Thanks for a Great Year at Inland Seas

A Great Thank You to all those who volunteered, donated goods and services, and contributed funds to Inland Seas during 2011.  We had a great year which included sailing with our 90,000th student.  We are already planning a great 2012, and I hope you will have a chance to sail and learn with us in the coming year.

Inland Seas at the Schooner Festival, September 2011.  Linde photo.

Leaving St. James, Beaver Island,  last year.  F. Solle photo.

Hauling up the trawl.

Happy sailer/scientists, despite the rain.

If you would like to make a year-end donation to help ISEA in its work of Great Lakes Education, just click here and the rest is easy.  And many thanks!

Happy New Year,
Capt. Tom and the Crew at ISEA

Building the Schooner Inland Seas Program to be Repeated Dec. 29

Here is another teaser photograph from my presentation to be given on Thursday December 29 at 3pm at the Inland Seas Education Center...

Homeward Bound in the Atlantic, June 7, 1994. Rick Steenersen at the helm.

Jerry Dennis Speaks, Stone Hut Films....

I think you will enjoy this video by Stone Hut Studios, with Jerry Dennis reading from his new book Windward Shore.  A gift to and of the Great Lakes.  Thanks Jerry and Aaron.  http://vimeo.com/33752811
-Capt. Tom

ISEA Holiday Open House Today at 4 - 6 pm

Please join us today at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay for some Holiday Cheer.  Drop in anytime between 4 and 6 pm.  We have a collection bin here for the Leelanau Christian Neighbors Food Pantry, so bring a can of food so others can smile this Christmas.    - Capt. Tom

2012 Volunteer Instructor Class to Begin January 4th

Become an Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) Volunteer Instructor and help provide students with a unique Schoolship experience. Not sure if you want to become a volunteer? Come to the introductory session to learn more about volunteering for ISEA. No experience required!

 
The volunteer instructor training course takes place on Wednesday evenings January 4 through March  21 from 6:30-8:30pm in room 112 of the NMC Water Studies Institute in Traverse City (715 E. Front Street). Classes include an educational presentation and hands-on activities led by ISEA staff and experienced Volunteer Instructors. If Traverse City Schools are closed due to weather, no class will be held that evening.

For more information and a complete schedule of the class, click here.  To register for the class, call Emily Shaw, ISEA Volunteer Coordinator, at 231-271-3077.

On the Beach this Morning at ISEA

An early morning walk along the ISEA waterfront offered up these scenes.  What a gift it is to live and work here.  Enjoy. 

Frank Weese's Fishing Boat

Geese, swans, ducks

Capt. Tom's Skiff

Sad end for a fox

Sand Spit

Broadway Drain, to be diverted next year into the SB Wetland

Model Friendship Sloop

Thanks for sharing this walk with me....Capt. Tom

Building the Schooner Inland Seas Program to be Repeated Dec. 29

I will repeat the program "Building the Schooner Inland Seas" on Thursday December 29 at 3pm in the Inland Seas Education Center.  If you missed it the first time here is a second chance. --Capt. Tom

Welding on plating at the stern, fall 1993.  Mark Treworgy is at the right.

How to Build a Schooner - Find out this coming Tuesday, Dec. 13th.

Here is another photo from my upcoming seminar on designing, building and sailing home the 77' schooner Inland Seas.  Hope you can join us on Tuesday Dec. 13th, 7pm, at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay.  --Capt. Tom

Mark Treworgy setting up frames, 1993

Note: This program will be repeated on Thursday December 29, 3pm at the Inland Seas Education Center

Where in the Great Lakes Are We?

This is my favorite harbor in Lake Michigan.  Inland Seas visits here each July.  Where are we? 

For a hint, and a look at the entire shoreline of the UP, go to the Shoreviewer web site. 

-Capt. Tom

Round Goby Invades Streams

See the video of round goby invasion of streams in Wisconsin.  Click here!  --Capt. Tom

Round Goby.  Photo by Chris Doyle.

