Ralph F. Chambers, age 84, died July 1 at his home on Bainbridge Island.

He was born on June 5, 1918 in Seattle to Roy F. and Ruth Chambers, the oldest of four siblings. He grew up over the family’s hardware store, Magnolia Hardware, started by their father in 1926.

He graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1936 and joined the United States Navy in 1941, graduating from the Naval Radar School before World War II.

He and his brother Jack bought Magnolia Hardware from their father in January 1940. They were in the hardware business for 20 years when they decided to follow their love of boating.

In 1960 the brothers bought Puget Sound Marina located on Westlake Avenue in Seattle. They first represented the boat Fairliner, built in Tacoma, Wash., and later sold Uniflite, Matthews and Chris Craft yachts.

During his career, he invented the Rudd-a-cator, a device to display the position of a boat’s rudder.

The Chambers brothers were instrumental in the design and manufacture of Cruise-A-Home. His conceptual design for Cruise-A-Home encompassed the “houseboat” livability of an all-on-one-level plan coupled with a V-hull, making it seaworthy for the Pacific Northwest waters of Puget Sound.

The brothers were business partners their entire career, finally retiring in 1990 after 30 years in the boat business.

He was a lifetime member of the Seattle Yacht Club, having joined in 1957.

He was twice admiral of the opening day of yachting season ceremonies.

Ralph and his wife Dotty raised their family on Magnolia and in Elford Park in North Seattle before moving to Point Monroe, “the Sandspit,” on Bainbridge Island in 1976. There they enjoyed the peace and harmony of Puget Sound, the freshness of the salt air, and the crabbing and fishing on their boat, the Spit Wad.

He instigated and formed a motorcycle “gang,” the “Medicare Marauders,” with four island friends.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating, traveling in his motor home and “marauding” whenever the spirit moved him. Always the practical jokester, he would clip out funny cartoons and send humorous little notes to surprise family and friends.

He is survived by three children, Will Chambers, Jude Ashley (Gary) Streid, and Curt Chambers; his brother Jack Chambers, his sister Joanne (John) Eckerson; three granddaughters, Lisa Chambers, Carrie Chambers, and Dawn Erinne Branch; four great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Dorothy June “Dotty” Chambers and his brother Allen Chambers.

At his request, there will be no service.

Arrangements are under the direction of Kass Funeral Home, Bainbridge Island.