Photos by PETER PEREIRA/The Standard Times. Crews at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard in Maine are restoring the historic schooner Ernestina. Here, Todd A. Croteau, maritime program coordinator for the Historic American Engineering Record, sets up a ladder to continue his work of digitizing the vessel to prepare a display of the ship for the Library of Congress. Crews work on the Ernestina from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in the sleepy little town renowned for its wood boat shipyard.

This article appeared in The Standard-Times on July 20, 2008

By DON CUDDY
Standard-Times staff writer
July 20, 2008 6:00 AM

BOOTHBAY HARBOR — Restoration work on the 114-year-old hull of the schooner Ernestina is continuing at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard in Maine where the historic vessel was towed Down East for repairs in early June.

The project initially called for the replacement of planks and decking in the bow section but has since been expanded to include some structural work also.

“We’re now replacing 15 frames on either side from the waterline up,” yard manager Joe Jackimovicz said. “It’s been going well and we are looking to finish up by mid to late Fall.”

The Ernestina had languished dockside on the New Bedford waterfront since 2004 after funding from the state was cut. Basic maintenance was neglected, resulting in further decay below decks.

Sourcing lumber to the exacting standards required by the Secretary of the Interior for the restoration of historic vessels has meant some delays are inevitable, Mr. Jackimovicz said.

“It’s there but we just need lead time when there are changes made. I can order it, but it might be three weeks before it arrives,” he said.

The new double frames will be of sawn white oak. Planking will be fastened to the frames with trunnels made from black locust for both practical and historic reasons.

Trunnels, or wooden pegs, have been used in wooden shipbuilding since ancient times, according to Paul J. Brawley, executive director of the schooner. “It’s what they would have used in the 19th Century,” he said, ” and trunnels do not decay when immersed in salt water like metal fastenings do.”

The project team includes representatives from the shipyard, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Ernestina and the National Parks Service, which is using a federal grant to develop drawings, histories and photographs of the vessel as a reference document to preserve the historical integrity of the vessel.

“We have made great progress with Ernestina this year, and our goal is to restore Coast Guard certification by the Spring of 2009,” Mr. Brawley said. “We want to get her sailing by next summer.”

Jim Jones uses a wooden mallet and a chisel to carve a notch in the new inner stem of the Ernestina to place a batten reference point for the sides of the boat. Photo by PETER PEREIRA

After 10 hours working on Ernestina’s restoration, the heat has taken its toll on Jim Jones at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard. Photo by PETER PEREIRA

Shipwright Jim Jones uses a large wrench to bolt the new inner stem with the old outer stem at the prow of the dry-docked Ernestina as Kevin Roux, below, makes a template for a new frame. The former packet ship is undergoing one of its most extensive overhauls. Photo by PETER PEREIRA

View the STs audio slide show on the rebuilding of the ship.