Historic Changes to the Lower Food Web of Lake Michigan

If you missed Gary Fahnenstiel's presentation at the Freshwater Summit in October here is the video produced by Bob Russell:  Click Here  This is required viewing for anyone trying to understand what's happening in Lake Michigan.  Gary Fahnenstiel works for the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Laboratory in Muskegon.  --Capt. Tom

Quagga Mussel

"Building the Schoolship Inland Seas" is Topic of December 13th Seminar

Tom Kelly, ISEA's Executive Director, will present an illustrated discussion of the design, construction and sea trials of the schooner Inland Seas on December 13th at 7pm.  The presentation is part of ISEA's monthly Great Lakes Seminar Series and will be held at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay.  The program is free and open to the public. Many of the delivery crew will be present to offer their remembrances of the trip from the Palm Coast, Florida shipyard to Grand Traverse Bay in 1994.

The Treworgy Yachts building crew pose in front of the hull of Inland Seas, Palm Coast FL.
Mark and Toni Treworgy are in the center.

Dry Dock Inspection Completed

Yesterday the Coast Guard inspectors from Sault Ste. Marie were at Inland Seas    to do the Dry Dock Hull Inspection.  They inspected the hull plating, internal structures, seacocks, and drive train.  We passed the inspection with no problems.  They will be back for our annual in-water inspection in June. 

The ship is covered now, and all systems laid up for the winter.  We will continue with maintenance tasks throughout the winter months. 

Liberty is also ashore at Northport Bay Boatyard.  She will be covered soon.

Liberty at NBBY, Nov. 2011

-Capt. Tom Kelly

Climate Change and the Great Lakes

Get the climate change facts from Don Scavia at University of Michigan.  Don Scavia is Graham Family Professor and Director, Graham Sustainability Institute; Special Counsel to the U-M President on Sustainability; Professor, School of Natural Resources & Environment; and Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering. 

Prof. Don Scavia

This is a 33 minute video, so find some quality time for yourself, and you will be well rewarded for your interest.

Click here to begin the video Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region.

--Tom Kelly

Upcoming Great Lakes Seminars at Inland Seas Education Center, Suttons Bay

November 8, 2011
“Meeting the Challenge of Stormwater Pollution”
Sarah U’Ren
Program Director
The Watershed Center

December 13, 2011
“Building the Schoolship Inland Seas”
Tom Kelly
Executive Director & Captain
Inland Seas Education Association

December 29, 2011
“Building the Schoolship Inland Seas”
Tom Kelly
Executive Director & Captain
Inland Seas Education Association
(repeat of Dec. 13 program)

January 10, 2012
“Changes in Great Lakes Water Levels and Global Climate Change”
Drew Gronewold
Hydrologist and Physical Scientist
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

February 14, 2012
"Sturgeon Research in the Great Lakes"
Marty Holtgren
Senior Inland Fisheries Biologist
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

March 13, 2012
“Sea Lamprey Barrier Methods”
Michael Wagner
Assistant Professor and PERM Scientist
East Lansing, MI

Free Seminar Tonight on Stormwater Treatment Techniques

Suttons Bay, MI – The Inland Seas Education Association will present a seminar focusing on stormwater treatment within the Great Lakes watershed at 7:00pm on Tuesday, November 8th, at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay. The program will be presented by Sarah U’Ren, Program Director at the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay. This seminar is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Outfall of Broadway Street Drain in Suttons Bay

Plume of contaminated water in Suttons Bay from Broadway Drain after rain event.

The Watershed Center is a non-profit organization located in Traverse City, dedicated to the protection of our water resources in Grand Traverse Bay. They work within the entire 1,000 square mile watershed to advocate for clean water through public education and on-the-ground projects. One such project currently underway is working towards improved runoff filtration systems in Suttons Bay and Traverse City. Land use management within the watershed is an important aspect of maintaining water quality, as poor land use practices can lead to public health concerns and degraded ecosystem health. “By managing runoff from the three largest storm drains in Suttons Bay, we hope to drastically decrease public health risks at local beaches associated with runoff,” says U’Ren.

