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Christened – Blanca 17oct2010


Today we moved Blanca to her (more or less) permanent slip at Tall Timbers.  What seemed straight-forward at first became a rather “competitive ballet”, consisting of Roper and humans on one side, and the wind, current and shallow water on the other.  The eventual outcome was not always obvious, but after at least two complete spins, the 50 foot trip was completed and Ballena Blanca was safely moored on Pier A.


The new location afforded me the ability to sit on the lower part of the pier and apply Blanca’s name to her transom.  The curve of the surface made transferring the vinyl lettering something less than easy, but the ten-foot rule applies (“If it looks ok from 10 feet away, it’s good enough.”)  Although sometimes I have to use the twelve-foot rule.  Or the twenty…


Someone asked me the other day when I think this boat will be “finished.”  Obviously not a boat-owner!  Frankly, I like this work so much, I’m be happy that it never will.


Next up– aft hold hatch covers!

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Launched! – Blanca 29sep2010

Ballena Blanca launched today! 


 


 


We did decided on a red stripe for the boot-top… here she is a with a little bling last month:



As of last week, I’ve finished painting the topsides, including the transom.  Last weekend, I scrubbed and painted the bottom.  Doesn’t she look imposing with her forbidding black keel?


 


But the big event was today.  Launch day!  Here’s Rick approaching the target with the travel-lift:


She’d been sitting there so long, tree-roots had grown under her keel.  The guys had to chop and dig out a space for the lift straps to pass under:



 


Captain supervised– check the tires as she lifts off the ground.




 


 


Underway!  For the first time in around 20 years.


 


She’s perfectly aligned.  I think Rick’s done this before.  A coupl’a’ times.


 


And she’s floating in the straps!


 


There’s a storm predicted for tomorrow, so Rick’s going to leave her in the lift-slip until it passes.  Then it’ll be off to see if she’ll fit in the slip we’ve picked out.


 The stuffing-boxes (all new packing from last fall) dribbled quite a bit– I tightened them up good and now they don’t leak.  There aren’t any leaks I can find (it was raining so much today the pumps were running from rain-water leaking through the windows!).


Now it’s on to rebuilding the cabin!

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Hello from the Boy Scout Jamboree!

It is Thursday morning (I think) and I am taking a few quiet moments to get set for the day. 


Starting off Monday afternoon with 400 Scouts, we have had 2000-3000 youth and adults go through the intro to Scuba area each day.  I am located in the Exhibits tent that they go through on the way out.


The IMH exhibit consists primarily of a table with sample artifacts and books, plus some posters of the USS Alligator, Queen Anne’s Revenge, etc.  The artifacts were borrowed from a lovely couple who live near Mount Vernon and they wash up on their beach, most of the items are of 1820-1870 manufacture according to one of the archaeologists here on SCUBA staff.  I have a good bit of glass, pottery and few interesting metal items like scissors and padlocks.  Using these as examples of items we MIGHT find on a wreck, we talk about the reasons why we never remove artifacts when we find them.  The boys are very respectful of the principles of Leave No Trace, so I use that as one of the keynote points.  They also understand that there are laws governing most artifact removal.  Most importantly, I stress that we can learn more by studying the items where we find them, to get the whole story.


Most of the kids politely listen as I talk about the SHIP project, but a couple ask for more information on how they can meet divers in their area with similar interests or volunteer opportunities.  I give them suggestions and my card so they can ask for help if they need it.  Many want to hear about pirates, so we discuss Blackbeard and the Queen Anne’s Revenge project in North Carolina.


I have also been watching the kids paint with Wyland, who is here to promote his clean water program.  Divers Alert Network is here talking to the kids about being prepared, dive medicine and dive safety. PADI is pushing dive training, which we certainly encourage.  SUDS has a booth to talk about the dive training program for disabled veterans and what is possible for anyone.  Olympus Cameras is offering employee pricing to everyone who attends.


This is an amazing opportunity to meet many young men and perhaps influence a few of them to pursue a career or hobby in maritime history and underwater archaeology.  My schedule is such that, since I am here by myself, I am not going to see much of the Jamboree.  Now that I am here, I understand better what we can accomplish in education and inspiration. Hopefully, if we decide to do this again in the future, we will have many volunteers and professionals who would like to come and meet the kids. It is not too late for local folks to come in as visitors and check it out!


