Volunteers scratch their Schooner itch with a day aboard schooner Harvey Gamage

A little over a year ago, in February 2021, 10 deckhands from the Schooner Harvey Gamage, led by their mate Rachel Young, came aboard Spirit of South Carolina and mustered with 12 volunteers to take on a worth of ship's maintenance. [Blog entry 28 February 2021].  Today, four Spirit Volunteers returned the favor,  mustering with the shortened crew of the Schooner Harvey Gamage to knock out a significant portion of their maintenance punchlist.

Harvey Gamage has been tied to the fuel dock at Charleston Maritime Center for two weeks, undergoing a month's worth of dockside shipyard maintenance projects before taking on a group of Proctor Academy Students for a 10-week semester-at-sea southward. HG has been able maintain an extraordinarily active schedule for the past year. That has meant little time for normal ship's maintenance. So the crew had accumulated a large punch list of projects. 

 Spirit Volunteers, David Brennan, Nate Mack, Bryan Oliver, and Doug Hartley came aboard at breakfast time and mustered with the remaining crew of Harvey Gamage to take on some projects. After a quick round-robin introductions, 2d Mate, Josh divided up the day's worth of punch list projects.  I'm sure it was a bit of relief among Spirit Volunteers, that Harvey Gamage sports virtually no brightwork(varnished surfaces) except for the steering box. In keeping with her personae as a typical Maine working vessel, everything is simply  painted in one of two colors.

Nate Mack and Dave Brennan
start in on scraping and sanding
 the deck box lids

Three of us, Bryan, Dave, and Nate,  teamed up to hand up onto the dock six long dock box lids to be scraped, scuffed and repainted.  Josh came up with 3 rotary sanders to speed along the work.  

Doug Hartley measuring out dimensions
 for his stencil of the ship's
radio call signs on the aft cabin.

 Doug drove 3d Mate Anna Marie to Lowes hardware for paint  brushes and rollers.  Once back on deck, Doug took on a more  intricate project to recreate the ship's radio call-sign letters in a  large stencil on top of the aft cabin-starboard side. 

2d Mate, Josh demonstrating to
Nate and Dave the application
 of thickened epoxy

In the course of all that scraping and sanding, Nate discovered and pointed out to Josh,, some wood deterioration and separation around the corner of a lid.  A short 3-way discussion led to a consensus on a solution involving West Systems epoxy-which led to an on-the-job tutorial by Josh with Nick and Dave on the methods for mixing thickener into resin and hardener to fill and seal the gaps and strengthen the corner.  

With a fresh coat of gray Pettit epoxy over all six dock box lids, and Doug's stencil completed and painted in, the crew all went below for a hearty hot lunch of a souped-up Tomato soup and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches.  HG's crew was rotating cooking duties, since departure of their hired cook. Based on what was coming out of the Galley, they were holding up pretty well. 

Dave Brennan helps Doug
 peel the tape off the new
call sign numbers

After lunch Josh checked the punch list, and redirected us to a couple of additional painting projects; this time the trim around the aft cabin's skylight hatches and companionway combings. Nate got in under the mainmast fife rail to lay down a coat of white around the mast boot.  

Doug warily eyes Bryan at work on the
aft cabin skylight hoping his feet
don't scrape his freshly painted stencil.

With these additional projects completed there was just enough time to touch up our missed spots, clean up the dock, stow tools, and wipe down our hands.  Plenty of additional projects awaited but they could wait for the next day.  

The day had turned unexpectedly mild, a great day for on deck work. Volunteers enjoyed a chance to work beside other regular schooner sailors, learn and appreciate our differences, and similarities across crews, and even take away a few new tips and techniques.  We felt good about returning the generosity of HG a year ago, and we burnished a reputation as a dedicated serious schooner volunteer crew.  Stories were exchanged all day long.  

The Gamagers were genuinely appreciative of our help.  Spirit of South Carolina Volunteers have an open invitation to come down and step aboard.  They could use more of our help in getting ready for their next cruise.    Their shipyard period extends to close of business 5 January when a new fresh crew takes the deck and preps to take on the next class from Proctor Academy  on the 6th. 

If you can donate a 1/2 day or more laying in with HG crew members, you're guaranteed to come away with more than you gave, and if you're serious about wanting to deckhand on one of these schooners, you could do worse than receiving an invitation to ship aboard Harvey Gamage for a passage.

 

Spirit Volunteers seen at LCMS Boatyard for Coulson Bayne's Big Barn Boat Turning Party

This last Saturday afternoon, saw a pretty nice gathering of what I'd call, the wooden boat community of the Low Country; all assembled at the Low Country Maritime School Boatyard on Pherigo St. in Mount Pleasant, in response to the call for help by one of our own. Coulson Bayne had asked Sam Gervais to canvass his contacts for helpers to show up for this really big no-kidding group effort; the flipping over of his huge wood and fiberglass Sport Fisherman hull project he was building. 

It turned out to be an event in the best tradition of barn-raising,, lunches came out under one of the boatyard sheds. Most had brought their own beverages with plenty to share, and the crowd felt more like a social reunion going on then an exercise in choreographed teamwork. Approximately 50 people, shoulder-to-shoulder would surround the hull, lift it together and walk it out from under the overhang, set it down, then turn it over, then lift and carry it back under the shed. whew! 

Kenny Blyth in tan jacket, starts lining up
 after a short break, to flip the boat right side up,
 and move it back under the shed.

Several Spirit of South Carolina Volunteers pitched in. Danny Johnson, John Whitsett, and Sean McQuilken were seen in the crowd as it began surrounding the overturned hull encircled by a bow and stern cradle.  Old Salts, Reg Brown, Dan Machowski, and Kenny Blyth mixed in with us, enjoying the larger reunion going on around them.

 

With all the people attending, that left plenty left for a large cheering and photo-op grabbing session.  The whole drill, once organized too less than fifteen minutes.

Long Lost volunteer Sean Mcquilken
pauses with Bryan Oliver after safely moving
 the hull back under the shed.

Maine Schooner Harvey Gamage in Charleston for a Month; Requests Volunteers

Harvey Gamage put in to Charleston two nights ago after disembarking her Proctor Academy students in Florida. She has tied up to the dock at Charleston Maritime Center with the intent of staying for approximately a month to conduct scheduled and needed maintenance before resuming programs.

