PT Foundry Makes Turnbuckles for Martha
Last week the team at the Port Townsend Foundry was pouring turnbuckles for Schooner Martha. The process is quite impressive. While the furnace heated up the ingots of aluminum bronze in the crucible, Alan and Pete prepared the molds of sand and then moved them to the pouring line. Once cooled, they sandblast and grind the pieces to perfection before being installed onboard Martha. Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op launched Martha last week and the work will continue at Point Hudson.
Port Townsend Foundry pouring aluminum bronze turnbuckles for Schooner Martha.
Alan prepares the turnbuckle mold at Port Townsend Foundry.
Pete, co-owner of Port Townsend Foundry, prepares to move the turnbuckle mold to the pouring line.
Martha’s New Boomkin End Cap
Schooner Martha is getting a new paint job this week and new hardware as well. Port Townsend Foundry is making beautiful new pieces for Martha. Here is a boomkin end cap that carries the backstay and boomkin stay to the transom. It was recently poured at the foundry and awaiting installation at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.
Schooner Martha's boomkin end cap poured by Port Townsend Foundry and awaiting installation at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.
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.
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