I will post some photos of this amazing event in the next few days.

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Yup, still white – Blanca 17jul2010

Topside sanding’s done, so I broke out the paint this weekend.  It was only about 95 degrees– why not?  I managed to get primer and 2 coats of Brightsides on the starboard side.  The port side and transom will have to wait a few weeks.


Here she is, taped and ready to go:


And here she is after a coat of primer:


And complete!


I think we’ll paint the boottop stripe bright red– the bottom paint will be black.  Stay tuned!

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TEDxOilSpill talk sparks conversation on endangered site conservation

IMH board member David Johnson spoke recently at a TED event in Washington DC dedicated to the BP Deep Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Johnson had five minutes to represent the underwater archaeology community to the diverse audience of TEDxOilSpill as part of the session on conservation that included such notable speakers as Sylvia Earle, Susan Shaw and Carl Safina. You can watch the entire session below, David’s comments are at about 2:04.

Watch live streaming video from tedxoilspill at livestream.com
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Pretty-ness – Blanca 22may2010

This weekend I decided to do some clean-up.  Perform a Pretty-ness on the boat.  Basically a motivational activity to keep my spirits up.


So I broke out the power-washer and went to town on the teak.  I can hear the collective gasp of all you old salts out there about destroying the precious teak!!  Don’t worry– I’ll probably never do this again.  And I can’t think of another way to scrape through 20+ years of pine-tree poo to actually get down to wood.


Here’s the results:







 


 


 

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Hosiery – Blanca 15may2010

Now that the spring archaeology projects are out of the way (specifically, the Roper’s biennial haul and the much-touted Mount Vernon survey), I’ve gotten back to working on the Gypsy Blanca in earnest. 
This weekend was devoted to ripping out all the rotted hose that was connected to the deck scuppers.  Instead of draining over the side through thru-hull fittings at the waterline, all the rain from the deck was running into the bilge.  And of course, if she were in the water, the slightest roll or wave would wash into the thru-hulls and straight into the hull.


There are six large scuppers, two on each side of the house and two on the back deck.  They had 1 3/4″ inside diameter hose (hard to find) that had to be ordered.  There are also a couple smaller drains on the back deck that look to have been added later, since their hoses were in good shape.


So four original equipment sea-cocks had to be pried loose, cleaned and greased (they weren’t in too bad shape, I’m pleased to say).  Also, the remains of the ancient diaphragm pump that serviced the whole boat (with what seems to be miles of rotted rubber hose) had to be cut out and removed.  Finally, I could measure, cut and install the new hose.  All the bronze fittings were in fine shape.  Here’s a shot of one of hose fittings, connected the two scuppers on the “walk-around”.


Here’s a shot of the old sea-cock, all cleaned up with the new hose attached.  The “tee” is waiting for another fitting to attach a smaller hose from one of the smaller drains.


I also finished up the last bit of epoxy patching below the waterline.  Here’s some of the spots after the epoxy had cured–


And after sanding–


Progress!!

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Farewell Gypsy – Blanca 08may2010

We have the title to the boat!  So Gypsy is officially no longer abandoned.  We’ve decided to rename her, against many complaints from the “locals”, who see this boat as a fixture of the marina– as Dave likes to say, he’s been here so long, he’s no longer a “regular,” he’s furniture– and the boat’s been here far longer.  She’ll soon be in the water, which will change the whole look of the boat-yard.


So what shall we name her?  In homage to her color, her various nick-names (“the Bow of Gibraltar” being my favorite), one of Dave’s favorite shouted quotes from Moby Dick, and Isabel’s Spanish heritage, the new name will be–   “Ballena Blanca”.  (“White Whale” in Spanish.)


Of course, we’ll follow the traditional denaming and christening ceremonies–  here’s the one I plan to use.  First, every vestige of the old name must be removed from the boat.  I’ve sanded the name off the transom, and donated the circa 1990, framed radio license to the marina “museum.”  I can’t find any other trace of her name, but I’ll keep looking to be sure.  Once that’s done, we’ll throw a party, and hold this ceremony (with thanks to the author, John Vigor):


“In the name of all who have sailed aboard this ship in the past, and in the name of all who may sail aboard her in the future, we invoke the ancient gods of the wind and the sea to favor us with their blessing today.


