Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Sistership to Inland Seas Under Construction in Canada


The schooner Sojourner, originally built in Illinois, is being modified for ocean cargo work in Wheatly, Ontario. Check out the progress on the blog http://obock.blogspot.com/
-T. Kelly

Monday, November 24, 2008

Underwater Videos From Chris Doyal

Here are views into Grand Traverse Bay, courtesy of Chris Doyal. Check out the round gobies in the Tramp video and the growth of algae and mussels on the wrecks. http://www.chrisdoyal.com/section195090.html


Recently Chris made a presentation at the Inland Seas Education Center and has helped us by cleaning our underwater camera lens. Thanks for all your good work, Chris.
Capt. Tom

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

View New Tall Ship Video (2 Minutes)

Our Sail Training (and Science) Ship! Sorry, not in the video.

This new video was produced by the Sail Training International organization as a youth recruiting tool. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oETq5cBXpck

So we don't have the leaping dolphin but we do have lots of dancing plankton.



TK

Monday, November 17, 2008

Friday, November 14, 2008

Bloody Red Shirmp found in Grand Traverse Bay


MDNR researchers have found the invasive shirmp Hemimysis anomala in East Bay near Elk Rapids. Christine Crissman obained a sample for us to observe and photograph. Stop in the Center to see these under the microscope. We will be looking for these near our dock in Suttons Bay also. They stay close to the rocks so we would not likely get them in our plankton net at our sampling stations. For more information on Hemimysis go to http://www.schoolship.org/stewardship/?id=325 and click on the Hemimysis Fact Sheet.
Speaking of invasive species, Christine gave a great presentation on the effects of invasives in Grand Traverse Bay this past Tuesday. If you missed the seminar you can still see the slides at
See you at the the Dance Party Benefit for the TC Water Festival this Saturday evening (8pm) at Serenity Tea Room.
-TK


Saturday, November 8, 2008

Friday Photos: Boat Shop and Dockside

Inland Seas in her "winter house".
Cutting beveled ends on the cedar strips.

Clamping the strips.



Canoe #7 nearly planked up.
-Capt. Tom



Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Invasive Species to be Seminar Topic on Nov. 11

(NOAA Photo)
Suttons Bay , MI – The Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) will present a seminar that focuses on invasive species at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 11th, at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay . The program, “The Effect of Aquatic Invasive Species in Grand Traverse Bay ” will be presented by Christine Crissman, ISEA’s Education Director and Chief Scientist.

Over the last few decades, the Grand Traverse Bay ecosystem has been severely affected by invasive species. Crissman will focus on the impacts the invasive zebra mussel and round goby have had on the food web and how these changes are impacting native species. She will also discuss the most recent species to invade the Great Lakes and their potential spread into Grand Traverse Bay .
The Inland Seas Education Association is a non-profit organization based in Suttons Bay , Michigan , dedicated to science education on the Great Lakes . Its shipboard and shore-side education programs are designed to inspire young people’s interest in science and to provide for the long-term stewardship of the Great Lakes .
For further information contact the Inland Seas Education Association at (231) 271-3077 or on the web at http://www.schoolship.org

Monday, November 3, 2008

Liberty Cover In Place for the Winter


The view from above while slushing the mast.

ISEA's Friendship sloop Liberty received her winter cover this Friday - Saturday at the Centre Pointe dock in Greilickville. Tom Kelly, Don Gorski and Dave Williams fitted the shrink-wrap cover. Prior to covering, the mast got a good coating of "slush", a mixture of pine tar, turpintine, and linseed oil that acts as a preservative.

The finished product, looking very sleek for a 1908 design sloop.

-Capt. Tom K.