And..

She will welcome aboard Spirit of South Carolina Volunteers who wouldn't mind lending a hand with her crew.  Offering a berth and meals.

So, I spoke with Capt Kevin Jencomb yesterday.  They could use help in just about any capacity, for a day, 1/2 day, or better yet, a few days or more.  For all you volunteers out there, take this as a compliment.  Over the past three years, when Harvey Gamage has docked nearby, her crew has noticed your efforts and dedication.  They have even come aboard Spirit of South Carolina and worked with you on some of our projects. You have a reputation.

(This coming Saturday is the annual Christmas Boat parade around the Harbor- earn yourself a great view after a day with the crew on a few projects, and stay over the night.)

Now, if you're like me, and have been suffering from inability to scratch my schooner itch due to Spirit's being miles away, here's a pretty good remedy.  

Some solid reasons for  lending a hand on Harvey Gamage

• Harvey Gamage and Spirit of South Carolina's rigs are similar- as are our standard operating procedures. If you've internalized the way we do things on Spirit, you'll fit right in, and more easily absorb more. Anything you learn on HG will serve you well.

• Spirit of South Carolina has been out of hand for almost nine months now, and our own skills/habits can get rusty.  Harvey Gamage is offering a perfect opportunity to sharpen yourselves, likely learn some new things  (sailors are good at sharing tips and techniques..)

• Your Volunteer Hours Count.  Keep track of your hours on HG, and enter them into the Volunteer Log for Spirit of South Carolina.

• You'll be contributing to a great tradition among tall-ship sailors and true mariners- looking out for each other and our ships.  If you're ever thinking of signing on as a deckhand on one of these, paid or volunteer;  it starts here.
• For sure, it's almost all maintenance, but that's 90% of any tall-ship sailor's day anyway,, but, if HG makes a shake-down Harbor sail anytime before departure-I can't promise- but chances are good you'll be invited to join in.

If you can help our our sister schooner, please respond to me [bryan@spiritofsc.org] or text [314-409-0433] with your anticipated date/time you can go aboard, and time available.  I'll forward the head's up to HG's Port Captain.

Kitchen Magnet Ideas, and reconnecting with Shipmates, Volunteers and otherwise.

Hey,  all you Volunteers and Supporters of Spirit of South Carolina. In these days of waiting for our Schooner's return, and waiting, and you're starting to feel a little dispirited;  

Try this:  

Print out this Blog entry;  cut out this image and stuff it in your wallet, or tape it to your Refrigerator.

                                                                                                ↘

The Sandwich Board, on which this poster is affixed, was created by Spirit of South Carolina LLC and is currently positioned in a place of prominence at the Charlestown Maritime Center Dock. 

The connotation should be obvious. If you've become doubtful about her ever coming back, here's a pretty public commitment that people are working to make that happen. We've even designed a ready-to-apply "Open for Tours" Banner to tape over the Coming Back Soon" text, to repurpose the sandwich board.

To reinforce that message,  my recent conversation last week with Tommy Baker's Exec Assistant reinforced their intent to gather a crew for delivering her back to the Maritime Center, and initiating early, a mix of dockside activities, and plans to take her north in the Spring.

I'll even post a good expandable copy on the ship's photo album. You can click on the tab along the banner of this blog page. 

Working on a New Blog Feature

With no real opportunity for Volunteers and crew to muster together on deck, it's easy to lose touch.  So, it's great to hear from y'all either by email or phone call, as did Matt Hollenbeck just a day or so ago, just checking in.  

Matt out exercising the small boat
 on his last week as deckhand/coxswain

Matt, originally from North Carolina, holds a unique spot on the schooner's history as being the last professional deckhand to disembark last winter as the COVID shut down all operations, leaving only Hunter the Cook, for ship-watch, and us volunteers. 

Capt Cleveland recruited Matt earlier in 2020 during a visit to the ship after being impressed with his "unique set of skills" around small engines and other mechanical systems.  It helped that Matt caught on naturally to everything rigging -wise.  Matt is featured in the most recent video short-documentary, now on YouTube.  You can also review it in on our YouTube Playlist link up top.

Matt remains busy at his home in Columbia, with his young daughter, and starting up his new family business in custom concrete surfacing.  I've got a couple photos of his work which are quite impressive.  Yes, an up front-plug.  He's hoping to get back south some time to volunteer a spell once the Schooner is back home. It'll be a great reunion. 

With that start, if you've been in contact with me in any form or fashion lately, a big thanks.. and, oh, you'll probably be next. ;-)

Volunteer Laura Johnson ships out, while Dad, Danny Johnson, gets a new ride

Spirit of South Carolina?.. No news to report. Nothing coming from Capt Heath or the Board. I'll be spending Friday and some of Saturday aboard her in Savannah, helping Hunter provision, and advancing an individual project. Other than that, there's nothing to coordinate.  When news happens, I'll  cast it out here.  

On Good News;  Well, it's good to know at least one of us is sailing.  Schooner Sailing, I mean.  Just a few days after celebrating her birthday at the helm of Dad, Danny Johnson's new Dehler 42...  

Laura helms while Bryan bloviates
 on mainsail leech trim.

Just this last Saturday, Laura shipped out as deckhand aboard the Boston schooner Liberty Clipper,  bound for the Bahama's and a winter season of multi-day charters around the island. Both Liberty Clipper, and Schooner Harvey Gamage cast off on Saturday, just after "Nikki" blew thru;  Liberty Clipper to her winter sailing grounds out of Nassau, and Harvey Gamage to Saint Augustine to drop off their Proctor Academy Students, then on to Port Everglades, where I think their ultimate destination will be Galveston. 

I was hoping to give Capt Rob, of Liberty Clipper a hard time for shanghai-ing one of our volunteers, but he became hard to find. But did get to wish Laura "Fair Winds", and set expectations for her to come back with many stories. She'll be out for several months. 

Laura finishing dock lines check after
a successful shakedown sail

Danny is getting serious;  Yes, you heard it right, there's a new serious performance cruiser on the harbor. She's christened "Trinity".  A Dehler 42, from Germany, and one sweet, responsive sailing machine. Danny gave each of us a trick at the helm, and she was impressive. With a 7 foot blade and bullet keel, rudder post forward and a sled-like hull, we could feel the acceleration even in slight puffs.  No excess pounds of comfort cruising bells and whistles, Danny has configured her for performance. 

