Our computer Guru, Pern, arranged a computer use class for some of our administrative folks. Now you won’t notice things right away or at all in some cases, but this was done to help streamline several areas of our operations that had gotten a bit big for its britches. Imagine that! CSF has gotten so large that we had to upgrade our data systems! Our updated website should be coming on line shortly. Thank you to Pern for arranging the class and our volunteers for giving their time to learn how to work the new systems.
Sunday
and now a report from our Coast Guard volunteers who joined us for a second work day!
The four of us arrived at 0900 like last weekend and we were eager to get started on the projects from the weekend before. Rob P. began work on installing a new temporary deck aft with marine grade plywood, 3 sheets, after he properly set three deck beams the week before.
Jennifer H. and Todd W. continued with port and starboard bulkhead placement in the aft cabin area.
Lacy M. was making quick work with the sawsall and began a second gun port.
After our first visit, finding tools and making our way around Mr. Collamores work area, specially the coffee pot, was easier and we felt more constructive than destructive. Several weeks ago, when we visited as part of the US Coast Guard Marine Inspectors Course out of the Training center in Yorktown, we asked if we could come help. We all half expected that we would be fetching coffee or sweeping Johns work room floor, but instead we have been fortunate enough to actually use power tools, which some of us have been finding very exhilarating to be experiencing for the first time. The chance to come out here each weekend and physically work on this piece of history has been amazing. It's hard to put into words exactly the feeling you have after just one day of work. You spent hours drawing drawing cardboard cut outs for a stern bulkhead taking measurements and such. Then you transition it to a plywood template and before your eyes we saw that simple form mold into two solid bulkheads.
But theres not time to stop and admire it for too long, theres the deck to work on too, and so it goes, one small achievement and the project rolls on.... But every day we leave there with smiles on our faces, tired, damp, cold, but not hungry. Mrs. Collamore makes the best chili!
Jennifer H. and Todd W. continued with port and starboard bulkhead placement in the aft cabin area.
Lacy M. was making quick work with the sawsall and began a second gun port.
After our first visit, finding tools and making our way around Mr. Collamores work area, specially the coffee pot, was easier and we felt more constructive than destructive. Several weeks ago, when we visited as part of the US Coast Guard Marine Inspectors Course out of the Training center in Yorktown, we asked if we could come help. We all half expected that we would be fetching coffee or sweeping Johns work room floor, but instead we have been fortunate enough to actually use power tools, which some of us have been finding very exhilarating to be experiencing for the first time. The chance to come out here each weekend and physically work on this piece of history has been amazing. It's hard to put into words exactly the feeling you have after just one day of work. You spent hours drawing drawing cardboard cut outs for a stern bulkhead taking measurements and such. Then you transition it to a plywood template and before your eyes we saw that simple form mold into two solid bulkheads.
But theres not time to stop and admire it for too long, theres the deck to work on too, and so it goes, one small achievement and the project rolls on.... But every day we leave there with smiles on our faces, tired, damp, cold, but not hungry. Mrs. Collamore makes the best chili!
We really do hope we have helped in even just a small way. I feel very blessed to see, much less participate in this project. I never thought I would have been given the chance to learn this type of ship building first hand. Everyone has been so nice and complimentary of our volunteering. We will be back next weekend, our final visit before we all depart our separate ways, some to Tx others to La and Pa. Hopefully, we can complete the gun port and put in a temporary floor aft, by the stern cabin area.
-Jennifer Hnatow, LT USCG
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