Thank You January Work Weekenders

By Capt. Korie Griffith

Scraping the hull

Thank you so much for coming to our last work weekend!  Though we were promised sunshine, we still made the best of what we were given.  I’m happy to say that we met our goal this weekend of getting the entire hull of Adventuress scraped and ready for bottom paint.  This is never a glorious job, but it is one that goes fast with lots of hands and is very satisfying when it is finished!  So, a special thanks to all of you who strapped on a respirator and left with bits of red dust in your hairlines (I hope you all enjoyed a well-deserved, long, hot shower!).

Other weekend accomplishments:

• A big dent in block assembly; 2/3 done’ish (thanks Linda, Tom, Dennis, Mark and more)
• Anchor chain shot marks prepped and painted for the season (thanks Dennis and Burke)
• Mainmast repair (thanks Paul)
• Fo'c's'le hatch got varnish (thanks Beth and Kacie)
• Electrical wiring runs documented for our new navigation equipment (thanks Rick and Jane)
• Repair to our shipyard boat bike (thanks Levi)
• Christmas lights unbent (thanks Zach)
• Delicious meals were cooked and served (thanks Monica and Indu)
• Wood stock was moved (thanks Andrew)
• Lots and lots of clean up (everyone!)

Winter Mate Ryan and Andrew inspecting the mainmast

There is probably more to add to this list, but our Master of Ceremonies, Ryan, is off on some well-deserved time off so I wasn’t able to get his list.  So, thank you for everything and all you did last weekend.

Please remember to sign up* for our last two work weekends this winter if you can: February 19-20 and March 12-13.  In February look forward to some rigging, paying the seams on the new planks and the start of gear shuffling (winter stuff off, sailing gear on).  March should find us back in the water, finishing rigging, cleaning and more gear shuffling and all those pesky projects that hang on until the bitter end of winter maintenance season.  As always, we’d love to have your help during the week too!

Thanks again!
Korie
Centennial Restoration Project Manager, Adventuress
http://www.soundexp.org
korie (at) soundexp (dot) org

*If you'd like to sign up for the February or March Work Weekends, please send Korie an email.

Volunteers scraping bottom paint!

They're a dedicated, hearty bunch

Don't worry, we vacuumed it all up!

Reassembling the blocks

Newly painted metal hardware waiting to be assembled

Jane B. and Rick C. studying electronics

Washington Conservation Corps Comes to Adventuress

Today, we were happy to welcome aboard Adventuress the Jefferson County Crew of the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC)!  They brought with them positive attitudes and big smiles--in spite of the rain--for their day of volunteering.  It was inspiring to hear that these passionate 18-25 year-olds are not just volunteering for a day, but have committed to a week of community service in honor of the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Adventuress was just one of their many projects this week.

Some of the Jefferson County Crew

Established in 1983, the Washington Conservation Corps is modeled after Franklin D. Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's.  The WCC is a program within Washington's Department of Ecology and Americorps.  They have 33 crews operating throughout the state year-round to protect and enhance Washington's natural resources.  So, when you see these folks out restoring habitats or removing invasive plant species, give them a wave and a thumbs up!

The six person WCC Jefferson Crew came to Adventuress at the suggestion of their corps member A.J. Garcia who had volunteered aboard our ship last year.  He suggested it as a possibility for MLK Week and it was well received.

"It's been a cool, positive experience being able to come out today," said James House, Assistant Supervisor for the Jefferson County Crew.  James had come aboard Adventuress when he was in elementary school and remembers the experience warmly.

Many of the corps members expressed that MLK week is exciting because they work on projects a little different than their usual work; like volunteering aboard Adventuress.

Corps member Aliina strikes a serious face!

Today, they effectively doubled the efforts of our regular winter crew.  The corps members were sanding the deckhouse, removing varnish bubbles from the ship's spars and they even got to rust-busting and painting block strops (the metal bands that run through a block).  Needless to say, they were a huge help in our efforts to keep our National Historic Landmark in ship-shape.