                      

Spirit of South Carolina getting prepped for her arrival.

 While waiting for all the gears to synch up that will launch Spirit of South Carolina home, Project Manager Heath Hackett has set some priorities aboard for readying the ship for her first few days on arrival in the public eye.  Just about all mechanical issues being resolved, focus is turning to the aesthetic condition of the ship on deck and below; getting her ready for visitors.  The Board of Directors is expecting to host a very public event for her return.   Prior to that I understand that the Board of Directors is to have a meeting with some others to be invited. The agenda is not announced, but surmised to announce the strategic direction the schooner will take over the next year. That would include the roles of volunteers.

You recall from a previous blog that Heath's crew of professional detailers came aboard for the  better part of a week to scrape/sand down to wood, the entire cap rail, as well as quarter-rounds surrounding hatches, and the aft-cabin butterfly hatch. Bryan Oliver was forward on the jibboom last week, doing the same. Other wood furnishings, showing grime and peeling will likely get same treatment.  The intent is to get the prep done now, and start actual coatings of varnish, after arrival in Charleston. That's likely to be one of our first volunteer chances to shine. We're not exactly new to that cap rail-except now the hard work of scraping/sanding is already done, just a light sand and tacking down to get to coatings. The main boom and gaff, lying on the deck all summer has suffered the sun and are peeling and graying badly.  Will likely be taking that on very shortly. 

Other projects Hunter and Bryan have accomplished are: 

• Total clearing out and straightening of empty bunks in the salon, moving gear forward, in anticipation of receiving visitors to the salon for public events.  
• Taking down and stowing the huge main deck awning canvas.  It has suffered several major tears, due to UV damage and winds. It's looking beyond repair capability.
• Coiling and stowing loose cordage and cargo netting. stowed in lazarette.
• Splicing new rope lifelines into the rails in vicinity of starboard main shrouds.    

Two Schooners Passing Thru- Awaiting the Weather Window to Open for passage South

 In case you've not been down by the harbor lately, you're missing a charming schooner currently at the fuel dock at Charleston Maritime Center.  

Liberty Clipper, out of Boston, part of the liberty fleet of schooners has been at the dock for the past two weeks undergoing a "dockside shipyard" program.  They are finishing up a number of projects before casting off for Bahamas on Nov 7- give or take a weather day or two.  Liberty Clipper is a steel-hulled vessel, normally carrying a crew of 14, similar to that of Spirit of South Carolina when at sea.  They take on passengers for cruises, rather than for educational programs.

They will likely be wintering down south.

Enroute from St. Michaels, an old friend to Charleston, Harvey Gamage, out of Portland, Maine, has just docked Saturday, to reprovision, and head further south.  They have on board approximately 20 students of the Proctor Academy in New Hampshire, on the 8th week of a 10-week Semester at Sea. Proctor Academy subscribes to a remarkable approach to learning.  Check out their link. You'll find it interesting.

 Students will complete their academic requirements and disembark in Key West having experienced life as a schooner deckhand and applied on board in real life most of their academic learning for the semester. 

They will stay here to reprovision and hopefully bring on board a new Cook, and Engineer.    They have an ultimate port in the Gulf of Mexico.

If you've not seen Harvey Gamage, she's worth a visit also.  Similar to Spirit of South Carolina, all wooden, in her case a general replica of typical schooners working coastal Maine waters as fishermen, lumber or other cargo carriers.  It's worth comparing our two rigs, as the ships we are honoring were built for different parts of the country and different purposes. 

Harvey Gamage is looking for a Cook for the remaining two-week passage to Key West. They are looking to depart at the same first favorable weather window as Liberty Clipper;  around Wednesday, 9 November.  

If you have information that would lead to their acquisition of a Cook, or Ships Engineer, contact their Captain at: 415-787-2178.

"Soon" is still the word to describe when Spirit of South Carolina will return to Charleston.

I think that word started appearing in blog entries here back in July. In that context it's meaning has become, well,,, meaningless. I had been given to understand that the mechanical issues keeping her at Thunderbolt were largely resolved. Turns out I was misinformed, or jumped to conclusions. 

Only this past week, our electrician returned to replace an alternator on one of the diesels, and also discovered that the separate battery chargers did not appear to be charging their respective banks of new batteries. I plan to get better clarity on the situation this week and have something worth sharing with you.

 Last week at the Georgetown Boat Show, kindred spirits stopped by on seeing the A-Board advertising Spirits eventual return. It gave em' some hope. 

 Jesse Rothkopf, old volunteer from 2015, now heavily involved in his own wooden boat collection. Sean McQuilken, deckhand volunteer from 2019, forced to adjust time more towards his professional life, but looking for chance to come back aboard. 

Kenny Blyth, Old Salt, Shipwright-builder of the schooner; latest attendance was to deliver a set of five new purple heart belaying pins he had lathed for us.  

Deckhand Volunteer/Ashley Hall Cruise Alumni Dani Feerst, nailed her business plan presentation inspiring the  Board of Directors with a well thought-out proposal for the schooner,, also researched for a replacement website platform. With no funding, we are on our own to develop and manage a new one. She had some success there, and started designing a website framework. But real life requirements to focus more on her professional endeavors forced her to hand it off to me. So I have our website work-in-progress and am chugging along forming out an admittedly plain, but functional website.. The Pizzazz will follow, likely when someone with pizzazz in our volunteer roster wants to step up and get involved.. 

 Any takers? Email me. 

 Last thing; If wooden sailing ships, particularly the traditionally rigged kind is still your itch that needs to be scratched, check out this upcoming event on:

 www.sailpowersteammuseum.org "Stories of and from Captains of the Square Riggers A Zoom call that requires registration on their webpage. Monday, Oct 24, at 1830 EST. 

