Thanks to the professional yard staff at the Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven MARTHA is safely chocked up in Boat Haven for this winter’s refit.
We had to re-schedule the haul out day because of heavy winds, instead of Wednesday the 3rd we hauled on Thursday the 4th right between two big fronts , on Friday it blew in the 30’s.
First on the agenda was to remove the broken Boomkin chain plate and get it to Pete Langley at Port Townsend Foundry, it appears that MARTHA just pulled it apart, no sign of corrosion, the Foundry is making a new Aluminum Nickel Bronze Chain Plate, that ought to take care of business.
The break is clearly seen in the photos, the signs of fire are from heating the plate with a torch to soften the beading compound to release the plate.
This plate was put on MARTHA in 1968 when the boom kin was first installed. that work was done in San Francisco.
The plate certainly has done it’s job, but I don’t think MARTHA Sailed as hard as she does now.
The next order of business was to remove the transmission; it’s a Borg Warner Velvet Drive 71c, it was put in the boat with the Detroit Diesel in the 60’s, we had it rebuilt and installed with the new Isuzu, (Suzy) 13 years ago. It will head to the shop for a check up to see how it faired after getting all hot under the collar and then running on olive oil.
The high pressure ridge just East of us is providing a great opportunity to sand and paint, the goal is to be back in the water the first part of March.
March 15 we start the season with youth sail training programs and as you all know Swiftsure, Classic Mariners Regatta and the 4th of July are right around the corner.
The Schooner Martha Foundation is fortunate and grateful to have the support of the Port Townsend Marine Trades. Any and every thing we need is right at our finger tips.
Many thanks to the Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op and Doug Jones of Traditional Boat Works for the use of some staging.