Thayer re-christened in SF

[dmede]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/12/BAGUMP7HEA5.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

[WindHawk]

Interesting. Just by coincidence, I caught an episode of "Save Our History" on the History Channel this morning that had a segment on the Thayer. Dennis Conner was hosting, and he's done much to preserve what he can of Maritime History. I'm glad to see they got around to fixing her (Dennis was asking for help).

Wow, a $14 million restoration... Original construction was likely less than $5,000... Now if I keep my wee yawl in the garage for the next 100 years... ;-)

[Dave Fleming]

Now they need to spend a few 'mil' more on new sticks, rigging, sails.

Wonder if the NPS will come up with that?

Then...there is the WAPAMA to deal with.:rolleyes:

[Canoeyawl]

Things are tough on the Hyde Street Pier there these days, it was
lucky to get the Thayer's hull done I think, she was in tough shape.

I betting that the Wapama is history - a shame, such a lovely little ship

[Thorne]

Whatever happened to the Bounty launch? I was at a dinner last weekend and someone who had sailed and rowed her on SF Bay, and they wanted to know.

Anybody know anything about her?

[bholderman]

Start sailing the Thayer and maybe they can generate Wapama funds.

Now they need to spend a few 'mil' more on new sticks, rigging, sails.

Wonder if the NPS will come up with that?

Then...there is the WAPAMA to deal with.:rolleyes:

[Clyderigged]

In an effort of gender neutrality, the National Park Service has decided to not step masts on the CA THAYER.
Masts are a phallic symbol and are inappropriate in the work place. ;)



http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p86aa4b6255856dfa634ae24ae2d4a74a/e9eb651f.jpg

[waters'l]

They are really going to have to drum up a lot of volunteer work. Al Lutz and Alice (I forgot her last name) have done a really good job of making Alma accessable to the public and they have a pretty dedicated crew. Alice told my 13 year old sister that she could come down this summer and spend as much time as she wanted on Alma. She is extatic about that. I hope they get someone just as dynamic for Thayer. If not, they are just starting the next rot cycle.

[bholderman]

I wonder if its too late to get her into the ASTA 2008 Pacific races?

A dream come completely true.. she's so beautiful, it almost makes me weep........ problem is, Thayer is in a town that couldn't give a r*ts *ss about it's own history.. in fact.. it distains it.

Not to be a "naysayer", but I'll bet the people in the reception party for her where almost ALL non-San Franciscans!

I must say, that in my short time here in San Diego, the way they treat their historic fleet is wonderful! I really believe they are the best managed, and best funded maritime museum on the West Coast. They keep the fleet in wonderful and almost fully operational condition. Volunteers begin to feel responsible for "their" ships since they care for them and keep them sailing regularly. Thayer NEEDS to sail, literally to SAVE HER OWN LIFE! All through the late 70's, 80's and early 90's I watched her rot. It looks as though I will be moving back to the Bay Area next year, and you can count me in as a staunch Thayer supporter, AND NATIVE 2nd generation San Franciscan!

I can't wait to watch her in the Master Mariners in the near future!

HOOORA for Thayer!!!!!!!!!

[donald branscom]

Things are tough on the Hyde Street Pier there these days, it was
lucky to get the Thayer's hull done I think, she was in tough shape.

I betting that the Wapama is history - a shame, such a lovely little ship

They ruined the WAPAMA. They are just waiting to tow it out of Richmond and blow it up.
They got a lot of money from the goverment though.
I built a model of that ship. i learned a lot about that ship.
The talk around Sausalito about that ship was interesting.
The keel is 25X37 inches and all one piece over 300 feet long. Three sister keelsons also.

[bholderman]

What sucks is that I have emailed every contact I have ever come across regarding Wapama. I have never gotten a single reply. Dave Fleming, as he commonly mentions is probably her biggest supporter here. After a small blurb in the crew newletter here, there is even interest in her down here in San Diego, not from a relocation standpoint but one of a restoration thing.

SO there seems to be a lot of interest every time Wapama is mentioend, so why is she sitting there?

They ruined the WAPAMA. They are just waiting to tow it out of Richmond and blow it up.
They got a lot of money from the goverment though.
I built a model of that ship. i learned a lot about that ship.
The talk around Sausalito about that ship was interesting.
The keel is 25X37 inches and all one piece over 300 feet long. Three sister keelsons also.

[Weathergage]

Here's the news gents- Thayer returned to HSPier as a decked hull, minus ballast and the following: fwd. house, masts, spars, rigging and sails, chainplates, misc. eyebolts, anchors, chains, capstan and windlass (which need to be overhauled), rudder and steering gear, taffrail, compass, deck pump, and a whole assortment of other items..it will be some time before this work can be completed..certainly not for the 2008 Master Mariners. The Wapama is in tough shape, on her barge in the old Kaiser graving docks in Richmond. Other than paying the slip fee for her there's no budget for her. The last of my volunteers quit when SF Maritime decided to economize and stop renting a port-o-potty. You can imagine their disgust and mine..years of no support, no interest, just hide that eyesore away. A variety of bureaucrats have made visits and high cost studies to verify that Wapama, is indeed,rotted...the latest surveys and reports seem to be aimed at finding a way for SF Maritime NHP to justify dismembering the vessel (a National Historic Landmark) after many years of deliberate neglect..a real shame as she is the last steam schooner left.

[dmede]

This blurb on the Wapama from last year sounds a bit less bleak. I hope it's still true?

http://www.seahistory.org/html/wapama.htm

[Weathergage]

I've been involved with the Wapama for the last 12 years and I'm telling you that the Sea History article is way out of date. The only thing that my volunteers and myself could do was try to slow or maybe stabilize areas of the ship using tools purchased by the Museum Association or donated by me and materials fished out of dumpsters..believe me, this isn't even funny. I've heard people go on for YEARS about Wapama..."oh, they should do something"..well, jack, the Park ignores it and would prefer to forget about it..I work on it as I can, myself, but would love to have some volunteers again. If interested, call Terry Dorman, the Volunteer Coordinator at San Francisco Maritime NHP and tell him you want to volunteer on the Wapama. Thanks for being interested guys.