I plan on being there. I've met two of the speakers. This sounds like a make yourself comfortable with a tot of the good rum you've been saving, open up that small jar of Tall-ships potpourri of old tarred marline cuttings, turpentine and linseed oil, and set it nearby. (You may have to close the door; no one else would understand). Registration for the Event

Spirit of South Carolina gets some publicity

 It wasn't much, but undeniably, it was at least
something; the first exposure to the public since the fine feature article last summer in the Post and Courier.  Our schooner got some signage in front of people at the annual Georgetown Wooden Boat Show.

It was a fitting venue for announcing her return, but it was on short notice. Bryan Oliver  was already set to exhibit his Beetle Cat at the Boat Show. We were looking at a perfect advertising opportunity. Given that we had no marketing effort yet established, Bryan proposed a poster mounted on our sandwich board currently lashed down on the dock with other gear. Colleen Flynn, Exec Asst to Tommy Baker immediately agreed to the idea and volunteered her creative marketing staff.   

So, earlier last week, Bryan drafted up a poster design and forwarded it to Colleen.  She added an OCR scanned code to the bottom, linked to a Paypal donation account she had set up.   So, now we  had a Marketing Campaign. This was another first. 

Spirit's first Ad Campaign product
 set out in front of Bryan's Beetle Cat
at start of the Georgetown
Wooden Boat Show

When the Show started at 10 AM yesterday, the poster was strategically positioned in the path of the crowd as it moved down the rows of exhibited wooden watercraft.   Bryan, at the curb next to his boat was able to observe the crowd passing around it. Too many to count, stopped to read it. Half of those pointed it out to their walking companion, and a few even took out their camera and snapped an image of the OCR code at the bottom.  We'll see how it works.

After the Show concluded Sunday afternoon, Bryan recovered the Sandwich Board to be reused at the ship's gangway, or at the foot of the dock, to advertise the schooner when she could be open for tours, with a donation of course.  A decal banner "Open for Tours Today-Donations Appreciated" will be applied over the current "Coming Home Soon" banner.  It was a fruitful weekend for the schooner, with some names collected for adding to the Volunteer Contact Roster.. and hopefully a renewed interest rekindled in a lot of visitors.

Six Months of Schooner separation; Time to shake it off and Look Forward to Something Different.

  They say that "absence makes the heart grow fonder."  In my experience, I'm skeptical.  I think its more likely to do the opposite.  Spirit of South Carolina has been outta sight/outta reach for six months now.  With each passing month I'm afraid that for many of us,, that emotional attachment to our ship can't help but start diminishing.  Me? - I've been going down almost weekly to bring Hunter his mail, and work a small project or two, so my bonds get regenerated just as often.    

She really is coming back. I wish I could say exactly when.  when it does,, I expect there to be just a short notice. It would be great to have a significant contingent of volunteers there to welcome her back. 

Even if you couldn't make that date, I invite you to come on down to the dock, at your convenience if just to get another look at her. I'm confident that just that little gesture will stir up in you the same excitement, curiosity that brought you aboard the first time.  

And nothing regenerates a good memory like family pictures, or boat pics. Click on the Ship's photo album tab at top of this blog and browse thru a few pics.  Guarantee, like a puppy pics, you won't stop at just one.   

Last thing, in reactions I've gotten from some of you, there's been profound discouragement in how you've perceived volunteers to be regarded, as an integral valued component in this ship's life.  Twice, during deliveries, the pro's have declined to include us in the operation. Our projects at shipyard seem to be invisible to the rest of the schooner's world.   Well,  "what else is new".  

Nothing's changed, really.  The pro's doing the delivery to and from Thunderbolt have contracted to a very specific mission to hard parameters; efficiency, cheap, tight schedule, safety, low risk. Any unknown quantity introduced into that mix, adds some risk.  Volunteers, for all my bragging about you, remain an unknown quantity to them. I saw that attitude bear out and reinforced when I joined the "A-team" crew for the delivery down here.  When the delivery is done.. They will be gone, and it'll be our ship once more.     

And, things are about to change.  Pre-shipyard, the ship had been in a limbo for three years, with no sign of a shift in fortunes.  As you've read in this blog, things are shifting, for the better. Volunteers will be involved. I hope to see all of you on deck to be part of it.     

Hurricane Ian cuts us a break; Last Projects finishing up before Delivery

 Three weeks of dead air on a social media platform is always a risky thing, and I take responsibility for that. I've been mostly incommunicado with road trips back to St. Louis, and Oklahoma, and frankly there's been nothing much to report on since last posting.  Until Ian, that is.

Even that, thankfully, turned out to be a non-event here in Thunderbolt Marine Inc. where Spirit of South Carolina still floats at the face dock.   As Ian approached, Capt Hackett and 3 of his yacht management team converged last week to triple up all her dock lines, roll up the awning and  add an additional four big ball fenders dockside. Hunter remained aboard. That was it.  Luckily, the hurricane passed well east of Savannah area, and Thunderbolt saw little overly dangerous winds or surge.  As of this writing, a few fixes in the engine room remain to be resolved.  Starboard diesel's  alternator  will be replaced this week, and some final engine electronic tune-up's will be completed. 

So,  six months in shipyard.  Other than three weekends when volunteers drove themselves down to clear out and clean berths, and do some mechanical troubleshooting, Spirit of South Carolina has basically sat in the sun and dried out.  Hunter did get a head start scraping off peeling varnish on the aft cabin butterfly hatch.  

Notice the newly wooded cap rail
 and instrument consoles.

This past two weeks,  Capt Hackett's team has been mostly at work on deck with heat guns and scrapers, taking down to wood the entire cap rail, some half-rounds around hatches, instrument consoles at the cockpit, and aft cabin butterfly hatch-the saloon butterfly remains in pretty good shape.  After six months in shipyard, the neglect on that wood took it's toll in  yards of peeling varnish and sun damage.  

The second half of that project, the varnishing will be handed off to us volunteers. Personally, I'm counting blessings. All that scraping/sanding would have taken several volunteer weekends.  In a conversation with Capt Hackett, he also expressed an intent to switch from the Deks-Olje two step preservative and varnish system (D1-D2) to an Epiphanes varnish. That is also expected to be a time-saver. 

Schedule for delivering home still hangs on the issue of Captain and crew.  Everyone's anxious of course to get her off this dock and back home.  I'm starting a new pestering  campaign to get as much advance notice as possible when that will happen. 

