A Tall Ship's EPIC Restoration Update

Boat enthusiasts, rejoice!

March is here and we are quickly approaching the sailing season.  Much has been done over the last few months and we are quickly putting the ship back together in anticipation of the Spring Crew arriving!

The short of the story is that we are getting more for our money then expected and, so far, without any major hitches.  We continue the excellent precedent set over the last number of years regarding our relationships with Haven Boatworks and other vendors, our paid and volunteer crew, our successful Volunteer Work Weekends, and all the local passers-by.

Tail-Shaft Replacement
Adventuress was originally designed such that her propeller shaft could not be easily removed for inspection.  To withdraw the shaft going forward through the ship, we would have to wreck much of the interior.  To remove it aft, we would have to cut the "prick-post" which aligns with the ship's rudder shaft.

Removal of the Tail-shaft with the Prick Post cut

The solution was a redesign.  We’ve reconfigured the after-end of the ship so that the old tail-shaft can be easily removed from the stern without wrecking anything.  In the future, this will allow for very efficient inspections and, if necessary, replacements.

The removal of the existing tail-shaft went smoothly and quickly.  Within the first week out of the water we had the tail-shaft removed, the hardware out and the prick-post cut.  This gave us good insight in to the original construction of Adventuress, including the great condition of the shaft log where the tail-shaft runs through the ship.

The re-design of the Prick-Post

After consideration of both design and cost – we moved forward with the purchase of new hardware and machining the new tail-shaft.  In the process, we were offered a “gift” from Sound Propeller.  Originally, we decided to leave the intermediate-shaft out of this winter's scope of work due to lack of resources.  Sound Propeller generously offered to provide the intermediate shaft as well as the machining involved to replace it!  The estimated in-kind donation value thus far is around $8000.  Another testament to the power of relationship building and the magic of the ship.  Thank you to all those involved.

The “necking” of the old shaft just forward of the sleaving for the cutlass bearing.

Floor Timber / Shaft Log

Fasteners removed from the Floor Timber.

The decision was made to remove and replace the existing floor timber.  This timber is butted perpendicular to the shaft log and accepts the stuffing box.  There had been considerable delignification of that floor timber and, with the new sizing of the tail-shaft necessitating a new stuffing box, it was an easy decision to replace it.

The timber has been removed and we are glad we did due to the condition of the fasteners and the wood itself.  The new timber, replaced with a new piece of purple heart, has been expertly patterned and installed and awaiting the new stuffing box.

Remains of the Floor Timber with “Pulled Pork” consistency.

The new Floor Timber – Made out of purple heart and fastened into the associated frames and Shaft Log – Nylon bushing is inserted between the two logs to help with the watertight seal – ready to accept the new stuffing box.

Sails
The Sailmaking Class at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding is building a new Mainsail, Staysail and Jib for the ship.  With eight students they have already seamed all three of the sails, have begun building the corner patches, and are starting on the hand work.  We are salvaging some material off of a previous sail as well as acquiring some new bronze rings and hanks from Pete Langley of the Port Townsend Foundry.

At various points we’ve been utilizing a group of volunteers to help out with “schlepping” and other fun aspects of the job.  Sean Rankin, with help from other local experts, has been leading his students through the process.  The sails are getting ready to be delivered and bent on just in time for the spring season.  Our previous Chief Mate, Nora Coseby has been scholarshipped for the class and is keeping an eye on the daily goings on for me ☺.

Boat School Students with Adventuress Volunteers, and Sailmakers Sean Rankin and Sugar Flannigan – 2nd Layout at the Community Gym

Rigging
Only three days after being out of the water we removed the Foremast with the intention of a detailed inspection of the spar itself as well replacing the hardware aloft to match the work done on the Mainmast last winter.  Inspection revealed a few minor, but necessary repairs including the rebuilding of the trestle trees aloft.  Given the age of the mast, it is in remarkably good shape.  Some rigging updates will be included as part of the work being done around the mast.

We continue to utilize the inspection and inventory process that we’ve been developing over the last year in a proactive response to new USCG inspection notes and impending regulation.  We are working closely with our local inspectors and the leadership in Washington DC to help create a model for traditionally rigged vessels.  After our recent presentation at the Tall Ships America Conference in Newport, RI, we feel that we are certainly on the right path for our own ship, as well as supporting the industry at large.

General Maintenance/ Volunteers
We have yet another great team this winter working very hard to get the ship ready for another 200 days of operation. The ever dynamic list morphs as work gets completed and we set priorities for winter maintenance as well as supporting the Restoration Project.  We now have three live aboard volunteer interns working along with the Winter Mate and Engineer.  We also have a cadre of local volunteers that come down to work on both specific projects as well as what is on the menu for the day.  We’ve held three successful Winter Work Weekends with one more planned.  These weekends continue to be great opportunities to get big projects completed, build community and have lots of fun.  As of yesterday, we have logged almost 2000 volunteer hours.

Some of the Gray Beards reuniting at a recent Volunteer Work Weekend

This Weekend: Volunteer on Adventuress!

