Relaunch of the Charles W. Morgan

She is one of my all time favorite Revell models.

I have been watching the progress of the restoration of the Morgan for the last five years since she was lifted out of the water. Many of the ribs were replaced and much of the bottom planking. The "hog" that had developed in the keel was removed.

The Mystic Seaport has a state of the art ship lift just as are used on modern shipyards. It consists of a platform that is raised and lowered by 8 coordinated winches. The Morgan sat on the platform on a carriage supported by wheels on railroad tracks that could be rolled off the ship  lift and then sideways to the area where the actual work was done. When the work was completed the Morgan was rolled back onto the ship lift and then lowered into the water. No sliding down the ways and no big splash much to the disappointment of some in the crowd who expected to see something dramatic. Actually the Morgan had been placed on the lift and lowered into the water several weeks ago to allow the planking to swell up and be water tight. She was only raised back out of the water a couple of days before the launch so she could be officially launched.

Now that the ship is back in the water the shipyard staff will step the masts, rig the ship, and outfit her for sea. Because of the depth of the Mystic river she cannot be fully ballasted at the seaport. She will be taken to a shipyard in New London for final ballasting and fitting out before her cruise under sail next summer.

I've been visiting the Morgan and watching her evolve since 1966.  (In terms of the ship's own lifetime that isn't long.)  This latest restoration is a fine exercise in craftsmanship and historical research.  I hope somebody publishes a good, detailed record of just what the restorers have done.  I'm hoping to get up there this summer and watch some of the rigging process.

I've got extremely mixed emotions about the idea of sailing her.   Frankly I wish they wouldn't try it.  It's just two dangerous for such an important historical artifact.  But I'll be right alongside those waiting breathlessly for pictures of her under sail.  Surely somebody will make a video of the operation.

I do hope that, once she's back (we hope) safe and sound in her berth, she rarely - if ever - is taken out again.

I've looked at many of the pages in this thread:

http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?109593-Charles-W-Morgan-Restoration-A-Volunteer-s-Perspective-1

I've found so many interesting (and some not so interesting) pieces of information and details of the restoration here that I thought some of you might want to take a look.

Mike

Thanks for the link. Just spent over 2 hours checking some of it. I know what I'll be doing this weekend. I was there in 2010 and was amazed at the work being done. I talked to a couple of the workers but don't remember their names (old age). Wish I lived closer so I could go there more often.

Jim 

Well, she is, after all, just doing a transit from Mystic to New Bedford. It shouldn't take more than two days. Let's just hope that her captain is smarter that the replica Bounty's captain was.

Actually it will be a summer long cruise. The ports of call are: New London, CT, Newport Rhode Island,Vineyard Haven, New Bedford, Provincetown, Stellwagen Bank (for whale watching), and finally Boston to tie up alongside the Constitution. She will then return to Mystic to take up her station as the star of the seaport collection.

I am told this will be a crew only situation as the ship is not being outfitted with coast guard approved apparatus for carrying passengers. All crew spots have been assigned. The core will be experienced square rig sailors and officers who have sailed the coast guard training ship Eagle and other large sailing ships. The rest of the crew is being filled out with seaport workers and volunteers that spent so much time restoring the ship.

The Morgan has not been modernized in any way. No auxiliary engine. No permanently mounted generator or electronic gear. No toilet facilities and no galley. Anything along that line installed for the cruise will be done in such a way as not to alter the ship and will be removed upon the return to Mystic.

I just bought one on Amazon.

GM,

I started mine about three weeks ago.  Have the hull painted, without the fake gun ports and stripe.  I understand that was added in the 1920's for a movie she was in.  If not, I still like the look without it and the current plan is to paint her and fit her out (to the best of my abilities, that is), as she looks now. I have the base coat on the deck.  I'm not sure if I'll post any pictures, but  I am glad to see her and loved the restoration blogs and pictures.

Steve