Ship's Log and News

Summer 2007

See our summer newsletter !

April, 2007

Thanks to Tom Allen and his crew at the Kittery Point Yacht Yard (www.kpyy.net) the gundalow was hauled out on their railway for ten days of much-needed repairs. For the first time in perhaps 15 or maybe 20 years, the gundalow was blocked up on a real marine railway three feet off the ground which provided enough head room to get underneath to caulk and paint the bottom.  While on the railway, an ambitious group of professionals and volunteers tackled a long list of repairs. Tom Allen and his crew were extraordinarily generous with their time and expertise by donating the cost of hauling and launching which made it possible for the whole project to succeed.

The following entry is from Nate Piper, the local shipwright- hired by the Gundalow Company -who supervised the gundalow's recent yard period. Nate Piper brings considerable experience in large wooden boat construction and repair. He began volunteering onboard the gundalow last summer and when it came time to hire a crew to tackle some major projects this spring, Nate was the obvious person to oversee the work. Nate came up with a work plan and assembled a seasoned group of shipwrights and a caulker who worked hard for ten days to accomplish an amazing amount of improvements to the gundalow's hull.  Many thanks to Nate and his crew including Don Conry, Nick Brown, Harold Burnham, and caulker Geno Scalzo, as well as volunteers John Crandall, Alain Jousse, Dave Mason, and Dave Meeker. With all this effort, the gundalow begins her 25th season in better shape than ever!

Summary from Nate Piper:

It was an active spring for the repair and maintenance crew, both volunteer and professional, on the Captain Edward H. Adams. It began in earnest with two chilly days in early March onboard the boat at Creek Farm. While climbing through the icy bilge, we enlarged limber holes and cleaned out anything that could be moved, in order to make dewatering as efficient as possible. While still at Creek Farm in early April, we removed the leeboard, put it on deck, and replaced or refastened the side planking butt blocks. The backing block for the leeboard pin was also refastened.

As soon as the gundalow was hauled at Kittery Point Yacht Yard on April 16, we worked to get everything opened up and taken apart to identify all the issues that needed to be dealt with. This included removing the leeboard staple, removing bottom planking butt blocks, reefing compromised caulking seams, and a general poke around all the many areas that have been inaccessible for many years!

A block was installed aft of the rudder shaft to form a more proper rudder port. Rubber gasketing was installed to slow flooding when the rudder port is at or below the water line ((which sometimes happens on a sloped shore). All the bottom planking butt blocks were replaced. The after backing block for the leeboard was replaced, while the forward one only needed to be refastened.

Inspection of the lowest starboard bow fashion piece, known by many to be one of the worst leaking locations, revealed a great deal of deterioration. It had previously been excavated and filled with concrete. We decided that the replacement of the entire piece was the best remedy. The scarf joint of the second bow log in from the starboard side showed deterioration and previous patching with wood and concrete. This area was repaired using two new pieces, one which spanned the existing scarf joint, and the other finished the log up to the deck.  A scarf joint on a port side bow log that had really deteriorated was opened up anad a new piece was let in to take up the space and span the existing scarf joint.

After reefing bow seams, it was quickly determined that the bow was very flexible due to an overall lack of fastening. We decided that pulling the bow logs together, and then fastening, would probably have favorable results. This was accomplished by wrapping two sets of large straps, chain, and two ton chain falls completely around the bow and over the deck, and taking up on them. Although this did not close everything tight, it did make a very noticeable difference, including closing the worst seam from 1 1/8" to nothing.  With everything pulled together, we made fastening decisions for each individual scenario and location. 5/8" and 3/4" steel rod from 3' to 7 ' was driven from outside fashion peices through the sides of the bow logs at the locations of the worst flexing. Finally, trunnels were driven through bow logs at opposing angles, as well as being added to existing floor timbers in the bow.  Once the fastening was completed, the straps were released and the new shape held.