Hello from Adventuress' Winter Crew 

We've made it through snow, wind, beautiful weather and now back to our usual winter around here!  However, I still have high hopes that our annual February sunshine will return next weekend, February 18 & 19, for our upcoming Volunteer Work Weekend.

Bunks are filling up! So sign up by emailing me if you plan to attend and/or need a bunk for the weekend. It helps us plan the projets and how many to prepare food for. We could use all the help we can get! So if your coming from out of town or plan to saunter down to Boat Haven locally - please let me know that you're coming.

Some Fun Project planned:

• Continue Prepping and Varnishing
• Building Scaffolding
• Prep Hull for Paint
• Organizing the Container
• Removing Hardware from Old Sails!
• And much more!

Looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you next weekend - and remember, the next work weekend will be March 17-18 - Feel free to sign up now!

Best,

Captain Joshua

joshua (at) soundexp (dot) org

How We're Moving Forward with Outdoor Education

Message from Megan, aka the Education and Outreach Coordinator

Photo by Jempe Center

The winter months are a great time to reflect on the past sailing season, and start planning for future sailing seasons.  With the amazing insight of our Education Committee, Captains, volunteers, and partner organizations, we are finding new ways to move forward and keep our environmental curriculum current and engaging.

One project I’m really excited for is increasing our focus on stewardship and citizen science.  During our 2011 sailing season, we had the opportunity to partner with People For Puget Sound during one overnight program to do a shoreline restoration project!  Our Fantastic Voyage participants stepped off Adventuress in Deer Harbor, Orcas Island, and hiked to Cayou Lagoon.  There they tore out invasive species and helped to remove trash from Orcas Island's largest estuary.

We also partnered with plankton researchers the University of Washington's Friday Harbor Labs and were able to collect over samples that led to increased knowledge of harmful algal blooms in the San Juan Islands.

In 2012, we hope to continue these projects as well as other develop other projects that include water quality, microplastics, zooplankton, and more.  To fully engage in some of these citizen science projects, we have some equipment needs – If you want to directly contribute to these initiatives, check out our ‘wish list’ to learn more.

We are looking forward to a fantastic 2012, and hope to see you, your family, your students, and friends aboard when we’re back on the water in April.

Captain Joshua's Maintenance & Restoration Update

Volunteer Work Weekends

Adventuress' maintenance season is underway!  With both new and returning friends and volunteers, we held a fun and successful Volunteer Winter Work Weekend on December 3 and 4th at Historic Ships Wharf in Seattle.  With many hands, and support from The Center for Wooden Boats, we were able to accomplish quite a bit.  Chief Mate Sarah Felder organized the crew of volunteers as we:

• Prepped and painted the foc'sle interior and bunk boards (Huge Project!)
• Disassembled, cleaned, greased and painted blocks,
• Worked on fixing our Bosun's Tools Box and the ship's boarding ladder
• Fixed interior cabinetry in crew cabin
• Coat of varnish on some pin rails and
• Prepped and updated our signage

Thank you all who came to enjoy each other's company, and the remarkably good weather!  Thank you also to all who tried to make it down - we look forward to seeing you for the next one. 

Email joshua(at)soundexp(dot)org if you are interested in joining us for the next Volunteer Winter Work Weekend during the Martin Luther KIng Weekend and Day of Service, January 14-16th.  Sign up early to make sure we have bunk space available!

Adventuress' New Sails!
Everything is in place to begin building new sails for the Adventuress in January!  Students at The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, in conjunction with Sean Rankins of Northwest Sails, will be building a new Mainsail for the schooner Adventuress.  “The Boat School” is accepting applications for the 2012 Sailmaking and Rigging class to be taught January 9th through March 23rd, 2012.  And, there is space available for you to sign up!

The class will introduce students to the full range of traditional sailmaking skills, including tools, materials, design, measuring, handwork, machine work, canvas work and the range of basic techniques needed by Sailmakers and Riggers.  It is a hands-on, technique-oriented course that students will find to be a superlative introduction to the field.

This is a great opportunity to work alongside The Boat School as both organizations are learning institutions valuing education to increase awareness and skills of traditional maritime trades.  Many Boat School graduates work in tall ships, shipyards, boatshops and sail lofts across the US, Canada, Europe and Asia where their craftsmanship, creativity and artistic talents enhance their communities.

Sign up NOW for the last remaining spots; SCHOLARSHIPS are available!
http://www.nwboatschool.org/alerts/Alerts_Detail.aspx?processID=69

Upward Bound Students Sail Aboard Adventuress

By Keith Van Essen
Upward Bound Counselor

For three years now, Adventuress, a beautifully restored wooden schooner, has been home for 5 days/4 nights to a variety of Upward Bound participants, students who come from low-income families and will be the first generation in their families to attend college.

Getting out of Seattle for an adventure such as this is a once in a lifetime experience for UB students; many of them rarely even venture beyond the borders of their own neighborhood or city.  This year, two Upward Bound students, Alazar and Vivian, jumped at the opportunity to take part in this sailing adventure through the San Juan Islands.  Both of them had only positive things to say.

Alazar wrote, “I was able to see unique animals such as Orcas and Seals, and I hiked up to a huge lighthouse where I could overlook the beautiful Puget Sound.  The entire trip was an amazing experience!”