“Mighty Neptune, king of all that moves in or on the waves; and mighty Aeolus, guardian of the winds and all that blows before them:


“We offer you our thanks for the protection you have afforded this vessel in the past. We voice our gratitude that she has always found shelter from tempest and storm and enjoyed safe passage to port.


“Now, wherefore, we submit this supplication, that the name whereby this vessel has hitherto been known, Gypsy, be struck and removed from your records.


“Further, we ask that when she is again presented for blessing with another name, she shall be recognized and shall be accorded once again the selfsame privileges she previously enjoyed.


“In return for which, we rededicate this vessel to your domain in full knowledge that she shall be subject as always to the immutable laws of the gods of the wind and the sea.


“In consequence whereof, and in good faith, we seal this pact with a libation offered according to the hallowed ritual of the sea.”


Then we’ll pour or spray a bottle of good champagne over her bow, consigning her old name to history.


Later, when she’s ready for the water with fresh paint and new livery, we’ll perform the christening ceremony:


“I name this ship Ballena Blanca.  May she bring fair winds and good fortune to all who sail on her.”


And according to custom, break a bottle of bubbly on her bow.  I imagine I’ll intone the first ceremony, and Isabel will stand in for Queen Elizabeth for the second.


It’ll be quite a party!


 


 

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Chipping and Scraping and Sanding, Oh My! – Gypsy 27mar2010

Now that March Madness is over (I’m talking about the annual spree of archaeology conferences– what did you think I meant?) it’s back to work on the boat.


The weather was warm enough to be comfortable, but not warm enough for fiberglass work.  That’s ok– there’s plenty of sanding to do.  Here’s a pic that shows the existing bottom paint, what’s left of it.  The red color is the original gelcoat.


I’ve also got the spot where an old thru-hull was all sanded and ready for glass.  Here it is from the port bow:


 


And closer.  You can see the wood core and the inner glass.  The inner glass is about 3/8″ thick, and the outer more than an inch.


The old green bottom paint just flakes off, and the sander makes it just shower down.  By the time I quit working on Saturday I was covered.  Cap’n Dave said I looked like an “Irish Smurf”.  Didn’t come off too easy in the shower, either.  Nasty stuff.  Glad I’ve got a dust-mask.


 Next weekend is supposed to be nicer– I’ll get my fiberglass supplies and start makin’ plastic!

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Fuel Tank Port – Gypsy, 06Mar2010

The weather has finally broken in Southern Maryland and it was warm enough this weekend to get some work done!


The ice in the bilges finally melted completely, letting me pump out all the water.  Unfortunately, two out of three old pumps didn’t survive the winter ice.  The important engine-room pump made it, though!


This week’s goal was to cut an inspection/cleaning port into the port fuel tank.  The starboard tank already has one– I opened it to see the tank was full of what used to be diesel fuel.  To get the boat ready for a swim, I need to pump out those tanks and dispose of the old fuel.  Which means an inspection/cleaning port in the port-side tank, too.


Most of the rotted cabin-sole has been removed at this point– the fiberglass tank tops need to be cleaned before the new sole can be laid.  I cleaned one section where the new hole is to be cut.  The tank’s top looks so bright when it’s been scrubbed!


I started by hand-drilling (with a brace-and-bit) a hole along the edge of the 8-inch circle.  My reciprocating saw couldn’t turn tight enough to cut the circle, so I resorted to a pattern of 1-1/2 inch holes cut with a hole-saw, then connected them with the reciprocating saw.  That’s why the scrap pieces are disc-shaped.  Not perfect, but once the port hardware is fastened down, I’ll clean up the circle.


You can see how thick the tank is– about 3/8″ of solid fiberglass. Of course, running right through the middle of my hole is the top of a baffle that had to be cut away.  You can just see it below the level of the fuel.  Now I can call the oil-disposal guys to come pump out these tanks!


I finished up the weekend removing an old thru-hull fitting– it had to be cut out.  Next week I’ll get some pictures of that and how I plan to glass in the hole.


Stay tuned!


Kirk