The worst of the remaining seams were splined to make up more reasonable caulking seams. As a result, everything that needed to be caulked or recaulked could be done much more effectively - and the hope is that by stabilizing some of the hull's flexibility the caulking will be more likely to stay in the seams. To get all the caulking done, one group of volunteers painted all the seams, then Geno, the caulker, filled them all with cotton and oakum, and another group of volunteers filled the seams with either roofing tar or cement before the final coat of paint.

We then tended to a quick repair job on the cutwater before prepping the entire hull. Then we put the lipstick to her and painted the bottom and the topsides. The leeboard staple was reinstalled with minor adjustments to the washers and wedges to ensure a good fit. The leeboard was reinstalled with the help of Chris Follansbee and the KPYY crane.

We all agree that we turned out a successful job, thanks to absolutely everyone who was involved, in every capacity. And most importantly, at least from what I can see, we all had a great time.

March 31, 2007

The winter cover was taken off faster than ever this year as 14 volunteers got the wooden frame off by noon! All the plastic got bundled up and will be sent off to be recycled. During the next ten days we will be getting ready to move the gundalow from Creek Farm to Kittery Point Yacht Yard where the gundalow will be up on the railway for caulking and other maintenance.

Spring, 2006 COVER STORY !
"Maritime Life and Traditions" Magazine

View the cover story of the Spring 2006 issue of Maritime Life and Traditions, a magazine with distribution in the USA and Europe, published by WOODENBOAT Magazine. To purchase a copy of the magazine or to subscribe, go to www.woodenboatstore.com and click on back issues, then click on the Maritime Life and Traditions box and scroll down to Spring 2006 No. 30

April, 2006
Welcome to our new Captain/Vessel manager Mike LaVecchia.

Mike joined the Gundalow Company in April after spending four years at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum where he worked on building the replica canal barge Lois McClure, which travels from town to town on Lake Champlain offering educational programs for school groups and the public. Mike lives in York, ME - close enough to the beach so he can often be found surfing. When he’s not on the gundalow, he can be found in his shop where he builds custom wooden surfboards.

Mike is looking forward to moving the gundalow to around ten locations this summer, and has been busy getting the gundalow ready for the season. If you want to help Mike with painting, caulking, oiling, repairing the Hannah C., rigging the new sail, or getting trained to help with moving the gundalow, email or phone him.

February, 2006
Our new Education Director!
           
We are delighted to welcome Barbara Maurer as the new Education Director. Barbara's previous experience includes the past eight years with the UNH Marine Docent Program where she coordinated educational outreach programs and over 100 volunteer educators. She also has lots of experience collaborating with teachers and organizations in this area as well as teaching a variety of environmental education programs in schools and outdoors. Her passion for the Piscataqua Region is a perfect match for the gundalow programs, and she has already started scheduling gundalow outreach programs in local schools.

In addition to teaching the onboard programs, Barbara is looking forward to working closely with all our volunteers (many of whom she already knows through the UNH Marine Docent program, Great Bay Stewards, and Great Bay Coast Watch). As a member of the Oyster River Watershed Association, she has been involved with monitoring the water quality of the Oyster River for years. We look forward to having Barbara onboard full-time by March 1st !!!!!

September/October, 2005
News

We departed from Dover on September 7 and had a great trip down the Cocheco River to Adams Point under tow with Steve Root and Portsmouth Harbor Towing. Volunteer Crew included Ned and Terry McIntosh, John Crandall and Molly Bolster. Ned told us some great stories as we passed various landmarks along the way.  Dave Shay greeted us at the UNH Jackson Marine Lab. We set bow and stern anchors so as to not rest too heavily against the end of the Lab’s floats. 

September 8 was our 9th Contemporary Coastal Issues event with Professor Ray Grizzle who gave a lively presentation about JEL and the current oyster projects he is overseeing.

