Rainy Saturday forces a shift to below-decks projects and interrupted Mast restoration momentum.

 This past Saturday was a hoped-for opportunity to maintain the momentum created the previous week in advancing our Mast Maintenance; At end of that day, we had noticeably advanced the work of sanding, oiling both, Fore and Main masts.  Despite the ominous rain forecast, I was counting on the swing-and-misses of past weather forecasts to continue.

Unfortunately, this Saturday the predicted solid day of rain actually did show up, likely dampening potential volunteer activity. Nevertheless, five of us volunteers still came on board, some likely out of simple curiosity for possible projects, or maybe just for some news. I'm hoping that a better weather forecast will encourage a bigger Muster, next time.   

As for news.. there is none.  As of last news, over three weeks ago there was Board-level discussion of the ship's general future, one option as an attraction vessel; unknown if that would be short time or much longer. This is a foundational, mission-related issue that must be resolved before anything else can happen.  There is no news of progress in search for a Captain, and paid crew, prerequisites for prepping for and regaining the USCG Certificate of Inspection.  

On the plus side, on deck we are seeing funds made available to reimburse for hardware expenses, such as lubricants, electrical hardware, paints and coatings, hand tools, abrasives, and other useful stuff. And finally, there is discussion beginning on setting a date and planning for our own Appreciation Day.  Your input is welcome.

As for the five of us that did muster, we laid in on a project started the previous weekend.  Tool maintenance; something accomplished without need to be on deck.. in the rain.

Lobscouse prep in
the Oliver Galley

Bryan Oliver arrived first, bringing a pot of Lobscouse to share at lunch with any other volunteers who showed up.  Ken Fonville, followed by Danny Johnson came down the ladder into the saloon; Danny bringing along a dense sweet Soda Bread loaf, and a caramel cake. At least Lunch was showing much more promise. And Hunter would be grateful for not being asked to hike in the rain round trip to Harris Teeter for provisioning.  Finally, Tony Marchesani appeared, ready to further some electrical cable maintenance.  

Diverse collection of hardware gathered
 from all over the ship, most salvageable

After some direction from Bryan, parts of the crew went forward to the forecastle and set up a station of distilled vinegar, for marinating heavily rusted hand tools, and a second soaking station of WD40 lubricant for soaking the de-rusted and dried tools with the moisture displacing lube and preservative. The other crew scoured the dock tool lockers and tool berths for caches of neglected hardware; drive bits, drivers, wrenches, chisels; anything indicating rust damage.  Tony moved in another direction; to repair some of our extension cords.

New socket finds.

By lunch time, the crew had a piles of tools of all sizes and types, loosely organized and in various stages of vinegar marinating, WD40 preservative soaking, and putting away under our improved organizing discipline.  Tony had discovered an additional bag full of loose sockets and drivers; which he reorganized on socket rails and bags.  

Once lunch was complete, scullery and clean-up operations accomplished, all that was left was to secure tools, clean up work areas and disembark while inspecting Danny Johnson's gangway handrail handiwork.. still working by the way.