Orion’s Back!
Orion of Deep Green Wilderness has returned to Port Townsend Shipwright’s Co-op for it’s annual boat maintenance. One of the items on their punch list is painting the bottom and top of this 1934 wooden yawl. Project Manager, Chris Chase, was pleased to discover minimal growth on Orion’s hull after a year in the water. Following three seasons using non-toxic e-paint on this 64 foot sailing vessel, it is proving to be a quality product. Chris believes Shipwright’s Co-op may be the only company using e-paint on wooden boats today. The e-paint type used on Orion is SN-1 for wooden boats.
Orion hauled out for annual maintenance at Port Townsend Shipwright's Co-op
Orion displays minimal growth using non-toxic e-paint for third season in a row.
Misty Moon Under Construction
Misty Moon arrived to Port Townsend Shipwright’s Co-op in February to undergo boat repair. The project includes electrical, mechanical, and systems work while modifying the fish hold configuration from four small holds to two larger holds. I spoke with Jessica, whose family recently bought this vessel in Canada. Her family now owns a fleet of three fishing vessels. One of the boats, named Howkan, was under construction here at the Shipwright’s Co-op five years ago. Jessica’s first home was on a boat and she grew up fishing along with her siblings, cousins, her father and uncles. As a child, she was home-schooled onboard and was fishing by the age of nine. Jessica now spends the winter season fishing, while working a different job off season. She speaks fondly about her experience growing up on the water, explaining how it taught her to have a great work ethic, while meeting many people, and being surrounded by family. Her uncle plans to rename this boat “Miss Maylynn”, after Jessica, her sister, aunt, and grandmother.
Misty Moon hauled out next to the Muskrat at Port Townsend Shipwright's Co-op.
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.
Schooner Martha’s New Ballast
That large timber sitting on the ground at the Shipwright’s Co-op, just beyond the Schooner Martha, a few weeks ago has been dramatically transformed into the new keel for Martha. The ballast was poured in Seattle and installed this week. The pouring was well done, with no additional work necessary before being jacked up into place. The highly skilled crew of shipwrights are keeping this project moving along smoothly.
The large timber has been transformed into Schooner Martha's new keel.
Chris Stohlman working to install the keel.
New Purple Heart Floor Timbers.
Griffin Meyer and Chris drill holes for ballast was quite a task with the extensive length of the drill bit. The drill was repeatedly raised and lower while metal chips were being cleared.
Martha's New Ballast in Place.
Dave removing the last of the mold from around the new ballast.
Olympus & Glacier Spirit
The Hanke family at Puget Sound Express brought their boats, Glacier Spirit and Olympus, to the Shipwright’s Co-op last month for maintenance. Both vessels are used for whale watching adventures, while Glacier Spirit is also a ferry boat from Port Townsend to the San Juan Island. Puget Sound Express is family operated. They are true locals with a maritime history of Pete Hanke’s sailing adventures with his father aboard the renowned Schooner Alcyone. Pete refers to their whale tours as a “living classroom” and is engaged in educational partnerships with the Port Townsend Marine Science Center and The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor. Glacier Spirit is back in the water while work continues for Olympus.
Olympus undergoes maintenance at Port Townsend Shipwright's Co-op.
Glacier Spirit at the Shipwright's Co-op.
Pt Shipwrights Facebook Page