 September 9 we departed from Adams Point under tow with John Howard and the Great Bay Marine’s tug Sally G and Sean in their whaler. Strong current at the JEL dock made it a little tricky getting off, but  John and Sean did a great job. Volunteer crew included John Crandall, Nate Hazen, Sharon Meeker, Dave Meeker, and Molly Bolster. Anchored off Sandy Point for a couple of hours to wait for the tide to come in and to raise the rig. Moved in to the beach with the tide and set two stern anchors and secured bow lines to two trees onshore. Our ramp is just long enough to reach the beach.

 September 14- October 31 Daily school groups onboard gundalow in collaboration with Sandy Point Discovery Center and the Great Bay Stewards. Approximately 1500 students participate. Volunteer educators along with Molly Bolster include Sharon Meeker, Tod Rodger, John Crandall, and Russ Tarason.

 Final two Contemporary Coastal Issues events in September and October included Doug Bechtel from The Nature Conservancy who talked about the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership and Tom Teller of the Gulf of Maine Expedition who showed a power point presentation about their kayak journey around the Gulf of Maine.

August 8, 2005
Portsmouth to Dover

We departed Portsmouth at 1:30 under tow with Steve Root of Portsmouth Harbor Towing. Our Captain for the day was Richie Grafe, along with volunteer crew including Judith Moyer, Nate Hazen, Charles Lassen, Tod Rogers, and Molly Bolster.

We made good time going up the Piscataqua with the incoming tide. We turned up the Cocheco by 2:45 and were alongside the stone bulkhead upstream of George’s marine by 3:15. Steve dropped us off there so we could wait for the tide to start going out and give us the needed 7’1” clearance to get under the sewer pipe that is suspended across the river just downstream of the covered pedestrian bridge. We were joined by Ann Reid at this point who helped us the rest of the way upstream under tow this time with our own whaler and Nate’s newly crafted Sampson post which vastly improved our ability to steer the whaler. At shortly after 5:00, we got under way and made slow progress upstream, clearing the sewer pipe by a few inches and going under the pedestrian bridge with lots of headroom.

We tied up alongside the seawall in order to set out the stern anchors and then pivoted around so we were facing bow in to the bulkhead. We got a bit too close to the bulkhead as the tide was dropping and had to be content with our bow sitting on the bottom overnight.

Once settled, we began the process of raising the rig, with the help of a new group of volunteers including Joey Donnelly, Barbara Pinto, Jack Neville, and Bruce Crockett. Judith went on an important mission to get pizza and drinks which gave us the energy to keep going until we finished up at 9:30. We were visited by many enthusiastic Dover residents who were delighted to see we had made it and gave us a hearty welcome back after not seeing the gundalow there in 17 years.

Many thanks to all the volunteers and to Steve Root and Richie Grafe for getting the gundalow up the Cocheco River.

Megan Wooster (our Intern) and Molly Bolster will start the program for Dover Recreation Youth groups and others this morning, and the gundalow is open to the public.

June 20, 2005
Prescott Park
After another successful trip to South Berwick we tied up at the Isles of Shoals Steamship Co. dock in Portsmouth for a brief visit. With the help of several volunteers we stepped the new mast, hauled the yard and bent on our old sail. With fresh paint on the cuddy cabin, and the deck coated with linseed oil and turpentine, the Capt. Adams once again looks like a proper gundalow.

In early June we moved around the corner to our dock at Prescott Park under a tow from Steve Root of Portsmouth Harbor Towing. During the first three weeks in June, we offered a new program for school groups onboard in collaboration with Strawbery Banke and over 500 students participated. The gundalow’s location at Prescott Park presents a unique opportunity to contrast water-front life of the past and present. From the deck of the gundalow, students can see the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, a site where gundalows once delivered lumber and supplies for building sailing ships over 200 years ago.

This season the Gundalow Company is happy to welcome Megan Wooster, a University of New Hampshire masters degree candidate, as a summer intern. She is completing course work in environmental education and has eagerly participated in gundalow school programs. Throughout the summer she will be presenting programs and developing exciting new curricula. Funding for this internship was made possible by a grant from the NH Charitable Foundation’s Piscataqua Region.
For the rest of June through the July 7th the gundalow will remain at Prescott Park for school groups, youth programs such as the New Heights Teen Program and tours for the public.

