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NOBSKA drydocked

Week Ended 4/27/96

• On Thursday, April 25th at 5:50am, NOBSKA departed New Bedford under tow by the tugs "Jaguar" and "Little Joe". NOBSKA arrived at the Charlestown Navy Yard drydock in Boston at 5:50pm.
• The drydock was drained that Friday.
• On Saturday, April 27th a ceremony at the Charlestown Yard celebrated NOBSKA's successful drydocking.

Week Ended 5/4/96

• Powerwashing the hull to remove marine growth and debris from many years in the water. Afterward her hull showed twelve holes of various sizes.
• A gangway permits access to NOBSKA while in drydock.

Week Ended 5/11/96

• Soliciting proposals for brick dust removal (NOBSKA was ballasted with brick dust after removal of most of her machinery during her restaurant role in Baltimore) (Quiz - D3).

Week Ended 5/18/96

• On Thursday, May 17 Dave Pritchard addressed a meeting of "Historic Massachusetts" at the Charlestown navy Yard. Following the meeting, participants toured NOBSKA.
• Audio gauging hull to determine plate replacement.

Week Ended 5/25/96

• Evaluating proposals for brick dust removal.

Week Ended 6/1/96

• On Tuesday, May 28th work began on brick dust removal This job is estimated to be completed by June 10th.
• Interviewed and visited three welding companies, to select the one for hull repairs.
• The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), New Orleans Office has been reviewing our drawings for classification. The US Coast Guard must approve these prior to shell replacement.
• Researching NOBSKA's early configuration. This search located interesting pictures and articles describing her launching.
• The Restoration Committee, Interior Subcommittee met at the New Bedford Whaling Museum on Saturday, June 1st to work on plans for the retoration of NOBSKA's interior.

Week Ended 6/8/96

• Continuing brick dust removal.

Week Ended 6/15/96

• Continuing brick dust removal.
• Starkweather Engineering Co started hull and frame restoration. Forward and stern sections cleared to permit inspection.
• Slaven Associates began removing the propulsion shafting. (The shaft had been cut during her sojourn in Baltimore and must be replaced.)
• Preparing to unship the rudder, which was severly damaged in Baltimore. The rear deck is cut away to access the stuffing box.
• The NESF board of Trustees met in Falmouth, MA on Saturday, June 15th.

Week Ended 6/22/96

• Brick dust removal completed.
• All plywood partitions in machinery space knocked down.
• Terrazzo (cement) removed from the crew's galley and mess.
• The tail section of the propellor shaft seems stuck in the outboard rubber bearing.
• Furniture and fittings cleaned out of forward compartment; some of the material moved into storage.
• All plywood partitions on the main and saloon decks removed.
• Continuing work to unship the rudder.

Week Ended 6/29/96

• Restoration Committee met on Martha's Vineyard to review plans for the interior design.
• Bil Enos of West Tisbury donated NOBSKA's last logbook.
• NOBSKA's original engine room clock donated by Barbara Gotlib of North Dartmouth.

Week Ended 7/6/96

• Rudder unshipped.
• Continuing to clean out the lower compartments of accumulated parts and junk. Many artifacts/riveting tools are found under the cement ballast.
• Shell pates removed at both stem and stern to inspect the framing.
• Lifeboat davits removed for renovation.
• Making a start to take out the steam engine. The engine will go to the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School (Vo-Tech) for overhaul.
• First repair (weld procedure) sent to ABS in New Orleans/Houston.

Week Ended 7/13/96

• Proceeding on cleaning compartments.
• Preparing for engine take out.

Week Ended 7/20/96

• NOBSKA's engine dismantled into two section. Asbestos removal begins.
• Claude Hodges, NESF Vice Chairman was the featured speaker on "Steamship Day" at the Boston Children's Museum exhibit "Boats Afloat".

Week Ended 7/27/96

• The steel that will form the new hull was shipped to Rhode Island. There it is sandblasted and primed before delivery to Charlestown.
• Detail inspection of interior framing begins to determine exact restoration plan.
• Asbestos removal continues.

Week Ended 8/3/96

• Asbestos removal continues. The Captain's cabin and pilot house appear to contain asbestos also.
• Internal compartment bulkhead and shell plate cleaning in preparation for steel removal and welding of new plates (Quiz - D1).

Week Ended 8/10/96

• Asbestos removal in Captain's cabin and pilot house.
• Continuing compartment and bulkhead plate cleaning.
• Engineering support for machinery and CAD/CAM programs for steel plate cutting.

