2015 has arrived, and Pride II’s winter maintenance is engaged and proceeding! Any and all are invited to join in the fun. Here is the situation:
Pride’s hired winter maintenance crew are working Tuesdays through Saturdays. Volunteers are invited to join the crew in their endeavors.
Maybe this is already obvious…but to remind all…some of the work is outside. Proper dress in preparation of the weather is important.
What kind of work is going on this week?
Block maintenance.
Ship winter cover frame preparation.
The down-rig or remaining rigging.
Remember, many hands make light work. Please feel sincerely invited to join the crew, and help spread the word.
Please indicate your intentions to join in the fun by email to Captains Miles and Trost (jan@pride2.org & jamie@pride2.org).
Cheers,
Captain Jan Miles
P.S. If you have any friends that are interested in getting involved, please refer them to: www.pride2.org/volunteer/ to sign up to be included in our volunteer mailing list.
Winter Maintenance is in full swing now, and even the weather has been a bit more cooperative. We’ve got lots of projects going at the ship and look forward to your help with just about all of them. (We’ll save the really dirty jobs for the crew.)
Come down to your favorite schooner on Saturday and help us get ready of our Spectacular 2014 season!
Where: Same place, 1910 South Clinton Street* When: Saturday, January 18th, 2014
from 0830-1630 (4:30pm) What: Taking PRIDE in our work Why: Cause we and Pride have missed your smiling faces! How: Send us a notice via e-mail that you’ll be coming, and then show up.
*Please note that our old office building across the street at 1801 South Clinton Street has been torn down — don’t worry, we moved to 2700 Lighthouse Point East just in time. Parking in the lot at 1801 is no longer possible. It is possible to part street side on Clinton Street in front of the winter berth.
See you this week,
Jamie Trost and Jan Miles,
Captains for Pride of Baltimore, Inc.
Every winter, Pride of Baltimore II removes all her running rigging and spars for an intense overhaul. During this “Winter Maintenance” period, blocks are serviced and, along with the spars, varnished; standing rigging is tarred and inspected and numerous other details are looked after. It’s a full plate for a skeleton crew. And on the eve of the War of 1812 Bicentennial, we are sounding the call for volunteers to assist us. This is a first for Pride of Baltimore, Inc., the non-profit that for three decades has been caretaker of the ship.
Spar Varnishing
Just as it is for the ship, the reward for all involved in the gritty work of maintaining Pride IIover the winter is to experience her sailing again in the spring. Dedicated volunteers will earn a daysail aboard Pride II once she is up rigged underway again.
While previous wooden boat maintenance skills are greatly welcomed, all Pride II volunteers really need is enthusiasm. Our professional crew will provide on the job direction and supervision as you work alongside them. Typical projects include:
Spar Varnishing: All of Pride II’s spars except the lower masts and bowsprit are varnished, and keeping up the glow requires multiple coats each winter. Usually, chafed and word areas are given special attention and are “patch” coated to catch them up with the rest of the spar. Then the entire spar is coated three times for cosmetic appeal and protection from ultra violet damage.
Block Care
Block Care: Pride II’sblocks are a key component to the rig, as they provide the mechanical advantage for raising and handling the sails. In addition to the varnishing regiment the spars receive, the blocks are also dismantled and serviced on a rotating basis so that their sheaves and pins can be inspected. Re-assembly requires the use of traditional seizings to keep the blocks in their rope strops. Pride II crew will teach you the intricate traditional skill of seizing.
Standing rigging overhaul: The wire rigging that supports Pride II’s upper rigging is wire brushed to clean of rust and grime, then coated with a protective mixture. Parts of this rigging are “served,” or wound, in small diameter hemp marline. This marline is coated in tar to preserve both it and the rigging. This winter, an inspection of the splices in the standing rigging will see some of this service removed, and involved volunteers will learn this process.
Engineering:Pride II will be lifting up both of its engines this winter for inspection and maintenance. While the ship’s engineer will be running the project, assistance – from expert mechanic to eager to learn tool “gopher” – will be greatly appreciated.
Please contact us if you are interested in lending a hand. Call 410-539-1151 or email pride2@pride2.org (indicate Volunteer Crew in the subject line). Any and all skill levels are appreciated.