Inland Seas' Winter Cover Installed

The crew put in a long day on Friday, November 4th.  We got the winter cover on and the plastic heat shrunk around the sides.  Monday we will return to finish shrinking the top portion of the cover.  This can be done from the inside.  Then we will be ready for the icy blasts of winter.

Larry and Allen rigging the strapping that will hold the lower edge of the cover.

Bob and Jan rolling our the plastic sheet that will form the cover.

Putting heat-shrink tape around the masts.

One side of the cover has been secured.  The other (stbd) side is being secured along the centerline with a wooden batten.

Port side of cover in place.  The aft section was later covered with an athwart piece of plastic sheet.

Inside view with cover in place, prior to heat shrinking.

The Cover is secured for the weekend.  Monday we will finish up the heat shrining from inside.

Inland Seas' Topsides Painted on November 1st

We got a break in the weather on Tuesday Nov. 1 and painted the topsides and bulwarks.  There was a little rain in the afternoon, but then the sun came out and we finished the day with temps. in the low 50's.  The next, and probably final painting day this year will be this coming Friday when more sun is forecast. 

We also removed the engine raw water impeller (in good shape) and drive belts (4 - will replace all and keep older ones for spares).

Thanks to Bob, Jan, and Larry for your help.

Jan and Bob applying the topsides "Sea Green" paint.

Tom taking it easy in the bow net.

Larry removing blocks from Libety's mast prior to refinishing.

Liberty Hauled Out at Northport Bay Boatyard

Liberty was hauled out at Northport Bay Boat Yard this morning. Thanks to NBBY for their good work on our behalf.  The mast will be unstepped for slushing before winter sets in (coming soon!).  Thanks to Larry Good and Len Klein for getting Liberty to Northport. 

Liberty was donated to Inland Seas by ISEA member David Shelby.  We are planning a full season of Mini-Schoolship programs aboard Liberty in 2012 for groups up to six passengers.

Inland Seas On the Hard, Day 4 - October 26, 2011

Today the crew (Capt. Tom, Allen & Bob) purged the potable water system with compressed air and flushed the head intakes and drains with red pop (non-toxic antifreeze).  Yesterday Allen and Bob drained the muffler, FW pumps and filters.

We also finished sanding the topsides and began on the hull bottom.  Also working on bulwarks, which have some rust that takes a bit of time to grind away and treat with two primers.

We are hoping to paint early next week.    --Capt. Tom

Allen Wolfe - the well equipped schooner sander

Bob Hagerman works on preping the bottom

Almost ready for paint

Inland Seas On the Hard, Day 2

Today (Monday, 10-24-11) we set up scaffolding and ladders and began refinishing work on the schooner.  We got the port stopsides and rudder sanded, and some nasty rust removed and treated on the port bulwark.  We also removed the MaxProp propeller.  Workers today were Allen Wolfe, Bob Hagerman, Jan Hale and Tom K.  Weather was sunny, low 50's and windy.  Rain is forecast on Tuesday, so probably no outside work. 

Allen working on bulwark

Max Prop being disassembled

Max Prop apart



Port topsides sanded and ready for paint



Inland Seas Hauled Out at Northport Bay Boatyard

Friday, October 21, 2011.  The Schoolship Inland Seas was hauled out for the winter at Northport Bay Boatyard.  Next week we begin sanding and painting the hull.  The rudder will be removed to allow service to the propeller and installation of a new stern bearing.  Contact the ISEA office if you would like to help with maintenance on the ship this week.  Thanks to NBBY for a great job of hauling!
-Capt. Tom Kelly

On our way to NBBY with the winter house frame already in place.

High & dry for the first time in three years.

IS's Mate Allen Wolfe and Deckhand Bob Hagerman watch the action.

A good day, and the sun just came out.
Allen, Tom, Emily, Bob, Kathy

Zebra & quagga mussels on the rudder.

Emily removing the mussels to add to the Education Center's Touch Tank.