The museum and the yachts Fumo likes to sail

Fumo likes to sail.

He's a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadrons, the American Professional Captains Association, and the Ocean City Marlin and Tuna Club.

Every summer from 1996 to 2003, prosecutors say, Fumo used his position as a member of the board of directors of the Independence Seaport Museum to commandeer a yacht for his personal use during his annual vacation on Martha's Vineyard.

The senator's use of the yachts cost the museum more than $100,000. Its annual operating budget is $5 million.

At various times, the museum owned two historic vessels, the Principia and the Enticer, which it chartered to customers to help secure donations.

When Fumo went to the Vineyard, he often asked to have one of the yachts made available for his use. As it did with other board members, the museum permitted him to use the vessels with the understanding that his intent was to raise money.

But grand jurors say Fumo used the boats just for fun. He cruised with his friends. Prosecutors call that fraud.

What's more, the grand jury said, the museum had to swallow more expenses - the cost of food, fuel and dockage.

In 2001, when neither yacht was available, the museum spent $13,375 to charter one, Sweet Distraction, for Fumo's use on vacation. The senator did not reimburse the museum for that until 2004 - after the federal investigation began and a story about the matter ran in The Inquirer.