Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op

The Muskrat is Close to Completion

debraswan — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:22:47 +0000

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.

Filed under: Fishing Vessels, new work, Uncategorized Tagged: Alaska, boat construction, boat repair, boat restoration, Caulking, deck, Fishing Vessel, fuel tank, holding tank, large vessel, Matthew Martz, metal fabrication, Metal work, planking, Port Townsend Shipwright's Co-op, refit, shipwright, steel plate, welding, woodwork

Muskrat: A Short History on the Scow

debraswan — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:48:35 +0000

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..."

Filed under: Fishing Vessels, Motor Vessels, new work, Uncategorized Tagged: 88-foot scow, Alaska, Aleutian Islands, boat construction, boat repair, boat restoration, cargo, fish, Fishermen, Fishing Vessel, flat-bottomed vessels, large vessels, Muskrat, Port Townsend Shipwright's Co-op, Scow, shallow draft, shipwright, skags, wooden boat, WWII

Hardworking Shipwrights Take a Break

debraswan — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:29:04 +0000

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.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Admiralty Bay, Chris Chase, Dave Griswold, Matt Mortenson, Port Townsend Shipwright's Co-op, shipwrights

Greene Wood Design

debraswan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:06:17 +0000

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.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Boat Interiors, Furniture Making, Greene Wood Design, Josh Greene, Little & Little Construction, Port Townsend Shipwright's Co-op, shipwright, The court house doors, woodwork

Amak’s Pristine Cabin Top

debraswan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:15:48 +0000

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.

Filed under: Motor Vessels, new work, Uncategorized Tagged: aluminum fabrication, Amak, Ben Tyler, boat construction, boat repair, boat restoration, bulwarks, Cabin top, cove molding, covering boards, fascia, fiberglass, Jim Lyons, large vessel, Metal work, Mike Rust, Port Townsend Shipwright's Co-op, refit, shipwright, woodwork

Schooner Martha’s New Ballast

debraswan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:24:19 +0000

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.

Filed under: new work, Sailing Vessels, Uncategorized Tagged: ballast, boat construction, boat repair, boat restoration, Chris Stohlman, drilling holes, floor timbers, Griffin Meyer, keel, large vessel, non-ferrus metal, Port Townsend Shipwright's Co-op, purple heart, sailing vessel, Schooner Martha, shipwrights, timber

Olympus & Glacier Spirit

debraswan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:57:43 +0000

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.

Filed under: Motor Vessels, new work, Uncategorized Tagged: boat repair, Ferry Boat, Glacier Spirit, Olympus, port townsend, Port Townsend Marine Science Center, Puget Sound Express, San Juan Island, Schooner Alcyone, Shipwright's Co-op, The Whale Museum, Whale Watch Tours

The Schooner Martha

debraswan — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:53:46 +0000

Schooner Martha, the oldest operating sailboat in Washington, is hauled out at the Shipwright’s Co-op for a Ballast Keel Replacement. The Schooner Martha Foundation received a historic preservation grant and donations to make this exciting project possible. Dave Grizwald made the pattern for the new keel and Robert d’Arcy’s crew began carving into the large solid sepele timber last week using traditional handwork. The keel will be two feet deep, with complex curves and notches. A lead ballast will be installed the full length of the keel. The mold for the ballast was poured at the Northwest Maritime Center. To see more photographs and some videos, visit Martha’s website.

Sepele Timber that will become the new keel.

Original keel bolts for ballast from 1907.

Doug Jones and Robert d'Arcy discussing the pattern for the rudder stock. The timber is purple heart.

Original 1907 timbers removed for restoration project.

Plywood pattern for the new keel.

The original centerboard slot will be filled and then topped with a purple heart timber.

Filed under: new work, Sailing Vessels, Uncategorized Tagged: Ballast Keep Replacement, Historic Preservation, lead ballast installation, Martha Schooner, Port Hudson Boat Shop, Port Townsend Foundry, Port Townsend Rigging, sepele timber, Steve Chapin, The Martha Schooner Foundation, Traditional Handwork

Brendan D II

debraswan — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:16:54 +0000

The Brendan D II returned last month for maintenance and system upgrades that will last another hundred years or more. Owner and Marine Biologist, Jim Norris, had this fishing vessel refitted to be a research boat seven years ago. The interior was designed by local designer Carl Chamberlin and installed by the Shipwright’s Co-op. The Brendan D II uses a small trawlnet to harvest and study fisheries in the Puget Sound. Jim Norris works with the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, volunteers, teachers, and students to monitor quality of water, eel grass, weather, and wildlife. To learn more about the history of Brendan D II, refer to the article in the Port Townsend Leader published for the 2005 launch celebration.

Filed under: Motor Vessels, new work, Uncategorized Tagged: boat construction, boat restoration, Brendan D II, eel grass, forward bunks, fuel system, heating system, hydraulics, Interior work, Jim Norris, Port Townsend Leader, Port Townsend Science Center, Port Townsend Shipwright's Co-op, Puget Sound Ecosystem, Puget Sound Fisheries, refit, Research Vessel, shipwright, system upgrade

Hot n’ Heavy Division

debraswan — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:32:32 +0000

PT Shipwright’s new power distribution center is used primarily for welding machines. It was originally a Peterbilt sleeper cab that was retrofitted for shipwright purposes. This electrical supply house provides efficiency and convenience, as it can be simply transported by fork lift to each boat project.

Filed under: new work, Uncategorized Tagged: boat construction, boat repair, boat restoration, electrical, Metal work, Peterbilt Sleeper Cab, Power Distribution, shipwrights, welding