Photo: Shipyard views, courtesy of Jeffrey G. Katz
Date: February 11, 2020
Location: General Ship Repair Corp., Baltimore, Maryland
From Wednesday, January 29, to Friday, February 7, the winter maintenance crew logged at least 110 hours preparing Pride of Baltimore II‘s hull for the first full coat of bottom paint, just laid on by General Ship yesterday. Nearly 12-hour days back to back for 10 days. Followed by two days back to back of time off. Sorta like regular folk, being those two days off were Saturday and Sunday.
There were no unusual maintenance requirements. Every hauling of Pride out of the water is an opportunity to check and improve caulking. Experienced wood vessel carpenter Chief Mate Jeff Crosby and Pride crew alum, now very experienced wood vessel shipwright, Ryan Graham (who drove down from Maine) caulked from January 29 through February 5. Followed by crew with putty and patch-priming paint. Our 2020 haul out crew includes Second Mate Shevawn Innes, Deckhand David Stolz, Deckhand Wilmer Martinez, and Deckhand James Rogers. Crew alum Chad Lossing and new to Pride Amanda Colianni also joined us in yard
Yesterday, while General Ship attended to bottom paint, the winter maintenance crew dismantled, inspected, and reinstalled seacocks, as well as preparing the forepeak, anchor chain and rope storage area for paint. Plus some main saloon and galley varnish cosmetics.
While all of the above was going on, Pride guest crew alum Stan Fowler drove the propellers to the manufacturer in East Boothbay, Maine, where they were given a special 31-year overhaul. Paul E. Luke Company makes Pride’s automatic feathering propellers. They have seen them every couple of years since being made in 1988. This time around, it was deemed prudent to do more than check them. Later this week, General Ship will reinstall the propellers.
Pride’s dry dockings involve more than maintaining her stout seaworthiness. They are also required to maintain her passenger-carrying certificate. Two organizations are responsible for checking that we are maintaining Pride properly: the United States Coast Guard (USCG) visited and inspected to certify for condition and strength and the American Bureau of Ships (ABS) did the same thing. ABS will make a number of additional visits to see the final painting, which includes checking to see that load line markings are painted.
It is our hope that weather this week will not hinder getting Pride relaunched this coming Friday, February 14.
Captain Jan C. Miles
Started in 1979, the A2B covers 753 miles, making it one of the longest ocean races on the east coast of the U.S. The challenging course combines inshore and offshore racing tactics down the Chesapeake Bay, across the Gulfstream, and on to Bermuda. The race is Maryland’s only international sailing race and allows sailors to fulfill a lifelong ambition of a blue water passage to an island well-known for its soft coral beaches and hospitality. The 2020 race is sponsored by Mustang Survival, a respected marine technical and apparel company that has been at the forefront of marine safety for more than 50 years.