Almost Done! Expect to Cast-off for Charleston..Soon

 Activity aboard Spirit of South Carolina has surged, these past two weeks. The previous blog posting last week announced the installation of the new Inverter/charger, and both banks of batteries changed out for fresh.  Navionics were tested.

This week, the diesel experts came down. They changed out several major components, tuned things up.  Now both engines are running as they should be.  A new Master control circuit board for the GENSET was replaced, as were filters, and diagnostics run.  It's now operational.  All four critical projects meant to be managed while here at the dock, have been completed.

While specialists were finishing up below decks, Capt Hackett had brought with him four of his team with scrapers and guns, to work on the entire cap rail.  By this past Thursday, they had completely wooded the entire cap rail.    

Meanwhile, this last Saturday,  back at the Charleston Maritime Center, Bryan Oliver, with Danny Johnson, David Brennan, and Ken Fonville were staring down the pile of stuff at the end of the dock. With the second half of hurricane season still looming, the Maritime Center was growing concerned about loose things going airborne and possibly causing surrounding damage.  

So, with new tarpaulins, a roll of #72 seine twine, and dock carts, we sorted into separate piles all the loose hardware, that could possibly move.  We carted off the dock three loads of stuff for junking or salvage, another load into Bryan's trunk for further sorting or repair and restoring. The rest, including five 10-foot lengths of chain, was repacked into the storage chests, tarped and lashed down. against the dock benches.  

At this point, it would appear the only issues to be resolved are the bringing aboard of a delivery crew.  Capt Hackett may do the work himself with small group out of his organization.  He does not see needs for Volunteers aboard for the delivery, but will accept help for taking lines in Charleston.  Things could change-they always do.  Watch your email.

Meanwhile, your blogger shipmate will be once again, out of state, out west thru the 24th.

Projects Advance aboard Spirit of South Carolina-still tied up at Thunderbolt Marina

 A bit of news from Hunter aboard Spirit of South Carolina, still tied up inside the facedock at Thunderbolt Marine Shipyard, undergoing the last four projects necessary to send her home to Charleston. Just this past Wednesday, Capt Hackett came aboard to supervise the exchange of the entire bank of 19 batteries for new ones.  The lightning-fried Inverter, destroyed in May 2020 was finally replaced.  

The remaining projects are the installation of a new Master Control Circuit board for GENSET , and some diesel engine work. And of course, there's the hiring a delivery Captain and crew.  Still, we're getting closer

Joe Gorman, Retired Submariner and Old Salt is remembered.

(Reprinted from email announcement  to Volunteers, Sunday, August 28) 

 Today we lost a shipmate.  Old Salt, and retired Submariner, Joe Gorman passed away after fighting a rapidly progressing brain tumor only recently discovered.  His family was with him.

Joe was one of the early volunteers who helped in the construction and early operations of Spirit of South Carolina; one of the few who remained active and involved with the schooner throughout her life. His affinity for “collecting things” and membership in the Knot Tyer’s Guild was well known to all of us who worked the deck,, volunteer and professional crew alike.  One could not look in any direction, on deck or below, without seeing some examples of his contributions.

Joe, with Captain Cleveland

 He was a great teacher, and coach to us and any student who came aboard. Almost all of us benefited from an impromptu session with Joe on techniques for breaking open a dried out rock-hard knot,  or rethinking and marveling the simple effectiveness, and weakness (there aren’t any) of a well- made properly deployed bowline.

  And of course, his reputation for acquiring materials was legendary;  Rolls of manila rope for sword mats, ocean plait mats, heavy tarpaulin cloth for constructing tool bags and small boat covers, canvas strapping for creating a cargo net, Canvas repair tools. It goes on.

 

His signature white whiskers seemed to fit perfectly into the image of a 19^th century schooner’s deck. We’ll keep his memory in all those things.  

Joe, and his family's wish was that his ashes be taken to sea, aboard Spirit of South Carolina when next she slips her lines and bears away.  Can't think of a better send-off.

Last Watch
Aboard Spirit of South Carolina
October 2019

Board of Directors listens to a new Plan for Spirit of South Carolina

In a previous episode back in May, you learned of a Business Plan presentation made to Mr. Tommy Baker by representatives of the Aquarium, and Spirit of South Carolina (Danielle Feerst). An outcome of that presentation was a direction by Tommy Baker to assemble the entire Board of Directors to hear the plan, and achieve a consensus to support it. Well, it happened. 

Just this last Wednesday,the 10th, Tommy Baker assembled Mikey Bennett(its how he prefers to be called), Teddy Turner Jr., Pierre Manigault, Hank Hofford and Paul Steadman in the Conference Room of the Baker Porsche Dealership. Capt Heath Hackett was also in attendance. They heard the Aquarium briefing on their plans to convert the Maritime Center into a learning platform of classrooms and retail space, with programs that would also steer students and public towards the Schooner, just down the dock. 

Next they heard Danni Feerst(Ashley Hall Cruise alumnus). Danni laid out a plan intended to get the schooner back onto a revenue generating path, keeping to her mission statement but concentrating on low-hanging fruit; primarily dockside educational programs, tours, and event, for the first year. The idea being, an initial concentration in that area would minimize payroll costs of full-time crew for first several months. Topics covered included a status on our new website,in development,plans for fundraising, including year-end Gala or such event, and needs for Marketing expertise as as well as hiring an Executive Director to organize and manage everything. My part in this meeting was primarily a voice of conscience, reminding of the manpower needs to maintain the ship, her systems as well as topsides and rigging, even while docked, and being appropriately crewed with COI to take up( opportunities for revenue generating harbor cruises or more. 

I'm not confident my points landed home, but the primary goal of creating commitment by the Board to move forward was successful. As us presenter's left the meeting, the Board remained behind to reach some decisions, which I expect to be made known to us soon. 

The next day, Tall Ships America Executive, Erin Short, invited Spirit of South Carolina to participate in a Tall Ships Challenge that would offer sail-aways (45min-2-hour harbor sails) at ports in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Coast next April-May timeframe. So, that has ramifications to decisions to be made soon. She has reasons to live! 

