Second phase of restoration for historic fishing boat starts near Tacoma
- Details
- Category: Ships
- Published on Sunday, 28 October 2012 08:39
- Written by Joe Follansbee
- Hits: 311
The Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor, Wash., has opened the second phase of restoration for the 87-year-old wooden fishing vessel Shenandoah. Shipwright Nate Slater and a corps of volunteers started in September with the horseshoe (stern) of the 65-foot vessel. Museum visitors can watch the ongoing restoration at the museum.
The Shenandoah was launched in 1925 at the Skansie Ship Building Company on Gig Harbor’s waterfront, located near Tacoma. The vessel was owned and operated throughout her career by area commercial fishing families. The vessel was mostly used at the Salmon Banks off the San Juan Islands and around south Puget Sound. On occasion, she made her way to Alaska.
The first phase of restoration began in October, 2011, with removal of decking, replacing deck beams in the fish hold, addressing sistered framing (various support pieces that have been nailed to deteriorated pieces), creating deck access points, and installing safety features. The second phase includes removing and replacing rotted and damaged timbers with fresh Douglas-fir using traditional shipbuilding methods and tools.
Along with the restoration, the museum is developing a variety interactive activities that relate to the commercial fishing industry and wooden boat building. There are currently three hands-on activities that tie together the Shenandoah, the history of the harbor, and the restoration.
Restoration work on the Shenandoah can be viewed Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information and updates on the restoration, visit the museum website.
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