May 28, 2005

In May, the gundalow has been in York and South Berwick.

For some great pictures and more information about where the gundalow has been this month check out this link:

Counting House Museum.

May 13, 2005

The Captain Edward H. Adams is Underway

After several days of delay due to high winds and seas, the Captain Adams departed York Harbor under clear skies on Wednesday, May 11. Under a tow from the Tug Alley Too we began our voyage to South Berwick. While the seas had calmed considerably, the 2 to 4 foot swells were enough for the vessel to take water over the bow as we headed south to Portsmouth Harbor. Fortunately, the gundalow’s hull is noticeably tighter after the recent refit so our concern for flooding was belayed. Aboard for the move was Kent Allyn and Nate Hazen with Molly tagging along in her boat to take pictures.

After entering Portsmouth Harbor, we continued up the Piscataqua on a slack tide. Given the treacherous currents between tides, most large commercial vessels prefer to transit in and out of the harbor during the slack. As a result, we were presented with a unique opportunity to pass close by a large tanker outbound from the Piscataqua River. We continued up river past the Cochecho River and up to the rt. 101 bridge across the Salmon Falls River. There we anchored planning to continue up river under the bridge at low tide the following day. After anchoring and with a high tide we decided to scout the route upstream to Quamphegan Landing in South Berwick, our final destination. With the help of Ron, a local boatman, we identified potential hazards up stream and felt confident the remainder of the trip would go smoothly.

The following day we hopped aboard the Capt. Adams at 10:00 am to begin our trip under the bridge. Aboard were Spence Stonemetz, Nate Hazen, Molly Bolster and myself. Because of the bridge’s low clearance, we needed to pass under at low tide. Under the power of our 25 hp. Boston Whaler- donated by UNH’s Jackson Estuarine Laboratory- we slowly made our way through the narrow span squeezing between a submerged piling to port and a cement piling to starboard. Once through, we anchored upstream to wait for the tide to rise and to begin stepping the stump mast.

Thanks to Nate Hazen’s shears- a three-legged tripod assembly- we are able to step the 1700 lb mast without the use of a crane. Soon Dan Densch and Gary Wetzel from the Hamilton House joined us to set the rig and continue the trip. Once the mast was stepped we hauled anchor and continued upstream on the flood tide towards the Hamilton House. Progress was slow as we motored into a 15 to 20 knot headwind that wanted to push the bow of this flat bottomed vessel back down stream. Eventually we clawed our way past the Hamilton House to a cove where we anchored to wait for high tide. This rest gave us a chance to set the yard that hangs from a chain from the head of the mast.

By the time we had finished hauling this massive ton of yard up the mast, the tide was at dead high. Ron, our friend from the previous day arrived and offered to escort us up the final and trickiest leg of our journey. This portion of the Salmon Falls River is the “falls” part. At low tide one can almost walk across the river jumping from rock to rock. High tide affords the shallow draft gundalow just enough water to transit up stream as long as you know where the big rocks are. With Nate Hazen’s chart, Ron’s local knowledge and the diligence of the gundalow crew taking continuous soundings, we successfully navigated up the river to dock at Quamphegan Landing. The end of this journey marks the first time a Piscataqua Gundalow has visited the Counting House in South Berwick in over 100 years.

March-April 2005

Captain Edward H. Adams Spring 2005 Refit

During the spring of 2005 the Gundalow Company completed a 2 week haul-out and refit project of the gundalow at York Harbor Marine.   The refit is the first significant effort to address some of the structural issues outlined in the Structural Condition Survey Report submitted by Welch Marine Surveying in July 2002.

