided enclosure. The helm contains Simrad screen with radar, charts, sonar, and Sonic Hub music center.
The Machinery
- This vessel is powered by a pair of Cummins 6BT 5.9-M diesel inboard engines each producing approximately 210 horsepower at 2600 RPM. The main engines are driving Twin Disc MG 506 reduction gear transmissions each turning a ratio of 2.5:1. The main engines and Onan genset are located beneath the saloon sole accessed from hatches.
- The exhaust for the machinery is wet and exits aft above the waterline. The fuel system consists of two mild steel tanks aft and outboard main engines within the engine room, plumbed to the machinery via neoprene hose with inline Racor fuel filters and shutoff valves. The main engines are controlled by cable controls from two stations.
- The vessel's DC power is supplied by an AGM battery source. The AC power is supplied by either a 50 Amp 125 VAC shore power inlet with GE 5.0 KVa isolation transformer, Onan 8 Kw genset or select branch circuits via Magnum ME2012 / 2000 watt inverter charger. The vessels electrical system consists of branch overload protected circuits via resettable breakers and replaceable fuses.The wiring where visible is original, well loomed and secured. The main panels are located at the lower helm.
The Electrical System
Navigation Lights: International Electric
Number of Batteries: 2- 8D; 1- 4D (AGM), Boxed
Voltage: 12 VDC;120 VAC; 60 Hertz
DC Wiring: 2- Wire Copper Stranded Sheathed Circuit Protection: Breakers & Fused
AC Wiring: 3- Wire Copper Stranded Sheathed Circuit Protection: Breakers & Fused
Electrical Panel Locations: Lower Helm Station
Volt Meters: AC & DC, Main AC Breaker Capacity: 50 Amp
Additional Electrical Equipment: 6- Battery Switches; Sentry 12 VDC 40 Amp Charger; Magnum ME2012 / 2000 watt Inverter / Charger; Echo Charger; Cathodic Protection System; GE 5.0 KVa Isolation Transformer; Inverter Remote Control; Xantrex Link Lite DC Monitor; AC Ammeter; Battery Charger Remote Control; Cigarette Lighter Power Adapter; 2- 50 Amp 125 VAC Shore Power Inlets; 30 and 50 Amp Shore Power Cords.
The Safety Equipment
Fire Extinguishers: 4 Type: ABC, BC Size I Dry Chemical
Certification Date Portables: 2017; Distress Signals: 1- Orion Kit
Carbon Monoxide Detectors, Smoke Alarms:
Life Raft, Life Jackets:19 - Type II, III, V
EPIRB: ACR Global Fix Pro RLB-37 sn: 777 Throwable: 1- 24” Ring w/ Lanyard; 2- Cushions
Engine Room Fire System: Kidde Halon 1211
Additional Safety Equipment: Navigation Rules; Alarm Panel (water temp, oil pressure, bilge pumps, engine room lights); First Aid Kit; Emergency Tiller; Radar Reflector, and of course, the Bar.
The Original Grand Banks - The Spray (1963)
The Starry Decisis (the 42' Grand Banks Classic - 1994)
The Starry Decisis (the 42' Grand Banks Classic - 1994)
In 1962, Robert J. Newton and his sons, John and Whit, were running a custom boatyard on Junk Bay in Hong Kong called American Marine, Ltd. Father and sons built heavy sailboats and big motor yachts, to designs by the world's top marine architects - Sparkman & Stevens, William Garden, Nat Herreshoff, Ray Hunt and others.
That year they commissioned Kenneth Smith, another well-known marine architect, to design a 36 foot, diesel-powered cruising boat. Spray was launched in 1963 and a year later the Newtons abandoned their custom yacht building to focus on producing the first of a line of boats that would be known as Grand Banks.