Meanwhile, Spirit of South Carolina rides at her dock in Thunderbolt Shipyard waiting for the contractors to change out batteries, reinstall Inverter, re-install the master circuitry board of the GENSET and test, and check/test out the diesels again. Capt Heath says 10 days.. the Shipyard Project Manager forecasts another few weeks. Still, there's progress. Which I'll keep y'all informed of as I learn things. 

One last thing; The Board would like to make a big public deal of her return to Charleston, when that happens.. with media presence, some boats out to meet her, maybe even raise a sail or two. As that takes shape and I can advocate for volunteer participation.. I"ll keep you posted. We'll need dockline handlers; possibly a few to embark in Thunderbolt for the delivery home.

 Stand by to stand by.

She's Back in the Water

Thursday evening, I received a call from Capt Heath Hackett if I could get down to Thunderbolt tomorrow (Friday, 5 August). The shipyard was scheduling Spirit of South Carolina to be lowered into the water at 2 PM, coincidental with a high, slack tide. Friday am around 0730 I was on the road for Savannah, about 22 1/2-hour drive. 

By 1020, I'd come thru the gate and parked close by to where Spirit of South Carolina had been positioned for the last 7 days, her bowsprit poised over the lift platform she would later be pushed onto.

 It would just be Hunter and me on deck for the operation; On previous visit we had done a lot of the prep work, and planned the last minute actions. Now it was time. Joe, the Shipyard's project Manager informed us we'd be tying up on our port side. So Hunter and I immediately selected appropriate lengths, and dragged over to the port side kevels/hawse holes, four docklines, threaded them outboard with enough scope that we could fashion a large bowline to be tossed over to a shipyard hand to take the line to a cleat. Four fenders were next dragged out and spaced along port side to hang low and be tied off to stanchions. On later visit, to be lowered to tie off on timberheads at deck level. We decided to drop the awning port side to clear the space for working docklines, leaving the starboard side rigged just for shade and survivablility on deck. Shipyard hands came aboard to rig a two bridles, one foreward out of the anchor hawsholes, and one aft, made fast to the bullards. Last task was to disconnect shore power, the water hose, and the gray water holding tank line. and we were ready. 

At 1330, Hunter and I left the deck, the scaffolding ladder was pushed back. A caterpillar forklift rigged with long towbar inched up to the cradle, and started slowly pushing the cradle with the ship slowly out onto the lift platform. On signal, the lift manager signaled the platform to start lowering into the water. In ten more minutes, the schooner was mostly down, enough to the dockhands to rig a step ladder out onto the transom for Hunter and me to climb back on board, but still firm in her cradle. 

 With the ship sufficiently wetted, we took a half-hour inspect the bilges, particularly for leaks at the exposed hull planks that had been replaced portside waterline, at the stem. I didn't expect to find anything at this point, pointing out to our project managers that, a quality caulking job would be truly tested when, to quote "Captain Ron:- If it's gonna go wrong,, it's gonna happen out there.", in this case on a port tack, beating into a good chop, and those hull planks start working. 

Dockhands taking up slack
on port side after Spirit is floated.

As high tide slack approached,  the dock hands  passed three lines across both sides, which Hunter and I made fast to kevels port and starboard.  These would center us steady in the slip while tugs took on the bridles fore and aft.  Once lines taken up, the hull was lowered the last two feet into the water till she was floating free.  

Along with a third pushboat, the bow tug took up slack and slowly pulled Spirit out of the slip. 

Hunter standing by aft after
 making fast the starboard stern line.

As we advanced, Hunter and I slipped the lines that had been centering us in the slip.  

A stern tug had taken position along side near the stern, and now tensioned up the bridle off the stern.  

Bow tug starts pulling.
Awning starts filling like a sail,
 prompting Bryan to let it fly.

As the bow tug swung us into and down the fairway towards where we would be docked, a broadside breeze appeared over starboard side. Bryan noticed the bow tug stuggled to keep the schooner centered in the fairway, and saw the remaining port side of the still rigged awning was acting like a sail.  He rushed down the port rail releasing the 8 guy lines stretching the awning, allowing it to flap, and relieve the crosswind pressure on the ship. 

Spirit of South Carolina all secure,
 afloat in her new slip for final projects

We had seen this team work before, moving big vessels, including this one, around corners and into tight spots without smudging a paint job, so we were totally confident in their working this procedure.  Sure enough, we were slowly and steadily backed into our inside slip where additional dock hands stood by to take the four lines we had rigged up and hung off the port rail.  

Shore power hooked up, Bryan set to work rigging up the awning for shade, adjusted fenders and spring lines, rigged up a stern quarter line for good measure. All secure.  One last trip to Krogers with Hunter for a couple week's provisioning, and we're ready for the last phase of "shipyard;  batteries, generators, engines, and inverter.

Spirit of South Carolina Still on the Hard as of this Blog Entry

If you've been following my email string, you've gotten this message already. Here it is again: Quick Update: Spirit of South Carolina was not lowered into the water from drydock last week, as originally scheduled- strictly administrative issue with transferring funds. It just takes time. It’s not known if that step has been completed as of today, Monday. According to the shipyard project manager, it would still be a couple of additional days of prep, shipyard musical hulls, before the ship is actually lowered in. That would mean later this week earliest. Tack on another 10 days to two weeks for engines,generator,batteries, Inverter, projects to complete, and delivery crew on board, then she’ll be coming home. Counting on my fingers, the very earliest departure not before the 14th; more likely last half of the month. By that time, I”ll be on my Alaska cruise and will miss the event. But will coordinate probable volunteer needs, as that time comes.

Nights in Shipyard and Summer Swelters, and the Tunnel opening just came into view.

With two seriously blowing fans positioned in the salon, and a gaping awning providing shade over midships,  life below decks is barely tolerable, becoming almost comfortable into the evening as ambient temps on deck drop into the high 70's and some of it gets sucked below. 

Such was last nite, after sharing a nice aged rum "night cap" with Hunter, on deck, little light pollution, slight breeze and a silky smooth Intercoastal Water Way ghosting past only 100 yards away.  a later blog entry before turning in, my only wish would've been for a hammock, or enough ambition to pull up a bunk mattress onto the deck where it would've been pleasant even. 

Hunter helps line up the
second sewing project and grommet set,
 to repair a 40" tear in the forward edge
 of the foresail awning. 

