We were expecting worse. But, after a week on the hard in Thunderbolt Shipyard, we had ample opportunity to go over Spirit of South Carolina's bottom. We had easily identified a few small areas of rot below the water line, and numerous isolated small voids in seams between planks, indicating possible issues, or simply a spot requiring some reefing our, caulking, maybe a foot-long seam here and there.
The USCG Inspection team arrived en masse promptly at 0900 Wednesday morning the 30th. Six of them, a big group, three each from Savannah and Charleston. The Charleston contingent was already well known to this schooner; Both teams led by a USCG Commander. Volunteer Tony Marchesani had been aboard for 3 days already and volunteered to extend a day. Good thing he did. More on that in a minute. Team Savannah went directly to work around the underside, while Team Charleston climbed up on deck to inspect spars rigging, below decks, bilges, and thru-hull operation.
Capt Hackett, as Owner's Rep and Project Manager was represented by his colleague, Mike, an ex Cumin's Diesel Engineer-good to have on board. He shadowed the Savannah team, while I stuck to the Charleston Team topside.
Capt Hackett had earlier informed me of the inspectors' requirement to see empty bilges, and thru-hulls exercised. Therefore, over the weekend, we concentrated on emptying as much water as possible using the trash pump, and emergency sump pump. We emptied forecastle bilge areas of all extraneous items stored below. In the Lazarette, I had cleared the immediate area around the keel and bilge pump for viewing.
During their initial walk thru below decks, the team pointed out a number of additional deck plates that needed to be opened up for viewing, which Tony and I immediately followed through. Next Inspector looked into the lazarette and casually stated. "You're gonna have to get all this outta here, in order for us to inspect it.... or we could come back at another time. Coming back another time, was not an option. Tony and I l looked at each other for a second.. I dove into the lazarette, and started handing stuff up to Tony in the cockpit.
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| Tony Marchesani takes a deep breath and rests his back after pulling everything out of the lazarette. The pile is only partially visible. |
I think we broke a record. Everything in the lazarette was piled around the cockpit, done in less than four minutes.
All sixteen thru hull ball valves were exercised while an inspector outside under the hull visually observed thru the thru hull opening.
The team noted several instances of checking in the deck beams over the saloon, but no noticeable hogging, sagging, or wood fiber breakage indicating structural deterioration.
All bilge areas closely examined, and were found sound.
Outside below the water line numerous small voids in seams were identified and marked. The worm shoe along the bottom of the keel suffered three spots of damage., most all resolvable with graves, and caulk or other appropriate filler. The four planks replaced last shipyard 2.5 years ago, exhibited early rot at the stem rabbet; likely to be replaced.
We were prepared for the inspection to last all day. But by noon, the team had relayed their findings to Capt Heath's colleague, Mike, and departed. The final Powerpoint report to Capt Heath was as much notable in what they did not find, such as large scale instances of work damage over the hull planking, accompanying rot. deterioration of any kind in her interior bilge timbers and frames. tell-tale discoloration/softness around fasteners, (except one possible instance at waterline).
Complementing this report with the "A Team" Delivery crew's in-depth report on Spirit of South Carolina's mechanical systems and rigging, we have a pretty good picture of her state, and the effort necessary to bring her back to operation. She'll need Shipwright expertise, and Rigging expertise. And a lot of hours into a long Punchlist that Volunteers can tackle. That's coming next.
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