Schooner Ernestina is hauled out at
Kelley's. We are now
finally turning the corner on the work and
starting to put things back together. After
working closely with US Coast Guard and
conferring with shipwrights and builders from
Essex to Martha's Vineyard and down east to
Maine, we have a clear plan of action that will
include 18 - 20 keel bolts bolting through
keelson, frames, keel and false keel every 4' or
less from bow through the engine room.
All the way aft where the bolts
would have to be more than 60", drifts will
be put in instead which use 3/4" rod driven
into tight holes with clench rings and peened
over ends to form the head. We will also be using
drifts and lag bolts to strengthen the floor
timbers.
We sincerely appreciate all the
volunteer help and professional advice we've
gotten during the past few weeks.
We'll be posting the fastening
plan on this site in the next couple days that
shows where new metal is going in.
Captains: Sophie Morse and Amanda Madeira
Schooner Ernestina on the ways at Kelley
Shipyard.
Paul Anthony came by to lend an hand on the
countersinking for the bolts.
Louise Anthony chisels out for the keel bolt
fastenings.
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Existing keel bolt and drift
samples pulled from the fo'c's'le and fish hold.
The constriction at the right hand end of the
bolts in the image above show the deterioration
of the metal. This occured at the top of the
keel. Many of the bolts appear to be the original
Swedish Iron that was used for the fastenings in
1894. Drifts and some bolts were also installed
in Cape Verde in the late 1970s/early 80s.
Galvanized steel rod that will be used for
drifts (3/4" dia) and bolts (1" dia)
USCG inspectors have been working with
Schooner Ernestina captains to develop a plan.
Here everyone takes a look at the careful
photographic record developed over the past ten
years.
Shipwrights from Tony Marques crew drill up
into the engine room for five of the keel bolts.
Many of Tony's crew live locally and originally
came to New Bedford from Madeira.
Mate Liz Maloney and Chief Mate Erica Sachs
chisel out for the countersinks for the keel
bolts.
Dave Monk and Capt. Tommy Grace lend a hand
with Capt. Amanda Madeira.
Bilge pumps and fire pumps go off to RA
Mitchell for inspection. Significant pitting was
found in the bilge pump housing and it will be
replaced. This is a result of galvanic attack
that is remedied through the installation of
sacrificial zincs on the hull. We are also
investigating to see if there were any
aggravating factors in the State Pier area that
may have led to 'stray currents.'
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