It was an early morning, at 0715 the Shipyard was already coming alive two 30 feet below us, as workers and contractors flowed past the gate. We'd agreed on an early morning start to beat the heat. We chose the best value small team project in these  conditions, repair of two long tears in the forward edge of the foresail awning. Together we ran out extension cords, handed up the Juki Sewing Machine secure in her awesome sea chest( shout out to her builder, volunteer John Crane), followed by the Canvas repair bag and grommet kit; took down the awning.  After a search we located the brown sunbrella material to be used in the repairs. Now to work.  Our Juki machine has been very temperamental, but when shown due respect with consulting the manual several times, and several fitful starts due to insufficient demonstrations of respect I assume, the machine found her rhythm  and two strong yard-long double canvased over-stitched awning edges took shape, with two larger grommets pressed in to replaced the one's tearing out. 

By now, it was approaching noon, and the 91 degree F mark, so after rerigging the repaired awning, the two of us piled into my sedan to go on a provisioning run.  

While sitting in the Publix parking lot I phoned Capt Heath Hackett to request guidance and any timeline he'd planned for the schooner's next steps. His plan remained to, launch the schooner Thursday or Friday as funds were released to the Shipyard.  She will be towed into position by the Shipyard to lay along the inside of the adjacent face dock. No engines. She'll then spend the next ten days at the dock, on the projects mentioned earlier in this Blog (See July 4 entry ). It will require someone to set up our four dock lines and four fenders, send over lines and take lines on the dock. Capt Heath predicts only one person required on the dock, and one on the deck for these four lines. I'm skeptical, but we'll see.   

As the late  afternoon cools off, Hunter and I will go diving into the forepeak to haul up four docklines and stage them on the aft cabin pending the shipyard announcing on what side we'll tie up. I'm betting port side.   Fenders likewise.                                                                                                                                                                  

   On a  more urgent note..  The pic at left illustrates what happens when a crew/lack of crew results in not keeping up with taking care of this ship.  In three weeks, the portside caprail varnish broke down, the flaking off is creeping forward down the cap rail.  

Our Punch list is growing. Our progress in recruiting Captain and minimal crew is unknown.  If Capt Heath's ten day target holds up, we can expect to have Spirit of South Carolina back home around 8 August.  A significant window, as it will coincide the the Board of Director's being presented a new Business Plan for the Schooner, that will include alliances with the Aquarium, and eventually several other local organizations.  It's gonna be a great day  to see y'all back on deck!  She's going to need us.

Get Ready to Get Ready! Spirit's about to be splashed. Then, start counting days to her return.

 This afternoon, I drove down to Thunderbolt shipyard as has been my routine every other week or so, since late March, bringing along Hunter's Sunday New York Times, and Economist, and New Yorker Magazine, just about all that ties him to the world these days.  I drove there for a day's worth of Volunteer Punchlist work. and was also going to bring back the dead aft cabin macerator motor to hand over to Harbor Masters for refurbishing. 

The Maritime Center holds his mail for my pick up, and Jeff, the Dockmaster invariably asks me "If, Spirit is coming back?"  After four months gone, around the Maritime Center, rumors have abounded, in the face of her absence.  I respond in the same way every visit.  Yes, she's coming back her. "No she's not being sold. Yes, there are plans in works for her future here. No I can't give you a return date." The shipyard and contractors seem to drive that, but here's the stuff remaining to be done." ..and the list has consistently gotten smaller.  

I expected to see Spirit of South Carolina in her usual dry berth, this time hopefully with a completely painted bottom, the last phase before splashing her back into the water and floated to a dock for next projects.  It has seemed that contractors appear inconsistently but once every two weeks, to advance a project, Her final coat of bottom paint all around  would be  just one more final step  for launching.

 It was now past dusk. Driving  around the last big storage hanger I noticed the big empty space across the lot where Spirit should've been resting on her railroad cradle, as she has since last March.  Not there,, hmm, confusion.. a hurried gaze all around the dock, and sub-conscious reach-back into my aging degrading memory for some thing missing that might explain this. 

Spirit of South Carolina in her new berth  

But somewhere in the middle of crowded dry-docked hulls, the familiar twin wooden masts of a ball-head rigged (no topmast) schooner rose up over the gaggle of huge fiberglass motor yachts parked around the basin, definitely in a different spot from before - her scaffold-staircase awkwardly lashed to her port side quarter rail.  She had just been moved earlier this afternoon, with no warning to Hunter who was aboard, to a position with her railroad cradle aligned to the  ship-lift platform situated over the water in front of her.  At this point, the only next option was for a caterpillar tractor to push her cradle along the rails out onto the platform where she'd be lowered into the water.

New Paint job and all. Her bowsprit
out over the ship-lift where she'll 
 eventually be lowered back
into the water. Thursday or Friday. 

Wondering what I"d missed, I found Hunter on deck who informed me this whole move had happened with no notice only a few hours before. He had no warning, no time to unlash the top of the scaffolding from the caprail, or climb down and evacuate the ship.  The crew was inexplicably surprised to see staring down at them from up on deck, two stories up; he'd been living aboard these past four months. Their supervisor informed Hunter that they received instructions to prep her for lowering in, based on directions from the dockmaster's office    The Ship's launch could happen in two days, or be  delayed dependent on receipt of funds. 

So Hunter and I were left in wonder at this admittedly pleasant surprise, but also confused.  So many questions;  who would cast us off, who would be on board to handle docklines, run throttles, assuming she could even power up.  

More on this tomorrow as picture starts to focus.                                                                                                                                                                          

                      

Contractors for Caulking, Painting, then Mechanical are stretching this project out.

 I know - I know... What happened to that "19 Days and counting"?!  

Basically, I'm still counting.  Yes, the "End of the month"-meaning June, is no longer relevant. In fact, based on what our Project Manager is describing, it would be unwise to predict the next "end of the month."

Here's what's been going on since last post over two weeks ago:  Contractors primed her bottom with thinned bottom paint to coat seams and crevices.   Her topsides (above the waterline to the cap rail have been scraped, sanded and repainted.  (They look great!)   That's it.  

Here's what's left to do before the schooner can be returned to the water:  

Complete caulking of isolated seams in spots not yet appropriately sealed. 

