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Building
the Brigantines - Part 3
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(August
7, 2002) Stepping the masts is a nautical tradition dating
back to ancient times. A set of coins are placed in the "step"
of the mast at it's base. These are the coins used on the Irving
Johnson. |
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Chuck
Heil, the project manager, watched shipbuilder Alan Rawl's grandson
place the coins in the step. The main mast was lowered to this
spot just a few minutes after the photo was taken. |
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Stepping
the masts was a major milestone for the Brigantine Boatworks project.
The carefully orchestrated, day long process involved hoisting
each mast by crane and lowering it precisely into place on each
of the ships. |
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Exy
Johnson was first to recieve her main mast. Here, it's
just inches above the deck as shipwrights gently nudge the dangling
6000 pound mass of wood into it's permanent resting place.
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Aligning
the mast is critical to avoid damage or injury.
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Their
first photo as masted sailing ships. Still to come: yardarms and
more rigging. |
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(September
6 , 2002) Partially rigged and with only one of her 13
sails, Irving Johnson participates in the "Parade
of Sail." For her first public viewing since the launch,
a big cleanup effort was made. From a distance she looks largely
complete. But up close and below decks plenty of work remains. |
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all
photos and web content copyright© 2006 Lee
Uran
all
rights reserved.
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