Vivian noted, “My trip on the Fantastic Voyage was amazing!  I learned so much like the names of the sails and ropes on the ship, the JKL (Orca) pods, and I learned some history of the San Juan Islands.  I definitely made some great long lasting friend and would love to go back again and again!”

Our students will forever be impacted by this experience as their minds and hearts have been enriched by this outdoor, experiential, team-building experience.  A HUGE thank you goes out to the generous staff of Sound Experience who for 3 years now have invited our Upward Bound students to come aboard the Adventuress and benefit from an amazing experience on the Puget Sound.

Sincere thanks,

Keith Van Essen
Upward Bound Counselor

Adventuress teams up with The Boat School for her new Mainsail

This coming winter students at The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, in conjunction with Sean Rankins of Northwest Sails, will be building a new Mainsail for the schooner Adventuress.  NWSWB, locally known as “The Boat School” is accepting applications for the 2012 Sailmaking and Rigging class to be taught January 9th through March 23rd, 2012.  And, there is space available for you to sign up!

The class will introduce students to the full range of traditional sailmaking skills, including tools, materials, design, measuring, handwork, machine work, canvas work and the range of basic techniques needed by Sailmakers and Riggers.  It is a hands-on, technique-oriented course that students will find to be a superlative introduction to the field.  A complete course listing is available on the Boat School's web page at:

http://nwboatschool.org/programs/Course_Detail.aspx?processID=79

Master Sailmaker, Sean Rankins, of Northwest Sails will teach the class and will be assisted by other professional sailmakers and riggers.  Sean has well over thirty years of experience as a sailmaker.  Adventuress has been working with Sean over the last year to design and build new sails as part of the Centennial Restoration Project.


This is a great opportunity to work alongside The Boat School as both organizations are learning institutions valuing education to increase awareness and skills of traditional maritime trades.  Many Boat School graduates work in tall ships, shipyards, boatshops and sail lofts across the US, Canada, Europe and Asia where their craftsmanship, creativity and artistic talents enhance their communities.

Adventuress’ Mainsail is the second largest working sail on the West Coast and carries over 3,000 people a year throughout Puget Sound and the lower Salish Sea.  At 2,500 square feet it will be the first of the four lower sails to be built for the ship’s 100th birthday.


During the 2012 class, students will also make sails for the Dana Point CA-based gaff topsail schooner The Spirit of Dana Point.

The Sailmaking and Rigging class is a comprehensive and intensive class.  Students will work in the School's Sail Loft 10am - 5pm Mondays and 8am -5pm daily Tuesday through Friday as well as on other local vessels as appropriate.


Other Boat School programs include 9 month diplomas and 12 month Associate Degrees of Occupational Studies in Traditional Small Craft, Traditional Large Craft, and Contemporary Wooden Boatbuilding in addition to the 3 month Certificate program in the Sailmaking and Rigging class announced above.  


Interested?  Contact Captain Joshua Berger at: Joshua(at)soundexp(dot)org


Or, the NWSWB directly at:


The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding

42 N Water Street, Port Hadlock WA 98339

360-385-4948

www.nwboatschool.org
(See them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NWBoatSchool)

Girls Take the Helm

By Elizabeth Becker

In late July, an enthusiastic group of 16 young women, average age 13, boarded Adventuress in Friday Harbor for 3 days of sailing, learning, and exploring.  Except for one group of five Girl Scouts who had journeyed all the way from central Oregon, the girls didn’t know one another.  But any hesitance quickly evaporated during the opening circle, lunch, and Watch Group orientations.  A sunny afternoon of sailing kept everyone busy hauling on lines, tacking, and taking turns at the helm.  At anchor in McKay Harbor off Lopez Island, preparations began for the evening program, which would include resource reports and game night.

One of the unique aspects of Girls at the Helm is having a group of women mentors aboard to share their passions and expertise with the participants.  On this trip, the five mentors shared their interests in wildlife biology, teamwork, photography, tall ships, and water quality.  The crew, which was mostly female for this trip, added plankton and sail theory to the mix.

Furling the jib in windy weather

On day 2, the ship headed south and east into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, heading up Rosario Strait.  The sun and calm seas of the day before had given way to cooler temperatures, stronger winds, and sizable swells, giving all aboard a taste of saltier sailing.  Heading back through Thatcher Pass brought smoother waters along with a bit of rain. But once at anchor in Blind Bay off Shaw Island, the sun came out and there was plenty of time for climbing aloft, sailing Ayashe, and doing some fancy knotwork.

During dinner, the participants had an opportunity for some one-on-one time with the mentors, with an assignment to ask them questions and then share the answers with the whole group during the evening program. The girls did an awesome job with their presentations, which were followed up with skits by each Watch Group.

The trip ended far too soon. Day 3 brought Adventuress back to Friday Harbor under sunny skies. The girls left with great memories, a better sense of their abilities, and a new window into what’s possible.
“I learned that I’m stronger than I thought.” ---participant

Studying plankton

The Intrepid Mentors

Hauling up the mainsail

Studying the charts

Learning Adventuress' sails

Preparing to go up Adventuress' mainmast!