Apply final bottom coat below the water line.  Completing this task has become problematic, as the shipwright has been difficult to reach.  It's being resolved.   I'm taking an educated guess that this will be completed early next week.

Set out four sets of dock lines, and stage fenders on appropriate side.  Since there is no crew aboard, and volunteers are two hours or more away, the shipyard will likely provide the manpower for handling lines.  

You recall from our log of Spirit of South Carolina's arrival here, that she had no power and was towed in and pushed into a slip by shipyard tugs.  She's still in that status and will require shipyard tugs to get her out of the lift platform and over to her assigned dock. Shipyard crew will get her tied up again for the last phase of her stay.  Business is slowing down in the shipyard, so this could happen within days of her bottom coat being cured.

Here's what I understand needs to be completed while at the dock:   

Her entire bank of batteries will be replaced.  Most or all are original installations and at end of life, so this was not an unexpected project.  

 The Project Manager is engaging a team versed in the ship's systems, to resolve some electrical issues in battery charging, and replace the Inverter. 

The Control Circuit board which Volunteers Craig Scott and Doug Hartley diagnosed, will be replaced.

Hook up hoses, and electrical connections to replacement aft cabin macerator. 

Volunteer Layne Carver installing his new top for the deck tool locker.

A Delivery Captain and Crew have yet to be acquired for the return to Charleston.

Based on the recent experience in this shipyard, my guess is, I don't expect these projects to be complete before 6 August. Who knows? We might see a compression of wait times between contractors and be out of here a couple weeks earlier.

 forever hopeful.

I'm campaigning for the boarding of four volunteers to help bring her back to Charleston. Circumstances are somewhat different from the outbound delivery. I'll press the case as a good training experience and help for the delivery crew.

Better News: Meanwhile, back in town, Mr. Tommy Baker will be convening the Board of Directors in early August to hear a presentation by a team led by our own Volunteer, Dani Feerst; She has built an alliance with the Aquarium and International African American Museum around a well-researched business plan to bring Spirit of South Carolina back to a sustainable program.

19 Days and Counting

19 Days and Counting - to End of Month and Spirit of South Carolina's expected Return to Charleston.  4 Planks have been replaced, a number of seams filled, segments of rotted wood cut out and either fitted with "dutchmen" wood, or filled. Mechanics working below deck in the Engine room and over the chart table on electronics.

Six weeks earlier, Volunteers had  hauled out on deck, lowered over the side and trucked to a storage trailer almost the entire ship's stock of foam mattress, linens, mattress covers,  PFD's, immersion suits, and miscellaneous cans of paints and varnish.  Mattress covers  and berth curtains were dismantled and  bagged to be washed.  That enabled a following week's worth of volunteers to wipe down and clean out 7 years of dust and grime. 

Now, with 19 days left, just two weekends, it was time to move all that gear back aboard and reinstall or stow it.

In these days, it was notable, that six Volunteers donated half of their tank of gas to make the round trip to Savannah-Thunderbolt this weekend to do the job. Bryan Oliver and Doug Hartley, driving from Columbia, were the first to climb on board Friday evening. Doug immediately set to work on the Coast Guards remaining discrepancy list, while Bryan sketched out a plan for organizing the other volunteers, due in the next morning. Hunter had given us a major lift, saving us a day of labor, by spending all of Friday washing and drying all 28 mattress covers, and setting them up on deck

Chris Sosnowski's truck fully loaded
 with mattresses rounds the corner
 headed back to the schooner..

Layne stands by on the tagline
 to control a load of immersion
 suits about to be hauled aboard

On Saturday morning, Layne Carver arrived from Hilton Head in his Toyota pick up.  That gave us early morning capability to start shuttling the 28 immersion suits back, and getting them on board and inspected, before restowing them, with fresh bungee cordage hangers.    Later in the morning, Old Salt Volunteer Chris Sosnowski, and Dan Maurin arrived. 

 Bryan organized them into a sort of "bucket brigade with pick-up truck" to move the 18 mattresses, PFD's and other gear, to the ship's port side where our home-made cargo net was waiting to haul it aboard.  

Chris and Layne emptying the truck,
stacking mattresses into the cargo net.

That operation became a race to get all mattresses on board and under the large deck awning before the early afternoon rain squalls hit.

 Hunter set out a lunch of  sandwiches while us "deckhands" helped themselves to iced down water bottles from an igloo chest on deck.  As sporadic squalls sprayed around us, our crew set to work under the awning, cutting laces, and  fitting the newly washed custom-made mattress cover to it's respective foam mattress.  Each berth's shape is unique, requiring a sorting exercise to find and match a foam mattress with the cover specifically designed to fit it. 

Chris Sosnowsi, Dan Maurin, and Layne Carver
 work the lacings around custom mattress covers.

Doug, being done with the macerator installation
shifts to his other skillset to lace up a mattress cover.

As Doug resolved as much as he could of the USCG's punch list, he transitioned over to the challenge of dismantling the frozen aft-cabin macerator pump, and replacing it with our spare.  The inoperable macerator was located of course, in a most inconvenient, inaccessible spot under the Captain's bunk, and appeared to be installed with the intent that it would never be replaced.

By 5:30 PM, our crew found stopping points, began putting away tools , and reaching into the same igloo cooler for an assortment of beers and other refreshment.  Tempting aroma's of Southwest cooking was coming out of Hunter's galley, but it still didn't dissuade Chris Sosnowski and Dan Maurin from departing for Charleston; leaving Layne, Bryan, and Doug with a fine supper of heaping helpings of  Chile Verde Enchiladas, with black beans and rice.   Night brought little relief of temperature nor humidity, but two roaring fans lashed down in the salon moved sufficient air around to make for comfortable sleeping.

Next morning brought the welcome arrival of Old Salt, Reg Brown and his pick-up truck, in time for  emptying the last of the coffee,, and starting a new bucket brigade with the remaining four of us to move the last contents of the storage trailer over to the cargo net. Four truck loads and   8 cargo net lifts later, all gear was safely back aboard, mostly stowed, and the trailer was empty.  By mid afternoon, mattresses were stowed in berths, most of the immersion suits had been hung and other hardware stowed away. Reg Brown and Layne Carver departed, leaving Bryan for the last chore; to take over two bags of berth curtains to the crew lounge, wash, and return.