A New Deck for Clearwater, a Photo Log

See photos from --- |   February 2003   |   January 2003   |   2 0 0 2   |

The Clearwater Restoration Project, Main Page
 

February 2003   Captain Joshua Berger anxiously watches the mast wedges get removed. These wedges hold the mast securely where it passes through the deck. This area, hidden from sight and maintenance by a (hopefully) waterproof mast boot is often a trouble spot in wooden ships. Will the mast be solid and dry, or will it be damp, showing signs of decay? What will the Coast Guard inspector make of it? February 2003   The news is good! The mast was perfectly dry and sound. The mast boot has been replaced and it’s ready to go. February 2003   Looking aft at new decking on the cabin top. February 2003   Nothing is ever simple. Because the cabin is wider at the forward end than aft, the middle planks must be artfully tapered. February 2003   Looking forward at the new decking. The planks running across over the top of the decking are jury-rigged clamping points. By wedging downward the shipwrights ensure that the outermost plank, which is somewhat wider than the others, is securely fitted against the cabin trunk. Every winter the Clearwater docks at Lynch’s Marina in Saugerties to do maintenance work. This allows us to get to all of the projects that we never have the time to get to during the sailing season. Every once in a while we get our hands into a really big project like replacing the mainsail or refitting the galley. This year we are undertaking the biggest project in recent years. We have hired Rondout Woodworking (run by Jim Kricker with Wayne Ford in charge on site) to replank the foredeck. Anyone who works with wood knows that its worst enemy is rot—rot that is capable of turning a piece of wood into a soggy sponge. After putting in over twenty years of hard work, the Clearwater’s deck has begun to rot and it is time to replace it. The deck planking that we walk on is a little more than two inches thick and is fastened onto wider, thicker beams that run athwartships (from side to side). That planking is much more prone to rot than the beams for several reasons: the daily wear and tear it receives; the material (some pine, some fir); and its constant exposure to the weather. The idea is to get rid of the rotten planking before the rot spreads to those deck beams. Replacing planking is a very challenging and costly job, but considerably smaller than replacing deck beams. Eventually, all the deck planking will be replaced, and most likely a beam here or there (hopefully not too many). We divided the work in two phases, over two winter seasons. Last winter we completed the quarterdeck. The quarterdeck is the aft half of the boat that rests about one foot higher than the rest of the deck. Creating two smaller, more manageable jobs afforded us the necessary breathing room in the schedule to ensure that we will be ready for the sailing season. This is an exciting project to be undertaking, and the boat certainly deserves it. We look forward to both the structural and aesthetic benefits of this project. Keep an eye on the website for frequent updates to our photo log of this fascinating project. Captain Samantha Heyman

See photos from --- |   February 2003   |   January 2003   |   2 0 0 2   |
 

January 2003   Deck furniture removed. Companionways, hatches, and skylights are all referred to as ‘deck furniture’. Because these items were built separately and attached after the decking is down, they came off fairly readily. Of course, ‘fairly’ is a relative term. Note the battle scars around the openings. January 2003   Decking and Some Deck Beams Removed. Almost half the lightly-built deck beams were found to be deteriorated, and have been removed for replacement. January 2003   Cleaning Out the Mortices. Shipwright and longtime Clearwater supporter David Hval scrapes white-lead residue out of the mortices where deck beams were removed. January 2003   A Dreary Sight. With gaping areas where coachroof beams have been removed, the interior of the main cabin and galley seem exposed, vulnerable. Note the diagonal bulkhead between gallay and cabin. January 2003   Why is This Man Smiling? Because he’s kneeling on top of some beautiful new white oak (quercus alba) and he’s managed to escape the office for a day. Clearwater Education Director Chris Bowser is putting down a coat of red-lead primer to protect the ‘faying surface’ where decking will lie atop beam.

January 2003   Dovetail. This is a closeup of the joint where coachroof beams fit into a morticed ledger piece that is bolted through the inboard face of the cabin trunk. January 2003   Companionway getting Refinished. While the deck furniture is off the boat it can be more easily stripped, sanded, and refinished. Any worn parts can be replaced. January 2003   Almost Ready. We’re re-doing one short beam in the aft/port corner, and the decking is getting milled at the Roundout Woodworking shop. January 2003   Cold! Agnes Cwalina, who first came to Clearwater through the Urban Outreach Internship program, is refinishing the bowsprit.

See photos from --- |   February 2003   |   January 2003   |   2 0 0 2   |

The Clearwater Restoration Project, Main Page

Photos by Andy Mele