Salem Maritime National Historic Site - Friendship Repair Updates (U.S. National Park Service)

<i>Friendship's</i> in dry dock in Boothbay Harbor, Maine

NPS photo

Friendship went up to Boothbay Harbor, Maine in late May. In this photo, the ship has been hauled out of the water into the dry dock

Since May 25, Friendship has been in Boothbay Harbor, ME for a haul-out, when the ship is removed from the water in order to inspect the hull and repair any damage.

Rot was discovered in the bow of the ship during her inspections. Because of extensive repairs to the stem of the ship, Friendship is not anticipated to return to Salem until the fall. In her absence, we are hosting a series of visiting vessels. Click here to find out what vessels are visiting Salem Maritime.

Please check this page often, as we will be updating it to reflect the work being done on Friendship. Updates are provided by John Pyndynkowski, the ship's carpenter for Friendship, with annotations by park historian Emily Murphy.

October 6, 2009

The final layer of planking is being fitted on the port side of the bow.

Planking is dampened, fitted in place to match the curve of the hull, and fastened

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In this view of the port side of the hull, planking is being curved around the hull and fastened in place.

View of the bow of the ship showing new planking on the hull.

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This view of the bow of the vessel shows the final planking being applied to the port side (the right of the photo), while the starbord side is ready for the final layer. The new hawse timbers are visible on each side of the bowsprit at the top center.

September 23, 2009

With fall beginning, foggy mornings require the use of lights.

A view from the deck of Friendship of the work on the bow

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The work on the bow continues. In this view from the deck of the work, the short bollards (used to tie off heavy lines) and the support for the rail have been finished, and the hawse timbers are taking shape.

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Friendship looms over Boothbay Harbor Shipyard on a foggy fall morning.

September 16, 2009

A new oak stanchion is being installed on the starboard side, while the shaping of the hawse timbers and installation of a new oak bollard is happening on the port side.

A view of Friendship from the ground, looking up at her bow and the tent-like cover put up over the workmen.

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A view of the work in progress. A cover has been put up over the bow of the ship to protect the craftsmen from sun and rain.

an oak upright timber at the front of the ship is being installed.

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The stanchions support the rail at the bow of the vessel.

a view from the deck towards the bow of Friendship, showing the bowsprit and hawse timbers

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At the center of the photo, one of the hawse timbers is being carved into shape. To the left of the hawse timber is a new bollard.

September 8, 2009

Moving ahead with the planking, including the first couple of pieces of diagonal planking, and reinserting foam behind the repairs.

replacing the first layer of planking on the outside of the hull

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The first layer of planking being installed on the starbord side of the hull.

the second layer of planking is placed diagonally.

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The second layer of planking is laid diagonally in order to strengthen the hull.

September 2, 2009

The Boothbay Harbor Marina crew continues laminations on the starboard side hawse timber. Laminations for the new beak and hawse knees are moving forward in the carpenter shop. NPS volunteer Glenn Anderson has been dismantling rotten timber atop the belfry.

The starbord side hawse timber is the vertical piece of wood in the center of the photo.

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The hawse timbers are clearly visible in this photo, sandwiching the stem (the shorter vertical piece) and the bowsprit (the yellow horizontal timber)

a marina employee planing the hawse timber smooth.

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It is vitally important that the horizontal planking fit closely on the vertical timbers, so working with a hand plane ensures the best possible match between planks and between planks and timbers.

dozens of clamps are used to make sure the laminated knees dry correctly

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One of the knee blanks in the process of being laminated. How many clamps are in this picture?

a volunteer removes the curved top to the belfry, which holds the ship's bell

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NPS volunteer Glenn Anderson removes the top of the belfry, in preparation for replacing it with a new piece of wood.

September 1, 2009

Repairs continue; new planking is being put on the port bow, and new knees [Historian's note: interior supports for the deck] are being made.

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The completed port side hawse timber, viewed from the deck. See August 25 update.

A view down the side of Friendship. The old planking has been removed, and the timbers and insulation are visible.

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The old planking has been removed and new planking is being installed.

a view from the front of the ship, showing the new planking that is being installed

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Another view of the current repair work from the bow, showing the new planking going in place.

strips of wood are glued into an arc that will later be shaped like a shelf bracket to support the deck.

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The knees have been roughed out, and will be shaped and finished before being installed.

August 25, 2009

(Top Photo) Repair work has commenced, with the staff of Boothbay Harbor Marina starting to laminate the port side hawse timbers. [Historian's note: the hawse timbers are part of the construction of the bow of a ship. There is one on each side of the stem, or timber at the very front of the ship]

(Bottom photo) Meanwhile, National Park Service staff and volunteers have continued to work on other needed repairs, including carving and installation of a new tiller.

two men glueing a layer of wood onto the structural timbers on the front of the ship

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Laminating the hawse timbers

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Friendship's new tiller.

August 11, 2009

Removal of damaged wood at the bow is nearly complete, and the repairs should begin shortly.

In the two photographs below, the planking has been removed from the bow.

removing damaged wood from the bow of Friendship

NPS photo

Visiting Vessel Program

Salem Maritime occasionally hosts visiting vessels that are replicas, restorations, or traditionally built wooden vessels. During Friendship's absence, the following vessels will be visiting Salem Maritime.

Visiting Vessels usually dock on Central Wharf.

Kalmar Nyckel
July 31 to August 2

A replica of the vessel that brought the first settlers from Sweden to Deleware in 1638, Kalmar Nyckel will be visiting during the Salem Maritime Festival

Peacemaker
August 19 to 25

Peacemaker was originally built to be a charter vessel in the Caribbean. She was built in Brazil using tropical hardwoods in the traditional manner. Click here for more information about her visit.