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

The Great Lakes Bowl - Ann Arbor 2-4-12

ISEA's Tom Kelly assisted with the Great Lakes Science Bowl on Saturday.  High School teams from Michigan competed in very tough competition for a chance to go to the National Ocean Science Bowl. The Great Lakes Science Bowl was held at the S. T. Dana Building, home of the School of Natural Resources and Environment.

The NOSB is a nationwide academic competition among teams of high school students. Regional competitions are held around the U.S. in February and March with the final National Competition held in April. The NOSB tests students' math and science skills as applied to topics on ocean (and Great Lakes) biology, chemistry, geology, physics, technology, history, and economics. Information about NOSB is available online to help students and teachers prepare for the competition: http://www.nosb.org/

The Dexter High School team - Winners of this year's Great Lakes Science Bowl

Green Hills High School Team - 2nd Place at GLSB

ISEA awarded the top two teams (Dexter High School & Greenhills High School of Ann Arbor) trips aboard the schooner Inland Seas to study limnology of the Great Lakes.  All other teams were offered ISEA scholarships through a grant received from the Herbert and Grace Dow Foundation. We hope to have all competing Michigan teams sailing aboard the Schoolship this year!   And congratulations to the winners and all competitors in this years Bowl.