Launch and Transit to Suttons Bay, May 1, 2014

Launch at Northport Bay Boatyard

Hull reflection - note ice in well

On our way home

We disassembled the cover frame enroute

Heavy ice off Omena Point

Near Omena Point

Open water ahead...somewhere

We made it home safely after a 3 hour passage.  One hour longer than usual.  --Capt. Tom

More Inland Seas Fit-Out Photos....

NBBY Workers putting on 6 coats of Interlux epoxy primer...

and two coats of red anti-fouling 

Capt. Ben aloft to install the new radar on the main mast

Schoolship Inland Seas Fit-Out Underway at Northport Bay Boat Yard

Lower "skirt" cover added to allow work on the bottom

Inside the lower cover, ready for sand blasting off the old paint

Capt. Ben fairing out a repaired area of the Pilot House roof

Control for the new inverter/charger.  We also replaced a VHF radio, radar, GPS plotter and added an isolation transformer this winter.

More photos from fit-out coming soon.  We hope to launch as soon as we have open water.  The Bay is still completely frozen, except for a few places around the edges. -Capt. Tom

Schooner Inland Seas - Launch and Return to Suttons Bay

Our Schoolship schooner Inland Seas returned to her natural element yesterday afternoon at Northport Bay Boatyard.  After filling the water tanks and system checks, we motored the ship back to her home dock in Suttons Bay to continue maintenance and outfitting for spring Schoolship classes (to begin on May 1st.).  The crew consisted of Tom Kelly, Allen Wolfe, Ben Hale, Jan Hale, Larry Good and Bob Hagerman.



Removing the winter cover. The white plastic will be recycled by Bay Area Recycling for Charities

Hanging the Fortress Anchor

Ready to move

On the edge of the haul out slip

About to touch water

Picking up Allen in the stern boat

Back home at Suttons Bay

Thanks to Martha Eldridge for the top three photos and other help.  A big thank you to Northport Bay Boatyard for great service.   -Tom Kelly







Fit-Out at Northport Bay Boat Yard - April 3, 2012

Today we got the propeller working properly (thanks for the help, Kevin), painted the foredeck, applied epoxy fairing compound to rust repair areas on deck, finished the pre-launch check list, and launched the stern boat.  The stern boat engine started after a few pulls and ran smooth as silk on a test run. Tomorrow we remove the winter cover and hopefully launch!

Ben Hale, Allen Wolfe and Bob Hagerman were working today.  --Capt. Tom Kelly

Kevin (left) and Ben (right) make final adjustments to the Max Prop feathering propeller

Our shiny propeller ready to go.

Everything you need to do deck repairs.

Epoxy fairing applied to areas where rust was ground out.  "Rust Never Sleeps"

Allen adding oil to the fuel tank just before a test run in our stern/rescue boat. 

Northport Bay Boatyard

Inland Seas Fit-Out Continues March 28, 2012

Today we finished preping the main deck and applied a coat of non-skid paint to the deck.  The engine room was also cleaned and some rusty areas in the galley bilge treated with rust converter.  The high temperature today was 48 degrees, barely enough for painting. Tomorrow we will reinstall the shaft seal and connect the shaft to the transmission. Then the drive train will be ready for launch.  Hopefully the weather will cooporate for some additional painting.   -Capt. Tom

Bob using his detail sander to get into the waterways.

Ben sucking up the sanding dust.

Allen applying masking tape.  This takes longer than the painting.

Bob cutting in around the deck fittings.

Ben rolling on the deck paint.  Ahhh.....

Photos taken aboard Inland Seas on the hard at Northport Bay Boat Yard, Northport, MI.

Inland Seas Fit-Out Continues March 27, 2012

This is what we saw this morning...freezing spray on the electrical pedestal.  It was 45 degrees warmer last week!

Jan sanding the house sides yesterday.

Bob using the head gun to lift old paint off the deck.

With the rudder back in place, Ben reconnected the tiller arm to the rudder shaft. 

Our John Deere with fresh belts (4), some new hoses and wiring.

Tomorrow we hope to paint the decks (if it is warm enough) and connect the shaft to the transmission after installing a new part in the Lasdrop shaft seal.   ---Tom Kelly

Inland Seas Fit-Out Days 3 & 4

Work on the schooner continued yesterday and today with help from Allen Wolfe, Jan Hale, Ben Hale and Bob Hagerman.  We got the rudder re-installed (thanks again to Don at NBBY), continued painting, preping the deck for painting, and replacing a water hose in the engine room.

The rudder is back on!  Next is the rebuilt Max-Prop

Ben using a heat gun to lift off old deck paint.

Somewhere under all those hoses is the new one - a challenge to replace. Now we have to replace the hoses and firepump that needed to be moved for access, and replace the alternator which was rebuilt this winter.

More to follow in the days ahead....Capt. Tom

Inland Seas Fit Out - Day 2

Today we removed to old stern bearing and fitted the new bearing.  We also put a second coat of anti-fouling on half the bottom and painted the waterline stripe.  I continued work on deck chasing rust spots (rust never sleeps).  A good day with lots accomplished.  Tomorrow we hope to refit the rudder and continue painting.  Thanks to Bob Hagerman, Allen Wolfe, Jan Hale and Ben Hale for great work today.

The old stern bearing (18 years and 5,000 hours of service)

Capt. Ben Hale cutting the old bearing into sections to allow removal.

Bob Hagerman cleaning up the shaft prior to reinstallation.

Reinstalling the shaft into the new bearing.

Done! 

Capt. Wolfe rolling on the 2nd coat of anti-fouling.

Lookinggood!

Capt. Jan Hale taping the waterline prior to painting.

Tomorrow:  Reinstall the rudder, paint the rub rail, prep deck houses for painting.  ---Capt. Tom K.

First Day of Spring Fit-Out

We got a lot accomplished today at Northport Bay Boat Yard.  The crew (all captains!) painted the bottom with anti-fouling paint, and we removed the rudder and propeller shaft in order to replace the stern bearing (tomorrow).  Thanks to Don at NBBY for his help with the fork lift.  That rudder is heavy!  I worked on rust repair in the LPG locker and took off at lunch to talk to the Traverse City Optimist Club (only 32 miles each way).  Also picked up the alternator that was rebuilt by Art's Auto Parts. 

Allen Wolfe and Jan Hale painting the bottom

Allen and Don of NBBY going over the process to remove the rudder.  No room for error.

Ben Hale driving out the final titaniam bolt on the rudder flange.  The rudder is supported by a fork lift (out of the photo frame)

Success.  The shaft has been removed also.  The rudder is in the background.

The 18 year old stern bearing.  We'll find out tomorrow how difficult this will be to remove!

Thanks to Ben, Allen, Jan and Don for all their efforts today.  ---Capt. Tom