On Friday, March 25, the gundalow was towed to York Harbor Marine on the high tide at 10:30.    The vessel was loaded on the marine railway and hauled approximately half-way up the tracks.    Unfortunately, the boat could not be pulled completely out of the water at high tide since a portion of the railway car sagged under the weight of the boat and grounded it on the tracks.    Work on the aft section of the gundalow would have to be conducted during low tide.   Measurements of the hull’s hog were conducted by Nate Hazen. Comparative measurements showed an increase in the vessels’ hog of approximately ½ inch after the boat was on the ways.   To support the ends of the gundalow 6 boat stands were mounted under each end of the vessel.

On Monday, March 28,   Geno Scalzo, the caulker, arrived and began reefing seams.   Rainy conditions delayed some of the work.   As conditions improved, work on the vessel’s seams continued.   Nate Greeley and Nick Brown began installing vertical tie-rods along both sides of the boat on Wednesday.  These rods run from the hull’s topsides along the inside of the side planking and into the chine logs approximately every 3 feet.    This is a common feature in larger working barges and the consensus among Nick Brown, Nate Greeley and Paul Rollins was that the rods would help stiffen the vessel.

 A number of problem spots were identified on the bow where logs were scarfed together and were unsupported.   These scarfs were identified as locations for potential leaks by Geno, Nick and Nate.   Nate and Nick installed bolts to reinforce these scarfs.  

Some seams between the bow logs had become too wide to be effectively caulked.   Nick Brown cleaned three seams and glued gump wedges along one side of the seam.   These wedges reduced the width of the seam and allowed Geno to caulk them.

Thursday, the lee board was removed from the vessel to inspect and over haul the mounting hardware and to allow the obscured planks to be caulked.    Lee board removal was facilitated by modifying the set of sheers, designed by Nate Hazen, to sit along side the hull with the apex of the sheers located over the center of mass of the board.

  Modified “Nate Hazen Sheers” mounted on port side.

By Tuesday, April 5^th,   Geno had completed caulking side planking, end logs and portions inboard of the chine log on the bottom.    With the help of a number of volunteers the seams were painted and payed with roofing cement.   Several planks below the water line showed damage or decay from wood borers.   The most severely damaged spots were located along both sides of the aft skeg and at the forward corner of the vessel on the starboard side.   The damaged area was filled with hydraulic cement and covered with a lead patch.   The hull was scraped and painted and the vessel was launched on Thursday, April 7.    Since the railway car had grounded on the rail ,   the launch required a fork lift, mounted with a large log positioned against the gundalow’s cutwater,   to push the vessel down the ways.    After the launch the boat was towed back to the Hancock Warehouse.   The boat appears to be significantly tighter although not leak-free.

The following is a summary of   tasks completed during the Spring 2005 vessel refit:         

• Bow and stern logs bolted to deck
• Vertical rods installed along both sides of vessel approx. every 3 feet
• Seams between side planking and end logs reefed, caulked, painted and payed
• Large seams on bow logs fitted with gump wedges to allow tight caulked seams
• Worm eaten spots on bow logs, chine logs and aft skeg were cleaned, filled with hydraulic cement and patched with lead sheeting.
• Lee board removed, surveyed painted and remounted with overhauled fastener.
• Steel fittings (chocks, oarlocks, traveler) cleaned and repainted
• Hull scraped and repainted
• Cabin top sanded in preparation for painting

This initial refit has contributed significantly to the longevity of the vessel and is the first step in insuring the gundalow is continued to be maintained in a structurally sound and operational condition.  

The following volunteers were involved in various aspects of the overhaul including scraping, painting, paying seams, rolling oakum and moving the vessel:

• Nate Hazen
• Don and Carolyn Parsons
• Jack Sherburne
• Jack Neville
• John Crandall
• Joey Donnelly
• Bruce and Chris Crockett
• Sharon Meeker
• Spence Stonemetz
• Dick Lowe
• Caleb Fox

The estimated time contributed by volunteers was 150 hours.    Many thanks to all the volunteers , as well as Steve Roberts and his staff at York Harbor Marine, Nick Brown, Nate Greeley, and Geno Scalzo for making this refit a huge success.  

     © 2003 gundalow co.

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