The Muskrat is Close to Completion

The Muskrat bustles with shipwrights weekly and the transformation has been impressive.  Here is a progression of photographs taken during the past many weeks.

An 800 gallon fuel tank was fabricated by Greg. Here Martin maneuvers the tank, in order to deliver it back onboard.

Matthew Martz secures the new fuel tank.

Greg installs new frames for holding tank.

Dave welded new frames for the holding tank.

Leigh removes planks that were damaged when the boat was hit.

The deck torn open and ready for new timber replacement.

Planking completed, Jeff and Chris refastened and caulked the new deck.

Greg installs the quarter inch steel plate.

The new deck and hull is almost ready for fish holds.

Muskrat: A Short History on the Scow

The Muskrat, an 88-foot scow, has been at the Shipwright’s Co-op for several months now.  As all scows, it was built during World War II, designed to haul cargo to locations, such as the Aleutian Islands.  These powerful wooden vessels are still valuable to fishermen today due to their shallow draft.  They are able to pack a lot of fish and materials for how much water they draw.  Skegs are on the bottoms allowing scows to sit securely at low tide.  This fills a niche for fisheries in Alaska.  All scows are the very same design yet few plans exist.  Shipwright’s Co-op has repaired and maintained many scows and understands their unique strengths and weaknesses.  During the recent boat repair work aboard Muskrat, the names of original shipwright’s were discovered scrawled inside the hull.  One of the shipwrights climbed into the narrow crawl space to make a photograph.

1943 Shipwright's leave signatures inside crawl space of Muskrat reading " Bartholomew Shipwright May 5, 1943 Adack, Alaska The Hell Hole of Creation! Wee Willie Winkle, Raymond D Branham, P.P Parsell, Bobby Higby, Hot Shot..."

Hardworking Shipwrights Take a Break

Every hardworking shipwright needs a break during the day.  These moments are often spent with man’s best friend on the sandy beach at low tide.  Not bad.

Dave Grizwald, Matt Mortenson, and Chris Chase walk the shore of Admiralty Inlet with their dogs.

Greene Wood Design

I do not want to reveal too many secrets, however, many of the shipwright’s here at PT Shipwright’s lead interesting lives outside of their daily work at Boat Haven.  I recently discovered the shipwright, Josh Greene’s website.  If you are a local dweller and an upstanding citizen, who at one time entered through the court house doors, you probably thought to yourself “What amazing and talented people built these magnificent doors?”.  Well look no further, but to view the work of Greene Wood Design.  Josh, Little & Little Construction, Chris Cantrell, Sean Mugrage, Roberto Garcia, Asha Dean, and Sabastian Eggert were all involved in the construction and installation.  Like many shipwrights, the road to the boat yard was not straight.  Josh studied Illustration, Architecture and the arts before discovering his talents as a woodworker, carver and eventually a boatbuilder.  When Josh is not working on boat interiors, he may be swayed into building your new Richer Table or Oliver Stairway.

Amak’s Pristine Cabin Top

For a part of the boat that few will ever see, Amak’s team of shipwright’s still provides the highest quality craftsmanship.  After Dan fiberglassed the cabin top and overhang, Jim Lyons and Mike Rust added covering boards and are now putting finishing touches on the fascia.  Ben Tyler fabricated and installed aluminum support posts for the overhang and has painted the hull up to the bulwarks.

Mike Rust installs the cove molding.

Jim Lyons making the pattern for Amak's fascia on the Cabin top.

Fine detail woodwork on Cabin Top of Amak.

Mike uses a hand plane to fair edges on the fascia.

Amak's new paint job has begun.