"At the end of that season, she had a good chunk of money and she commissioned (boatwright Dave Seaman) to build the Harlequin," Tom Hopkins said.

Within two years, Marsha was ready to expand Farthest Shore Studio, named for her interest in art. During the winter of 1989-1990, Seaman constructed the Harlequin, using a lapstrake, or overlapped planking design. It was launched in 1990.

"Marsha's focus was originally on doing otter tours. She loved sea otters," Tom Hopkins said. "She ended up working a lot for summer people, bringing folks to cabins. And then it branched off into carrying sea kayakers and other folks."

Marsha and Hopkins renamed the taxi business Jakalof Ferry Service, with Marsha's Harlequin and Hopkins' boat, Nautical Son, hard at work.

"She loved the water, absolutely loved the water. You couldn't keep her off it," Hopkins said.

In 1996, Seaman built Marsha a second boat, the Mainstay, and in 2002, he built the Beowulf for Hopkins. However, with Marsha's health problems increasing, Hopkins was forced to sell the Harlequin, the Mainstay and the company's office to cover medical expenses.

"Marsha's heart was always bound to the Harlequin. That was her first real boat of her own that she could go out and make a living on," said Hopkins, who, in 2004, renamed the business Red Mountain Marine.

Before then, however, Marsha's wake crossed that of Alison O'Hara, owner and operator of True North Kayak Adventures.

"When I started True North 17 years ago, Marsha had the Harlequin and she did our water taxi with the Harlequin," O'Hara said. "She'd let me drive it a couple of times and I asked her if she'd ever be interested in selling it, but she was very attached to it for sentimental reasons."

Finally, O'Hara became the owner of the Harlequin. Since then, the boat's hardworking life has continued, with some modification and upkeep by local boatwright Mark Stout.

The Harlequin's shallow 2-foot draft makes it possible for O'Hara to maneuver close to shore. The vessel is fuel-efficient. And -- most of all -- it's a seaworthy, hardworking craft.

"There are some days when I'm in the boat for 10 hours and don't get out except for two minutes at a pop. This boat works hard," O'Hara said. "It is very small so a lot of people get intimidated, so I have to tell them the whole history. I tell them it's been working 17-18 years. They kind of chill out a little bit."

Continuing Marsha's efforts, O'Hara continues introducing people to Kachemak Bay. Like her predecessor, she relies on the Harlequin to make the introduction.

"I have dreams of a bigger boat, but I just love this boat so I think we're going to be a duo for a long time," O'Hara said.

Describing the Harlequin as "the little boat that could," Seaman said, "It's had a remarkable career. It's story's not over."