Week Ended 8/17/96

• Continue preparing hull for frame and plate replacement.
• Proceed with removal of Captain's cabin and pilot house.

Week Ended 8/24/96

• Complete removal of Captain's cabin and pilot house.
• Continue preparing hull for frame and plate replacement.
• Meet with ABS regarding hull repair plans.
• Final preparations to take out the main engine.

Week Ended 8/31/96

• NOBSKA's steam engine taken out and trucked to the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School (Vo-Tech). The engine weighs 13.5 tons. J.P. Noonan of West Bridgewater transported it on two large trailers at no charge. The students will overhaul the engine under supervision of NOBSKA's last Chief Engineer, Joe Dawicki.
• Continue preparing hull below the maindeck for plate replacement.
• Summer issue of "NOBSKA News" (printed edition) approved for mailing to members. The issue contains articles and picures covering NOBSKA's move to drydock.

Week Ended 9/6/96

• This week marks a turning point in NOBSKA's retoration. After months of preparation we have begun to rebuild the hull. We estimate this phase to take six months.
• Preparing the topside shell plating will also complete.
• Meetings with a marine contractor who is interested in rebuilding the pilot house and Captain's cabin.
• Planning work to use NOBSKA's original lofting drawing and develop a CAD/CAM interface for cutting replacement frames at a major cost saving.

Week Ended 9/13/96

• Continuing to prepare the topsides below the main deck for plate replacement.
• Began cropping out shell plating aft of frame 10 and above the waterline for replacement.
• Completed shoring up the aft section of the hull in order that the keel and bilge blocking can be removed to extricate more plating.

Week Ended 9/20/96

• Completed topside preparation for plate replacement.
• Continuing to crop out shell plating abaft frame 10 toward frame 36.
• Began cropping out plating aft around frame 96 up to the waterline and down to the keel.

Week Ended 9/27/96

• Completed all interior metal surface preparation.
• Continued cropping out shell plating to frame 36.
• Removed a decayed section of the keel from frames 5 to 8.
• Repaired the stern casting in way of the riveted splice.
• Removed the sterntube from bulkhead 96 and stern post; to be replaced with a new tube.
• Exposed more of the keel under the shaft alley and found that it too needs replacement.
• Landed port and starboard anchor chains.

Week Ended 10/4/96

• Continue removing shell plating and lower internal decking. At this point someone standing in the drydock can look from stem to stern.
• Discussions with ABS, for approval of our repair drawings, continue.
• Quotes received for new tail shafting and sterntube.
• A steering gear supplier inspected the NOBSKA's arrangement prior to quoting his equipment.

Week Ended 10/11/96

• Shell plate removal forward to frame 24, aft to frame 61.
• Lower deck removal forward of frame 24, aft of frame 70.
• Balance of structural drawings submitted to ABS Technical for review and analysis.
• CAD input of hull offsets completed.

Weeks Ended 11/1/96

• Access opening cut in engine room for bulkhead/deck replacement.
• Removed shell plating aft to frame 57 and under main engine foundation (access allows gauging for final ABS disposition).
• Lower deck framing prepared for replacement both forward and aft pending ABS approval.
• Steel scrap removed from drydock.
• Shell frame and plate replacement schedule adjusted for ABS approvals.

Week Ended 11/8/96

• Received ABS approval to proceed with lower deck framing and replacement.
• Removed steel from bulkheads 24 and 82 for lower deck replacement.
• The breasthook is laid out and cut in preparation for installation.
• ABS survey of lower deck framing fit up and rider plate installation concluded satisfactorily.
• Submitted stern frame doubler to ABS for approval.
• The rider plate installation 60% complete.
• Proposal for NOBSKA's new boiler reviewed.

Week Ended 11/15/96

• Rider plate installation of lower deck framing completed.
• Stern bar cladding completed.
• Floors and breasthook fabricated for bow re-framing.
• Cut out shell plating from port side; stem to frame 8.
• Minimum scantling requirements received from ABS for hull envelope - analysis of impact on progress.

Weeks Ended 12/20/96

• Lower deck plate installation started aft of engine room.
• Bow framing installed, frames 2 to 7.
• Breasthook installed.
• Laid out first plate for lower deck forward.
• Prepared for shell plating installation between frames 64 and 93.
• All material on hand for lower decks installed.
• First new shell plate hung at waterline, frames 75 to 85 (port).
• Material moved in preparation for frame 64 replacement.
• Shell plate fit up at frames 75 to 85 (starboard).
• Maindeck plating removal started.
• Aft lower deck welding complete.

Week Ended 12/27/96

No work this week - Merry Christmas!