That doesn't sound true. I lived in the Boston area back in the late '90s. I knew a Charlestown townie (and possible wiseguy) who often joked about how they (U.S. Navy) were taking the Constitution out on joy-rides on a regular basis.
He thought it was unconscionable they would risk such a priceless piece of our history, though impressed the old girl handled so well.
You wrote: “I knew a Charlestown Townie (and possible wiseguy) who often joked about how they (U.S. Navy) were taking the Constitution out on joy-rides on a regular basis.”
I am a Townie. The only taking of the Constitution out on a “regular basis” is the yearly “turn-around” so the ship, when berthed again, is in the opposite position so it will “weather” evenly throughout the year. The turn-around is normally done with the assistance of tugs and there is normally a lottery for folks to win a ride... that’s the only “joy-ride.”
The “wiseguy” didn’t know what he was talking about.