So, is a WCC position sounding appealing to you?  You should know that they're not currently hiring.  However, they will be doing their major hiring in the summer for positions starting in October.

Thank you Washington Conservation Corps and the Jefferson County Crew for working aboard Adventuress today!  You're welcome aboard anytime.

Related Links:

MLK Day - www.mlkday.gov

WCC Homepage - www.ecy.wa.gov/wcc

Horn Timber Arrives! First Plank Goes on! Life is Good.

Yesterday evening the horn timber arrived from the Hudson Valley in New York!

The arrival of the timber had been pushed back because the snowstorms in the east delayed milling the tree.  On Thursday January 6, two drivers were able to load the timber and get out of New York just before another winter storm set in.  The timber was delivered yesterday evening, only four days after their departure.

Made of white oak, the timber is around 28 feet long!  Haven Boatworks worked with a company called New England Naval Timbers to fell and mill the tree.  The tree may be over 100 years old.  It seems suiting that the timber will now become part of a nearly 100-year-old vessel, providing strength and security for Adventuress for many generations to come.

Today held another momentous occasion as shipwright Brad Seamans put the first plank on the Starboard Bow.  The starboard bow is being planked with sapele, just like the port side project.

December Shipyard Update

By Zach Simonson-Bond

Phases II and III of Adventuress' Centennial Restoration have been flying by.  December saw some exciting milestones from both the starboard bow and counter stern!

Phase II: Starboard Bow

Arthur Minnerly puts in the last futtock

The most notable accomplishment on the starboard bow is the completion of framing just before December 25.  Shipwrights Brad Seamans and Arthur Minnerly lead the replacement of Adventuress' frames and they did so with excellent attitudes!  Often, you could hear them swapping jokes and speaking in accents and they methodically strengthened the starboard bow.

Their scope of work extended from the new stem, installed last year, to the starboard midships reframing that happened in 2005-2006, and from the top plank to just below the waterline.  Planking on the starboard bow will begin in January, 2011.

Other Phase II accomplishments include the fabrication of a new chain plate and associated strapping which are currently being galvanized before they are secured to Adventuress.

Phase III: Counter Stern

The counter stern project has also had some exciting milestones, namely a strengthening of the entire steering system from the rudder to the wheel.  

Shipwright Andy C. works on the housing

A new rudder design has been completed that will provide more strength and stability for Adventuress' next half century.  An added benefit of the new design is that it will allow the rudder to be more easily removed and inspected in future years.

The rudder attaches to the Edson "worm steerer" at roughly deck level.  The worm steerer is a gear which provides mechanical advantage between the ships wheel and the rudder, making Adventuress easier to drive.  While strengthening the rudder, it was also decided to rebuild the box that holds the worm gear.  Shipwrights Blaise Holly and Andy C. are working on a new housing that will provide increased security for the worm gear and strengthen the entire system.

Leland with the transom blank

Meanwhile, shipwright Leland Gibson has been making a transom "blank."  Essentially, it is a curved board that the transom will be cut from.  Leland has been laminating boards together, two sapele with a top layer of teak, in preparation for the new transom!

Last, we're excited to announce that a large piece of white oak, 25 feet long, has been identified in New York for the horn timber.  It will be shipping in early January.  Shipwright Blaise Holly has already made the pattern for the timber and waiting eagerly for its arrival.

Maintenance
Regular maintenance is also moving steadily forward.  The inclement weather has kept our volunteers mostly under cover.  As a result, they have completed the disassembly and cleaning of Adventuress' blocks, the soles (or floors) of the ship are getting many protective coats of varathane, and the ship's spars have been scuffed in preparation for varnish!

Dont forget!  We have a Volunteer Work Weekend coming up at the end of January.  Come join us and help prepare Adventuress for her next sailing season.  The Work Weekend will be on Jan. 22 - 23.  Click here for more info.

Thank you all who have volunteered or donated during these projects.  You are keeping Adventuress in the best shape of her life!

Brad removes excess fastener material

Nate and Tom working on blocks!